Then there was the gang patch bylaw saga. For a small city, Wanganui made national headlines a lot.
"It seems to be a hotbed of political strife. It's an interesting place, there's no doubt about that."
Wanganui broadcaster and district councillor Michael Laws is a regular newsmaker, but the team decided not to invite him to be a guest on the show.
"I loathe him, so I would rather not be in the same room with him. He's a buffoon, isn't he?" Mr Hurley said.
Instead, Wanganui Mayor Annette Main is to take the guest spot.
The best ever guest on the show so far had been Tim Shadbolt. Pita Sharples was not far behind, and even Peter Dunne could laugh at himself.
"He has got a wicked sense of humour. There's actually a clip on YouTube of him making fun of his own hair."
Wanganui won't be a strange place to Mr Hurley.
He was brought up in Hawera, where everyone went to Wanganui on Taranaki Anniversary Days because the shops were closed at home. He also did a town planning project on Wanganui for fifth form geography.
He said he only lived in Auckland now because he had to, but was a big advocate of growing up in small towns.
Mr Hurley has been with 7 Days since it started four years ago. The show has just been signed up for a 30-week season next year, its fifth.
For its night in Wanganui it would have one of his favourite comedians, Urzila Carlson. "She's the most junior of us by a long way. She's only been doing it for three years, but if I had to pick a favourite, she would be it."