Wellington's Hnry Stadium will be converted into a motorsport track in January, playing host to some world-leading drivers.

The international Race of Champions showcase event will make its New Zealand debut in the capital on January 9 and 10.

Formula One's Sebastian Vettel and Valtteri Bottas, Supercars' Chaz Mostert and rally driver Hayden Paddon are confirmed on the starting grid.

Organisers say more competitors are set to join the cast, and Race of Champions president Fredrik Johnsson confirmed to Newstalk ZB an invitation has been sent to Formula One's Liam Lawson.

They'll link up in identical cars to go head-to-head on a purpose-built tarmac race track inside the venue.

Nick crossed live to sports host Adam Cooper who was at the announcement.

LISTEN ABOVE

Wellington's Hnry Stadium will be converted into a motorsport track in January, playing host to some world-leading drivers.
The international Race of Champions showcase event will make its New Zealand debut in the capital on January 9 and 10.
Formula One's Sebastian Vettel and Valtteri Bottas, Supercars' Chaz Mostert and rally driver Hayden Paddon are confirmed on the starting grid.
Organisers say more competitors are set to join the cast, and Race of Champions president Fredrik Johnsson confirmed to Newstalk ZB an invitation has been sent to Formula One's Liam Lawson.
They'll link up in identical cars to go head-to-head on a purpose-built tarmac race track inside the venue.
Nick crossed live to sports host Adam Cooper who was at the announcement.
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

Newstalk ZB's Adam Cooper live at the Race of Champions event announcement

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/d87f3850-8440-4b40-8889-b4c60024bc8a/transcript

An admission Wellington Central Library's costly new website could have been done in-house

A new report has found a lack of oversight and a rushed procurement process were to blame for the Wellington City Council spending up to half a million dollars more than it needed to on a website for the Central Library.

Chief Operating Officer James Roberts says the council has up to 90 people in its IT team, and the website could have been developed internally.

He told Newstalk ZB's Nick Mills officials got it wrong, and he takes the blame.

LISTEN ABOVE

An admission Wellington Central Library's costly new website could have been done in-house
A new report has found a lack of oversight and a rushed procurement process were to blame for the Wellington City Council spending up to half a million dollars more than it needed to on a website for the Central Library.
Chief Operating Officer James Roberts says the council has up to 90 people in its IT team, and the website could have been developed internally.
He told Newstalk ZB's Nick Mills officials got it wrong, and he takes the blame.
LISTEN ABOVE

James Roberts: WCC Chief Operating Officer on the library website

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/27d23342-4c76-412d-bbaf-b4c600275943/transcript

Nick Mills is joined by music guru James Irwin for music time - and to celebrate Kiwi star Tami Neilson's Country Music Award nomination.

Nick and James reminisce on throwbacks and one hit wonders and then hear the latest gig guide for the capital. 

LISTEN ABOVE

Nick Mills is joined by music guru James Irwin for music time - and to celebrate Kiwi star Tami Neilson's Country Music Award nomination.
Nick and James reminisce on throwbacks and one hit wonders and then hear the latest gig guide for the capital.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE

Music Time: Kiwi star Tami Neilson nominated for Country Music Award

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/e2b1f236-735a-43c5-8147-b4c60008ed62/transcript

EDITORIAL: 

I saw this story on TV about a week ago, last week, a Kiwi bloke called Simon McCartney. 

He's 65 years old, he moved to London to be closer to his grandkids, struggled to find work. 

65, moved to London, struggled to find work. 

Oh, I wonder how, why? 

And eventually he thought, right, I'm going to try something completely different. 

Now he drives a big red double-decker bus. 

What a job. 

He drives across London Bridge, looks across to the Tower Bridge, sees St. Paul's Cathedral, and on diversions he goes past Picadilly Circus, Parliament, the London Eye and Leicester Square. 

How about that for an office at 65 years old? 

Then, yesterday I had coffee with a business acquaintance. He's from Auckland, but he's in Wellingtonian. 

Went to TawaCollege, not with me, a lot younger than me. 

Mid 50s, has a successful business doing well.

He sits there telling me, I'm moving, selling up and moving. 

I said, selling the business? 

"No, I'm keeping the business, but selling my home.”

“I live in Auckland on the North Shore and I'm going to the Gold Coast.”

He said he'll keep his business going here. 

He can fly back four or five times a year, can do everything by Zoom or everything by phone. 

That's the modern world. 

But he's had enough of New Zealand. 

He reckons the Gold Coast will give him a better lifestyle. 

And that got me thinking about Wellington because I hear it consistently now. 

Rates, water bills, insurance, cost of doing business, cost of our council, cost of owning a home, the cost of absolutely everything.

Wellington is becoming a very expensive city to live in. 

And then you look around and ask, is Wellington actually heading in the right direction? 

I love Wellington. 

I've invested my whole life in the city. 

My family's here, my business is here, my work is here. 

But actually, when I got into bed, because when you get into bed, and I was reading about someone the other day that was saying that thought when you hop into bed is kind of like the end of your day, it should be really your happy place and your happy thoughts. 

And I thought to myself last night, could I get to an age where, right, enough is enough, I'm off. 

Melbourne, absolutely. 

I'd love to live in the outskirts of Melbourne. 

Not in the expensive part, but in the outskirts where I could afford. 

Gold Coast, you know, the weather is so damn good there. 

It feels so exciting there. 

London, maybe, you know, a bit more expensive. 

You'd have to have a little bit more money, but a place in London?

France, a little village way out in the ultimate of nowhere. 

Good wine, good food. 

Now we're getting somewhere. 

And I know people that have done it. 

And it scares me because 20 years ago, you never heard of people doing that in their 50s, 60s or 70s. 

That's it, I'm going, taking off. 

And maybe the new OE isn't at 21, but maybe it’s at 61. 

If money wasn't the issue, where would you go? 

Would you leave Wellington or would you stay right here? 

And despite everything that Wellington throws at us, would you, could you ever simply pack up, sell up and move out? 

LISTEN ABOVE

Nick Mills: Could you ever leave Wellington later in life?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/b5b2b2d8-3b49-4e4e-b02c-b4c50011518d/transcript

Newstalk ZB's Adam Cooper live at the Race of Champions event announcement

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