Podcasts about south island's west coast

MetService has issued a heat alert for Auckland, triggered by sweltering overnight temperatures. Further south, heavy rain is expected on the South Island's West Coast, with severe gales forecast for Fiordland. MetService is also keeping a close eye on a tropical low developing in the Coral Sea near Queensland, with conditions predicted to reach cyclone strength by next week. MetService meteorologist John Law spoke to Ben Strang.

Expect high 20's in many parts of the country today as the summer sun continues to shine.  Warm temperatures are forecast for many areas including Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch.  MetService Meteorologist Montenero Spears told Tim Dower that the only place spoiling the party is the South Island's West Coast.   He says they've had a ridge of high pressure giving us very settled and hot weather in many places.   Spears says there's a front moving in from the west, and there's a heavy rain warning out for Fiordland and Westland.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of four new Māori-lead West Coast museums will be opened in a preview launch Thursday evening. The Pounamu Pathway includes four centres telling the stories of Poutini Ngāi Tahu, the South Island's West Coast. The Greymouth centre will be launched Thursday and will be open to the public. The other three centres in Haast, Westport and Hokitika will open in February. Pounamu Pathway Director and Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Waewae Chair Francois Tumahai spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

The Conservation Department is concerned about two reported wallaby sightings on the West Coast of the South Island in recent months. The pests threaten the environment and biodiversity, and can have a major economic impact. The department's South Westland operations manager, Wayne Costello, says the only way a wallaby could have reached the West Coast was with human help. Costello spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Fifty-six nesting pairs of the critically endangered kōtuku have landed this year at Aotearoa's only breeding spot at Whataroa on the South Island's West Coast, and chicks are now hatching every day. Each year the birds disperse widely across the country before returning in mid-September to nest. White Heron Sanctuary Tours Dion Arnold spoke to Susie Ferguson.

It's a weather mash up, with a mix of a rain, snow, strong winds, cold and warm temperatures, thanks to a strong northwesterly followed by a southerly. There are heavy rain warnings Tuesday night for the South Island's West Coast, Tasman and Nelson Lakes, and headwaters of the Canterbury lakes and rivers. There are also road snow warnings for the alpine passes as well as the Crown Range. MetService meteorologist John Law spoke to Corin Dann

Business owners around Greymouth on the South Island's West Coast know about tough times, trading through coal mine closures, the Christchurch quakes and recessions. And then there's Covid and a cost of living crunch. Our reporter Jimmy Ellingham and cameraman Nick Monro visited the region to gauge pre-election business confidence in the area.

The South Island's West Coast and Bay of Plenty are facing the worst medical specialist shortages.  The problem is so severe people in some regions have to travel a hundred kilometres to see a paediatrician.  The shortfalls —including oncologists and dermatologists— are contributing to lengthening waitlists.  Te Whatu Ora data shows the number of patients waiting more than a year for treatment is growing in 14 out of 20 districts.  General and Development Paediatrician Dr David Newman told Mike Hosking that they're trying their best to stop the problem from sinking further.  He says their waiting lists are horrendous and they don't know how to fix them without more staff.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tourism is riding high on the West Coast, with visitors and workers returning in droves. The region was hit hard during the pandemic, and it struggled to attract staff once the tourists did return. As the recovery kicks in, operators will meet on Thursday at a sold-out hui in Greymouth to share ideas, collaborate and prepare for the summer ahead. Tourism reporter Tess Brunton has more.

Another unwelcome bout of bad weather is set to hit the upper North Island - arriving in the far north this afternoon. A heavy rain watch is in place for Northland, while Auckland, Coromandel and the Bay of Plenty can expect to be in the firing line later tonight and into tomorrow - with severe gale force winds forecast for some places. The South Island's West Coast experienced its own bout of heavy rain overnight - and it's still falling now - while there was some snow in Central Otago. Metservice meteorologist Mmathapelo Makgabutlane spoke with Corin Dann.

From her base in the town of Ross on the South Island's West Coast, science writer Lynley Hargreaves is in prime position to observe and contemplate changes to the country's glaciers.

It's Rapare, Thursday November the 3rd Anei nga kaupapa mo tenei haora.. Top stories this morning... A wildfire burning north of Christchurch has forced the evacuation 130 people from a Woodend campground PRESENTER ONE: * 50 firefighters are at the scene of the blaze which is moving south from Pegasus Beach, burning through tussock grasses and wilding pines In other news, we'll speak to the Reserve Bank Governor who's urging banks to support those facing financial strain as interest rates rise We'll have the latest on the heavy rain on the South Island's West Coast. And we speak to a Dunedin man who's turning his 1983 Toyota Hilux into an EV.

A court has heard a Gloriavale woman sometimes didn't eat or drink while working extremely long hours, and would get in trouble if she stopped. She's one of six former members seeking a ruling from the Employment Court that they were employees, not volunteers, at the Christian community on the South Island's West Coast. Jean Edwards reports from Christchurch.

A court has heard a Gloriavale woman sometimes didn't eat or drink while working extremely long hours, and would get in trouble if she stopped. She's one of six former members seeking a ruling from the Employment Court that they were employees, not volunteers, at the Christian community on the South Island's West Coast. Jean Edwards reports from Christchurch.

Six former Gloriavale women who allege they lived in slave-like conditions and worked under a regime of total control will have their case heard by the Employment Court today. The women say they were employees not volunteers at the reclusive Christian community on the South Island's West Coast - a claim Gloriavale's leaders strongly deny. Reporter Jean Edwards is covering the hearing in Christchurch.

A State of Emergency has been declared on the South Island's West Coast as heavy rain and possible flooding threatens the region. It could be the regions third major flood in 18 months. 

The Employment Court has ruled that three members of the reclusive Gloriavale Christian community were employees working long hours from the age of just six. The landmark decision about the strenuous, difficult and sometimes dangerous work done by children is likely to have significant legal ramifications for the community on the South Island's West Coast. Jean Edwards and cameraman Nate McKinnon spoke to two of the young men who brought the case. Their lawyer Brian Henry talks to Lisa Owen.

Claire joins a meteorite hunt on the South Island's West Coast and learns what these rocks from space can tell us about the early formation of our solar system.

Claire joins a team of geologists from the University of Otago on a meteorite hunt in the old gold mining district of Dunganville on the South Island's West Coast.

Katy Gosset speaks to a PhD student designing new tech to catch predators and Claire Concannon meets the team who are working to restore a unique landscape on the South Island's West Coast.

Katy Gosset speaks to a PhD student designing new tech to catch predators and Claire Concannon meets the team who are working to restore a unique landscape on the South Island's West Coast.

Around 3500 customers throughout the South Island's West Coast are still without cellphone reception, more than 24 hours after the network went down in wild weather yesterday. The outage started just before 4am yesterday, and is affecting mobile and broadband services in the Westland District, from Greymouth to the Fox Glacier. Communications with Westland District Council are also down. Chorus head of external communications Steve Pettigrew spoke to Susie Ferguson.

While the South Island's West Coast and Marlborough copped the worse of torrential rain and floods over the weekend, there was hint of deja vu in the Ashburton district. The Ashburton River surged in places, resulting in some road closures and boil water notices. It was only seven weeks ago that Ashburton and surrounds suffered from heavy flooding, which forced evacuations and caused widespread damage to land and infrastructure. The district's Mayor Neil Brown spoke to Corin Dann.

While the South Island's West Coast and Marlborough copped the worse of torrential rain and floods over the weekend, there was hint of deja vu in the Ashburton district. The Ashburton River surged in places, resulting in some road closures and boil water notices. It was only seven weeks ago that Ashburton and surrounds suffered from heavy flooding, which forced evacuations and caused widespread damage to land and infrastructure. The district's Mayor Neil Brown spoke to Corin Dann.

About 180 people over 16 are in line to be vaccinated against Covid-19 at Reefton on the South Island's West Coast today. The jabs will be delivered via the first mobile vaccination clinic on the coast, with others to follow. West Coast District Health Board general manager Philip Weble spoke to Corin Dann.

About 180 people over 16 are in line to be vaccinated against Covid-19 at Reefton on the South Island's West Coast today. The jabs will be delivered via the first mobile vaccination clinic on the coast, with others to follow. West Coast District Health Board general manager Philip Weble spoke to Corin Dann.

Weather forecasters are warning the public to take special care on or near beaches in western parts of the country over the long weekend. A deep low in the Southern Ocean near Antarctica is expected to generate sea swells that could reach nine metres between the Far South and the West Coast on Saturday. They say it could pose a threat to fishers, surfers and others, particularly on the South Island's West Coast, where it is also likely to exacerbate coastal erosion. Meterologist Rob Kerr spoke to Corin Dann.