It's Friday Faceoff, Nick is joined in the studio with political commentator, Lawyer and Director of Franks Ogilvie Brigitte Morten, and political commentator and former Chief of Staff to Jacinda Arden Neale Jones. 

Starting with the Golden Mile. The review is in, and unsurprisingly over budget.

Morten and Jones share their thoughts on blowout of consultancy spend, the next steps for Courtnay Place, and the barring of Councillor Karl Tiefenbacher's vote due to a conflict of interest. 

The panel face off over Labour's newest policy - a $20 fare cap for public transport.

Are the numbers even correct? What sort of narrative does this set for Labour? Morten and Jones clash over whether this policy will make a different for voters.

Then onto the revelation KiwiRail stalled system upgrades for the Wellington train networks due to funding. Nick and the panel debate where the priorities lie in terms of government spending and campaigning. 

Also on the agenda is the controversy of Superintendent and Labour candidate Rakesh Naidoo. Has Police Commissioner Richard Chambers made the situation too political and publicised?

Plus, Monday's state of emergency for the coast, how do we get Wellingtonians not in the affected area to not overreact? Should coward punch law changes go harder? Is TOP the party to watch?

 And the panel give us their hot and nots.

LISTEN ABOVE

It's Friday Faceoff, Nick is joined in the studio with political commentator, Lawyer and Director of Franks Ogilvie Brigitte Morten, and political commentator and former Chief of Staff to Jacinda Arden Neale Jones.&nbsp;
Starting with the Golden Mile.&nbsp;The review is in, and unsurprisingly over budget.
Morten and Jones share their thoughts on blowout of consultancy spend, the next steps for Courtnay Place, and the barring of Councillor Karl Tiefenbacher's vote due to a conflict of interest.&nbsp;
The panel face off over Labour's newest policy - a $20 fare cap for public transport.
Are the numbers even correct? What sort of narrative does this set for Labour? Morten and Jones clash over whether this policy will make a different for voters.
Then onto the revelation KiwiRail stalled system upgrades for the Wellington train networks due to funding. Nick and the panel debate where the priorities lie in terms of government spending and campaigning.&nbsp;
Also on the agenda is the controversy of Superintendent and Labour candidate Rakesh Naidoo. Has Police Commissioner Richard Chambers made the situation too political and publicised?
Plus, Monday's state of emergency for the coast, how do we get Wellingtonians not in the affected area to not overreact? Should coward punch law changes go harder? Is TOP the party to watch?
&nbsp;And the panel give us their hot and nots.
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 with Brigitte Morten and Neale Jones

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/3fa224b1-5d36-4473-a1a4-b46700027745/transcript

EDITORIAL:

Well, it's done and its dusted. 

The biggest decision Wellington has made in years has finally been made, and the Golden Mile, as we knew it, is effectively dead. 

And before anyone starts celebrating too loudly, let me say this: I think it's the right decision, right now. 

I think common sense has prevailed. 

I think if the council had pushed ahead with years of construction through Courtenay Place and Lambton Quay, there would have been a trail of closed businesses behind it. Not a few. Not one or two. Dozens. 

I've spent my entire working life around hospitality and retail. I know how hard it is right now.  

Costs are through the roof, customers are watching every dollar, and many businesses are still hanging on by their fingernails. 

You only have to walk down Courtenay Place in daylight hours to see it. 

Empty shops. For lease signs. Businesses trying their guts out to survive. 

Then imagine putting that area through years of roadworks and disruption. 

Nine out of ten businesses wouldn't have survived it. 

So yes, stopping the project was the right decision. 

But here's the part nobody should be celebrating. 

This wasn't a decision about Wellington's future. 

This was a survival decision. 

That's the difference. 

A city that is not confident, not growing, is a city under financial pressure. 

It starts cancelling projects because it simply can't afford them. 

And that's where Wellington finds itself today. 

Because let's be really honest. Courtenay Place is a mess. 

It's grotty. It's tired. It's dirty. 

I have a business on that street.  

I know landlords who have spent millions of dollars, in some cases more than a millions dollars, into strengthening buildings, upgrading premises and trying to create something better. 

But there are landlords that have done nothing, that have land-banked and its time the council put huge pressure on them to do their bit and do something. 

Yesterday I walked through Courtenay Place and counted 26 people loitering around, not a good look. 

We used to talk about street kids. Now we've got street adults. 

 Fighting. Yelling. Drinking. Defecating in public spaces.  

Intimidating people trying to walk down the street, do a bit of shopping, have a drink or go to work. 

You can spend $100 million on footpaths and bus lanes, but if people don't feel safe, they won't come. 

That's the reality. 

If somebody handed me the job tomorrow and said, "Nick, fix Courtenay Place", the first thing I'd do wouldn't be redesigning intersections. That would be the bottom of my list.  

I'd clean up the social disorder. 

The moving in laws have to come in so we can move on.  

Because until people feel safe walking the street, until businesses feel supported, until customers want to come back, nothing else matters. 

The Golden Mile might be gone. 

But the challenge remains. 

Wellington avoided a potentially disastrous contract.  

Now the hard part starts. 

Because Courtenay Place still needs fixing. 

And unlike the Golden Mile, that problem isn't going away. 

LISTEN ABOVE

EDITORIAL:
Well, it's done and its dusted.&nbsp;
The biggest decision Wellington has made in years has finally been made, and the Golden Mile, as we knew it, is effectively dead.&nbsp;
And before anyone starts celebrating too loudly, let me say this: I think it's the right decision, right now.&nbsp;
I think common sense has prevailed.&nbsp;
I think if the council had pushed ahead with years of construction through Courtenay Place and Lambton Quay, there would have been a trail of closed businesses behind it. Not a few. Not one or two. Dozens.&nbsp;
I've spent my entire working life around hospitality and retail. I know how hard it is right now. &nbsp;
Costs are through the roof, customers are watching every dollar, and many businesses are still hanging on by their fingernails.&nbsp;
You only have to walk down Courtenay Place in daylight hours to see it.&nbsp;
Empty shops. For lease signs. Businesses trying their guts out to survive.&nbsp;
Then imagine putting that area through years of roadworks and disruption.&nbsp;
Nine out of ten businesses wouldn't have survived it.&nbsp;
So yes, stopping the project was the right decision.&nbsp;
But here's the part nobody should be celebrating.&nbsp;
This wasn't a decision about Wellington's future.&nbsp;
This was a survival decision.&nbsp;
That's the difference.&nbsp;
A city that is not confident, not growing, is a city under financial pressure.&nbsp;
It starts cancelling projects because it simply can't afford them.&nbsp;
And that's where Wellington finds itself today.&nbsp;
Because let's be really honest. Courtenay Place is a mess.&nbsp;
It's grotty. It's tired. It's dirty.&nbsp;
I have a business on that street. &nbsp;
I know landlords who have spent millions of dollars, in some cases more than a millions dollars, into strengthening buildings, upgrading premises and trying to create something better.&nbsp;
But there are landlords that have done nothing, that have land-banked and its time the council put huge pressure on them to do their bit and do something.&nbsp;
Yesterday I walked through Courtenay Place and counted 26 people loitering around, not a good look.&nbsp;
We used to talk about street kids. Now we've got street adults.&nbsp;
&nbsp;Fighting. Yelling. Drinking. Defecating in public spaces. &nbsp;
Intimidating people trying to walk down the street, do a bit of shopping, have a drink or go to work.&nbsp;
You can spend $100 million on footpaths and bus lanes, but if people don't feel safe, they won't come.&nbsp;
That's the reality.&nbsp;
If somebody handed me the job tomorrow and said, "Nick, fix Courtenay Place", the first thing I'd do wouldn't be redesigning intersections. That would be the bottom of my list. &nbsp;
I'd clean up the social disorder.&nbsp;
The moving in laws have to come in so we can move on. &nbsp;
Because until people feel safe walking the street, until businesses feel supported, until customers want to come back, nothing else matters.&nbsp;
The Golden Mile might be gone.&nbsp;
But the challenge remains.&nbsp;
Wellington avoided a potentially disastrous contract. &nbsp;
Now the hard part starts.&nbsp;
Because Courtenay Place still needs fixing.&nbsp;
And unlike the Golden Mile, that problem isn't going away.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE

Nick Mills: So long, Golden Mile

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/ae54e412-a444-4505-a154-b46e002769f2/transcript

With the Hurricanes vs Chiefs final tomorrow, Nick is joined on the show by starting fullback for the Hurricanes, Callum Harkin. 

Only two years ago Harkin was working full time as a builder, he talks with Nick about his rapid rise to starting in a grand final, preferred positions and how his dad is his biggest supporter. 

With the team prep Harkins says they are focused on getting started earlier than they did in the Blues semifinal and the anticipation coming up to his first final.

As for selling out Hnry Stadium and potentially lifting the Super Rugby Pacific Trophy Harkin said it could be one of the best moments of his life so far. 

LISTEN ABOVE

With the Hurricanes vs Chiefs final tomorrow, Nick is joined on the show by starting fullback for the Hurricanes, Callum Harkin.&nbsp;
Only two years ago Harkin was working full time as a builder, he talks with Nick about his rapid rise to starting in a grand final, preferred positions and how his dad is his biggest supporter.&nbsp;
With the team prep Harkins says they are focused on getting started earlier than they did in the Blues semifinal and the anticipation coming up to his first final.
As for selling out Hnry Stadium and potentially lifting the Super Rugby Pacific Trophy Harkin said it could be one of the best moments of his life so far.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE

Hurricane Callum Harkin joins the show on the eve of the finals

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/fec76b00-4b8f-4894-9c06-b46e0021f6a3/transcript

It's a special weekend for Wellington, with the Hurricanes earning a grand final at home on Saturday night against the Chiefs.

To chat all things Hurricanes and other hot topics from the week, Nick is joined by Managing Director of Gazley Motors Myles Gazley and legendary broadcaster Grant Nisbett for Friday Faceoff. 

With the vote yesterday that put a stop to the Golden Mile, our panel discuss what can be done to improve not just Courtenay Place but also all of Wellington and get the city pumping again.

Also on the agenda is the waste of $33 million from a failed MBIE project hidden from the minister, Shane Jones overspend of 30 grand on a work trip and all the Tiaki Wai troubles from this week.

And our floating crane Hikitia on the waterfront - scrap it or save it? Plus, the panel give their hots and nots from the week and predictions for the Hurricanes vs Chiefs final.

LISTEN ABOVE

It's a special weekend for Wellington, with the Hurricanes earning a grand final at home on Saturday night against the Chiefs.
To chat all things Hurricanes and other hot topics from the week, Nick is joined by Managing Director of Gazley Motors Myles Gazley and legendary broadcaster Grant Nisbett for Friday Faceoff.&nbsp;
With the vote yesterday that put a stop to the Golden Mile, our panel discuss what can be done to improve not just Courtenay Place but also all of Wellington and get the city pumping again.
Also on the agenda is the waste of $33 million from a failed MBIE project hidden from the minister, Shane Jones overspend of 30 grand on a work trip and all the Tiaki Wai troubles from this week.
And our floating crane Hikitia on the waterfront - scrap it or save it? Plus, the panel give their hots and nots from the week and predictions for the Hurricanes vs Chiefs final.
LISTEN ABOVE

Friday Faceoff with Myles Gazley and Grant Nisbett

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/e2164418-0e3b-4d7b-9ea2-b46e001b987a/transcript

Friday Faceoff with Brigitte Morten and Neale Jones

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