Podcasts about Auckland Region

Has the success of Auckland's City Rail Link sparked a desire for passenger rail in other parts of the country? Christchurch is booming, while the nearby town of Rolleston is now New Zealand's fastest growing town. Council chair Deon Swiggs spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Auckland's Heart of the City business association will be hoping to put a tumultuous year behind it when it elects a new board at a special general meeting. Luka Forman reports.

Anyone planning a spring camping trip to Piha on Auckland's West Coast is currently out of luck. Auckland Council has shut the beach's only campground... and when, or even if, it will reopen is uncertain. Council says it's investigating flood risk and safety of campers, while the long time camp manager says she's in the dark, and out of pocket. Ross McNaughton reports.

Auckland's City Rail Link is finally open for business. After a decade of construction and delays the CRL opened yesterday. Train driver, and driver trainer CJ Withey spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

The City Rail Link will go through its first real test for the Monday morning commute this morning. Reporter Matthew Theunissen is on board and joins us now.

After a decade of construction, and a history spanning more than 100 years, Auckland's City Rail Link is open for business. Mark Lambert, Auckland Transport's general manager of rail spoke to John Campbell.

Reporter Matthew Theunissen has been on board the Auckland City Rail Link. as it goes through its first commuter service, and spoke to John Campbell.

Reporter Lucy Xia spoke to John Campbell from Karangahape Road where there's a brand new city station.

Former mayor of Auckland, Len Brown, who Sir John Key has called the 'great father' of the City Rail Link. Len Brown spoke to John Campbell from Te Waihorotiu Station.

Reporter Lucy Xia spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss from Karangahape Road where there's a brand new city station.

Reporter Matthew Theunissen has been on board the Auckland City Rail Link. as it goes through its first commuter service, and spoke to John Campbell.

A student has died after being hit by a train at a level crossing in Auckland. Police were called to Baldwin Ave station in Mount Albert about 3.30pm yesterday. Reporter Erin Johnson spoke to John Campbell.

Auckland leaders are calling for a national solution to fix what they say is systemic and significant underfunding of tourism infrastructure. Mayor Wayne Brown says more than 50 representatives from the tourism sector have signed a charter, a set of design principles for one of two funding mechanisms that will, according to the mayor, deliver about $220 million a year. Wayne Brown spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

A homeless Auckland man who had a severe stroke while living under a bridge this winter was later discharged from Auckland City Hospital in just a gown, and taken to a nearby charity that provides support for people in hardship. The stroke left him with slow speech and movement, needing a walker to get around. Lifewise found housing for him, but is concerned someone with major ongoing health needs was brought to them at short notice, when they are not funded to provide wrap-around care. Amy Williams has the story.

A Waiheke Island-based health trust is one of several organisations that's been told its home and community support contracts won't be renewed. It comes as Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand moves to bulk fund services in Auckland and Northland, with long-standing providers finding out their contracts won't be renewed. One operator says the changes contradict recent advice for improving services. Erin Johnson reports.

A transport advocate says Auckland risks not making the most of its multi-billion dollar City Rail Link investment, with an ongoing trial allowing more cars in the city centre. Since April this year, cars have been allowed on parts of Queen Street and Wellesley Street after 7pm, as part of an Auckland Transport trial. Heart of the City pushed for the change, saying banning cars on Queen street was hurting economic recovery for businesses in the area post-Covid. Luka Forman reports.

It's less than a month until Auckland's City Rail Link opens, but a transport advocate says the city risks not making the most of it. Since April, Auckland Transport has been running a trial to allow cars on some bus lanes around Te Wai Horotiu station after 7pm and before 7am. The idea is that it will improve evening access to key arts and entertainment venues. Business Association Heart of the City pushed for the trial, saying banning general traffic around parts of Queen Street and Wellesley Street was hurting economic recovery. Connor Sharp - from the transport and urban advocacy organisation Greater Auckland - spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss

The City Rail Link is about three and a half kilometres of tunnels and will be the country's largest transport infrastructure project to date. It's set to speed up public transport in the city, creating more connections and modernise So have all the road cones been worth it? Mihi checked in with Joel Rowan who's Auckland Transports, communications manager for the City Rail Link.

Auckland was bursting at the seams with sports fans on Saturday night. About 50,000 people packed into a sold out Eden Park for the All Blacks against Ireland, while across town at around the same time 25,000 cheered on the Warriors in their win over the Dragons at Go Media Stadium. Tataki Auckland Unlimited says every All Blacks game is worth about $2.6 million to Auckland. Its chief executive Nick Hill spoke to John Campbell.

Auckland Council is considering general election-style voting booths to increase voter turnout. Only 29 percent of eligible Aucklanders voted in the last local election. Franklin Local Board member Gary Holmes spoke to John Campbell.

Social workers helping the homeless in Auckland are concerned some mental health patients are being kept longer than needed in hospital because housing is hard to find. Amy Williams reports.

Some lucky train enthusiasts are getting a glimpse of how Auckland's City Rail Link is expected to operate during peak times. The entire Auckland rail network is closed to the public today, while the new timetable, stations, and systems are put through their paces. Auckland reporter Felix Walton spoke to John Campbell from the brand new Karanga-a-hape Station

A long-time hospitality business owner says Aucklanders need to get out and support local businesses if they don't want them to go under. Tricky Hartley, owner of Wynyard Quarter eatery The Conservatory spoke to John Campbell.

Auckland Councillors have been deep in discussion about exactly where high rise housing should be built to allow for close to another million and a half homes in the next decade. The government back-tracked on asking council to allow for two million more homes over the next decade, dropping the number to 1.4 earlier this year. Reporter Amy Williams was at today's Police and Planning Committee meeting and spoke to Lisa Owen.

Rob Eliott from Auckland Travel Show spoke to John Campbell about this weekend's event at the new convention centre.

Kennedy discussed the walkway that connects 10 kilometres of coastal forest reserves on the northern shoreline of Auckland's Manukau Harbour. These linked reserves are said to be the largest coastal native forest remnant on the Auckland isthmus - around 50 hectares.

Torika reports on the latest with the City Rail Link opening dates and warnings for Auckland bike riders taking part in group rides.

Residents whose homes may be impacted by the construction of the Auckland to Botany rapid transit project want more detail about the plans. Erin Johnson reports.

Mainfreight has approached AT asking to open bus lanes to couriers and trucks. Auckland mayor Wayne Brown responds.

An Auckland charity that furnishes Auckland houses for people escaping family violence has just completed its one thousandth home.

The online cenotaph database holds 270,000 records, while its website holds digitised versions of 1 million items.

A city deal between Auckland and the Government has been confirmed, but business leaders aren't convinced it will result in the rapid action needed.

It's a civil union of a different kind, Auckland Council and the government have signed a ten year co-operation deal. The agreement sets out how the two will work together over the next ten years, to boost economic growth in Aotearoa's largest city. Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown spoke to Lisa Owen.

Auckland is hosting a packed schedule of major events this weekend. New Zealand Events Association's Elaine Linnell spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

An Auckland business association says the government's move on orders are "inhumane and a bad idea". Planned law changes will mean police can move on rough sleepers or people displaying disorderly behaviour; including those as young as 14. Karangahape Road is one of Auckland's most famous and colourful shopping and entertainment strips and it is host to some people who are effectively living on the street. But the K-Road Business Association does not support move on orders. General manager Jamey Holloway spoke to Lisa Owen.

A heated dispute between dog owners and Auckland Council is playing out at the High Court in Auckland. Last year, the Puketapapa Local Board voted four to two to ban dogs from running free in part of Hillsborough's Monte Cecilia Park. Locals set up a formal group, the Monte Cecilia Dog Lovers Incorporated Society, which is roughly 600 members strong, to challenge the decision with a judicial review, which began today. Jessica Hopkins reports.

Fire crews have been battling a large blaze that's left an Auckland school's historic sports pavilion in ashes. The fire at Northcote College sent smoke billowing into the sky above the city's North Shore, while onlookers watched the devastation. Reporter Finn Blackwell was there and spoke with Lisa Owen

The Government is considering lowering its housing intensification targets in Auckland after pushback from critics. Scott Caldwell, a spokesperson for advocacy group Coalition for More Homes spoke to Melissa Chan-Green.

The government is working on stopping busloads of people stripping rockpools of sea life in north Auckland. Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones spoke to Lauren Crimp.

Need some ideas if you're staying put in Auckland this holiday season? The City of Sails is packed with lots of low-cost adventures and special events, if you know where to look. Here to point us in the right direction is Annie Dundas from Tataki Auckland Unlimited.

Another fatal stabbing on an Auckland bus has left commuters shaken and raised fresh questions about safety on public transport. Local Maungakiekie-Tāmaki Ward Councillor Josephine Bartley spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

A developer in Auckland is backing the Government taking control of what new housing pays for local infrastructure.  

The Auckland Tramping Club has a new book out celebrating its centenary. It's packed with tales from the huts, trails and picnic spots discovered by the club since 1925.

Auckland commuters spotted digital motorway signs with warnings to beware traffic delays with IKEA opening in Auckland this morning. The Swedish homeware store takes up a whole block in Mount Wellington. Traffic forecasts showed worst case scenarios of 40-minute delays just to get off the motorways and a special traffic team was in place monitoring the situation. Auckland Transport Operation Centre manager Claire Howard spoke to Lisa Owen.

The gigantic home retail store IKEA throws open its door next week in Mount Wellington, just off the city's southern motorway and a stone's throw from the Sylvia Park Mall. It's anticipated there will be a stampede of eager shoppers. So much so, Auckland Transport and NZTA are warning there could be 40-minute queues just to exit the motorway at Mount Wellington. Auckland Transport Operation Centre Manager Claire Howard spoke to Lisa Owen.

Auckland Transport wants to extend parking charges in the popular Ponsonby dinning district to end the current "free for all". It is looking to extend paid street parking out to 9pm on Thursdays to Saturdays in busy streets around Ponsonby. Auckland Transport network planning group manager Andrew McGill spoke to Lisa Owen.

A school north of Auckland says it is spending hundreds of thousands of dollars a year on counsellors for students to help repair damage done by social media. Whangaparaoa College is funded for one and a half counsellors but is now paying for the equivilant of almost five. Whangaparaoa College principal Steve McCracken spoke to Lisa Owen.

"This is not over". That is the message from Auckland police as they encourage anyone who knows anything about the killing of American university student Kyle Whorral to come forward. The 33-year-old was attacked at a bus stop over Easter with a large bladed weapon and died in hospital. Auckland police have revealed they have found a machete but say the hunt for everyone who was involved in the killing goes on. Kim Baker Wilson reports.

There is a major gear change in Auckland around transport. Local council boards will have new powers and will make decisions on local and so called collector roads; the ones that feed into bigger arterial routes. The 21 boards will be able to set speed limits, road closures for events, parking and creating cycleways. Director of the Greater Auckland transport advocacy website, Matt Lowrie spoke to Lisa Owen.

Restaurant Month has kicked off in Tamaki Makaurau Auckland and this year marks the 15th anniversary.