It's Politics Thursday, Nick Mills is joined in the studio by Labour MP Ayesha Verrall and National MP for Ōtaki Tim Costley. 

Starting with the Prime Minister's use of the Defence Force plane, which has come under intense scrutiny. 

Should we go even further and have a plane strictly for the Prime Minister?

Costley shares his experience as a defence force pilot - plus which PM never said thank you.

Are there double standards in parliament? The panel debate Chlöe Swarbrick's comments challenging the speaker, who then kicked her out. Does she have a point? Do all MPs play by the same rulebook?

Plus, should the Prime Minister of apologised for his "parent-child" comment to business owners, and the panel discuss the unemployment figures released yesterday. 

LISTEN ABOVE

It's Politics Thursday, Nick Mills is joined in the studio by Labour MP Ayesha Verrall and National MP for Ōtaki Tim Costley.&nbsp;
Starting with the Prime Minister's use of the Defence Force plane, which has come under intense scrutiny.&nbsp;
Should we go even further and have a plane strictly for the Prime Minister?
Costley shares his experience as a defence force pilot - plus which PM never said thank you.
Are there double standards in parliament? The panel debate Chlöe Swarbrick's comments challenging the speaker, who then kicked her out. Does she have a point? Do all MPs play by the same rulebook?
Plus, should the Prime Minister of apologised for his "parent-child" comment to business owners, and the panel discuss the unemployment figures released yesterday.&nbsp;
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

Politics Thursday with Ayesha Verrall and Tim Costley: Planes for the Prime Minister

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/82e867b1-425f-4439-b0f6-b49e000f0d91/transcript

The time has come again for a burger taste test to celebrate the launch of Burger Wellington 2026 this week!

Visa Wellington on a Plate (VWOAP) is championing 245 burgers hoping to take the crown for their burger award this month.

Three of those burgers are on the chopping block in the studio today as VWOAP Director Beth Brash joins Nick Mills and newsreader Max Towle in the studio for a taste test. 

The burgers are Saigon Taste's Grandma's Secret, Yoshi Sushi's Teriyaki Heatwave and Vonunts' Plum't-based.

Get amongst the fun and try out some of the burgers on display in our city from 3-23 August. 

LISTEN ABOVE

The time has come again for a burger taste test to celebrate the launch of Burger Wellington 2026 this week!
Visa Wellington on a Plate (VWOAP) is championing 245 burgers hoping to take the crown for their burger award this month.
Three of those burgers are on the chopping block in the studio today as VWOAP Director Beth Brash joins Nick Mills and newsreader Max Towle in the studio for a taste test.&nbsp;
The burgers are Saigon Taste's Grandma's Secret,&nbsp;Yoshi Sushi's Teriyaki Heatwave and Vonunts' Plum't-based.
Get amongst the fun and try out some of <a href="https://visawoap.com/explore?type=burger" data-anchor="?type=burger">the burgers on display in our city from 3-23 August.&nbsp;</a>
LISTEN ABOVE

Burger Wellington for Visa Wellington on a Plate with Nick Mills, Max Towle and Beth Brash

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/de3f5b6d-9c72-4459-bb76-b49e00140c0d/transcript

The first of Tiaki Wai's eye watering water bills have hit ratepayers in the last week.

Tiaki Wai Chair Will Peet joins Nick Mills in the studio, to breakdown the cost and explain the first round of bills.

Nick questions the price differences between cities and neighbouring homes.

Peet details what goes into each bill and the priorities for Tiaki Wai over the next few years. 

Then they address water meters - when could they be put in, and will it lower the cost for households?

Plus, why should Wellington put our trust in them?

LISTEN ABOVE

The first of Tiaki Wai's eye watering water bills have hit ratepayers in the last week.
Tiaki Wai Chair Will Peet joins Nick Mills in the studio, to breakdown the cost and explain the first round of bills.
Nick questions the price differences between cities and neighbouring homes.
Peet details what goes into each bill and the priorities for Tiaki Wai over the next few years.&nbsp;
Then they address water meters - when could they be put in, and will it lower the cost for households?
Plus, why should Wellington put our trust in them?
LISTEN ABOVE

Tiaki Wai Chair Will Peet in the studio with Nick Mills

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/ef563cc8-b60f-48db-b206-b49e000b9207/transcript

EDITORIAL:

You know I was listening Ryan Bridge this morning and he said something, and I said to myself Ryan, you are so right. 

No wonder I listen to Ryan first thing in the morning, and he is very good first thing in the morning by the way. 

He touched on something when he talked about his trip to Bunnings. 

Now, firstly he started talking about, it was rainy and cold, so he took his dog for a walk in Bunnings. 

So instead of being out in the rain he was taking his dog for a walk to get exercise.  

You already know where I stand on that. It's Ryan so it's okay. 

I don't think dogs belong wandering around inside retail stores, but that's a debate for another day. 

The part of Ryan's story that really struck a chord with me wasn't the dog. It was the service. 

Tell me honestly, when was the last time you walked into a big box store and there was great service within a couple of minutes? 

Big box stores are the big boys - I'm talking about Bunnings, Mitre 10, The Warehouse, Kmart, Briscoes, Chemist Warehouse – all those huge stores where you can buy just about anything... except, sometimes, a staff member. 

It drives me absolutely nuts. 

You walk in looking for one simple thing.  

A particular screwdriver. A specific light bulb. A certain paint sealer. Maybe a perfume or a kitchen gadget.  

You don't know where it is, so naturally you go looking for someone who works there. 

That's where the real challenge begins. 

You wander up and down aisles, scanning for a red shirt, a blue shirt or whatever uniform they're wearing.  

Eventually you find somebody, only to hear, "Sorry, that's not my department," or, "You'll have to ask someone else." 

Really? 

We were talking about this in the newsroom this morning, and one of my colleagues looked at me as if I was from another planet.  

They said, "Why don't you just use your phone? Go onto the store's website. It'll tell you what aisle it's in." 

But that's not shopping. 

If I've got to stand there on my phone searching your website, checking stock levels, finding the aisle, comparing products and reading reviews, what exactly is the store staff there for there anyway? 

I'm not against technology. Far from it. If I'm making a big purchase these days, I'll use AI to compare prices and work out the best deal. It's brilliant for that. 

But technology should support good service, not replace it. 

I remember the old days at Bunnings.  

There was an older bloke at the front door, John from Lyall Bay.  

He knew that store inside out.  

I'd walk in and say, "John, where's this?" Bang – aisle 64.  

"What about this?" Bang – aisle 53. He'd often tell you which product was actually worth buying as well. 

That knowledge wasn't in an app. It was in experience. 

Ryan's story was exactly the same.  

He spent nearly 20 minutes trying to find a product, was told to use AI, then discovered the staff didn't even know where the product was in their own store. 

Surely we've got this the wrong way around. 

I'd rather see fewer dogs wandering around hardware stores and a few more knowledgeable staff who actually know the products, know the store, and can point customers in the right direction.

LISTEN ABOVE

EDITORIAL:
You know I was listening Ryan Bridge this morning and he said something, and I said to myself Ryan, you are so right.&nbsp;
No wonder I listen to Ryan first thing in the morning, and he is very good first thing in the morning by the way.&nbsp;
He touched on something when he talked about his trip to Bunnings.&nbsp;
Now, firstly he started talking about, it was rainy and cold, so he took his dog for a walk in Bunnings.&nbsp;
So instead of being out in the rain he was taking his dog for a walk to get exercise. &nbsp;
You already know where I stand on that. It's Ryan so it's okay.&nbsp;
I don't think dogs belong wandering around inside retail stores, but that's a debate for another day.&nbsp;
The part of Ryan's story that really struck a chord with me wasn't the dog. It was the service.&nbsp;
Tell me honestly, when was the last time you walked into a big box store and there was great service within a couple of minutes?&nbsp;
Big box stores are the big boys - I'm talking about Bunnings, Mitre 10, The Warehouse, Kmart, Briscoes, Chemist Warehouse – all those huge stores where you can buy just about anything... except, sometimes, a staff member.&nbsp;
It drives me absolutely nuts.&nbsp;
You walk in looking for one simple thing. &nbsp;
A particular screwdriver. A specific light bulb. A certain paint sealer. Maybe a perfume or a kitchen gadget. &nbsp;
You don't know where it is, so naturally you go looking for someone who works there.&nbsp;
That's where the real challenge begins.&nbsp;
You wander up and down aisles, scanning for a red shirt, a blue shirt or whatever uniform they're wearing. &nbsp;
Eventually you find somebody, only to hear, "Sorry, that's not my department," or, "You'll have to ask someone else."&nbsp;
Really?&nbsp;
We were talking about this in the newsroom this morning, and one of my colleagues looked at me as if I was from another planet. &nbsp;
They said, "Why don't you just use your phone? Go onto the store's website. It'll tell you what aisle it's in."&nbsp;
But that's not shopping.&nbsp;
If I've got to stand there on my phone searching your website, checking stock levels, finding the aisle, comparing products and reading reviews, what exactly is the store staff there for there anyway?&nbsp;
I'm not against technology. Far from it. If I'm making a big purchase these days, I'll use AI to compare prices and work out the best deal. It's brilliant for that.&nbsp;
But technology should support good service, not replace it.&nbsp;
I remember the old days at Bunnings. &nbsp;
There was an older bloke at the front door, John from Lyall Bay. &nbsp;
He knew that store inside out. &nbsp;
I'd walk in and say, "John, where's this?" Bang – aisle 64. &nbsp;
"What about this?" Bang – aisle 53. He'd often tell you which product was actually worth buying as well.&nbsp;
That knowledge wasn't in an app. It was in experience.&nbsp;
Ryan's story was exactly the same. &nbsp;
He spent nearly 20 minutes trying to find a product, was told to use AI, then discovered the staff didn't even know where the product was in their own store.&nbsp;
Surely we've got this the wrong way around.&nbsp;
I'd rather see fewer dogs wandering around hardware stores and a few more knowledgeable staff who actually know the products, know the store, and can point customers in the right direction.
LISTEN ABOVE

Nick Mills: Less dogs and more staff at big box stores please!

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/d0f11c95-5aa5-4847-9350-b49d000fb468/transcript

Politics Thursday with Ayesha Verrall and Tim Costley: Planes for the Prime Minister

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