It's Politics Thursday and this week Nick is joined in the studio by National Minister Paul Goldsmith and Labour MP Ayesha Verrall.

They debate the top political issues of the week, including concerns around Wellington project priorities.

After the second Auckland harbour crossing is looking likely to go through, there is still no word on our second Mt Vic Tunnel - is Wellington being slighted?

Then onto immigration, as the government launches more immigration policy, polling shows it is not actually a top 10 issue to Kiwis.

The panel debate if Kiwis should be more concerned and what the priorities are for their parties come election time.

And cutting fees free, is this a broken promise for students currently enrolled in our universities?

LISTEN ABOVE 

It's Politics Thursday and this week Nick is joined in the studio by National Minister Paul Goldsmith and Labour MP Ayesha Verrall.
They debate the top political issues of the week, including concerns around Wellington project priorities.
After the second Auckland harbour crossing is looking likely to go through, there is still no word on our second Mt Vic Tunnel - is Wellington being slighted?
Then onto immigration, as the government launches more immigration policy, polling shows it is not actually a top 10 issue to Kiwis.
The panel debate if Kiwis should be more concerned and what the priorities are for their parties come election time.
And cutting fees free, is this a broken promise for students currently enrolled in our universities?
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

Politics Thursday: Paul Goldsmith and Ayesha Verrall on Immigration

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/63775fc5-8963-4aad-8cb1-b44a0009cc4f/transcript

EDITORIAL:

Let’s be honest now — when is enough actually enough in this city? 

How long have Wellingtonians been listening to the words “Let’s Get Wellington Moving”?  

Seven years? Eight years? Longer? The project was officially launched back in 2017.  

Nearly a decade ago. Nearly a decade of workshops, consultations, artist impressions, reviews, counter-reviews, delays, blowouts, political infighting and endless promise for us. 

And what do we actually have to show for it? 

Seriously — what do we have to show for it? 

Because I walk through the start of the so-called Golden Mile redevelopment near the Embassy Theatre almost every day, and if you told a visitor from out of town that millions of dollars had already been spent there, they would laugh at you.  

They’d say, “Where? How? A few plants? Some shifted paving? A slightly rearranged pedestrian area? A cycleway?” 

That’s the transformational city-shaping project we’ve been arguing about for the best part of a decade? 

Meanwhile the city struggles. 

Retailers are struggling.

Businesses are struggling.

People are worried about rates.

Roading’s a mess.

Water infrastructure is collapsing. 

Construction costs have exploded. 

The council can barely afford what it already has on its plate. 

And now we’re spending another FOUR HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS on another review. 

Another review. 

Not fixing anything. 
Not building anything. 
Not deciding anything. 
Just another group of people sitting around discussing whether previous groups of people were right or wrong. 

I’m with Andrew Little on this one.  

At some point politicians have to actually make political decisions. If you were elected to lead, then damn well lead.  

Stop outsourcing every difficult decision to panels, consultants, independent reviews and strategic assessments. 

The original Golden Mile budget was in 2020 was $78 million. 
Then it became $160 million. 
Now it’s sitting around $220 million. 
And even Andrew Little is saying the council simply cannot afford another $60 million blowout. 

Hello! You wouldn’t need a degree to work that one out. 

So here’s the simple question: 
If we can’t afford it, why are we pretending we can? 

Because what’s happened in Wellington is death by consultation. 

Death by process. Death by indecision. We have become a city addicted to talking about things instead of actually doing them. 

And here’s the worst part — this uncertainty has hung over central Wellington businesses for years. Years.  

People trying to invest, lease buildings, open restaurants, run cafés, survive construction disruptions, they want to employ staff — all while the city keeps changing the plan every six months. 

Enough. 

Either do the project properly, fully funded, with certainty and timelines — or pull the plug and let us move on with our lives. 

And now. Not in 6 months' time – now. 

But this endless middle ground of reviews, pauses, re-scopes and consultant reports is draining the life, confidence and energy out of Wellington. Forget it 

Nearly a decade in, Wellingtonians deserve an answer and now. 

Not another workshop, not another panel.  

LISTEN ABOVE

EDITORIAL:
Let’s be honest now — when is enough actually enough in this city?&nbsp;
How long have Wellingtonians been listening to the words “Let’s Get Wellington Moving”? &nbsp;
Seven years? Eight years? Longer? The project was officially launched back in 2017. &nbsp;
Nearly a decade ago. Nearly a decade of workshops, consultations, artist impressions, reviews, counter-reviews, delays, blowouts, political infighting and endless promise for us.&nbsp;
And what do we actually have to show for it?&nbsp;
Seriously — what do we have to show for it?&nbsp;
Because I walk through the start of the so-called Golden Mile redevelopment near the Embassy Theatre almost every day, and if you told a visitor from out of town that millions of dollars had already been spent there, they would laugh at you. &nbsp;
They’d say, “Where? How? A few plants? Some shifted paving? A slightly rearranged pedestrian area? A cycleway?”&nbsp;
That’s the transformational city-shaping project we’ve been arguing about for the best part of a decade?&nbsp;
Meanwhile the city struggles.&nbsp;
Retailers are struggling.
Businesses are struggling.
People are worried about rates.
Roading’s a mess.
Water infrastructure is collapsing.&nbsp;
Construction costs have exploded.&nbsp;
The council can barely afford what it already has on its plate.&nbsp;
And now we’re spending another FOUR HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS on another review.&nbsp;
Another review.&nbsp;
Not fixing anything.&nbsp; Not building anything.&nbsp; Not deciding anything.&nbsp; Just another group of people sitting around discussing whether previous groups of people were right or wrong.&nbsp;
I’m with Andrew Little on this one. &nbsp;
At some point politicians have to actually make political decisions. If you were elected to lead, then damn well lead. &nbsp;
Stop outsourcing every difficult decision to panels, consultants, independent reviews and strategic assessments.&nbsp;
The original Golden Mile budget was in 2020 was $78 million.&nbsp; Then it became $160 million.&nbsp; Now it’s sitting around $220 million.&nbsp; And even Andrew Little is saying the council simply cannot afford another $60 million blowout.&nbsp;
Hello! You wouldn’t need a degree to work that one out.&nbsp;
So here’s the simple question:&nbsp; If we can’t afford it, why are we pretending we can?&nbsp;
Because what’s happened in Wellington is death by consultation.&nbsp;
Death by process. Death by indecision. We have become a city addicted to talking about things instead of actually doing them.&nbsp;
And here’s the worst part — this uncertainty has hung over central Wellington businesses for years. Years. &nbsp;
People trying to invest, lease buildings, open restaurants, run cafés, survive construction disruptions, they want to employ staff — all while the city keeps changing the plan every six months.&nbsp;
Enough.&nbsp;
Either do the project properly, fully funded, with certainty and timelines — or pull the plug and let us move on with our lives.&nbsp;
And now. Not in 6 months' time – now.&nbsp;
But this endless middle ground of reviews, pauses, re-scopes and consultant reports is draining the life, confidence and energy out of Wellington. Forget it&nbsp;
Nearly a decade in, Wellingtonians deserve an answer and now.&nbsp;
Not another workshop, not another panel. &nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE

Nick Mills: Can the Golden Mile review now

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/a979a62b-5597-4e03-83b2-b44a001b28de/transcript

Comedian Karen O'Leary joins Nick in the studio to chat "Poneke House Party", a comedy music mashup show raising funds for the Mayoral Relief Flood Fund.

The NZ International Comedy Festival and NZ Music Month partner to bring you Pōneke House Party, a night of jokes, songs and surprise special guests at Wellington’s Opera House, Sunday 17 May, 6pm.

Karen joins the heavy hitting line up of stars including Tofiga Fepulea'i, Tami Neilson and host James Nokise.

Buy tickets here for a night full of comedy and music, while helping for a great cause.

Comedian Karen O'Leary joins Nick in the studio to chat "Poneke House Party", a comedy music mashup show raising funds for the Mayoral Relief Flood Fund.
The NZ International Comedy Festival and NZ Music Month partner to bring you Pōneke House Party, a night of jokes, songs and surprise special guests at Wellington’s Opera House, Sunday 17 May, 6pm.
Karen joins the heavy hitting line up of stars including Tofiga Fepulea'i, Tami Neilson and host James Nokise.
<a href="https://www.ticketmaster.co.nz/event/240064A3D6A3454E">Buy tickets here</a> for a night full of comedy and music, while helping for a great cause.

Karen O'Leary joins Nick in studio to celebrate Poneke House Party

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/ca8b957a-2af2-4ad8-be12-b44a000fa99b/transcript

Its Music Time with James Irwin!

It's another week of NZ music month, James and Nick chat a new record label based in Wellington - check it out at strawberryjampromotions.com.

Then they talk Tom Scott of Homebrew fame who blew Wellington away last Friday and the opening of musical & Juliet on Saturday.

Plus, what are the most recognisable Kiwi songs? James shares his office survey results.

LISTEN ABOVE

Its Music Time with James Irwin!
It's another week of NZ music month, James and Nick chat a new record label based in Wellington - check it out at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.strawberryjampromotions.com/">strawberryjampromotions.com.</a>
Then they talk Tom Scott of Homebrew fame who blew Wellington away last Friday and the opening of musical &amp; Juliet on Saturday.
Plus, what are the most recognisable Kiwi songs? James shares his office survey results.
LISTEN ABOVE

Music Time with James Irwin: NZ Music month continues

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/2e4dfb87-d30b-4e95-8baf-b449000c6026/transcript

Politics Thursday: Paul Goldsmith and Ayesha Verrall on Immigration

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