Former MP Peter Dunne and political commentator Josie Pagani join Nick Mills on Friday Faceoff.

Together they discuss the Wellington City Council's planned Kilbirnie to Thorndon cycleway, demand for police outgrowing officer numbers and analyse Christopher Luxon's falling favourability.

LISTEN ABOVE  

Former MP Peter Dunne and political commentator Josie Pagani join Nick Mills on Friday Faceoff.
Together they discuss the Wellington City Council's planned Kilbirnie to Thorndon cycleway, demand for police outgrowing officer numbers and analyse Christopher Luxon's falling favourability.
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

Friday Faceoff: Josie Pagani and Peter Dunne

For Politics Thursday this week Nick is joined by Labour MP Ginny Andersen and National MP for Otaki Tim Costley.

After this week's events with Minister Chris Hipkins family life reaching the public eye - we talk to our politicians around where we draw the line for privacy as a public figure.

Then panel tackle the top political issues of the week starting with the latest GDP increase of 0..2% - what does this signify for everyday Kiwis?

Discussion gets heated over food cost - the price of mince has risen 23.2% in the last year to an average of $24.46 a kg. What do our politicians think of this? And what will they do about it?

Costley and Andersen also talk about doubling speeding fines as AA calls for an increase to cope with inflation but also deter drivers from speeding. There were 538,192 fines issued over 2025 - more than one per minute.

Also on the agenda is fuel levels, changes to asylum seeker rules, and do parents have the right to be mad if their child is given sugar in class?

LISTEN ABOVE

For Politics Thursday this week Nick is joined by Labour MP Ginny Andersen and National MP for Otaki Tim Costley.
After this week's events with Minister Chris Hipkins family life reaching the public eye - we talk to our politicians around where we draw the line for privacy as a public figure.
Then panel tackle the top political issues of the week starting with the latest GDP increase of 0..2% - what does this signify for everyday Kiwis?
Discussion gets heated over food cost - the price of mince has risen 23.2% in the last year to an average of $24.46 a kg. What do our politicians think of this? And what will they do about it?
Costley and Andersen also talk about doubling speeding fines as AA calls for an increase to cope with inflation but also deter drivers from speeding. There were 538,192 fines issued over 2025 - more than one per minute.
Also on the agenda is fuel levels, changes to asylum seeker rules, and do parents have the right to be mad if their child is given sugar in class?
LISTEN ABOVE

Politics Thursday with Ginny Andersen and Tim Costley: Privacy as a politican

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/713fb7ff-ea86-4b64-9a2a-b4120005782e/transcript

The cult classic Rocky Horror show is back in Wellington with the West End cast performing at the St James Theatre.

Nick is joined in the studio today by star and Frank-N-Furter himself, Stephen Webb.

Stephen, along with all the cast and live band have flown all the way from London and the West End production of the hit musical. 

He shares what it's like touring, bringing it to NZ and what makes audiences go crazy for the show. 

Nick and Stephen also talk Richard O'Brien and the show's Kiwi origins. 

The musical starts tonight and goes to Sunday 29th March. Get tickets here.

LISTEN ABOVE

The cult classic Rocky Horror show is back in Wellington with the West End cast performing at the St James Theatre.
Nick is joined in the studio today by star and Frank-N-Furter himself, Stephen Webb.
Stephen, along with all the cast and live band have flown all the way from London and the West End production of the hit musical.&nbsp;
He shares what it's like touring, bringing it to NZ and what makes audiences go crazy for the show.&nbsp;
Nick and Stephen also talk Richard O'Brien and the show's Kiwi origins.&nbsp;
The musical starts tonight and goes to Sunday 29th March. Get tickets <a href="https://www.ticketmaster.co.nz/artist/804241?venueId=295633" data-anchor="?venueId=295633">here.</a>
LISTEN ABOVE

Rocky Horror Show star Stephen Webb joins Nick in the studio

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/401618ea-bc15-45ed-bb8a-b4110001363b/transcript

EDITORIAL: Last week on the show we talked about something that doesn’t get said enough in politics—that some people are just too nice for it. 

We mentioned Shane Reti. A genuinely decent man. And I’m going to say the same thing again today about Chris Hipkins. 

I’ve met him several times. Always the same—polite, grounded, asks how you are and actually cares, actually listens. Not a show, not an act. Just a decent bloke trying to do his best.  

And that’s why what we’re seeing right now doesn’t sit well with me at all. 

Because here’s the reality: this is a marriage breakup. It’s messy, it’s emotional, and it’s personal. There are allegations being thrown around—none of them criminal, none of them proven—and yet all of sudden it’s front-page news, it’s talkback fodder, it’s social media feeding frenzy. 

And I just think—where does it stop? 

Honestly, where do we draw the line? 

Chris Hipkins has come out, denied the claims, said they’re untrue, and made it very clear he’s not going to fight this out in public. And I respect that. I actually really respect that. 

Because the moment you start litigating your personal life in the media, nobody wins. Nobody. 

But what really got me yesterday—what genuinely hit me—was watching him get emotional when reporters asked about his children.

That’s the line for me. 

When children are involved, that’s where it stops being politics. That’s where it stops being “public interest.” That’s where it becomes something that should be left alone. 

We all know breakups are hard. Anyone who’s been through one knows how ugly they can get, how complicated they can get, how emotional they can get. 

Now imagine going through that with cameras in your face, microphones shoved at you, headlines being written about your private life. And think about the kids.

Is that what we want politics to be? 

Because if it is—if the standard now is that every aspect of your personal life can be dragged into the public arena, judged, disrespected, and weaponised—then I’ll tell you right now, most good people won’t go near politics. 

And let’s be honest for a second—if every one of us had our private lives exposed - and I have - every argument, every mistake, every rough patch… how many of us come out of that looking perfect? 

Not many. If any. Probably none. 

So for me, this isn’t about left or right. It’s not about Labour or National. 

It’s about basic decency. 

Yes—hold politicians to account for their public decisions. Absolutely. That's where we hold them to account.

But their private lives? Their families? Their kids? 

That’s not ours. 

That's theirs, and only theirs. 

EDITORIAL: Last week on the show we talked about something that doesn’t get said enough in politics—that some people are just too nice for it.&nbsp;
We mentioned Shane Reti. A genuinely decent man. And I’m going to say the same thing again today about Chris Hipkins.&nbsp;
I’ve met him several times. Always the same—polite, grounded, asks how you are and actually cares, actually listens. Not a show, not an act. Just a decent bloke trying to do his best. &nbsp;
And that’s why what we’re seeing right now doesn’t sit well with me at all.&nbsp;
Because here’s the reality: this is a marriage breakup. It’s messy, it’s emotional, and it’s personal. There are allegations being thrown around—none of them criminal, none of them proven—and yet all of sudden it’s front-page news, it’s talkback fodder, it’s social media feeding frenzy.&nbsp;
And I just think—where does it stop?&nbsp;
Honestly, where do we draw the line?&nbsp;
Chris Hipkins has come out, denied the claims, said they’re untrue, and made it very clear he’s not going to fight this out in public. And I respect that. I actually really respect that.&nbsp;
Because the moment you start litigating your personal life in the media, nobody wins. Nobody.&nbsp;
But what really got me yesterday—what genuinely hit me—was watching him get emotional when reporters asked about his children.
That’s the line for me.&nbsp;
When children are involved, that’s where it stops being politics. That’s where it stops being “public interest.” That’s where it becomes something that should be left alone.&nbsp;
We all know breakups are hard. Anyone who’s been through one knows how ugly they can get, how complicated they can get, how emotional they can get.&nbsp;
Now imagine going through that with cameras in your face, microphones shoved at you, headlines being written about your private life. And think about the kids.
Is that what we want politics to be?&nbsp;
Because if it is—if the standard now is that every aspect of your personal life can be dragged into the public arena, judged, disrespected, and weaponised—then I’ll tell you right now, most good people won’t go near politics.&nbsp;
And let’s be honest for a second—if every one of us had our private lives exposed - and I have - every argument, every mistake, every rough patch… how many of us come out of that looking perfect?&nbsp;
Not many. If any. Probably none.&nbsp;
So for me, this isn’t about left or right. It’s not about Labour or National.&nbsp;
It’s about basic decency.&nbsp;
Yes—hold politicians to account for their public decisions. Absolutely. That's where we hold them to account.
But their private lives? Their families? Their kids?&nbsp;
That’s not ours.&nbsp;
That's theirs, and only theirs.&nbsp;

Nick Mills: Politicians deserve to have their private lives kept private

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/bb4e4311-f908-4b00-9957-b41001830224/transcript

Friday Faceoff: Josie Pagani and Peter Dunne

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