Stories by Jimmy Ellingham
News
Key North Island link highway passes construction milestone
Major earthworks are finished and the pavement will soon be laid on a vital transport link between Manawatū and Hawke's Bay.
More than 500 courses cut from Massey University
A student group is calling on Massey to be upfront about its strategy and where it is heading.
Work on almost finished cycleway pauses as debate rages
"This is crazy. How did this get through council?": A cars versus bikes battle continues to rage over a busy city road.
100km before 100th birthday: Hawke's Bay man walks for charity
"Life is uncertain," says Hamilton Logan, who is on an epic journey months before he turns 100.
No 'quick fix' for deteriorating Tongariro Chateau - DOC
The historic hotel at the base of Mt Ruapehu needs critical work to make it weathertight, on top of the $2m already spent on maintenance.
Staff shortages partly to blame for roof stand-off at youth justice facility
An internal debrief of the July 2023 incident shows communication and coordination between staff and emergency services was lacking. Audio
Families of hospital's suspected suicide cases speak out
Relatives of two people who died in suspected suicides at Palmerston North Hospital 10 years ago are disappointed at the lack of progress on its replacement. Audio
Napier's 162yo prison to close to tourists
Napier's former prison is closing due to safety concerns, leaving the man who runs tours through the site unhappy he will be locked out.
Mormon church doubles as school after cyclone and flood
A twice-flooded northern Hawke's Bay primary school is continuing to take lessons at a Mormon church. Audio
Property owner says council's low-ball valuation skewing buyout process
Buyout rules for uninhabitable properties are stacked against owners, Shane Fell says, but the Gisborne council is defending its process.
Businesses not sold on benefits of cycle lanes
Business owners say the changes to Featherston St are scaring off customers - but council says it's all part of a wider network that's been years in the making.
Scientists making dairy-free cream, milk powder from seeds
Massey University is so confident about its technology that it is getting behind a new company that has its eyes on selling to the world. Audio
Town no longer a 'dumping ground' for Auckland's unwanted trains
The Auckland commuter trains were dumped in the North Island town about eight years ago, then left to rot.
Death of man found in central Palmerston North still unexplained
Owen Charles Wildbore-Brumby's body was discovered in bushes in the busy city centre.
50 years since New Zealand's first test cricket win over Australia
Glenn Turner and John Parker remember a time when matches against Australia were rare, let alone wins. Video
Kiwi restoration project's uncertain future: 'It's all about breeding success'
Work to restore kiwi to a 23,000 hectare patch of the lower North Island is making progress, but the future of the project remains uncertain.
Recycling changes: 'It takes a while for the public to catch on'
Milk bottle tops and aerosol cans are not welcome in the recycle bin, but pizza boxes are fine - so long as the pizza has been removed.
Why worker shortages at Ōhakea are putting commercial flights at risk
A shortage of rescue and firefighting service workers at the Air Force's Base Ōhakea has "compromised" Emirates' services to New Zealand, the airline says.
The first city in NZ to have a 100% electric bus fleet
The city's streets have become busier, but quieter, as 42 new electric buses roll out on new routes.
Fury after another suspected suicide at Palmerston North Hospital
The man's death came just a day after an attempt using the same method, RNZ understands.
Reality for businesses staring down the barrel of lengthy SH1 closure
Northland businesses are facing more than two months of disruption as repair work is carried out on a crucial link damaged by Cyclone Gabrielle.
Lake Alice survivors receive apology from psychiatrists' college
But some survivors described the formal apology as "meaningless" and without emotion.
Senior doctor flies in from Australia to work on-site one week in four
Te Whatu Ora will not discuss how much this costs, but says the senior addictions clinician position the doctor fills is difficult to recruit for.
Two double drownings in five days highlight river dangers
Almost two years ago, Blae Ler Paw and Mu Mu drowned in the Manawatū River in Palmerston North. Just five days later, Toetu Tonisitino and Aukusitino Ioane died at the same spot.
'It's going to be a three-to-four year recovery, $1m-$1.5m probably' - station owner
Ten months after Cyclone Gabrielle, bad weather has left the recovery for many East Coast and Tairāwhiti farmers stuck in the mud.