Politics Thursday: Nicola Willis and Ayesha Verrall on Julie Anne Genter, AUKUS and MPs pay

Khandallah Pool is still facing the chop, and New Zealand has a midwife shortage... and Wellington has it particularly bad.  NZ Herald Wellington issues reporter Georgina Campbell joined Nick Mills for her regular slot. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How is the exodus of a record number of Kiwi citizens affecting businesses, and is 24/7 parking for Wellington CBD a good idea?  Those were the questions for the Business Panel this week, made up of Capital's Aimie Hines and Brezelmania bakery director Tony Parun.  The pair joined Nick Mills to talk all things business in Wellington.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Julie Anne Genter is set to return to Parliament this week, as the house meets after a recess week.  Her return comes after yesterday's State of the Planet speech from Green co-leaders Chloe Swarbrick and Julie Anne Genter. Also on the horizon is the government's first budget at the end of the month. Newstalk ZB political editor Jason Walls joined Nick Mills to talk through what we can expect this week in politics.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wellington is buzzing ahead of the biggest game ever for the Wellington Phoenix tomorrow night, so who better than former All White David Chote to run us through what it means for the team.  Joining him for Friday Faceoff this week was Capital director Neale Jones, not a football fan, but excited nonetheless.  Also on the agenda was charter schools, gangs, Tory Whanau's meeting attendence and migration.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's the biggest game for the Wellington Phoenix in its 17-year history tomorrow night, as they take on Melbourne Victory in the first A-League semi-final. Sky Stadium has completely sold out for the event, making it the biggest home crowd for a Phoenix game ever.  Manager Giancarlo Italiano sat down with Wellington Mornings host Nick Mills to talk about the team's successful season, and the semi-final hurdle in front of them.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today marks a year since Wellingtonians woke up to the news that a hostel in Newtown had caught fire.  Five people were killed and another twenty injured. The people who didn't perish in the fire lost their home, their belongings and in some cases, their friends.  Wellington City Missioner Murray Edridge joined Nick Mills to remember the tragedy, and Nick played clips from the show of the morning of the disaster.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Will the new gang taskforce work, and what's the benefit of charter schools?  That was the debate on Politics Thursday this week, as Finance Minister Nicola Willis and Labour's police spokesperson Ginny Andersen joined Nick Mills.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Aotearoa Music Awards will be announced at the end of the month of May, which doubles as New Zealand Music Month.  Wellington Mornings music guru James Irwin, fresh from a trip to buy a bunch of new CDs, joined Nick Mills to talk about some interesting AMA finalists, and his favourite Kiwi songs.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

OPINION Anyone who knows me knows how important I think Victoria and Massey Universities are for our city.   Wellington lights up when the students arrive at the beginning of the year, and the city dies down when they leave.  Well today through to Thursday is graduation week for a lot of students from Victoria University.  This is the highlight for not only the students graduating, but a highlight for family and whanau celebrating a lot of hard work.  So when I first heard that a student group was planning to co-opt this week's graduation events with a pro-Palestine demonstration I said to myself no way.  Now this is nothing to do with what they are protesting against; we can put that to the side.   It's more the fact that some things in life have to be free of any form of political protest.  Some things are special, some things are too important, some things are just completely inappropriate for a protest.  To me, graduation parades should be left alone. Students should be left to be themselves; to enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime celebration of their great work.  Student Justice for Palestine Poneke organiser Hana Pilkington-Ching says students should use the celebrations to raise awareness of the war in Gaza by bringing Palestine flags or signs to the ceremonies.  She says New Zealand students need to recognise that education is under attack in Palestine and there are no universities left in Gaza.  Some would argue it is absolutely something to protest.   I would say a graduation parade is the wrong place, and the wrong time. Some things should be left alone and one of them is graduation.  You don't ask people to turn up to your nan’s funeral wearing a ‘Bring Back Buck’ t-shirt.  You don’t go to a wedding holding a nuclear-free New Zealand banner.  No. These things are special.  Some things should be left alone and I strongly believe there should be no political aspect to a graduation. There should be no pressure on these students to feel obligated to be involved.  This is their day and their family's day. The thought of people trying to hijack this event angers me.  It’s wrong.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Winston is off overseas yet again, this week on a trip to multiple Melanesian states. And a new poll was released last week, what do the numbers show? Newstalk ZB political editor joined Wellington Mornings host Nick Mills for an update from the Beehive.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.