Wellington Mornings with Nick Mills

On this week's Music Time, Nick and James feel their age with a look back at songs turning 30 this year. Plus, get excited about a New Zealand legend touring a landmark album, and spin a new track from a Kiwi songwriter whose name may not ring a bell, but whose hit song certainly will. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Five Wellington sites are up for public consultation of heritage status removal. The sites are the old Miramar oil storage tank, Courtenay Place Heritage Area, the Karori Tunnel, the Kelburn Viaduct, the former General Headquarters Building on Taranaki St. Mayor Andrew Little and Deputy Ben McNulty wrote to the RMA Minister to ask to investigate the cases of these buildings back in May. McNulty joined Nick Mills on the show this morning to share his excitement of the potential to remove the status from these sites. He said it is stupid" the Miramar tank is under heritage status and removing the label off these sites is a "no brainer for our city's economy". LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Horowhenua is unlikely to be included in amalgamation plans for the capital, according to Wellington Mayor Andrew Little. With the deadline for councils around the country to submit their voluntary merger or unitary authority plans around amalgamation less than a week away, Little told Wellington Mornings with Nick Mills that thorough discussions are continuing this week. The Mayor also discussed residents' new Tiaki Wai water bills, and apologised if the bill amounts have caused anxiety to residents. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wellington City Mayor joins Nick Mills in the studio for his monthly chat, one week out from the amalgamation deadline. Mayor Little takes your calls and Nick's questions including what happens if Upper Hutt doesn't cooperate? Will they be, as Hutt City Ken Laban says, "on the menu"? He says the focus of the amalgamation is keeping constituents connected with their council and avoiding distance others like Auckland experience. Also on the agenda, the arrival of Tiaki Wai's first water bills and Wellington transport issues. Mayor Little says "you've got to wonder" if the second Mt Victoria Tunnel will be completed in his lifetime. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For Friday Faceoff this week, Nick Mills is joined in the studio by Hutt City Mayor Ken Laban and BusinessDesk senior reporter Thomas Manch to debate the top issues of teh week. Kicking off with Winston Peters controversial attack on Green MP Lawrence Xu-Nan. The panel debate Peters behaviour, parliamentary privilege and should he be demoted in Prime Minister Luxon's cabinet as Foreign Minister? And we hear the latest on amalgamation from Mayor Laban as the deadline draws closer. Plus, how is everyone coping with the first of Tiaki Wai's water bills, what should happen to Trentham racecourse and should Luxon of dismissed the Opportunity party so quickly? And we end with hots and nots. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

To wrap the week in sport, Nick Mills is joined by Jason Pine and Adam Cooper for Friday Sports Kick-off. Starting with Zoe Hobbs and her history making gold medal finish in the 100m sprinting at the Commonwealth Games. And then, Lewis Clareburt doubles his Commonwealth medal tally in the last seven days. A look into the growth and sacrifices of our top athletes. Plus, the Saints make it to the semifinals and play Auckland's Tuatara tomorrow. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

EDITORIAL: Just imagine, for a second, if I sat behind this microphone this morning and the first caller, I repeated something like that to them. Imagine if I said to them, "go back to your own country". Not once, not twice, but three times. Imagine if I said they couldn't possibly understand democracy because they weren't born here, they were born somewhere else. I'd quite rightly be fired. There'd be outrage. I'd be on the front cover of the Post. I would be. There'd be calls for my organisation to do a public apology. Yet that is exactly what New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters said in Parliament toGreen MP Dr. Lawrence Xu-Nan. So when I saw this story yesterday, I genuinely worried whether I'd missed something. I thought to myself, boy, this is going to be an outcry, boy this is going to be big. Have suddenly world rules changed? Or do they just actually apply to some people? I don't want people jumping on me here and telling me that I'm having a crack at Winston Peters and this is all about me and Winston Peters. I'll be clear. I often agree with Winston Peters and on some issues I think he's 100% right. But that's not the point. The point is whether the standards we expect in public life apply equally to everyone in every situation. I've spent decades employing people in hospitality. I've had chefs and staff from all over the world. Like any employer, I've had disagreements and difficult conversations. But can you just imagine if I turned around to one of my chefs and said, "go back to your own country". You don't understand democracy, that's where they lie like a flat fish. Can you imagine what the Employment Relations Authority would have done to me? Once again, front page of the paper. I would have been dragged through the system and my reputation would be gone. Fortune and legal fees and quite possibly my business. No employer in New Zealand would get away with saying that to an employee. So why does it seem different when it's said by one of the country's most senior politicians? Does parliamentary privilege allow too much? Dr. Xu-Nan has lived in New Zealand since 1994. He arrived here as a child, went to school here. Yet Winston Peters told him to go back to your own country. Claimed he'd only been here 5 minutes, suggested he knew little about democracy because he was born in China and later doubled down outside the debating chamber calling him an "arrogant twit". Now forget about whether you like the Greens or Dr. Lawrence Xu-Nan. Forget about whether you vote Green, National, Labour or New Zealand First. Ask yourself one question. If another politician had said exactly those words about someone born overseas, would their reaction have been the same? Because it seems to me that we've reached a point where we can judge comments not by what is said, but who says them. Now, Parliament should be the place where ideas are challenged and politics are debated. It shouldn't be a matter where someone was born. If you've chosen New Zealand, made your life here and earned your place in Parliament, then challenge the arguments, not whether they belong here. For me, this isn't about Winston Peters. It's about consistency. Either go back to your own country as acceptable in New Zealand politics or it isn't. Either we have one standard for everyone or we don't. Maybe you'll tell me it was just the heat of parliamentary debate. Maybe you'll say he was justified and that's fine. But I look at this and think if almost anyone else had said those words, anyone, in a workplace, a school, a radio station, or even having a heated argument over something like road rage. Imagine if I had a road rage this afternoon and said, go back to your own country. Do you think I'd be here tomorrow morning? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's Politics Thursday and Nick Mills is joined on the show this week by Labour MP Ayesha Verrall and National MP for Otaki Tim Costley. Our political panel address Minister Winston Peters' controversial comments towards a Chinese-Kiwi Green MP in Parliament yesterday. They discuss the standard of behaviour expected, and the rise of racism in the beehive. Also on the agenda is the Government's acceptance of majority of the Covid-19 Inquiry findings, paid parental leave extension and the dismissal of a fireworks ban. Plus, why are both parties so quick to dismiss the Opportunities Party? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

EDITORIAL: Just imagine, for a second, if I sat behind this microphone this morning and the first caller, I repeated something like that to them. Imagine if I said to them, "go back to your own country". Not once, not twice, but three times. Imagine if I said they couldn't possibly understand democracy because they weren't born here, they were born somewhere else. I'd quite rightly be fired. There'd be outrage. I'd be on the front cover of the Post. I would be. There'd be calls for my organisation to do a public apology. Yet that is exactly what New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters said in Parliament toGreen MP Dr. Lawrence Xu-Nan. So when I saw this story yesterday, I genuinely worried whether I'd missed something. I thought to myself, boy, this is going to be an outcry, boy this is going to be big. Have suddenly world rules changed? Or do they just actually apply to some people? I don't want people jumping on me here and telling me that I'm having a crack at Winston Peters and this is all about me and Winston Peters. I'll be clear. I often agree with Winston Peters and on some issues I think he's 100% right. But that's not the point. The point is whether the standards we expect in public life apply equally to everyone in every situation. I've spent decades employing people in hospitality. I've had chefs and staff from all over the world. Like any employer, I've had disagreements and difficult conversations. But can you just imagine if I turned around to one of my chefs and said, "go back to your own country". You don't understand democracy, that's where they lie like a flat fish. Can you imagine what the Employment Relations Authority would have done to me? Once again, front page of the paper. I would have been dragged through the system and my reputation would be gone. Fortune and legal fees and quite possibly my business. No employer in New Zealand would get away with saying that to an employee. So why does it seem different when it's said by one of the country's most senior politicians? Does parliamentary privilege allow too much? Dr. Xu-Nan has lived in New Zealand since 1994. He arrived here as a child, went to school here. Yet Winston Peters told him to go back to your own country. Claimed he'd only been here 5 minutes, suggested he knew little about democracy because he was born in China and later doubled down outside the debating chamber calling him an "arrogant twit". Now forget about whether you like the Greens or Dr. Lawrence Xu-Nan. Forget about whether you vote Green, National, Labour or New Zealand First. Ask yourself one question. If another politician had said exactly those words about someone born overseas, would their reaction have been the same? Because it seems to me that we've reached a point where we can judge comments not by what is said, but who says them. Now, Parliament should be the place where ideas are challenged and politics are debated. It shouldn't be a matter where someone was born. If you've chosen New Zealand, made your life here and earned your place in Parliament, then challenge the arguments, not whether they belong here. For me, this isn't about Winston Peters. It's about consistency. Either go back to your own country as acceptable in New Zealand politics or it isn't. Either we have one standard for everyone or we don't. Maybe you'll tell me it was just the heat of parliamentary debate. Maybe you'll say he was justified and that's fine. But I look at this and think if almost anyone else had said those words, anyone, in a workplace, a school, a radio station, or even having a heated argument over something like road rage. Imagine if I had a road rage this afternoon and said, go back to your own country. Do you think I'd be here tomorrow morning? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Winston Peters has received backlash from the ambassador of China and former Prime Minister Helen Clark after racist comments made in the house on Wednesday to Green MP Lawrence Xu-Nan. Xu-Nan joins the show with Nick Mills this morning to share his reaction on the remarks, and the behaviour allowed in parliament. When asked if he thought Peters was being racist, Xu-Nan said "the comments speak for themselves". He also bought up the lack of accountability from not only Peters, but the Prime Minister as the leader of cabinet. Xu-Nan said he has received an outpour of support, proving "there is more goodness here in Aotearoa New Zealand than a few comments here and there". LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You will now be able to pay with face ID or hand scans as EFTPOS launch their biometrics payment system in New Zealand this month. Retail NZ CE Carolyn Young joins the show to share how the rollout is progressing. When will we be able to see it in stores, and is it affordable for merchants to implement? She also spoke of benefits another than fast payment, like identification for prescriptions and age verification for alcohol. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Upper Hutt developer and founder of Gillies Group Malcolm Gillies joins Nick Mills on the show to discuss the potential closure of Trentham Racecourse. He shares his expertise on the potential of the land but says the racecourse hasn't done it's dash just yet. Gillies says there is still value, it just needs to be bought back to life. Gillies and Mills discuss what could happen, and how it could affect Upper Hutt in the futue. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Opportunity Party leader Qiulae Wong joins Nick Mills in the studio this morning for an explanation on their purpose and policies as election time looms nearer. Prime Minister Chirsopher Luxon has just ruled out working with the party in a coalition, hear Wongs' thoughts right off the back of the dismissal. Plus, Wong shares her opinion on Opportunity Party founder Gareth Morgan's latest advice. Then an explanation of their policies including land tax, universal income and their priorities when it gets to decision day on November 7. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

EDITORIAL: I want to start off with some honesty this morning - when I read this story this morning, I had two choices. I could read it, shake my head, get angry to myself and move on. I could say, "Well, there you go. Another emergency department horror story. Another report. Another apology. Another promise it'll never happen again." Because, sadly, we've been talking about this stuff for years. Or I could do what I think we have to do, and that's keep talking about it. I will speak about these stories as many times as it takes. Because if we stop talking about it, we start accepting it. And I refuse to accept it. Think about this for a second. A 55-year-old man walks into Wellington Hospital with burning chest pain. The pain is radiating into his left shoulder. He's got a family history of heart attacks. He's got elevated blood pressure. Every alarm bell should have been ringing. We've all seen the TV ads, we understand them. Instead, he waits. And he waits some more Not 30 minutes. Not an hour. He waits four and a half hours before he's seen by a doctor. More than five hours after arriving, an ECG finally confirms he's having a heart attack. Five hours. The Health and Disability Commissioner has now ruled that Health New Zealand failed to provide an appropriate standard of care. They didn't need AI for that did they? The investigation found he should have been treated as a higher priority and should have had an ECG during his initial assessment. This is not earthmoving, is it? On that night the emergency department was running at 200 percent occupancy and was ten nurses short. Now look, I know the staff in our emergency departments work incredibly hard. I know they're under pressure. I know there are hundreds of stories where nurses and doctors perform miracles every single day. This is not about blaming the people on the floor. This is about a system that keeps putting good people into impossible situations. Because here's what really gets me. That man could have been me. He could have been your husband, your wife, your dad, your mum, your brother, your sister or your best mate. None of us thinks we're going to be the one sitting in an emergency department waiting for someone to realise we're having a heart attack. And that's what scares me. I'm also tired of hearing what they're going to do. We're always promised reviews, action plans, better training, audits and future improvements. Fine. But at some point the promises have to be results. Because this isn't about politics. It isn't about headlines. It's about whether, when the worst day of your life arrives, a health system, the New Zealand health system, is there when you need it. And right now, I don't think that's a question any of us would be comfortable asking. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's Business Panel, Nick Mills was joined by those behind two iconic Wellington brands, Parrotdog Brewery and the Wellington Chocolate Factory. Parrotdog Managing Director Paul Watson and Wellington Chocolate Factory founder Gabe Davidson discussed their business journeys, and the good and bad of doing business in the capital right now. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On Friday Faceoff this week, Nick was joined by Infrastructure NZ CEO Nick Leggett and ex Wellington City Councillor Tim Brown. Given both have experience as elected members of councils in the region, they gave their thoughts on Wellington's amalgamation discussion ahead of next month's submission deadline. They also discussed the scrutiny around politicians Stuart Nash and Paul Henry following comments made during the week, and the revelation the new Tiaki Wai water agency has hired an army of PR staff. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Plans for a Wellington Super City have suffered a major setback, with Upper Hutt Mayor Peri Zee indicating her city is unlikely to join. Local government leaders in the region have been working on an amalgamation proposal to meet the Government's August deadline. Zee signalled her position to the mayoral forum in confidence at a meeting on Thursday, saying she's not convinced the benefits are likely to outweigh the costs. Zee joined Nick Mills on Wellington Mornings to discuss where things sit for her. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's Politics Thursday and Nick Mills is joined in the studio by Labour MP Ayesha Verrall and National MP for Otaki Tim Costley to dive into the political issues from the week. Starting with the resignation of NZ First candidate Stuart Nash after incorrect claims were made about National MP Katie Nimon in a text message. Nash claimed she was the "laziest MP" and made false comments around her parliamentary leave for the birth of her son. Do our politicians think it was an offence worth resignation? Also, ACT candidate Paul Henry comments in a radio interview - was this possibly inciting violence? Then the Golden Bay Cement plant $60 million pay out, and an informative discussion about the mental health system for our youth. Are we too reliant on antidepressants, and what led our kids to need them so regularly? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wellington's own music trio A.R.T is making waves around Aotearoa, leading the nominations at this year's Pacific Music Awards, they join Nick Mills in the studio for a performance and a chat. Anatasia, Rosetta and T-R3X share what got them to this huge milestone, and their challenge to release a single on the first of every month this year. They perform their new single 'Givin It Up' live in the studio. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Finance Minister Nicola Willis joins Nick Mills in the studio to talk Stuart Nash, $60 million handouts and inflation. Minister Willis shares her thoughts on Stuart Nash's comments which lead to his resignation from NZ First. She talks about the implications of his claims naming the text "sexist remarks from a dinosaur". Fletcher's Golden Bay cement plant receives a $60 million hand out from the government. What went into this decision and what other handouts does this open the door for? Willis also gives her thoughts on the inflation rate of 4.1%, which is the highest in two years. Plus have National gone back on their promises that they would have construction started on the second Mt Vic Tunnel within their first term? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

National MP for Bay of Plenty Tom Rutherford is the driver of the bill that would mean if no body is found in a murder case, there will be no parole. Attorney General Chris Bishop has highlighted the bill breaches Section 7 of the Bill of Rights Act, where once a minimum sentence was complete, any further imprisonment should be justified on account of risk to the public, rather than as a punishment. Nick Mills spoke to Rutherford this morning about what this bill would mean for victims families, and if it will still pass as law against concerns within the Bill of Rights. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wellington NZ Chief Operations Officer and GM Heidi Morton joins Nick Mills on the show to dismiss fears over losing Wellington events. After 24 years Gisborne has lost the Rhythm and Vines festival, which bought in $3-5 million each year for their economy. Are our events safe? WOW is synonymous with Wellington. How are WellingtonNZ ensuring we hold the iconic show in our city? And Heidi and Nick talk the success Ultra music festival earlier this year and how we can bring more events in. And hear what's on the events calendar for the coolest little capital for the rest of the year. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chair of General Practioners NZ and newly appointed Health NZ Board member Dr Bryan Betty joins Nick Mills on the show this morning to discuss GPs responsibility when restricting licenses. He says there are many rules in place to protect the public from drivers whose driving quality may be deteriorating and the GPs take their responsibility very seriously, noting the burden it brings onto the patient. Dr Betty also shared his concerns around changes to privacy rules as a GP when you have to disclose this party concerns to the patient. He says he doesn't think the element of trust in confidentiality has been thought through in the act. Plus hear what Dr Betty wants to accomplish moving onto the board of Health NZ. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week for Music Time, Nick Mills is joined by music guru James Irwin in the studio to chat new music from the Rolling Stones, U2 and Madonna. Are they making a comeback - or in one case losing both new and old audiences? Also to celebrate the anniversary of the moon landing yesterday they reminence on the best moon songs. Plus, all the latest gigs to look forward to in Wellington. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

EDITORIAL: When I first heard this story, I thought this is not right, this is not fair, and I didn't think it fitted with what the coalition government stood for. What am I talking about? Of course, I'm talking about the $60 million hand out. I have to say, if you'd asked me whether I'd ever see a centre-right government stepping in to financially support a publicly listed company, I would have said with a smile, "No chance." Not because governments shouldn't support business, but because I always believed governments like this preferred to let the market decide who succeeds and who fails. Yet here we go. The Government is preparing to provide financial support to Fletcher Building, one of New Zealand's biggest companies, through a deal designed to keep local cement production alive at Golden Bay Cement in Whangārei. Fletcher Building isn't some small family-owned business that's fallen on hard times. It's one of New Zealand's biggest publicly listed companies, listed on both the New Zealand and Australian stock exchanges, with thousands of shareholders and operations across the country and Australia. Now, before anyone says this is about jobs, I completely understand that argument. Hundreds of people work there directly and indirectly, and New Zealand does need a reliable supply of cement. It's a critical product. I get all that. We need it to build houses, schools, hospitals, roads and major infrastructure. You don't want to wake up one day and realise we're completely dependent on imported cement if global supply chains are disrupted. Chris Bishop said Golden Bay is an exceptional case and of national interest. But here's the question I can't get past. When did governments start picking winners? Because that's exactly what this feels like to me. This coalition government talks constantly about reducing government intervention, letting markets work, encouraging competition and creating a level playing field. Those are all principles I generally support. If you're prepared to step in and financially back one of the country's biggest listed companies, where does it stop? What about every other manufacturer battling high energy prices? What about forestry? Steel? Food processing? Hospitality? Retail? Plenty of businesses have faced enormous cost pressures over the past few years without anyone offering them a government lifeline. Why is this one different? If this is genuinely about New Zealand's strategic resilience and making sure we continue producing cement here, then tell us that. Be upfront about it. Make the case that this is about national infrastructure and supply security. But don't pretend this isn't government intervention. Because it damn well is. 60 million, cash hand out. It's not having to be paid pack. Governments have every right to protect strategically important industries if they believe it's in the national interest. But once taxpayers' money starts flowing towards large, publicly listed companies, the public deserves a very clear explanation of why this company qualifies, what safeguards are in place, what taxpayers get in return, and where the line is drawn. This isn't just about cement. It's about the role of government in the economy. More importantly to me it's about fairness. And it's about whether this Government is practising the free-market philosophy it campaigned on, it sung from the rafters—or whether, when push comes to shove, it's prepared to back the biggest players while everyone else is left to fend for themselves. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Winston Peters announced the new Cook Strait ferries are on track and will be named "Kupe" and "Cook. Ferry Holdings Ltd Chairman Chris Mackenzie joins Nick Mills on the show to today to discuss the announcement. He said the major announcement was overshadowed by conversation around the names although Mackenzie says he has only received positive feedback so far. Mackenzie laid out the plan for the introduction of the new ferries and when they are expected, saying although it would be good if they are early the wharves don't yet have the space for them. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nick was joined for Friday Faceoff this week by Managing Director of Iron Duke Partners Phil O'Reilly, and Raygun founder JD Trask. They focussed on the current state of Wellington, the troubled Arlington apartment development in Wellington's Mount Cook, and whether Paul Henry's candidacy announcement will boost the ACT Party. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's Politics Thursday and Nick Mills is joined by Labour MP Ginny Andersen and National MP for Otaki Tim Costley to discuss the political news of the week. Starting with Nationals plea for Labour to commit to their rates cap proposal. Is the risk of flip flopping between governments worth it? Do we need a different solution to the frivolous spends of councils? Andersen shares Labour's thoughts and why they still have not taken a stance on the issue. Then the panel discuss the introduction of bird flu on Wellington's shore, TOP in the election debate and where are we at with the Wellington Roads of Significance? Is there any chance we could drive through the second Mt Victoria tunnel in the next decade? And Paul Henry - what do our political panel make of the broadcaster's entrance into parliament through the ACT Party? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labour leader Chris Hipkins joins Nick Mills on Wellington Mornings to chat the latest in politics, including Paul Henry's entrance into politics with the ACT Party. Hipkins shares his thoughts on famous faces entering politics, and how he thinks broadcaster Paul Henry will fit into the beehive. "Shane Jones is going to have a bit of competition for parliament's biggest blowhard." Then how is Labour reacting to the shifts in National's plan for the Roads of National Significance. Would they follow through with all projects put on the back burner? When asked if Labour would prioritise the second Mt Victoria tunnel project, Hipkins says he doesn't think anyone will be driving through it in the next decade. Plus, his meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the talks to join an Ocean of Peace Alliance and remembering Sir Sam Neill. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

EDITORIAL: I start the programme this morning with incredibly sad news that last night, New Zealand lost one of its true greats. Sir Sam Neill has died. Now, I'm not going to spend the next hour listing every film he made or every award he won, because, quite frankly, we already know what Sir Sam Neill achieved. We know the remarkable career he built. We know the incredible body of work he leaves behind. From Sleeping Dogs to The Piano, from Jurassic Park to Hunt for the Wilderpeople, and so many memorable performances in between, he became one of the most recognisable Kiwi faces worldwide. He didn't just represent New Zealand. He represented us with dignity, humour, intelligence and class. I'm so proud to think he was the person representing us on the world stage. Only a few months ago he was talking about beating cancer again. His family said he died suddenly, surrounded by those he loved, peacefully and with the dignity that defined his life. There's some comfort in that, even though the loss feels enormous. I've never actually met Sir Sam. The closest I ever came was years ago. There were always rumours he owned a house at the end of the street where I lived. One day I happened to see him standing quietly at the top of his driveway, waiting for a taxi. That was it. No conversation. No introduction. Just one of those little moments you remember. I'll remember exactly where I was when I heard he'd died. I was sitting in the car at the traffic lights outside Rutherford & Bond. Funny how news like this freezes a moment in time forever. Some people leave an impression on your life even if you never met them. Sir Sam Neill was one of those people. He was an extraordinary actor, a proud New Zealander, a storyteller, an internationally acclaimed winemaker, an advocate for the places and people he loved, and by all accounts, a genuinely decent human This morning isn't just about remembering a brilliant actor. It's about remembering one of us, one of our own, who became a true, true international icon. Sir Sam Neill. Rest in peace. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand icon Sir Sam Neill has died and tributes are flying in from all over the world. The Jurassic Park actor passed away unexpectedly on Monday 13th July in Sydney surrounded by his family. Nick Mills spoke to NZ film producer and founder of Gibson Group Dave Gibson who shared his memories of Neill. While Neill was well-known for his international roles, Gibson says what really cemented him as a NZ icon was his "very, very kiwi parts", like Uncle Hec in Hunt for the Wilderpeople. Gibson said was "the top of the mountain" of Kiwi film and a great guy. "We don't have a lot of people like Sam." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nick Mills is joined for the business panel this week by two owners of successful businesses, Helen Turnbull, head chef and owner at Michelin recognised 50/50 and Deanne Milldove, co-founder and owner of Orizen Tyres, which has 8 branches across the lower North Island. Both owners are Paraparaumu based, they share how doing business out on the Kāpiti Coast differs from the CBD. What makes the Kāpiti community better to do business in? With more expansion on the way for Milldove and global recognition and award success for Turnbull, Nick finds out their secret to success and what it takes to build a growing business in this economy. Milldove and Turnbull also discuss the biggest challenges in business right now including the cost of living - prompting Turnbull to make her own butter. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's a political Friday Faceoff this week with esteemed journalist and editor of Politick Richard Harman and NZ Herald Political editor Thomas Coughlan joining Nick Mills in the studio. Starting with the Moa Point plant review in the hands Minister Simon Watts desk, which has no timeline for public release. Harman and Coughlan discuss why the government could be withholding it and how are they feeling 150 days into the ecological disaster. The panel analyse Michael Laws candidacy for NZ First, can he make a difference in the party? And can Peters handle all these personalities? And the tragedy of the man who died after waiting 9 hours in the Emergency Department of Waikato Hospital. Our panel look at the problems that led our country here and how we need to improve so it never happens again. Have those at the top of the Ministry of Social Development considered the realities of emergency housing before imposing targets for managers? The panel faceoff over whether the government has influenced these and reflect on Minister Tama Potaka's fumbles recently around this and the conservation clause that blew up last week. Plus, Minister Casey Costello suggests decreasing excise tax for tobacco, being banned from a cafe for a MAGA hat and the panel share their hots and nots. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

ZB Sports experts Adam Cooper and Jason Pine join Nick Mills for an All-Blacks special edition of Friday Sport Kick-off. This is the first test of Dave Rennie's new All Blacks, and our first chance to see how this side will work under his reign. The team make their debut at Christchurch's new Te Kaha stadium against France on Saturday. The crew take a look at the Dave Rennie's first positioning of the squad and his statement with moves like shifting around flankers, Beauden Barret at 23 and Ruben Love starting at 10. And Piney squashes the rumours this will be an easy game playing France. With comments swirling it is a B team, how does this team really stack up against our All Blacks? And will the Hurricanes bomb squad be the thing France need to fear the most? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's time for our Politics Panel and this week Nick Mills is joined by Labour MP Ayesha Verrall and National MP for Otaki Tim Costley. Starting with Minister Casey Costello's statement that she is considering a review on excise tax of tobacco. We hear what Verrall and Costley think of this stance and how do we address the growth of the illicit tobacco trade. The death of a man who spent 9 hours in the Waikato Hospital Emergency Department has bought attention to ED wait times. How are the politicians working to stop this tragedy from ever happening again? And the big reveal earlier in the week that MSD had a metric for staff of emergency housing numbers, potentially incentivising staff to deny the support. Plus, the panel discuss regulating politicians on social media. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wellington City Mayor Andrew Little joins Nick Mills in the studio for the July edition of his monthly catch up. Mayor Little takes Nick's and callers questions for the hour on the latest in the capital. They hit the top stories of the week including the council's public defiance of move on orders, solutions to our homeless problem and how we can get the city looking and feeling good again. Then onto the three advisory groups put together by the council to improve the city. Why did the Mayor go back on his opinion he was against forming these boards? And Nick asks how the success will be measured. And Tiaki Wai makes it to day 2. How has the transition gone and what does Wellington have in store with our new water entity. Plus, Nick and the Mayor celebrate the 3 Michelin stars Wellington businesses were awarded this week. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nick Mills talks with co-founder of STILL Minding the Gap, Jo Cribb this morning about the start of the new "Lift the Lid" campaign, which is pushing for mandatory gender pay gap reporting in New Zealand. In New Zealand the gender pay gap is 5.2% for women, 12% for Māori wahine and 16% for Pacific women. Cribb believes more transparency from businesses will shut the gap and allow fair pay. They discuss why the campaign is calling for greater pay transparency, her own experience with the gender pay gap, the economic and social impacts of the gap, and why she believes making pay gaps public is the first step towards closing them. The campaign relates pulling the related bill from the tin in parliament to a cookie tin - for more details and to add your cookie (voice) to the tin check out their website STILLMindingTheGap. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Three Wellington restaurants were awarded the highly sought, world famous Michelin stars last night. Winners Steve Logan from Logan Brown, and Mark Limacher from Ortega Fish Shack join Nick on the show to celebrate the wins. Logan (Logan Brown) says the business been hit by the tough economic times in Wellington, but the star reaffirms the work they've done over the last 30 years. Limacher (Ortega Fish Shack) is buzzing over the star and shares how the team is feeling. According to Limacher that team is what sets Ortega apart, "it's people that love what they're doing". He says the stars are a huge win for the whole hospitality industry. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

EDITORIAL: Now for me one of the biggest problems facing politics today isn't the just the economy, it's not just crime, it's not just health, it's not even just the cost of living, which are all hugely important. But it's one word: trust. Who do we trust in politics? Do we actually believe what politicians tell us anymore? Because if we don't, then don't we have a real problem? This latest story involving Te Pāti Māori MP Hana-Rāwhiti Maipi-Clarke has genuinely disappointed me. Not because she's from Te Pāti Māori. Not because she's young. Actually, because she represented something different. She arrived in Parliament as one of the new generation. Young, energetic, hugely popular on social media, someone many people thought could genuinely inspire young Māori to get involved in politics. Whether you agreed with her politics or not, there was a sense that she could become a powerful voice for her people, young people. That's why this matters. Stuff has now questioned a series of social media posts where Hana-Rāwhiti Maipi-Clarke appeared to claim credit for work that ministers say she wasn't involved in. The latest involves extending free breast screening from age 69 to 74. The policy was promised before the 2023 election by then National health spokesperson Shane Reti, funded in the 2024 Budget and is now being rolled out. Yet Maipi-Clarke posted that she had been "supporting the minister" and described it as an announcement she'd been working on since last year. After questions were raised, the wording of that post has suddenly changed. And this one really stings for me. I've known a number of Māori women, people very close to me, who've battled breast cancer. So, when a young Māori wāhine appears to be claiming a significant role in something so important for her own people, if that claim isn't accurate, that's incredibly disappointing. For me breast cancer is too serious to become part of anyone's political image. But it's not just this. Last week another social media post was deleted after questions were raised about claims she'd spent 65 percent of her time advocating for young people in prisons and youth justice facilities. According to the article, the office of the Corrections Minister said she had visited one prison once since becoming an MP, while the Children's Minister said she had never visited, or even asked to visit, an Oranga Tamariki youth justice facility. Those are enormous differences between what people were led to believe, what we were told and what ministers say actually happened. Every politician likes to put their best foot forward. Every politician celebrates wins. But here's the line. If you supported a policy, say you supported it. If you campaigned for a policy, say you campaigned for it. If you delivered it, then by all means take the credit. But don't leave thousands of followers believing you've done work you may, or probably have not done. Social media is where many New Zealanders, me included now get their political information. Watch, study and keep in their minds. That means politicians have an even greater responsibility to get it right. Even greater responsibility to tell the damn truth. Because if we can't trust what our elected representatives are telling us online, then what exactly are we supposed to believe? Politics doesn't need more spin. It needs more honesty. And I think New Zealanders deserve exactly that. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

EDITORIAL: I have been one of the strongest supporters of giving police the power to move rough sleepers on. I've said repeatedly that we need to clean up our streets. We need safer city centres. We need people sleeping in parks, doorways and shop entrances helped. Helped into accommodation, not just left there. But yesterday, watching Q+A, I found myself asking a very different question. At what cost do we achieve that? Because if the allegations uncovered by Q+A are correct, this isn't just about reducing emergency housing numbers anymore. It's about whether government targets have created pressure inside MSD that could influence decisions affecting some of our most vulnerable people. Documents obtained under the Official Information Act show MSD managers are assessed on a range of performance measures, including reducing the number of people receiving emergency housing grants. Staff are graded as "exceeding", "achieving" or "needs improvement", and the documents state that if performance doesn't meet expectations, an improvement plan can follow. So we are grading people on whether they keep people out of emergency accommodation. That should concern every New Zealander. The Auckland City Mission says these targets create an incentive to say no. The Christchurch Methodist Mission says nobody should ever be rewarded for denying someone a basic thing like shelter. Those are serious claims. Now, MSD says emergency housing targets are only one of 11 performance measures and no one faces disciplinary action based solely on that target. That's important context. But even Housing Minister Tama Potaka appeared surprised. On Q+A he said he wasn't aware of the performance agreements. Initially he described them as an operational matter and couldn't talk about it, but later admitted he could understand why reasonable people might see them as creating an incentive to refuse legitimate applications. What else could it be seen as? That answer didn't fill me with confidence. Yes, the Government inherited an emergency housing system that had exploded. Nearly 5,000 people were in emergency accommodation in late 2021, costing around $340 million a year. Reducing those numbers is a worthwhile goal. In fact, the Government reached its target five years early, with emergency housing falling to just 591 people by the end of 2024. But here's the issue. If someone genuinely needs emergency housing, they should get emergency housing. Full stop. End of story in New Zealand. Targets should measure how quickly we get people into stable, permanent homes—not how effectively we reduce the headline numbers. It's election year, of course they want to headlines to look better. Q+A also found that for 16 consecutive months there were more than 1,000 additional inquiries about emergency housing each month than formal applications. So, people were saying they needed a house but were put off from actually putting an application in because staff were grading them, stopping them. The most common reason given when applications weren't approved was simply, "the need can be met in another way." The need can be met in another way? Was that living in a shop front? Was that living in a car? Was that staying in the park? We can always make the stats look better, can't we? But this matters. This matters because the Government also wants police to have new move-on powers over rough sleepers. Put them in jail, which I'm not fully against. If people are being turned away from emergency housing while at the same time being moved off the streets, where the hell are they supposed to go? This story has the potential to become a defining issues of this election—not because New Zealanders don't oppose tough rules, but because as Kiwis we expect some kind of fairness. Clean up the streets by all means. Just don't clean up the stats at the expense of the people who genuinely need help. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The All Whites are heading home after their dreams of reaching the knockout round at the FIFA World Cup were smashed by Belgium 5-1. Former All White David Chote joins Nick Mills on the show this morning to discuss the tournament and future of football for Kiwis. Did the All Whites play as well as they should be expected to on a world stage? Nick and David discuss if we punched at our weight, and is playing in Oceania holding us back? They look at our ranking over the years, our coaches, the success of Chris Wood and how we can get more players to his skill level. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wellington City Missioner Reverend Murray Edridge says the country's homeless situation is "significantly worse than it's ever been", and the reduction of numbers for those in emergency housing is not a reflection of reality. This comes as an investigation by Q+A has revealed the Ministry of Social Development has a target metric for employees to decrease the number of people receiving emergency housing services. Rev. Edridge joins Nick Mills on the show this morning to talk about his first hand experience trying to support people in need of shelter and homes. He says National selling the reduction in emergency housing stats as a success, yet times have "never been as hard" is a "tragic outcome". LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.