Podcasts about Gisborne

James discusses the new special education school announced by the Education Minister, a new health clinic is offering free services to women and gender diverse patients, the natural burial sites proposed for Tairawhiti and Steven Adams brings his basketball camp to Gisborne.

In a move that local environmentalists are calling "indefensible", a government decision has put the brakes on Gisborne District Council's attempt to introduce new rules aimed at tackling forestry slash in the region. [picture id="4LDFTHJ_WhatsApp_Image_2023_02_17_at_13_55_38_jpeg" crop="16x10" layout="full"]

The deadline for local councils to submit their amalgamation plans was yesterday, and Local Government New Zealand is calling for clarity on the next steps. In May, the Government gave councils three months to come up with proposals on how leadership in their regions should be reshaped - with 48 councils submitting Head Start proposals and 17 abstaining. LGNZ President and Gisborne mayor Rehette Stoltz says the organisation would love to have clarity on the next phase of this plan, given some councils didn't participate. "We now know that several councils have not participated, for whatever reason. They did try, but also, some councils like Gisborne and other unitary authorities did not have to take part in the Head Start. So we would love to have clarity about that." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Well, I've come back from holiday to find Christopher Luxon having the week from hell, haven't I? The small business comments, the Winston Peters "go back to where you came from" comments and now Choppergate. The latest with Choppergate, by the way, is that the event Chris Luxon was telling Mike Hosking about on Monday, where he finished up in Whanganui at 10:30 and then had to get back to Auckland, was in fact a National Party fundraiser. Now, that would be a big no-no if he were using a Defence Force flight to get to a National Party fundraiser because you can't use Defence Force aircraft to get yourself re-elected, can you? But it is not a no-no because that is not what he was doing. He was using the flight not to get to the fundraiser but to get from the fundraiser to an event in Auckland the next day. His office says that was a prime ministerial event and that makes it acceptable. As far as I'm concerned, prime ministers should be allowed to use the Defence Force, within reason, to get around the place. The Defence Force has to keep those aircraft flying. They have to complete a certain number of flying hours and surely, if the choice is between flying for the sake of it or flying for an actual reason, the practical option is to choose the actual reason. That's what this is. Also, come on, we've got to stop nitpicking legitimate uses of things like Defence Force flights, for God's sake. Whether you like Christopher Luxon or not, whether you vote for him or not, he is the Prime Minister. That is the most senior elected position in New Zealand. It is a job that requires constant travel and work. The Defence Force should be flying him around the place to cut down his travel time, simply so he can use that time for something more productive. It is neither novel nor new that this happens. Go and watch the Jacinda documentary on Netflix. She gets picked up from Clarke's parents' holiday home in Gisborne in a Defence Force chopper. Prime ministers have been flown around the country, and around the world, by the Defence Force for decades. It says more about us, I think, than it does about Chris Luxon that this is an issue. Now, the other two issues Luxon is dealing with this week are proper problems that do warrant debate: his small business comments and Winston Peters' racist comments. But this, Choppergate, is just nitpicking. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hey Gizzy Enjoy your postcode playlist in celebration of the final year of Rhythm and Vines. Cheers x

Clint, Meg and Dan riff on Kiwis failing learner licence retests and confusing give-way rules, then share stories about buying a new bed and the absurd world of ultra-absorbent mattress protectors. They preview and play Dan’s EDM “Postcode Playlist” anthem for Gisborne ahead of Rhythm & Vines’ final year there, plus chat Pie Awards winners and a brutal cold snap hitting Dunedin. The show dives into the return of the “family computer,” awkward internet discoveries, and how much real money people spend on in-game purchases. They also discuss unregulated peptides, core memories from comments, and Guy Montgomery drops by to roast producer Carl’s spelling. 01:36 Mattress Protector Madness 03:05 Rotating Round Bed Story 04:12 Postcode Playlist Gisborne Tease 07:26 Celebrity News Quickfire 09:33 First Call RnV Tickets 12:54 Naughty 640 Family Computer 16:20 Caller Confessions Online Finds 19:30 1000 Bucks Letter N Game 21:40 Peptides Trend Warning 26:08 Pie Awards Night Out 31:17 Cold Snap Explained 35:37 Dunedin Students Check In 39:53 Core Memories 46:00 EZ Money 48:15 Gisborne Postcode Playlist 56:04 Black Ferns Chat 01:00:57 In-Game Spending Shock 01:09:02 Guy Montgomery Interview

Clint, Meg and Dan kick off Monday with Warriors banter, Meg’s headphone mishap and a chaotic craft “haul” interrupted by her kid. They plug the Overthinkers podcast and replay a wildly inappropriate Would You Rather involving Dan calling his mum. The show covers Charlie Puth on opening up in music, chats with a tow-truck driver about towing rules and dating apps, and Dan’s looming security meeting after clicking “copy files” while booking a spray tan. They discuss accidental Instagram likes, play Easy Money twice, share outrageous real-life names, recap weekend stories (Bigfoot sightings, Lotto winners, Twirl vs Flake), and Meg speaks candidly about eating disorders and Ariana Grande imagery. They also debate whether mum or partner gets the front seat and start writing a Gisborne “Postcode Playlist” song. 00:00 Welcome to the Group Chat 00:21 Warriors Win and Jinx Talk 02:00 Craft Haul Chaos at Home 04:49 Martini Glass Debate 05:50 Overthinkers Pod recap s09:16 First Time Caller 13:22 Naughty 640 17:20 Instagram Accidental Like Panic 20:31 Easy Money Letter N Challenge 22:49 Dan Loves Unique Names 29:29 What ya got 33:44 Bigfoot And Twirls 34:08 Ariana Body Talk 39:07 Front Seat Debate 45:00 Easy Money 47:57 Postcode Playlist Returns 56:03 Commonwealth Games Recap 59:52 Lost To Weird Hobbies

Did you catch the wild local Facebook group rumor that completely broke the internet in Gisborne and Huntly this week?

Rhythm and Vines festival goers say they're gutted the New Year's event is leaving Gisborne. Festival organisers have announced this year's four-day celebration will be the last one held in the region. They're taking it to a new location but its new home hasn't been announced yet. Hawke's Bay Tairawhiti Reporter Alexa Cook reports.

Wellington NZ Chief Operations Officer and GM Heidi Morton joins Nick Mills on the show to dismiss fears over losing Wellington events. After 24 years Gisborne has lost the Rhythm and Vines festival, which bought in $3-5 million each year for their economy. Are our events safe? WOW is synonymous with Wellington. How are WellingtonNZ ensuring we hold the iconic show in our city? And Heidi and Nick talk the success Ultra music festival earlier this year and how we can bring more events in. And hear what's on the events calendar for the coolest little capital for the rest of the year. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We sit down with a godfather of Rhythm & Vines to get the inside scoop on why the big decision to move RNV was made. For exclusive content and the full show including music features, visit: https://www.rova.nz/podcasts/george-fm-breakfast Join the Whānau on Instagram, Facebook & Tik Tok.

Clint and Meg are away, leaving the boys to run the show as they preview the Commonwealth Games with Dame Sophie Pascoe, who explains what makes this year’s event different, how to watch on Sky and TV3, and what it’s like after retiring from elite sport. The team promotes Long Distance Bessie Island in Fiji and jokes about planning “activities” for the trip. Easy Money returns with callers taking on the fast-paced word game. They debate bringing celebrity haircut photos to barbers, including Dan’s Justin Bieber reference, and hear listener stories. The episode also covers Gus the long-stay SPCA dog being adopted, a push to adopt Sonic, Rhythm and Vines leaving Gisborne in 2027, and a final round of nightmare neighbor complaints. 01:14 Long Distance Bestie Island Promo 02:04 Planning Fiji Activities 04:17 Calling Out Clint Sickie 06:46 First Call of the day 10:37 Dame Sophie Pascoe Chat 15:32 EZ Money Returns 17:40 Haircut Debate 25:27 SPCA Chat 30:18 Long Distance Bestie Island 31:28 Planning Fiji Activities 33:17 EZ Money 35:36 Rhythm and Vines Moves 37:38 Pitch Your Town for R&V 40:57 Nightmare Neighbors Hotline

The promoters behind Rhythm and Vines say this year's music festival will be the last in Gisborne. The popular four day event has been held at Waiohika Estate for 24 years, but organisers delivered news to the region's Mayor today. Gisborne Mayor Rehette Stoltz spoke to Lisa Owen.

Rhythm and Vines festival has announced 2026 will be their final year in Gisborne after 24-years in the region. The new location is yet to be revealed. CEO Kieran Spillane told Andrew Dickens they want to make this years R&V 'the biggest and the best' so far. "We really want to go out with a bang and say a huge thank you to the wonderful people of Gisborne who have helped, and supported this festival over the years." LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast with Andrew Dickens for Tuesday, 21 July, 2026, former Reserve Bank senior economist Michael Reddell on what a higher inflation rate of 4.1% could mean for interest rates. Rhythm and Vines is about to bow out of Gisborne. We find out why with chief executive Kieran Spillane. Ponsonby News editor Martin Leach is baffled by a threat he's received from the Auckland mayor. And on The Huddle, Sarah Trotman and Mark Sainsbury on whether Wayne Brown's out of line. Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gisborne's mayor believes Rhythm and Vines' organisers will struggle to get a venue as good as it has currently. This year's festival will be the last held at the Waiohika Estate before it relocates to a new undisclosed site. Organisers say the move will support the festival's long-term future and will let it keep growing. Mayor Rehette Stoltz told Ryan Bridge it's a tough loss for the region, but it'll go out with a bang. She says it's hard to beat coming to Gisborne and camping in the vineyards with the sun and beautiful beaches. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Wednesday 22nd of July 2026, Co-Operative Bank CEO Mark Wilkshire shares his thoughts on inflation hitting the highest level in two years. Rhythm and Vines is ditching Gisborne, Mayor Rehette Stoltz tells Ryan how big of a loss this will be for the local economy. Exporters are staring down a hike to our tariffs sometime this week, Beef and Lamb Chair Kate Acland tells Ryan how big of a concern it for exporters. Plus, UK/Europe Correspondent Gavin Grey has the latest on UK PM Andy Burnham announcing he's to axe the tax on household electricity bills. Get the Early Edition Full Show Podcast every weekday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Inside the story of Waerenga-a-Hika - a forgotten war, generations of trauma, and a history finally being toldThe six-day battle changed Gisborne forever, but many New Zealanders are only now learning its story - and the cost of forgettingFind The Detail on Newsroom or RNZGo to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Veteran war correspondent Cameron Bennett joins Paddy to talk about the NZ Wars documentary: Stories of Waerenga-a-Hika. Cameron's directed the doco about the six day siege at Waerenga-a-Hika, a pa site close to Gisborne.

In this episode of the ZenRUN Podcast, I chat with the wonderful Jason Rantall - runner, dad, mental health advocate, Better Mental founder, and a very familiar face in the Melbourne Frontyard Ultra world. And honestly, this one is powerful. Jason's story starts in Gisborne, growing up in a small country town where football was everything, everyone knew everyone, and sport was a big part of life. As a kid, Jason loved running without even really realising it. He was fast, he loved footy, and movement gave him a kind of freedom. But behind the outside version of Jason, there was a lot going on. Jason speaks very openly about growing up with mental health struggles, being diagnosed with bipolar, OCD, psychotic episodes, anxiety and depression in his 20s, and then living for many years with alcohol addiction. This is not one of those neat little “I changed my life and everything was instantly wonderful” stories. Jason is very clear about that. Change was hard. Recovery was hard. Rebuilding his marriage, his health, his family life and his sense of self was hard. But running became the catalyst. On 31 January 2017, Jason quit smoking. On 1 February 2017, he started running. And that first run? A hilly 2.3km loop in 40-degree heat, while overweight, unwell, and wearing work shorts and Dunlops. As you do. Jason came home looking so wrecked his wife Kerry nearly called an ambulance - but something had shifted. He kept going. Since then, running has helped Jason rebuild his life from the inside out. He has now been smoke-free for more than nine years and alcohol-free for eight years. We talk about how running started as something that wasn't necessarily healthy - almost another addiction - and how over time it became something much deeper. A way to be with himself. A way to practise presence. A way to build awareness. A way to stop running away from pain and start moving through life differently. Jason also shares the work he and Kerry now do through Better Mental, their registered charity focused on mental health, addiction, connection and community. What began as a small monthly catch-up has grown into a real community hub, with connection groups, barbecues, education, lived experience conversations and support. And of course, we talk about running. A lot. Jason has created some pretty huge challenges of his own, including running from where he was born to where he lives now, covering 422km over 10 days, and running 801km around a track to raise awareness for lives lost to suicide in Victoria. Then Paul Pratt finally convinced him to try a Backyard Ultra. And that changed things again. Jason talks about why he fell in love with the format - not just because of the running, but because of the community, the connection, the crew, the tents, the hourly reset, and the way people help each other keep going. Which is exactly why the Melbourne Frontyard Ultra world suits him so beautifully. In this episode, we chat about: Growing up in Gisborne and being raised by a young single mum Football, small town sport, and finding freedom through movement Living with mental health challenges from a young age Alcohol addiction, shame, guilt and the difficulty of change The moment Jason decided to quit smoking and start running Why running saved his life - but not in a neat or simple way Learning to turn running from avoidance into awareness Better Mental and the community work Jason and Kerry now do Why connection, movement and community matter so much Jason's own huge running challenges and charity runs Being pulled into Backyard Ultra by Paul Pratt Why the Backyard and Frontyard Ultra format feels so special Kids watching what we do, not what we say Why Jason doesn't fully identify as “a runner” Running for joy, not pressure Training with Crazy Running Man and discovering speed again The importance of presence, process and taking the next step Jason's tips and takeaways Jason shares so many simple but powerful ideas in this episode, including: Start small. Don't overwhelm yourself by trying to change everything at once. Just put your runners on. Walk out the door. Start there. Consistency beats intensity. Jason talks about how big bursts of motivation usually disappear after a few weeks, but small consistent actions can grow into real habits. Don't wait for rock bottom. Change can start before everything falls apart. You don't have to wait until life forces you into a corner. Be careful who you spend time with. Jason believes the people around you matter. If you spend time with people moving in a healthy direction, it becomes easier to move that way too. Stay in the process. Instead of getting overwhelmed by the finish line, the distance, or the big goal, come back to the next step. Then the next one. Then the next one. Be yourself. Jason's message is simple and beautiful: be you, do your best, and don't try to be a poor imitation of someone else. Pass the Baton This episode includes our new Pass the Baton segment, where each guest answers a question from the previous guest - and then leaves a question for the next one. This time, Jason answered Paul Pratt's question: If money and time were not a barrier, what's one event you would love to enter? Jason's answer is very Jason - big, meaningful, and tied to something much bigger than just running. He also left a question for my next guest... ...but you'll need to listen to the episode to hear what it was. Links Better Mental website: www.bettermental.com.au Facebook: Better Mental Australia Incorporated Better Mental Together Instagram: bettermental__australia__inc Jason's running Instagram: Jason__Storwart__Rantall

Kim Pittar of Muirs Bookshop in Gisborne reviews White River Crossing by Ian McGuire, published by Simon & Schuster.

 Prize bulls, city plans, stickered homes and arm wrestling.

Yesterday, I was talking about the amount of aid we're sending to places like Vietnam and Indonesia. Places I would venture to suggest that are showing more go ahead, more investment in infrastructure than we are. When you're looking at Vietnam, they're building one of the largest stadiums in the world, they've got fast rail underway, they're building a huge city to house much of its population – they're spending billions. It's also a place where New Zealanders travel to get first class healthcare that we can't access here. Now we've asked Winston Peters why we're sending money to Vietnam and Indonesia. He, or his people, referred us to MFAT. MFAT says they need time to tell us why Vietnam is in need of New Zealand money – we're waiting to hear back from them. They have been asked this before. Why are we sending money to places that don't really need it? It's the equivalent of donating to a Givealittle page for your neighbour to find out that they're building a swimming pool, but you can't afford to. I was asking this question yesterday, this morning there are two stories about the parlous state of two of New Zealand's hospitals. Could be any of the hospitals, but in this case it's Middlemore, the ageing maternity block, and Hutt Hospital. And staff are complaining about the multiple leaks and electrical faults and mould and water on the window as a result of the heavy rain – the buildings can't cope with it. And they accept that every now and then, at times of heavy rain, there will be the odd leak, but they say throughout winter this is what they and the patients have to put up with. Both of the hospital directors at Middlemore and Hutt Hospital say patient health was not compromised, services continued as usual, they're just leaks people, nothing to see here. But staff say they're fed up with working under sodden and collapsing roof panels, damp conditions and electrical issues. It might just be a leak on that one particular day and as a patient at the hospital you're only there for three days – the nurses, the doctors, the staff are working there all day every day and throughout winter they say it's miserable. There's a programme of works for our hospitals around the country, a 10 year plan, but the need is so great it's hard to know where to start. The average age of our public health estate —1,274 buildings across 86 campuses— is around 47 years. That's the average age, some will be much, much older, and the new ones, the brand new spanking new facilities, will drag that average up. The population is growing and ageing and demand for mental health services is growing. The pressure on government budgets and on the health staff trying to deliver services in decrepit infrastructure is immense. There is a 10 year programme of works, but Middlemore maternity hospital and Hutt Hospital don't feature as far as I can see on the plan. You've got Whangārei Hospital – and it's all built into stage one, two, three, and four. Waitākere, and God knows, despite the fact that wasn't in the news, according to locals, that needs a revamp. You've got Middlemore, but they're looking at targeted ED upgrades, and then stage two will be planning a new site. Stage three will be a new site or Middlemore expansion. Nothing about the maternities. Waikato, Tauranga, Gisborne, Hawke's Bay, God knows that needs a revamp. Palmerston North, Wellington and Nelson. So nothing there for Middlemore or Hutt Hospital, so I guess they'll have to keep going to the paper. And if the average age is around 47 years, the need will be great. I don't know how they prioritise which hospitals get it first. Then you look at the last financial year, 24/25 New Zealand spent $943.81 million in foreign aid across 624 activities. I get that we want to be good global citizens and I get that we are wealthy compared to other nations and I'm not saying stop all aid, but come on. When household budgets tighten, you have to give less. There isn't that much money to go around, otherwise you are depriving your own family. And this is the case here on a macro scale. How can we justify donations to Vietnam, which is just thriving, and Indonesia? How can $943.81 million in foreign aid be justified when we have leaky ageing hospitals, some schools need to be completely and utterly revamped, and some of the police stations are just appalling. A lot of the public buildings in which our public servants work are just not suitable and not fit for people to be there. How can we justify that level of aid when New Zealand citizens are travelling to the very country that we're giving aid to for their medical and dental care? Do foreign aid officials realise how weird that looks? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It is estimated more than 1000 young people in Gisborne don't have a home to go to. The area is one of the worst for severe housing deprivation according to a study by the Coalition to End Women's Homelessness. It said there were almost 33,200 people under the age of 17 experiencing some form of homelessness at the 2023 census, and homeless children were three times more likely to live in Gisborne. Shelley Hannah-Kingi from the Tairawhiti Beneficiary advocacy trust spoke to Lisa Owen

James has more on the Budget funding to secure the Waioweka Gorge and Gisborne's elderly and solo parents fear higher costs under social housing reforms.

It's time now for the A-Z of Aotearoa! We've been making our way through the alphabet, choosing something iconically Kiwi for each letter. This week we've arrived at 'U', and our subject is a place shrouded in geographic beauty and indigenous knowledge, Te Urewera. It's the home of the Tuhoe iwi, and it lies in the wide, mountainous space between Rotorua and Gisborne. For 60 years much of Te Urewera was designated a National Park, then in 2014 - following a Waitangi Tribunal settlement - the land was granted environmental personhood. In October 2007, Te Urewera was also the grounds for one of New Zealand's darkest days, poet and activist Ati Teepa talks to Jesse about his experience in the police raids. We also want to focus on the environment and geography of Te Urewera, and for that, Jesse is joined by Hinewai McManus Hinewai is of Tuhoe descent, and she's a former DOC ranger who also guided treks in Ngaputahi near Ruatahuna for many years.

New research shows anxiety is spiking during downpours, as more weather disasters threaten people's property and safety. A new survey shows 73 percent of respondents in the Hawke's Bay region feel anxious about the weather and 57 percent of respondents nationwide are concerned. Professor Holly Thorpe from the University of Waikato says people in Hawke's Bay and Gisborne, who were hit hard by Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023, reported impacts on their mental health as a result of adverse weather conditions. "The rain anxiety, the stress, the worry, the new kinds of experiences of vulnerability, were affecting people across the community." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's time for Mayoral minutes, each week we speak with a local mayor about the challenges they're facing how they're working to solve them and what makes their community special. Today we're heading to the Gisborne District on the stunning east coast from where Mayor Rehette Stolz joins Jesse. [picture id="4JR4AKI_Desk_photo_jpg" crop="16x10" layout="full"]

This is quite possibly from our "hopeless causes" file. But can I at least try and make the plea that we have a look at the economic damage done by trigger-happy weather offices and compliant clickbait media when it comes to storm warnings? Cyclone Vaianu was the latest and is hopefully still fresh enough in our memories to remind us of a week's worth of hyperbole and headline nonsense that actually caused quite a lot of damage. Not storm damage, but economic damage. Spending in Northland was down 48%. Auckland down 46%. Waikato down 52% (that would have included the Supercars that got canned). Bay of Plenty down 68%. Gisborne down 51%. Hawkes Bay down 56%. Now obviously in the middle of a storm on that blowy, old Saturday and into Sunday you have already worked out you're not booking an outdoor table for lunch. But these figures will include the week building up to the event, the drama that started the previous Sunday, with the ever-present "keep an eye on this one" headlines, and as the week progressed, the alarmism grew. Not because alarmism was required, but because the weather wonks and the media feed off each other. The weather people love publicity and the media, especially digital, love potential clickbait. And nothing baits your click like pending metrological carnage. So in that prior Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, how many things got cancelled? Bookings killed? Trips binned? Decisions altered? That's the economic damage we can avoid. If you remember, it wasn't until Friday they actually knew what the weather, they thought, would do. They were still wrong. But at least by Friday they had confidence in the ensuing days. When so much of our potential economic activity got canned, they were still speculating and blabbering on about trampolines and holiday travel and telling you how to live your life. Somewhere along the line the weather people got carried away with their own self-importance and the media gee'd them up and what is a two-day storm turned into a week-long extravaganza. An orgy of verbal diarrhoea, amping and amping and amping. And, as the data shows, doing untold damage to regions that didn't really need it, as well as a storm. The forlorn hope? That this data sobers a few people up and maybe, just maybe, next time a few grown-ups drive the narrative. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Halter has launched a world first direct-to-satellite service for its smart collars to enable beef cattle farmed in remote areas to access its virtual fencing technology. The new technology will provide the tech to beef farms that were previously out of reach due to connectivity limitations, particularly for regions like central Otago, Gisborne and Southland's high country. The Country's Jamie Mackay explained further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Right, here's a question I'd like to answer: Do we all have strange priorities in this country, or is it just the evening TV news that does? Last night, I sat through 13 minutes of TV One telling me nothing had happened with the cyclone before we finally got to the Iran situation, where something actually had happened. First, One News took us to a reporter in the Bay of Plenty, who told us a tree had come down on the main street. A couple of older women joked about going for a swim in the swell, but really, nothing much had happened. Then we went to Gisborne, where wastewater had flooded, and the guy in the caravan from the previous night was barely affected - because, again, nothing much had happened. Next stop was Hawke's Bay, where nothing had happened yet. Then the Coromandel, where Simon Mercer reported large storm surges in Whitianga - but nothing had happened.After that, the Far North, where the river was high - but nothing had happened. Then the weather presenter wrapped it all up, and we were told Breakfast would be covering it in the morning - just in case something did happen. Finally - after 12 minutes and 45 seconds of this - we got to the Iran situation, where peace talks had broken down and the US delegation had left. That is a conflict that will affect every single one of us. The weather will impact some people - potentially quite severely - but the situation in Iran will affect everyone here. Diesel is tipped to hit $4 a litre, food prices will rise, inflation is forecast to peak higher than after COVID at around 7.5 percent, and ANZ is predicting three OCR hikes this year as a result. I wondered whether this reflects audience interest - maybe people can't get enough of the weather and don't care about a conflict in Iran. But I checked the Herald this afternoon. Both stories were top trending, and there wasn't much between them. So, I'd suggest the evening TV news might want to rethink leading with 13 minutes of nothing. I understand that pictures matter in television. And yes, they've paid to send reporters around the country, so they need something to show. But pictures of nothing are still nothing - and there's only so much time people will spend watching nothing before they simply switch off. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

James discusses the 37 year old relief firefightering truck being used in Gisborne, a reduction of 30% for the East Coast rock lobster fishery, worries over driving safety and wandering stock and the local vape stores breaking regulations.

Taranaki's Three Sisters Brewery is purchasing Sunshine Brewing, including the Gisborne Gold brand. Three Sisters founder Joe Emans said he plans to keep the brands distinct and "keep them doing what they're good at." Emans joined Andrew Dickens to chat about the purchase and the future of New Zealand's beer industry. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A petrol bill that's tripled to over $300 a week, and that's before the latest price hikes at the pumps. That's the reality for a mother who has to make an hour-long trip twice a day to drop her teen at school, because he's no longer eligible for a government-funded bus. The Ministry of Education says it's reviewing routes around the country to make sure they comply with its rules, such as students going to their nearest school. But Checkpoint has learned that changes due to begin in the Gisborne area at the start of Term 2 next month will no longer happen. Jimmy Ellingham reports.

Kim Pittar of Muirs Bookshop in Gisborne reviews A Splintering by Dur e Aziz Amna, published by Duckworth Books.

Explore the wines being made in Gisborne in New Zealand with Paul and Geordie of TW Wines.

Freaky Friday time! The place for all your spooky and unexplainable stories. Jesse spoke to Jill, who shared a story of her encounter with a ghost in Gisborne in the early 90s.

We catch up with Kirsten Searle, owner of Matawhero Wines in Gisborne located on the east coast of the North Island of New Zealand. She is a dynamic producer in the region, producing a wide range of premium quality wine styles.

Signs the job market is on the up. New Seek data shows job ads have grown by 1.5% since October and are now 11.7% higher year on year. Gisborne's led monthly growth with an almost 4% increase, while Marlborough's the only region with a record annual decline in ads, at -6%. However Seek Country Manager Rob Clark says the fact growth stretches across regions and industries is a marked improvement on this year. He told Mike Hosking they're hopeful the growth will continue. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tai Rawhiti locals isolated again by January's slips on the Waioeka Gorge and East Coast highway want the government to find a more reliable route out of Gisborne. Mary Argue reports.

We delve into the business of making wine in Gisborne on the east coast of the North Island of New Zealand, with Mark Thompson head winemaker at GisVin.

Some farms in Tai Rawhiti are facing huge clean up jobs and access problems following heavy rain and flooding last week. Mud and slips have cut off roads and communities higher up the coast near Hicks bay and Te Araroa. The Prime Minister has said reconnecting some of those communities could take up to six months with significant damage to State Highwway 35 and SH2. North west of Gisborne some farms near Te Karaka have had river crossing washed out. Federated Farmers Gisborne president Charlie Reynolds spoke to Lisa Owen.

James discusses rescues at Te Aroroa during the recent flooding, a Swiss marathon runner's success after being stranded at the Waioweka Campground by slips and the 8 year old who was joint winner in a $40,000 fishing prize.

Extreme weather may be the trigger for deadly and devastating slash, but the lines on who is responsible for prevention and clean-up are blurredThe slash debate heats up - again - in Gisborne as forestry operators urge the government to remove their legal accountability for the devastating dischargeGuest:Dr Mark Bloomberg - adjunct senior fellow at the School of Forestry at Canterbury UniversityLearn More: Forestry group urges Government to remove legal accountability for slashFind The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

There is still a huge amount of clean up to do on roads around the upper North Island following last week's severe weather. Slips and flooding damaged major roads in Thames, Coromandel, Bay of Plenty and the East cape. In Gisborne entire hillsides collapsed, bringing forestry and native bush down onto roads. Convoys have made it through State Highway 35 at the top of the east coast, but it could be several weeks before State Highway two between Gisborne and Bay of Plenty reopens. NZTA's Mark Owen spoke to Lisa Owen.

A Gisborne helicopter pilot helping with the East Coast civil defence response says treacherous weather has made flying conditions tough, as floods cut off roads and isolate communities. George Spence spoke to Corin Dann.

Gisborne is in clean-up mode again after heavy rain and flooding caused major damage, leaving some areas cut off and roads blocked by slips and debris. Gisborne's mayor Rehette Stoltz spoke to Lauren Crimp.

Locals in Te Araroa, north of Gisborne, were forced to flee for their lives as what may prove to be a deadly storm, bore down on the North Island. Kate Green reports. Kate Green reports.

State Highway 2 through the Waioweka Gorge from Opotiki to Matawai is expected to be closed for weeks with as many as 40 slips to clear up. Ratahi Cross, chair of Ngai Tukairangi Trust spoke to Melissa Chan-Green.

An RNZ special on the unfolding weather event in the North Island, presented by Ingrid Hipkiss. Red heavy rain warnings are in place for Northland, Coromandel, Bay of Plenty, and Gisborne from Tologa Bay north. Several regions have declared a state of local emergency, including Coromandel, Hauraki, Bay of Plenty, Whangarei and Gisborne Tai Rāwhiti.