Podcasts about Taranaki

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. 

Bronwyn is a fourth-generation New Zealander of European descent, Tangata Tiriti, born and raised in Whanganui. She trained as a nurse at Taranaki Polytech in the 1980s, with her first role at Arkansas Children's Hospital in the USA. Later, she worked as a Health and Disability Advocate and explored her passions in visual arts, costuming, singing, and dance. Now living on a lifestyle property in Taranaki under the gaze of the maunga, Bronwyn grows flowers and herbs and is part of the Performing Arts Collective. Taranaki, Ngāmotu/New Plymouth is her home, and she doesn't plan on ever leaving.

On today's REX Daily Podcast, Dom talks with Taranaki dairy farmer Sam Ebbett about his role as Federated Farmers ShareFarmer Chair, winter in Taranaki and his involvement in the local speedway scene... He talks with Malcolm Rough from the Mahia Peninsula about his property featuring in a new book called 'New Zealand Rustic', the history of the Te Au homestead and learning farming from scratch... And he talks with Deer Industry News Editor Lynda Gray about some of the feature stories in the upcoming edition and the divided views on the proposed Maniototo Solar Farm. 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.

Dom talks with Taranaki dairy farmer Sam Ebbett about his role as Federated Farmers ShareFarmer Chair, winter in Taranaki and his involvement in the local speedway scene. 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.

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.

I don't know about you, but I was truly surprised to hear Judge Russell Collins send a young drug driver to jail on Friday. In the Napier District Court, Judge Collins heard Alexander Kerr had dope in his system when he crashed his car - killing his mate and leaving another in a wheelchair for life. Kerr had no previous convictions. His mate, the one in the wheelchair, the one he didn't kill, had forgiven him, but Judge Collins sent Kerr to jail for two years and three months. In sentencing, Judge Collins said if people asked the question, “What would happen if I killed someone through driving while impaired by drugs or alcohol?” The answer should be “expect to go to jail.” Criminal lawyer Steve Cullen on Early Edition this morning said a sentence of imprisonment is not unusual. If people are being killed due to drug drivers or drink drivers being on the road, then a harsh penalty has to be imposed to send the message to everybody. Really?! Steve Cullen, I can give you many, many, many, many instances of people who have killed innocents on the road and have not been sent to jail. A repeat drunk driver who killed another motorist has successfully appealed her prison sentence and got home detention. Samantha Allen was described as weaving on the road, SH3 in the King Country, crossing the centre line multiple times before the head on collision in March 2022. The crash killed Abigail Johns. It was Allen's fourth drink driving conviction. She successfully appealed her sentence of two years and seven months imprisonment, and it was replaced with a sentence of 9 1/2 months home detention. Ten weeks after he hit and killed an Irish national, Declan Curley, while drunk driving, Callum Wither was again on the road and drunk. He's now been sentenced to home detention to the disappointed murmurs of Curley's friends and family. Wither, 23, who had hit Declan at the intersection of Taranaki and Dixon streets in central Wellington in 2022, was drunk enough to have a friend tell him he should not be driving. But after killing Declan on April 21, Wither was again in Wellington CBD drink driving and he got home detention. Samuel Paterson killed surfer, builder and cyclist Andrew Milne. It was an avoidable killing, and Paterson simply had no business getting behind the wheel when he was fatigued, drunk and with cannabis in his system. Paterson's car was unwarranted and unregistered at the time of the fatal collision. The judge gave Paterson credit for his early guilty pleas, his engagement with the restorative justice, his remorse, his efforts at rehabilitation and his offer of significant reparation that reduced his sentence from a starting point of three years and six months imprisonment to 11 months home detention and 200 hours community work. And in 2023, I mean there are so many more, but this is my last one. Jake Hamlin finished work at 4pm and drove from Ruawai to a house near the Sherwood Golf Club in Whangarei and began consuming a box of Maverick bourbon, ready-to- drink-mixes. He left the house, began driving towards Managawhai, still consuming drinks, was captured on CCTV crossing the centre line. A driver called police, observing Jake Hamlin drifting across the road and almost colliding into three other vehicles. The driver said he followed him for a period but gave up when he hit a speed of around 130kms. Fifteen minutes later, Hamlin came along the Uretiti straights, crossing the centre line and ploughing straight into Samantha Williams. She was killed on impact and suffered injuries she would find hard to be able to survive. After listening to the lengthy submissions, Judge Davis accepted that Hamlin was among many young men in New Zealand caught up in the peer pressure of an excessive drinking culture. He acknowledged his rehabilitative efforts, offers for restorative justice, which were declined, and his remorse. The end sentence was 12 months home detention, which upset multiple members of the victim's family, who left the courtroom. So, Steve Cullen, I would say that absolutely it is a surprise to me, and probably to many others, and probably to the young man himself, to be sent to prison. The answer absolutely should be, as you say, what happens if I kill somebody? When, through my own deeds and actions, my choice to drink, my choice to take drugs, my choice to get behind the wheel of a vehicle, I kill somebody else. The answer absolutely should be I go to jail. All these people and all the many others I haven't got time to mention should be in prison, every single one of them. Some of them are really, really sorry. For some of them it's a nightmare they'll never wake up. From some well you know ... some of them seem to be, “well I was pissed, I was stoned, it was an accident, these things happen.” No. Yes, they happen, but they shouldn't. And when they do happen, a life has got to be recognised. The person who took the life of another can't just be inconvenienced, a bit bored, brassed off at home. Life as they know it should come to an absolute halt. They should lose their rights, they should go to prison and they should stay there for a period of time. Your liberty should be taken from you. If not forever, at least for a period to acknowledge that you have stolen the life of another person, and that's got to count for something. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Waikato snatched the Ranfurly Shield from Taranaki with a thrilling 23-22 victory in their NPC game in New Plymouth. Former All Black Lima Sopoaga kicked a last minute penalty to steal the one-point win for the Mooloos. Sopoaga joined Piney to discuss the win. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.

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

Talkback Time with Smithy 0800 150 811 with Delivereasy, leave a better taste in your mouth. We've thrown the phonelines open for you to have your say on the sporting landscape. Let Ian know what's on your mind today featuring, Arthur from Taranaki, Kevin from Titirangi, Dean from Dunedin, Cliff from Palmerston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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.

On the Weekend Sport with Jason Pine Full Show Podcast for 2nd August 2025, NPC is back! Piney catches up with the provinces, guests including Wellington Rugby CEO Tony Giles out of Porirua Park, Northland's Simon Parker and Taranaki's Josh Jacomb ahead of their Shield challenge, and the Muster's Andy Muir out of Invercargill for Stag Day. Rob Penney called in for a chat about his decision to return to the Crusaders for another season. And NZ Herald League writer Michael Burgess recaps the Warriors heartbreaking loss to the Dolphins. Get the Weekend Sport with Jason Pine Full Show Podcast every Saturday and Sunday afternoon on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you want to talk about doing stuff that matters, this week will produce one of the great ones. Repealing the oil and gas ban, as the Government are about to do, puts right an egregious wrong – possibly the most egregious wrong of the last Government. What gives this current Government a better than even chance of a second term is the fact the damage done to the economy was done by the very same people who are still in Labour, still running Labour, and presumably will still argue for the same recipe of destruction next year. Megan Woods drove the oil and gas ban under the instruction of you-know-who. There was no warning, no consultation. Just a fateful announcement in Taranaki. It was idealism at its very worst. If we had all the windmills and solar panels and batteries in place it might have made more sense. But as we have seen and felt for the past handful of winters, we don't. Not even close. What has made it particularly galling is that Australia has doubled down on gas. It understands gas is the transition fuel, while the so-called renewable transformation takes place. Australia's gas industry is run out of Western Australia, which is run by a Labour Government, and fed to the rest of Australia, which is run by a Labour Government. And that, as I have said before, is what can make Labour palatable. A centrist Labour party is electable i.e. Albanese's version or Hawke's. The Ardern and Hipkins version look like a bunch of wonks who never met an economy they couldn't wreck. Now, the repeal won't solve everything overnight. Our reputation is so damaged that a lot of face time and explaining has had to be undertaken with potential investors, hence the Government's $200m stake in the game fund. If you ever wanted a living, breathing, tangible example of a Government that simply didn't get it, think back to your last couple of winters where the coal pile is a mile high, the rain may or may not have come, the gas reports keep getting worse, the spot price heads to the stratosphere and your power bill continues to head to the roof. That is Labour's energy policy. That is the Labour Government's idea of a fun winter. Getting that repealed is rectifying a shockingly shallow, ill-conceived idea and a monumental mistake. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.

Is it time to consider raising GST from 15% to 18%? Tax expert Terry Baucher joins the panel to explain, before Tane Hawkins of Taranaki explains the secret to the success of his award-winning home made hot sauce.

Students are stunned that Taranaki's largest tertiary education provider is threatened with closure. Taranaki Whanganui reporter Robin Martin has more.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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