Chris Hipkins: Labour leader on the economy and whether the Interislander should be privatised

There is a new ferry in Wellington Harbour - and it looks remarkably similar to an existing one. Bluebridge's new ferry Livia has arrived in the capital - the sister ship to the existing Connemara vessel already operated by Bluebridge.  The ship, built in 2008, was previously operated by a ferry line in Europe, but has since had a fresh lick of paint and is currently undergoing internal renovations ahead of its first voyage across the Cook Strait in about two weeks.  Nick was invited on a tour of the new ship, as well as a chat with Bluebridge/Strait NZ chief executive Shane McMahon. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The organisation tasked with helping to grow the Wellington region's economy has a new boss - and he says Wellington needs to focus more on its successes, rather than it's struggles.  Mark Oldershaw took over the reins at WellingtonNZ a month ago and joined Nick Mills to discuss the role of the organisation, the state of the region, and some exciting major events at Sky Stadium that hopefully will be announced soon. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s an exciting gig coming to Wellington this week – especially if your heydey was in the 70s. 10cc is returning to the capital on Friday night to play a gig at the Opera House, performing classic hits like The Things We Do For Love, Dreadlock Holiday and I'm Not In Love. 10cc was formed in 1972 - after frontman and songwriter Graham Gouldman had begun his career writing hits for The Hollies and Herman’s Hermits. The band has had twelve songs reach the UK Top 40 - including three number-one hits. Gouldman joined Nick Mills to discuss the band's legacy and the inspiration behind their biggest hits. 10cc perform at the Wellington Opera House this Friday, July 11. Tickets from Ticketmaster. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's the second week of the winter recess at Parliament - known around the building as one of the quietest weeks in politics of the year.  But despite many politicians taking the week off or working back in their electorates, there's still work being done in the halls of power - including public submissions on the Regulatory Standards Bill today. What does the bill do, and why has it been so controversial?  Also, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says it's possible the government could introduce mandatory sentences for some crimes. What could this look like? Newstalk ZB political editor Jason Walls joined Nick Mills for the Beehive Buzz.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Local elections are less than four months away now, and nominations officially opened today. But with four races in Wellington with hot favourites, are we less excited than we have been in previous years? Also, Wellington Central MP Tamatha Paul wants some of the city's statues pulled down, including the William Wakefield monument on the bank of the Basin Reserve, claiming we shouldn't have statues of "thieving criminal colonisers". Is she right? To answer those questions, PSA National Secretary Fleur Fitzsimons and Wellington City Councillor Nicola Young joined Nick Mills for Friday Faceoff. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Scott Robertson has named his first All Blacks 23 of the year, to face France at Dunedin’s Forsyth Barr Stadium on Saturday night.  France have won their past three tests against the All Black - but could that winning streak end this weekend as Robertson's men face a French side missing some of their stars? Weekend Sport host Jason Pine and Wellington's All Sport Breakfast host Adam Cooper joined Nick Mills to give their takes ahead of the game.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The government has announced three new law and order policies this week, including increased penalties for coward punches, assaulting first responders and shoplifting. But what impact will these changes have?  Also, Act and New Zealand First have shot down Finance Minister Nicola Willis' plans for a policy costing unit. Is this something we should have? National's Otaki MP Tim Costley and Labour's revenue and associate finance spokeswoman Dr Deborah Russell joined Nick Mills for Politics Thursday.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labour leader and Remutaka MP Chris Hipkins says he is sceptical of the idea the Interislander could be privatised.  It comes after a cabinet paper obtained by the Herald floated the possibility of partially or fully privatising the ferry service.  Hipkins joined Nick Mills for his monthly catch-up, where the pair also discussed the state of the economy, whether weight-loss 'wonder drugs' should be funded, and the government's recent law and order announcements.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Well-known Wellington personality Ken Laban has thrown his hat in the ring to be Lower Hutt's next mayor.  The 68-year-old has spent his career as a police officer, later becoming a commentator with TVNZ and Sky Sport. Since 2013 he has served as a Greater Wellington Regional Councillor.  He grew up in Wainuiomata with sister Dame Winnie Laban, a former Labour cabinet minister.  Laban joined Nick Mills to discuss why he's chosen to run for the city's top job.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Finance Minister Nicola Willis says New Zealand has not “escaped the aftershocks of world events” as new data shows hardship rising and more Kiwis struggling to pay the bills. Speaking to Newstalk ZB Wellington Mornings host Nick Mills about the state of the economy, Willis acknowledged it had been “a tough time”. “Things were starting to come along and then come April there were some reasonably significant announcements by the US President that sent ramifications through the world”, Willis said. Donald Trump’s April “Liberation Day” announcement saw sweeping tariffs introduced for more than 125 countries, including 10% on imports coming from New Zealand. Willis said business confidence has been impacted as a result and growth forecasts have been downgraded.“Little old New Zealand, just recovering, has been really impacted by that.” She said in spite of the global uncertainty growth is still forecast to improve, but “we haven’t escaped the aftershocks of global events”. Credit reporting agency Centrix released its June Credit Indicator today. It showed household arrears were levelling out while hardship and company liquidations were on the rise. Nearly 50,000 individual billpayers were in financial hardship, an increase of 300 from May, and 14% more than a year ago, Centrix said. An uptick in hardship began in November 2022, and today’s figures “continues a steady upward trend”, Centrix managing director Keith McLaughlin said. “I don’t deny those numbers, as you say, they’re facts and I meet enough New Zealanders each week to know there are still a lot of people doing it tough”, Willis said. She said it comes at a time when New Zealand is at its “peak unemployment”. “When unemployment is higher, of course that is when you see people unable to pay their bills”, Willis said. On the increase in business liquidations, which Centrix recorded as being up 27% on last year’s figures, Willis said that there would be a variety of reasons for that and disputed the Government was responsible. Asked by Mills if her government could have done more to assist struggling businesses, she said there were “certainly things we could have done which would have made it harder for them”. Willis pointed to moves like tax cuts, cutting red tape, and the investment boost policy, which she said are benefiting small businesses. Wellington’s ‘disappointing chapter’ Willis, a lifelong Wellingtonian, was asked about the state of the capital. She responded by criticising Wellington City Council for having had “its eye completely off the ball”. “It feels to me like a place that needs a fresh start”, she said. Willis believes the city still has “cool things” going for it like smart tenacious people, the native bush, and the city’s hospitality scene, but said “man oh man have we mucked up” with regard to council decision-making. She said the council must be focused on keeping rates low. It comes after the council approved a 12% rates increase for the 2025/2026 year. “It seems to me that the council has not been focused on that mission and at the same time has been quite distracted by what I would say are interesting political debates.” She said the city has been in a “disappointing chapter”. Asked whether she is excited by any of those running in the upcoming local election, Willis said she does not endorse candidates but is looking for two things. The first was getting rates rises under control. “That means actually being prepared to stop doing some things, we’ve had to do that as a government”, Willis said.The second thing she was looking for in candidates was policy that is “genuinely pro-business”, citing Wellington’s disproportionately high commercial rates. She also spoke on the Golden Mile project saying while she understands the vision, now is not the time.“I’m looking for councillors who are pledging to be disciplined about the way they spend ratepayer money”, Willis said. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.