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Tonight, on The Panel, Wallace Chapman is joined by panellists Ben Thomas and Verity Johnson. First up, Ministers were advised that the new move on orders would clog up already-stretched court systems. That's a price they're willing to pay, but Criminal Bar Association president Annabel Cresswell doesn't think lawyers would agree. Then, a Rotorua primary school principal is fighting with the council about a 'chaotic' pedestrian crossing right next to a busy roundabout.
The speed of the changes to council voting rights is sparking some concern. The Government is amending the Local Government Act, which would strip non-elected representatives of voting rights on council committees. Changes would impact iwi and youth representatives, although Treaty-based committees are exempt. Local Government NZ Board Member and Rotorua Mayor Tania Tapsell told Kerre Woodham that while they understand where Minister Simon Watts is coming from, this is substantial and unprecedented reform. She says it's a pretty quick change to the law, and they hope they can continue to have input so as to ensure there's no unintended consequences. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
A TVNZ true-crime documentary series explores the unusual case of lions reportedly killing a Rotorua poodle - but how true is the story? Who Killed Lucy The Poodle? goes into the infamous case and tries to uncover the facts and details behind the story. Director Kent Briggs joined the Afternoons team to discuss further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
As far as Budgets in economically precarious times go, I thought it was a pretty good one. And save yourself the 20 cents, anonymous texter. I can see you typing from here. "Well, you would say that, Tokyo Rose, wouldn't you?" Well yes, come on, be fair though – what on Earth were they supposed to do? We were warned that there would be very little money to spend. The Government resisted throwing lollies, instant sugar hits to voters and did concentrate on spending what money there is where it will get the most returns. Not on policies like Fees Free third year of education for tertiary students, which was not delivering on the metrics, but on things like capital works that have been sorely, sorely needed for so many years and will provide pipelines of work for years to come. So there'll be jobs, there'll be increased spending and there'll be necessary upgrades that so many communities have been waiting for, like the new 158 bed tower block at Whangārei Hospital, plans for a new hospital in Drury for the South Auckland population, the Cambridge to Piarere expressway, redevelopment programs for Tauranga, Palmerston North and Hawke's Bay hospitals, the rail network investment program, building 232 new classrooms across the country, new police stations in Greymouth and Whanganui, 2,250 additional social houses, new courthouses in Rotorua. You cannot argue that this is a poor use of what money there is. It feeds into the Keynesian school of economic thought, which I've always thought was really sensible and I don't think any other better alternatives exist, that during tough economic times, consumers and businesses will typically hoard cash and spend less. So, the theory argues, Governments should then step in and break that cycle because once you close everything down, it just gets worse. You can't make consumers and businesses spend money, but governments can. So they fund public works and infrastructure, the sort of sensible kind of spending, the long-term spending, spending with a long-term outcome. It will create jobs by doing that, inject money directly into the economy and provide the sort of capital infrastructure that the country so desperately needs. And the workers who work on these projects spend their money on goods and services and that creates jobs and income for others. It's called the multiplier effect – it brings an economy out of a slump. And I think that's what we've been asking for and arguing for a while, isn't it? The tax cuts, not so much, but that's okay, that was back then. So, you know, we'll draw a veil over that. But this kind of spending where you're spending on works that have to be done. There are no ifs or maybe one days or these are not nice to haves, these are essential works that need to be done. I thought it was, as far as Budgets in tough times go, I thought it was a pretty good Budget. I'd very much like to get your feedback on this. I thought the that old school style of reporting of “there was nothing in it for you, was there?”, to the beneficiaries and to the state housing tenants and the “what about me's”, is lazy. I think that's really lazy reporting. You have to look at the bigger picture and you have to have an expectation that when people are on benefits, it doesn't mean they might have lost their job or they might have lost their ability to work for a time, doesn't mean they've lost their minds or their brains. They can understand too that you've got to fix the economy, it's got to improve, it's got to get better before their chances of finding work improve. And if they're unable to work, you know, they're going to get improved services and improved benefits if we are financially prosperous, if we're in a position to spend extra money. We're not in that position right now and it's going to take a few more years yet. For the first time, I felt a little bit of hope. A little bit of hope that you could actually see the light at the end of the tunnel and it's not the train bearing down upon you. There is a way out. It was sensible spending for the most part. I'd give it an eight out of ten, but I'd love to hear from you. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Have you done the sums yet to work out how much more you're going to have to pay, how much more you're going to have to find to pay the rates bill? We were talking before the show, for some of my colleagues it's an extra $45 per fortnight, they're in an apartment out of the main city. I can't even imagine how much the increase will be for people living in the leafy suburbs. Auckland Council has locked in a 7.9% rates rise, according to Wayne Brown it's to fund the City Rail Link. They've managed to keep everything else, they've managed to cut costs and reduce spending and keep everything level, this is purely to fund the City Rail Link. He's unapologetic. He said we've got this railway, if we don't pay for it this year, then we're just going to have to pay for it next year. And that's quite true, you can't just keep deferring essential spending. And that's what a lot of councils are finding around the country, that they might have deferred spending, put off investing in the vital infrastructure that needs to be spent, Moa Point anybody, and now they're going to have to, now they're going to have to do it. It's this lot of ratepayers that is going to have to pay because previous years' ratepayers didn't want to. Councillors didn't want to because they might get voted out, ratepayers didn't want to because they said we've got nothing extra in our pockets. Well now we're just going to have to find it. In effect, the rates increase is only an average, but pity the people of Waitaki, councillors there were looking at rates increases of up to 45%. Eventually they opted for a 22% rates rise because they've got to fund their three water scheme. Now that's been put off, put off, put off, they can't put it off any longer and now the people of Oamaru and the surrounding districts are going to have to find the money and pay for it. Many, many people are doing what the councils around the country are doing and what the Government is doing. They're looking at the bills, they're slashing what is not essential, trying not to slash everything that's not essential because you need something that's a bit of a morale booster. But when you've got a finite amount of money coming in, it has to cover so many, many increases. Fuel, insurance, rates. When there's two of you working, it's tough enough, if you're on a fixed income with very little in the way of other money coming in, you've already pared down the spending to the bone, it's even harder. Is this the time you look at selling the house if you have one? You're told when you go into retirement that you have to have a house, that this is one way that you'll be able to ensure a comfortable retirement, you have your own home, you have a roof over your head. But how do you make economies to cover the rates bill to pay for the house when you're already stretched so very thin? If your rates bill has come in, have you crunched the numbers, where are you at? I mean Auckland like Rotorua, and number of other councils around the country, even the Far North, they're trying to keep it into single digits, just skimming the 10%, but other councils, they're having to pay for that work that they deferred for so long and those rates increases are going to hurt. An earlier version of this article stated that “many Aucklanders will face an effective rate rise of between 12% and 15%”. Auckland Council estimates the vast majority of unchanged residential properties (around 94%) will receive a rates increase within 1% of the 7.9% average.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
It's time now for the A-Z of Aotearoa! We've been making our way through the alphabet, choosing something iconically Kiwi for each letter. This week we've arrived at 'U', and our subject is a place shrouded in geographic beauty and indigenous knowledge, Te Urewera. It's the home of the Tuhoe iwi, and it lies in the wide, mountainous space between Rotorua and Gisborne. For 60 years much of Te Urewera was designated a National Park, then in 2014 - following a Waitangi Tribunal settlement - the land was granted environmental personhood. In October 2007, Te Urewera was also the grounds for one of New Zealand's darkest days, poet and activist Ati Teepa talks to Jesse about his experience in the police raids. We also want to focus on the environment and geography of Te Urewera, and for that, Jesse is joined by Hinewai McManus Hinewai is of Tuhoe descent, and she's a former DOC ranger who also guided treks in Ngaputahi near Ruatahuna for many years.
Public Service Commissioner on cuts, mergers and AI shift; Wellington Lions player on joining NZ Police force; AI consultancy chief on public sector overhaul and AI use; Sir Graeme Dingle on investing in young people's futures; Rotorua operators fear tourists may skip North Island
Three new non-stop Air New Zealand flights launching later this year will connect Christchurch directly to Perth, Singapore and Tokyo. But will the resurgence of Christchurch see tourists skipping over the North Island to get there? Debbie Robertson, is the general manager of Wai Ariki Hot Springs & Spa, an iwi-owned, luxury wellness spa on the Rotorua lakefront. Robertson spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.
Kelly discusses the $3.6 million in taxpayer funded repairs to emergency housing. She explains how the new average speed camera zone will work along with talking about an alleged nang coverup in connection with a fatal bus crash and Rotorua Boys High welcoming home its rugby heroes.
Every year, Kai Rotorua's kumara harvest attracts a group of volunteers keen to connect with sustainable practices and te ao Maori. This year, the harvest circle widened even further, with students from across South Asia joining the mahi on a spring day. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
Mitch grew up watching his family lose everything in the GFC. Now, he owns 15 rental units.In this Case Study Sunday, Mitch shares why he focuses on cashflow over flashy properties, and how he's using social media to show everyday Kiwis what's possible through property investing. You'll learn:How this investor bought 15 rental units with average incomes in just three yearsHow this multi-unit deal in Rotorua changed everythingHow he's now getting a 13.5% gross yieldMain lesson? Great deals rarely fall into your lap. The investors who succeed long-term are usually the ones willing to learn deeply, move fast, and stay disciplined enough to wait for opportunities that genuinely stack up.And to see more from Mitch here are the links to his Instagram and TikTok.For more from Opes Partners:Sign up for the weekly Private Property newsletterInstagramTikTok
This is our NEW RELEASE review podcast, ONE HOT TAKE.Josh Lawson's Kano cuts through the confusion like a live wire. He mocks the film from within, turning every line into a pressure-release valve, and, in doing so, becomes the only consistent source of energy. Synopsis:The fan favourite champions -- now joined by Johnny Cage himself -- are pitted against one another in the ultimate battle to defeat the dark rule of Shao Kahn that threatens the very existence of the Earthrealm and its defenders.Garth FranklinOne of the very first online entertainment journalists, Sydney-based Garth Franklin has clocked up more hours, stories and experience in this field than the entire staff of various other sites combined. Respected and well-regarded amongst his peers, Franklin created and designed the very first Dark Horizons® incarnation on geocities.com back in April 1996 and has steered it through at least four major re-designs, two recessions, hundreds of interviews, thousands of screenings, and tens of thousands of articles.Garth's work over the twenty plus years has taken him all over the globe to places like Auckland, Albuquerque, Atlanta, Bangkok, Baton Rouge, Berlin, Calgary, Chicago, Dallas, Edmonton, Harare, Hwange, Honolulu, Istanbul, Johannesburg, Las Vegas, London, Los Angeles, Melbourne, Nadi, Naples, New York City, Paris, Perth, Prague, Rome, Rotorua, San Diego, San Francisco, Siem Reap, Singapore, Surfer's Paradise, Suva, Toronto, Vancouver, Venice and Wellington. He has regular consulted with and/or worked alongside publicists, managers, producers, studio VPs, agents, filmmakers and celebrities in the US, UK, Europe and Australia.Franklin, who is also a ‘Top Critic' on Rotten Tomatoes and member of the Australian Film Critics Association, has also contributed columns for several outlets including Empire Magazine Australia, Cinescape Magazine and AOL, served as a film critic on both Foxtel's Channel V and ABC Radio 702 with Angela Catterns, contributed content or towards pieces for numerous outlets ranging from IGN to USA Today to the U.S. Armed Forces Radio and Television Service.One Heat Minute ProductionsWEBSITE: oneheatminute.comTWITTER: @OneBlakeMinute & @OHMPodsMERCH: https://www.teepublic.com/en-au/stores/one-heat-minute-productionsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Kei te hia-hia he kawhe? Do you fancy a coffee? These might be some of the kupu or words people will hear at a Rotorua cafe that has made the decision to go full Maori immersion. Customers will be supported to give Te Reo Maori a go, but English won't be spoken at Rumaki Cafe. Rumaki's executive director, Miraka Davies, wants to see more everyday spaces where people can practice and speak Te Reo Maori. Davies spoke to Lisa Owen.
This is our NEW RELEASE review podcast, ONE HOT TAKE.In its strongest passages, APEX becomes spatial. Crevasses, cliff faces, narrow passages — the geography tightens, and with it the tension.Synopsis:A mountain climber haunted by a fatal decision in Norway retreats to the Australian wilderness for isolation. Her journey turns into a desperate hunt when a deceptive local targets her as his next ritualistic prey in the bush.Garth FranklinOne of the very first online entertainment journalists, Sydney-based Garth Franklin has clocked up more hours, stories and experience in this field than the entire staff of various other sites combined. Respected and well-regarded amongst his peers, Franklin created and designed the very first Dark Horizons® incarnation on geocities.com back in April 1996 and has steered it through at least four major re-designs, two recessions, hundreds of interviews, thousands of screenings, and tens of thousands of articles.Garth's work over the twenty plus years has taken him all over the globe to places like Auckland, Albuquerque, Atlanta, Bangkok, Baton Rouge, Berlin, Calgary, Chicago, Dallas, Edmonton, Harare, Hwange, Honolulu, Istanbul, Johannesburg, Las Vegas, London, Los Angeles, Melbourne, Nadi, Naples, New York City, Paris, Perth, Prague, Rome, Rotorua, San Diego, San Francisco, Siem Reap, Singapore, Surfer's Paradise, Suva, Toronto, Vancouver, Venice and Wellington. He has regular consulted with and/or worked alongside publicists, managers, producers, studio VPs, agents, filmmakers and celebrities in the US, UK, Europe and Australia.Franklin, who is also a ‘Top Critic' on Rotten Tomatoes and member of the Australian Film Critics Association, has also contributed columns for several outlets including Empire Magazine Australia, Cinescape Magazine and AOL, served as a film critic on both Foxtel's Channel V and ABC Radio 702 with Angela Catterns, contributed content or towards pieces for numerous outlets ranging from IGN to USA Today to the U.S. Armed Forces Radio and Television Service.One Heat Minute ProductionsWEBSITE: oneheatminute.comTWITTER: @OneBlakeMinute & @OHMPodsMERCH: https://www.teepublic.com/en-au/stores/one-heat-minute-productionsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
We catch up with the big winners from the NZ Dairy Industry Awards in Rotorua on Saturday night, the 2026 Share Farmers of the Year.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
https://svensagt.blogspot.com/2025/01/rotorua-wo-die-erde-brodelt-und-dampft.html
We preview the upcoming Rotorua ITM Stakes and Rotorua cup on what will be another big weekend of racing.
A council operated crematorium is being called out over its charging, with families taking their loved ones a hundred kilometres away for the service to be carried out. Tauranga City Council runs the only crematorium in the city and charges $979 for an adult cremation. That's compared to $695 in neighbouring Hamilton and $630 charged in Rotorua. Crematoriums run by Auckland Council charge $750. Funeral director Carla Turner runs several funeral homes and calls Tauranga's charges a rip off. Turner spoke to Melissa Chan-Green.
ON TODAYS SHOW: More truths from Rotorua came out of the bag, including K'lee & Hadz having a bit of fun on Azuras hinge. Plus, we continue to celebrate NZ Music Month, chatting with the Kiwi icon Dame Hinewehi Mohi For more, follow our socials: Instagram Facebook TikTokSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
ON TODAYS SHOW: We fill you in on EVEYTHING that went down in Rotorua including our run, rhythm & bingo and Aunty Eva's love advice for Azura. Plus, we continue to celebrate NZ music with an interview and performance from Te Wehi. Check out his new album, out now For more, follow our socials: Instagram Facebook TikTokSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In the most personal interview of his career, New Zealand's most beloved NBA export Steven Adams sits down with Between Two Beers exclusively to tell his full story.From growing up the youngest of 14 in Rotorua, losing his father at 13, and never dreaming of the NBA - to rookie years alongside Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and James Harden at the Oklahoma City Thunder, the infamous Draymond Green kicks in the 2016 Golden State Warriors playoffs, and signing a new Houston Rockets contract at 32 after a serious PCL injury, this is the complete Steven Adams story.Steven opens up about going viral for sleeping on an air mattress despite earning millions, training with Dame Valerie Adams, speaking at MIT's Sloan Sports Analytics Conference, owning a regenerative dairy farm near Pukahina, investing in Auckland FC, and a six-year journalling practice that got him through his darkest moments.Plus - 24 free basketball camps across New Zealand for 10,000 kids, and why giving back is the only thing that truly matters to him.Steve and Seamus are proud to be dressed by Barkers Clothing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Kelly Makiha is a senior journalist with the Rotorua Daily Post.
In Dunedin the local tree crop association has been looking after a heritage apple orchard, but some mixed up labels meant they weren't quite sure what varieties they had. A chance encounter at a public open day sets one young researcher on a scientific quest to ID them all. Plus, in a nursery in Rotorua, a propagation scientist is figuring out the best way to grow a native tree from cuttings. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
Liam Messam is one of the most beloved figures in New Zealand rugby. Two-time Super Rugby champion, All Black, World Cup winner, and a 20-year servant of the Chiefs. But behind the jersey is a story most people have never heard.Adopted at six weeks old into a Rotorua family that went on to foster close to a thousand children, Liam opens up about identity, belonging, and the household that gave him everything he is today.In this episode we get into the conversation with Gordon Titchens at 16 that changed the trajectory of his career, being cut from the 2011 World Cup squad and walking through Auckland Airport alone into a media scrum, what Chiefs Mana actually means and where it came from, why Gilbert Enoka personally called him to be part of the 2023 World Cup Human Library alongside Dan Carter, Richie McCaw and Keven Mealamu, leading the haka for the All Blacks after being voluntold by Keven Mealamu, getting a yellow card as a water boy at the World Cup, and completing an Ironman at 108kg with almost no marathon training.Plus lessons from Richie McCaw, Sonny Bill Williams and Dave Rennie, why he signed his last Waikato contract for $1, and how losing his mum to dementia shaped the brain health supplement brand he's building today.Steve and Seamus are proud to be dressed by the legends at Barkers Clothing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Animaia Payne has won major squash titles including the Oceania Junior Championships, the New Zealand Juniors, and a gold medal at the Aims Games.
In part two, the panel hears from Arash Alaeinia an Iranian New Zealander based in Rotorua about his fears for Iran and his friends and family. Then, social media users have been outraged after a video started circulating of people harassing seals in Kaikoura. A woman was seen lobbing clumps seaweed onto a seal who became increasingly agitated. DOC South Marlborough Operations Manager Stacey Wrenn joins the Panel to discuss why this was not a good idea.
A Rotorua retailer has been charged over allegedly selling nangs or nitrous oxide for recreational use despite repeated warnings from police. Police are targeting shops selling the gas following a growing number of incidents involving huffing drivers. Bay of Plenty District Commander, Superintendent Will Loughrin spoke to Lisa Owen.
It's taken a while but we got there at last. Move-on orders. Clear lines of responsibility and delineation for police to actually fix a problem that has existed for too long in our central city areas. As the debate bounces back and forward this week have a look at those who ask "where do they go?" They ask that because it's the easy question to ask. It's the point-scoring question to ask. It's the question you ask when you don't actually have to deal with the problem. The previous Government, who will be one of the people asking that very question, stuck them in motels and ruined entire towns like Rotorua. They stuck them in social housing and ruined entire neighbourhoods, as the agency responsible evicted exactly zero people despite antisocial, and often criminal, behaviour. In other words they gave greater priority to troubled menaces than they did to wider society that simply wanted to get on with life. Downtowns, whether Wellington, Christchurch or Auckland, need help and have needed help for years. We were at lunch a couple of weeks ago in the central city for a birthday. The drugged-out woman screaming her head off on the bench outside was doing her best to ruin everyone's Saturday. The music in the restaurant had to be turned up to a level that you could no longer hear each other talk. But what was the proprietor supposed to do? What is any business supposed to do when you have to step over the down and out, the drugged out and the violent, simply to unlock your door? The apologists paint these people as harmless. They are not. They paint them as lost and wayward. They are not. They are law breakers who cause a disproportionate amount of trouble to people who don't deserve it. As a result of an apologist mentality no one has known what to do, like retail crime and Yaris' through windows a few years back. Toughen up the laws and you'll be amazed how quickly the problem gets solved. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
We know there are issues with sustainability within the fashion industry - can science help create a better future? Claire Concannon visits the Bioeconomy Science Institute in Rotorua to learn how New Zealand scientists are contributing to a massive multi-national project aimed at shaping the textile industry of tomorrow. Sign up to the Our Changing World monthly newsletter for episode backstories, science analysis and more.Learn more:UPWEARS has their own research project page if you want to learn more.Learn more about how the Bioeconomy Science Institute (formally Scion) is figuring out how to make new materials and products using bio-waste products rather than fossil fuels.The rise of synthetic fibres impacted the wool industry here in New Zealand, although some entrepreneurs and weavers are making it work for them.Guests:Dr Yi Chen, Bioeconomy Science Institute, and UPWEARSDr Robert Abbel, Bioeconomy Science Institute, and UPWEARSSean Taylor, Bioeconomy Science Institute, and UPWEARSLouise Le Gall, Bioeconomy Science Institute, and UPWEARSDr Kate Parker, Bioeconomy Science Institute, and UPWEARSGo to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
Tarawera by UTMB 2026 Recap | Golden Tickets and Key Takeaways Tonight we recap the 2026 Tarawera by UTMB, breaking down the race results, Golden Ticket recipients, and the biggest storylines from the 102K event. We'll analyze how the race unfolded, what it means for the Western States 100, and the key performances that defined the weekend in Rotorua. We'll also be joined live by Robyn Lesh, the women's 50K champion, to discuss her race and experience on the course. Additional guests may join the show as well. –––––––––––––––––– Race Registration Register for The Big Alta https://ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=130943 Register for Gorge Waterfalls https://ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=129366 –––––––––––––––––– Sponsors Osprey Grab a trail running pack at https://www.osprey.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=trail%20runnng NEVERSECOND Nutrition Use code FREETRAIL25 for 25% off your first order https://www.never2.com –––––––––––––––––– Freetrail Links Website https://freetrail.com/ Freetrail Pro https://freetrail.com/freetrail-pro/ Patreon https://www.patreon.com/dylanbowman Instagram https://www.instagram.com/runfreetrail/ YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8MKI1xB8YMchI1764zJXHg Freetrail Experts https://freetrail.com/freetrail-experts/ –––––––––––––––––– Dylan Bowman Instagram https://www.instagram.com/dylanbo/ Twitter https://twitter.com/dylanbo LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/dylan-bowman-06174380/ Strava https://www.strava.com/pros/1596921
What an incredible weekend of sport, with the T20 Cricket World Cup, Super Rugby Pacific, and SailGP sweeping into Auckland – more on that in a minute - some of the world's best trail runners hit Rotorua for the Tarawera Premier Ultra-trail Marathon and the Winter Olympics continues to provide stunning performances, triumphs and disappointments, scandals and feel good moments. I've been interested in the chat around the Winter Olympics over the last week. The Winter Olympic Games is often criticised for being filled with elite, niche sports that struggle to capture broad public appeal. Unlike the Summer edition, which features globally accessible competitions like athletics, swimming and football, the Winter Games is based on disciplines which require specific climates, facilities, and funding. Sports such as biathlon (cross-country skiing and shooting), snowboard cross (kind of BMX racing for snowboarders), and curling are unfamiliar to many viewers outside Europe and North America. They demand snow tracks, ice rinks, and mountain ranges - resources unavailable in much of the world. As a result, participation is concentrated among a relatively small group of nations, reinforcing the perception that these are rarefied pursuits rather than widely played global sports. But for me, this exclusivity underscores why these athletes deserve celebration. Winter Olympians dedicate their lives to mastering extraordinarily demanding disciplines under harsh conditions. They train for years in sub-zero temperatures and in many cases risk injury at high speeds as they refine their skills in sports where success is often decided by fractions of a second or points. The limited global infrastructure for many of these sports makes reaching elite level even more impressive; pathways are narrower, funding scarcer, and margins for error smaller. That they are largely broadcast on pay tv in New Zealand also fuels the idea these sports aren't hugely common. But uncommon or not, if you've been watching over the last week, surely you'll agree the camera work has been spectacular and the events have been incredible to watch. My whole family have become obsessed with ice dancing and figure skating - and there have been some serious controversies and sides taken during the week, even though none of us could get ourselves around an ice rink. And really, isn't all sport at the top-end of competition elite - or as we like to call it ‘high performance sport'? On the global stage, rugby is niche. So is netball. The America's Cup is an elite sport, and the coast to coast this weekend attracts a small number of super athletes who will traverse the South Island. Doesn't make their accomplishments any less impressive. The Olympics exists not merely to platform the most popular sports, but to honour excellence at the highest level. That some of those sports are not broadly accessible does not diminish the skill required to compete. In the last week we've seen human resilience, sportsmanship, courage, and technical mastery - all done in what can be very challenging environments. So niche or not, our Kiwi athletes and their fellow competitors represent the pinnacle of their disciplines - and that alone warrants recognition and celebration. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Tonight we continue our weeklong coverage of the double Golden Ticket race weekend with Freetrail's in-depth preview of Tarawera by UTMB. Rotorua once again plays host to the 15th running of New Zealand's largest and most important trail race. For the second year in a row, four Golden Tickets to the Western States 100 are on the line, with many of the sport's top athletes toeing the line to secure their spot in Auburn. We're going live at 5:00 PM PT / 2:00 PM NZ with Tim Tollefson and Dani Moreno to break down the course, expected conditions, and top contenders heading into race weekend. The Docket Tarawera course overview Expected racing conditions Women's favorites Men's favorites Race Registration Register for The Big Alta https://ultrasignup.com/register.aspx... Register for Gorge Waterfalls https://ultrasignup.com/register.aspx... Sponsors Osprey Grab a trail running pack at https://www.osprey.com/catalogsearch/... NEVERSECOND Nutrition Use code FREETRAIL25 for 25% off your first order https://www.never2.com Freetrail Links Website https://freetrail.com/ Freetrail Pro https://freetrail.com/freetrail-pro/ Freetrail Experts https://freetrail.com/freetrail-experts/ Patreon https://www.patreon.com/dylanbowman Instagram https://www.instagram.com/runfreetrail YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@freetrail Dylan Bowman Instagram https://www.instagram.com/dylanbo Twitter https://twitter.com/dylanbo LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/dylan-bowman-06174380 Strava https://www.strava.com/athletes/
On this week's AidStation, we have the distinct pleasure of speaking with Race Director Tom Heath about the exciting new event on the calendar, Ultra Wanaka. Ali and Matt also speak to the most powerful returning champion, L. Bartholomew of Diamond Creek, Victoria, about her go-to Rotorua trails, Race week self-care, and the update on her Dad, Ash, after his recent stroke. Matt has been accused of many things, being discursive, even downright circumstantial, but one thing he has never been in the 8 years of DCR is speechless. Thanks, Lucy. Really. Excellent Stuff.Dirt Church Radio – Best Enjoyed Running.--- --- --- Episode Links Lucy Bartholomew InstagramAsh Bartholomew DCR 247Ultra Wanaka HomeSign up for the DCR AidStation newsletter.Dirt Church Radio on InstagramDirt Church Radio on FacebookFurther Faster New ZealandEnjoy!Music by Andrew McDowall, Digicake
Hello! We're back with another New Zealand episode. This one focuses on our adventures in Hobbiton and the Redwood Experience in Rotorua. We also talk about Hamnet, Weapons and Shelby's love of bubbly water. Enjoy!
Two local women lost in the Mt Maunganui landslide, the release of a man convicted of snatching a toddler, local irritation over uncared-for roadside gardens and the worrying items confiscated at Rotorua and Tauranga courts.
Bérangère raconte la découverte de l'île du Nord en famille.De l'arrivée à Auckland aux plages de Coromandel, en passant par Hobbiton et la région de Rotorua, elle explique pourquoi cette partie du pays est idéale pour commencer un voyage en famille : distances raisonnables, paysages variés et sites géothermiques accessibles avec un enfant.Pour écouter l'épisode en entier :2 mois en campervan en Nouvelle-Zélande en famille-----------Si l'épisode vous a plu, laissez-moi une note 5 ⭐️ou un commentaire sur Apple Podcasts ou Spotify
An 18-year-old has been charged with dangerous driving after allegedly inhaling nitrous oxide - also known as nangs or NOS - while behind the wheel in Rotorua. Inspector Phil Gillbanks from Bay of Plenty spoke to Lauren Crimp.
Guest: Flight Lieutenant Wilfrid Leopold “Buck” Pound NZ427559 – 21 October 1922 to 27 January 2021 Hosts: Dave Homewood Recorded: 29th of June 2013 Released: 31st of December 2025 Duration: 53 minutes 23 seconds In this Wings Over New Zealand Show episode Dave Homewood interviews WWII RNZAF bomber pilot ‘Buck’ Pound. He spent a short time in the Army in Tauranga after WWII broke out, before getting into the RNZAF. His initial training was at Rotorua, and he began flying training at Ashburton on de Havilland Tiger Moths. Next he progressed onto flying Airspeed Oxfords at Wigram. Upon passing out with his flying badge, Buck was posted to England where he flew more Oxfords, and then onto Vickers Wellingtons at No. 11 Operational Training Unit at Westcott. He and his crew, and his best mate Robbie who was another pilot with his own crew, volunteered to got to Italy. They joined No. 104 Squadron at Foggia, flying Wellingtons in the night bombing role. He talks about some of the experiences he had including a terrifying night when the Wellington was struck by lightning and they lost all their instruments. Following the tour in Italy, Buck was sent to by converted onto Mosquitoes. And he ended up flying Mosquitoes from Malta in a specialist target marking role. After the war Buck got into banking and finance. Buck was a member of the New Zealand Bomber Command Association. He passed away on the 27th of January 2021. Quick Links: • The New Zealand Bomber Command Association • The New Zealand Bomber Command Association Facebook Page Photos from Wilfred ‘Buck’ Pound’s collection, via The New Zealand Bomber Command Association Archive. The music at the end of this episode is Wild Flower by Joachim Karud
Observers may have noticed parts of Rotorua looking a little sharper with berms trimmed, rubbish cleared, and lawns neatly edged. That tidy-up was driven by local rangatahi (youth) who have stepped forward to give their streets a festive spruce-up. A crew of about a dozen young people, led by Waiariki Whanau Mentoring youth mentor Thomas Peato, has gathered once a week through December for a full day of maintenance mahi (work). He joins Bryan for a chat.
A slow weave of some of the past year's Field Recordings, from a child playing in the snow to a brass band playing Christmas carols in the street. Father and daughter build a snowman in the backyard, Copenhagen, Denmark on 2nd January 2025 – by Joyce de Badts Cracking the ice underfoot over a frozen puddle, Low Bentham, North Yorkshire, UK in early January 2025 – by Charlotte Petts Ice on Queen's Park Pond, Glasgow, Scotland in January 2025 – by Katie Revell “Recorded using a contact microphone at Queen's Park pond on the Southside of Glasgow, during a cold snap in January. The pond had frozen over (which doesn't happen often), and people were walking and skating on it. One person asked if I was measuring the thickness of the ice. I handed my headphones round a group of kids, and it was fun to watch their reactions to the sci-fi noises…” Snow slowly melting from a bridge next to Ribblehead viaduct, North Yorkshire, UK in early January 2025 – by Charlotte Petts Listening to the river flow as the snow melts into the water from the fields nearby, River Wenning, Bentham, North Yorkshire, UK in early January 2025 – by Charlotte Petts Tawny Owls voicing the starry dark, the foot of Dartmoor, UK at 5am on 3rd January 2025 – by Kirsteen McNish “I stood on the doorstep to look at the stars because of the ice bright visibility and heard them calling to each other.” Primal scream atop Bernal Hill, San Francisco, USA on 20th January 2025 at 9am – by Kristina Loring “A group of organizers had distributed flyers in our neighborhood for a timely cathartic moment atop the large mountain park that overlooks the city of San Francisco and the bay. It was organized to coincide with the swearing-in of the newest conservative American regime on Inauguration day. But one's rage can't be limited to whoever is in the presidential office. We scream for a litany of injustices—an endless list that cannot be exhausted here. Many rages filled my lungs that day and escaped my mouth in an inarticulate howl. Beneath the rage was a yearning for: Justice for Palestinians everywhere. Justice for trans folks everywhere. Justice for refugees everywhere.” Dead leaves on a silver birch, Stanton Moor, Derbyshire, UK on 5th February 2025 – by Rose de Larrabeiti “I took myself to Derbyshire for a few days in early February. I walked up to Stanton Moor with my dog Rosie (not named by me!) looking for a Bronze Age stone circle called the Nine Ladies. Nearby were silver birches with their dead brown leaves rustling in the wind.” Babble of Ta Ta Creek spring, British Columbia, Canada in early February 2025 – by PJ Howe “Here is a little recording of our local spring. We hiked through 2ft of snow in the -10 temps to the head of our local creek. Due to the deep cold we are in, the ice formations around the spring are spectacular. The quiet babble of the creek makes this such a special place.” Geothermal mud pools in Rotorua, Aotearoa (New Zealand) on 8th February 2025 – by Will Coley Woodpecker in back garden, south-east London, UK on 14th February 2025 – by Cesar Gimeno Lavin “This morning I was delighted to find that, after quite a few months, this woodpecker has returned! Back to the very same tree. I love how the sound echoes around the garden.” ‘Silence' in Doubtful Sound, Aotearoa (New Zealand) on 15th February 2025 – by Will Coley Steam train arriving and then departing, Haworth, West Yorkshire, UK on 17th February 2025 – by Cesar Gimeno Lavin Walking in the dry, squeaky-crunchy snow on Elm Street in Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada on 22nd February 2025 – by Laura Nerenberg “The snow was delightfully squeaky and I took every chance I could to stomp around…” The last performance of the world's largest pipe organ, Philadelphia, USA on 22nd March 2025 – by Alex Lewis “Thousands of people gathered on Saturday, March 22nd at Macy's in Philadelphia, PA to hear the last performances of the Wanamaker Organ – possibly the world's largest pipe organ – as the department store marked its final weekend in business. This is an excerpt from the final recital by John Wanamaker Grand Court Organist Peter Richard Conte. My wife gave this piece the unofficial title: ‘an elegy for in-person shopping'.” Squeaky frogs, Watcarrick, near Eskdalemuir, Scotland on 25th March 2025 – by Geoff McQueen ‘Hands Off' March, New York, USA on Saturday 5th April 2025 – by Jon Moskowitz Nightingales at Knepp, Sussex, UK in April 2025 – by Charlotte Petts “…from my camp out at the Knepp estate last week – managed to creep up pretty close to a nightingale singing in the shrubby hedgerows. Absolutely gorgeous to fall asleep to them calling out to each other through the night.” Cows in Los Lagos de Covadonga, Asturias, Spain in May 2025 – by Sarah Kramer and Nina Porzucki Bells heard through a window, Vilnius, Lithuania in the morning on 26th May 2025 – by Eleanor McDowall Creek bed, Lerderderg State Park on Wurundjeri Country, Australia in May 2025 – by Camilla Hannan Bingo on a roasting Saturday evening in Derbyshire, June 2025 – by Andrew Conroy ‘Little Tibet', Parco nazionale d'Abruzzo, Lazio e Molise, Italy in June 2025 – by Cosmin Sandu River through wood, Boise River, USA on 22nd June 2025 – by Ariana Martinez “This tape was gathered in Boise, Idaho with a contact microphone affixed to a tree root partially submerged in the Boise River.” Dawn chorus, Lopez Island, USA in 2025 – by Joe Harvey-Whyte Primary night watch party after Zohran Mamdani's win, Brooklyn Masonic Temple, New York on Wednesday 26th June 2025 – by Rachel Humphreys Protest after the vote, Westminster, London, UK on 2nd July 2025 – by Eleanor McDowall Ringing the peace bell, Hiroshima, Japan on 14th July 2025 – by Lisa Hack Knossos Palace, Crete, Greece on 17th July 2025 at 11.30am – by Giles Stokoe Pans protest outside Downing Street, London, UK at 6pm on 25th July 2025 “Hundreds gather outside Downing Street banging pots and pans as Israel's blockade continues to cause the starvation of Palestinians in the Gaza strip. 120 people – 80 of them children – have been confirmed dead from famine as of 26th July. In the last 24 hours two babies have died from malnutrition. Nearly 1000 Palestinians have been shot to death by Israeli soldiers whilst queuing for food.” Goats going home, Sabugueiro, Serra da Estrela, Portugal, late evening on 13th August 2025 – by Katherina Lindekens Gongs, Glastonbury Tor, Somerset, UK on 21st August 2025 – by Barny Smith Waves on a shingle beach, St Leonards-on-Sea, UK, late September 2025 – by Eleanor McDowall New York Mayoral Election Results, Paul's, Brooklyn, NY, USA on 4th November 2025 – by Brian Pester Democratic Socialists of America election night party, Bushwick, NY as Hell Gate NYC livestream called the race at 9.44pm on 4th November 2025 – by Kalli Anderson Inside a rainwater collection tank, London, UK on 10th November 2025 – by Cesar Gimeno Lavin 2 minutes silence from the rooftop of St Paul's Cathedral, Rememberance Sunday at 11am, 2025 – by Joe Harvey-Whyte Unknown instrument in the subway at two minutes to midnight, Metropolitan / Lorimer St station, New York, USA on 12th November – by Jonah Buchanan “Descending the stairs, I was disappointed to see a two-digit number in the wait time for the train. the music started a couple minutes later. they had a pedal and an instrument i couldn't identify. i wouldn't say it was dreamy, and there's not really a synonym i can find that captures it. maybe bewitching…” UK farmers tractor protest on the day of the budget, Rupert Street, Soho, London, UK at 14.29 on 26th November 2025 – by Clare Lynch “16th century Soho fields being ploughed in protest by 21st century musical tractors.” Cows grazing in the fog, Cerro, on the Lessini Mountains, North of Verona, Italy in late November 2025 – by Davide Erbogasto “…some cows were grazing in the field, regardless of the rain, fog or snow. Their bell kept me company through the week.” Crystal Palace Band playing at the Crystal Palace Christmas Tree lights turn-on, London, UK on 29th November 2025 – by Alan Hall First big snow of the season, Pittsburgh, USA on 2nd December 2025 – by Dennis Funk “This first big snow was really dreamy. It started late in the night after I'd gone to bed, and had already stopped by morning. When I woke up there was the shock of a white, white world and a few inches on the ground. I got lost in the stillness of the day, and watched little heaps tumble from branches when a breeze rattled through.”
A Kiwi classic with added convenience. Rotorua has its first hot pie vending machine, stocked with the famous Maketū Pies. All ten varieties are on offer in the machine, which sits just outside the I-site and besides the Redwoods Treewalk. General Manager Craig Williams told Heather du Plessis-Allan the site was selected for visibility, with around 700,000 tourists passing through per day. He says a lot of international tourists are looking for a hot pie as part of their Kiwi experience, and the novelty of the machine will capture attention. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Te Pati Maori's leadership say its annual general meeting in Rotorua yesterday was a great day for the movement. Lillian Hanly reports.
Kiwi actor and musician Jordi Webber has just joined the cast of the New Zealand-filmed series Spartacus: House of Ashur.
Frustration is growing in Rotorua, with the government promising that a new courthouse is on its agenda, but there's still no action after years of delays. Libby Kirkby-McLeod reports.
The government has announced an end to emergency housing motels in Rotorua - fulfilling a campaign promise. The minister responsible, Tama Potaka, said it will restore the town's safety, dignity, and confidence. But Labour said all it's done is shift the problem to the streets. Political reporter Giles Dexter has more.
A Rotorua women's refuge says it has been shocked at the increase in the number of those needing to escape abusive homes over the past 18 months. But the rise in those affected by family violence isn't just a Rotorua problem, with one Auckland provider telling RNZ the economic situation has compounded the problem there, too. Libby Kirkby-McLeod reports.
The 52 year old Rotorua woman is a keen mountain biker - prior to her surgery she would spend hours in the Redwoods forests.
A person who witnessed a fatal bus crash in Rotorua last night says the car involved appeared to cross the centre line. A passenger in the car was killed and the driver and another passenger were critically injured after it collided with a bus full of school children.
Best number plates you've seen in the wild. What's the maximum amount you can want to kiss your friends? Boys Get Paid review Mumma Di's betting process. Clint wants to be the Mayor of Rotorua. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Kelly reports on the fire that destroyed an historic rugby club, a reward is offered for a missing local teacher, manslaughter charges four years after the disappearance of a local man and a local golfing legend.