As NZ20 brings attention to the Basin Reserve talk is building about the potential for an upgrade. 

Nick speaks to Wellington-born architect Frano Bazalo about the cost and likelihood surrounding a renovation building capacity, and bringing more sports into the reserve.

The St Patricks old boy is currently working out of London designing some of the biggest stadiums in the world, including one costing over a billion dollars in Saudi Arabia.

Nick finds out Bazalo's thoughts on the current structure, and the lack of other stadiums in Wellington - pointing to issues with Hnry stadium.

LISTEN ABOVE

As NZ20 brings attention to the Basin Reserve talk is building about the potential for an upgrade.&nbsp;
Nick speaks to Wellington-born architect Frano Bazalo about the cost and likelihood surrounding a renovation building capacity, and bringing more sports into the reserve.
The St Patricks old boy is currently working out of London designing some of the biggest stadiums in the world, including one costing over a billion dollars in Saudi Arabia.
Nick finds out Bazalo's thoughts on the current structure, and the lack of other stadiums in Wellington - pointing to issues with Hnry stadium.
LISTEN ABOVE

Wellingtonians now have the chance to discuss the issues of the day one-on-one with proud local Nick Mills and have a forum to share their ideas, passions and outrages on a daily basis.

You don't find many people more passionate about the capital than Nick, and he comes to Wellington Mornings after decades of success as the man behind some of the city's leading hospitality and entertainment offerings - Spruce Goose, Hummingbird and the Wellington Saints basketball team just to name a few.

Nick's proud of his city but also knows much can be improved on to make Wellington an even better place, and brings an honest, edgy, fun and engaging show to Wellingtonians each weekday from 9 'til midday.

Wellingtonians now have the chance to discuss the issues of the day one-on-one with proud local Nick Mills and have a forum to share their ideas, passions and outrages on a daily basis. You don't find many people more passionate about the capital than Nick, and he comes to Wellington Mornings after decades of success as the man behind some of the city's leading hospitality and entertainment offerings - Spruce Goose, Hummingbird and the Wellington Saints basketball team just to name a few. Nick's proud of his city but also knows much can be improved on to make Wellington an even better place, and brings an honest, edgy, fun and engaging show to Wellingtonians each weekday from 9 'til midday.

Wellingtonians now have the chance to discuss the issues of the day one-on-one with proud local Nick Mills and have a forum to share their ideas, passions and outrages on a daily basis.

Wellington Mornings with Nick Mills

Architect Frano Bazalo on the potential of a Basin Reserve upgrade

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/63576fe4-550e-41d5-bfff-b41d017fcfde/transcript

Nick is joined in the studio by Dwell Housing CEO Elizabeth Lester to chat about their new campaign 'It Starts With Home' and how the move on orders are effecting their community.

Dwell Housing is a registered charity that provides housing through safe, affordable homes to individuals and families across the Wellington region. Their current campaign focuses on housing for local families. 

With the new move on orders coming into effect - and forcing rough sleepers out of certain areas - Lester shares how this is effecting the homeless community

Lester shares how the public can help the charity, what Dwell have done so far, and what they want to accomplish this year.

LISTEN ABOVE

Nick is joined in the studio by Dwell Housing CEO Elizabeth Lester to chat about their new campaign 'It Starts With Home' and how the move on orders are effecting their community.
Dwell Housing is a registered charity that provides housing through safe, affordable homes to individuals and families across the Wellington region. Their current campaign focuses on housing for local families.&nbsp;
With the new move on orders coming into effect - and forcing rough sleepers out of certain areas - Lester shares how this is effecting the homeless community
Lester shares how the public can help the charity, what Dwell have done so far, and what they want to accomplish this year.
LISTEN ABOVE

Dwell Housing CEO Elizabeth Lester on their new campaign and move on orders

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/c14f1712-6c91-4231-813e-b41e017e29fa/transcript

Nick is joined by World of WearableArt CEO Meg Williams to talk this years WOW show GLO!

The annual show goes from 17 September to 4 October 2026 at TSB Arena, and brings tourists and pride to Wellington.

Williams shares the plans for this year, and what makes the show such a colourful success. 

She discusses the team - including Creative Director Brian Burke, and how they are prepping for their boldest year yet. 

Williams and Nick get into the theme of GLO!, the comeback of the beloved Bizarre Bra and the new sections coming to the show this year. 

Get tickets here.

LISTEN ABOVE

Nick is joined by World of WearableArt CEO Meg Williams to talk this years WOW show GLO!
The annual show goes from 17 September to 4 October 2026 at TSB Arena, and brings tourists and pride to Wellington.
Williams shares the plans for this year, and what makes the show such a colourful success.&nbsp;
She discusses the team - including Creative Director Brian Burke, and how they are prepping for their boldest year yet.&nbsp;
Williams and Nick get into the theme of GLO!, the comeback of the beloved Bizarre Bra and the new sections coming to the show this year.&nbsp;
<a href="https://nz.patronbase.com/_WorldOfWearableArt/Productions/2026/Performances?_gl=1*kaiypu*_gcl_au*NTEzOTgwOTcyLjE3NzQ5MTIxMzM.*_ga*MjAwNjg1MjQ3LjE3NzQ5MTIxMzM.*_ga_YS8GT44VDC*czE3NzQ5MTIxMzIkbzEkZzAkdDE3NzQ5MTIxMzIkajYwJGwwJGg4MTE4MTQ2ODY.#_gl=1*d84c8a*_gcl_au*NTEzOTgwOTcyLjE3NzQ5MTIxMzM.">Get tickets here.</a>
LISTEN ABOVE

WOW CEO Meg Williams on this year's show GLO!

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/434b7cb6-9066-46eb-acc6-b41d017d9d0f/transcript

OPINION: If there is ever a time where you think change might actually happen, I think that time is now. 

You know when something really significant shifts. 

Because every now and then, you get a crisis that doesn’t just hurt — it teaches and it questions.  

And we may finally learn from this one. 

We’ve got fuel prices climbing towards four dollars a litre. 

We’ve got global instability, supply lines under pressure, and once again New Zealand is sitting here — exposed. 

But what’s different this time…it’s the reaction. 

Because when you start hearing voices — strong voices, credible voices — saying this is the turning point… we have to pay attention. 

Take Mike Casey — Kiwibank Sustainable Business Leader of the Year 2026 — not some fringe thinker, not some dreamer — a guy running a fully electric cherry orchard in Central Otago, and a big one. 

And here are the facts he’s putting on the table: 

New Zealand has around 10 million machines currently reliant on imported fossil fuels. 

But about 8.5 million of those could be electrified today — right now — with the technology we already have. 

That only leaves about 800,000 that still need diesel long-term. 

So the idea that we can’t do this is just not true. 

And then look at behaviour — because behaviour tells you everything. 

Last week was the biggest week for EV sales since the Clean Car Discount ended in 2023. 

That’s not ideology — that’s people reacting to price and reality. 

And here’s the big thing. 

The average Kiwi drives about 230 kilometres a week. 

Charging an EV off solar? Roughly works to be the equivalent of $1.15 per litre — even factoring in road user charges. 

Compare that to nearly $4 a litre at the pump. 

That’s not a small saving — that’s transformational. 

And yet some of us are still hesitating. 

We’re still treating solar and EVs like lifestyle choices instead of what they actually are — infrastructure. 

Because here’s the part that really got me.  

Casey’s running a system where about 80% of his entire operation is powered by his own solar — cars, machinery, production. 

His neighbour is trying to borrow an electric tractor because diesel’s too expensive. 

That’s not theory — that’s real, working change. 

So I come back to this… 

Is this the moment where the penny drops? 

When even traditionally sceptical voices start saying, “hang on… maybe this is the way forward”? 

Because if it is — then we need to act like it. 

Every house in New Zealand should be looking at solar. 

Not as a luxury — as a baseline. 

And here’s where government comes in —I don’t want handouts, not subsidies — but smart financing. 

Low-interest, long-term loans to get solar onto rooftops. 

Because according to Casey, the savings alone could cover the repayments and still leave households $1,000 to $2,000 better off each year. 

That’s not a cost — that’s an investment. 

So if we’ve learned anything from every crisis we’ve faced — it’s this: 

We don’t get many chances to pivot. 

We don’t get many moments where the problem and the solution are sitting right in front of us at the same time. 

This might be one of them. 

LISTEN ABOVE

OPINION: If there is ever a time where you think change might actually happen, I think that time is now.&nbsp;
You know when something really significant shifts.&nbsp;
Because every now and then, you get a crisis that doesn’t just hurt — it teaches and it questions. &nbsp;
And we may finally learn from this one.&nbsp;
We’ve got fuel prices climbing towards four dollars a litre.&nbsp;
We’ve got global instability, supply lines under pressure, and once again New Zealand is sitting here — exposed.&nbsp;
But what’s different this time…it’s the reaction.&nbsp;
Because when you start hearing voices — strong voices, credible voices — saying this is the turning point… we have to pay attention.&nbsp;
Take Mike Casey — Kiwibank Sustainable Business Leader of the Year 2026 — not some fringe thinker, not some dreamer — a guy running a fully electric cherry orchard in Central Otago, and a big one.&nbsp;
And here are the facts he’s putting on the table:&nbsp;
New Zealand has around 10 million machines currently reliant on imported fossil fuels.&nbsp;
But about 8.5 million of those could be electrified today — right now — with the technology we already have.&nbsp;
That only leaves about 800,000 that still need diesel long-term.&nbsp;
So the idea that we can’t do this is just not true.&nbsp;
And then look at behaviour — because behaviour tells you everything.&nbsp;
Last week was the biggest week for EV sales since the Clean Car Discount ended in 2023.&nbsp;
That’s not ideology — that’s people reacting to price and reality.&nbsp;
And here’s the big thing.&nbsp;
The average Kiwi drives about 230 kilometres a week.&nbsp;
Charging an EV off solar? Roughly works to be the equivalent of $1.15 per litre — even factoring in road user charges.&nbsp;
Compare that to nearly $4 a litre at the pump.&nbsp;
That’s not a small saving — that’s transformational.&nbsp;
And yet some of us are still hesitating.&nbsp;
We’re still treating solar and EVs like lifestyle choices instead of what they actually are — infrastructure.&nbsp;
Because here’s the part that really got me. &nbsp;
Casey’s running a system where about 80% of his entire operation is powered by his own solar — cars, machinery, production.&nbsp;
His neighbour is trying to borrow an electric tractor because diesel’s too expensive.&nbsp;
That’s not theory — that’s real, working change.&nbsp;
So I come back to this…&nbsp;
Is this the moment where the penny drops?&nbsp;
When even traditionally sceptical voices start saying, “hang on… maybe this is the way forward”?&nbsp;
Because if it is — then we need to act like it.&nbsp;
Every house in New Zealand should be looking at solar.&nbsp;
Not as a luxury — as a baseline.&nbsp;
And here’s where government comes in —I don’t want handouts, not subsidies — but smart financing.&nbsp;
Low-interest, long-term loans to get solar onto rooftops.&nbsp;
Because according to Casey, the savings alone could cover the repayments and still leave households $1,000 to $2,000 better off each year.&nbsp;
That’s not a cost — that’s an investment.&nbsp;
So if we’ve learned anything from every crisis we’ve faced — it’s this:&nbsp;
We don’t get many chances to pivot.&nbsp;
We don’t get many moments where the problem and the solution are sitting right in front of us at the same time.&nbsp;
This might be one of them.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE

Nick Mills: The time is now to go electric

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/5a4720a0-0be6-46b4-bd80-b41d00015f92/transcript

Architect Frano Bazalo on the potential of a Basin Reserve upgrade

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