Podcasts about Taranaki

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

Wild weather is lashing the tops of both the North and South Islands this afternoon. A heavy rain warning is in place for the water-logged top of the South Island where, the MetService says, there could be a threat to life. The Nelson-Tasman region is under a state of emergency, as residents there are warned of significant flooding and possible slips. The MetService has issued an orange rain warning for the top of the North Island, as well as Taranaki, Bay of Plenty and Tairawhiti. MetService meteorologist John Law spoke to Lisa Owen.

Torrential rain in Taranaki last week caused the upper reaches of the Waitotara River to breach its banks covering the Waitotara Valley Road in places with debris and silt. Taranaki Whanganui reporter Robin Martin went to take a visit.

The mayor of South Taranaki says the district dodged a bullet after 280 millimetres of rain fell over 24 hours. Phil Nixon spoke to Melissa Chan-Green.

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.

People in the flooded Tasman and Taranaki districts are starting a mammoth clean up, after heavy rain caused widespread flooding and slips to farms and properties.The recovery is expected to cost millions. Samantha Gee reports.

More than 1000 households have been left without internet or mobile coverage in Golden Bay during today's wild weather, with residents even unable to dial 111. So far, the weather doesn't appear to have been as bad as was feared for the already-sodden Nelson, Tasman and Marlborough regions still recovering from the weekend's floods. But wild weather has battered the rest of the country, thunderstorms ringing out in Taranaki, as the region experienced widespread surface flooding, with emergency operations centres being set up in New Plymouth and Hawera. Nelson Tasman Civil Defence and Emergency Management Group controller Alec Louverdis spoke to Lisa Owen.

States of emergency remain in place for Nelson, Tasman and Marlborough this afternoon, but the sodden regions appear to have received less rainfall than feared. Torrential rain in Taranaki has caused widespread surface flooding, leaving parked cars submerged in water. The region has been under a red severe thunderstorm warning for much of the afternoon. Emergency operations centres have been set up in New Plymouth and Hāwera. Taranaki Emergency Management group Manager, Todd Velvin spoke to Lisa Owen.   

Taranaki hit with flash floods, slips, popped manholes and sewage flows as the region was pummelled by thunderstorms. New Plymouth District Mayor Neil Holdom spoke to Corin Dann.

Metservice meteorologist Stephen Glassey joins Emile Donovan for an update on the severe thunderstorms in Taranaki and other wild weather around the country.

This week in the Niche Cache we start with some quick hitters about NZ Warriors wrestling, Club World Cup and Wrexham's tour, the future of Kane Williamson and Steven Adams vs Sean Marks. Then we take a musical interlude and a dose of mindfulness before breaking down the NZ U19 basketball team's first two wins of their World Cup campaign. We roll through the latest NBL action with a spotlight on Southland and Taranaki, then we discuss how NZ Warriors can freshen up their NRL footy now that they are battling injuries. Jordan Riki, Xavier Willison and Josiah Karapani led the Kiwi-NRL Broncos in their win vs Warriors, plus we have a few quick notes ahead of NRLW's team list Tuesday. We break down the Blackcaps T20 squad for a tri-series in Africa and round up some quick domestic cricket notes for each association, then we finish with Ben Waine and Michael Boxall in the Flying Kiwis football department.Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/elnichecacheNewsletter: https://thenichecache.substack.comHook us up with a brew: https://buymeacoffee.com/thenichecachethenichecache@gmail.com(00:00) Intro(21:53) Mindfulness(34:34) NZ U19 Basketball(45:40) NBL(52:22) NZ Warriors/Kiwi-NRL(01:36:06) NRLW(01:46:12) Blackcaps/Domestic Cricket(02:17:19) Flying Kiwis football

Natalia is a physiotherapist at Physio Pilates New Plymouth, originally from Russia and raised near Washington, D.C. Her journey has taken her through the U.S., Australia, and now New Zealand, where she lives in Taranaki with her Kiwi husband and their two children. After several international moves, she's embraced life in New Plymouth—supporting her family, engaging in new hobbies, volunteering, and building a meaningful career.

This week Country Life dives underground to take a closer look at soils, from Canterbury farmers using the Japanese Bokashi system to a market gardener making garden beds as rich as chocolate cake in Taranaki. We also unpack the recently announced biodiversity credits. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here.In this episode:0:48 - Rural News Wrap 5:52 - Dollars for nature - a look at biodiversity credits17:51 - Bokashi by the Tonne - Farmers turns waste into natural fertiliser31:30 - Roebuck Farm: Where the garden beds are rich 'like chocolate cake'With thanks to guests:Sean Weaver, EkosHayden JohnstonTim Hawke and Murray WeaverJodi Roebuck, Roebuck FarmMake sure you're following us on your favourite podcast app, so you don't miss new episodes every Friday evening.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

A group of students is leading the charge to change the name of Christchurch's Rolleston Avenue, because of the dark history associated with its name sake. The Hagley College students have appealed to the city council to ditch the street name and get rid of a statue of William Rolleston. In 1881, Rolleston, the Native Affairs Minister, ordered hundreds of British troops to invade the Māori settlement of Parihaka in Taranaki. During the invasion village women were raped, men were attacked and occupants kicked off their land. In 2017 the government officially apologised for atrocities committed during the ransacking of Parihaka. Christchurch City Councillor Tyla Harrison-Hunt, who whakapapas to Te Atiawa, a group among the Māori living at Parihaka, spoke to Lisa Owen.

Tonight on The Huddle, Ali Jones from Red PR and Jordan Williams from the Taxpayers' Union joined in on a discussion about the discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! Christchurch school kids are advocating to change the name of Rolleston Ave because of William Rolleston's involvement in leading the deadly invasion of Parihaka in Taranaki. Is there a case for a name change or should we refrain from erasing history? GPs will soon be able to diagnose ADHD - do we approve of this change or are we worried about people abusing this? Should the Government bring in rate caps for councils? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

So having looked at every council in the country and the pending rate rises we are all going to have to pay, a couple of inescapable conclusions are to be drawn. 1) We need central Government to cap rates. 2) We need fewer councils. If you were to roughly use inflation as a guide, Waitomo and Whanganui are your only councils to get under the wire at 2.93 % and 2.2% – so congratulations to them. I'm sure every council could, and would, mount an argument as to why whatever it is they have come up with, whether it be the 12.9% in Taranaki or the 15.5% in Hamilton, is in some way, shape, or form, justifiable. A lot of it will be historic. In other words, if previous councils had done their job and been fiscally prudent the work being undertaken today would not be the current burden it is. But a lot of it if you were DOGE-like, or brutal, would not in fact be needed at all. Councils have become fiefdoms. They have entered areas they have no business in, but like so much in life, once you have ventured there is no turning back. Apart from the specific, like the 9.76% for Otorohanga or the 12.4% for Central Otago, you also have the more general impact. In other words, you are adding cost to the economy, and you are charging fixed-income folk who don't have the money. What you are doing is inflationary. None of us have the ability to simply add more charges. We don't simply get the pay rise we want, or up our hourly rate to the poor sap we are servicing. Life isn't like that. We cut our cloth. Could we buy more? Could we do more? Could we spend more? Of course we could, but we can't. Unless you're a council. Even if a council could say "look at what all that money got you, look at the gold plating and the shiny baubles and the tens of thousands who have flocked to our region because of our expenditure", but they can't say that because none of that has happened. 15% doesn't buy you utopia. It merely sets you up for another 15% next year because councils know a sucker when they see one. So, cap those rates and can those councils. It might well be the most popular thing this central Government does in three years. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Several players will be hoping to score a spot on the 35-man All Blacks squad, set to be named on Monday at the Coastal Rugby Club in Taranaki. There's speculation brewing, with plenty of experts outlining their predictions for who will make Scott Robertson's cut. NZ Herald sports writer Liam Napier joined Piney to discuss. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For schools delivering the lunches themselves, there have been serious cost pressures. But one Taranaki high school says they've managed to have small surplus operating under the $4 per lunch budget.

In case you missed it, one of Dom's picks of the week is this chat with Brendan Attrill of Caiseal Trust in Taranaki about being announced as the 2025 National Ambassador for Sustainable Farming and Growing and recipient of the Gordon Stephenson Trophy at the National Sustainability Showcase in Wellington, continuing the work of previous generations at the family's Huinga dairy farm and his investigation and trials into liquorice as a new crop. Tune in daily for the latest and greatest REX rural content on your favourite streaming platform, visit rexonline.co.nz and follow us on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn for more.

Brendan Attrill, of Caiseal Trust in Taranaki, has been announced as the 2025 National Ambassador for Sustainable Farming and Growing. Attrill received the Gordon Stephenson Trophy at the National Sustainability Showcase at Tākina in Wellington. The Country's Jamie Mackay explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The determination of aspiring female rugby players in Taranaki is at the heart of a new documentary by Lisa Burd for this year's Doc Edge festival.

A witness to Sunday's tragic capsizing in Taranaki, which claimed two lives, has said the small pleasure boat was side-on to breakers at the Patea bar before being swamped. Paul Mandela said the boat's skipper was thrown into the water while his passengers were trapped in the vessel. A six-year-old child is believed to be among those who lost their lives. Taranaki Whanganui reporter Robin Martin has more.

A six-year-old child is believed to be one of two people who died when a boat capsized off the South Taranaki coast. Coastguard South Taranaki president Gary Darnell spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

The mayor of South Taranaki said a boat accident which killed two and left one in hospital is an absolute tragedy. Phil Nixon spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

The Supreme Court will hear an appeal from a Taranaki farming couple who are fighting the compulsory acquisition of 11 hectares of their land for the Mt Messenger Bypass. But in its decision granting Tony and Debbie Pascoe leave to appeal, the country's highest court said the hearing will have a narrow focus. New Plymouth's mayor has denounced the move, which he says will add extra time and money to the already overblown project. Taranaki Whanganui reporter Robin Martin reports.

Up to three hundred people braved icy waters off the New Plymouth coast on Sunday to protest against the Pātea seabed mining project in South Taranaki. Māori News Journalist Emma Andrews reports.

Contractors have offered a sneak-peak at two of the main features of Te Ara o Te Ata - the Mt Messenger Bypass on State Highway 3 in Taranaki. Taranaki Whanganui reporter Robin Martin went to take a look.

This year's Te Matatini Festival boosted host region Taranaki to the tune of just under $24 million - $3 million less than forecast but still the highest contribution from a festival. Maori News Journalist Pokere Paewai reports.

Taranaki Mounga is one of New Zealand's about a dozen active volcanos - but what does that actually mean for locals? 

Michelle Bauer from Venture Taranaki's Branching Out programme shares exciting new opportunities for Taranaki landowners to diversify their farming and growing operations.You can learn more about Venture Taranaki's Branching Out, here.You can also find our previous interview with organic dairy farmer Janet Fleming who's taking part in the trial, here.With thanks to:Michelle BauerGo to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

This week Country Life moves with the cows on that traditional day of the farming calendar - Mooving Day. The team's also in northern Coromandel where locals have fought back to retain their local post office and finds out about diversification in Taranaki.You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here.In this episode:0:53- On the farm8:34- Venture Taranaki 'Branching Out' across the region15:46- Colville people ensure the mail gets through26:26- From the Archives: My old man said follow the cowsWith thanks to guests:Michelle Bauer, Venture TaranakiPeter SanderMike and Raewyn Sweeney, and Gary CoombeMake sure you're following us on your favourite podcast app, so you don't miss new episodes every Friday evening.Like what you hear? Tell us! Leave us a review on your favourite podcast app or join the RNZ Podcasts Facebook group and join the convo.Send us your feedback or get in touch at country@rnz.co.nzGo to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Robin discusses the latest events in Taranaki including a new high-spec Pouakai Hut replacement built to withstand extreme winds.

The unique challenges of building high on a mountain has meant everything including the kitchen sink has to be helicoptered onto the site of a new trampers' hut in Taranaki's national park. Taranaki Whanganui reporter Robin Martin has more.

Marty Banks was a cult hero, fans loved him. He looked like your average kiwi bloke, tall, low muscle mass and ran a distinctive curly mop. On the field he was a point scoring machine, he kicked goals from everywhere and made a habit of scoring long range tries which his deceptive pace. That's the Marty we all knew from the screen. The Marty you'll hear from in this episode is the one who struggled with self confidence, the one who battled through serious injury pain and the one who has had his challenges transitioning into post footy. Marty played all around the world and experienced so much from the game, having played in Russia, Italy, Japan, Refton, Nelson, Wellington and Dunedin. He's someone who always enjoyed a good time and never took himself to seriously, he even famously chopped a beer a fan threw at him before kicking a conversion to beat Taranaki!He's definitely a massive lad so it was awesome to get him on What a Lad again.* EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ https://nordvpn.com/whatalad Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last week, a collaborative group of Enthusiastic Restoration Organisations got together on Waiheke Island in the Hauraki Gulf. They were there to celebrate an inspirational project that commenced almost two decades ago: getting kiwi on the island. I remember having many chats with the Late Sir Rob Fenwick and his wife Lady Jennie about making the island predator-free so that these birds (and other species) could be introduced. And last week, it happened… Ten birds (some the size of a moa!) were carefully taken from a nearby island (Pōnui) and shipped by barge to Waiheke. Pōnui got its kiwi (14 of them) in 1964 and these birds thrived there on the farm and in some forested areas, resulting in a current estimate of 1500 birds. (a huge density!) The Chamberlin family looked after them well and allowed Save the Kiwi to muster the first lot of birds and take these to Waiheke. It was a huge event with all the important organisations present: Save the Kiwi, Ngāti Pāoa, Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki, Te Korowai o Waiheke, DOC, the Pōnui Island Landowners and, of course, the volunteers as well as a heap of primary school kids. The community made this translocation possible, Mana Whenua celebrated the momentous occasion and hundreds of people arrived to be part of this event. Over the past few years I have been visiting the Waiheke schools and suggested that the main job for the kids is to keep an eye on people walking around with their dogs. These dogs should be on a lead, no matter their size or cuteness. In an urban area, dogs are the most dangerous animals for kiwi - just one paw on the back of a kiwi is enough to cause internal damage to the bird. Even a gentle, friendly dog's playful nudge is all it takes to break a kiwi's rib bones and puncture their lungs. (A kiwi doesn't fly, therefore they have no keel that holds the rib bones together!) The Waiheke Kids are simply the advocates for responsible dog ownership: “keep them on a lead!!” The kids were also quite innovative in designing the birds' new “release burrows” This shows that Environmental Education has become “cross curricular”, with not just biology and science, but also covering creative writing, story-telling and art David Chamberlin (Pōnui Island landowner) revealed the most wonderful experiences of kiwi on their island: “They sometimes wandered into the houses, and made their presence known by putting their beaks through the courgettes”… “They walked over us as we have been sleeping outside and they were our alarm clocks at the wrong time of the day”… These translocations are really inspirational and wonderful - and I don't know if you have followed this trend, but it's happening more and more: Wellington, Taranaki, Nelson…. Imagine a return of kiwi everywhere! (Save the Kiwi have this motto: We're on a mission to take kiwi from endangered to everywhere) Then driven to Te Matuku peninsula, a quiet forest with perfect conditions to recover from the journey and find food. In the end, the birds were carefully released in the beautiful burrows. They were heard calling the next day at 6pm, indicating they were happy and went about their business in normal fashion. I reckon they'll be just fine there, for the next 30 or 40 years of their life. LISTEN ABOVEPōnui kiwi destined for WaihekeWalking the kiwi to the marae JTBirds were briefly shown to the Waiheke audience by Save the Kiwi Trainers Emma and WillThen driven to Te Matuku peninsula, a quiet forest with perfect conditions to recover from the journey and find food.Kiwi released in forest eveningSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week Country Life visits a Taranaki conservationist on the family farm, learns more about a Canterbury family making cosy coffins from their farms wool to provide a comfortable send off, and we take a dive into the archives to learn about the importance of rural broadcasting as RNZ celebrates 100 years. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here.In this episode:0:48 - Preserving native bush and local history on the 'perfect farm'8:41 - Rural News Wrap16:00 - Farming 101: The difference between a heading dog and a Huntaway17:26 - 100 years of rural broadcasting41:04 - Demand for caskets made from sheeps wool on the riseWith thanks to guests:Ross DunlopChris Shaw, Rural Edge Contracting and Dog TrainingNgā Taonga Sound and VisionPolly and Ross McGuckin, Exquisite WoolsMake sure you're following us on your favourite podcast app, so you don't miss new episodes every Friday evening.Like what you hear? Tell us! Leave us a review on your favourite podcast app or join the RNZ Podcasts Facebook group and join the convo.Send us your feedback or get in touch at country@rnz.co.nzGo to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

This month’s Farmstrong farmer and champion is a well-known Taranaki cow cocky and author of the best selling book Tools for the Top Paddock.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A man from Taranaki has been making a side hustle out of delivering cut price groceries from the giant wholesaler to New Plymouth hundreds of kilometres away. Kaleb Halverson spoke to Lisa Owen.

Tonight on The Panel, Wallace Chapman is joined by panellists David Downs and Sue Kedgley. They discuss heritage properties and the renovations one can and can't make, and a Taranaki man driving 750 kilometres to deliver cheap butter to his community.

Taranaki weaver Alison Ross is trying to bring back woollen-blankets made from locally-grown wool to highlight the fibre's benefits. You can find photos and read more about this episode on our webpage, here.You can learn more about The Taranaki Blanket here.With thanks to:Alison RossGo to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

This week Country Life heads to the saleyards in Canterbury, meets a Taranaki woman weaving locally-grown wool into blankets and finds out what it's like to be a rural midwife working in a very remote part of the Coromandel Peninsula. You can find photos and read more about the stories in this episode on our webpage, here.In this episode:0:40 - Rural News Wrap6:02 - Lambs are flying out of the pens at the Canterbury Saleyards14:18 - Where there's wool there's a way27:01 - A day in the life of a rural midwifeWith thanks to guests:Tim Kyle, Grant Nordstrom, and Brent McCauleyAlison Ross, The Taranaki BlanketSheryl WrightMake sure you're following us on your favourite podcast app, so you don't miss new episodes every Friday evening.Like what you hear? Tell us! Leave us a review on your favourite podcast app or join the RNZ Podcasts Facebook group and join the convo.Send us your feedback or get in touch at country@rnz.co.nzGo to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Community-based trapping efforts are being credited with two vulnerable coastal birds returning in increasing numbers to Taranaki. Taranaki Whanganui reporter Robin Martin went birdwatching.

A next-generation living soil developed by a husband and wife in their Taranaki backyard has been named Germany's Garden Product of the Year. 

A group of rough sleepers in New Plymouth are backing a propsoal to allow them to use a council car park as a place to hang out. But they warn a police crackdown on their antics in the CBD will only push them out into residential neighbourhoods. Taranaki Whanganui reporter Robin Martin spoke to the rough sleepers.

The unemployment rate is sitting unchanged at 5.1 percent - despite warnings it might hit a near decade long high of 5.3 percent. The numbers also show some regions have seen an uptick in the number of people out of work - with Bay of Plenty, Taranaki, and Nelson, Marlborough and West Coast all seeing a rise in unemployment rates. But it's Gisborne and Hawkes Bay that's seen the highest increase - up to 5.6 percent from 3.4 percent for the December quarter. Lucy Laitinen, the Chief Executive of the Hawke's Bay Regional Economic Development Agency spoke to Lisa Owen.

Businesses in Stratford say stickers slapped on dozens of buildings warning they are quake-prone, risk turning the Taranaki provincial hub into a ghost town. Our Taranaki Whanganui reporter Robin Martin has been talking to Stratford locals.