It's D-Day for Let's Get Wellington Moving.

The council will vote on a motion of no confidence today as seven councillors push for the programme to be scrapped.

Yesterday, the capital's Mayor Tory Whanau rejected a compromise from the group.

Diane Calvert is one of the councillors who's signed the motion - she joined Kate Hawkesby.

LISTEN ABOVE

It's D-Day for Let's Get Wellington Moving.
The council will vote on a motion of no confidence today as seven councillors push for the programme to be scrapped.
Yesterday, the capital's Mayor Tory Whanau rejected a compromise from the group.
Diane Calvert is one of the councillors who's signed the motion - she joined Kate Hawkesby.
LISTEN ABOVE

A fresh and intelligent start to your day - catch the very latest international and domestic news developments, sport, entertainment and business on Early Edition with Ryan Bridge, on Newstalk ZB.

A fresh and intelligent start to your day - catch the very latest international and domestic news developments, sport, entertainment and business on Early Edition with Ryan Bridge, on Newstalk ZB.

Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

Diane Calvert: Wellington councillor ahead of D-Day vote of no confidence for Let's Get Wellington Moving

Belief July's record tourism numbers is a reflection of an investment finally paying off.  

Stats NZ data shows 256-thousand-600 overseas tourists arrived during the month - overtaking pre-Covid numbers from July 2019 by 0.4 percent.

Rotorua Mayor Tania Tapsell told Andrew Dickens the effort from local council, regional tourism operators and the Government is finally bearing fruit. 

She says July is usually a quiet time, so the big win is the 70 percent jump in business events that keep Rotorua afloat. 

Belief July's record tourism numbers is a reflection of an investment finally paying off. &nbsp;
Stats NZ data shows 256-thousand-600 overseas tourists arrived during the month - overtaking pre-Covid numbers from July 2019 by 0.4 percent.
Rotorua Mayor Tania Tapsell told Andrew Dickens the effort from local council, regional tourism operators and the Government is finally bearing fruit.&nbsp;
She says July is usually a quiet time, so the big win is the 70 percent jump in business events that keep Rotorua afloat.&nbsp;

Tania Tapsell: Rotorua Mayor on tourism arrivals overtaking pre-Covid numbers

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/5a7a64d5-8bb8-4fe4-8933-b4c5012c8416/transcript

Listen to the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 15 September.

Get the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Listen to the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 15 September. 
Get the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Full Show Podcast: 15 September 2026 

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/78ace574-9620-4e77-8296-b4c5012ac629/transcript

So, the past week has seen immigration policies come to the force.

New Zealand First is signalling a tougher immigration stance, longer waits for residency and citizenship, a referendum to cap new residency approvals at 20,000 a year, and a 30-year population plan tying migrant intake to infrastructure capacity. 

Labour is also tightening its settings, extending residency qualification to four years and promising a Government Policy Statement.
  
But as economists like Bernard Hickey point out these policies miss the real immigration pressure.

New Zealand issues more than 230,000 temporary work visas annually.  

Largely for lower-paid roles on our farms in our kitchens and even in our beauty salons.
 
The temporary workers aren't here forever. But when they go, they're replaced but other temporary visa holders. 

This quarter of a million of temporary visa holders is still driving population growth, straining infrastructure, and suppressing wages.  

They come with problems that no-one is addressing.

Not for the first time politicians can't see the wood for the trees and not for the first time they then release policies that are primarily designed to get votes but not to address the issues.

So, the past week has seen immigration policies come to the force.
New Zealand First is signalling a tougher immigration stance, longer waits for residency and citizenship, a referendum to cap new residency approvals at 20,000 a year, and a 30-year population plan tying migrant intake to infrastructure capacity.&nbsp;
Labour is also tightening its settings, extending residency qualification to four years and promising a Government Policy Statement. &nbsp;&nbsp; But as economists like Bernard Hickey point out these policies miss the real immigration pressure.
New Zealand issues more than 230,000 temporary work visas annually. &nbsp;
Largely for lower-paid roles on our farms in our kitchens and even in our beauty salons. &nbsp; The temporary workers aren't here forever. But when they go, they're replaced but other temporary visa holders.&nbsp;
This quarter of a million of temporary visa holders is still driving population growth, straining infrastructure, and suppressing wages. &nbsp;
They come with problems that no-one is addressing.
Not for the first time politicians can't see the wood for the trees and not for the first time they then release policies that are primarily designed to get votes but not to address the issues.

Andrew Dickens: Politicians are missing the real immigration problem

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/bd11023e-8d6f-4252-bc81-b4c5012aae72/transcript

Diane Calvert: Wellington councillor ahead of D-Day vote of no confidence for Let's Get Wellington Moving

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