Podcasts about Northland

Dom talks with ACT MP and Northland dairy farmer Mark Cameron about his decision to leave politics due to health concerns, his time in Parliament over the last two terms and the current state of the primary sector. Tune in daily for the latest and greatest REX rural content on your favourite streaming platform, visit rexonline.co.nz and follow us on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn for more.

I have so many questions around the Government bailout of Golden Bay Cement, which is not in fact manufactured in Golden Bay, but in Northland. Fletcher owns the company and they said Golden Bay Cement operates New Zealand's only domestic cement manufacturing facility at Portland near Whangarei. It supplies nearly 60% of the cement used in New Zealand – about 95% of its output is sold domestically. Golden Bay Cement took a long hard look at the account books and participated in an independent assessment which confirmed that without support, rising costs —including carbon costs— would force the closure of the company and a shift to an import only model for cement from 2030. So in steps the Government with a $60 million payout. They say it's a specific one-time response to an exceptional set of circumstances, to keep the plant open at least through to 2040. In return, Golden Bay Cement has committed to continue producing cement at its Northland plant at least until 2040 and to invest at least 150 million through to 2040, phased over time. Finance Minister Nicola Willis told Heather du Plessis Allan last night the decision to offer a bailout was not made lightly and does not set a precedent. “We went through three steps. One, this is quite different in that it is strategically so important that you can produce cement for your domestic economy, that you're not exposed to not being able to have cement if there was an international trade disruption. Two, the financial case here is that actually this is a business that is working overall. The key thing is just that emissions cost. And three, we've set in place some really firm requirements that Golden Bay need to meet in order to get this cash with clawbacks if they don't meet those requirements. And that includes keeping production going through to at least 2040 making $150 million worth of investments in that manufacturing capability, keeping the jobs at that factory going, and having an open book exercise with us, the Government, so that we can audit that investment. So we set a very high bar, we took a very case by case approach. Believe you me, I did not want to be setting a precedent that we're going to keep doing this.” Well, yeah, you kind of have set a precedent though, haven't you? Because when you bail out one company, that's precedent. The other companies can say you've done it before, so it's a precedent. And Nicola Willis made the point that, oh, this is a thriving company, it's just that emissions cost. Yeah, about that... that's one of those questions. If it's just that emissions cost, then that's not going to change unless you change our obligation to the Paris Agreement and unless you do as other European countries have done and delay the introduction of the ETS or scrap it all together. So “just that emissions cost” is what's snookering a whole lot of New Zealand companies. Fletcher says that New Zealand manufacturers face carbon costs that importers largely avoid. They want to see a carbon border adjustment mechanism, something they say addresses the structural imbalance directly and would let the ETS work as intended without exposing domestic manufacturers like Golden Bay to ongoing domestic advantage. A CBAM would apply a carbon charge to imported goods based on the emissions generated during their production. While we're all being, hey look at us, we're being so good and we're saving the Arctic shelves and we're snookering our own companies because we believe in the greater good of the of the planet and the universe, other countries go, yeah, no, not for us. Not really. We don't buy into that whole ETS thing, so we're not going to do it. They can make their goods a whole lot cheaper on so many levels without the ETS even coming into it. Add the ETS on that, the fact that they're ignoring it completely, no wonder their goods are cheaper. So as Fletcher says, why don't we bring in the carbon border adjustment mechanism so wherever it's made in the world, you have to pay your ETS if we're all going to buy into that. How is a one-off payment going to help given the trading environment isn't changing or they've given no indication of the ETS obligations changing anytime soon? And they won't under Labour and Greens, if anything they'd go up. And if Golden Bay is so critical, why isn't Carter Holt Harvey's pulp and paper and plywood? I would have thought that was pretty critical too. Except of course they closed down and it wasn't an election year. Perhaps that's the difference. Last year Carter Holt Harvey saw the closure of Kinleith and Eves Valley sawmill with the loss of hundreds of jobs. We had the closure of Ravensdown, Smithfield, and Ruapehu. Each of these towns and regions could argue that what they made was critical to the supply chain. It was certainly critical to the economic viability of their particular region, which is not awash in situations vacant. Cameron Bagrie has called the bailout of Golden Bay corporate welfareism. Of course it is. Fletcher says it's not, the Government says it's not, but if it's taxpayer money going to an entity that can't support itself, that's welfareism. Nicola Willis might not want to set a precedent, but she has. And a one-off payment is not going to fix the problem, as Fletcher points out. We have signed up to the Paris Accord, we've said, oh yes, bring on the ETS, please let's cripple ourselves so we can maintain the moral high ground. And in the meantime, we're going to have to import goods that are made by other countries that have stuck two fingers to Paris and said we can't afford it. How does that work? How do we maintain the moral high ground by buying goods from countries that are ignoring their carbon offset obligations? We do our own companies out of business, we put people out of work, and we buy from countries that ignore the ETS. It doesn't make any sense to me at all. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's REX Daily Podcast, Dom talks with ACT MP and Northland dairy farmer Mark Cameron about his decision to leave politics due to health concerns, his time in Parliament over the last two terms and the current state of the primary sector... And he talks with Georgina Woods, 2026 Royal Agricultural Society Rural Ambassador, about being selected for the role, her interest in the rural sector and A&P shows and her job as an Environmental Advisor for Waimakariri Irrigation Ltd. Tune in daily for the latest and greatest REX rural content on your favourite streaming platform, visit rexonline.co.nz and follow us on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn for more.

I have so many questions around the Government bailout of Golden Bay Cement, which is not in fact manufactured in Golden Bay, but in Northland. Fletcher owns the company and they said Golden Bay Cement operates New Zealand's only domestic cement manufacturing facility at Portland near Whangarei. It supplies nearly 60% of the cement used in New Zealand – about 95% of its output is sold domestically. Golden Bay Cement took a long hard look at the account books and participated in an independent assessment which confirmed that without support, rising costs —including carbon costs— would force the closure of the company and a shift to an import only model for cement from 2030. So in steps the Government with a $60 million payout. They say it's a specific one-time response to an exceptional set of circumstances, to keep the plant open at least through to 2040. In return, Golden Bay Cement has committed to continue producing cement at its Northland plant at least until 2040 and to invest at least 150 million through to 2040, phased over time. Finance Minister Nicola Willis told Heather du Plessis Allan last night the decision to offer a bailout was not made lightly and does not set a precedent. “We went through three steps. One, this is quite different in that it is strategically so important that you can produce cement for your domestic economy, that you're not exposed to not being able to have cement if there was an international trade disruption. Two, the financial case here is that actually this is a business that is working overall. The key thing is just that emissions cost. And three, we've set in place some really firm requirements that Golden Bay need to meet in order to get this cash with clawbacks if they don't meet those requirements. And that includes keeping production going through to at least 2040 making $150 million worth of investments in that manufacturing capability, keeping the jobs at that factory going, and having an open book exercise with us, the Government, so that we can audit that investment. So we set a very high bar, we took a very case by case approach. Believe you me, I did not want to be setting a precedent that we're going to keep doing this.” Well, yeah, you kind of have set a precedent though, haven't you? Because when you bail out one company, that's precedent. The other companies can say you've done it before, so it's a precedent. And Nicola Willis made the point that, oh, this is a thriving company, it's just that emissions cost. Yeah, about that... that's one of those questions. If it's just that emissions cost, then that's not going to change unless you change our obligation to the Paris Agreement and unless you do as other European countries have done and delay the introduction of the ETS or scrap it all together. So “just that emissions cost” is what's snookering a whole lot of New Zealand companies. Fletcher says that New Zealand manufacturers face carbon costs that importers largely avoid. They want to see a carbon border adjustment mechanism, something they say addresses the structural imbalance directly and would let the ETS work as intended without exposing domestic manufacturers like Golden Bay to ongoing domestic advantage. A CBAM would apply a carbon charge to imported goods based on the emissions generated during their production. While we're all being, hey look at us, we're being so good and we're saving the Arctic shelves and we're snookering our own companies because we believe in the greater good of the of the planet and the universe, other countries go, yeah, no, not for us. Not really. We don't buy into that whole ETS thing, so we're not going to do it. They can make their goods a whole lot cheaper on so many levels without the ETS even coming into it. Add the ETS on that, the fact that they're ignoring it completely, no wonder their goods are cheaper. So as Fletcher says, why don't we bring in the carbon border adjustment mechanism so wherever it's made in the world, you have to pay your ETS if we're all going to buy into that. How is a one-off payment going to help given the trading environment isn't changing or they've given no indication of the ETS obligations changing anytime soon? And they won't under Labour and Greens, if anything they'd go up. And if Golden Bay is so critical, why isn't Carter Holt Harvey's pulp and paper and plywood? I would have thought that was pretty critical too. Except of course they closed down and it wasn't an election year. Perhaps that's the difference. Last year Carter Holt Harvey saw the closure of Kinleith and Eves Valley sawmill with the loss of hundreds of jobs. We had the closure of Ravensdown, Smithfield, and Ruapehu. Each of these towns and regions could argue that what they made was critical to the supply chain. It was certainly critical to the economic viability of their particular region, which is not awash in situations vacant. Cameron Bagrie has called the bailout of Golden Bay corporate welfareism. Of course it is. Fletcher says it's not, the Government says it's not, but if it's taxpayer money going to an entity that can't support itself, that's welfareism. Nicola Willis might not want to set a precedent, but she has. And a one-off payment is not going to fix the problem, as Fletcher points out. We have signed up to the Paris Accord, we've said, oh yes, bring on the ETS, please let's cripple ourselves so we can maintain the moral high ground. And in the meantime, we're going to have to import goods that are made by other countries that have stuck two fingers to Paris and said we can't afford it. How does that work? How do we maintain the moral high ground by buying goods from countries that are ignoring their carbon offset obligations? We do our own companies out of business, we put people out of work, and we buy from countries that ignore the ETS. It doesn't make any sense to me at all. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's a paradox that police and politicians say needs solving. Methamphetamine is a strictly banned and highly destructive drug. It's also illegal, according to Customs, to import or sell utensils for smoking meth. Despite that, you can buy meth pipes everywhere, even in corner dairies in the smallest towns in the country. Northland reporter Peter de Graaf has more.

A $60 million corporate welfare cheque for Golden Bay cement is fixing a symptom but not the disease. It's taxpayer money. It's not a loan. It's free money. Owner Fletcher Building has agreed, in return, to keep the thing open till 2040 and invest $150m phased over time. No doubt cement is important for building the country. But so was refined oil. We offshored that. So is milled timber, which we let go. So is food production, which we're letting fall over too. This is the problem with welfare. Once you start handing it out, everyone wants a piece of the pie. Fletcher Building is a conglomerate, listed both here and on the ASX. Their results are due out next month, which will now be watched very closely. Last week, the company increased its earnings guidance and turned a $45 million profit in the half year to December. Sure, it's not been without its problems and we've kept you updated on their restructures and legacy problems and the general state of construction. The only reason the government is doing this, in my view, is because unlike the other examples of paper mills and Wattie's, this one's caused not just by the price of labour and energy going north. It's the ETS. Fletchers buys credits to emit carbon while making its cement. This cost made the Northland plant unviable. Dead man walking. You can import cheap cement from offshore where they don't pay for emissions. Which makes them a cheaper option and we get undercut. The government reckons they went with a bailout rather than changing the ETS rules because they didn't want companies lining up for handouts. But that's exactly what will happen anyway. Any plant at risk of closure paying for emissions is now fair game. This might look like a single small-ish payment to a single business but it's actually a blank cheque they've signed, with the election round the corner, the sky's the limit.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Two Northland women have gone from struggling to find work to fighting the region's diabetes epidemic. Christine Hape and Hineataahua Brown are training to become New Zealand's first footcare assistants, working alongside podiatrists to help prevent amputations from diseases like diabetes. Felix Walton reports.

Police are investigating the alleged pilfering of an old shipwreck washed up on a Northland beach. A group of people using a tractor apparently took timber from the ship's carcass at Pouto Point in Kaipara. It's an offence to disturb a wreck that happened before 1900 under the Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga Act. Steven Cochrane was on the beach as things unfolded and spoke to Lisa Owen.

Federated Farmers have quite rightly raised what you would loosely call "the alarm" around a rush of new deals between councils and local Māori. The rush is on because of the Government's new Natural Environment and Planning bills. They were released late last year, saying you can't do local Māori deals under it. It's passed its first reading and is sitting at committee level and due back soon. Like rust, councils don't sleep, so the deals are being inked. Canterbury is the latest, but deals have already been done in Manawatu, Whanganui, Northland, and Taranaki. Obviously, we could focus on the duplicitous nature of all this. We could focus on the fundamental dishonesty of giving people a say over major matters without having to ever face a voter. But let us, for this moment in time, wonder aloud whether this very sort of thing might be a reason for the softness in the National Party vote at the moment. We are late in the term and, yes, there was a lot to do to try and stitch up the chaos Labour left behind. But the Māorification of this country was a centrepiece for all the players in the current Government, and yet you can argue, and I do, that it never got the attention it needed. It never seemed to have the urgency. It started with the smaller, you could argue, simpler stuff i.e. Māori names for everything. There should have been stroke-of-pen edicts that ended the nonsense on the spot. We had the vote at local level around Māori wards. That was democracy in action as some kept them, some didn't. But at least we had a say. But stitch-up deals with local tribes who decide what gets done and doesn't, simply because of race, is a gargantuan example of what needed addressing on day one. Here we are on day 962 and we still haven't closed it off and, given it's July and Parliament rises in September, there are only a handful of sitting days left. ChatGPT tells me there's only ten. I assume they plan to pass it in that time, but in the ensuing period the piss is well and truly being taken. Delivery is everything in government. On this, even if they deliver, they have looked lackadaisical in their approach, hence the bleeding of support. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Time is running out to save two Kaitaia mills, that are together are one of the town's biggest employers. In March, the Japanese owner of the mills, Juken announced its is leaving Kaitaia, but no buyers have been found. The Far North District and Northland Regional Councils are asking for government investment to keep the businesses and jobs going. Savage from Workers First Union spoke to Lisa Owen.

In the Far North's Hokianga locals are feeling isolated and afraid following two violent deaths in the district. Northland reporter Peter de Graaf reports.

Send Us A Message! Let us know what you think.Think the New Zealand property market is locked in permanent doom and gloom? Think again! Massey University's latest data reveals a staggering 23.1% annual jump in housing affordability, right alongside a historic 6-year high surge in June market activity. In this week's episode, Debbie Roberts strips away the media's negativity bias to show you where the real opportunities are hiding. Learn why Canterbury is hitting all-time high records, how to navigate the banks' confusing new split-direction mortgage rates, and why counter-cyclical buyers are preparing to reap massive rewards as the longest market downturn since the 1970s begins to mature.Detailed Episode Breakdown & Sources1. ANZ Forecasts & Interest Rate TrimsDespite predicting a mild 2% drop in national property values due to election-year tax uncertainty, wholesale interest rates have eased off after geopolitical de-escalations. Savvy buyers are utilizing this brief calm to manufacture equity and negotiate prices directly with vendors on the ground. 2. June's 6-Year Listing Surge & Canterbury DominanceKiwi property sellers are officially done waiting around for "perfect" market conditions. June saw the highest volume of transaction activity in six years, with total stock climbing to 34,761 homes, giving buyers ultimate leverage. Meanwhile, Canterbury hit an all-time record average asking price of over $757,000. 3. The Double-Digit Affordability BoostMassey University's Home Affordability Index reveals a massive 12.6% quarterly gain and a phenomenal 23.1% annual surge in nationwide housing affordability. A stellar combination of lower fixed interest rates, rising incomes, and corrected vendor expectations has opened up a brilliant buying window across Auckland, Wellington, and Northland. 4. ASB's Split-Direction Rate AdjustmentsCommercial lenders are rewriting the mortgage playbook ahead of the next major OCR shifts. ASB executed a series of split-direction moves—bumping up short-term 6-month options while simultaneously cutting long-term 3 to 5-year fixed mortgage rates down significantly. 5. Social Housing Realities & Private LandlordsWith emergency housing numbers under strict review, 30% of declined applicants are left navigating the accommodation gap without direct government help. This underscores the critical, socially valuable role private property investors play in providing stable, reliable long-term housing solutions without dragging on the taxpayer. Ready to learn the exact risk-reduction strategies needed to succeed as a property investor in New Zealand without risking it all? 

The Drive explained why they feel bad for Northland bars that are not experiencing the boom from the World Cup, but wishes the media would stop covering it.

The government is celebrating the completion of new fuel storage tanks in Northland, which its hopes will bolster the country's fuel supply against unexpected shocks. Political reporter Tuwhenuaroa Natanahira reports.

The Government's celebrating the new diesel storage tanks opening at Marsden Point. The Northland site will store 93 million litres emergency reserve, ordered at the peak of the fuel crisis, in April. It paid Channel Infrastructure to upgrade its tanks. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says the Government's looking to boost up emergency supplies following the uncertainty of the Middle East conflict. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You'd be hard pressed to find anyone in Northland who doesn't want a better road linking Whangārei to Auckland - but at what cost? Apart from the hefty price tag, a new highway also comes with environmental and human costs, as reporter Peter de Graaf finds out.

Enormous amounts of packaging waste from the government's school lunch programme is going straight to the dump. An Audit Office report has highlighted high levels of waste in the programme and not just food. The School Lunch Collective provides 200,000 lunches a day, many of them in aluminium trays, with disposable utensils. The report said at the moment waste packaging from 57 percent of the schools goes straight to landfill. Jo Shanks from Ecosolutions works with Northland schools to minimise waste. She spoke to Lisa Owen.

Matt Shiles and Pastor Josh discuss the past weekend's sermon and the interviews of James Li and David Angeron finishing up the T.E.D. series for 2026. They discuss the contents of the interviews and the direction Northland is taking encouraging ministry through sports, and not letting the sport become a god.

Time for Heading Off, our chance to take you on an adventure without you having to leave the comfort of your home. It can be as simple as your favourite day hike or as adventurous as motorbiking around the world. If you've got a travel adjacent story to tell we'd love to hear from you. Afternoons@rnz.co.nz or 2101 on the text. Today we're joined by Doug Hanna. Doug's organised over 50 road trips all over the country. Today he's taking us to Northland.

For years people have been turning a blind eye to the sale of glass pipes for smoking methamphetamine in shops all around the country. But one young Whangarei resident isn't letting that go unchallenged. Northland reporter Peter de Graaf meets a woman on a mission.

Boring Asian Female by Canwen Xu. This is narrated by Elizabeth Zhang who is a driven,100 percent focused student at Columbia University, desperate to make the right path for herself for which she believes admission into Harvard Law School is a necessity. She's completely shocked when she doesn't get in and can't believe that one of her classmates, Laura Kim, did - and becomes obsessed with Laura, trying to figure out what she has that Elizabeth doesn't. Anyone who enjoyed Rebecca Kuang's Yellowface will love this. A Place to Stand by Clare Ward. Clare is a GP who has spent more than 30 years practising in the Hokianga, in Northland. She's acutely aware of being Pākehā in a Māori world, having gone there knowing next to nothing about te ao māori and developing a deep respect for the traditions and beliefs which make up that world. This is a real insight into a place and its people from someone who has come to love it there and has a profound appreciation of all that it has taught her. It's also a really beautiful book - a lovely hardcover with black and white photos throughout. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Peter covers the over 65's forced to live in their cars in Whangarei, plus those still out of their homes due to January storms. 

DOC is on the hunt to take a DNA sample from a dolphin spotted cruising in Northland waters, in order to determine whether it is a Hector's or Maui dolphin. Either would be special, but a Hector's has only been spotted in Northland three times in the past 100 years. University of Auckland Associate professor in biological and marine sciences, Dr Rochelle Constantine spoke to Lisa Owen.

A quickly spreading, destructive exotic seaweed was found off the coast of Whangarei for the first time this month. It's the latest battle in a war that's been going on since caulerpa was first found in New Zealand waters five years ago. Here to find out how that fight is going is Barb, a trustee for Northland's Conquer Caulerpa. [picture id="4K8NFA7_20250420_134153_jpg" crop="16x10" layout="full"]

In part two, Northland's council is warning people on the hunt for a cheap second hand boat, that if the price is the best bargain you've ever seen, it's probably not quite the steal you think it is. Jim Lyle, Northland Regional Council harbourmaster, explains. Then, thousands of teens across the country will swap home comforts for tough challenges. All for the annual World Vision 40 Hour Challenge. The challenge has changed a lot in the years its been held. Hanna Taylor Moller, Head of Pacific Partnerships, World Vision New Zealand rings in to explain what the 2026 challenge looks like.

New wastewater testing results show the methamphetamine epidemic affecting places like Northland is continuing unabated, and a major police bust last week saw dozens of meth cooks and dealers arrested. And yet, you can walk into almost any vape store or $2 shop and buy a meth pipe. How is that possible? Is it even legal? Northland reporter Peter de Graaf has more.

Send us a question/idea/opinion direct via text message!Welcome to a special regional guest edition of the New Zealand Property Market Podcast. This week, Head of Research Nick Goodall returns to his hometown roots to interview Jemma Scott-Davidson, owner and mortgage advisor at Loan Market. With over 20 years of commercial banking experience before launching her independent advisory firm, Jemma provides an invaluable, boots-on-the-ground temperature check of the winterless north.Moving past the mainstream media's "boom or bust" narratives, Jemma explains why the current environment is actually a return to a "normal" market driven by fundamental life choices. We analyse the distinct activity occurring within the $650,000 to $750,000 sweet spot, expose the pricing standoff affecting properties purchased at the late-2021 peak, and break down the three clear interest rate fixing strategies currently emerging among New Zealand borrowers navigating the post-MPS landscape.This week we discuss:The Whangārei Sweet Spot: Why properties priced between $650,000 and $750,000 are seeing steady, healthy transaction volumes from regular families.The Million-Dollar Value Gap: Navigating the lack of quality stock in the $800,000 to $1,000,000 bracket and why overpriced listings are distorting buyer expectations.The Peak COVID Standoff: Why un-capitulated vendors who bought in late 2021 are stalling market velocity.Three Emerging Fixing Behaviours: 1. The Confident Can-Kickers: Rolling on 6-month fixes to capture short-term savings while waiting for geopolitical oil conflicts to settle. 2. The Long-Term Securers: Locking in 5-year terms to protect fragile household cash flows from further volatility. 3. The Risk Splitters: Tranching debt across 2 and 3-year terms to avoid total structural exposure.Why DTIs are Stalling: Why high bank test rates are capturing debt-to-income limits by default, leaving equity and deposits as the primary hurdles.Innovation in Commercial Lending: Real-world examples of Northland businesses navigating tight cash flows through clever asset diversification and labour hoarding.Sign up for news and insights or contact on LinkedIn, X @NickGoodall_CL or @KDavidson_CL and email ngoodall@cotality.com or kdavidson@cotality.comThis podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only and does not constitute financial, legal, or tax advice. The hosts are not licensed Financial Advice Providers in New Zealand. All information is of a general nature and does not take into account your personal situation or goals. Please consult a qualified professional before making any financial decisions.

A Northland housing advocate fears more over-65s could end up homeless because of unaffordable rent prices. Housing advocate Carol Peters spoke to John Campbell.

A Northland housing advocate is warning the number of over-65s living in their cars in Whangarei is just the tip of the iceberg. Peter de Graaf reports.

For decades, LGBTQ+ history in Minnesota has often been told through the lens of the Twin Cities. A new book out this month argues that some of the state's most important fights for LGBTQ rights happened more than one hundred miles away in Duluth and Superior, Wisconsin. "Remember the Main: The Gay Bar That Started a Movement in the Northland” tells the story of Bob Jansen, owner of the Main Club, a gay bar that opened in the 1980s. Author Meg Gorzycki told MPR News host Nina Moini the bar served as a refuge and organizing hub for LGBTQ+ people in northern Minnesota during a time when being openly gay often came with significant risk.

Kainga Ora has just opened Northland's biggest-ever social housing development, a 95-home complex in central Whangarei. Reporter Peter de Graaf met a few lucky tenants, and some of those still waiting.

It's time for Heading Off our weekly travel segment where you get to share your adventures with a captive audience. If you've got a trip you'd like to share with us, please do email us at afternoons@rnz.co.nz, we love to hear from you. Today we're staying on our beautiful shores and heading on a road trip to the far north of New Zealand.

Will the street car get expanded to the Northland? HR 1 full 2430 Thu, 04 Jun 2026 15:01:57 +0000 XfnCISIIIicKOdGZ5DeKElwRJ0WfXhEk news MIDDAY with JAYME & WIER news Will the street car get expanded to the Northland? HR 1 From local news & politics, to what's trending, sports & personal stories...MIDDAY with JAYME & WIER will get you through the middle of your day! © 2025 Audacy, Inc. News https://player.amperwavepodcasting.com?

In the fourth and final hour of New Day with SSJ and Todd Leabo we are joined by James Reyes to talk about Flash Dash in the Northland, a charity run for Brandon Russel Saturday June 6th. SSJ, Todd, and Deebs talk about the likelihood of Oklahoma beating Georgia Tech which would set up a Lawrence Super Regional. The guys also talk about the Royals chances to get a win tonight.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One peninsula to the north of the Bay of Islands is home to an estimated three thousand Northland brown kiwi. The Pest Free Purerua-Mataroa project aims to reduce predators numbers on the peninsula and defend its narrow neck from re-invasion. Working across a patchwork of landuse and landowners, the team are using AI traps and technology to help catch the remaining pests. But one feral cat continues to elude them, and the ongoing threat to kiwi from pet dogs is proving tricky to solve. Sign up to the Our Changing World monthly newsletter for episode backstories, science analysis and more.Learn more:Northland kiwi are a genetically distinct subspecies of the North Island brown kiwi, whose numbers are doing pretty good in recent years, due in large part to Operation Nest Egg facilities like the National Kiwi Hatchery.Predator Free South Westland is also working across different land types and usages in their bid to remove pests from a huge area.Wellington is set to be New Zealand's first predator-free city, with an ambitious target of ten years.RNZ's Northland reporter Peter de Graaf has been following the situation of dog attacks on kiwi on the Purerua peninsula and kiwi deaths due to cars.Guests:Andy Mentor, Pest Free PureruaZane Wright, Pest Free PureruaMariao Hohaia, Ngāti Rēhia, Tapuaetahi IncorporationGrace Walsh, Onekura road trappersTiwai Rawiri, Ngāti Torehina, Pēwhairangi WhānuiGo to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

It was once known as the food basket of Ngapuhi, but now Northland's biggest lake is a lurid green death zone where little survives the regular toxic blooms. Peter de Graaf reports.

Schools are calling for greater access to specialist support amid a rise in the use of physical restraint. Ministry of Education data shows the number of restraint incidents has risen from about 2,600 a year to about 3,000 a year since 2018. Pat Newman —spokesperson for Northland's Te Tai Tokerau Principals' Association— says schools are dealing with increasingly complex needs. He told Heather du Plessis-Allan they're seeing more children affected by trauma and abuse than ever before. Newman says the number that classrooms are dealing with is unknown, but it's huge. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Steve Allan's been trapping and making traps for nearly 50 years. His simple, strong kill traps made in his home factory in Northland have eradicated thousands of pests over the years and can be found as far away as the Falkland Islands.You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here.With thanks to:Steve AllanMake sure you're following us on your favourite podcast app, so you don't miss new episodes every Friday evening.Want to chat to us or find out more about RNZ Podcasts? Join the RNZ Podcasts Discussion Facebook group where we share behind the scenes info about our series, and invite you to share feedback, recommendations and ask us questions.Send us your feedback or get in touch at country@rnz.co.nzGo to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Last Christmas morning scientist Dr Georgia Grant woke up in a tent on the edge of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet, 700km from Scott Base, to drill through ancient ice into the rock below. Last night she was awarded the Early Career Researcher award at the Science New Zealand Awards.

This week on The Back of the Pack Podcast, we celebrate Memorial Day with two race reviews from a hot, humid, hilly Kansas City weekend. First up is the Hometown Half Marathon in the Northland, where what looked like a friendly park course quickly turned into a roller coaster of hills, humidity, bike paths, confusing signage, and one very large license-plate-sized finisher medal. We talk about the good, the tough, and the “wait, are we supposed to turn here?” moments from a race that definitely made everyone earn their finish. Then we head to Loose Park for the Going the Distance 5K/10K, a Memorial Day race supporting the Brain Injury Association of Kansas and Greater Kansas City. This one brought out the Kansas City running community in full force, along with more hills, rising temperatures, and a meaningful cause connected to some truly inspiring local runners. Along the way, we discuss course prep, race-day etiquette between runners and cyclists, the return of summer running conditions, and why sometimes a cold Coke after a humid half marathon feels like bottled magic. It was a weekend of tired legs, big medals, good people, and races that reminded us why showing up matters. Join us as we recap two very different but very memorable Memorial Day weekend races from the back of the pack.

Larry Weber talks about spring in the Northland.

A GP practice in Northland says the number of patients not turning up, because they can't afford to tank up, has increased more than 400 percent since this time last year. Northland reporter Peter de Graaf has more.

Bryce Heem is one of the most underrated rugby players New Zealand has produced. From leaving school early and working trades, to partying his way through his late teens, Bryce carved out a 15-year professional rugby career through hard work, resilience and taking every opportunity that came his way.Playing for the Auckland, Northland, Tasman, the Chiefs, the Blues, NZ Sevens, Worcester and Toulon, Bryce built a career that took him all around the world and made him one of the most respected teammates in the game.Some parts that stood out for me in this episode were…- How he's found his transition from rugby to mortgage broking- Going from working in refrigeration and air conditioning to marking Hosea Gear in his first professional game- The brutal fitness standards and lessons he learned under Gordon Tietjens in NZ Sevens- Why he chose to leave New Zealand rugby for Worcester and the reality of overseas rugby life- Returning home from France after his dad was diagnosed with lung cancer- How a simple message helped earn him a contract with the Blues- Winning Super Rugby with the Blues after years of being so close- His thoughts on missing out on the All Blacks and why he has no regrets about his career- Why “don't burn bridges” became one of the biggest lessons he learned through rugbyBryce is one of those lads everyone he played with will conform he's a legendary man. Tough as nails on the field, humble off it and full of great perspective from a career that took him all over the world. Plenty of laughs, honest reflections and awesome stories in this one! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Three couples have taken a leap and opened a bouldering gym in Whangarei - no ropes, no harnesses and a climb of up to 4.5m.

Ever wondered how farmed salmon produce the next generation? Anisha tours Akaroa King Salmon's hatchery in Canterbury, and an award-winning Māori trust-owned farm in Te Tai Tokerau has had to battle fierce flooding this year. Sally is in the farm ute touring the damage. Also, Dairy Woman of the Year Hinehou Timutimu talks about how she is inspired to farm for the community. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here.In this episode:0:42 - Rural News Wrap7:37 - Farming takes a village15:49 - Northland's storms test award-winning farm 30:16 - Spawning day on a salmon farmGo to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

In just three years the Whangaroa Ngaiotonga Trust's beef farm in Northland was able to boast a "million-dollar herd" on its rehabilitated whenua, winning the prestigious Ahuwhenua Trophy in 2025. But this year the farm has been hit by floods and mudslides from intense weather events. Sally Round paid a visit to see how the farm has coped. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here, and the Ahuwhenua Trophy here.With thanks to:Wess WetereMatthew PayneKirean WetereAhuwhenua TrophyGo to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Peter discusses the planned managed retreat of the township of Whirinaki, the social housing planned for a flood zone in Kawakawa, the mystery death of a dirt biker in Northland and victory for the people of Rawene who have battled for a decade to keep wastewater out of their harbour.

Heath and Eva Nixon remove people's unwanted household items, furniture, appliances, and general clutter. 

A Northland fish and chip shop got a huge surprise this weekend - with Pierce Brosnan stopping by. Owner Fiona White spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Northland skin care brand Nudi Point is named after the swimming hole where Blair Coates spent many happy summers. The former banker who suffered bad skin as a teen makes moisturisers and serums in the converted cow shed. With thanks to:Blair CoatesGo to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details