The number of gang members in New Zealand has surpassed 10,000 for the first time - now sitting at 10,009 according to the National Gang List.

That compares to 9270 just before the 2023 election, and 5343 gang members in 2017. 

So what's needed to stop the gangs growing, and has banning gang patches made any material difference to recruitment?

Police Minister Mark Mitchell joined Nick Mills to discuss the numbers.

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Around 36,000 nurses are taking to the street today in an effort for better pay and conditions, but with the average nurse earning over $100,000 a year - are some being a bit greedy?

Also, while interest rates have lowered, many Wellingtonians are still feeling the pinch of a sluggish economy. When can we expect to see the economy bounce back?

Deputy Prime Minister and Act leader David Seymour joined Nick Mills in the studio. 

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This week on Music Time, Nick and James preview a New Zealand band out of retirement with an imminent tour and vinyl release, ponder pirate metal and German reggae musical genres and check out all the gigs around the capital.

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It's a Hutt Valley special of the Wellington Morning's business panel this week, with a successful engineer and the man in charge of advocating for business in the area joining Nick on the show.

On the agenda; the state of the Wellington economy in the outer cities, rising rates and insurance costs, public sector cuts and the rise of artificial intelligence. 

Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce CEO Patrick McKibbin and Metco Engineering director Paul Jessup joined Nick Mills. 

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The government has announced changes to election rules, ending the ability to enrol on election day - something 110,000 people did last election. Is this a reasonable move, or could it risk disenfranchising some would-be voters? 

Also, the government has instructed Sport NZ to scrap its guidelines on transgender participation in sport, which directed sporting bodies to allow trans people to participate as the gender they identify with. Now, individual sporting bodies will make their own decisions on trans inclusion. Is this the right call?

To answer those questions, broadcaster Mark Sainsbury and Lower Hutt mayor Campbell Barry joined Nick Mills for Friday Faceoff.

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New Zealand's premier netball competition is staring down financial struggles, with Netball NZ yet to confirm a broadcast deal for the competition moving forward. 

Players are reportedly growing concerned about their futures, with broadcasting rights making up a large chunk of the funding required to hold the ANZ Premiership each year. 

So, what does the future hold for netball in New Zealand?

Newstalk ZB All Sport Breakfast host Adam Cooper and Weekend Sport host Jason Pine joined Nick Mills for the Friday Sport Kickoff. 

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The government has directed Sport NZ to scrap their guidelines around transgender participation in sports - with individual sporting bodies able to make their own decisions on how to include transgender players. 

But is this really a serious issue, or a manufactured culture-war type debate?

Also, the price of butter has risen 60% in the last twelve months. Should Kiwis be paying export prices for butter?

To answer those questions, Labour's health and Wellington issues spokeswoman Ayesha Verrall and National's Wairarapa MP Mike Butterick joined Nick Mills for Politics Thursday.

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The Mills Albert Wellington Saints have made history - taking out their thirteenth NBL championship title over the weekend. 

The Saints beat the Southland Sharks 88-83 on Sunday night at TSB Arena in Wellington.

Captain Hyrum Harris, coach Aaron Young and CEO Jordan Mills joined Nick Mills in studio with the NBL trophy to talk about the team's season and Sunday night's thriller. 

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Inflation is back on the rise, with an annual inflation rate of 2.7% in the year to June, up from 2.5% in the year to March.

What will be going through the minds of the economics wonks at the Reserve Bank - and are we still in line for another rate cut next month with this news? 

Newstalk ZB political editor Jason Walls joined Nick Mills for the Beehive Buzz. 

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On Friday Faceoff this week, Nick was joined by ex-Wellington Mayor and Dot Loves Data director Justin Lester, and Raygun co-founder John-Daniel (JD) Trask.

They discussed the fallout over the past week from mayoral candidate Ray Chung's infamous email, the Prime Minister's latest criticisms of Wellington and how the city's thriving with a handful of top sporting events.

Listen live to Faceoff each Friday at 11am on Newstalk ZB.

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