Podcasts about Northland

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.

The big idea this week was: Follow God even if no one else does.-The Bridge is a weekly gathering of students in the Northland of Kansas City who want to see Kansas City changed by Jesus, one student at a time. For more information visit our website at https://discoverchurchkc.com/thebridge/ or follow us on social media at https://www.instagram.com/bridge_kc/ and https://www.facebook.com/BridgeDCKC

The Bridge is a weekly gathering of students in the Northland of Kansas City who want to see Kansas City changed by Jesus, one student at a time. For more information visit our website at https://discoverchurchkc.com/thebridge/ or follow us on social media at https://www.instagram.com/bridge_kc/ and https://www.facebook.com/BridgeDCKC

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.

On this week's episode of The Hui - reporter Whatitiri Te Wake travels to remote communities in Northland whose sacred sites are being threatened by rising seas and climate change.  Also join presenter Julian Wilcox and his panel of kapa haka experts as they discuss what changes they would like to see at Te Matatini Kapa Haka Festival.

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.

Our meth use continues to break records. According to the latest wastewater drug test, methamphetamine use is up 15% since the last quarter. And wastewater testing is pretty accurate. Consumption of methamphetamine and MDMA both increased. MDMA use does have a seasonal component though, they said, with increases during the summer music festival period from January to March. People pop a pill while they're at the festivals and then pretty much get on with their lives. But meth use, up 15% since the last quarter, and my question is why? Why? Why are people taking up this pernicious drug when there is so much harm associated with it? Do they think that all the stories they hear, all the stats you read or hear, all the pearl-clutching is just middle class, middle New Zealand moral panic? Surely not. Meth use seems to be across all socioeconomic groups, but even on TikTok, Instagram, you've got former users who are saying how much better their lives are now that they've got free of the clutches of the drug and the gangs who control it, that they can't believe that they let themselves get hooked, that they were so low that they wanted to die and now they're out of it. Why are people still picking up the pipe and giving it a go? To a certain extent, I can understand how people become sellers and pushers of the drug. They don't actually want to work to make a buck. They see a way of making easy dollars, far more than they could ever earn in their small town with their small skills, and the lure of the money is just too great to withstand the overtures from gang members. So selling it, I can understand how you would get into that. You don't want to work, you don't want to work hard, you haven't got the ability to earn the sort of money that you get from selling drugs, I sell drugs. But why become a user? There was much hoohah yesterday with a major drugs bust in Northland. Operation Phoenix has dismantled an operation manufacturing and supplying meth in remote parts of the Far North – it's a huge problem up there. 14 people have been arrested with links to the Tribesmen and Head Hunters. Police say the gangs were getting single mums addicted to meth with the intent of turning them into dealers of the drug. So give it to them for free, get them addicted, get them to pay off the debt in the time-honoured way that desperate women pay off debts, get them becoming dealers, and off you go. Nothing new here. Kids from private schools have also been targeted for decades. Good looking boys hang around the girls' schools, good looking girls hang around the boys' schools, they give them drugs for free. They know that even if these kids don't have money, they know people who do, and off you go. So yay Operation Phoenix for busting this gang operation, but even the police know that meth use won't drop. They said in the press conference that it's a long game they're playing, it's not about one off jobs. It will have an impact on this particular gang for a certain amount of time. But why? Why are people using? Sir Paul Holmes, bless him, once he saw the damage that drugs could do within his family, he was on an absolute rampage against the drugs and the pushers of the drugs. We've all known the dangers of it, the dangers of being associated with it after all the publicity, the horror stories from former addicts. Why are people still picking up the pipe? I get that the world is a tough place if you feel like you can't get out from under the crushing weight of bills and debt and trying to be somebody, trying to do better, trying to escape a dreadful childhood, you just want to turn off. But nowhere have I ever seen somebody say, well, that meth use really helped, that turned my life around for the better, boy do I feel like a better, more whole human being as a result of using meth. Nobody. Not one person. There are other drugs, there are legal drugs. Alcohol does terrible, terrible harm too, but at least you're not in the claws of the gangs. If you need a drug to switch off, there are other far less damaging drugs than meth. Why? Why? I'd love to hear from those who might have been there, done that, who've got family members. And if you are trying to get off or you have managed to, how hard is it to get away from the gangs, to settle your debts to your dealer and walk away, and then how hard is it to get off the stuff? Because it's only by getting rid of the users that you get rid of the sellers and the pushers. If the gangs don't see a market in it, they won't be selling it, they'll move on to something else. It's the dumb shmucks who allow themselves to get hooked that ensure that the gangs keep earning good money, that they keep riding the flash bikes that you've bought them. Your money's funded their lifestyle while you're living in squalid, desperate poverty. The gangs are travelling the world in first class, the gang leaders, laughing all the way to their crooked accountant. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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?

The big idea this week was: No one becomes more like Jesus on accident-The Bridge is a weekly gathering of students in the Northland of Kansas City who want to see Kansas City changed by Jesus, one student at a time. For more information visit our website at https://discoverchurchkc.com/thebridge/ or follow us on social media at https://www.instagram.com/bridge_kc/ and https://www.facebook.com/BridgeDCKC

The big idea this week was: Being Around Faith is Not the Same as Having Faith-The Bridge is a weekly gathering of students in the Northland of Kansas City who want to see Kansas City changed by Jesus, one student at a time. For more information visit our website at https://discoverchurchkc.com/thebridge/ or follow us on social media at https://www.instagram.com/bridge_kc/ and https://www.facebook.com/BridgeDCKC

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.

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

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

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

Teachers who were with 15-year-old Karnin Petera on a school caving trip in May 2023 gave emotional evidence at an inquest into his death in Whangarei. Northland reporter Peter de Graaf spoke to Melissa Chan-Green.

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

A newlywed couple driving through the deep, dark north woods hit a deer, and then find themselves at the mercy of the vicious King of the Forest, a supernatural buck bent on revenge.“Road Kill” is an original tale of the Northland from the Icebox Radio Theater. It starred Linnaea Yount as Michelle, and Dalton Johnson as Drew. The deputies were played by Jeffrey Adams and Caleb Silvers. Written and directed by Jeffrey Adams. Recorded at the IBRT studios, International Falls, Minnesota. This program copyright 2025 by the Icebox Radio Theater. For more information, visit iceboxradio dot o-r-g.

Three Northland men are likely celebrating being alive this evening after their boat capsized in the Bay of Islands last night, leaving them clinging to a chilly bin for survival. Northland reporter Peter de Graaf reports on the rescue.

Tonight, on The Panel, Wallace Chapman is joined by panellists Anna Rawhiti-Connell and Mike Yardley. First up, so-called coalition cracks are back in focus after Winston Peters' office released internal emails in an OIA where Prime Minister Christopher Luxon suggested showing "explicit public support" for US strikes on Iran. Political analyst Grant Duncan unpacks the latest. Then, Northland locals are decrying a proposed $4.50 toll for the new expressway. Business group board member Julian Smith explains.

An inquest into the death of a 15-year-old boy during a school caving trip three years ago is underway in Whangarei. Karnin Petera died when floodwaters surged through the cave he and classmates were exploring during a storm. Northland reporter Peter de Graaf has more.

The NZ Transport Agency has proposed a $4.50 toll on the proposed new highway between Warkworth and Te Hana, and it's proven controversial. AA has called on the Government to lower the proposed toll price for the first stage of the Northland Expressway. NorthChamber chair Tim Robinson says this is going to bring a significant benefit to the region economically, and the toll is fair. "Those of us here in Northland, we've been crying out for the opportunity to grow our economy and create the right environment for our kids and our grandkids - to be able to choose to live and work and play here." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

April 28, 2026 - It's a Pledge Drive edition of Birding With Batt today.  Shelley Pierce from the Shuffle Function morning show joins the conversation.  Listen in and see how well Al does identifying Shelley's recorded sounds from the Northland.

Larry Weber talks about some new sounds and sights in the Northland as Spring goes into full swing

MetService has issued orange heavy rain warnings for many parts of Auckland and Northland. 

Plans for a new social housing complex are raising hackles in the Far North town of Kawakawa. Northland reporter Peter de Graaf reports.

A trial of the striking and exotic dragon fruit is hitting its straps in Northland. Could the new sweet varieties grown under cover be a viable crop in New Zealand amid a changing climate? You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here.And you can find Sally's other story from Northland Te Tai Tokerau about the Land family, here.With thanks to:Satish Kumar, Bioeconomy Science InstituteLuke Beehre and Jeanette Johnstone, Northland IncGo to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Road Kill Icebox Radio Theater Download A newlywed couple driving through the deep, dark north woods hit a deer, and then find themselves at the mercy of the vicious King of the Forest, a supernatural buck bent on revenge.“Road Kill” is an original tale of the Northland from the Icebox Radio Theater. It starred Linnaea Yount as Michelle, and Dalton Johnson as Drew. The deputies were played by Jeffrey Adams and Caleb Silvers. Written and directed by Jeffrey Adams. Recorded at the IBRT studios, International Falls, Minnesota. This program copyright 2025 by the Icebox Radio Theater. For more information, visit iceboxradio dot o-r-g.

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.

MetService is warning of a cyclone heading our way from the tropics. This one, forecasters say, could get wild, with the possibility of winds like New Zealanders haven't experienced before. The Prime Minister too warned people to prepare for Cyclone Vaianu's impact, which he said is shaping up to be a "significant and damaging weather event." Peter de Graaf has more.

There have been a few meteorological and weather events in the region this week! Tuesday's Tonga earthquake, the Ambae eruption in Vanuatu and the flooding that hit Northland and Coromandel. Saturday Morning's regular guest Graham Leonard speaks to Mihi about the risks and wonders of the weather. Graham is the General Manager of Geological Hazards at Earth Sciences New Zealand.