Podcast appearances and mentions of Wellington Region

It's eight weeks to the day that residents on Wellington's south coast and neighbouring suburbs woke to find their homes, businesses and cars submerged in water. Owhiro Bay resident Catherine Leach's home was completely flooded. She spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Thousands of Wellington train commuters will have to use bus replacement services today, after a train slammed into a concrete stop-block on the Johnsonville line on Saturday night. RNZ reporter Anya Fielding, and a perosn on the scene, Chris Myatt, spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss from Khandallah Station.

We are back from the long weekend, and Simon has brought an absolute disaster of a story with him to the studio! Simon breaks down his ultimate weekend nightmare: attempting a simple parallel park under the watchful eyes of a growing crowd. What should have been a standard maneuver quickly spiraled into a multi-point panic, a line of cars waiting impatiently behind him, and an ending so embarrassing he wished the ground would swallow his car whole. The studio team wastes no time dissecting his driving form, leading to a hilarious chat about the ultimate high-pressure driving situations. Tune in across the nation—are you a parallel parking prodigy, or do you take three laps around the block just to find an easier spot like Simon? Love the show? Rate us 5-stars on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, and follow Si, Lana & The Breakfast Club on rova so you never miss our daily morning mishaps!

An economist says Wellington could lose thousands of jobs as the capital bears the brunt of a major shake-up to the public service. Ellen O'Dwyer reports.

A massive new cycle and walkway between Wellington and Lower Hutt is being put to the test by commuters for the first time this morning. RNZ's Phil Pennington reports.

Wellingtonians will be looking up to catch the only Australasia film festival projected on a 360-degree planetarium dome. The Dome Under Film Festival, or DUFF, will be making its New Zealand debut this week at Wellington's Planetarium Space Place. Krystal Gibbens reports.

 The rain overnight wasn't as heavy as feared, though more rain is still forecast. 

The Wellington Region is under a state of emergency after being hit with torrential rain this morning. Residents in low lying and flood prone areas are being warned to go somewhere else for the next 24 hours. Wellington and Wairarapa have also been upgraded to a red heavy rain warning, with extreme conditions posing a potential threat to life. Metservice duty forecaster Lewis Ferris spoke to Lisa Owen.

The Wellington region is under a state of emergency after being hit with torrential rain. Residents in low-lying and flood prone areas are being warned to go somewhere else for the next 24 hours, with the region - alongside Wairarapa - under a red heavy rain warning. The warnings are in place well into tomorrow night. Dan Neely, regional manager at the Wellington Region Emergency Management Office, spoke with Lisa Owen.

The Wellington Region is under a state of emergency after heavy rains flooded streets and homes. Wellington Region Emergency Management response controller Jess Hare spoke to John Campbell.

People have spent the night out of their homes as downpours continue to hit the lower North Island - with a red heavy rain warning in place. Hutt City Council teams were going door to door on some streets urging people to leave their homes as rain fell last night. A state of emergency has been declared for the Wellington Region. Lower Hutt mayor Fauono Ken Laban spoke to John Campbell

RNZ reporter Ellen O'Dwyer provides an update on the weather in Wellington.

Another extreme weather event has hit Wellington. Morning Report producer Rachel Helyer-Donaldson spoke to John Campbell.

Wellington has experienced extreme weather this morning, with thunderstorms and torrential rain causing flash flooding in the cental city and several suburbs. Wellnigton Mayor Andrew Little spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Around the motu: Tom Hunt from Wellington's The Post.

Along with being the first zoo, it was also the first conservation organisation in Wellington.

The Wellington Region ranked lowest in ASBs latest regional economic scoreboard. Nick speaks to Dot Loves Data Director and former Wellington Mayor Justin Lester on the issue. Lester says there are positives coming for Wellington, and is confident that our economy is recovering - just slowly. He talks through the causes and effects of our economic downfall and the comparisons to other regions - like Canterbury which is blossoming. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Forget my Big Fat Greek Wedding . . . for the first time, there's going to be a "Big Bad Bogan Wedding." Over fifty couples applied for the chance to tie the knot - but beating them all out was Bekz Clarke and Hayden Ward ... or as he's known to his mates, Hazy. 

Residents in the Wellington suburb of Miramar are disturbed after sewage exploded out of their toilets. Work being done by Wellington Water contractors apparently caused the sewage to back up. It comes after a major failure at the nearby Moa Point water treatment plant earlier this month which has discharged millions of litres of raw sewage into the Cook Strait every day. Kaya Selby reports.

Experts say it is safe to swim in the city's harbour despite the massive Moa Point sewage spill - but locals Checkpoint spoke still aren't up for taking a dip so close to the contaminated site. It comes after a catastrophic failure wastewater treatment plant started pumping out millions of litres of raw sewage into the ocean nearly a week ago. Nick James reports.

Could Wellington become New Zealand's culinary capital? It certainly seems the Government hopes so, after Minister Louise Upston announced the latest funding from the 'major events and tourism" package will include a plan to help re-establish Wellington as more than the home of politics and water woes. But how will do you actually make that happen? To discuss, we're joined now by veteran Welly restaurant reviewer David Burton.

All eyes are on the government's response to the Moa Point sewage plant meltdown. Wellington Water's chief executive is warning the public the capital's south coast could be off limits for months. Meanwhile the city's mayor wants a ministerial inquiry. Crews have spent the weekend trying to clean up the wastewater plant and get to the damage after it was shut after being flooded by raw sewage. In the meantime, millions of litres of untreated sewage have been spilling out into the Cook Strait since early Wednesday. Nick James reports.

Welcome Back! It was awesome to sit down and chat with Dylan Lindstrom recently, who is the GM of Royal Wellington Golf Club. Royal Wellington is the host of this weeks' Asia Pacific Women's Amateur Championship alongside the R&A. The event promises to be a fantastic spectacle and a big boost for golf in the Wellington Region. Dylan chatted about all that goes on behind the scenes to host an event of this stature, the amazing support of the members and volunteers and some score predictions and field previews for the event. Check out more about the event:https://www.randa.org/championships/womens-amateur-asia-pacific-championshipEnjoy 

A community cycling initiative is helping Wellingtonians prepare for the opening of the final stretch of coastal cycle track Te Ara Tupua.

Bar managers say they're stepping up security after a series of armed robberies in the Hutt Valley. Krystal Gibbens reports.

Against the odds, a takahe pair believed to be infertile have successfully hatched a chick at Wellington's Zealandia Te Mara a Tane. Dr Danielle Shanahan, Chief Executive of Zealandia joins Bryan to share the exciting news.

Part two of our Staycation - or urban vacation series - depending on where you live. Today - Te Whanganui O Tara - Wellington, with Simon Woolf, who's well qualified, first because he lives there, secondly, because he's just written a book about the city, Wellington Moods.

It's an ongoing mystery that's lasted more than three months. Who was behind the mayday call off the south coast of Wellington? Mary Argue reports.

A woman who found a man lying unconscious on a popular Wellington walking track has described the horrific scene that confronted her today. The man later died of wounds suffered when a branch fell on him as gales howled through the capital, and Wairarapa. The wild winds have brought down trees, cut power to thousands of homes, cancelled flights, and torn roofs off buildings. Ellen O'Dwyer reports.

Tom discusses a new mayoral candidate and defections from Ray Chung's Independent Together group, plus what are the chances of a second Mt Victoria tunnel getting underway during this government's term?

What is it like to live in a campervan fulltime as an older person? Malcolm Keoghan joins the panel to explain the experience. Finally, they head to Greytown where the sixth annual Festival of Christmas is drawing thousands of people to the tiny town.

A council survey has revealed that the people of Wellington don't trust their city council.

It's taken the best part of a decade but sod has finally been turned on Wellington's Golden mile upgrade. The $116 million dollar plan was part of the "Let's Get Wellington Moving" intiative before it was canned and is supposed to transform the capital's entertainment precinct. But some local businesses who will be affected by the upgrade say the timing is off - and one bar reckons it could be the final straw that sinks nearby businesses. Nick James reports.

Diane discusses the latest events in Whakatane including updates on the upcoming local elections.

Jerome Taylor launched the high-end fashion brand nearly 10 years ago and it's been featured in Vogue Magazine and had showings at Fashion Weeks overseas and at home. He even had the backing of a Prime Ministers scholarship to tour the textile industry in India - but his brand 'Not For You' is now "Not Here," as he's packed up to base himself across the Tasman. Taylor spoke to Melissa Chan-Green.

The Wellington region is in for an electorate shakeup, after an independent commission recommended the scrapping of three seats, with only two being created to make up for it. Population changes mean there has to be one fewer seat in the North Island at the next election, with an extra list seat being created to make up for it. The public will be able to have their say - with a promise this is not a foregone conclusion. Political reporter Giles Dexter has more.

There is growing anger in Wellington over revelations the capital's ratepayers have been paying nearly three times more for water repairs than in other parts of the country. 

The Upper Hutt Mayor says it was obvious the region's water agency was ripping off ratepayers for a long time. Report findings show a lack of oversight meant Wellington Water was paying nearly three times more to contractors for pipe work, compared with in other areas. Board Chair Nick Leggett says it means millions of ratepayer dollars wasted. Upper Hutt Mayor Wayne Guppy says Leggett must resign. He told Mike Hosking his council smelt a rat for years, but their concerns fell on deaf ears. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Creatives are set to take over a section of carparks in Wellington's Cuba Street tomorrow.

A witness has recalled the moment he stopped a motorist from driving away after a woman was allegedly struck by a car in Wellington. The woman, who is 66 years old, is still in critical condition after she was hit while crossing the road on Courtenay Place in the CBD last night. Police are now speaking with the 82 year old man who was driving the car. Ashleigh McCaull reports.

Around the motu: Georgina Campbell in Wellington

The owner of a scary Wellington tourist attraction said a slump in tourists, and belt tightening, are behind its closure. Fear Factory opened in the capital the year before COVID-19 struck and the nautical nightmare maze has since chartered a rocky course. But our brave reporter Krystal Gibbens took a tour, with Director and General Manager Matthew Smith as her guide.

There's shock and worry in the performing arts industry with news the capital's only creative polytech campus could be for the chopping block. The cash-strapped national polytechnic organisation Te Pukenga is looking at closing Te Kahui Auaha which opened just seven years ago and also serves as a performance venue. Lauren Crimp has more.

A 'sit in' at the Begonia House is planned to take place tomorrow to protest its possible demolition. 

Businesses say the gag worthy smell coming from the Lower Hutt's Seaview waste water treatment plant is disgusting and off putting for customers. People living and working in the seaside suburb north of Wellington have been battling the pong for years, and recently, a second deodoriser has brought into try and kill the stench. Earlier this year work was completed on the plants bioflilters to help with the smell - but locals say it's still wiffy and a fire in the sludge dryer in September added to the problem. Anthony Coomer, who works at motorsport seat manufacturer Racetech on Barnes St, about 300m from the waste water treatment plant spoke to Lisa Owen.

Wellingtonians are hoping the Government's call to bring public service workers back into the office will be a shot in the arm for struggling businesses. But public servants said they feel like they're being belittled and that the Government is using the sector as a scapegoat, Bill Hickman has more.

Wellington businesses say high rent prices, expensive groceries and cark park prices have sucked the life out of the CBD, leaving business struggling with few customers. Post COVID, they said the vibe has been off, with the area feeling less safe and more people choosing to stay away, Bella Craig reports.

A coroner has found convicted murderer Paul Tainui would have had the traits of a criminal psychopath in 2010 but it wasn't detected when the Parole Board asked for him to be assessed. Tainui, who was born Paul Russell Wilson - raped and murdered Kimberley Schroder in 1994. Before his release for that crime in 2010, Tainui went through psychological testing and it was found he did not meet the level to be assessed a psychopath and was low risk of reoffending in most circumstances. But Coroner Marcus Elliott has ruled Tainui's offending in 1994 and 2018 was that of a criminal psychopath and he must have had those traits in 2010, senior reporter Timothy Brown spoke to Lisa Owen about the details. A warning, this story deals with extreme violence, sexual assault and suicide.

Plans to restore Wellington's iconic Band Rotunda on Oriental Parade have been ditched. Once a premiere hospitalitality venue, some residents now say it's an eye sore after closing more than a decade ago. The UFO-like building is perched on a premo spot on the water. However, by mutal agreement, the council and its chosen developer have decided terminate a deal to resusitate the Rotunda, because the patch up is too pricey and no-one is interested in leasing the building, developer Maurice Clark spoke to Lisa Owen.

It's been a wet and muddy day for lots of Wellington residents as significant rainfall has cause flooding and slips in the region, Bill Hickman speaks to Lisa Owen from the Hutt Riverbank.