Podcasts about North Island

14-year-old Kirsa Jensen was passionate about animals, especially horses. Living in Napier on New Zealand's North Island, there were many beautiful places to go riding. On September 1st 1983, Kirsa set off on her horse, 'Commodore', for Awatoto beach, a journey of around thirty minutes. Kirsa always came home by 5 pm, but on this day she failed to return. A massive search was soon underway, with several witnesses putting Kirsa in the presence of a man at an old concrete gun emplacement close to the beach. Further sightings followed, and a prime suspect soon emerged. Despite this, over 40 years since she was last seen, Kirsa remains missing.Sources for the episode can be found hereSupport the showFollow  Persons Unknown:  Instagram and FacebookEmail: personsunknownpod@gmail.comWebsite with Transcripts:https://personsunknown.buzzsprout.com/

Three new non-stop Air New Zealand flights launching later this year will connect Christchurch directly to Perth, Singapore and Tokyo. But will the resurgence of Christchurch see tourists skipping over the North Island to get there? Debbie Robertson, is the general manager of Wai Ariki Hot Springs & Spa, an iwi-owned, luxury wellness spa on the Rotorua lakefront. Robertson spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Public Service Commissioner on cuts, mergers and AI shift; Wellington Lions player on joining NZ Police force; AI consultancy chief on public sector overhaul and AI use; Sir Graeme Dingle on investing in young people's futures; Rotorua operators fear tourists may skip North Island

This week we're heading to the Waitomo District, located in the south-western part of the Waikato region in the North Island, from where Mayor John Robertson joins Jesse.

→ Need help sorting out the big picture of your upcoming New Zealand trip? Get my 1-on-1 support with my VACATION BLUEPRINT DESIGN service ← Throughout this New Zealand, Your Way series, the consistent advice has been to keep your itinerary simple and focus on one island. But if visiting both the North and South Island is truly what you want from your trip — this episode is your permission slip. It's your trip, and it's absolutely possible. On this episode, we're breaking down exactly how to get between the two islands, what each option actually looks and feels like on the ground, and what it's going to cost you — so you can weigh the decision clearly and make the right call for your trip. Because if both islands are on your itinerary, figuring out this crossing is one of the most important logistical anchors you'll need to sort out before anything else. Connect w/ Angela on Instagram   LISTEN BACK: Episode 201: My #1 Hack for Taking a Stress-Free Vacation Episode 230: The Perfect Pace for a Multi-Leg Trip Episode 286: Independent Travel Tips to Feel Confident Traveling Abroad

A legend of the sport previews the North Island and New Zealand Sheep Dog Championships coming up later this month (May 25-29) in Hawke’s Bay.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today kākāpō breed on three remote islands, each bird wears a transmitter and they are carefully monitored and minded. But the ultimate goal of the kākāpō recovery programme is to restore the mauri of the kākāpō – to have them back in our forests as wild, nameless birds. What are the steps to get there, and how can science help keep kākāpō safe through this transition? Sign up to the Our Changing World monthly newsletter for episode backstories, science analysis and more.Learn more:Kākāpō need new habitat, could fenced ecosanctuaries be an option? That's why kākāpō were released into Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari in July 2023, to start a trial of how they would do in this new, mainland, North Island habitat. A year later, there had already been a lot of lessons learned.One of the possible future habitats mentioned by Deirdre Vercoe is South Westland, where a massive effort is underway to clear stoats, possums and rats from a huge area.For all the details about this record-breaking breeding season, listen to the Kākāpō Files podcast.Guests:Deirdre Vercoe, Kākāpō and Takahē recovery programme operations manager, Department of ConservationDr Andrew Digby, Kākāpō and Takahē recovery programme science and technical advisor, Department of ConservationGo to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

It'd be easy to draw comparisons and parallels between our upcoming election and the local and federal upsets in Australia and the UK at the weekend. But New Zealand is a totally different kettle of fish. In part, because, unlike the Brits and the Aussies, we run an MMP system. The smaller parties that have traditionally been overlooked, like One Nation and Reform, are doing well because the major parties have failed on immigration and the economy. Our system is designed to allow these smaller parties more say, with fewer wasted votes. But most importantly, mass-migration is not the hot-button political issue here it is in the UK and, to a lesser extent, Australia, where migration, and particularly illegal migration, is a problem. The vast distance you must travel to get here is our saving grace, in that regard. But our isolation is also a curse in many ways. Our labour productivity, low population base and lack of competition in key consumer sectors make us a relatively pricey place to raise a family. We're an open economy heavily reliant on international trade. So when there's a tariff war or international shipping routes get blocked, we are disproportionately affected compared to bigger economies with more domestic demand and buying power. A government report looking at our undersea infrastructure cables - power and internet - shows how vulnerable we are - 99% of our international internet goes undersea. The Cook Strait power cable provides up to 30% of the North Island's electricity. If the Russians or Chinese or somebody else tried to cut us off, we'd be in trouble, and our isolation makes replacing these things more difficult than others. A quarantine or blockade of Taiwan would be the worst-case scenario for our trade-flows. And, as we've been talking about for years now, could happen anytime from 2027 onwards. Our isolation protects us from the threats faced by the UK , America and the Aussies, but exposes unique ones we should guard against. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What happens when sound becomes a portal? In this episode of Chi Time on the Positivi-Chi Show, Clara chats with visionary Sound Journey artist Sika, calling in live from New Zealand, having completed his North Island tour. Sika shares how his immersive Sound Journeys are evolving into something truly pioneering, weaving ancient earth wisdom with dynamic, rhythmic sonic artistry that takes listeners far beyond the typical sound bath experience. In this episode we explore: Why people are returning to Sika's sound journeys again and again How the tension and release of discordant frequencies can unlock deep subconscious layers The birth of his daughter and how her presence is already weaving into his work Shape-shifting through multiple portals in a single journey, his most daring guided experiences yet His new album 'Between the Worlds' and the meaning behind the 'Wandering Forest Spirit' artwork What to expect at his upcoming UK tour, including a very special immersive weekend at the legendary Earth House in Dorset. EARTH HOUSE TICKETS HERE 3/7/26 https://claraapollo.com/product/sika-sound-journey-earth-house-the-gathering-fire/ NEW FOREST TICKETS HERE: 29/7/26 https://claraapollo.com/product/sika-sound-journey-between-the-worlds-new-forest/ Whether you're a seasoned sound healing practitioner or completely new to frequency work, this conversation will shift something in you. Sika is touring the UK this Summer 2026 Find out about more of his other events here; https://sikamusic.com Watch this episode on Chi Time the Positivi-Chi Show on Youtube here: https://youtu.be/5lD78jW_vgs?si=7_3e6qHI-8NZgpGD See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

fWotD Episode 3287: Katipō Welcome to featured Wiki of the Day, your daily dose of knowledge from Wikipedia's finest articles.The featured article for Tuesday, 5 May 2026, is Katipō.Katipō (pronounced kah-tih-PAW or KAH-tə-poh; Latrodectus katipo) is a species of cobweb spider found only in New Zealand. It is one of many species in the genus Latrodectus and is most closely related to the Australian redback (L. hasseltii). It is venomous to humans, its bite being capable of producing the toxic syndrome latrodectism; symptoms include extreme pain and, potentially, hypertension or seizure. Bites are rare and antivenom is available in some hospitals. The female is 8–10 millimetres (0.31–0.39 in) in length; the male is 4–5 millimetres (0.16–0.20 in). In the South Island and the lower half of the North Island, the female has a distinct red stripe bordered in white on its abdomen; in more northern populations this stripe is absent, pale, yellow, or replaced with cream-coloured blotches. These two forms were previously thought to be separate species. The male is white with black stripes and red hourglass-shaped markings.The katipō is mainly found living in sand dunes close to the seashore. It is found throughout most of coastal New Zealand except the far south and the West Coast. It feeds mainly on ground-dwelling insects, caught in an irregular tangled web spun among dune plants or other debris. After mating, the female katipō produces five or six egg sacs in November or December. The juveniles hatch after 20–25 days, and during January and February they disperse into surrounding plants. The common name is from Māori for "night stinger", which is derived from the words kakati (to sting) and pō (the night). Due to habitat loss, colonisation of their natural habitat by invasive spiders and hybridisation with L. hasseltii, the katipō is listed as "in serious decline" by the New Zealand Threat Classification System.This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 01:42 UTC on Tuesday, 5 May 2026.For the full current version of the article, see Katipō on Wikipedia.This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.Follow us on Bluesky at @wikioftheday.com.Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.Until next time, I'm generative Stephen.

Auckland Council wants to hear from you. It's consulting on proposed changes to the Auckland Navigational Bylaw. Right now, Clause 20 of the bylaw requires personal flotation devices, also known as life jackets, on vessels six metres and under. Unless, and here comes the thorny bit, unless the person in charge gives permission not to wear one. So that makes it all pretty cloudy, doesn't it? The proposed changes aim to clarify expectations and support safer decisions on the water. The proposed change to Clause 20 makes the rule clear, according to the council, and protects everyone on board. What they want to change to is personal flotation devices must be worn on recreational vessels six metres or less in length. So no faffing around with, oh, the person in charge says I don't have to – if you're on the boat, you wear them. Submissions opened yesterday and are open until the 7th of June 2026, so you've got a bit over a month to have your say. Is this sort of explicit rendering of the law necessary? Well, if you look at the stats, yes, it is. On average, between 15 to 20 people die every year in recreational boating accidents. And the majority of the accidents don't happen in rough seas miles from shore, they occur in the northern part of the North Island and in coastal waters within two kilometres of shore, and when you drill down, within 400 metres of shore. Vessel types: kayaks, canoes, small powerboats under six metres are the ones most frequently involved. Capsizing and falling overboard are the primary causes of accidents, often happening suddenly, and over half of those who died in the boating accidents were, guess what, not wearing a life jacket. So you can understand the frustration from Coastguard New Zealand, from the first responders turning up seeing the devastation that occurs when a loved one dies from what was supposed to be a fantastic day out. And it's all so unnecessary. With the right flotation device, you get wet and you go home, and a family's not torn apart. I understand that for a lot of people, going out on the boat is the last freedom. You know, the wind through your hair, if you've got any, the salt water and sound of the seabirds, the light glinting off the water, and you're catching food for dinner. It's a fantastic experience, but it can all go wrong so quickly. And being sorry is all very well and good. “Oh my god, I should have insisted they wear a life jacket.” Yeah, you should have and it's too late now. Do we leave it to God's little pruning fork? Like if you choose not to wear a life jacket and you know the stats, for heaven's sake, if you're a boatie, you know the stats. But is it a case of other people? Oh, it'll happen to other people. I'm very cautious, I'm very careful, I know what I'm doing. I can swim well. I was a lifesaver 42 years ago, I can look after the grandkids if anything happens. It's always other people until it isn't. But do you still want to be able to make your own choices and if the worst happens, oh well, there we go, it's just one of those things? Or should people be saved from their own stupidity and poor decisions? Every single boatie I know has really strict rules around their boat. When the kids go on board, they understand that the captain's in charge, you follow the rules, what he or she says goes, and life jackets are compulsory for everybody. It's not just for the kids and the adults don't wear them. Everybody wears them. I understand people want to go to hell in their own way, but I can also really understand the frustration of first responders and Coastguard who have to deliver the news to people back on shore that because the person they loved was wilful and obstinate and refused to believe that they were mortal, they're not going to be with them ever again. To me, it seems a no brainer. And I'm sure if you're that sort of boatie, you'd be like, how can you not? How can you not insist that people stay safe? It's not an onerous burden these days. So do you just leave people to, like I say, go to hell in their own way? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Just days after they were rounded up off the North Island's central plateau, Kaimanawa horses are in training for their new homes and are warming up to human contact. Jimmy Ellingham reports.

We're not going to lie, there was a lot on the docket this week, and boy did Ali, Andrew, and Matt rip through it. We, the aforementioned, declare that Tamaki is now the distance-running capital of Aotearoa. And also that it is “mad nice” (Friedland, 2026). We charge that big companies should stop doing things that make them look like dicks, and that the Boston thing was sort of okay, and also we wonder if that dude that Jurek helped across the line at Western States ever got a sympathy cougar. READ THE RULES, PEOPLE.Attending to point 1. We salute Messers McLean, Wadams, Steel, Steel, & Steel for their spectacular efforts at the Faultline Miler. Andrew McDowall formally and unreservedly apologizes to Shaun Collins for his complete disregard for Trail Nav events in the North Island. We also discussed the little race in London over the weekend and the Wanaka Ultra. Mad Nice indeed. Dirt Church Radio – Best Enjoyed Running.​--- --- --- Episode Links Sign up for the DCR AidStation newsletter.Dirt Church Radio on InstagramDirt Church Radio on FacebookFurther Faster New ZealandEnjoy!Music by Andrew McDowall, Digicake

An albatross injured in last week's lower North Island storm is due for release off the coast of Napier today and two others hurt in the same wild weather are on the road to recovery. They've rehabilitated at Palmerston North's Wildbase Hospital, where they're treated to a diet of salmon, and swim in an indoor pool. The hospital's manager said the increasing frequency of storms is keeping the service busy. Reporter Jimmy Ellingham paid a visit.

We're working our way through the alphabet to highlight people, places or events that make New Zealand, New Zealand. This week we're at T and have chosen T for Tangiwai - New Zealand's worst railway accident occurred at Tangiwai in the central North Island on 24 December 1953.

This interview is disseminated on behalf of Questcorp Mining. Last month, Questcorp Mining (CSE: QQQ | OTCQB: QQCMF | FSE: D910) announced the commencement of its 2026 induced polarization (IP) survey at its 1,168-hectare North Island Copper Project on Vancouver Island, British Columbia.Founding Director, President, and CEO Saf Dhillon discusses the 2026 IP survey, the importance of geophysical surveys and 3D modeling in mineral exploration, a private placement update, and drilling plans at the La Union Project in Sonora, Mexico.Learn more about Questcorp Mining: https://questcorpmining.ca/Watch the full YouTube interview here: https://youtu.be/pPFwhh3hzzoAnd follow us to stay updated: https://www.youtube.com/GlobalOneMedia 

Householders in many parts of the North Island are in the process of trying to put their homes back to together.

Friday’s weather guy warns of more wet weather for a sodden North Island, while some parts of inland Otago are crying out for rain.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The lower North Island continues to take a battering today, with an orange weather warning still in place for Wellington. More than 150 weather events - things like landslips and flooding - have been reported so far. Flights are cancelled, and schools and council facilities are closed today. In the wake of all this, many are asking why more serious warnings were not issued. Jesse is joined by Dr James Renwick, Professor of Climate Science at Victoria University and former Principal Climate Scientist at NIWA.

Police have carried out sting operations to crack down on illegal sales of nitrous oxide for recreational use - known as nangs. Five retailers across the North Island have been charged under the Psychoactive Substances Act and could face prison time. The canisters are meant to be used to whip cream. Superintendent Dion Bennett says during the stings - it was clear customers were buying nangs for recreational use. "We weren't dressed as bakers, we didn't represent ourselves as home bakers - it was obvious that we weren't there to buy nitrous oxide for baking purposes." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 2010 the Psa-V bacterial disease was found in a Bay of Plenty kiwifruit orchard. This was the beginning of a terrible ordeal for many kiwifruit growers. It devastated crops, resulting in the loss of hundreds of jobs, and hundreds of millions of dollars. But though it spread to some other areas in the North Island, it never made it across the Cook Strait. Claire Concannon learns about the science behind keeping this microbe out of Te Waipounamu. Sign up to the Our Changing World monthly newsletter for episode backstories, science analysis and more.Learn more:The Plant and Food Research (today the Bioeconomy Science Institute) team who worked on science to help with the kiwifruit Psa crisis won the Prime Minister's Science Prize in 2017.In 2012 Alison Ballance reported on the hunt for resistance genes so kiwifruit plants could be more resilient in the face of this bacteria.As In-Depth reporter Farah Hancock detailed earlier this year, 95% of the kiwifruit grown here are actually exported - an earner of $4.5 billion in 2025.Guests:Falk KalamorzRebecca Manners, Bioeconomy Science InstituteDr Ed Morgan, Bioeconomy Science InstituteLeanne Stewart, Kiwifruit Vine HealthGo to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

People have spent the night out of their homes as downpours continue to hit the lower North Island - with a red heavy rain warning in place. Hutt City Council teams were going door to door on some streets urging people to leave their homes as rain fell last night. A state of emergency has been declared for the Wellington Region. Lower Hutt mayor Fauono Ken Laban spoke to John Campbell

Parts of the lower North Island are under an orange heavy rain warning, and as you will have heard in the news, rain has already caused some chaos in Wellington. Already today Wellington's Fire and Emergency has responded to over 180 call outs, the interisland ferry service is cancelled, and one person is reported missing. But it's not just the capital that is under alert .. the warning covers Wairarapa, Tararua area and Kaikoura Coast & North Canterbury east of Lake Sumner. RNZ Senior Journalist Ellen O'Dwyer has been out and about in Wellington since 6:30 this morning, she updates Jesse on the latest.

The North Island has been hammered again by a series of severe weather events over the weekend - some with little warning. Lucy Xia reports.

A training facility in the lower North Island could finally be revived and New Zealand's commercial coffee growing industry is also gaining momentum. The latest rural news with Gianina Schwanecke.

Ecosystem Services... sounds awfully like an Economical Job! Thank goodness it's not an ecological gig: Ecosystem Services are the ecological contributions organisms make to the smooth running of our planet. Invertebrates, spiders, birds, trees, shrubs, fungi, whales, and insects, etc, do a variety of jobs that help us and all other creatures we share this Earth with. And we often forget about this! Pollination Without it, many of our plants, shrubs and trees won't be able to reproduce. A third of everything you eat has had the services of a Honeybee (or Bumblebee) involved! Others such as hoverflies, native bees (28 species!), thrips, beetles, birds, and heaps of flies love to visit the flowers – we often seem to forget about these beautiful green flies, known as dung-flies! Photo / Getty Images Dolomedes Minor – The Clever Nursery Web Spider An endemic Spider Species that occurs only in New Zealand and are very clever in many ways. In late spring, the female is starting a web site on some grassy bit mixed with fine silk, that can hold a good, large piece of silken nursery. A couple of hundred juveniles or more grow bigger every time they change their external skin. When all juveniles come to the third skin development, the female spider knows it's time to get the kids in the web site, where they can run about. This is also the time when mum chews quite visible holes into the edges of the nursery web – the juveniles know it's time to find some food outside the silken website. It's good food, and material that allows them to find some “Ballooning Silk”, which enables them to travel with the wind in all sorts of directions. Many, many kilometres without the use of petrol… Predators, Parasites, and Parasitoids In everybody's garden you'll find there are hundreds and hundreds of critters that will keep your plants, the grasses, and the gardens in perfect condition. As a Dutchman I could even use the term “in perfect condition and for FREE!” We often seem to overlook the presence of these free critters that clean the place on a regular context! Left to right: Giant Centipede, Alexander Beetle, Praying Mantis, Predator Mite Huge native centipedes are always tricky customers, especially in the northern parts of the North Island. They often hide in rotting logs and will come out when you least expect it, in the middle of the night. Yep I have been bitten by these rotters – no sense of humour! The large beetle (Alexander Beetle) is one of my favourite insects in the garden – fast moving, and easy to make themselves invisible! They'll eat anything on their soils and once they grab your skin it's not easy to get them off! But 100% Predators in your garden – they're a brilliant creature to endorse. I love the Praying Mantis in our garden; their perfect way to find a food species helps you all the time. Keep a good eye on them as their eyesight is a fabulous way to get all the critters that cause troubles. If you've never seen these tiny Predator mites, this is your chance to learn how to get them in your Modus Operandus. Honestly, once you get what you are looking for, you'll always win the game from spring right through to well into autumn. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It was written by Dorothy Theomin for her cousin Allison Hallenstein - yes, those Hallensteins - during her North Island travels in 1910.  

→ Need help sorting out the big picture of your upcoming New Zealand trip? Get my 1-on-1 support with my VACATION BLUEPRINT DESIGN service ← Planning a trip to New Zealand can feel overwhelming at first—because New Zealand is bigger than it seems, you can't see it all, and you have to narrow it down. Before you can even start building an itinerary, you have to answer one major question: should you focus on the North Island or the South Island? In this episode of the New Zealand, Your Way series, we're talking all about the South Island. I'm walking you through what this island is known for, the types of landscapes and experiences you can expect, and which travel styles tend to love it the most. But even if you decide that the South Island wins over the North Island, the next step is deciding  which regions you should visit. So I'm also talking you through the regions on the South Island and what makes each one unique, helping you start to narrow down what your South Island trip could look like—and which areas might deserve a spot on your itinerary.   Connect w/ Angela on Instagram   LISTEN BACK: Episode 124: The 8 Travel Style Avatars // Which Are You? Episode 151: The Timeline to Your Next Vacation Episode 288: New Zealand, Your Way // 4 Things to Know Before Planning a Trip

"Where are the small fish?" This is a question that routinely comes up when fly fishing for trout in areas of New Zealand. Mike Dawes joins up with Ben Hall and Sean Andrews, two highly experienced New Zealand trout guides, to share some of the highlights of a recent trip to the Taupō region of NZ's North Island. These guys discuss some of the characteristics of South Island and North Island fly fishing, the necessity of team work and strong wading, and the thrill of observing Ben maneuver the helicopter into super narrow and super fishy areas! 

Farmers, particularly along the north and east of the North Island, are this morning waking up to survey the full extent of the damage caused by Cyclone Vaianu. Federated Farmers Bay of Plenty provincial president Brent Mountford spoke to John Campbell.

As the North Island braces for Cyclone Vaianu's impact, Chris Brandolino joins us with the latest of what to expect and how to prepare.

We talk to Brent Linn to get an overview of the Hawkes Bay wine region on the North Island of New Zealand.

Weather warnings or watches have been issued for the entire North Island, as Aotearoa braces for the arrival of Cyclone Vaianu. There's an orange heavy rain warning for parts of Northland that kicks in from 9pm Saturday. Some kumara growers are rushing to harvest before the weather hits. Further down the island, Coromandel Peninsula and Great Barrier Island currently have the highest level warning, a red strong wind warning from 5am til 6pm on Sunday. Damaging Wind gusts of up to 140km/h are expected Sunday afternoon. MetService Meteorologist John Law spoke to Lisa Owen.

Monday’s weather man backing up on a Friday - One rare red and 22 orange rain and wind alerts have been issued across the North Island, as the “multi-hazard”, potentially life-threatening Cyclone Vaianu approaches New Zealand. The red alert is a severe strong wind warning for Coromandel and Great Barrier Island from 5am to 6pm on Sunday, with wind gusts expected to hit 140km/h. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The cyclone is expected to pass over Coromandel Peninsula and Bay of Plenty on Sunday before moving over the rest of the North Island. 

Air Chathams revealed it's cutting a significant number of North Island flights, including 45 percent of flights between Whakatane and Auckland. Last year, the government anounced it would support "at risk" regional routes through a 30 million dollar loan scheme. Associate Transport Minister James Meager spoke to Lisa Owen.

Officials are warning Cyclone Vaianu could bring potentially life-threatening weather conditions to large parts of the North Island this weekend. Acting Minister of Emergency Management and Recovery Chris Penk spoke to Corin Dann.

Officials are warning people to prepare for the arrival of Cyclone Vaianu, which will bear down on the North Island this weekend. For the very latest we're joined by Director of Civil Defence Emergency Management John Price.

Cyclone Vaianu is expected to bring severe wind gusts, and rainfall to parts of the North Island on Sunday, with officials urging people to prepare. Chris Brandolino is a Principal Scientist at Earth Sciences New Zealand and he joins us now.

The Prime Minister is warning people to get ready for Cyclone Vaianu which is expected to hit the North Island this weekend. MetService meteorologist John Law spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

→ Need help sorting out the big picture of your upcoming New Zealand trip? Get my 1-on-1 support with my VACATION BLUEPRINT DESIGN service ← New Zealand is one of those destinations where it feels like every corner of the country looks incredible (spoiler: it is!). And that's exactly what makes planning a trip here a little tricky—because you can't explore every little corner. Before you can even start mapping out an itinerary, you need to answer one big question: should you focus on the North Island or the South Island? In this episode of the New Zealand, Your Way series, we're diving into the North Island. I'm walking you through what this island is known for, what kinds of experiences you can expect, and which travel styles tend to love it the most. I'm also introducing the key regions of the North Island and what makes each one unique, helping you start to narrow down the type of trip that might fit you best. Connect w/ Angela on Instagram LISTEN BACK: Episode 124: The 8 Travel Style Avatars // Which Are You? Episode 151: The Timeline to Your Next Vacation Episode 288: New Zealand, Your Way // 4 Things to Know Before Planning a Trip

Iolanthe cicadas are one of our smallest cicada species, found in the North Island from the Coromandel Peninsula to Wellington. This species has become extremely rare in the wild and there are very few modern sightings or recordings. Males have a very high-pitched song used for calling females. Because of the high frequency of the song, some adults may not be able to hear the call at all. Due to its lack of sightings, its threat status is unknown. However, its rarity is worrying, especially with no information on their ecology and population density. Nicola Toki chats all things critters with Jesse.

Emergency Management Minister Mark Mitchell discusses the weather situation in the upper North Island; The Lake Onslow pumped hydro scheme is being considered for fast-track; An update on the Middle East conflict with Simon Marks from Washington DC; A win for midwives in their battle for pay and conditions; How to use emojis safely in the workplace

Extensive flooding is already affecting parts of Northland as the region faces what the Met Service is describing as an "impactful multi-hazard event."

Petrol prices are continuing to hurt people around the country, many without the option of public transport or working from home. Field Correspondent Charlotte Cook went to see what it's like across the lower North Island.

Synlait's boss says the company's facing its toughest period in 20 years, but hopes a turnaround is near. The Canterbury milk processor's posted a half year loss of $80.6 million. Revenue rose $32 million to $949 million, while debt soared 88$ to $472 million. Chief Executive Richard Wyeth told Mike Hosking the next six months are critical. He says they've got the sale of a North Island asset coming up but need to catch up on a backlog for advanced nutrition, then they can focus forward. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Host of Our Changing World Claire Concannon joins Jesse to talk about the North Island brown Kiwi.

Flood-hit residents on Wairarapa's south coast are demanding action after a creek burst its banks during torrential rain. They want the council to open the creek up to the sea so it can drain during heavy rain, but the council says it's not its responsibility. Homes in Whangaimoana Beach were inundated when a severe storm swept across the lower North Island last month, closing roads, cutting power to thousands, and severing communities. Locals say heartache could've been avoided, if the stream bordering their properties had been dug out. Mary Argue reports.

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.

Donald Trump has presided over a signing ceremony inaugurating his Board of Peace. Speaking in Davos, he expressed his belief that it'll help forge what he called a "glorious and 'everlasting" peace for the Middle East and the wider world. Nearly twenty other dignitaries have signed the agreement. Mr Trump said the board would work in conjunction with the United Nations. Critics say it is designed to replace some of the UN's functions. Also: Denmark's prime minister has insisted her country's territorial integrity must be respected, a day after President Trump said a possible deal on Greenland will achieve everything he wants. Two people have died and several are feared buried after landslides in New Zealand's North Island. Wildlife rangers in Pakistan have seized eleven lions illegally kept in Lahore after one of the animals escaped and attacked a girl. And the nominations for this year's Oscars are out - with the vampire horror 'Sinners' up for a record sixteen different awards.The Global News Podcast brings you the breaking news you need to hear, as it happens. Listen for the latest headlines and current affairs from around the world. Politics, economics, climate, business, technology, health – we cover it all with expert analysis and insight. Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment. Get in touch: globalpodcast@bbc.co.uk