1 00:00:05,040 --> 00:00:05,440 Speaker 1: Hilda. 2 00:00:05,519 --> 00:00:08,720 Speaker 2: I'm Chelsea Daniels and this is the Front Page, a 3 00:00:08,800 --> 00:00:16,520 Speaker 2: daily podcast presented by The New Zealand Herald. Wellington City 4 00:00:16,560 --> 00:00:19,960 Speaker 2: will have a new mayor by the end of this year. 5 00:00:20,400 --> 00:00:24,040 Speaker 2: After previously committing to run for a second term, Mayor 6 00:00:24,079 --> 00:00:28,120 Speaker 2: Torri Farno has pulled out of the race. It comes 7 00:00:28,200 --> 00:00:32,919 Speaker 2: after her term was dominated by personal incidents and infighting 8 00:00:33,000 --> 00:00:36,720 Speaker 2: between counselors, but she made her decision only a day 9 00:00:36,960 --> 00:00:41,440 Speaker 2: after work finally started on the Golden Mile project. A 10 00:00:41,520 --> 00:00:44,720 Speaker 2: number of men are running to take over the Merrill reins, 11 00:00:45,000 --> 00:00:49,199 Speaker 2: with former Labor Minister Andrew Little just the latest to 12 00:00:49,320 --> 00:00:52,720 Speaker 2: enter the competition. But whoever takes on the city's top 13 00:00:52,840 --> 00:00:56,560 Speaker 2: job will need to deal with rising rents, declining house 14 00:00:56,640 --> 00:01:00,840 Speaker 2: prices and the ongoing ferry issues. Today on the front 15 00:01:00,880 --> 00:01:04,760 Speaker 2: Page ends ed Me Wellington reporter Ethan Minera joins us 16 00:01:04,840 --> 00:01:09,560 Speaker 2: to discuss what Farno's departure means for our capital in crisis. 17 00:01:14,760 --> 00:01:18,480 Speaker 2: So Ethan, after what can only be described, I suppose 18 00:01:18,560 --> 00:01:22,720 Speaker 2: as a tumultuous term, Tory Farnow is giving up her 19 00:01:22,800 --> 00:01:24,520 Speaker 2: re election bid in the Capitol. 20 00:01:24,840 --> 00:01:26,800 Speaker 1: Did this come as a surprise. 21 00:01:27,000 --> 00:01:29,560 Speaker 3: Well, yes and no. I mean, going back to the start. 22 00:01:29,640 --> 00:01:32,679 Speaker 3: Tory Fano always said she wanted three terms for the 23 00:01:32,720 --> 00:01:35,640 Speaker 3: mealty and she was always very consistent with that idea 24 00:01:36,200 --> 00:01:38,319 Speaker 3: up until sort of late last year when she was 25 00:01:38,520 --> 00:01:41,319 Speaker 3: on news talks. He'd be with Wellington Morning's host Nick Mills, 26 00:01:41,560 --> 00:01:44,240 Speaker 3: where she sort of seemed to waiver. The tone had changed. 27 00:01:44,560 --> 00:01:46,280 Speaker 3: She said that she was going to take the summer 28 00:01:46,280 --> 00:01:48,480 Speaker 3: to talk to friends and family about it. So that 29 00:01:48,840 --> 00:01:50,320 Speaker 3: is all sort of pricked up in the newsroom when 30 00:01:50,360 --> 00:01:52,160 Speaker 3: she said that, and we were asking questions, but she 31 00:01:52,240 --> 00:01:54,400 Speaker 3: came back from summer and she was very strong in 32 00:01:54,480 --> 00:01:57,040 Speaker 3: saying that she was committed to the job. She did 33 00:01:57,080 --> 00:01:59,160 Speaker 3: reveal that she had wavered, but she sort of came 34 00:01:59,160 --> 00:02:01,800 Speaker 3: out swinging up until you know, a couple weeks ago. 35 00:02:01,920 --> 00:02:04,840 Speaker 3: She had sought the Green Party endorsement. She got that 36 00:02:04,920 --> 00:02:07,280 Speaker 3: a couple weeks ago. And so when it was initially 37 00:02:07,400 --> 00:02:09,760 Speaker 3: revealed and we learnt that she was going to be 38 00:02:09,840 --> 00:02:12,600 Speaker 3: quitting the mile race, it was an initial surprise, but 39 00:02:12,639 --> 00:02:15,120 Speaker 3: I think taking a step back and listening to some 40 00:02:15,160 --> 00:02:17,760 Speaker 3: of the reasons why she isn't going to stand again, 41 00:02:18,160 --> 00:02:20,959 Speaker 3: it's perhaps a little bit less surprising. I mean, she's 42 00:02:20,960 --> 00:02:24,119 Speaker 3: given a huge range of reasons for why she's decided 43 00:02:24,120 --> 00:02:26,239 Speaker 3: to drop out of the race and sort of throw 44 00:02:26,280 --> 00:02:29,080 Speaker 3: her support behind Andrew Little. She says with him running 45 00:02:29,080 --> 00:02:31,960 Speaker 3: for mea she likes him as a candidate and she 46 00:02:32,080 --> 00:02:35,000 Speaker 3: wants both of them to be on council. She also says, 47 00:02:35,120 --> 00:02:38,639 Speaker 3: after turning the soil on the Golden Mile project, that's 48 00:02:38,680 --> 00:02:40,680 Speaker 3: a huge achievement that she's been trying to get across 49 00:02:40,720 --> 00:02:42,920 Speaker 3: the line, and now with that started, she can happily 50 00:02:42,960 --> 00:02:46,239 Speaker 3: step back. I think, perhaps more realistically, there was some 51 00:02:46,320 --> 00:02:49,040 Speaker 3: realization there that this was going to be a hard 52 00:02:49,080 --> 00:02:52,000 Speaker 3: campaign to win. We saw some recent polling that showed 53 00:02:52,040 --> 00:02:54,840 Speaker 3: that Tory didn't have the same support that she had 54 00:02:54,880 --> 00:02:57,200 Speaker 3: when she was first elected. We remember she was elected 55 00:02:57,360 --> 00:03:00,240 Speaker 3: with a very strong majority last election in twenty twenty too, 56 00:03:00,880 --> 00:03:04,160 Speaker 3: and it has been a tough mayoralty. There have been challenges, 57 00:03:04,200 --> 00:03:06,400 Speaker 3: and I think she perhaps thought that it might not 58 00:03:06,480 --> 00:03:08,160 Speaker 3: be as easy to win this time around, and so 59 00:03:08,280 --> 00:03:09,360 Speaker 3: decided to throw in the towel. 60 00:03:09,520 --> 00:03:10,840 Speaker 1: What's going to be her legacy? 61 00:03:11,120 --> 00:03:13,000 Speaker 3: I think it will be split. I mean, she's come 62 00:03:13,040 --> 00:03:15,600 Speaker 3: for herself and outlined a list of achievements that she 63 00:03:15,720 --> 00:03:18,200 Speaker 3: wants to be her legacy. The key one, I would say, 64 00:03:18,240 --> 00:03:21,480 Speaker 3: would be that Golden Mile project. It's been long mooted, 65 00:03:21,560 --> 00:03:23,760 Speaker 3: it's been debated a number of times, it's gone to 66 00:03:23,800 --> 00:03:26,720 Speaker 3: consultation a number of times. It will be key to 67 00:03:26,760 --> 00:03:30,360 Speaker 3: see whether the main work on that can be signed off. 68 00:03:30,400 --> 00:03:32,360 Speaker 3: I note that the contract for the majority of the 69 00:03:32,360 --> 00:03:35,800 Speaker 3: Courtney Place work of this transport project still hasn't been signed. 70 00:03:36,160 --> 00:03:38,440 Speaker 3: She wants to get that signed before the election. The 71 00:03:38,520 --> 00:03:40,680 Speaker 3: only part that has been signed, the only contract for 72 00:03:40,720 --> 00:03:43,520 Speaker 3: work is for the intersection at the top of Courtney Place. 73 00:03:43,760 --> 00:03:46,000 Speaker 3: So if she can get the rest of it signed 74 00:03:46,000 --> 00:03:49,080 Speaker 3: off before the election, gets spades in the ground, that 75 00:03:49,160 --> 00:03:51,880 Speaker 3: will be a huge legacy. I think lots of people 76 00:03:51,960 --> 00:03:54,960 Speaker 3: want something done there, lots of businesses also oppose it, 77 00:03:55,000 --> 00:03:57,680 Speaker 3: so whether it's positive or negative, that will be something 78 00:03:57,720 --> 00:03:59,640 Speaker 3: that she'll be able to point to as a tangible 79 00:03:59,640 --> 00:04:02,080 Speaker 3: outcome for her majority getting that across the line. Other 80 00:04:02,120 --> 00:04:05,160 Speaker 3: things that she's pointed to assycleways and other controversial topic 81 00:04:05,200 --> 00:04:09,040 Speaker 3: in Wellington. Bono's celebrating adding twenty seven kilometers of new 82 00:04:09,080 --> 00:04:12,280 Speaker 3: bike lanes under her term. Also water, I'd say, to 83 00:04:12,320 --> 00:04:14,880 Speaker 3: her credit, she has been a big supporter of pouring 84 00:04:14,920 --> 00:04:17,359 Speaker 3: more funding into Wellington Water for them to get ahead 85 00:04:17,360 --> 00:04:19,599 Speaker 3: of links, and some recent data shows that they have 86 00:04:19,760 --> 00:04:21,680 Speaker 3: been getting on top of them. But I think a 87 00:04:21,800 --> 00:04:24,320 Speaker 3: key feature of her tenure be some of those personal 88 00:04:24,360 --> 00:04:26,680 Speaker 3: issues and some of the headlines that she's generated over 89 00:04:26,720 --> 00:04:28,880 Speaker 3: the past few years. You know, she admitted to a 90 00:04:28,960 --> 00:04:32,520 Speaker 3: drinking problem after a few instances of public intoxication. She'd 91 00:04:32,560 --> 00:04:35,680 Speaker 3: also revealed term media she'd been diagnosed with ADHD and 92 00:04:35,720 --> 00:04:38,359 Speaker 3: significant traits of autism. Late last year she said on 93 00:04:38,400 --> 00:04:40,479 Speaker 3: newstooks he'd be again that she sold her car to 94 00:04:40,520 --> 00:04:42,960 Speaker 3: help her pay the bills. So those sort of things 95 00:04:43,000 --> 00:04:45,080 Speaker 3: have been a real highlight of a mayority in something 96 00:04:45,080 --> 00:04:48,760 Speaker 3: that she's admitted herself have become a distraction. Also, relationship 97 00:04:48,839 --> 00:04:51,720 Speaker 3: issues have been a repeated issue. She hasn't been able 98 00:04:51,760 --> 00:04:53,919 Speaker 3: to unify the council when she admits this, She hasn't 99 00:04:53,920 --> 00:04:56,160 Speaker 3: been able to get people around the table, get those 100 00:04:56,160 --> 00:04:59,120 Speaker 3: conservative counselors on board, and it's been a similar issue 101 00:04:59,160 --> 00:05:02,120 Speaker 3: with central government as well. There's sort of a constant 102 00:05:02,120 --> 00:05:07,320 Speaker 3: battle between her and the Coalition, trading jabs often. Christopher 103 00:05:07,360 --> 00:05:10,080 Speaker 3: Luxon recently said that the Wellington councils were lame over 104 00:05:10,160 --> 00:05:13,039 Speaker 3: not putting in a regional deal. Tori Fano hit back, 105 00:05:13,160 --> 00:05:15,880 Speaker 3: saying that Chris Luxen wasn't a very nice person and 106 00:05:15,960 --> 00:05:19,280 Speaker 3: so that's sort of been something that's constantly bubbling away 107 00:05:19,320 --> 00:05:21,599 Speaker 3: as her issues with central government, and something that I 108 00:05:21,600 --> 00:05:24,560 Speaker 3: think voters want to see in another candidate is someone 109 00:05:24,560 --> 00:05:28,360 Speaker 3: who can work with central government to get outcomes for Wellington. 110 00:05:29,960 --> 00:05:32,400 Speaker 4: If you are going to rape yourself out of ten 111 00:05:32,480 --> 00:05:36,599 Speaker 4: your scorecard, ten being the best mayor ever and one 112 00:05:36,680 --> 00:05:39,320 Speaker 4: being not that great, where would you put yourself. 113 00:05:39,200 --> 00:05:42,640 Speaker 5: I look back at what I campaigned on, what I 114 00:05:42,680 --> 00:05:44,880 Speaker 5: said I would deliver to the city. I'd give myself 115 00:05:44,880 --> 00:05:47,839 Speaker 5: a nine out of ten. Apart from light rail, everything 116 00:05:47,880 --> 00:05:51,520 Speaker 5: I campaigned on is in train, and I'm really proud 117 00:05:51,520 --> 00:05:51,839 Speaker 5: of that. 118 00:05:51,920 --> 00:05:52,279 Speaker 2: You know, this. 119 00:05:52,400 --> 00:05:55,360 Speaker 5: Council's delivered the most investment in water one point eight 120 00:05:55,360 --> 00:05:59,080 Speaker 5: billion dollars. That's three times the previous council. We've enabled 121 00:05:59,120 --> 00:06:03,320 Speaker 5: more homes, delivered, more psychle ways, more bus lanes, you know, 122 00:06:03,480 --> 00:06:06,080 Speaker 5: really good stuff. Yes, we're a city in transition. There's 123 00:06:06,080 --> 00:06:09,800 Speaker 5: a lot of construction happening, but you know people have 124 00:06:09,920 --> 00:06:11,680 Speaker 5: to see that as progress. 125 00:06:13,880 --> 00:06:16,560 Speaker 2: Well, I've counted at least six men who have put 126 00:06:16,640 --> 00:06:18,960 Speaker 2: up their hands officially to take her job. 127 00:06:19,520 --> 00:06:21,320 Speaker 1: So who are the main contenders? 128 00:06:21,600 --> 00:06:23,760 Speaker 3: Yeah, we do have sex and interesting to note they 129 00:06:23,800 --> 00:06:26,240 Speaker 3: are all men now that are Tory funds pulled out 130 00:06:26,240 --> 00:06:29,119 Speaker 3: of the race. So we have former Labor Party leader 131 00:06:29,160 --> 00:06:33,440 Speaker 3: Andrew Little. We have current center right city councilor Ray Chung, 132 00:06:33,720 --> 00:06:37,400 Speaker 3: as well as cafe owner Carl Tiefenbaker, former city councilor 133 00:06:37,480 --> 00:06:42,080 Speaker 3: Rob Golden, conservationist Calvin Hasty and owner of the controversial 134 00:06:42,160 --> 00:06:44,640 Speaker 3: local Facebook page Wellington Live Graham Bloxham. 135 00:06:44,880 --> 00:06:49,200 Speaker 2: Has this become Andrew Little's Maryalty to lose? 136 00:06:49,760 --> 00:06:52,920 Speaker 3: Yeah? Well, I mean of those candids, Little and Ray 137 00:06:53,000 --> 00:06:55,200 Speaker 3: Hung as well, I'd say I definitely seem to be 138 00:06:55,520 --> 00:06:57,320 Speaker 3: the front runners. You know, you've sort of got one 139 00:06:57,360 --> 00:06:59,080 Speaker 3: on the left one on the right. But I would 140 00:06:59,080 --> 00:07:02,039 Speaker 3: say we asked still just under six months out and 141 00:07:02,080 --> 00:07:04,599 Speaker 3: things could still change. I mean, there's nothing stopping another candidate, 142 00:07:04,640 --> 00:07:07,360 Speaker 3: another strong candidate, from stepping in and shaking the race 143 00:07:07,440 --> 00:07:09,880 Speaker 3: up all again. Much of the commentary I've seen has 144 00:07:09,880 --> 00:07:12,160 Speaker 3: been referring to a Little as basically as if it's 145 00:07:12,160 --> 00:07:14,400 Speaker 3: his to lose. And you know, I've heard one reference 146 00:07:14,400 --> 00:07:16,360 Speaker 3: to him being the mere elect and I think we 147 00:07:16,400 --> 00:07:19,640 Speaker 3: do need to remember that it's less than six months away, 148 00:07:19,680 --> 00:07:22,160 Speaker 3: but it's not a done deal. There's still an election 149 00:07:22,680 --> 00:07:27,080 Speaker 3: and it's up to us as voters, not other politicians 150 00:07:27,360 --> 00:07:28,920 Speaker 3: to a point who leads the city. 151 00:07:29,120 --> 00:07:31,680 Speaker 2: One of the big issues with Wellington City Council is 152 00:07:31,720 --> 00:07:34,200 Speaker 2: the fact that it does, like you said, seem to 153 00:07:34,200 --> 00:07:37,360 Speaker 2: be quite divided. This bothered the government so much last 154 00:07:37,440 --> 00:07:40,200 Speaker 2: year that it put a Crown observer in place after 155 00:07:40,240 --> 00:07:43,600 Speaker 2: the airport shares deal fell apart. Do you think any 156 00:07:43,640 --> 00:07:46,840 Speaker 2: of these candidates will be able to bring that kind 157 00:07:46,840 --> 00:07:48,239 Speaker 2: of unity that it needs. 158 00:07:48,880 --> 00:07:51,160 Speaker 3: I mean, time will only tell. All of them will 159 00:07:51,160 --> 00:07:54,440 Speaker 3: be campaigning on trying to bring that unity, as Torrifino did. 160 00:07:54,440 --> 00:07:56,760 Speaker 3: I mean, if we remember back to her campaign, a 161 00:07:56,840 --> 00:07:59,760 Speaker 3: huge selling point of her was that she had worked 162 00:08:00,120 --> 00:08:03,320 Speaker 3: in central government. She was the Green Party's chief of 163 00:08:03,360 --> 00:08:06,960 Speaker 3: staff and sort of sold herself on leading those negotiations 164 00:08:06,960 --> 00:08:11,120 Speaker 3: between the Green's New Zealand First and Labor. That obviously, 165 00:08:11,160 --> 00:08:14,400 Speaker 3: as she admits, wasn't able to help her get unity 166 00:08:14,440 --> 00:08:16,800 Speaker 3: around the council table. And I think Wellington City Council 167 00:08:16,920 --> 00:08:18,680 Speaker 3: is a very political place and it will be a 168 00:08:18,720 --> 00:08:21,880 Speaker 3: struggle for anyone to get everyone to agree, and we 169 00:08:21,880 --> 00:08:25,200 Speaker 3: shouldn't expect that everyone around Wellington City Council should agree 170 00:08:25,200 --> 00:08:27,600 Speaker 3: on everything. I mean, there will always be disagreements, but 171 00:08:27,640 --> 00:08:30,239 Speaker 3: it's how those disagreements are handled and how they play 172 00:08:30,240 --> 00:08:32,760 Speaker 3: out and making sure things don't get ugly. I think 173 00:08:32,920 --> 00:08:35,920 Speaker 3: Andrew Little is definitely selling himself as you know, the 174 00:08:35,960 --> 00:08:39,360 Speaker 3: sensible here of hands, someone who can get everyone together 175 00:08:39,640 --> 00:08:41,760 Speaker 3: and take the politics out of it. So it'll be 176 00:08:41,760 --> 00:08:44,959 Speaker 3: interesting to see, I think, as the merrial debates start 177 00:08:44,960 --> 00:08:48,040 Speaker 3: to kick off later this year, how people act when 178 00:08:48,040 --> 00:08:50,160 Speaker 3: they're up on the debate stage and whether things do 179 00:08:50,240 --> 00:08:52,800 Speaker 3: get a bit feisty and but ugly, or if people 180 00:08:52,800 --> 00:08:54,679 Speaker 3: are able to sort of put the politics to one 181 00:08:54,720 --> 00:08:57,040 Speaker 3: side and debate the issues rather than each other. 182 00:09:05,520 --> 00:09:07,920 Speaker 2: I've seen a lot of the candidates have said that 183 00:09:07,960 --> 00:09:10,800 Speaker 2: they want to cut rates. Wellington has one of the 184 00:09:10,960 --> 00:09:14,200 Speaker 2: highest increases in the country and that was last year 185 00:09:14,240 --> 00:09:17,800 Speaker 2: with a sixteen point nine percent increase, I believe. So 186 00:09:17,880 --> 00:09:20,120 Speaker 2: how easy would it be for a new mayor to 187 00:09:20,400 --> 00:09:22,520 Speaker 2: come in and lower those rates? I mean, what sort 188 00:09:22,559 --> 00:09:24,720 Speaker 2: of projects would need to be on the chopping block? 189 00:09:25,520 --> 00:09:28,000 Speaker 3: Well, that's the funny thing really, I mean everyone says 190 00:09:28,040 --> 00:09:31,440 Speaker 3: that they want to reduce rates, whether they will keep 191 00:09:31,480 --> 00:09:34,520 Speaker 3: them at the same level and not have high future increases, 192 00:09:34,679 --> 00:09:36,760 Speaker 3: or whether it is actually reducing the rates as a 193 00:09:36,760 --> 00:09:39,360 Speaker 3: different story. But then no one's too keen to say 194 00:09:39,360 --> 00:09:42,000 Speaker 3: what projects they would actually like to cut to reduce 195 00:09:42,080 --> 00:09:45,080 Speaker 3: the rates. There are a huge number of things that 196 00:09:45,120 --> 00:09:48,720 Speaker 3: have been brought up though as pit projects that are 197 00:09:48,800 --> 00:09:53,160 Speaker 3: quite expensive, one being the town Hall redevelopment that's already underway. 198 00:09:53,160 --> 00:09:54,800 Speaker 3: There will be no cutting that now, I think lots 199 00:09:54,800 --> 00:09:57,120 Speaker 3: of the money's already spent. The Golden Miles also another 200 00:09:57,160 --> 00:10:00,439 Speaker 3: really expensive project. It is half funded by New Zealand 201 00:10:00,440 --> 00:10:03,160 Speaker 3: Transport Agency. It's about one hundred million dollars and it's 202 00:10:03,200 --> 00:10:05,920 Speaker 3: being paid fifty to fifty between the Council and NZTA. 203 00:10:06,120 --> 00:10:08,680 Speaker 3: But there's lots of other things. I mean, the Council 204 00:10:08,800 --> 00:10:13,040 Speaker 3: has this term really been trying to cut a lot 205 00:10:13,120 --> 00:10:15,640 Speaker 3: of things to try reduce that rate's burden. There have 206 00:10:15,720 --> 00:10:17,760 Speaker 3: been things like the Go in your House that's been 207 00:10:17,800 --> 00:10:19,560 Speaker 3: looking to be demolished, as well as things like the 208 00:10:19,559 --> 00:10:22,720 Speaker 3: City to See Bridge because in both those cases, strengthening 209 00:10:22,800 --> 00:10:27,319 Speaker 3: and refurbishment work has been seen as too expensive by 210 00:10:27,480 --> 00:10:30,560 Speaker 3: the council as well as the Candala pool. That's another 211 00:10:30,640 --> 00:10:34,520 Speaker 3: issue in the same basket where redoing it has been 212 00:10:34,520 --> 00:10:36,920 Speaker 3: seen to be too expensive, and so those things, I 213 00:10:36,920 --> 00:10:39,840 Speaker 3: think those community facilities that vote is really really care 214 00:10:39,920 --> 00:10:42,520 Speaker 3: about in an important to the local communities will be 215 00:10:42,520 --> 00:10:44,760 Speaker 3: bought up. I know Andrew Little has already brought up 216 00:10:44,880 --> 00:10:47,120 Speaker 3: those sort of instances for things that he would want 217 00:10:47,200 --> 00:10:49,480 Speaker 3: to save, but as for what would be cut is 218 00:10:49,480 --> 00:10:51,200 Speaker 3: a bit more of a tricky question to answer. 219 00:10:51,480 --> 00:10:53,240 Speaker 1: Now you mentioned Golden Mile. 220 00:10:53,320 --> 00:10:56,360 Speaker 2: The Golden Mile project broke ground this week with the 221 00:10:56,400 --> 00:11:00,439 Speaker 2: redevelopment of Courtney Place officially starting on May fourth. Now 222 00:11:00,480 --> 00:11:04,600 Speaker 2: to say the project is controversial would be an understatement, right, 223 00:11:04,720 --> 00:11:06,320 Speaker 2: what's given it that moniker? 224 00:11:06,880 --> 00:11:09,680 Speaker 3: I think it's just something that's been debated for so long, 225 00:11:09,760 --> 00:11:12,720 Speaker 3: and because it will be so disruptive to businesses, it's 226 00:11:12,840 --> 00:11:15,840 Speaker 3: really polarized people. I mean I was doing some research 227 00:11:15,880 --> 00:11:17,640 Speaker 3: recently and looking back at the history of it and 228 00:11:17,679 --> 00:11:21,439 Speaker 3: watching videos of Andy Foster, who was Meya a few 229 00:11:21,520 --> 00:11:24,560 Speaker 3: years back, doing pitching it and asking for consultation, and 230 00:11:24,600 --> 00:11:26,800 Speaker 3: it's just such a throwback and it was previously under 231 00:11:26,920 --> 00:11:31,320 Speaker 3: let's get Wellington moving. I think really the business aspect 232 00:11:31,400 --> 00:11:34,320 Speaker 3: and support for businesses is a really contentious issue there. 233 00:11:34,320 --> 00:11:38,000 Speaker 3: When you've got these vocal business owners saying that, look, 234 00:11:38,040 --> 00:11:40,520 Speaker 3: we would have to close if this happened because they 235 00:11:40,520 --> 00:11:42,640 Speaker 3: don't think they'll be able to sustain it. That's what's 236 00:11:42,679 --> 00:11:45,240 Speaker 3: become polarizing and that's something that we're done to see. 237 00:11:45,679 --> 00:11:47,920 Speaker 3: Were some of the candidates coming out saying that they'd 238 00:11:47,920 --> 00:11:49,120 Speaker 3: like to support businesses. 239 00:11:51,600 --> 00:11:54,120 Speaker 4: The city is in pretty serious trouble, it looks like 240 00:11:54,160 --> 00:11:57,280 Speaker 4: to me, I think the heart of those problems is 241 00:11:57,320 --> 00:11:58,960 Speaker 4: a lack of leadership. I think there are a lot 242 00:11:59,000 --> 00:12:01,360 Speaker 4: of problems being ignored. I think there's a lot of 243 00:12:01,440 --> 00:12:04,400 Speaker 4: issues been given priority that, in my view aren't really 244 00:12:04,440 --> 00:12:07,280 Speaker 4: the priorities for Wellington. Wellington's changed a lot in the 245 00:12:07,360 --> 00:12:10,280 Speaker 4: last couple of years because of the public service cuts 246 00:12:10,280 --> 00:12:12,400 Speaker 4: and the pressure on business, and we need a counsel 247 00:12:12,480 --> 00:12:15,360 Speaker 4: that actually is respectful of that, and it prepared to 248 00:12:15,400 --> 00:12:16,760 Speaker 4: change course to accommodate that. 249 00:12:20,600 --> 00:12:21,240 Speaker 1: I saw that. 250 00:12:21,360 --> 00:12:23,600 Speaker 2: While Andrew Little said he wouldn't come in and rip 251 00:12:23,679 --> 00:12:26,840 Speaker 2: up whatever's been done, he said it'd be unwise to 252 00:12:27,120 --> 00:12:30,120 Speaker 2: enter any new agreements before October's council elections. 253 00:12:30,200 --> 00:12:32,680 Speaker 1: Now that gives a tinge of uncertainty. 254 00:12:32,840 --> 00:12:35,800 Speaker 2: Hey, do you think the trials and tribulations of the 255 00:12:35,800 --> 00:12:38,400 Speaker 2: Golden Mile project are actually really over? 256 00:12:38,880 --> 00:12:42,040 Speaker 3: It'll fully depend on whether the current council and Torri 257 00:12:42,120 --> 00:12:45,120 Speaker 3: Fino can get that key contract for the Courtney Place 258 00:12:45,160 --> 00:12:49,120 Speaker 3: work signed before the election. They say that they're actively 259 00:12:49,200 --> 00:12:51,439 Speaker 3: working on it, they're trying to get it signed. And 260 00:12:51,600 --> 00:12:54,240 Speaker 3: I note after those comments were made by Andrew Little 261 00:12:54,440 --> 00:12:57,720 Speaker 3: Toy came out quite strongly and said, look Little is 262 00:12:57,800 --> 00:13:00,240 Speaker 3: not an elected member. He can't make those calls and 263 00:13:00,280 --> 00:13:02,360 Speaker 3: he will have to wait until he is mere if 264 00:13:02,360 --> 00:13:04,880 Speaker 3: he is elected to be able to say those things. 265 00:13:05,040 --> 00:13:07,280 Speaker 3: She will be doing everything she can to try get 266 00:13:07,280 --> 00:13:10,360 Speaker 3: them signed before the election because essentially her legacy is 267 00:13:10,400 --> 00:13:12,400 Speaker 3: on the line there. That's something that she campaigned on 268 00:13:12,679 --> 00:13:15,440 Speaker 3: very strongly. She was voted in with a mandate to 269 00:13:15,559 --> 00:13:17,520 Speaker 3: do the Golden Mile and so she'll be wanting to 270 00:13:17,520 --> 00:13:21,240 Speaker 3: see it through so that after she's gone she can 271 00:13:21,280 --> 00:13:23,280 Speaker 3: point to it and say, look, that is something that 272 00:13:23,320 --> 00:13:24,320 Speaker 3: I've achieved for Wellington. 273 00:13:24,640 --> 00:13:24,840 Speaker 1: Now. 274 00:13:24,840 --> 00:13:29,120 Speaker 2: In other Wellington related news, Minister for ral Winston Peters 275 00:13:29,120 --> 00:13:32,480 Speaker 2: has announced the retirement of the Ardite Ferry from the 276 00:13:32,559 --> 00:13:35,760 Speaker 2: Cook Straight Now. It'll mean the inter islander fleet will 277 00:13:35,800 --> 00:13:39,000 Speaker 2: go from three to two. What's the reaction been to. 278 00:13:39,040 --> 00:13:42,680 Speaker 3: This, Well, initially concerns raised to sort of surround what's 279 00:13:42,679 --> 00:13:45,000 Speaker 3: going to happen in the interim. So as we know, 280 00:13:45,160 --> 00:13:47,680 Speaker 3: our rail enabled theories aren't due to arrive until twenty 281 00:13:47,720 --> 00:13:50,920 Speaker 3: twenty nine. There are poor upgrades underway ahead of their arrival, 282 00:13:50,960 --> 00:13:53,480 Speaker 3: and the arditary can't use the other wharf and Pickton 283 00:13:53,760 --> 00:13:56,520 Speaker 3: because it requires specific loading and unloading of the structure. 284 00:13:56,640 --> 00:13:59,000 Speaker 3: That's that one hundred and twenty million dollars that Winston 285 00:13:59,040 --> 00:14:03,120 Speaker 3: Peters is talking about saving. So Rail Action Collective founder 286 00:14:03,200 --> 00:14:06,280 Speaker 3: Neil Robson says it's the only rail enabled ship, the 287 00:14:06,400 --> 00:14:08,560 Speaker 3: d Tiri that they have and it takes up to 288 00:14:08,600 --> 00:14:11,880 Speaker 3: eighty percent of rail freight across the strait. He says interround, 289 00:14:11,920 --> 00:14:14,480 Speaker 3: that is two remaining theories will have to shoulder the load. 290 00:14:14,640 --> 00:14:17,880 Speaker 3: But Kibi Rail chief executive Peter Reddy has said, well, 291 00:14:17,880 --> 00:14:20,880 Speaker 3: it's due to leave Wellington late next month. He said 292 00:14:20,880 --> 00:14:24,320 Speaker 3: they're working to give everyone certainty as soon as possible. Now. 293 00:14:24,360 --> 00:14:27,600 Speaker 3: Although Aditiri is currently interund that is only rail enabled 294 00:14:27,640 --> 00:14:31,200 Speaker 3: fury Kibirail can and already does carry rail freight on 295 00:14:31,360 --> 00:14:35,480 Speaker 3: Kaituki and Kayarahi using a road bridging process really says 296 00:14:35,520 --> 00:14:37,680 Speaker 3: they'll be super charging this operation in the meantime. 297 00:14:37,920 --> 00:14:40,400 Speaker 2: Yeah, I don't suppose the opposition parties are too pleased 298 00:14:40,440 --> 00:14:41,120 Speaker 2: with it as well. 299 00:14:41,360 --> 00:14:45,120 Speaker 3: No Salabour's transport spokesperson Tungi Utakiri has said that the 300 00:14:45,160 --> 00:14:48,480 Speaker 3: two remaining what he describes as old and aging theories 301 00:14:48,520 --> 00:14:50,640 Speaker 3: are going to have to work double time because of 302 00:14:50,680 --> 00:14:54,960 Speaker 3: what he described as Nikola Willis's botched original Fury deal. He's, 303 00:14:55,000 --> 00:14:57,400 Speaker 3: of course referring to the acting of the Rix Fury 304 00:14:57,440 --> 00:15:00,800 Speaker 3: contract eighteen months ago after it became there was a 305 00:15:00,840 --> 00:15:02,560 Speaker 3: three billion dollar cost blowout. 306 00:15:03,000 --> 00:15:05,800 Speaker 2: Now we've spoken on this podcast earlier this year about 307 00:15:05,800 --> 00:15:09,600 Speaker 2: how landlords were struggling to find renters and we've heard 308 00:15:09,640 --> 00:15:12,920 Speaker 2: about businesses closing down every other week. It feels like 309 00:15:13,000 --> 00:15:16,160 Speaker 2: some cafe or restaurant has closed. What's the mood like 310 00:15:16,240 --> 00:15:17,920 Speaker 2: in Wellington at the moment. 311 00:15:18,360 --> 00:15:20,320 Speaker 3: Well I think that Yeah, there has been a lot 312 00:15:20,320 --> 00:15:23,760 Speaker 3: of talk about whether this perennial debate around whether Wellington 313 00:15:23,920 --> 00:15:26,600 Speaker 3: is dying. I think a little bit of that has subsided. 314 00:15:26,600 --> 00:15:28,880 Speaker 3: There was definitely a flurry towards the end of last 315 00:15:28,960 --> 00:15:32,280 Speaker 3: year of business closures. The issue of rents was also 316 00:15:32,320 --> 00:15:36,560 Speaker 3: an interesting one. We saw rateable values for properties decrease 317 00:15:36,680 --> 00:15:39,800 Speaker 3: by around twenty five percent, so that was a huge 318 00:15:40,280 --> 00:15:44,160 Speaker 3: change in the property market with house prices decreasing. So 319 00:15:44,240 --> 00:15:46,840 Speaker 3: I think there are a lot of issues for Wellington. 320 00:15:46,880 --> 00:15:49,240 Speaker 3: The city's sort of at a crossroads with lots of 321 00:15:49,320 --> 00:15:51,360 Speaker 3: debate around how things need to be fixed. But it'll 322 00:15:51,400 --> 00:15:54,840 Speaker 3: be that October elegation that will really be a key 323 00:15:54,920 --> 00:15:57,760 Speaker 3: moment for the way forward and how Wellington responds to 324 00:15:57,800 --> 00:15:59,240 Speaker 3: these issues that it seems to be facing. 325 00:16:00,040 --> 00:16:03,440 Speaker 2: Wellington has had three one term mayors in a row. 326 00:16:03,560 --> 00:16:06,840 Speaker 2: Are Wellingonian's hoping for a bit more stability maybe? 327 00:16:07,160 --> 00:16:09,760 Speaker 3: Yeah. The one term meor issue has been something that's 328 00:16:09,800 --> 00:16:12,920 Speaker 3: debated a little bit after obviously, after Torri final announced 329 00:16:12,920 --> 00:16:15,160 Speaker 3: that she wouldn't be seeking re election that will make 330 00:16:15,200 --> 00:16:19,160 Speaker 3: her the third consecutive one term mayor. Immediately following that, 331 00:16:19,600 --> 00:16:22,400 Speaker 3: Dame Carey Prendergast to form a three term meor came 332 00:16:22,400 --> 00:16:24,560 Speaker 3: out and told Mike Costing that that was bad for 333 00:16:24,600 --> 00:16:26,360 Speaker 3: the city. It's been something that I've been sort of 334 00:16:26,360 --> 00:16:29,000 Speaker 3: trying to dig into. Why has Wellington had three one 335 00:16:29,120 --> 00:16:31,360 Speaker 3: term mayors and why is it different from the rest 336 00:16:31,360 --> 00:16:34,280 Speaker 3: of the country in that sense. This morning I interviewed 337 00:16:34,360 --> 00:16:38,720 Speaker 3: at local government experts doctor Andy Asquith. He was sort 338 00:16:38,720 --> 00:16:41,000 Speaker 3: of saying that it's a symptom of the dysfunction at 339 00:16:41,000 --> 00:16:44,160 Speaker 3: Wellington City Council and those political sort of power struggles. 340 00:16:44,240 --> 00:16:47,120 Speaker 3: He thinks that the most recent two meors haven't been 341 00:16:47,200 --> 00:16:49,600 Speaker 3: able to really bring the council together and that's why 342 00:16:49,640 --> 00:16:52,640 Speaker 3: Wellingtonians are, in his words, sort of sick of them 343 00:16:52,920 --> 00:16:55,440 Speaker 3: and throwing them out in favor of looking for more certainty. 344 00:16:55,800 --> 00:16:58,480 Speaker 3: But I think an interesting aspect of this election is 345 00:16:58,480 --> 00:17:02,040 Speaker 3: that Wellingtonians now have the option to vote in the incumbent. 346 00:17:02,080 --> 00:17:04,159 Speaker 3: We are going to have to see a fresh face 347 00:17:04,200 --> 00:17:06,359 Speaker 3: and new pair of hands, and so it'll be whether 348 00:17:06,480 --> 00:17:09,280 Speaker 3: the person who gets voted anixt is able to commit 349 00:17:09,359 --> 00:17:11,920 Speaker 3: to and serve multiple terms in the role. 350 00:17:12,320 --> 00:17:14,840 Speaker 2: Thanks for joining us, Ethan, great thanks for having me. 351 00:17:18,480 --> 00:17:21,600 Speaker 2: That's it for this episode of The Front Page. You 352 00:17:21,640 --> 00:17:25,440 Speaker 2: can read more about today's stories and extensive news coverage 353 00:17:25,480 --> 00:17:29,520 Speaker 2: at enzadherld dot co dot nz. The Front Page is 354 00:17:29,560 --> 00:17:33,280 Speaker 2: produced by Ethan Sills and Richard Martin, who is also 355 00:17:33,440 --> 00:17:34,520 Speaker 2: our sound engineer. 356 00:17:35,000 --> 00:17:36,520 Speaker 1: I'm Chelsea Daniels. 357 00:17:37,080 --> 00:17:40,240 Speaker 2: Subscribe to the front page on iHeartRadio or wherever you 358 00:17:40,280 --> 00:17:44,080 Speaker 2: get your podcasts, and tune in on Monday for another 359 00:17:44,160 --> 00:17:45,800 Speaker 2: look behind the headlines.