Podcasts about Taranaki

The High School and Primary School workforce look to be grappling with two different kinds of challenges. Figures from the Ministry of Education show last year they were expecting a shortfall of 880 secondary school teachers to come. That has now risen to 1220 for this year and next. In Primary schools meanwhile, there are teacher shortages expected in Taranaki, Northland, Waikato and Bay of Plenty. Auckland Principal Kyle Brewerton spoke to Melissa Chan-Green.

A Taranaki cyclist is on crutches, with several deep puncture wounds after a roaming dog latched onto her leg sending her crashing off her bike while she was out on a country road. A spate of serious dog attacks, and residents in areas around the country forced to carry weapons to protect themselves from roaming animals has sparked fierce debate about reforming the 30-year-old dog control law. A New Plymouth resident was cycling a popular loop outside the city on Saturday morning, when she was rushed by an uncontrolled dog on Tikorangi East road. Amelia, who was chased by the dog, spoke to Lisa Owen.

No Tears on the Field is the latest film from award winning documentary maker Lisa Burd. 

Energy Vets, Taranaki | Growing a Career That Grows With You In this REAL+STORY episode, Julie South speaks with Dr Michelle Gosling about what it looks like to build a long-term veterinary career in one place — and why she never felt the need to leave Energy Vets after joining as a new graduate in 2013.Michelle reflects on her journey from new grad to senior large animal vet, working parent, farm services manager and, most recently, shareholder in the business. Rather than focusing on titles, this conversation traces how responsibility, trust and flexibility have expanded alongside different stages of her life.What emerges quietly throughout is a picture of a clinic that adapts as people change — supporting maternity leave, part-time work, leadership development and ownership without forcing people into a single version of “progression”.This episode will resonate with vets who are thinking beyond their next job and trying to picture whether a clinic can still fit years down the track — as careers deepen, families grow and priorities shift.In This Episode00:00 – Introduction to the Real Story series with Energy Vets01:05 – Michelle's journey from new graduate to shareholder02:27 – Moving to Taranaki and settling into the region03:56 – Family life, schooling and working four days a week05:12 – Support, flexibility and parenting at Energy Vets06:38 – The role of farm services manager and developing people08:14 – Being invited into ownership09:24 – Who fits best at Energy Vets14:12 – What long-term progression really looks like in practiceHiring linkIf you're an experienced small animal vet exploring your next step, you can find out more about current opportunities at Energy Vets Taranaki at: vetclinicjobs.com/energyvetsAbout Julie SouthJulie South is the founder of VetClinicJobs and host of Veterinary Voices.She works with forward-thinking veterinary clinics that want to show what working there is really like — not just list job requirements. Through VetClinicJobs, Julie helps clinics make their culture recognisable and familiar, so vets and nurses can tell whether a clinic is Their Kind of Clinic long before a vacancy appears.Struggling to get results from your job advertisements? If so, then shining online as a good employer is essential to attracting the types of veterinary professionals who're a perfect cultural fit for your clinic. The VetClinicJobs job board is the place to post your next job vacancy - to find out more get in touch with Lizzie at VetClinicJobs

Energy Vets | What Makes the Job Work Long-Term (Part 2)Settling into a role is one thing.Staying in it — sustainably — is another.In this episode, Julie South continues her conversation with Dr Sam Armstrong, a mixed animal vet at Energy Vets in Taranaki, looking at what work feels like once the initial settling-in period has passed.Sam talks candidly about after-hours, workload, seasonal pressure points, and how the structure around him makes the job feel manageable over time. He also reflects on commuting, working across clinics, and what overseas vets benefit from knowing before making the move to New Zealand.This is Part Two of a two-part conversation with Energy Vets, offering a grounded look at how support, systems, and everyday decisions shape whether people stay — not just how they start.In This Episode00:00 – Introduction and context for Part Two01:01 – Life after the settling-in period02:04 – After-hours work and how it's managed03:59 – Recovery time, sleep, and safety04:51 – Using a regional after-hours clinic05:43 – Commuting, call-outs, and New Zealand roads07:49 – What overseas vets benefit from knowing09:22 – Visas, residency, and practical logistics11:27 – Team culture and why people stay12:08 – Closing reflections on sustainability and support14:04 – Final sign-offIf you're an experienced small animal vet exploring your next step, you can find out more about current opportunities at Energy Vets at:vetclinicjobs.com/energyvetsAbout Julie SouthJulie South is the founder of VetClinicJobs and host of Veterinary Voices.She works with forward-thinking veterinary clinics that want to show what working there is really like — not just list job requirements. Through VetClinicJobs, Julie helps clinics make their culture recognisable and familiar, so vets and nurses can tell whether a clinic is Their Kind of Clinic long before a vacancy appears.Struggling to get results from your job advertisements? If so, then shining online as a good employer is essential to attracting the types of veterinary professionals who're a perfect cultural fit for your clinic. The VetClinicJobs job board is the place to post your next job vacancy - to find out more get in touch with Lizzie at VetClinicJobs

This week the Government announced plans to build a Liquefied Natural Gas terminal in Taranaki. The facility - estimated to cost "north of $2bn" - will enable us to import gas from the rest of the world. Although according to the Electricity Authority that will come at a significant premium to domestically produced renewable energy and natural gas. The facility will be paid for by a levy on electricity users of $2 - $4 per megawatt hour. Author of the New Zealand Energy Substack Larry Blair chats to Jesse about it.

Tonight, on The Panel, Wallace Chapman is joined by panellists Verity Johnson and Peter Field. First up, the Government has confirmed it will hold its own inquiry into the Bay of Plenty landslides. A risk assessment expert examines what the terms of reference should be and if anything will come of it. Then, the government says a Liquefied Natural Gas import facility in Taranaki will save New Zealanders about $265 million a year. hang on, says our guest, shouldn't the power companies be paying for this?

Te Aroha Hohaia grew up moving around the North Island, lived in a caravan as a child, and didn't discover tramping until adulthood - starting with a summit climb of Taranaki. She shares how that first mentally and physically demanding experience reshaped her relationship with the maunga, leading to repeated climbs and a deeper connection with Taranaki. After getting hooked on tramping she decided to walk sections of Te Araroa, choosing autumn and spring windows until a breast cancer diagnosis and double mastectomy disrupted her seasonal plans. Te Aroha shares her favourite moments from the trail, walking with her mokopuna and adapting plans to fit in extra sections. She shares the benefits of section walking Te Araroa and the joy of returning to a trail and having something to look forward to each season. Abigail & Isaac are kayaking for 1,000km from Cape Reinga to Tauranga in Feb-Mar 2026 to raise $20,000 for mental health and the ocean. Join the community to follow our journey closely, donate or paddle with us.

Last Friday was Waitangi Day, with over 35,000 people visiting the Waitangi grounds on the day. The fast-track approvals panel has turned down a bid from Trans-Tasman Resources to mine the Taranaki seabed. And Labour's Camilla Belich has lodged a joint members' bill with National MP Greg Fleming to combat modern slavery.  For our weekly catch-up with the Labour Party, Wire Host Caeden asked MP Shanan Halbert about all of these topics.

For our weekly catch-up with the Labour Party, Wire Host Caeden spoke to MP Shanan Halbert about this year's Waitangi Day, seabed mining in Taranaki, and Labour and National's joint Modern Slavery members' bill. And for International Desk, they spoke to Dr Keith Rathbone, Senior Lecturer in Modern European History and Sports History at Macquarie University, about the controversy surrounding security at the Winter Olympics.  For City Counselling this week, News Director Castor spoke to Auckland Councillor Shane Henderson about Auckland Museum, a potential merger of Kaipara and Rodney district councils, and the opening of the Auckland International Convention Centre.  They also spoke to Communications and Advocacy manager at the Burnett Foundation, Kirk Serpes, about the decision to allow politicians to speak on the mainstage of Big Gay Out this weekend.

Energy Minister Simon Watts announced a contract for a billion dollar LNG import terminal in Taranaki is expected to be signed by the middle of the year, with construction finishing next year or early 2028. Mercury Energy chief executive Stew Hamilton spoke to Corin Dann.

Tonight, on The Panel, Wallace Chapman is joined by panellists Eve McCallum and Tim Batt. First up, the government says a Liquefied Natural Gas import facility in Taranaki will save New Zealanders about $265 million a year. Mark Ogge, Principal Advisor at The Australia Institute on climate and energy issues, says importing gas is only good if you want to pay more for electricity and virtually any other type of energy use. Then, neither the right or left bloc would be able to govern if an election were held today, according to the latest Taxpayers' Union-Curia Poll. Grant Duncan, Research associate, Public Policy Institute, University of Auckland explains how to read polls and when to take notice of them.

A potential insurance policy for those who can't move away from gas for energy, as the Government charges ahead with its plans for an importing facility. The terminal will be housed in Taranaki - with the Government aiming to have a build contract locked down mid-year. It's imposing a levy to help pay for an import liquefied natural gas facility, which it says will save households $50 a year on power bills. Mercury Chief Executive Stew Hamilton says New Zealand is running out of gas, faster than expected. "We need to encourage consumers and households to get off gas, but not all forms of businesses, for example, can get off gas. So we need to come up with other forms of energy for them." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A potential insurance policy for those who can't move away from gas for energy, as the Government charges ahead with its plans for an importing facility. The terminal will be housed in Taranaki - with the Government aiming to have a build contract locked down mid-year. It's imposing a levy to help pay for an import liquefied natural gas facility, which it says will save households $50 a year on power bills. Mercury Chief Executive Stew Hamilton says New Zealand is running out of gas, faster than expected. "We need to encourage consumers and households to get off gas, but not all forms of businesses, for example, can get off gas. So we need to come up with other forms of energy for them." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last week we saw the release of a draft decision to decline sea bed mining in the Taranaki bite, a move celebrated by a number of local and environmental groups. One of the voices opposing the project was Forest and Bird. They are now appealing a fast-track gold mine consent in Waihi North.  Following reforms to the fast-track approvals scheme pushed through last year which cut them and other community groups out of the process, the Waihi mine is the final project which Forest and Bird is invited to input on. Wednesday Wire host Manny spoke to the Waikato and Taranaki regional conservation manager for Forest and Bird, Elvisa Van Der Leden, about the draft decision to decline seabed mining in Taranaki, Forest and Bird's appeal of the Waihi North Goldmine application, and the reforms to the fast-track approvals scheme.

This week on the Wednesday Wire... For our weekly catchup w/ the Green Party, Host Manny spoke with MP Ricardo Menéndez March about the National Party's idea of a rates cap, local governments infrastructure crisis and the decision to decline a seabed mining project in Taranaki. They then spoke to Elvisa van der Leden, Waikato and Taranaki regional conservation manager for Forest and Bird about the draft decision to decline the sea bed mining project in Taranaki, their appeal of the Waihi north Goldmine application, and the reforms to the fast track approvals scheme which is cutting them and other community groups out of the process. Finally producer Theo spoke to Law Professor Jodi Gardner on the first two cases pursued by the commerce commission under its unconscionable conduct prohibition.

The Olympics features greco-roman and freestyle wrestling and Japan is famous for sumo - but in South Taranaki it's schwingen that rules supreme. Taranaki Whanganui reporter Robin Martin reports.

Allen covers Vestas CEO Henrik Andersen’s optimism on European auction reforms and bilateral CfDs, Australia’s Warradarge wind farm expansion paired with major grid upgrades, New Zealand’s wind-to-hydrogen project, South Korea’s Hanwha Ocean building a new installation vessel, and Siemens Energy’s debate over spinning off Gamesa. Sign up now for Uptime Tech News, our weekly newsletter on all things wind technology. This episode is sponsored by Weather Guard Lightning Tech. Learn more about Weather Guard’s StrikeTape Wind Turbine LPS retrofit. Follow the show on YouTube, Linkedin and visit Weather Guard on the web. And subscribe to Rosemary’s “Engineering with Rosie” YouTube channel here. Have a question we can answer on the show? Email us! Happy Monday everyone Henrik Andersen has seen a lot of failed auctions. The Vestas chief executive watched subsidy-free tenders collapse in Germany… France… the Netherlands… even his home country of Denmark. Developers wouldn’t bid. The risk was too high. But this week… Andersen stood before investors with different news. The UK’s AR7 delivered eight point four gigawatts. A record. Eight projects approved… including two floaters. Denmark and eight North Sea nations committed to one hundred gigawatts. And Germany’s onshore auction pipeline… is finally moving. Andersen sent thanks directly to Ed Miliband… Britain’s Energy Minister. “Now it’s starting to work.” … The difference? Bilateral CfDs. After watching zero-subsidy models fail across Europe… governments returned to revenue stabilization. Strike prices developers can actually finance. Andersen believes the industry should learn from these auction designs… before repeating old mistakes. Steen Brødbæk at Semco Maritime agrees. Projects are maturing. Suppliers… can finally earn a living. … Vestas identified three priority markets in their annual report. Germany for onshore. North America. And Australia. The drivers? Energy security concerns. Data center load growth. And the AI electricity surge that every grid operator is scrambling to model. As for Chinese OEMs entering European tenders? Andersen would be surprised. “You should never be surprised by anything these days,” he said. “But in this case… I would actually be surprised.” … Down in Western Australia… Warradarge is proving his point about mature markets. Four of thirty additional turbines are now vertical. When the expansion completes… eighty-one machines will generate two hundred eighty-three megawatts. The state’s largest wind farm. Owned by Bright Energy Investments… a joint venture between Synergy and Potentia. One hundred twenty workers at peak construction. And critically… the state is building transmission to match. Clean Energy Link North… the largest grid upgrade in Western Australia in more than a decade… will unlock capacity in the South West Interconnected System. Generation AND grid… moving together. That’s how you hit a 2030 coal exit. … Meanwhile in Taranaki… New Zealand… Vestas secured a twenty-six megawatt order with a twenty-year service agreement. Hiringa Energy is integrating wind with green hydrogen production at scale… serving transport… industry… and agriculture. Turbine delivery begins Q1 this year. Commissioning… Q2 twenty-twenty-seven. One of New Zealand’s first large-scale wind-to-hydrogen projects. The electrolyzer economics are finally penciling. … But you can’t install offshore turbines without vessels. And South Korea just solved a bottleneck. Hanwha Ocean won a three hundred eighty-five million pound contract… to build a WTIV capable of fifteen-megawatt class installations. Korea’s first vessel at that scale. Delivery… early twenty-twenty-eight. Korea expects twenty-five gigawatts of offshore capacity by 2035. They’re not waiting for European vessel contractors. They’re building their own supply chain. Hanwha has now delivered four WTIVs globally. … Not everyone is celebrating. At Siemens Energy… activist investor Ananym Capital is pushing to spin off Siemens Gamesa. CEO Christian Bruch calls the idea reasonable. But timing matters. The wind division must stabilize first. Bruch believes offshore wind can follow the same recovery path as the grid business… which went from crisis… to profitability. Turnaround before transaction. … So, last week we had: CfDs reviving European auctions. Australia building generation AND transmission together. New Zealand coupling wind with hydrogen. Korea investing in installation vessel capacity. And Siemens… working to fix its turbine business before any restructuring. Different geographies. Same lesson. The projects that succeed… are the ones where policy… supply chain… and capital… finally align. … And that is the state of the wind industry for the 9th of February 2026. Join us tomorrow for the Uptime wind energy podcast.

There's confidence a new gas importing facility will deliver benefits that outweigh the costs. The Government's confirmed it will build a liquefied natural gas import facility in Taranaki, with a contract expected by mid-year. It says the project will save the country about $265 million annually – roughly $50 per household. Energy Minister Simon Watts told Mike Hosking that Huntly Power Station only covers 50% of the energy problem, and while they have gas generation capacity out there, they don't have the fuel to run it during dry years. He says it's why they need that certainty of volume and certainty of supply. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A proposed multi-million dollar liquefied natural gas import facility is winning support from electricity companies. The terminal will be housed in Taranaki, with the Government aiming to have a "build" contract locked down mid-year. It expects it will save each household about $50 a year once up and running – from late next year at the earliest. Contact Energy's Mike Fuge told Mike Hosking it removes the drama of the system. He says when suppliers and gas users can't get gas, everyone gets very uptight, and this brings a rationality to the market, so we aren't worrying about tomorrow. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government isn't giving a firm figure on what'll be paid to build a liquefied natural gas import facility in Taranaki. It's aiming to sign a contract by mid-year. It says it'll save the country about $265 million a year - about $50 dollars per household - and protect about 2000 jobs. An electricity levy of $2-$4 per megawatt-hour will fund the infrastructure. Energy Minister Simon Watts says limited gas supply contributed to the recent increase in energy crisis and the Government needs to establish a new supply. "That'll take the risk and put certainty back in to ensure we do have gas in a dry year, and with that, that provides benefits through to the broader country." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This Government's running into similar problems Jacinda's one did on energy - they're getting too much 'official' advice and reports. The problem when you ask 'the experts' for advice on every thought that pops into your head, is that they tend to agree with it. And if they don't, you tend to ignore them. And what does that tell you about the need for the advice in the first place? Latest case in point is the LNG terminal in Taranaki. A billion bucks. We'll be paying a levy on our power bills to fund it. Big announcement at the Beehive theatrette yesterday. The 'official advice' from MBIE and the rest was that this is the way to go. This will save us all, on average, apparently, $1 a week on electricity. If we're lucky. Because remember, as with all advice, there are caveats. The caveats are "depends on this" and "depends on that". So, we've got an announcement and we hope for the best and this thing will be built, come hell or high water, bar a change of government, by 2027. When the wind doesn't blow and the sun doesn't shine, we'll import LNG and keep the lights on. BUT. Last year we had the Frontier Economics report. Same issue but different set of 'advisors'. They're an independent global consultancy crowd and what they said was quite different. They told us it would basically be a dumb idea to build an import terminal because you've got a massive fixed cost spread over a relatively small amount of output, because you're only using this as a back-up. You can't sell an LNG terminal once you're finished with it. These particular advisors made the point that it's quite a specific piece of kit and could well turn it one of this country's biggest white elephant investments. Yet here we are less than a year later with a different set of advice and another vague plan. There's no doubt this country needs a plan to deal with energy security, but depending on who you ask, this is either brilliant or batshit.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A promise of certainty and hopes of cheaper power prices with a facility to import liquefied natural gas. The Government's confirmed it will build a liquefied natural gas import facility in Taranaki, with a contract expected by mid-year. It says the project will save the country about $265 million annually – roughly $50 per household. Energy Resources Aotearoa CEO John Carnegie told Ryan Bridge it's a necessary dry year insurance policy, as the country faces a massive fuel shortage. He says there will be a large upfront cost, but officials say the investment will effectively take the heat out of the electricity market and lower peak prices. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labour leader Chris Hipkins has fallen into the trap that I could very easily find myself falling into if I didn't think a little bit more carefully about this plan by the Government to set-up a new shipping terminal in Taranaki to import liquified natural gas. This is the gas that's needed to generate power, alongside the other ways we generate power in this country - hydro, coal and wind. It's going to cost somewhere north of $1 billion, and the Government reckons it will be up-and-running in one-to-two years' time. I think it's dreaming on the timeline front. I also think Chris Hipkins is dreaming when he says $1 billion would buy a lot of solar panels. Because even though Energy Minister Simon Watts banging-on about us paying less for our electricity - or more to the point, not paying a truckload more for electricity - this isn't actually about you and me. Unless you run a big manufacturing or processing plant - in particular one of these big plants or factories that have been struggling with power prices. This is about industrial electricity supplies. This talk about importing gas first surfaced a couple of years ago when factories were actually closing because of high power prices. The big power companies looked into it, and they wrote a report for the Government which essentially said that it wasn't as straightforward as it sounded. They looked into the practicalities of importing gas and they said we could do it, but there are a few things to think about. The main ones being the price tag and how long it would take to get it happening. They said last year that it could be done cheaper than $1 billion - for around $200 million - but the gas would be 25 percent more expensive, because the cheaper option would use existing facilities. However, there wouldn't be the same amount of storage and so we couldn't buy as much in one hit and so we'd pay more for it. They also said it wouldn't be an overnight fix. It would be about four years before we started to see the benefits. Another main point in this report was that we could spend the money and wait for it all to come online, but there could be years when we don't even need the extra gas. But that's a bit like pouring money into a fire alarm and sprinkler system and not using it. You know it's there and it gives you security. That's how I see this gas importation business. It's a back-up. And so, what if it isn't needed all the time? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fears a decision around mining could affect New Zealand's reputation on the world stage. Trans-Tasman Resources' proposal to mine 50 million tonnes of seabed a year for 30 years in South Taranaki has been declined in a draft fast-track decision. The panel found there would be credible risks of harm to Maui dolphins, little penguins and fairy prion birds. Minerals Council Chief Executive Josie Vidal told Mike Hosking that it does New Zealand no favours. She says it comes at a time when we're trying to convince the US that we can be part of a global supply chain for minerals. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's Waitangi Day and the end of the official celebrations at Waitangi. Pat gives us his final thoughts on location.An amazing win for the environment with a fast-tracked plan to mine the Taranaki seabed declined by the approvals panel. However, in Wellington Sewage has been draining directly into the Habour.Welsh MPs could lose their seat if caught lying in Parliament or during an election, a rule which could set a precedent which other westminster style governments could follow.++++++++++++++++++++Like us on Facebook.com/BigHairyNetwork Follow us on Twitter.com/@bighairynetworkFollowing us on TikTok.com/@bighairynetworkSupport us on Patreon www.patreon.com/c/BigHairyNewsCheck out our merch https://bhn.nz/shop/Donate to our work https://bhn.nz/shop/donation/

Energy Vets | Finding Your Feet as a New Grad (Part 1)Starting your veterinary career isn't just about clinical skills.It's about how support shows up when you're new, how questions are handled, and how safe it feels to keep learning — especially when you're doing it in a new country.In this episode, Julie South speaks with Dr Sam Armstrong, a mixed animal vet at Energy Vets in Taranaki, about arriving in New Zealand straight out of university and starting his first job without knowing anyone locally.Sam reflects on settling into a new farming system, learning how the team works day to day, and the small, ordinary moments that helped him build confidence. Together, they offer a grounded look at what vets quietly pay attention to when deciding whether a clinic feels like their kind of clinic.This is Part One of a two-part conversation with Energy Vets, focused on early career experiences, everyday support, and what makes learning sustainable over time.In This Episode00:00 – Introduction and episode context01:48 – Sam's background and arriving in New Zealand06:07 – Starting work as a new graduate and learning in practice07:57 – A significant farm case and building confidence over time10:33 – Team support, meetings, and shared decision-making11:38 – Integrating into Taranaki and working in New Zealand12:30 – How New Zealand farming systems differ from the UK and Ireland16:06 – Favourite piece of kit and day-to-day realities17:24 – Describing Energy Vets in three words19:47 – Closing reflections on learning, support, and cultureIf you're an experienced small animal vet exploring your next step, you can find out more about current opportunities at Energy Vets at:vetclinicjobs.com/energyvetsAbout Julie SouthJulie South is the founder of VetClinicJobs and host of Veterinary Voices.She works with forward-thinking veterinary clinics that want to show what working there is really like — not just list job requirements. Through VetClinicJobs, Julie helps clinics make their culture visible and recognisable, so vets and nurses can tell whether a clinic is Their Kind of Clinic long before a vacancy appears.Struggling to get results from your job advertisements? If so, then shining online as a good employer is essential to attracting the types of veterinary professionals who're a perfect cultural fit for your clinic. The VetClinicJobs job board is the place to post your next job vacancy - to find out more get in touch with Lizzie at VetClinicJobs

A Taranaki cinema complex faces imminent closure if it can't find new trustees. Robin Martin reports.

The surfing community in Taranaki - the only region in New Zealand to have previously hosted the globe's elite surf competition - is stoked for its Raglan cousins who are to hold a combined men's and women's World Surf League event in May.

Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Martha arrived in Aotearoa New Zealand in 1989 and has since made New Plymouth home. Her career has been largely in hospitality, where she has seen the growth and evolution of cafés and restaurants across Taranaki. She has long been involved in representing Argentine culture at the Taranaki Multiethnic Extravaganza and supporting the Latino community through cultural and social initiatives that help new migrants settle in the region. Martha has a strong passion for music and has volunteered with WOMAD for many years, more recently working in contracted roles coordinating artist hospitality, including the welcoming artists' BBQ. She currently works part-time as an ESOL Teacher Aide at Devon Intermediate and teaches Argentine and Italian cuisine through Taranaki Community Education. Proudly Argentine, Martha is known for her passion, generosity, and love of sharing food, music, and conversation, and for her curiosity about other cultures and traditions.

In this episode of Purposely Podcast, we're joined by Eleanor Cater, CEO of Community Foundations of Aotearoa New Zealand, to explore how local giving can become one of the most powerful forces for long-term community change.Eleanor is deeply passionate about philanthropy, not as a lofty idea, but as something practical and grounded in place. From growing up in Porirua to now leading the national body for community foundations, she has been a witness to what empowered communities can achieve.Community foundations sit quietly behind the scenes of some remarkable outcomes across the country. They connect donors with local priorities, steward funds across generations, and help turn generosity into action. In New Zealand, the movement has grown steadily from 12 community foundations to 18 today, collectively managing more than $315 million in community assets. But as Eleanor explains, the real value isn't just the capital, it's the trust.Trust is the engine of community philanthropy. Donors need confidence that their giving will be respected, well governed, and still relevant long after they're gone. Community foundations offer an alternative to setting up standalone trusts, providing professional governance, local insight, and the flexibility to respond as communities change. It's a model built for permanence, without the administrative burden.We talk about what this looks like in practice. From regionally funded theatres and adventure playgrounds, to the quieter work of backing grassroots organisations and bringing people together around shared priorities. In places like Taranaki, Eleanor describes a genuine sense of local ownership, where communities don't just benefit from philanthropy, they actively shape it.Eleanor also makes a compelling case for better philanthropy advice. Giving well takes intention, clarity, and context. Drawing on her academic work, including a Winston Churchill Fellowship and a Master's in Philanthropy, she explains why donors are most fulfilled when their giving aligns both with their values and with clearly articulated community need.We also unpack the word philanthropy itself. Often misunderstood, sometimes off-putting, and wrongly associated only with extreme wealth. Eleanor reframes it simply as private giving for public good, something all New Zealanders already participate in, whether through donations, volunteering, or sharing skills.Looking ahead, Eleanor's ambition is clear. Community foundations should be seen not as places where money sits, but as active builders of community. With significant intergenerational wealth transfer on the horizon, she believes New Zealand has a once-in-a-generation opportunity to embed generosity into the fabric of every region.

Energy Vets - Taranaki - New Zealand | REAL+STORY A recent graduate's view of support, mentoring, and staying in the professionWhen new graduates talk about support, they're not talking about slogans.  They're talking about what happens in the moments that matter.In this episode of Veterinary Voices, Julie South continues the Energy Vets REAL+STORY series with Jade, a recent graduate mixed animal veterinarian who has been working at Energy Vets in Taranaki for just over two years.Jade shares why she chose to return to Taranaki after graduating from Massey University, what stood out about Energy Vets as a student on placement, and how support actually shows up day to day — from surgeries and after-hours, to asking questions, building confidence, and knowing someone has your back.This is an honest conversation about mixed practice, mentoring, after-hours realities, team culture, and what helps early-career vets not just cope — but enjoy the job and want to stay in the profession.Here's how Jade describes that support in her own words:“If you're not sure about something, there's always someone you can call — and you never feel silly for asking.” — Jade, recent graduate mixed animal veterinarianIn This Episode00:00 – Introduction and where this episode fits in the Energy Vets REAL+STORY series 01:02 – Jade's background and returning to Taranaki after graduating 02:42 – What “supportive” really means for a new graduate 04:01 – How Energy Vets felt different from other student placements 05:01 – Mixed animal caseloads and how the year ebbs and flows 05:59 – Longer consult times and why they matter on busy days 06:17 – Dairy, lifestyle, and equine work in practice 07:09 – After-hours equine support and not being left alone 07:58 – Building strong relationships with clients 08:31 – Privately owned farms and what that changes 08:52 – Living in Taranaki: outdoors, community, and lifestyle 11:16 – Favourite equipment and learning to use ultrasound 11:54 – A concrete example of support during early surgeries 13:13 – Unexpected friendships and team closeness 14:14 – After-hours as a new grad and how readiness is handled 16:48 – A memorable early case and calling for help 18:00 – Who fits best at Energy Vets and what being a team player means 19:01 – Closing reflections on mentoring, support, and staying in the professionIf you're an experienced small animal veterinarian thinking about your next step — particularly if you enjoy mentoring and supporting early-career vets — Energy Vets is currently looking for someone ready to step up into that role.About Julie SouthJulie South is the founder of VetClinicJobs and host of Veterinary Voices.She works with veterinary clinics that want to show what working there is really like — not just list job requirements. Through culture storytelling, Julie helps clinics attract vets and nurses who recognise their kind of people and their kind of clinic before a vacancy appears.Struggling to get results from your job advertisements? If so, then shining online as a good employer is essential to attracting the types of veterinary professionals who're a perfect cultural fit for your clinic. The VetClinicJobs job board is the place to post your next job vacancy - to find out more get in touch with Lizzie at VetClinicJobs

Caleb Northwood is a Singer Songwriter from Taranaki. His music explores the world through an introspective and quiet lens, blending a mix of subtle, flowing soundscapes and folk charm. With influences from artists such as Ben Howard and Julian Baker, Caleb's music will take you on a journey of reflection and contemplation. We'll Form, his newest single, provides an introduction to a wider project that reflects on the experience of loss and hopefulness. 

Taranaki dairy farmer and the sire of the Barrett rugby clan. Today we talk farming and footy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hundreds of lawn bowlers have descended on Taranaki this week for the region's men's open fours competition - considered one of the largest and most prestigious club championships in the country. Taranaki Whanganui reporter Robin Martin reports.

A couple of green shoots beginning to emerge in the energy sector. US owned oil and gas company JETEX has applied for a permit to extract coal seam gas near Huntly, and Australia-based EnZed Energy has lodged an application for an offshore petroleum permit in Taranaki. Energy Resources Aotearoa CEO John Carnegie told Mike Hosking this is what the restart of an industry looks like. He says we're seeing a rebuilding of a pipeline of prospects for the future, which means new entrants, new work programmes, and new possibilities. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The closure of State Highway 3 north of Mt Messenger for five days is forcing motorists to take lengthy detours in and out of Taranaki. From Friday, travellers will need to head south via Whanganui on SH4 or connect to SH1 at Marton, affecting concertgoers, holidaymakers, sports teams and local businesses. Taranaki Whanganui reporter Robin Martin reports.

A routine biodiversity check in North Taranaki has led to the possible discovery of a brand-new species of spider. Taranaki Regional Council biodiversity officer Sandra Sánchez spoke to Melissa Chan-Green.

We reckon it's a good idea to recognise some of those who'll keep working through the summer break, so that the rest of us can enjoy a holiday. Yesterday it was Ian King - on call most of the summer break for the Otaki Volunteer Fire Brigade. Today on the run home to Christmas, we celebrate the work of Holly Rawiri, Duty Nurse Manager at Taranaki Hospital.

Questions to Ministers ORIINI KAIPARA to the Minister of Justice: Does he stand by the Government's policy to ban enrolments in the final 13 days before an election, despite the Attorney-General warning that more than 100,000 people may be directly or indirectly disenfranchised by this proposal? Dr VANESSA WEENINK to the Minister for Economic Growth: What recent changes has the Government made regarding economic growth and supermarket competition? Hon CARMEL SEPULONI to the Minister for Women: Does she stand by all her statements and actions regarding women's pay? TOM RUTHERFORD to the Minister of Justice: How is the Government progressing with its plan to restore law and order? Hon PRIYANCA RADHAKRISHNAN to the Minister for Disability Issues: Does she stand by her statement that the Government is committed to "breaking down barriers and improving the lives of disabled people"; if not, why not? DAVID MacLEOD to the Minister for Tourism and Hospitality: What recent announcements has she made about supporting major events in New Zealand? TEANAU TUIONO to the Minister for Maori Development: Is he concerned by the warnings of the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination that New Zealand is at serious risk of weakening Maori rights and entrenching disparities for Maori; if so, what is he doing to address these warnings? RYAN HAMILTON to the Minister for Universities: What recent announcement has he made about the Waikato Medical School? GREG O'CONNOR to the Minister for Veterans: Is he committed to ensuring that veterans receive their full entitlements from the Crown following the High Court rulings on Ta Wira Gardiner's case; if not, why not? SCOTT WILLIS to the Minister for Energy: Is he confident in the viability of the offshore wind industry in Taranaki? Dr DAVID WILSON to the Associate Minister of Agriculture: What recent announcements has he made regarding wool? SHANAN HALBERT to the Minister for Vocational Education: Will Industry Skills Boards be able to carry out their full mandate from 1 January 2026; if not, why not?

Robin discusses news from Taranaki including the fight against invasive golden clams in Lake Rotomanu. 

Reuben O'Neill has one of the most interesting stories in New Zealand rugby! A proud Taranaki lad, a cult hero in every team he's played in, and a man who battled more adversity than most ever knew. From crippling cramps, constant injuries, and being diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes — to somehow rising all the way into an All Blacks camp before he'd even played Super Rugby.In this episode some of the things we talk about were..- How he's always embraced being himself- Being diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes and having no idea how to manage it- The shock All Blacks call-up having played just a few NPC games- The setbacks of a Neck fusion surgery, Achilles issues, stress fractures and how he kept coming back- How injuries turned him into a DJ, a truck driver, a nutritionist and more- The story behind “DJ Mince on Toast”- Why he believes the Crusaders have had more success than the ChiefsAnd he answers all your questions!Rueben is a unique human, always happy to be himself, enjoys taking the piss and is not afraid of awkwardness. He's genuine lad and someone who makes every environment better in his own unique way. I'm sure you will enjoy this inspiring story from this great man! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

About 100 critically-endangered Mahoenui giant weta have been released into the Rotokare Sanctuary in Taranaki this week as part of efforts to preserve the taonga species. Robin Martin reports.

Our freshwater ecosystems are facing numerous challenges. Many of New Zealand's lakes have lost much of their native underwater plant life. At the Ruakura ‘tank farm' in Hamilton, researchers have been working on a project to help restore the freshwater forests. Sign up to the Our Changing World monthly newsletter for episode backstories, science analysis and more.Learn more:Listen to Invasive: the story of Stewart Smith from the Black Sheep podcast to learn more about New Zealand's pest fish issue.Read more about the koi carp bow hunting that removed tonnes of pest fish.While the announcement of the eradication of lagarosiphon from Lake Ngatu was welcome it came on the heels of the disappointing news about finding this invasive weed in two South Island hydro lakes.It's not just invasive plants that are an issue, invasive critters like the gold clam can also cause issues. Contained to the Waikato for the last two years, it has recently been found in a Taranaki lake.Restoring freshwater lakes and wetlands is a catchment wide effort, but groups around the motu are working on this.Guests:Mary de Winton, Earth Sciences New ZealandReferences: NIWA's RotoTurf webpage.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

A Taranaki family have paused work on the rebuild of their coastal bach after a pair of nesting little blue penguins - or korora - took up residence beneath its floorboards. The Vile family, who are redeveloping a classic two-bedroom bach at Urenui Beach, are now patiently waiting for the chick to fledge. Taranaki Whanganui reporter Robin Martin has been at Urenui.

Tania Niwa shows how to move between cultures without losing your identity. Through listening, storytelling, grounding, and authentic leadership, she bridges worlds while staying deeply connected to her Māori roots. This is her story.

Blue whales (Balaenoptera musculus)  are the largest animals that have ever existed on Earth. Despite this, they feed exclusively on krill (Nyctiphanes australis) which are typically no larger than 2 cm. Thus, they must consume massive amounts of these tiny organisms to support the large energy requirements of their life history processes. Researchers are interested in understanding how predator-prey dynamics between blue whales and krill may shift with changing ocean conditions. Nicole Principe is a 2nd year PhD student in the Geospatial Ecology of Marine Megafauna (GEMM) Lab at the Oregon State University Marine Mammal Institute, led by Dr. Leigh Torres. Her PhD work is part of the SAPPHIRE (Synthesis of Acoustics, Physiology, Prey, and Habitat in A Rapidly Changing Environment) Project and will focus on blue whales in the South Taranaki Bight in Aotearoa (New Zealand). This interdisciplinary work involves using oceanographic data, active acoustics for prey, drone imagery (i.e., photogrammetry), and hormone analysis to investigate the availability of krill and blue whale health and population resilience to climate change.