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John Schofield, who's in his 70s, was dragged to safety on Friday after he was caught in rogue waves while fishing near the mouth of the Otaki River on the Kapiti Coast. A kite surfer spotted him in trouble and hauled him in to shore, waving out to a nearby fisher for help. John's family has been in touch with Checkpoint, and said he wants to acknowledge the help of a lady fisherman, a kite surfer, Otaki police and the Grassroots Trust Rescue Helicopter who came to his rescue. Fisher Janelle Adams spoke to Lisa Owen.
Two district councils in the Lower North Island are banding together against down graded plans for an expressway through their districts. More than a decade since it was originally proposed - a revised design for the Otaki to North of Levin expressway has seen on-ramps and overbridges removed and interchanges replaced by roundabouts. Council and community advocates from the Kapiti and Horowhenua districts say the sudden change has left locals confused and appalled. Bill Hickman has more.
In today's episode, the Labour Party is critical of the government's plans to redevelop Nelson Hospital, saying it will deliver half the number of new beds as the previous government had planned, documents obtained under the Official Information Act show strict limits on coconut cream and soy sauce in school lunches provided by the cut-price scheme's contract-holder, the School Lunch Collective, the greyhound racing industry is heading to court to challenge the Racing Minister's decision to ban the sport from July next year, and some lower North Island councils have written to the Infrastructure Minister with their concerns about cost-cutting on the Otaki to north of Levin highway.
Although some towns are feeling the pinch after the opening of motorways that bypass their towns, not all are struggling. More than 22,500 vehicles used to pass through Warkworth every day, but since the opening of the Ara Tūhono section of State Highway 1, businesses have reported a drop in business. However, Ōtaki has been thriving since the opening of the Peka Peka to Ōtaki Expressway in 2022. Ōtaki Business Association Member and Owner of Black and Co Quality Leather NZ Leon Kingi told Kerre Woodham that it's opened the town back up to locals. He says that since they no longer have to avoid the traffic, more people are coming into town deliberately to shop and enjoy the local businesses. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Hugh Tennent and Ewan Brown are the founding partnership behind Poneke-Wellington firm Tennent Brown Architects and are the forefront of not only making buildings liveable - but living. It's a small firm that has consistently punched above its weight since it was formed over two decades ago - and last night received the 2024 Gold Medal from the New Zealand Institute of Architects. The Institute cites their "radical sustainability, exploration of bi-cultural collaboration and incorporation of te ao Maori into their ground-breaking designs". The company was the first architecture firm to obtain a JUST label for social justice and the first to achieve B-Corp certification. Two of their recent projects, Victoria University's Nga Mokopuna building and Te Wananga o Raukawa Pa Reo Campus in Otaki were designed to be living buildings - fully sustainable - of which there are only 30 in the world. They join Kathryn to explain their remarkable partnership and projects.
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Staffy and Mick go Around The Grounds and chat to Craig Baker from Ellerslie, plus Mick on why Otaki is absent from today's feature. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
It should come as no surprise to anyone, driving on our roads is about to get more expensive. Simeon Brown's come out this afternoon and whacked tolls on 3 new highways or expressways. Otaki to north of Levin - $2.70 for a car. $5.40 for a truck. Takitimu North Link - that's the Tauranga to Te Puna. 4 lanes. $2.10 off peak. $3.10 peak. Double that for trucks. Penlink in Auckland - $2 off peak. $3 peak. Again.... trucks double. These prices will increase with inflation. This does not bother me at all, in fact, I welcome it. If we keep relying on governments to fund infrastructure off their balance sheet with borrowing, we'll keep getting the same woeful results we have thus far. Roads that are shoddy and unsafe. Roads that aren't big enough or wide enough. And not enough roads being built to drive regional economic growth. The last government cancelled a bunch of RONS and put some of that money into public transport instead. Hopefully if a road has a toll attached to it it'll be harder to justify them doing that when they get it next time. What we don't yet know is whether existing roads will be tolled, which I don't think is a fair thing to do. The government has changed the rules to allow tolling of existing roads if a new corridor or extension is being added. But it hasn't yet been specific - does that mean the whole road or just the new bit. They need to clarify that cause it's hardly fair if you've bought a house and commute you ran your sums on the basis it wasn't tolled... if they turn round and whack you with a charge then that's not on. On the whole I say build the roads. We'll pay for them. Just get it done.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
On the new look Mail Run with Staffy and Pip Morris, we go around the grounds to get track updates from Ellerslie and Otaki ahead of raceday. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
A range of topics and genres from both our live studio and prerecorded shows.
Firefighters want an inquiry into a fatal house fire in Otaki and whether the fastest, best-equipped fire truck went. Phil Pennington spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.
In this week's Capital Letter, NZ Herald's Wellington Issues reporter Georgina Campbell discusses the possible $1.1 million spend by NZTA to protect snail and lizard species from the Otaki to north of Levin motorway. Georgina also updates Nick on the story of Wellington school student Julia Choquette, who has Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, who's been fundraising to get to Germany for surgery. And, it's our regular check in with how the Government and Kiwirail are getting along over the ferry saga. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Claydo and Sticko go Around the Grounds to Te Rapa and Otaki ahead of today's racing. PGG Wrightson Turf, key suppliers to New Zealand racecourses. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
LOVERACING.NZ Racing Update with TAB's Thad Taylor on Mornings with Ian Smith featuring including, Red Nose Day, the weekend's races at Te Rapa & Otaki, the Jockey Premiership & more Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
LOVERACING.NZ Racing Update with TAB's Thad Taylor on Mornings with Ian Smith featuring including, Red Nose Day, the weekend's races at Te Rapa & Otaki, the Jockey Premiership & more Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
A range of topics and genres from both our live studio and prerecorded shows.
Nikki chats to Otaki locals Ann Chapman and Jamie Bull about their memories of New Zealand feminist activist, writer, playwright, novelist, poet and short story writer, Renee Taylor ONZM, who passed away in December 2023, aged 94. Ann and Jamie also talk about a memorial event they are organising,"Remembering Renee”, which will be held in Otaki on Saturday 6th July.
Leaders on the Kapiti Coast say the financial and emotional impacts of boy racers in the community are significant - and are pleading with police to boost numbers in the district. Local government representatives have written to Police Minister Mark Mitchell after a mass street racing event over Kings Birthday weekend descended into violence. Otaki's Community Board chair Cam Butler spoke to Corin Dann.
National MP Tim Costley says his CBD apartment makes him a more effective MP. The first-term MP for Otaki is facing criticism for taking a $36,400 Parliamentary allowance to live in the Wellington apartment, which he owns himself. Costley lives just 58km from the Beehive in Waikanae, a roughly 40-minute drive from Parliament. He is also under fire for spending around $15,000 on travel in just three months according to expense returns, but says this is explained by travel he has booked in advance and expenses that weren't processed last year. He joined Wellington Mornings host Nick Mills to explain his decision. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Brian McKinney and Kane Smith provide track updates for today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Butch Castles previews the racing this weekend in Ruakaka and Otaki with special guests Opie Bosson and Lisa Allpress. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Butch Castles previews the racing this weekend in Ruakaka and Otaki with special guests Opie Bosson and Lisa Allpress. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
It was an eventful Sunday night in Levin over the weekend, with hundreds of young people taking to the streets to watch illegal burnouts on the main drag. Police responded, arresting two people and impounding six cars - but two officers were injured in the process. Otaki MP Tim Costley, whose electorate also covers Levin, joined Adam Cooper to talk about the offending. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In this episode, Nikki is talking to Otaki local, Stevie Metin, about her one woman show, Remember Me - a heartwarming and vibrant anecdotal dive into a whirlwind of emotion and love, following the journey of a young girl and her beautiful Nana – being staged at Te Raukura ki Kāpiti, on Friday 10th May.
The very popular Otaki kids market is on again on Sun 21st April. Hester from Aotea College has started her own face painting business, Lauren from Te Horo will be running her nail painting stall and Ciara from Lower Hutt will be selling her pens, dummy chains, keyring and more at the market. Over 80 kids will be running 52 stalls at the market in Otaki - so go visit them, say Hi and support our kids.
An hour of wrasslin' with "The Voice of Reason" Sammy G, and "SuperHero" Jay Marshal. Produced by Manawatū People's Radio with the assistance of New Zealand On Air.
Aboriginal artist Richard Bell's documentary You Can Go Now is screening at the Maoriland Film Festival, underway in Otaki . In it, he poses provocative and humourous challenges to the status quo and to our preconceived ideas of Aboriginal art.
LOVERACING.NZ Racing Update with The Good Oil's Louis Herman-Watt on Mornings with Ian Smith Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
LOVERACING.NZ Racing Update with The Good Oil's Louis Herman-Watt on Mornings with Ian Smith Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The Leg Up is back this week with; Brendan Popplewell, Justin Evans & Paul Maoate, as they preview races at Matamata & Otaki ahead of the weekend.
Graeme Styles and Johno Benner provide track updates from Matamata and Otaki respectively. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Ahead of the feature at Otaki today Louis speaks with trainer Robbie Patterson about one of the favourites in the race. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Louis and Mick preview today's meetings at Matamata and Otaki with trainers Tony Pike, Peter Williams and Ken Kelso. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mick gives his best going around at Otaki and Matamata today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
I first met Tony Lee when I had the honour to be guest commentator at the 1996 Wellington Cup meeting. In preparing to call a couple of races on the big programme, I received every possible courtesy from the NZ ace. Tony went out of his way to help me through a plethora of strange colours and horse names. I tuned in to hear his description of the recent Wellington Cup won by Mary Louise- his broadcasting swan song after four decades of wonderful service to NZ racing. I called Tony a few days after his Trentham send off to record this tribute to a man whose race calls whetted the appetites of generations of racing fans. He recalls the warmth of the farewell afforded him by the racing industry. Tony says his last Wellington Cup was a tricky race to call. He pays tribute to trainer Robbie Paterson and jockey Craig Grylls who bagged a Gr 1 double on the day. The veteran caller outlines the reasons for his surprise retirement. Tony reminisces about the 1996 Wellington Cup meeting when he and I worked together for the first and only time. The 65 year old looks back on childhood days on the family farm at Rongotea near Palmerston North. He says his late brother Craig was the one to introduce him to horse racing. Tony goes back to early days as a sound recordist with a local news crew. He says he loved the buzz of the media world. He talks of his admiration for the late Peter Kelly, New Zealand's favourite race caller of the day. Tony looks back on his race calling debut at the Hutt Park trots. Lee became famous for the passion he generated in his race descriptions. He talks about the development of his style. Tony talks about Castletown's third Wellington Cup win in 1994. The words he used in the closing stages of his call are still repeated by racing fans of all ages. He pays tribute to the remarkable two miler Castletown, one of the country's greatest ever stayers. The ace commentator talks of Xcellent's memorable win in the 2005 Mudgway Stakes, and the call that people still talk about. Horse lover Lee says he fell in love with Starcraft the moment he first saw him in the Hastings parade yard before the 2004 Mudgway Stakes. Tony talks of his affection for the Hastings track and runs through some of the other racecourses in the Central Districts. Regrettably he saw little of northern trained Sunline, but he did get to call her final race in NZ- the 2002 Mudgway Stakes. He says local fans gave her an unforgettable send off. Tony acknowledges the deeds of a handful of other special horses. He talks of the 2012 disagreement with TAB Trackside which saw him walk away from his plum role. Eager to test the water out of NZ he spent two years with the Selangor Turf Club in Malaysia. He enjoyed the experience. Tony recalls the twist of fate that would send him back to his old job. He pays tribute to some of the NZ trainers he's admired over the years. In talking about jockeys he relates a funny story about the day at Otaki when he and trainer Alexander Fieldes put on an exhibition gallop. Tony talks about a business venture outside of racing. He and wife Briar run the Trax Bar and Cafe at Wellington railway station. It's a laid back trip down memory lane with a man who's been a great friend to NZ racing.
Some of the kids from the Otaki Kids Market headed into studio to talk to Catherine ahead of their first attendance at the Kapiti Food Fair. Listen in here for 3 super cute interviews with these talented Tamariki,
Legal action has been launched over the $1.25 billion Transmission Gully motorway. The builder of the road is taking Waka Kotahi to court in relation to incomplete work. A pool, skatepark upgrades and the Wellington City Council's airport shares are on the chopping block in a proposal to cut costs. And police have now issued an arrest warrant for missing Otaki kayaker, Michaela Leger is facing drug-related charges. Georgina Campbell is NZ Herald's Wellington issues reporter.
Jon and Tae are preparing their rented land near Otaki to start producing "pay-what-you-can" vege boxes in the spring. It's a small-scale social enterprise aimed at making healthy food more accessible to people who can least afford it.
Holaaa Mis Amados Colibrís y Bienvenidos a el primer episodio de POPCulture Entrevista donde aprenderemos directamente de El Mister Otaki sobre el Nortaku, los paneles, el Anime y la fusión de culturas ✌
One of the biggest problems Grant Robertson's going to have delivering his sixth budget on Thursday is just getting us to believe to him. This budget- we've been told- is going to be about infrastructure. Hands up- who believes this Government when they announce they're putting a huge of money into building infrastructure? Yeah, probably not a lot of us. We all remember the big song and dance announcing the bike bridge to Birkenhead, or the Light Rail in Auckland, or the Let's Get Wellington moving project in the Capital. And we all know where we're at with those projects. In order: Cancelled, not started, one pedestrian. But let me also tell you about the New Zealand upgrade programme, which I've been personally watching for years. The New Zealand upgrade programme is a bunch of extremely important roads, which this Government cancelled when they came in in 2017. But then, in an obvious election move, just a day after announcing the 2020 election date, Grant Robertson brought them back. But after the election- what a surprise- some of the most important roads were downgraded and cancelled in 2021. Mill Road, south of Auckland, alternative to SH1 upgrade- cancelled. Whangarei to Port Marsden- cancelled. Takitimu Northern Link- second stage cancelled. Then fast forward to last Friday, and we find out that even the roads that did survive might now be ‘rescoped'. I'm taking about Otaki to north of Levin and widening the Southern Motorway from Papakura to Drury. So here we are again, just before an election, and Grant Robertson is about to announce a massive infrastructure spend. How many of us are actually going to fall for that again? I think five and a half years of a complete lack of delivery is finally catching up with these guys. That really limits what Robertson can do on Thursday. The only available trick to them is to hand out money. Because that's believable. The money's in the bank, done, no promises broken. So expect that on Thursday. Because what else can they do? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Transport Minister Michael Wood isn't ruling out the delay of some major roading projects. Waka Kotahi is currently working on 19 projects, and are trying to see how to continue with them with only the money they currently have. Amongst these projects are the Otaki to Levin expressway, Wellington's Melling Interchange, and Auckland's Penlink. AA's Chief Policy and Advocacy Officer Simon Douglas said that while the Transport Minister has not explicitly rolled back any projects, the introduction of any uncertainty is unhelpful. He said that since motorists are expecting them, firm commitments are needed to get the projects underway. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Wellingtonians heading up the Kapiti Coast for the holidays are in for an early Christmas present. The ribbon had been cut on the long-awaited expressway from Peka Peka to Otaki, although it would not be fully open to motorists until Friday. Both National and Labour were celebrating the new road, but scrapping over who could take the credit for it. Our political reporter Anneke Smith has more.
What can drivers expect from our roads as they set out to hotspots and hideaways around the motu this holiday period? The ribbon is being cut on the brand new thirteen kilometre four-lane stretch of State Highway One from Peka Peka to Otaki tomorrow. It's the second new road to open this year to smooth traffic flows north of the capital. Meanwhile roadworks have slowed traffic to single lanes recently north and southbound on Transmission Gully, after the brand new chip seal road surface was pot-holed by heavy rain. Meanwhile road works on State Highway 6 between Hira and the Rai Valley have been completed ahead of schedule. Kathryn speaks with Waka Kotahi Regional Manager Mark Owen for a driver's seat view of the state of our roads as the rubber hits the road for the festive season.
A case of too many books. About half of the 500,000 items in Wellington's central library on-site collection will be kept in storage when the building reopens to make way for a play space, events room and service centre. Georgina also talks to Kathryn about the 445 million dollar, 13 kilometre road forming part of Wellington's northern corridor. Will the new Peka Peka to Otaki expressway open before Christmas?
Renée's small fictional rural town of Porohiwi is once again the scene of a murder. But why would anyone kill grumpy old mask collector Matthew Durrell in his home? Blood Matters is award-winning playwright and novellist Renée's second crime novel. In it, Puti has taken over both guardianship of her 10-year-old niece Bella Rose and ownership of the local bookshop, "Mainly Crime", after the death of her sister. Otaki-based Renée says she doesn't dwell on the forensics in her books. She's far more interested in the impact of a murder on the small community she's created. Lynn Freeman asks her what she enjoys about writing crime stories. Blood Matters by Renée is published by The Cuba Press.
First produced in 1984, Renée's Wednesday to Come is considered a classic of New Zealand theatre. The play follows the women of an Otaki family during the Great Depression of the 1930s and, for director Erina Daniels (Ngati Wai), it's a story that has strong parallels with today.
Wild weather has thrashed the country over the weekend, leaving floods, tornadoes, hail and damage in it's path. There is nowhere to hide from it with 38 weather warnings and watches across the motu. Two hundred households in the area of Reikorangi, east of Waikanae, are without power after a tree fell on a power line. Another 230 in Otaki are also in the dark this morning. Two tornadoes blasted through Waikanae yesterday afternoon, tearing down fences and powerlines, while heavy rain left parts of the roads underwater. It is similar story in Taranaki where hundreds of people are without power. State Highway 1 near Marton is closed due to flooding. On Monday high winds are set to batter Northland and Auckland - Waka Kotahi says that might mean a closure for the Harbour Bridge. The west of the North Island is forecast to get hit with heavy rain, turning into snow for the Desert Road. Further south towards the capital, people are being warned to brace for more thunderstorms, possible tornadoes, high swells, and high winds. It's much of the same in the South Island, with the addition of snow fall along Lewis Pass which is now closed, as is Lindis, Haast, Burkes Pass, State Highway 73 Springfield to Arthurs Pass, and State Highway 94 Te Anau to Milford, with updates expected throughout the morning. State Highway 6 into the Upper Buller Gorge is closed due to a slip. Mark Owen from Waka Kotahi spoke to Morning Report.
Get set for more wild weather, with almost 40 weather warnings and watches across the motu, Hundreds of homes in Kapiti, Otaki and Taranaki are without power, while snow has closed all South Island mountain passes, And We'll speak to the Prime Minister about her trip to Australia and the "reset" of our trans-Tasman relationship.
Hello. Welcome to Jenni's Pika Pika Japanese. Well, today is a three-day holiday, and it seems that everyone is going to various places, and the train stations seem to be much more crowded than usual. But do you know what day and what day these three consecutive holidays are? First of all, today is Constitution Day, tomorrow is Greenery Day. And the day after tomorrow is Children's Day. Each day is explained in today's podcast episode, so if you listen carefully and study carefully, you will be one step closer to becoming a Japan expert as you study Japanese. Now, we have introduced you to ways to spend Golden Week such as camping, strawberry picking, and clam digging, but today we would like to introduce you to a place where you can retreat away from your busy life and the hustle and bustle of the city. In the town of Otaki, located in the middle of the Boso Peninsula in Chiba Prefecture, about 100 minutes from Tokyo Station by train, there are several lodging facilities located in old private homes built around 1900. Some of them have a nostalgic atmosphere with a sunken hearth, and you can even barbecue under the eaves of the house. Also, at this time of year, Kurohara Fudo Falls on the Nishihata River in Otaki Town is known as the waterfall where carp streamers swim. こんにちは。 ジェニのピカピカ日本語へようこそ。 さあ今日から3日間、祝日が続き、みなさんいろいろなところに出かけているようで、駅も普段よりもかなり込み合っているようです。 でも、この3連休って、何の日と何の日か知っていますか? まず、今日は憲法記念日、明日がみどりの日。そして明後日がこどもの日です。 今日のPodcastエピソードでそれぞれの日を説明しているので、しっかり聞いて勉強すれば、日本語を学習しているあなたが、一歩、日本通に進めますよ。 さて、ゴールデンウィークの過ごし方をキャンプやいちご狩り、潮干狩りとご紹介してきましたが、今日は忙しい毎日と都会の喧騒を離れてレトリートできる場所をご紹介します。 東京駅から電車で約100分、千葉県房総半島の真ん中に大多喜町という町に1900年頃に建築された古民家を整備して宿泊できる施設がいくつかあります。 囲炉裏などもあるノスタルジックな雰囲気で、軒下でバーベキューもできる施設もあり、家族でタイムスリップした空間でバーベキューを楽しむのもいいかもしれませんね。 また、今の時期、大多喜町の西畑川の黒原不動滝は、鯉のぼりが泳ぐ滝として知られています。
The full team is back this week to preview all the action from Matamata and of course the WFA Classic from Otaki.