Jimmy Ellingham
Galunggung Gliding Club marks 40 years
Forty years ago this week on a flight from London to Auckland the unthinkable happened.
First one engine failed, then another, then another, and then the fourth.
Jimmy Ellingham looks back at what… Audio
The story behind Shaun Gray's death at Palmerston North's mental health ward
For more than two weeks an inquest into the death of a Palmerston North mental health ward patient has examined events leading to his suspected suicide.
Today, the hearing was told about a different… Audio
Booklovers flock to secondhand sale
National Geographics, books about art and rock music were in the sights of the hardy crowd turning out for a popular annual secondhand book sale in Palmerston North today. Our Manawatū reporter Jimmy… Audio
Levin residents still displaced after tornado
Two weeks since a tornado blew through the Horowhenua town of Levin residents living in its wake face an uncertain future.
Uninhabitable homes are awaiting assessment, while displaced families seek… Audio
New Plymouth mayor calls for change to road funding
The way roads are funded in New Zealand is broken and must change.
That's the view of New Plymouth mayor Neil Holdom, who says something must be done before the roading networks gets worse.
Jimmy… Audio
Shaun Gray inquest: Nurse describes fight for admission
A nurse has told an inquest into the death of a mental health patient at Palmerston North Hospital she felt like it was a fight to get him admitted.
The nurse says she's never experienced another… Audio
Inquest into death at Palmertston North mental health unit begins eight years later
The inquest into the suspected suicide of a Palmerston North Hospital mental health ward patient more than eight years ago is starting today.
Shaun Gray, a 30-year-old father of one, died on April… Audio
Closed for good: rockfall could kill on old Manawatu Gorge road
The old road through the Manawatu Gorge won't reopen to vehicles because motorists could be killed by rockfall. The former main route between Manawatu and Hawke's Bay has been closed since 2017 when a… Audio
Weary, wary retailers welcome govt boost for ram raid security
A few million dollars to help small retailers secure themselves against ram raiders and robbers.
The government's made a long awaited announcement about how it will support victims of crime.
It's… Video, Audio
Millwater locals deny NIMBYism but petition against Kainga Ora
Another Kainga Ora development has locals up in arms - fearing it could change the character of their neighbourhood.
But, community representatives in Millwater - in north Auckland, say there's no… Video, Audio
Theatre groups set to appear centre-stage once more
The past two years have been hard on amateur theatre groups, which have faced financial hardship amid the heartbreak of cancelled shows. But the lifting of Covid-19 restrictions is allowing them to… Audio
Covid-19 delays affected 150,000 court appearances
Lockdowns and Covid-19 restrictions have delayed almost 150,000 court appearances in the past two years.
Victims advocates say the backlog of cases has forced many victims to put their lives on hold… Audio
Ohakune optimistic for winter boom after two quiet years
Residents of the Central North Island town of Ohakune are optimistic a booming winter is on the way after two years of Covid uncertainty.
And although warnings about volcanic activity on Mt Ruapehu… Audio
Boshier slams state of Palmerston North mental health ward
The chief ombudsman says the mental health ward at Palmerston North Hospital is one of the worst in New Zealand and not fit for purpose.
In a damning report, Peter Boshier urges officials to get on… Audio
Family of man who died at hospital boycott coronial inquest
The family of a man who died in a suspected suicide at Palmerston North Hospital eight years ago are boycotting a coronial inquest in May.
The family say they're walking away because they can't… Audio
Artist painted Footrot Flats mural without family permission
A mural of Footrot Flats characters Wal and Dog in cartoonist Murray Ball's birthplace of Feilding was painted over this year after his family objected.
Correspondence released to RNZ shows the… Audio
Palmerston North revs up for Superstock Teams Champs
Engines are revving and bar tills ringing in Palmerston North for the city's biggest weekend of the year.
The Superstock Teams' Champs bring thousands of petrol heads to Manawatū and pump millions of… Audio
Locals keen to access new Mangaweka Bridge
There is mounting frustration that a long-awaited new bridge connecting two central North Island districts can't yet be used.
The new Mangaweka Bridge over the Rangitīkei River is scheduled to open… Audio
Wairoa update: Storm clears but damage remains
Intense downpours in Tairāwhiti overnight cleared on Thursday morning.
Two-hundred millimetres of rain was recorded in the northern part of the region in the five hours to midnight, on top of heavy… Audio
Rain from ex-cyclone Fili hits Tairāwhiti
Heavy rain brought by former cyclone Fili is causing damage as it falls on already sodden ground around Tairāwhiti and Wairoa.
A red rain warning is in place for those regions, where steady rain has… Audio