Ben McNulty BdotM 🐀 Josh Kirwan My brain, anytime anyone mentions Wellington and lasagna .

(With apologies to Georgina Campbell)

Revealed: The Government is ending a loan scheme designed to help strengthen earthquake-prone apartments, leaving gobsmacked owners in the lurch. This is devastating for the more than 50 owners who have secured conditional eligibility approvals. nzherald
nzherald.co.nz/nz/government-…

Tried to put the cuts in context, including what they will mean for Wellington City.

They don't come close to winding back the growth seen in last few years.

They will have an impact on Wellington, but it will be smaller than you think.

nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/th…

EXCLUSIVE: Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau has rejoined the Green Party after previously deciding not to renew her membership to work more productively with councillors.
Newstalk ZB nzherald
nzherald.co.nz/nz/wellington-…

Could Wellington's mysterious 'long tunnel' be brought back to life? And could we get that, rather than a second Mt Vic tunnel?
The Government's asked NZTA officials to investigate a mega tunnel underneath Wellington from The Terrace to Kilbirnie.
nzherald.co.nz/nz/government-…

A Wellington mega tunnel - once off the table because its expense would mean the entire budget of Let’s Get Welly Moving would likely be consumed by it - is back on the table now that LGWM is dead. Great scoop from Georgina Campbell nzherald.co.nz/nz/government-…

A very good canvassing of these issues by Georgina Campbell, thanks.

Enjoyed the chat with her and Thomas Coughlan on their podcast (joint and several liability this week, ha).

Link below for fellow listeners!
nzherald.co.nz/nz/chris-penk-…

In an On The Tiles first, Thomas Coughlan and I co-hosted an episode together! Mainly so that I could talk to new Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk about bringing forward a review into earthquake-prone building rules. nzherald
nzherald.co.nz/nz/chris-penk-…

What’s going on in Civic Square?

City Gallery has cut hours due to construction noise, Nikau Cafe risks shutting down from loss of foot traffic, but now a large developer plans to revive the site.

So great to work on this piece with Georgina Campbell

nzherald.co.nz/nz/commercial-…

WCC has selected Precinct Properties to develop the Municipal Office and Civic Administration building sites in Civic Square, breathing much-needed life into an area full of shut-up buildings. A deep dive into the square with Ethan Manera. nzherald
nzherald.co.nz/nz/commercial-…

Members of the ministerial advisory group looking into the future of KiwiRail’s Cook Strait ferry service have been paid more than $80,000 between them since being appointed just two months ago, nzherald can reveal.
nzherald.co.nz/nz/how-much-co…

New: In docs obtained under the OIA, MFAT advised that “careful and deliberate communications with the Korean Government would be required in advance of any public announcement” if Cabinet decided not to give KiwiRail more money for its mega ferry project.
nzherald.co.nz/nz/mfat-warned…

Wellington on a good day material.

Wellington had a 'water crisis' this summer, with people queuing to buy storage tanks & warnings of a state of emergency.

But nothing eventuated. Was it all just a PR campaign to scare us into using less water? From Georgina Campbell

nzherald.co.nz/nz/what-water-…

After alarming warnings about potentially needing to boil drinking water, suburbs running dry, and a regional state of emergency, Wellington has avoided a much-talked-about crisis with barely any restrictions. Was it just a lot of hype over nothing?
nzherald.co.nz/nz/what-water-…

Finance Minister Nicola Willis will not commit to replacing Interislander’s ageing fleet by 2026 which is when the now cancelled mega ferries were due to arrive. nzherald
nzherald.co.nz/nz/nicola-will…

#BREAKING The Ministry of Health cost-cutting plans can now be revealed, which would see jobs axed.

Via Newstalk ZB and nzherald

nzherald.co.nz/nz/public-serv…

Had a great chat about the end of Political Diaries with Emile Donovan

rnz.co.nz/national/progr…

KiwiRail only terminated its mega ferry ship-building contract after receiving a letter from Finance Minister Nicola Willis and two months after the Government pulled the plug on the project. nzherald
nzherald.co.nz/nz/kiwirail-fi…

Great scoop from Georgina Campbell, very much suggests that KiwiRail wanted to press on with the build contract and only cancelled following correspondence with Willis. The finance minister isn't releasing the letter tho, so we don't know what she said