Podcasts about Kapiti Coast

John Schofield, who's in his 70s, was dragged to safety on Friday after he was caught in rogue waves while fishing near the mouth of the Otaki River on the Kapiti Coast. A kite surfer spotted him in trouble and hauled him in to shore, waving out to a nearby fisher for help. John's family has been in touch with Checkpoint, and said he wants to acknowledge the help of a lady fisherman, a kite surfer, Otaki police and the Grassroots Trust Rescue Helicopter who came to his rescue. Fisher Janelle Adams spoke to Lisa Owen.

Chief Warrant Officer Andres Navarro from the Marine Corps Forces Pacific Band joins Emile Donovan.

What power do you have in your community? ...Sue Wells is a New Zealander. Now living in the North Island's beautiful Kapiti Coast, she is originally from Christchurch in the South Island. There, she grew up, studied at Canterbury University, and had a highly successful broadcasting career in radio and television, including starring in her own show, "Susan Sells", on CTV. She moved from there into local government as an elected city councillor in Christchurch from 1998-2013. She chaired the Council's important planning and regulatory committees including during the terms of the terrible Canterbury Earthquake sequence which took at least 185 lives, many of whom were colleagues of hers from CTV. Sue has a passionate interest in how urban planning and community development work together, and continues that interest in her work today.Today, Sue and Abbie talk about Sue's time as a city councillor in Christchurch and what she learned from her experience of the Canterbury Earthquake Sequence.  ...Take the Survey here!Subscribe to the CosmoParenting Substack!Register for the 2024 CMMi Fellows Presentation here!...Stories Lived. Stories Told. is created, produced & hosted by Abbie VanMeter.Stories Lived. Stories Told. is an initiative of the CMM Institute for Personal and Social Evolution....Music for Stories Lived. Stories Told. is created by Rik Spann....⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Explore all things Stories Lived. Stories Told. here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Explore all things CMM Institute here.

Black Friday Roof Painting Deal! Roof Painting Wellington will beat any lower written quote from reputable companies. Serving Wellington, Upper Hutt, Lower Hutt, Porirua, and the Kapiti Coast. Call 028 471 4606 or get your free quote at https://roofpaintingwellington.nz/contact-roof-painters-wellington. Roof Painting Wellington City: Wellington Address: 2 Tyers Road Website: https://roofpaintingwellington.nz Phone: +64-28-471-4606

Revitalise your commercial property with Wellington Roof Painter! Serving Wellington, Hutt Valley, and Kapiti Coast, we offer top-quality, weather-resistant finishes. Call 028 469 3495 for a free quote or visit https://roofpaintingwellington.nz/contact-roof-painters-wellington today! Roof Painting Wellington City: Wellington Address: 2 Tyers Road Website: https://roofpaintingwellington.nz Phone: +64 28 469 3495

Shield commercial properties with expert roof painting from Wellington's finest painters! Serving Lower Hutt, Upper Hutt, and the Kapiti Coast, we ensure roofs look great and last longer. Ready to transform your roof? Call 028 469 3495 today or visit https://roofpaintingwellington.nz/contact-roof-painters-wellington for a quote! Roof Painting Wellington City: Wellington Address: 2 Tyers Road Website: https://roofpaintingwellington.nz Phone: +64 28 469 3495

Your premier roof painter in Wellington, we specialise in commercial roof painting with top-quality materials to boost your property's value! Serving Wellington, Upper Hutt, Lower Hutt, Porirua, and the Kapiti Coast. Call 028 469 3495 for a free quote or visit roofpaintingwellington.nz/contact-roof-painters-wellington! Roof Painting Wellington City: Wellington Address: 2 Tyers Road Website: https://roofpaintingwellington.nz Phone: +64 28 469 3495

Upgrade Your Commercial Roof Today! For expert roof painting in Wellington, Upper Hutt, Lower Hutt, Porirua, or the Kapiti Coast, call 028 469 3495. Specialising in metal roofs and more. Get your free quote now! Contact us at https://roofpaintingwellington.nz/contact-roof-painters-wellington. Roof Painting Wellington City: Wellington Address: 2 Tyers Road Website: https://roofpaintingwellington.nz Phone: +64 28 469 3495

Roof Painting Wellington is handling increased demand for commercial roof painting in Wellington, Upper Hutt, Lower Hutt, Porirua, and the Kapiti Coast. Specialising in metal roofs, their expert painters deliver top results. Call 028 469 3495 for a free consultation today! Roof Painting Wellington City: Wellington Address: 2 Tyers Road Website: https://roofpaintingwellington.nz Phone: +64 28 469 3495

Commercial roof painting is thriving across Wellington, Upper Hutt, Lower Hutt, Porirua, and the Kapiti Coast. Roof Painting Wellington's experts deliver professional services for both residential and commercial roofs. For stunning results, call them at 028 469 3495 or visit https://roofpaintingwellington.nz/contact-roof-painters-wellington today! Roof Painting Wellington City: Wellington Address: 2 Tyers Road Website: https://roofpaintingwellington.nz Phone: +64 28 469 3495

Leading the way in roof painting Wellington, these experts offer top-notch services from Upper Hutt to the Kapiti Coast. Specialising in commercial and metal roofs, they guarantee durable results. Call 028 469 3495 for a free quote or visit https://roofpaintingwellington.nz/contact-roof-painters-wellington! Roof Painting Wellington City: Wellington Address: 2 Tyers Road Website: https://roofpaintingwellington.nz Phone: +64 28 469 3495

Roof Painting Wellington leads a recent commercial project, serving Wellington, Upper Hutt, Lower Hutt, Porirua, and the Kapiti Coast. Specialising in metal roofs, our expert painters deliver unmatched quality. Call 028 469 3495 or visit roofpaintingwellington.nz/contact-roof-painters-wellington today! Roof Painting Wellington City: Wellington Address: 2 Tyers Road Website: https://roofpaintingwellington.nz Phone: +64 28 469 3495

A Kapiti Coast driving school instructor says NZTA's disorganisation in training up extra testing officers has left her thousands of dollars out of pocket. First Up producer Mahvash Ikram reports

Transforming commercial roofs with Roof Painting Wellington, the leaders in metal roof painting across Wellington, Upper Hutt, Lower Hutt, Porirua, and the Kapiti Coast. Our expert painters deliver unbeatable durability and a stunning finish. For great results, call 028 469 3495 or visit roofpaintingwellington.nz/contact-roof-painters-wellington today! Roof Painting Wellington City: Wellington Address: 2 Tyers Road Website: https://roofpaintingwellington.nz Phone: +64 28 469 3495

Revitalise your commercial roof with Wellington's leading painters! Specialising in metal roof transformations across Upper Hutt, Lower Hutt, Porirua, and the Kapiti Coast, we deliver expert service and lasting results. Call 028 469 3495 today or visit roofpaintingwellington.nz/contact-roof-painters-wellington to get started! Roof Painting Wellington City: Wellington Address: 2 Tyers Road Website: https://roofpaintingwellington.nz Phone: +64 28 469 3495

Mia-Nina plays songs from her upcoming EP Just 3 words. All songs on the EP were recorded locally on the Kapiti Coast.

Damn, this one was special. Stoked to have the brother Nikau / Casual Healing on the podcast, one of the most talented musicians in Aotearoa who's on a pathway destined for greatness. Nikau recently released his debut album 'Driftwood', that's making waves in New Zealand. Be sure to check it out down below! Hope you enjoy this conversation, CHUR! X Check out our amazing sponsors of the podcast, the legends at Moana Road down below.  Moana Road – https://moanaroad.co.nz/ Casual Healing Insta – https://www.instagram.com/casual_healing/ Driftwood Album – https://open.spotify.com/album/3AelMW87ekVldc79T6ItmX?si=P-aGiAB5QWGeGbjVocYZRw Beyond the Surface – https://www.instagram.com/beyond_the_surfacenz/ Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/show/4ZArq1WSsV1pMID1dkHbBL?si=ae3f007dd7794cde Noa Woolloff Insta – https://www.instagram.com/noawoolloff/ YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@beyondthesurfacenz

Representing your country at the Olympics is the pinnacle of an athlete's career. It's the same in the mascot world Come July, Kapiti Coast teacher, Kate Thompson will be donning the mascot outfit for the New Zealand Olympics team .

Kapiti Coast residents are demanding the council throw out a report on how to protect hundreds of homes from sea level rise. Locals and the Kapiti Coast District Council have been at loggerheads for more than a decade over attempts to map which areas are most at risk over the next century. Led by former Prime Minister Jim Bolger, a panel of experts and locals held more than 20 community sessions around the region to try to settle the issue. But angry protesters turned up yesterday as the report was handed over to the council. Reporter Kate Green was there.

In this week's episode, Nikki talks to Jan Bolwell, director of Crows Feet Dance Collective, about Kapiti Celebs - a unique mid-Winter variety concert she has devised and is MCing on Saturday 22nd June. This event brings together the Kapiti Coast's distinguished mid-career and senior performing artists and is dedicated to the memory of the late Sir John Trimmer. This programme looks at the Art scene with a range of guests.

Leaders on the Kapiti Coast say the financial and emotional impacts of boy racers in the community are significant - and are pleading with police to boost numbers in the district. Local government representatives have written to Police Minister Mark Mitchell after a mass street racing event over Kings Birthday weekend descended into violence. Otaki's Community Board chair Cam Butler spoke to Corin Dann.

One of the country's fastest growing regions - the Kapiti Coast north of Wellington - is losing its only remaining psychiatrist. Ruth Hill explains why.

OPINION Now if you're anything like me, you hate filling out the census. There's something about filling it out that makes you think you're giving away too much information. Soon you've got people knocking on your door making sure you fill it out. It's a giant pain in the backside. But I understand that the census is an important piece of data for the government to use to determine where the money goes. Well the results of the 2023 census came out yesterday and there was one pretty shocking result for Wellington. Try and think of something Wellington and the Chatham Islands have in common. Very little, you would have thought. Well, it was revealed yesterday that the only two places in the country where the population didn't grow by a single person were Wellington City and the Chatham Islands. Not a single extra person since the census in 2018. Can you believe that? In actual fact, Wellington's population dropped by 48 people. We're smaller than we were in 2018. And if you think of the hundreds of thousands of immigrants that have arrived in New Zealand since 2018, it seems crazy that this city hasn't grown at all. And we all know why. Wellington is nothing like it used to be. Right now I actually think I'd prefer to live on the Chatham islands.  I jest... Regionally Wellington's growth is lagging behind the rest of the country.  While Wellington City didn't grow at all, the Wellington region had almost the slowest population growth rate in the country at 2.8% between 2018 and 2023. It was second only to the Southland region which grew by 2.7%. The population of Wellington region was almost exactly 521,000 as recorded on census night last year. The number of dwellings counted in the 2023 census is up 6.4% to 216,000. Why oh why does no one new want to live in Wellington? Wellington mayor Tory Whanau said people still want to live in Wellington, but housing affordability is pushing people further out of the region…  Really Tory? I actually think that people have had enough of Wellington and think there are better options elsewhere in New Zealand.  Wellington is in a hole right now. Tory also said it's important to remember that people move in and out of cities all the time. She said she knew anecdotally that people had opted to buy homes out of the city because it's more affordable. Yes I agree  Tory, but the reason that people are moving is the high rates, high insurance and high cost of living in the capital city right now. A few interesting other facts; Porirua is the fastest growing city in the region with 5.1 % population growth. Kapiti Coast grew by 4.2%, Upper Hutt by 4% and Lower Hutt by 2.9%. And here's the star of the show, only a small trip over the hill. The Wairarapa is growing significantly faster than this side of the hill with an increase of 9.9 percent in South Wairarapa and Carterton, and 8.3% in Masterton. I get the feeling Wairarapa is the new Kapiti. And Wellington... Well. We have issues.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Anne Kemp shares the wisdom of just doing SOMETHING to get yourself the slightest bit unstuck - it all adds up! Anne Kemp is a bestselling author of romantic comedies. She loves reading (and she does it ridiculously fast, too!), gluten-free baking (because everyone needs a hobby that makes them crazy), and finding time to binge-watch her favorite shows. She grew up in Maryland but made Los Angeles her home until she encountered her own real-life meet-cute at a friend's wedding where she ended up married to one of the groomsmen. For real.Anne now lives on the Kapiti Coast in New Zealand, and even though she was married at Mt. Doom, no…she doesn't have a Hobbit. However, she and her husband do have a terrier named George Clooney and a NZ Heading dog named Charlie. When she's not writing, she's usually with them taking a long walk on the river by their home.Here's Rachael's Kickstarter, Unstuck! Ink In Your Veins: How Writers Actually Write (and how you can, too)Writing doesn't have to be so hard. With internationally bestselling author Rachael Herron, learn how to embrace ease, reject perfectionism, and finally create your perfect writing process. (Formerly known as How Do You Write) Come for inspiration, stay for lots more.✏️ Can I email you some writing help?

Leo Barber the GM and Course Manager at Paraparaumu Beach Golf Club on the Kapiti Coast of the North Island of New Zealand joins us for this episode. I have had the great pleasure of playing the links at Paraparaumu Beach on a number of occasions, over the course of 4 rounds there, thus far, the washboard fairways and associated dunescapes really resonated with this self confessed links junkie. Leo recently marked the 75th anniversary of Alex Russell's arrival at Paraparaumu with a presentation to the members of the club and joins us today to recount both the story of the links and his own journey which began a mere 15 minutes down the road from the club in Pukerua Bay. We hope you enjoy our chat! Please check out the following links for some additional supporting content Leo Barber's pictorial history of PBGC (https://youtu.be/8qH4NAj0Qe0) Ran Morisset's course tour of PBGC on Golf Club Atlas (https://golfclubatlas.com/countries/paraparaumu-beach/?portfolioCats=249%2C250%2C251%2C252%2C253%2C254%2C255%2C256%2C257%2C258%2C259%2C260%2C261%2C262%2C263%2C264%2C265%2C266%2C267%2C268%2C269%2C270%2C271%2C272%2C273%2C274%2C275%2C276) Christian Cullen best try's link (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQ9EYiDQYsk) Clyde Johnson website - Book on North Island Country Golf in NZ (https://www.cunningolfdesign.com/writing) Intro and outro music - _Shoreline Serenade by Dye O _- under license from Epidemic Sound Special Guest: Leo Barber.

Colourful kites of all shapes and sizes will be flying high at the Otaki Kite Festival this weekend. Festival director Kirsty Doyle joins Jesse to tell us what's happening at the annual event which is now into its 11th year on the Kapiti Coast.

Kapiti Coast residents are outraged by a lengthy road detour which will be in place for months - and they're planning a protest. Waka Kotahi is attaching a clip-on bike path and pedestrian walkway to the Waikanae bridge, closing it to southbound traffic at least until May. Nick James reports.

The Te Horo Kilns are set to open in December, and expected to be a destination spot for artists and visitors alike, on the Kapiti Coast.

Today marked a new beginning for the Capital Connection as five newly refurbished carriages were unveiled at Wellington train station. The train service runs twice day between Palmerston North and Wellington, bringing commuters from the Kapiti Coast into the capital city. $26 million worth of government funding has guaranteed the future of the service, which many people have fought hard to keep. Jemima Huston reports [embed] https://players.brightcove.net/6093072280001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6331848968112

Kia Ora everyoneThis episode we discuss how Mike and Toffer got on at the 9th Capital Shield Tournament recently held at the Paraparaumu Boating Club on the amazing Kapiti Coast.We ask the questions... Is it possible to cause most Casualties and still win Best Sport? What shouldn't you do with a Block Mino? Is it possible to be too loud in a Paraparaumu restaurant? and, how can we disappoint Ramchop?All comments and ideas gratefully received. Join the NZBB Discord server here - https://tinyurl.com/joinNZBBCVisit the NZ Blood Bowl Community FB page here - https://www.facebook.com/groups/NZBBC/Intro music adapted from Bensound.com. Cheers Bensound. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Several properties have been damaged by a tornado on the Kapiti Coast, north of Wellington.  Fire and Emergency shift manager, Belinda Beets, says they received their first call just before 5.30am on Tuesday.  She says crews are in Aorangi Road at the northern end of Paraparaumu, where there are reports of roof damage, and trees and fences down.  Fire crews are also at the Metlifecare facility, where there is also suspected roof damage.  More than 650 properties are also without power.  Reporter Jemima Huston spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Residents have told RNZ the tornado on Kapiti Coast lasted about one minute. Reporter on the scene Kirsty Frame said the damage is severe with roofs missing and debris everywhere. She said one house is visibly on a lean. Frame spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Here we go! As promised, this month we have some special friends lined up to talk with us about their dream life - the good, the learned and the practical! Our first dream-share episode is with a beautiful friend, Ella from Kapiti Coast. Ella shares with us a top tip from her own dream journey, how she got started with dreaming and her advice on how to learn more, and then shares her dream for us to talk over together. Ella has such a wisdom and grace in her outlook on life that really shows as she speaks about all she has learnt! In particular, when talking about how many people seem to be dreaming at the moment, Ella says, “Dreams aren't limited to your belief system” - how profound and how fun!!! We hope you enjoy this episode, and thanks for chatting with us Ella!   CONNECT WITH ZOEY + JENNA

Wildlife photographer Holly Neill moved onto a property on the Kapiti Coast late 2020, but it was absolutely overrun by weeds. Now the agapanthus have been uprooted, and 400 natives planted. Holly speaks to Jesse. 

Discover The Hutt's most trusted roof painting experts. Roof painting and restoration specialists for the residential, commercial, and industrial markets working throughout the wider Wellington region including the Hutt Valley and the Kapiti Coast. https://roofpaintingwellington.nz Waterproofing and Painting Contractors Wellington Services 14-20 Meachen Street Seaview, Lower Hutt , Wellington 5010, New Zealand Website https://roofpaintingwellington.nz Email prc.pressagency@gmail.com

Roof Painting Wellington - Are Wellington's most trusted roof painting experts. Wellington roof painting and restoration specialists for both the residential and commercial markets working throughout the wider Wellington region including the Hutt Valley and Kapiti Coast. https://roofpaintingwellington.nz/contact-roof-painters-wellington Waterproofing and Painting Contractors Wellington Services 14-20 Meachen Street Seaview, Lower Hutt , Wellington 5010, New Zealand Website https://roofpaintingwellington.nz Email prc.pressagency@gmail.com

Wellingtonians heading up the Kapiti Coast for the holidays are in for an early Christmas present. The ribbon had been cut on the long-awaited expressway from Peka Peka to Otaki, although it would not be fully open to motorists until Friday. Both National and Labour were celebrating the new road, but scrapping over who could take the credit for it. Our political reporter Anneke Smith has more.

Today on the podcast I speak with the lovely Jane Denton.  As a textile artist, Jane's artworks are all about all about texture, colour and design. Using cotton or wool carefully handstitched onto canvas, Jane creates delicate, precise pieces that are clean, fresh, and contemporary. Colour plays an important role, and her compositions range from bright and bold to soft and muted. All pieces are hand stitched, and each one is unique. Jane's work is not only much loved by New Zealanders but has struck a chord with art lovers across the USA and beyond. Over the years she has featured on many leading design website and blogs around the world and her work is regularly enjoyed by the interior design community.​I connected with Jane through this podcast, I was a fan of her work already however when we shared a few messages one day about this podcast, I quickly suggested that I interview Jane about her incredible work. As you will hear in this episode, at first glance you could almost look at Jane's beautiful geometric artworks as being simple, however it's not until you really look closely   that you see how complex, intricate, and clever Jane's work is. I really loved chatting with Jane. I feel like she is a quiet achiever – creating this beautiful, globally recognized artwork all from her sunny studio on the Kapiti Coast of New Zealand. I know you will enjoy this chat as much as I did.You can check out Jane's beautiful hand-stitched artworks at janedenton.co.nz or find her on insta (and be mesmerised by her stitching reels) @janedenton_artFor more podcast information visit supercreativepodcast.com Hosted by Catie DawsonBought to you by Somewhere CreativeFind us on Instagram - @supercreativepodcast

Kapiti Coast artists and craftspeople will be flinging open their studio doors and inviting people inside for two weekends next month, for the region's annual Arts Trail. After two tough years, the 21st Art Trail is the biggest one yet. More than 300 artists' work will be on show in studios and in gallery group shows, from Raumati up the coast to Otaki Beach. It's not only a huge cultural event for the region, it's hopefully a financial shot in the arm for hospitality too. Lynn Freeman talks with two of the participating artists this year - award winning mosaic-maker Jane Santos, and jeweller Rebecca Bond, whose CV includes running the Kapiti Art Studio for differently abled people and being a WOW four-time finalist! The Kapiti Coast Art Trail is on next weekend (5-6 November) and the following one (12-13 November)

A Greater Wellington regional councillor who is advocating for a better rail service to and from Wellington, says protestors did themselves a disservice by blocking commuters traveling on State Highway 1 on Wednesday morning. Penny Gaylor represents the Kapiti Coast at the council table. She says Kapiti locals want better rail services, and for the government to invest in improvements to the Capital Connection service which would make the commute to Wellington more reliable and more comfortable. But she says punishing the very people who want those rail improvements for driving to Wellington isn't the way to make it happen. Gaylor spoke to Guyon Espiner.

A ram raid on the Kapiti Coast has left a shop owner fuming after months of lobbying to get bollards installed. Seven young people were arrested early on Sunday morning after smashing into the front door of Paekakariki village store, stealing cigarettes and other items. Bhavesh Morar says his and other shop owners' efforts to prevent this were ignored by the council and his local MP. He spoke to Corin Dann.

Today writer and columnist Dave Armstrong talks to Jesse about some issues in the capital. He's talking about the issues Wellington has with slips and the damage being caused by both rainfall and leaking water pipes under the streets. He's also got some views on the local body elections and mayoral prospects for Wellington, Kapiti Coast and Porirua.

National is not convinced Chris Hipkins is up to the job of Police Minister - we'll speak to their police spokesperson, Mark Mitchell. The latest hearing into the Capitol riots is underway. Wild weather causes power cuts for Kapiti Coast

Another storm system is about to hit Kapiti Coast after more wild weather overnight following yesterday's tornado. Several homes were in it's path, tearing down fences, ripping off parts of roofs and damaged cars. MetService had forecast severe thunderstorms in the region and in other parts of the North Island through the night and this morning. It said it couldn't rule out more tornados and warned coastal regions to prepare for heavy sea swells which had the potential to inundate homes. Wellington Region Emergency Management regional manager Jeremy Holmes spoke to Corin Dann.

More on the wild weather that hitting central parts of the country The Kapiti Coast is being hit by heavy rain, thunder and lightning tis morning, and there's concern there could be heavy sea swells which could inundate some coastal homes. Waikanae Beach resident Karina Simpson spoke to Susie Ferguson.

Another storm system is about to hit Kapiti Coast after more wild weather overnight following yesterday's tornado. A Russian proxy court in eastern Ukraine has handed down death sentences to two British men and a Moroccan national who were captured while fighting for Ukraine. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern will sit-down with her Australian counterpart, Anthony Albanese, today for their first formal talks since his election.

There was chaos on the Kapiti Coast today after tornados ripped through - tearing rooves of houses and knocking trees down. About five properties in Waikanae Beach were damaged, with at least two families spending the night elsewhere. A second tornado hit nearby Otaihanga half an hour later, bringing down trees that totally demolished a sleepout. Our reporter Hamish Cardwell and camera man Angus Dreaver went to see the damage.

The government is investing in Sustainable Foods, a plant based food producer on the Kapiti Coast. Justin Lemmens is co-founder and CEO of Sustainable Foods, he talks to Wallace.

Kāpiti Coast community leaders are concerned social media platform TikTok has a role in vehicle thefts around Wellington, averaging about 10 per day.  Police confirmed there were 290 vehicles stolen around the Wellington Police District in February, 310 in March, and another 240 up until 20 April. It's thought social media platform TikTok might be playing a part in the cases where youth offenders are involved. Our reporter Jake McKee and cameraman Angus Dreaver have the story.  

The first commuter rubber has hit the new motorway fast-tracking the Capital with the Kapiti Coast. Transmission Gully opened its brand new 27kms of tarmac quietly to traffic at 2:45am this morning, giving the first experience of driving the steep Wainui Saddle, which at 8% is the same gradient as Ngauranga Gorge, only twice as long. This is the first glimpse of a valley, now a road, that has been hidden behind hills from its predecessor SH1, all but inaccessible other than to outdoor adventurers. Waka Kotahi says its taken a hundred years to build it, and is discouraging people from rushing out to give it a go. But, there was no stopping our Nine to Noon colleague Melanie Phipps, who's blue-toothed her phone and checks in with Kathryn Ryan from the Pauatahanui interchange.