Nick Mills: The time is now to go electric

OPINION: If there is ever a time where you think change might actually happen, I think that time is now.  You know when something really significant shifts.  Because every now and then, you get a crisis that doesn’t just hurt — it teaches and it questions.   And we may finally learn from this one.  We’ve got fuel prices climbing towards four dollars a litre.  We’ve got global instability, supply lines under pressure, and once again New Zealand is sitting here — exposed.  But what’s different this time…it’s the reaction.  Because when you start hearing voices — strong voices, credible voices — saying this is the turning point… we have to pay attention.  Take Mike Casey — Kiwibank Sustainable Business Leader of the Year 2026 — not some fringe thinker, not some dreamer — a guy running a fully electric cherry orchard in Central Otago, and a big one.  And here are the facts he’s putting on the table:  New Zealand has around 10 million machines currently reliant on imported fossil fuels.  But about 8.5 million of those could be electrified today — right now — with the technology we already have.  That only leaves about 800,000 that still need diesel long-term.  So the idea that we can’t do this is just not true.  And then look at behaviour — because behaviour tells you everything.  Last week was the biggest week for EV sales since the Clean Car Discount ended in 2023.  That’s not ideology — that’s people reacting to price and reality.  And here’s the big thing.  The average Kiwi drives about 230 kilometres a week.  Charging an EV off solar? Roughly works to be the equivalent of $1.15 per litre — even factoring in road user charges.  Compare that to nearly $4 a litre at the pump.  That’s not a small saving — that’s transformational.  And yet some of us are still hesitating.  We’re still treating solar and EVs like lifestyle choices instead of what they actually are — infrastructure.  Because here’s the part that really got me.   Casey’s running a system where about 80% of his entire operation is powered by his own solar — cars, machinery, production.  His neighbour is trying to borrow an electric tractor because diesel’s too expensive.  That’s not theory — that’s real, working change.  So I come back to this…  Is this the moment where the penny drops?  When even traditionally sceptical voices start saying, “hang on… maybe this is the way forward”?  Because if it is — then we need to act like it.  Every house in New Zealand should be looking at solar.  Not as a luxury — as a baseline.  And here’s where government comes in —I don’t want handouts, not subsidies — but smart financing.  Low-interest, long-term loans to get solar onto rooftops.  Because according to Casey, the savings alone could cover the repayments and still leave households $1,000 to $2,000 better off each year.  That’s not a cost — that’s an investment.  So if we’ve learned anything from every crisis we’ve faced — it’s this:  We don’t get many chances to pivot.  We don’t get many moments where the problem and the solution are sitting right in front of us at the same time.  This might be one of them.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

CubaDupa hit Wellington last weekend and Nick chats to director Bianca Bailey to see how it all went down. Tens of thousands of people - local and visitors alike, joined the annual street party with over 200 performers, food trucks, performers, parades - everything was at CubaDupa. Bailey shares how the weekend went, what could've gone better and what does the city need to do next to bring more life to Wellington. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nick is joined in the studio with CubaDupa headliner Paige for a performance and a chat. Hailing for Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland, Paige is an award-winning pop/RnB singer who has gained international fame for her sound and honest songwriting.  Paige and Nick talk her career so far, being a NZ artist and how international fan attitudes differ from Kiwis.  Also, her upcoming performance at Cuba Dupa and her experience of Wellington.  Then we are treated to a live performance of her single 'why do we wanna be in love.' Hear the single and other hits off her new EP paigesspace at Cuba Dupa's Ngā Toi o Te Aro Stage on Saturday, March 28th, 05:45pm - 06:30pm. Cuba Dupa runs all weekend and is a free event.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nick Mills wraps the week with Iron Duke founder and director of Aurecon Phil O’Reilly, and founder and CEO of Raygun JD Trask.   Starting with the reveal from NZ Herald that advice about the low risk of myocarditis in teenagers who receive the second covid vaccine was given to Chris Hipkins  O’Reilly share his fears over what this event will do to dispell more people from getting vaccinated – and the harm in that for New Zealand.  Is Hipkins’ brand intact? Can people trust him? Should he step down, or just stand up and front?  Then health insurance - are the high costs worth it? At what age does it become necessary?  What do our panel think of the governments fuel relief plan? Does it strike the right balance between support and overspending? Was the time right?  And we hear what they think of the oppositions response.   Plus diesel prices skyrocket past 91 at some stations. Is this being driven by supply or panic stashing?  Onto Tiaki Wai, the cost of the separate water bill has been announced and Wellingtonians are in for a shock. The standalone charge starts at roughly $2410 and will cost up to nearly $7000 for one household in a decade.  Are these outrageous prices the end of our city?  O’Reilly says the council expectation for population growth over the next decade has decreased from 50,000-80,000 down to 800. JD says he is only looking to hire in Auckland.  What can we do – our panel calls for our council to do something about the mess the city is in.   AI is forcing Massey University to go back to in person exams – is this inevitable? JD says university may be defunct in 5 years. Do the universities have the power to defeat AI cheating?  Then Trask and O’Reilly address the calls from the ambulance association for Dame Kerry Prendergast to step down as Chair of Wellington Free Ambulance.   Plus, our panel share their hots and nots from the week.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For this week's Friday Sport Kick-off, Nick is joined by Newstalk ZB’s sports hosts Adam Cooper and Jason Pine.  Starting with the Hurricanes game against the Reds tomorrow.   After just coming back from Hnry stadium, Adam gives his updates on how the team is looking, and shares CEO Malcolm Gillies call for support.   The game kicks off at 4.35pm tomorrow – tickets are available here. Brad Shields resigns with the Hurricanes for another season – this crew talk about this great news, and how it impacts the team on and off the field   All Whites play in Auckland tonight – what would it mean if they win tonight? And how likely are they to win against Finland?  They take a look at the line up for our team, and the world cup campaign.   Then the team play Chile on Monday – also at Eden Park.  And at Porirua Park on Sunday is the last of regular season game for the Phoenix Women, against the Western Sydney Wanderers.   Then they talk T20 – will they bring in an import player strategy? Where will it be held?  Nick wants a local t20 and team in the big bash, what do Jason and Adam think of it?  Find out on Friday Sport kick-off.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On Politics Thursday this week Nick is joined by National's Minister for Justice, Arts, Culture and Heritage, Media and Communications and Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Paul Goldsmith, and Labour MP and spokesperson for Health and Wellington Issues Ayesha Verrall. Wellington ratepayers have been slapped with a new water bill - which is drawing concern from the government. Nick ask our politicians what they think of this, and what needs to be done to help ratepayers already struggling with high rates.  Do we need a watchdog group to monitor Tiaki Wai? And Wellington ranked lowest on the ASB regional economic scoreboard. What is the answer to get Wellington back? Is it in investments, entrepreneurship or the public sector?  The fuel crisis continues and National has announced their relief package for low to middle income families. Should there be more support for others? Then onto the $10k table price for a dinner with the Prime Minister. The fundraiser for the National party is causing a stir - is it legitimate, fair fundraising or pay for access? Goldsmith and Verrall give their perspectives.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nick Mills is joined on the show today by musical legend Richard O'Brien. O'Brien is the creator of hit musical the Rocky Horror show, and played Riff Raff in the film - which has become a cult classic.  The show is currently touring in Wellington with a West End cast - O'Brien shares his thoughts on how the musical has lasted 50 years, and is still drawing in crowds all over the globe. He tells Nick about what New Zealand means to him and what bought him home after many years around the world. Nick asks where his inspiration is from, what he is up to now and what he wants his legacy to be. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The cost of Wellington's water bills has been announced - and starts with a standalone charge of roughly $2410 a year, expecting to reach $6831 within a decade. Minister for Local Government Simon Watts has expressed concern in the cost to Wellington ratepayers, saying he contacted Andrew Little for an explanation to a rise in the plans he initially saw.  Nick speaks to Chairperson of Tiaki Wai Will Peet to get his answer for Watts.  He said while he understands the concern, he isn't worried.  Peet shares what has gone into the price tag, saying we can't continue kicking the bucket and it's time we have to pay.  What will the new entity do differently to Wellington Water, and how can we trust them? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

OPINION: This is the moments where the penny really drops.   Because for years, we’ve talked about infrastructure, we’ve talked about pipes, we’ve talked about underinvestment — but now it’s no longer theory.   It’s turning up in your email or letterbox.   In a matter of months — July 1 — Wellington households will start receiving a separate water bill.   Not buried in your rates anymore, not hidden in the background. Front and centre and the numbers are eye watering.  Right now, the average household is effectively paying about $2100 a year for water through rates.   Under the new model, that becomes a standalone charge of roughly $2410 a year — about $200 a month, $50 a week and that’s the starting point.  But here’s the reality check — and this is the bit people need to really hear.  That number is projected to rise significantly. The modelling shows annual increases of between 8.9% and 14.4% through to 2035.   If you compound that — and let’s just be clear how that works — you’re stacking increases on top of increases every single year — that $2100 becomes around $6831 a year within a decade.  That’s $566 a month, over $130 a week.  Now put that on top of everything else.  Rates are still going up.   Wellington City Council is already signalling another 7.4% increase.  Even with a projected reduction when water is split out — roughly 29% off the rates bill initially — once the increases are added back in, the average homeowner ends up worse off by about $1000 a year overall, $20 a week.  So let’s be very clear about this: you are not saving money. You are paying more for the same house, in the same city.  And this is where my concern sits.  Because I was talking to a very successful property developer yesterday — someone who knows the numbers inside out — and his words were simple: it’s becoming untenable to live and do business in Wellington.  And now you can see why.  You’ve got rising rates. You’ve now got a separate water bill that could hit $6,000–$7,000 a year within a decade.   You’ve got a shrinking population - an estimated increase of 800 over ten years - to spread those costs across.   And at the same time, we’re being told this is all because of decades of underinvestment in infrastructure — which, frankly, just pushes the cost straight onto today’s ratepayers.  Yes, of course we need to fix the pipes. No one’s arguing that.  But the system? The way this is being delivered? The compounding cost?  That’s where people are starting to say — hang on — this is becoming unaffordable. At what point does the cost of living in Wellington simply become too much?  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nick is joined in studio by Labour Leader Chris Hipkins for the first of their monthly chats for the year. Starting with the fallout from last week's events in Hipkins' private life being bought to the public eye. We get his thoughts on the line of privacy as a politician and how he and his family are handling the situation. Then into the fuel crisis. Yesterday the government launched their plan - starting from April 7, 143,000 low to middle income families will get $50 a week to cope with the rising cost in fuel.  Nick asks Hipkins what Labour would do in the situation, and whether this response from National is enough.  As Labour is up in the polls, we see what the vibe is in Labour at the moment. Are they comfortable or worried about potential coalitions?  He doesn't rule out NZ First plan to split up energy gentailers, is there hope for an agreement between the parties? Hipkins shares his thoughts on Deputy Act leader and Minister Brooke Van Velden's shock exit from politics, and are our promising young politicians being discouraged from the attitudes from the media and public? Plus, are there enough diverse working and education backgrounds inside parliament - particularly Labour. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.