EDITORIAL:

I just want to talk about something this morning that, honestly, feels like a perfect snapshot of where Wellington City Council is at right now. 

Office space. 

Not rates. Not pipes bursting. Not businesses struggling. Not the Moa Point mess. No, no — they’re concerned about office space.  

Who’s on what floor, who’s got the view, and who’s looking out at a car park. 

Now, I’ve got to ask — who actually cares? 

If you’re a city councillor, if you’re the mayor, aren’t you there to do a job? Getting paid for that job by us. 

Aren’t you there to serve the city, make decisions, fix problems, and represent the people of Wellington?  

Since when did the quality of your harbour view become part of your job description? 

Because I’ve worked a long time, and I’ve never once walked into a workplace and thought, “Gee, I hope I’ve got the penthouse today.” You go to work to work. If you want a view get one at home.  

And here we’ve got reports of councillors grumbling, talking of a boycott of a blessing ceremony, and frustration that council executives are sitting upstairs with the nice outlook while elected officials are on level one. 

Level one!  It’s convenient. 

One flight of stairs and you’re there. You’re accessible. You’re close to the public. You’re not hiding away at the top of a tower somewhere, disconnected from the people you’re meant to represent. 

Are you supposed to look down and look down at your people? 

And if the mayor’s looking out at a car park — frankly I don’t give a damn.  

You should be out in the city – or if you're at your office you should be looking at your computer, your emails, your meetings, your city’s problems. That’s the job. 

To me, this is a mountain out of a molehill.  

But worse than that, it’s symbolic. It tells you something about priorities of our council.  

Because while all this noise is going on about who sits where, Wellington still has massive issues that actually matter. 

And I’ll give credit where it’s due — some councillors have said exactly that.  

Turn up, do the job, don’t worry about the furniture.

Do you care where your office is when you go to work? And should we expect more focus — and be a little bit more humble — from the people running our city? 

Because right now, this just feels like a small, small deal, when we have bigger issues. 

LISTEN ABOVE 

EDITORIAL:
I just want to talk about something this morning that, honestly, feels like a perfect snapshot of where Wellington City Council is at right now.&nbsp;
Office space.&nbsp;
Not rates. Not pipes bursting. Not businesses struggling. Not the Moa Point mess. No, no — they’re concerned about office space. &nbsp;
Who’s on what floor, who’s got the view, and who’s looking out at a car park.&nbsp;
Now, I’ve got to ask — who actually cares?&nbsp;
If you’re a city councillor, if you’re the mayor, aren’t you there to do a job? Getting paid for that job by us.&nbsp;
Aren’t you there to serve the city, make decisions, fix problems, and represent the people of Wellington? &nbsp;
Since when did the quality of your harbour view become part of your job description?&nbsp;
Because I’ve worked a long time, and I’ve never once walked into a workplace and thought, “Gee, I hope I’ve got the penthouse today.” You go to work to work. If you want a view get one at home. &nbsp;
And here we’ve got reports of councillors grumbling, talking of a boycott of a blessing ceremony, and frustration that council executives are sitting upstairs with the nice outlook while elected officials are on level one.&nbsp;
Level one! &nbsp;It’s convenient.&nbsp;
One flight of stairs and you’re there. You’re accessible. You’re close to the public. You’re not hiding away at the top of a tower somewhere, disconnected from the people you’re meant to represent.&nbsp;
Are you supposed to look down and look down at your people?&nbsp;
And if the mayor’s looking out at a car park — frankly I don’t give a damn. &nbsp;
You should be out in the city – or if you're at your office you should be looking at your computer, your emails, your meetings, your city’s problems. That’s the job.&nbsp;
To me, this is a mountain out of a molehill. &nbsp;
But worse than that, it’s symbolic. It tells you something about priorities of our council. &nbsp;
Because while all this noise is going on about who sits where, Wellington still has massive issues that actually matter.&nbsp;
And I’ll give credit where it’s due — some councillors have said exactly that. &nbsp;
Turn up, do the job, don’t worry about the furniture.
Do you care where your office is when you go to work? And should we expect more focus — and be a little bit more humble — from the people running our city?&nbsp;
Because right now, this just feels like a small, small deal, when we have bigger issues.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE&nbsp;

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

Nick Mills: Can the Wellington City Council cope with their new office?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/c091eb1b-177a-4f90-a8b1-b41f018b5fb5/transcript