Politics Thursday: Ayesha Verrall and Tim Costley debate pay equity, MMP and personal emails

We're nearly halfway through New Zealand music month, and Wellington Mornings' look back on the greatest Kiwi songs ever released continues.  This week; what was the first New Zealand number one single entirely in te reo Māori? And what was the first number one from a female artist? Also, our music man James Irwin takes a look back at the TV shows of old that celebrated Kiwi music.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

They are two Wellington organisations who have just spent millions of dollars on new projects - so how did they get them off the ground?  In the Wellington City Mission's case, last year they opened Whakamaru - with a new cafe and safe transitional housing for the city's most vulnerable - and today they also launched a brand new catering business with profits going straight back to the mission.  For Circa Theatre, the Wellington institution has opened a new bar and restaurant, Chouchou.  To discuss the projects, and the challenges facing both organisations, Nick was joined by Wellington City Missioner Rev. Murray Edridge and Circa Theatre's general manager Caroline Armstrong.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The college of Caridinals has elected a new Pope - and he's the first to hail from the United States. Will he continue Francis' liberal legacy?  Also, outgoing Labour MP David Parker says New Zealand's MMP system has led to more polarisation in our politics and is in favour of a preferential voting system. Is MMP working? To answer those questions, former Minister Peter Dunne and BusinessDesk property editor Maria Slade joined Nick Mills for Friday Faceoff.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

NZ Rugby have posted yet another multi-million dollar loss - despite record turnover.  The group lost $19.5 million last year - the third loss in a row.  Is the issue that the game simply can't compete with the likes of football and basketball - or are they simply spending too much money?  Weekend Sport host Jason Pine and All Sport Breakfast host Adam Cooper joined Nick Mills for the Friday Sport Kickoff. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The government has completely revamped the law surrounding pay equity - a move the opposition says was designed to save money. Was it? Also, is it okay for Ministers to conduct official business via their personal email accounts? Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says he is "relaxed" about it.  To answer those questions, Labour's health and Wellington issues spokesperson Ayesha Verrall and National's Otaki MP Tim Costley joined Nick Mills for Politics Thursday.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labour leader Chris Hipkins says the government is letting down women across New Zealand by revamping the country's pay equity laws.  Parliament is sitting under urgency today to change the law - expected to save the government billions of dollars.  Hipkins joined Nick Mills to discuss the move, as well as a National MP's proposal to ban under-16s from social media, and former Labour leader Andrew Little's run to be Wellington's next mayor.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's fifty years since the official New Zealand music charts were launched - and there have been plenty of number ones from Kiwi artists in the five decades since.  Many records have been broken in that time too - including some artists who managed the feat of knocking one of their own songs from the number one position. To discuss the history of the charts, Wellington Mornings' music man James Irwin joined Nick Mills for Music Time.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

US President Donald Trump has pledged to introduce a 100 per cent tariff on all films produced outside of the United States - and while details are light, it could have a large impact on New Zealand's growing film production sector. To discuss what it could mean, film and television producer and former South Pacific Pictures boss John Barnett joined Nick Mills.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Act party leader David Seymour says the size of New Zealand's government is too big - and there are too many ministerial positions, including some ministers with multiple portfolios.  So what does Prime Minister Christopher Luxon make of the suggestion some ministerial positions should be cut? Also, we're just weeks away from Finance Minister Nicola Willis unveiling this year's budget. What can we expect over the coming weeks? Newstalk ZB political editor Jason Walls joined Nick Mills for the Beehive Buzz. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It was a big weekend in Australia, with Anthony Albanese's Labor Party returned to power over Peter Dutton's Liberal/National coalition. The result flew in the face of multiple polls, which as recent as two months ago were predicting a resounding win for Dutton. The 'Trump effect' has been widely attributed to Labor's rise in the polls during the campaign. Could we see something similar in New Zealand?  New Zealand Labour's campaign chair Kieran McAnulty, who was at Albanese's election night party, joined Nick Mills to discuss the result.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.