Richard Kempthorne
Volunteers helping farmers and orchardists with flood clean-up in Tasman
An army of volunteers has swung into action in the Nelson Tasman region to help flood-affected farmers and orchardists with the massive clean-up ahead. Top of the South Rural Support Trust chairperson… Audio
Is social media toxicity scaring people away from politics?
Tasman mayor Richard Kempthorne joins us to talk about his experiences dealing with social media as a local body politician, and the unforgiving - and possibly scary - bear pit young politicians are… Audio
$1 million in lottery grants money to go towards Tasman fire relief
The Tasman District Mayor says farmers whose land was carved up to make firebreaks during February's blaze will start getting payouts as soon as Monday, when a million dollars of Lottery funding is… Video, Audio
Rain brings relief for Tasman district
Tasman residents are heaving a sigh of relief after significant rainfall on Wednesday. The wet weather has eased concerns over fire risk and drought. Richard Kempthorne is mayor of the Tasman District… Audio
Nelson fire: Tasman mayor describes scene on Friday
A Civil Defence Emergency is still in place for Tasman. So far only one home has been confirmed to be destroyed but Fire Emergency New Zealand says they haven't been able to assess the damage in… Audio
Nelson fire still not under full control - Kempthorne
Back to the fires in Nelson and we can talk to the Tasman District Mayor Richard Kempthorne. Audio
Tasman Mayor warns of job losses in dry weather
The mayor of Tasman says if the region's dry spell continues and crops can't be harvested, then potentially up to two thousand jobs could be lost. Water cuts of 50-percent came into force yesterday… Audio
Weather: Water restrictions as Tasman feels heat
North Island temperatures did not dip below 20 degrees on Monday night with Kaitaia, Tauranga and Whangarei all recording minimum temperatures of 22 degrees. But it's bad news for some in Nelson, with… Audio
Waimea Dam proponents look for alternative funding
Irrigators on the Waimea Plains near Nelson say they're now considering alternative funding options to their 100-million-dollar Waimea Dam project, after a shock vote to block its construction over… Audio
Tasman councillors vote against Waimea Dam
The growing chorus of opponents to the $100-million Waimea Dam project are relieved it's now off the table. Tasman councillors voted eight against six on Monday to can the project, after six hours of… Audio
Tasman mayor keen for Waimea dam project
Guyon Espiner speaks to Tasman District Council mayor Richard Kempthorne about Waimea Dam. The council is set to vote on whether to push on with the controversial project. The latest figures put the… Audio
Waimea dam fails without $26m funding
The Waimea dam is dead in the water unless $26 milliion in extra funding can be found. The dam was proposed for the Lee Valley to address severe water shortages at an initial estimated cost of $75… Audio
Relief fund application too complicated - businesses
Businesses in Golden Bay applying for money from a mayoral relief fund have found it hard-going. The Tasman District Council has used a $100,000 government grant as the basis of the fund, aimed at… Audio
Easter business boost to Cyclone-hit Golden Bay
Some Golden Bay businesses say they've seen a big boost in tourist numbers over Easter. The area was devastated by Cyclone Gita on February 20 and slips cut off the district's only access road over… Audio
Golden Bay cleans up with $100k help after Gita
Storm-affected residents and businesses in Golden Bay have welcomed news of a 100-thousand dollar rescue package, but some say it might not be enough. The area of north-west Nelson had its only road… Audio
Richard Kempthorne on Gita clean up in Tasman district
Tasman District Mayor Richard Kempthorne outlines the massive clean up operation still going on two weeks after ex-cyclone Gita hit the region. Some residents feel that they have been overlooked in… Audio
Mayors tackle freedom camping
Mayors and deputies around the country are meeting with Tourism minister Kelvin Davis in Wellington today over continuing issues of freedom campers. Audio
Gita: Takaka supermarket says no need for panic
Tasman District Mayor Richard Kempthorne says Takaka and the surrounding area could take a year to recover from former cyclone Gita's devastation. But residents of the Golden Bay town have been more… Audio
Gita: Storm sweeps 16 slips over Takaka road
Takaka and the surrounding area faces a long and expensive clean up after Tuesday night's big storm while other areas are still being hit by the tail of former-cyclone Gita. In Golden Bay the… Audio
Gita: Takaka Hill hit hard, tourists cut off
People may have to be ferried out of the Tasman region's Golden Bay, and food supplies may be shipped in if SH60 can't be opened quickly. About 5000 residents and about 1000 tourists are trapped by… Audio
