Wellington Mornings with Nick Mills

EDITORIAL:
I love this story.
I read this story in the paper this morning and I really love it.
The Castlepoint Hotel is finally allowed to turn the beer taps back on after a six-month dry spell.
Its got new operators,and has been granted their liquor licences after a pretty thorough hearing.
I mean those liquor licensing hearings, when they've got a bone can go forever.
They were questioned about staffing, training, duty managers and how they would handle the occasional belligerent punter.
We always get the old belligerent punter don't we, that's a great word.
And let’s face it, is something every country pub has probably had to deal with since the first beer was poured.
And good on them. Because I love the idea of a genuine local pub.
Not a flash-Harry cocktail bar.
Not somewhere with twelve-dollar bowls of fries or olives and a drinks menu you need reading glasses and a dictionary to understand.
I mean a pub. A proper pub.
The kind where everyone knows your name.
You walk through the door and they’re already pouring your usual.


I should have got Grace to write, give us the music for cheers on this one, shouldn't I?
Where you walk through the door and they're already pouring you your usual because they know where you are.
They have Big Norm sitting in the corner.
He's been sitting in that corner since the pub opened.
You know that pub? Roaring fire in the middle of winter.
There's a Sunday roast on Sunday.
Someone's always holding court at the end of the bar, always someone telling a joke, silly old dad's joke.
You know the pub I mean.
It's like Cheers, except it's at Castle Point or the Wairarapa, not in Boston.
Where have the days have those pubs gone?
Particularly closer to the city.
You know, we have so many trendy bars and cafes and wine bars, fashionable restaurants.
We've pushed the old local completely out.
I'd love to own a country pub in a place like town.
Could you have one?
Your local.
Your local in your suburb that really is your local.
Could you do that in our suburbs and create that country atmosphere?
Nothing pretentious.
Decent food, cold beer, friendly staff and a room full of people who actually want to talk to each other.
So, have you still got a proper local?
And if somebody opened an honest-to-goodness country pub in Wellington, would you go?
Just hang out with your buddies.
A $10 beer instead of a $17 beer. A bowl of fries that cost you 6 bucks.
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After a busy week in the beehive, Labour MP Ginny Andersen and National MP for Otaki join Nick Mills to dissect the hot topics of the week.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon faced a vote of confidence yesterday and came out victorious. Chris Penk has been dropped as a minister.
Costley says Luxon has the full support of his caucus as leader of the National Party. Our panel debate how unified the party are, and if the country is better off with Luxon as leader.
Also on the agenda is the potential for forced council amalgamation, and the polls showing the Opportunities Party may be the deciders this election.
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Wellington Free Ambulance Board Chair Dame Kerry Prendergast joins Nick Mills on the show this morning to talk the record numbers of calls to ambulance over the last week.
Prendergast said Wellington Free Ambulance (WFA) responded to more than a third of the nearly 25,000 nationwide calls 111 on Saturday.
She says WFA are experiencing high demand , but "have more staff than ever before".
She stressed if you need the service call, don't hestitate because of the headlines.
"If it's a genuine emergency, you must dial 111."
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Ferry Holdings Limited (FHL) Chair Chris Mackenzie joined the show this morning with Nick Mills to address concerns of high consultancy spends and conflicts of interests within the board.
The Post reported FHL spent more than $14.6 million to external consultants and contractors, including $3.4m to Beca for the two new Interisland Cook Strait Ferries.
FHL board member Greg Lowe was global CEO of Beca for 11 years, and a managing director prior to his role on the board. He is still a strategic advisor for Beca.
Mackenzie says the potential conflict has been declared and ensures Lowe has had nothing to do with the contract.
He says Beca earned their consultancy role following correct government procurements.
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Co-owner of Logan Brown, Steve Logan joins Nick Mills in the studio as the restaurant celebrates 30 years as a Wellington icon.
Take a look back on the early days and the building blocks, resulting in one of New Zealand's first Michelin stars and a highly respected reputation.
What makes Logan Brown stand out and maintain admiration of locals and visitors alike for 30 years?
Find out the secrets to success from Steve Logan.
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