Podcasts about Taranaki

Questions are being raised about what more the Transport Agency can do to improve the resilience of State Highway 3 between Waikato and Taranaki. Taranaki Whanganui reporter Robin Martin reports.

There have been calls for a review of the warnings issued ahead of last week's weather event which brought down hundreds of slips, closed dozens of central North Island roads, inundated farms and flooded homes. An orange warning was issued, but the Mayor of the Waitomo District and the Minister for Rural Communities are questioning whether that should have been uprgaded. Taranaki Whanganui reporter Robin Martin was in Waitomo.

In this episode of Talking Dairy in 10, get the inside scoop from Pasture Summit directors Robbie Ferris and Al Rayne. They reveal what's happening at the upcoming Pasture Summit events, and why they're a “must have” event on your calendar this spring. Spring 2025 events are being held in Canterbury on Thursday 27 November, and Taranaki on Friday 12 December. Find out more and register at: Pasture Summit Pasture Summit is a farmer-led initiative focused on securing the future of pastoral dairy food production. Its events and activities bring together practical insights, shared experiences, and a strong sense of purpose. As a key partner, DairyNZ contributes funding, research-backed content, and experts to help farmers build resilient, profitable businesses and sustainable communities. Have feedback or ideas for future episodes? Email us at talkingdairy@dairynz.co.nz Connect with DairyNZ Stay up to date with advice, latest research, tools and resources. Read, browse, scroll, listen, or be there in person. Visit dairynz.co.nz/get-connected

Two young Taranaki job hunters have been out of work for months and relying on the benefit despite both having completed the Stratford Mayor's Taskforce for Jobs programme, as well as actively looking for jobs. Taranaki is top of the table when it comes to 15-24 year olds not in employment education or training. Ash Tolland and Isaac Murray spoke to Lisa Owen.

It's hard listening to all the tributes for Jim Bolger and not feeling like we're being short-changed by our current crop of leaders.A few short generations ago, this country was a different place.Before the internet. Before the phones. Before the anxiety.Before career politicians—those who go straight from school to university, into the student union, and then directly into politics.Jim Bolger was in Parliament a long time. But he had a productive life before that. He left school at 15 and went straight into work. Hard work. Manual work. On the farm in Taranaki, and later in Te Kuiti.Now it's straight from school, into a student union at university, and then into Parliament.Have you watched Parliament TV lately? There are MPs who literally don't know how to ask a question.It's like watching a video buffer.No idea about standing orders. No idea about the rules that govern the place. And no apparent desire to learn, either.Just walk in. Full of entitlement. Sit down. And start yelling.One of the most important tools in the modern MP's toolbox seems to be an unwavering ability to take offence.At anything and everything.Intolerance for another's point of view—the antithesis of Jim Bolger—is now commonplace.Where once there was decency, there's mistrust.Wisdom has been usurped by incompetence.And decorum has been thrown out the window and replaced with petulance.People aren't recognised for their standing in the community and voted into Parliament.They're there because politics is now an industry—and more importantly—because nobody else would hire them or pay the going rate we do.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A South Taranaki hotel dating back to the late 1800s is on the market. Taranaki Whanganui reporter Robin Martin reports.

The Prime Minister has doubled down on his claim there are jobs for young people across the country, and they should take any work. Despite youth unemployment sitting at nearly 13%. Taranaki is top of the table when it comes to 15-24 year olds not in employment education or training, or NEETs. In the second quarter of this year 18.5% of people in that age group in region were NEETs. Nelson Pulotu is the general manager of Tutaki, a NGO in Stratford which is running a pilot programme to help young people on benefits into work, he spoke to Lisa Owen.

Family members of a Taranaki man killed by a coward punch have expressed their horror that his killer filmed his victim and taunted him as he lay dying on the ground. Daytona Thompson appeared for sentencing for the manslaughter of Daniel Nganeko at the High Court in New Plymouth. Our Taranaki Whanganui reporter Robin Martin was in court

Brigitte is originally from Romania and arrived in NZ 26 years ago. Lived in Auckland and 8 years ago moved to Taranaki. She is a Clinical Hypnotherapist, published author of 4 books, an animal lover and a very spiritual being. In her spare time, she likes to make music and paint.

Agradece a este podcast tantas horas de entretenimiento y disfruta de episodios exclusivos como éste. ¡Apóyale en iVoox! Título de Super Rugby Australia 2025 para Waratahs. La última jornada liga regular, configuró los cuartos de final Bunnings NPC: Canterbury vs Counties Manukau. Otago vs Waikato. Bay of Plenty vs Tasman. Hawke's Bay vs Taranaki. Con Carles de Borja y Javier Señarís, by https://www.divertisenvivo.com/test-matches/Escucha este episodio completo y accede a todo el contenido exclusivo de Hablemos de Rugby. Descubre antes que nadie los nuevos episodios, y participa en la comunidad exclusiva de oyentes en https://go.ivoox.com/sq/644699

Kylem O'Donnell is a lad who has truly lived the highs and lows of chasing the rugby dream. From starring at Hamilton Boys' High to winning an NPC title with Taranaki and travelling the world with the All Blacks Sevens, he looked destined for it all. But behind the speed, fitness and flair, Kylem's story is one of setbacks, mental battles, and resilience.In this episode he opens up like never before from the challenge of dealing with injuries and non-selection, to a being on the receiving end of brutal bouncer assault. He even shares some incredibly hard moments in his life including a terrifying drug-induced psychosis that had him running to on the motorway naked! However the most powerful of all are the moments where Kylem shares his raw struggles with mental health, including times he nearly didn't make it through, and the support that helped him fight back.This episode is not just about the rugby it's about honesty, vulnerability, and rediscovering who you are. An incredible chat with a man who is now using his own journey to inspire and help others. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If you were looking forward to today to learn how the Government would rescue the country from the energy crisis we face, you are already disappointed by now because you've looked at it and you've seen there's nothing here. There is nothing here that is going to stop us going through what we are going through right now. For months and months every winter for the last two winters we've seen the closing down of mills, extremely high power bills, and a shortage of gas - and all of that's going to continue. The disappointing thing is that we have waited two whole winters for this package of ideas, and yet the best idea seems, to me, to be a kooky idea, which is that the Government may be backing the construction of an LNG import terminal. That was an idea that sounded great last winter, but in the months since, when we've actually had a look at the thing and had some reports done and it has been debunked for being quite expensive for not a lot of gain. To set up one of these terminals, most likely at the port of Taranaki, it would cost somewhere between $200 million and $1 billion dollars, which is not money that we have. The gas that we would then import from offshore to basically make up for the shortage of gas that we have in the country at the moment would be very expensive. Have a look at what you're paying for your gas right now - and add 25 percent to that. The second best idea in this seems to be the Government throwing taxpayer money at the partially owned gentailers in order that they can raise capital to build more generation. Which is not capital that they appear to be asking for. They do not seem to have a shortage of money, as evidenced by the fact that they keep paying out massive dividends. The upshot for all of this - as in how much we're going to save - Simon Watts reckons he might be able to drop power prices by two percent a year. Two percent. Now, I'll tell you the problem with this plan is that it appears - and from what I hear - they haven't spent much time understanding the problem and thus understanding what it would take to fix it properly. So what they've done is, in haste, cobbled together a series of what sounds like maybe decent announcements if you're half listening. But they're really things that will not do that much. Unfortunately for them, we have an energy crisis, and it is massive. It is probably the biggest thing that is facing business in this country right now. A crisis of this size demands a proper fix. This is becoming a theme for this Government - having lots of really big things to deal with, and they're not really dealing with them properly. This is not really a fix. So unfortunately, and I'm so sorry to say this, strap yourself in because it looks like for next winter and the winters to come, the deindustrialization of New Zealand will continue. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The government is expected to signal its support for a liquefied natural gas, or LNG, import terminal at Port Taranaki as part of its long-awaited plan to tackle the energy crisis. Independent energy analyst William Bisley spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Get used to seeing Airana Ngarewa's face, he's got a new novel out and over the next few weeks he'll be up and down the country appearing at book shops and writers' festivals. The book is 'The Last Living Cannibal', and it's Airana's third book about the Taranaki region. The others covered contemporary life, but this one looks back and reimagines life in Taranaki in the 1940s. Airana Ngarewa is with Jesse.

In part two, the road cone hotline has been cranking along, it's had its detractors, but the number of reports received suggests that it's a popular move for punters, with over a thousand tips in the first few months. Then, we're heading to little Taranaki town of Hawera now, where window painter Mel Graham has been painting temporary murals on shopfront windows for years, and demand for her work is booming.

In this 1 hour show you'll meet some of the beautiful people who make up Taranaki's vibrant international community.

When a loved one experiences dementia, grief does not wait for a tidy ending. Francesca and Louise sit down with resilience researcher and grief expert Dr Lucy Hone to talk about living loss and how to cope when someone you love is in ongoing cognitive decline. Later in the episode Helen Frank from Alzheimer’s Taranaki shares clear guidance on early signs, getting a diagnosis,and the support available for carers. 'How Will I Ever Get Through This?' - pre-sales for the new book from Dr Lucy Hone are available from 6th October 2025.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jennifer Julian is an outdoor education teacher from Canada now based in Taranaki, raising two daughters aged three and five. With her experiences in mountaineering and LandSAR volunteering, Jenn shares about the Taranaki Three Peaks Traverse, a demanding mission linking Taranaki, Pouakai and Patuha. She reflects on completing this route after have children and the appeal of tough challenges. Alongside personal trips, Jenn founded Trails & Tots, a community to get local families outdoors - through resources, hiking groups and a gear library. She shares about barriers and benefits to getting outdoors and practical tips for tramping with kids.Discover the best of New Zealand with my NZ Map & Guide, featuring 100+ incredible locations for your next adventure. ⁠Get my NZ Map & Guide⁠⁠Book your 1-on-1 consult and personalised itinerary⁠ Use PODCAST10 at checkout for 10% off and start planning your dream trip todayThank you so much for tuning in and coming along for the ride. If you love the show and enjoyed listening, please take the time to leave a review on Apple or Spotify. I would also love to connect with you, so send me a DM on Instagram, leave me a voice message and I can't wait to see you next time. Until then, keep adventuring :)Follow Jenn on Instagram: instagram.com/trailsandtots/ www.trailsandtots.co.nzRead the Blog: www.abigailhannah.nzFollow Abigail on Instagram: instagram.com/abigailhannnah/Follow Abigail on TikTok: tiktok.com/@abigailhannnah/Get my NZ Map & Guide

In this episode of Untidy, Matilda and Hannah come in hot with raging blemishes, burning thighs, and the eternal struggle between doing and not doing. Hannah kicks things off with a surprisingly accurate sojourn into Medical Corner, while Matty recounts her painful pursuit of running a 12K with the girls, raising money for Big Brothers Big Sisters, and winning the battle of her own internal dialogue in the process, if not the race itself. They talk about the joy of seeing your progress, the radical act of rest, and why sometimes balance is a myth. Plus, updates on their Untidy LIVE with Chelsea Winter, Pilates Partner cameos, and the kind of goodie bags that make grown women weak at the knees. ***TICKETS ARE SELLING NOW for the Untidy girls going LIVE with Chelsea Winter! Sunday, 19th October in Taranaki. Join them for big laughs, good yarns, a stacked goodie bag, and Chelsea signing her new cookbook, Nourish. Link for tickets is in the show notes and @untidypodcast bio — get in quick before they sell out.*** References mentioned in the show: Get your tickets – Untidy podcast LIVE with Chelsea Winter Preorder Nourish by Chelsea Winter If you’re enjoying Untidy, the best way to show your support is by tapping the ‘+ follow’ button in your podcast app and subscribing on YouTube! That way, fresh episodes will always be ready and waiting for you. Help us to keep building this supportive community — share an episode with a mate, and chuck us a 5-star review — it helps more people find our Untidy, unfiltered, and relatable chats. Thank you for listening, contributing and supporting this independent production! We’re grateful to have you here! — Hannah & Matty xx Don’t forget! Untidy is made for YOU — the people right at the heart of this steaming hot mess! Follow the show and DM us on Instagram @untidypodcast or email hello@untidypodcast.com. Your stories and ideas to help shape the show! Find us online at Untidy podcast. Find Matilda at @matootles and get your copy of The Feel Good Guide. Find Hannah at @hannahedavison and her My Big Moments children’s books at @mybigmoments. Enter code UNTIDY at checkout for 10% off your order.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oil and gas exploration applications have reopened for the first time since the 2018 ban. Companies can now apply for new prospecting and exploration permits anywhere in the country - not just onshore Taranaki. An open market application pathway's also being introduced to allocate new permits, in addition to the current competitive tender process. Energy Resources Aotearoa chief executive John Carnegie says there's concerns among investors about the ongoing certainty of this, given the backlash from the opposition. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you're a renter, it's jolly good news. At least a third of people taking out new tenancies this year are paying less rent than the tenants who lived there before them. According to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, for new tenancies since January 1, 30% were paying weekly rent lower than the initial weekly rent for the previous tenancy at that address. The data used a 500-day limit between the start of the last tenancy and the start of the newest tenancy, which gave a sample of around 33,000 homes, so, you know, a fairly sizable sample. Trade Me Property has also seen rents fall as supply outstrips demand. According to Trade Me Property, after a period of record highs in 2024, we're now seeing a market that offers more options and less competition, which is driving prices down in most regions. Nationally, rental listings on Trade Me Property were up 13% year on year in July, while demand fell 19%. Wellington recorded the largest drop. The median weekly rent there fell $50 or 7.7% to $600 compared with July of 2024. Wellington also saw a 27% rise in rental stock and a 6% fall in demand. Auckland's median weekly rent dropped $20 to $660 in July. And most other regions also saw rents go down, except for Southland, Nelson-Tasman and Taranaki. Southland hit a record high of $500 a week – what's happening in Southland? Taranaki climbed 3.3% to $620, so you'd be paying more for rent than you would be if you were renting in Wellington. So what does all that mean for landlords? Yesterday, I read an email from Bob, which in part said the tax cuts should never have happened except for the most needy. And I received a text in response saying, well, remind Bob, Kerre, that are rents not the lowest they've been for years? Is that not a direct result of the tax clawback for landlords? Well, I don't know, is it? Is it the fact that landlords can now get the rebate and claim for expenses? Does that mean that is being passed on to tenants, or is it simply that supply is outstripping demand, and when supply outstrips demand, prices fall, which is a fundamental principle of the law of supply and demand. Is that what it is? There are more places to rent available, new builds, perhaps people holding on to their homes but renting them out while they either go overseas or go into a retirement village or whatever it is they've decided to do, holding on to the homes and renting them out while they wait for the property market to recover. I don't know. The texter says it's because of the tax clawbacks for landlords and that's why we've seen the drop in rent. I'd love to know from landlords if that is in fact the case. And I'd love to hear from renters. Are you able now to do some horse trading over the rent? Instead of taking a number and going to the back of a very, very long line, waiting to get into see an overpriced piece of mouldy tat, are you now being able to be a bit more selective? And if you're in a place you like, are you able to negotiate for a better rent? Now, when your lease comes up, you say, yes, I'd like to stay here, but given the state of the property market, could I pay a bit a little bit less? I also wonder whether when times got tough, the part-time landlords, the ones that been felt the pressure to get onto the property ladder and save for your retirement, thanks to all the ads we played, buying up investment properties. It wasn't really your bag, it wasn't really your thing, you just thought you had to do it, otherwise you'd be missing out. Is that another reason that the part-time landlords got out of the business, leaving only the professional landlords there now? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oil and gas exploration applications have reopened for the first time since the 2018 ban. Companies can now apply for new prospecting and exploration permits anywhere in the country - not just onshore Taranaki. An open market application pathway's also being introduced to allocate new permits, in addition to the current competitive tender process. Energy Resources Aotearoa chief executive John Carnegie says there's concerns among investors about the ongoing certainty of this, given the backlash from the opposition. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

So fast track has a problem - it's not fast enough. Eight months in, only two projects have been approved. The mining in Taranaki is still undergoing consultation. AKA: delayed. The word is that every man and his dog is lining up to have their say, including Mount Taranaki - literally. How you ask a mountain its thoughts and feelings is beyond me, but are we even surprised anymore? Shane Jones is miffed because the EPA, which is looking into all this, has apparently hired a former Forest and Bird lawyer - and all this while we've got $850m in minerals just sitting there. Now, all of this could have been avoided if the Government didn't cave to the media and the legal scholars and the green mafia, and just give politicians all the power to override whatever they want. So the delays and the consultation are by design. And in Auckland, you've got Eden Park. Eden Park, they tell us, is choking under regulation. So why not use your new RMA superpowers to unshackle it? You can't. You have to consult first. Why? Because, again, the Government specifically designed the law changes this way. The windmills they want to put in Taranaki - one local hapū is taking their opposition to the UN. You can see the problem here, can't you? This country is its own worst enemy. We bitch and moan about the GDP number. We freak out about the manufacturing jobs disappearing. Rightly so - but as soon as it's time to do something about it, to create something new like an industry or a mine, we oppose it. We slow it down. We delay. Either we accept that you can't have everything for nothing, and that creating new jobs and growth will cost us something but it's worth it. Or we accept that, actually, we're to be poor and happy to stay that way. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Frustrations are growing around the fast-track process in Taranaki, which has grounded to a halt due to bureaucracy. 215 parties are now having their say in the ‘VTM' seabed mining project. Resource Minister Shane Jones told Mike Hosking that the discourse around the project is responsible for hindering its progress. ‘We're dealing with a substantial reduction in earnings, not only from manufacturing, but from oil and gas.' LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Farmers are beginning to spend and cash registers are ringing in rural Taranaki with the two-speed economy showing green shoots for some. Robin Martin reports.

Ruakura Turei (Nga Rauru Kitahi, Taranaki, Ngati Paoa, Ngai Tai ki Tamaki) is an artist, architect, actor, and a rising star in the world of Maori art. 

An extra half hour of The Panel with Wallace Chapman, where to begin, he's joined by Nights host Mark Leishman. Then: Matthew Manderson is a Neuro and clinical psychologist who heads up Taranaki's concussion clinic. From what he's seen, he believes that the proposed new offences and punishment for the "coward's punch" won't reduce the number of deaths and injuries.

Du'Plessis Kirifi has had one of the more inspiring journeys to the top and is one heck of lad to top it off. From growing up in Taranaki and spending part of his childhood in Samoa, to working three jobs while chasing his rugby dream, Dups has had anything but a straight road to the top.He opens up on the setbacks that shaped him — missing out on NZ U20s after being told he was “good enough but a bit of a dickhead”, the grind of trying to pack on size when everyone said he was too small, and the lessons he learned from competing hard in his early Hurricanes days.But through sheer hard work and resilience, he's gone from labouring on worksites and sleeping in mates' garages to captaining Wellington, becoming a leader at the Hurricanes, and finally achieving his All Black dream.In this episode we chat about…Growing up between Samoa and Taranaki, and the values his family instilled in himThe brutal honesty that sparked his turnaround after missing NZ U20sThe conscious effort he puts into his speaking The near move to Japan and the moment that kept him in New ZealandThe call from Razor How he got such big Quads!And heaps moreAn inspiring story of perseverance, self-awareness — this is such a good epiosde. Dups is not only a competitor on the field but also one of the most thoughtful and articulate players in the game. What a lad! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A New Plymouth business is stamping its mark on the crazy world of American sports trading cards and sporting memorabilia. Taranaki Whanganui reporter Robin Martin has more.

The chief executive of Ballance with the fertiliser co-ops’ annual results. Plus Ballance Agri-Nutrients has been forced to take an $88 million hit on the value of its Taranaki manufacturing facility, given the uncertainty surrounding its future gas supply.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Robin Martin is a RNZ reporter based in Taranaki.

A Taranaki father has shared his sense of loss and anger following the death of his son in a one-punch assault. About 200 people gathered at the Tukapa Rugby Club in New Plymouth today to remember Daniel Nganeko and join a march calling for tougher penalties for coward-punch-style offences. Robin Martin reports.

A Taranaki-based forestry consultant takes issue with some of the comments made earlier in the week by forestry oracle and carbon farmer, Dennis Neilson, as he goes in to bat for the production forestry industry.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Taranaki man given hours to live after being hit by a so-called a coward's punch is getting behind a march supporting the government's tougher penalties for one-punch offences in New Plymouth Friday morning. Taranaki Whanganui reporter Robin Martin has more.

Angus Ta'avao is one of the biggest characters in New Zealand rugby, someone who is always good value to be around and has a great ability to bring a side together with his personality.Angus has done it all: NPC champ with Taranaki, Super Rugby champ with the Blues, he's an All Black, TV star, saxophone shredder and he is still playing rugby as good as he ever has! Angus is the ultimate lad. In this episode we get into- Why he has decided to move down to the Highlanders for 2026!- He talks through the moment when he said he'd never play rugby again.- He reflects on "that tackle" where he was concussed, red carded and suspended.- The journey he has been on as a father- He goes through the potential options for life after footy- We chat why he's decided to move south- And of course plenty of random chatThis one's got everything – laughs, honesty and a heap of inspiration from one of the great characters of our game. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A cardio test that heart patients in some regions can wait up to six months for can be delivered in days, according to a private provider. Half of all heart attack patients are not being treated within accepted timeframes in New Zealand according to a new Otago University report. CardioScan Aotearoa is contracted by Tairawhiti and Taranaki hospitals to offer cardiac tests and it said more people are paying out of their own pockets rather than waiting. Jez Morris from CardioScan Aotearoa spoke to Lisa Owen.

From a PVC pipe in a Taranaki shed to international success, Huski Coolers has seen its overseas exports surge. The company's renowned wine cooler had its largest overseas order, shipping 76 thousand units to the UK as heatwaves rip through Europe. The NZ firm is on track to double its eight-figure annual revenue this year. Huski Co-Founder Simon Huesser told Mike Hosking they wanted to create a sleek, useful, and stylish item to help keep drinks cool over summer. He says you take a cold bottle out of the fridge, put it in a Huski and that's it. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A trip to Bunnings, a bit of 90 ml downpipe, and a Taranaki farm shed - these were some of the initial ingredients that recently culminated in a prestigious design award for New Zealand drink-cooler company Huski. Simon Huesser spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Belgian company Parkwind is exploring plans to build a large scale offshore wind farm in South Taranaki. Parkwind Country Manager Peter Spencer says that Europe and Australia have already put these systems into place. 'The Europeans are the masters of it. The Australians are doing very well.' He said these offshore wind farms could be up and running in the next decade. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Business leaders and the Associate Energy Minister have been in crisis talks after a Taranaki manufacturer revealed looking to shutdown production for up to four months because it can't get a guaranteed gas supply. Ballance Agri-Nutrients uses the gas to power its production but it lost its supply to Contact Energy, and said it cant find a relaible replacement supply. The Business NZ Energy Council has long been warning a gas shortage could lead to business closures. Executive director Tina Schirr spoke to Lisa Owen.

In part two, concrete cycle way barriers are tearing up cars in Taranaki. Then, a weekend of sports from archery to pickleball is coming up in Southland for people with physical and intellectual disabilities.

A gas shortage could force a Taranaki business to shut down its fertiliser production plant for up to four months. Ballance Agri-Nutrients is warning if things dont improve, businesses maybe forced onto an energy roster, with rotating times for production. The Kapuni Plant uses gas to power their production and as a raw ingredient for fertiliser that is used by New Zealand farmers and growers. But a shortage of gas means the co-operative can't get a guaranteed supply and the prices quoted are up to 100% more than what they are currently paying. Chief Executive of Ballance Agri-Nutrients, Kelvin Wickham spoke to Lisa Owen.

Acquiring land for the Mt Messenger bypass in Taranaki has not been plain sailing, but it's given one Taranaki iwi the chance to restore a rare tract of lowland coastal forest. Taranaki Whanganui reporter Robin Martin has more.

People working with the homeless in Taranaki say there are more and more people who need help and their needs are becoming more and more complex. Robin Martin reports.

A huge jump in the number of people sleeping rough and living without shelter has the Government conceding "it's clear we have a real problem". The report shows that in the eight months to May this year, Auckland has seen a 90% in people sleeping rough on the streets, in their cars or in parks. There have been significant inreases in other regions too, notably Christchurch, Wellington, Northland and Taranaki. Auckland City Missioner Helen Robinson spoke to Melissa Chan-Green.

Robin discusses weather impacts in his area, a potentially expensive mistake arorund GST and the fate of a giant pohutukawa.

Let's start by looking around the motu at the latest on the weather front. This week residents in Taranaki were hit with flash floods, slips, popped manholes and sewage flows after being pummelled by thunderstorms. That's your stomping ground Paddy how did the whanau fear? And further south the clean up is underway in the Nelson Tasman area after heavy rain, which has eased up now - although the area is still under a state of emergency. Tasman mayor Tim King joins us now live from his home in Eves Valley.