Podcasts about Taranaki

Claws are out over a directive to restrict the movements of two popular moggies at Taranaki Base Hospital. Mr Pip and more recent arrival - Pablo - are a common sight at the hospital, but staff have been told the animals are not permitted in hospital buildings - citing infection prevention and clinical safety standards. Taranaki Base says only approved service animals are allowed in hospital buildings. Taranaki Whanganui reporter Robin Martin has more.

Robin talks about the local regional council chief executive also being the interim CE for the New Plymouth's district council and what that means for pre-empting amalgamation discussions. 

Dom talks with dairy farmer David Reeseby about winning the 2026 Taranaki/Manawatu Young Farmer of the contest, how much he's learned since last winning the title back in 2022 and what prompted him to have another tilt at the crown this year. 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.

Energy Vets, Taranaki | Starting Out as a New GradIn this REAL+STORY episode, Julie South speaks with Dr Sieara Claytor, a 2025 graduate working in her very first full-time veterinary role at Energy Vets in Taranaki.Sieara moved from the United States to study in Australia and has now started her career in rural New Zealand. Six months in, she's already managing emergencies, assisting in surgeries beyond routine desexings, handling after-hours responsibilities, and working across two clinic branches.Rather than focusing on “graduate programs” or formal structures, this conversation looks at what support actually feels like day to day — senior vets scrubbing in alongside her, nurses staying late when needed, multiple vets available when things get busy, and space to ask questions without hesitation.Sieara also talks about adjusting to rural life, commuting without traffic lights, wildlife cases, pig-hunting injuries, and the reality of after-hours in a regional clinic.If you're a new graduate — or someone mentoring one — this episode gives a clear sense of what challenge-with-backup looks like in practice.In This Episode00:00 – Introduction to the REAL+STORY series with Energy Vets01:05 – Sieara's background and first impressions as a new grad03:30 – Rural caseload: emergencies, variety, and learning fast04:52 – What support in surgery actually looks like06:43 – Realising you're more capable than you thought07:56 – Moving countries and adjusting to rural life09:16 – How after-hours really works11:32 – Differences between the two clinic branches12:50 – The early-career lens on Energy VetsHiring LinkIf you're an experienced small animal vet exploring your next step, you can find out more about current opportunities at Energy Vets Taranaki 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 VetClinicJobs, she helps clinics make their culture clear 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

Taranaki music fans are being urged to forget the disappointment of WOMAD taking a break and instead pull on a black T-shirt, a pair of skinny jeans and get ready to rock. Full Metal Orchestra is headed to the Bowl of Brooklands this weekend in a stark contrast to the three-day world music festival. Taranaki Whanganui reporter Robin Martin reports.

A Taranaki woman is on mission to make 52 new ice cream flavours this year, one every week. Little Liberty Creamery makes dairy and gluten-free plant based frozen desserts, and has been taking flavour suggestions from social media. Owner Peita Kensington spoke to Lisa Owen.

Indigenous scholar Tyson Yunkaporta (Apalech clan (Wik) Lostmob Nungar) joins the Mongabay Newscast to detail the Aboriginal perspectives behind his latest book, Right Story, Wrong Story: Adventures in Indigenous Thinking. The book explains how stories shape society, how they can harm us and the environment, and how they may save our species and the natural world. Yunkaporta explains how Indigenous laws, systems and lore can help us improve modern society, specifically in how humans relate first to the land, then to each other, and why this shapes how we exploit nature and care for it. Identifying the "wrong story" is critical, Yunkaporta explains, to correcting harmful behaviors or ways of governing. Ultimately, it's a lie, he says. Personified by what he characterizes as narcissistic or selfish behavior, it's generally seen by those who exploit the natural world at the expense of community well-being. "It's a terrible thing to … misrepresent things, make false claims, bear false witness in a way that is bending story, the story that everybody follows. The narratives that people tell that weave together to make a community and to hold a community on the right path that's sustainable for thousands of years." Please take a minute to let us know what you think of our podcast, here. Mike DiGirolamo is the host & producer for the Mongabay Newscast based in Sydney. Find him on LinkedIn and Bluesky. Image Credit: Mt. Taranaki, Aotearoa New Zealand, captured March 16, 2022. Image courtesy of Planet Labs PBC. —- Timecodes (00:00) What is 'Wrong Story'? (14:26) The 'Sacred Mind' (17:54) First Law (27:24) The environment and Wrong Story (38:13) The tale of Tidalik the frog (42:28) Totems and kinship (47:06) Serpent law

Chloe moved from France to New Zealand in 2015 with her partner. After spending three months travelling around the country, they settled in Auckland, where she worked towards passing her English exam so she could practise as an osteopath in New Zealand. After a year in Auckland, they were ready for a lifestyle change and moved to New Plymouth. Passionate about surfing, hiking, and biking, Taranaki felt like the perfect fit — especially for the surf. It has also been a wonderful place to raise their two children, who are now seven and four. After her son was born, Chloe opened her own clinic, Holistic Osteopath, to create more flexibility around family life. She supports people with a wide range of conditions, including back pain, sprain injuries, and headaches. She is especially passionate about working with women during pregnancy and postpartum, as well as caring for babies. Chloe has found a beautiful balance between work, family, and the outdoors — and Taranaki now truly feels like home.

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.

The Get Up Festival is back for its first run in eleven years.

Energy Vets, Taranaki | Why Alana Came BackIn this REAL+STORY episode, Julie South speaks with vet nurse Alana Howard about why she returned to Energy Vets after starting her nursing career there 20 years ago and then spending years working in Australia.Alana talks about what made coming back feel like the right decision — not just professionally, but personally. She compares different clinic environments and explains what stands out at Energy Vets: how nurses are trusted to use their skills, how new graduates are supported in surgery, and how the team steps in when things get busy.This isn't about job titles or polished culture statements. It's about what day-to-day teamwork actually feels like — no behind-the-scenes friction, people sharing knowledge freely, and a team that works across two rural clinics without things falling apart.Alana also reflects on raising a family in Taranaki, commuting without traffic lights, and why rural schooling and coastal living have been part of the decision to stay.Across this conversation, you hear what steady support sounds like from a nurse's perspective — not from leadership, but from someone working on the floor every day.In This Episode00:00 – Introduction to the REAL+STORY series with Energy Vets02:20 – Why Alana chose to return03:04 – What feels different about this clinic07:31 – Nurses using their full clinical skillset09:52 – Supporting a new graduate in surgery11:27 – How the clinic has grown over time12:36 – Living and raising a family in TaranakiHiring LinkIf you're an experienced small animal vet exploring your next step, you can find out more about current opportunities at Energy Vets Taranaki  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 VetClinicJobs, she helps clinics make their culture clear 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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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