Nick Mills: National MP Tim Costley is taking taxpayers for a ride

How is the economy holding up, what on earth is happening on Thorndon Quay, and how do councils properly engage with local businesses? Those were the questions for the Business Panel this week, consisting of Porirua mayor Anita Baker and The Woolstore executive director Paul Robinson.  The pair joined Nick Mills to discuss all things business in Wellington.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon had to urgently change his travel plans while bound for Japan after the Defence Force's Boeing 757 ran into yet more mechanical troubles.  It left the business delegation and media travelling with the Prime Minister stranded in Papua New Guinea, including Newstalk ZB political editor Jason Walls.  He joined Nick Mills from Port Moresby airport to talk through the events of the last 24 hours. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Are MPs entitlements fit for purpose, and at what point in a council term is it too early to announce you're running for the next one? Those were the questions for our Friday Faceoff panel this week, consisting of Upper Hutt Mayor Wayne Guppy and Wellington City Councillor Nicola Young.  Also on the agenda was an apparent split in Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau's majority, how easy it would be to escape for two years, and the big match for the Hurricanes this weekend.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Eighty minutes on Saturday afternoon will seal the Hurricanes' fate this Super Rugby season, as they take on the Chiefs at Sky Stadium in their semi-final match.  The team is looking for its second title, after first taking out the championship in 2016.  Wellington All Sport Breakfast host Adam Cooper and Weekend Sport host Jason Pine joined Nick Mills to run through the game, and the rest of the weekend's sport.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Are the accommodation entitlements for MP fit for purpose, and what will more oil and gas exploration mean for New Zealand?  Those were the questions for our politics panel this week, with Act party leader David Seymour and Labour's police spokesperson Ginny Andersen.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's been years since Jon Stevens performed in Wellington, but he's returning early next year to perform at Hutt Sounds, part of the Sounds Series concerts.  Born and bred in Upper Hutt, Jon had a career in Noiseworks and later as part of INXS, as well as a storied solo career. He joined Nick Mills to talk about what he's up to, and his excitement for the Upper Hutt gig.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Hurricanes are hoping for 25,000 fans to attend the team's Super Rugby Pacific semi-final against the Chiefs this weekend at Sky Stadium, as the team continues its march to win the Super Rugby title for only the second time in the club's history.  Cory Jane, who made 123 appearances for the Hurricanes and currently serves as assistant coach, says the team are looking forward to the afternoon game.  He joined Nick Mills to look ahead to Saturday. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

David Seymour has held a rally of party faithful, and Christopher Luxon has returned from his trip around the Pacific.  Newstalk ZB senior political reporter Sophie Trigger joined Nick Mills to talk about the last week in politics, and what we can expect this week. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

National MP Tim Costley says his CBD apartment makes him a more effective MP. The first-term MP for Otaki is facing criticism for taking a $36,400 Parliamentary allowance to live in the Wellington apartment, which he owns himself.  Costley lives just 58km from the Beehive in Waikanae, a roughly 40-minute drive from Parliament.  He is also under fire for spending around $15,000 on travel in just three months according to expense returns, but says this is explained by travel he has booked in advance and expenses that weren't processed last year.  He joined Wellington Mornings host Nick Mills to explain his decision. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

OPINION Here's a story you're not going to enjoy if you're one of the government employees who has just been made redundant. It surrounds Otaki MP Tim Costley. He’s a known name in Kapiti, and owns a $1.4 million riverside home in Waikanae, two rental properties in Palmerston North and a flat in Wellington. It's the latter of those properties that's causing Tim a bit of a headache. It turns out Tim is claiming $36,400 a year from a Parliamentary housing allowance to rent his own apartment back to himself, despite his family home being just 58km away from the Beehive.  He lives in Waikanae, but even with Transmission Gully, a 40-minute drive is too much of a commute for him. Yes, it's entirely within the rules, but the rules are dumb. It's not a long drive, even after a very late night in Parliament (which doesn't happen that often). I'm sure he could suck it up. Parliament sits 90 days a year. He’s clearly learned from his leader. Remember Christopher Luxon claimed $52,000 for his mortgage-free apartment in the city, even though as Prime Minister he was entitled to live at Premier House on Tinakori Rd? He chose not to live there because it wasn't quite up to his standards, but later U-turned on pocketing the allowance. But Costly Costley, well he's a first-term MP. He said like many MPs he owns an apartment in Wellington and taking the allowance is within the rules set by the speaker.   Costly Costley said it works out about the same as it does for MPs who stay at hotels. He believes the safest and most sustainable way for him to function as an MP is to stay in Wellington when the house is sitting. He says junior MPs like him are required to stay on the precinct until at least 10pm and are often there later when the house is in urgency, which is very rare I should add. He’s required to be back at Parliament for early meetings at 7:30 and 8:30am, he says.  Come on Costley. How many people living in Waikanae have to commute every day? I agree that would be tough for those very few times that you're driving home at midnight, but surely you don't need a place at a cost of $36,400 a year?  What happened to MPs flatting with each other?  MPs are entitled to claim $36,400 if their main residence is outside the Wellington commuting area, but the rules don't specify a minimum distance. I say Waikanae is definitely within the minimum distance. The Inland Revenue defines a reasonable commuting distance as between 50 and 80 kilometres for each leg of a journey, or between 100 and 160 kilometres taking both legs into account.  That's a lot of travel, but its well above what Costley has to travel. The reality is he could very easily commute. And here’s another kicker just to get you more frustrated, Costly Costley has also claimed nearly $15,000 in travel costs in just the last three months. This is a man who lives just up the road and is not a Minister. He should be spending $1000 a month, if that. Where is he going? Maybe this government needs to look at its own MPs when it comes to cost cutting. Don't get me started on that. I've always felt we have too many MPs. Tim Costly Costley wouldn't be costing us quite so much if he wasn't there. He's a backbencher without any portfolios. Perhaps he should start behaving like one.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.