Friday Faceoff: Thomas Coughlan and Peter Dunne

Our Election 2026 coverage continued with a spotlight on the Kapiti electorate, and the close race between National's incumbent Otaki MP Tim Costley, and Labour candidate Sophie Handford. Tim Costley joined Nick Mills in the Newstalk ZB studio to discuss his campaign. LISTEN ABOVE NOTE: Labour's Sophie Handford was scheduled to appear on this panel discussion, but had to withdraw due to a family bereavement. Handford will be offered an appearance on Wellington Mornings before the Election.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ahead of his Wellington concert at Meow Nui on Friday, Live Aid co-founder and former Ultravox frontman Midge Ure joined Nick Mills to share his memories and inspiration in the music industry. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Opportunity Party leader Qiulae Wong joined Nick Mills on Wellington Mornings, to discuss how the Election campaign has gone so far, and how much they will fight for particular policies in coalition negotiations. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's business panel, Nick was joined by two Wellington retailers who are hoping to spread the word on the capital's unique independent retail sector. That Was Then, This is Now's Nat Woodhall, and Iris Store + Studio's Hannah Wiles, have launched indieProper, aiming to showcase independent retailers in the capital. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With three weeks until the 2026 Election, Friday Faceoff had a strong political focus. Former Cabinet Minister, and long-time Ohariu MP Peter Dunne, and NZ Herald's Political Editor Thomas Coughlan joined Nick Mills in studio. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Newstalk ZB's Nick Mills was joined in studio by Meg Williams, Chief Executive of World of Wearable Art (WOW), to review 2026. They discussed the event's continued success, the tragic passing in-season death of the show's head rigger Nic Balkum, and the prospects of the event remaining in Wellington well into the future. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

OPINION: I've got a confession. I'm one of the 31,000 Wellingtonians who haven't paid their first Tiaki Wai water bill.  There you go. I've admitted it. And I'll tell you why. I've got a $1,200 water bill for a business that hasn't even been open for four months. $1,200, For what? I'm still trying to get to the bottom of it.  I've also got a tenant who's arguing about paying his water bill.  So I've got reasons. I'm not refusing to pay. I'm trying to sort things out.  And I'll tell you something else. I feel guilty. Genuinely guilty. And I'm going to get these bills sorted today.  But here's what really worries me.  31,000 unpaid bills. $21-million outstanding.  That's an entire stadium full of people. Imagine filling Hnry Stadium with Wellingtonians who haven't paid their water bills.  And you know what? I actually thought the number would be higher. I genuinely did.  Because I know how tough things are out there. I know what businesses are going through. I know what households are going through.  And suddenly, on top of everything else, along comes another enormous bill.  Now, some people will be like me, disputing charges. Some will have forgotten. Some will be protesting.  But how many simply cannot afford to pay?  That's the question I want answered.  And here's another extraordinary figure: Of the 163,000 bills issued, nearly one in five remains unpaid.  And Tiaki Wai tells us that's pretty much what they expected! Well, I'm sorry, but I don't find that particularly reassuring.  We've got a water company that needs hundreds of millions of dollars to fix our pipes, and already it's chasing $21 million in unpaid bills.  And apparently only about 50 people have entered hardship arrangements.  Are we seriously suggesting that only 50 Wellingtonians need help?  Look, I understand we have to pay for water. I understand our infrastructure is falling apart.  But there's a difference between needing money and sending people bills they simply cannot understand or afford.  And I want to know whether this is the beginning of something much bigger. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The response to the Moa Point disaster has been the major point of contention during Newstalk ZB's Wellington Bays election panel. Nick Mills was joined by three candidates for the revised electorate - the Greens' incumbent Rongotai MP Julie Anne Genter, Labour's first-time candidate Craig Renney and National's second-time candidate Karuna Muthu.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Greens co-leader Marama Davidson says her Party could work with anyone, but they're categorically ruling out forming a coalition with National.  Opportunity's Qiulae Wong accused the Greens in last night's Multi-Party Debate - of not being open to working with either side. Davidson told Nick Mills on Newstalk ZB's Wellington Mornings the Greens have worked with National on policy in the past, but a formal coalition is off the table.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wellington's Louis Baker has released his latest album, Trouble, ahead of a tour which includes a stop at Meow Nui later in October. Music reviewer James Irwin gave high praise to Baker's latest work. James and Nick also discussed the upcoming Wellington Jazz Festival. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.