OPINION

The Golden Mile. Three words that terrify business owners on Lambton Quay, Willis Street and Courtenay Place.

You know the plan. Removing cars from those three streets, pedestrianising the roads and installing bus lanes only. Parking will be gone too.

It started off with Let's Get Wellington Moving. Then that was scrapped.

But Wellington mayor Tory Whanau promised to make sure it still went ahead. She secured the money from the coalition government and made it something of a legacy project.

But recently the council had gone silent on the plan. We learnt no contracts had been signed and there were certainly no shovels in the ground.

But ysterday the media were called into Wellington City Council offices for a top-secret meeting to reveal the latest plans.

And it turns out there’s not much to report.

First of all, contracts for the whole project still haven’t been signed. The only contract signed is for the corner intersection of Courtney Place, Kent Terrace and Cambridge Terrace.

Spades in the ground by April we're told, and it’ll take 8 months to complete... for one intersection.

Move over the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. Wellington has Tory's corner.

But that's it. No other contracts. No idea when work on the rest of the Golden Mile will start.

For what is the Mayor's legacy project and something very important to her, she’s moving extremely slowly on getting it done.

Not that it worries her.

"I think this is the happiest I've felt since the election," she told Newstalk ZB yesterday.

Then there’s the cost.

The entire project is forecast to cost $116 million - but the council would not say yesterday the breakdown for the Courtenay Place section, citing commercial sensitivity.

Then you’ve got support for businesses, or lack thereof. There will be none.

Then there’s the Mayor's comments about leases.

She met with her mayoral business group this week to discuss the possibility of renting out empty spaces month by month to allow for pop up stores.

The council owns none of those properties, so how do they decide what goes on with them? What landlord wants a lease for month-by-month?

But being very serious here, I've always felt the improvement of Courtenay Place is imperative for our city to move forward.

But the timing couldn't possibly be worse. We've got a multimillion-dollar development at Reading Cinema about to take place, we have businesses struggling from three or four years of the toughest economic climate most can remember.

And we're going to destroy Courtenay Place before we rebuild it.

You just have to look at Thorndon Quay to know how damaging this will be.

There’s only one solution to all of this in my eyes. Stop and wait.

Wellingtonians need to have their say. We have to hold on til the next election before we do anything.

Whether Tory wins the mayoralty again can be a referendum on the Golden Mile.

If Wellington wants it, she’ll be back in. If not, scrap the whole damn thing. 

And if you get back in Tory - fill your boots, build your field of dreams. Your golden mile. But that's if you wins the election - and only if.

LISTEN ABOVE

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

David Seymour has been under fire this week after it was revealed he wrote a letter supporting Philip Polkinghorne before he was charged with murder, and before Seymour was a Minister. 

The controversy continued on Monday as Seymour attempted to drive a Land Rover up Parliament's steps, before being yelled at by a Parliamentary security guard. 

How have both of these stories reflected on the government, and do Seymour and Prime Minister Christopher Luxon have a good relationship? 

Also, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says a conversation on the future of superannuation is inevitable. Is it time we means tested the pension?

To answer those questions, Labour's police spokesperson Ginny Andersen and National's Otaki MP Tim Costley joined Nick Mills for Politics Thursday.

LISTEN ABOVE

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of the highlights on Wellington’s events calendar returns this week. 

NZ Fringe is the largest arts festival in the country, encompassing more than 170 events with artists from across New Zealand and the globe.

The festival has called Wellington home since it began in 1990 - and this year marks the 35th annual event. 

To talk about what audiences can expect, festival director Vanessa Stacey joined Nick Mills. 

LISTEN ABOVE

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown has jetted off to China to sign a new partnership deal - but New Zealand has no idea what the deal entails. 

Foreign Minister Winston Peters says the country, which is in free association with New Zealand, has failed to consult the government on the deal - a requirement of a constitutional agreement signed in 2001. 

So what could be in the deal, and how will the government respond? Newstalk ZB political editor Jason Walls joined Nick Mills for the Beehive Buzz. 

LISTEN ABOVE

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Michèle A'Court is a best-selling author, an actor, a writer and a former What Now host - but she's best known as a comedian, having entertained crowds across New Zealand for decades. 

She got her start in Wellington and is returning to the city this month to perform as part of NZ Fringe. 

She joined Nick Mills to discuss her career, her time in Wellington and how comedy has changed. 

LISTEN ABOVE

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There was huge news for Wellington's film industry late last month; our very own Weta FX has been nominated for three Academy Awards. 

This year, Alien: Romulus, Better Man, and Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes have been recognised with Best Visual Effects Oscar nominations. Weta FX worked on all three films. 

The company, which has 2000 staff in Wellington, will learn whether they have won the awards on Monday March 3. 

Weta FX head of VFX Matt Aitken joined Nick Mills to discuss the work that went into the films - as well as his memories of previous Oscar ceremonies alongside the stars. 

LISTEN ABOVE

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The latest rating valuations are out for Wellington - and its not good news for the value of almost every property in the city. 

The average property has decreased in value by 24.4% since the last valuations in 2021 - but could it mean rates bills come down? 

Also, Wellington City Council crown observer Lindsay McKenzie has given his first report to the Local Government Minister - what'd it say?

NZ Herald Wellington issues reporter Georgina Campbell joined Nick Mills for the Capital Letter.

LISTEN ABOVE

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Music legends Toto have announced a gig in Wellington, performing at the TSB Arena in April. But who is the special guest joining them? 

Also, Sir Paul McCartney has hit out at the rise of artificial intelligence - but is his stance slightly hypocritical given The Beatles utilised AI in their latest single? 

To answer those questions, Nick Mills was joined by Wellington Mornings music guru James Irwin.

LISTEN ABOVE

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's our first Business Panel of 2025 and there is one question on everyone's mind: will the capital's economy bounce back this year? 

Whatever happens, today's guests say Wellington needs to remain positive and celebrate what makes the city great. 

WellingtonNZ chief operating officer Heidi Morton and Capital Creative Arts Trust CEO Kim Bailey joined Nick Mills on the panel today.

The pair discussed the mood of the region, the apparent lack of big events, and the success of Wellington's arts industry, especially in film.

LISTEN ABOVE

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Thousands will descend on the Waitangi Treaty grounds this week ahead of celebrations on Thursday - but the Prime Minister will be notably absent. Where is he celebrating the day? 

Also, a government-wide investigation into allegations of misuse of census data still hasn't been released. When will the findings be known?

To answer those questions, Newstalk ZB political editor Jason Walls joined Nick Mills for the Beehive Buzz.

LISTEN ABOVE

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.