Jimmy Ellingham
First Up - The Podcast, Tuesday 9 April
On today's First Up pod - today with Jimmy Ellingham: finance minister Nicola Willis talks targets, MPs' pay and the upcoming Budget; a tiny North American ghost town turns boom town for a total solar… Audio
Six60 launch their grassroots tour at Te Kao Marae in Far North
Aotearoa's biggest band is about to hit the far north, Six60 are playing the Te Kao Marae on their grass roots tour, Jimmy Ellingham spoke with marae comittee member and treasurer Rosie Conrad. Audio
Flooded Hawkes Bay primary school holding lessons at church
A twice-flooded northern Hawke's Bay primary school is continuing to hold its lessons at a Mormon church. Its classrooms were damaged in Cyclone Gabrielle and Nuhaka school is hoping to be back in… Audio
Taumarunui gets rid of SOME of it's rusting railcars
RNZ Checkpoint's reporter in Palmerston North Jimmy Ellingham has been around the central North Island lately, he joins Nathan Rarere with some big transport stories from the region. Audio
Gisborne property owner calls out council for low ball valuation
A Gisborne property owner is calling out the council for what he believes is a low ball valuation. Shane Fell's property flooded during Cyclone Gabrielle and is now unihabitable. He believes the… Audio
Cars vs bikes - Changes to Palmerston North road expose battle lines
Cars versus bikes, changes to a 900 metre stretch of road in Palmerston North have exposed the battle lines between the two. Officials are sticking to their plan to introduce cycleways, much to the… Audio
Massey Uni labs making dairy-free milk products out of seeds
Scientists in Massey University's Palmerston North labs have come up with a way of making dairy-free milk products out of seeds. The university is so confident about its technology that it's gotten… Audio
Taumarunui: Work begins to get rid of old Auckland trains
Relief for residents of Taumarunui, as work finally begins on getting rid of the old Auckland commuter trains blighting the central North Island town once famous for its railway. The carriages were… Audio
Last bail out for Ruapehu - Luxon
Businesses that rely on Mt Ruapehu's Whakapapa slopes are popping the corks after the government announced a 7 million dollar cash injection for the ski field. Meanwhile, those on the other side of… Audio
50 years ago: Black Caps beat Australia in test for 1st time
New Zealand cricket fans might take a while to get over the disappointment of the test loss to Australia in Christchurch yesterday. However, rewind the clock 50 years and, in the same city, different… Audio
Ruahine Kiwi project funding running out in June, future uncertain
From farmland to alpine ridges, work to restore kiwi to a 23,000 hectare patch of the lower North Island is making progress. But the scheme's funding as part of the Jobs for Nature programme runs out… Audio
New recycling rules: No milk bottle tops and aerosol cans
Milk bottle tops and aerosol cans are now a "no" for the recycle bin. But pizza boxes are fine, just take the pizza out. New recycling rules came into effect on the 1st of February. Are we complying… Audio
Shortage of rescue services at Ōhakea threatens Emirates viability
A shortage of rescue and firefighting services at Ōhakea air force base has threatened the viability of a commercial giant's services to New Zealand. RNZ has obtained a letter Emirates sent to then… Audio
Palmerston North bus fleet 100% electric
A nationwide first for Palmerston North, from today, the city's bus fleet is 100% electric. More than 40 new buses have taken to the streets as part of a huge investment in public transport in the… Audio
20 year anniversary of Manawatu floods
Time now to head to the regions and today it's the turn of RNZ's Jimmy Ellingham (and occasional First Up host) from Palmerston North. Audio
Palmerston North Hospital under scrutiny after patient death
Palmerston North Hospital is coming under scrutiny over the death of a patient, believed to be by suicide. It's the latest in a string of deaths in either patients of the hospital's mental health… Audio
Northland businesses in for disruption as road work begins
Northland businesses are in for more than two months of disruption from Monday as repair work is carried out on a crucial link damaged during Cyclone Gabrielle last year. Everyone Checkpoint spoke… Audio
Woman remembers cow that swam her to safety during floods
A woman clung to a cow that swam her to safety as floodwaters rapidly rose. The story of Cow 569 became an enduring tale of survival from the lower North Island floods of February 2004. There was… Audio
A year on: Hawke's Bay residents speak on Cyclone Gabrielle
A year ago Checkpoint was in Hawke's Bay as shocked residents picked through the mud and debris after Cyclone Gabrielle struck. Today, we return to speak to three of them about the past 12 months, as… Video, Audio
