Nick Mills for Wellington mayor?

Saturday, 29 March 2025

Nick Mills battled Inland Revenue for about months over a tax debt.

Hot on the heels of settling his tax debts, radio host Nick Mills is considering running to be Wellington’s mayor.

Mills, who is also well-known as central city bar owner, would be a wild card entry into a field that includes incumbent Tory Whanau, city councillor Ray Chung, conservationist Kelvin Hastie, Wellington Live owner Graham Bloxham and former councillor Rob Goulden.

While he claims to be apolitical, Mills said he would prefer to run as a Labour candidate, or with an endorsement from the party.

The Post understands he raised the idea with leader Chris Hipkins, when the Labour leader was a guest on his Newstalk ZB morning show recently.

“While I’ve still got my job on radio, I'll stay there,” Mills told The Post on Friday. “But have a deep-seated love for Wellington and would do anything I possibly could to make the city better.

“It's always in the back of my mind. But while someone still wants to employ me, I'll keep the job going.”

Chief among his concerns are recent double-digit rates rises, which he said were making the city unaffordable for many.

Mills’ radio show doesn’t preclude a tilt at office. His colleague Marcus Lush continued to present his night-time talk show while unsuccessfully running to be Invercargill’s mayor in 2022.

But his financial difficulties may be a campaign obstacle in an election that is likely to focus on the city’s stretched budget.

Mills, who also owns the Wellington Saints basketball team, recently battled Inland Revenue over debts of close to $1m.

Last week, the tax collector backed off from proceedings it had lodged in the High Court. A payment plan staved off liquidation.

The debts related to related to Spruce Goose, Bettys, and Boston on Blair and Siglo, which have closed.

Courtenay Place venue Hummingbird, which was also at stake, recently re-opened with a fresh look.

Greg O'Connor, pictured at the Newtown Festival, says the mayoralty is not on his radar.

Mills said he was “devastated” by IRD’s “unreasonable” approach to negotiations after eight months of back and forth. He said it had put his family “through hell”.

Earlier this month, The Post reported Labour was forced to re-open nominations after it couldn’t attract a single member to be its candidate to challenge Whanau.

Labour had canvassed hard for a candidate, notably tapping former leader Andrew Little and public service union boss Fleur Fitzsimons. Neither were keen.

There were also hopes former mayor Justin Lester or his deputy, and now president of the party, Jill Day might throw their hat in the ring.

Following news the Ōhāriu electorate is to be removed at next year’s election, MP Greg O’Connor is circulating as a possible option for Labour’s candidacy.

“It’s not on my radar,” he said on Friday.

Hipkins, speaking on Mills’ show, said the city needed “a really good shake-up” and that he was open to endorsing an independent candidate for the job.

Candidate nominations close on August 1 ahead of the October 11 election.

Councillor Diane Calvert is widely expected to enter the race, as is Kaffee Eis founder Karl Tiefenbacher.