Robin Martin
Regional council chair under fire for unfair ads
The chairman of the Taranaki Regional Council is under fire for appearing in ads promoting the council's achievements just ahead of the local body elections. A rival candidate has complained to the… Audio
One man's quest for burger with beetroot
A slice of beetroot or two in your hamburger is as kiwi as pavlova or pineapple lumps, right? Well perhaps not any more. A Whanganui man says after setting off on a burger mission he was offered… Audio
New Plymouth council washes its hands of Yarrow Stadium rebuild
The 50 million dollar repair and upgrade of Yarrow Stadium has taken another twist with the stadium operator -- the New Plymouth District Council -- washing its hands of the project. Asked to oversee… Audio
Poo emoji election marketing causes stink in New Plymouth
An ad campaign encouraging people to vote in local body elections - which features a poo emoji and the catchphrase 'Give a shit - vote today' - has kicked up a stink in New Plymouth. Video, Audio
Scientist in Taranaki helps fly drones over Papua New Guinea volcano
In an upstairs room at a New Plymouth lifestyle block - with a view across to Mt Taranaki - a scientist is helping colleagues fly drones into volcanic plumes half a world away in Papua New Guinea.
… Video, Audio
Sewage pipes flunk risk assessment
More than a third of the exposed sewerage pipes criss-crossing New Plymouth streams and rivers have flunked a risk assessment and pose a threat of discharging raw sewage into the waterways, killing… Audio
Council aspirants kept in dark over state of NP water network
A secret briefing on the perilous state of New Plymouth's water pipes has raised the ire of council aspirants in the city. Mayoral candidate Max Brough says incumbent councillors were told at least… Audio
Council chief executive defends secret briefing
A secret briefing on the perilous state of New Plymouth's water pipes has raised the ire of council aspirants in the city. Mayoral candidate Max Brough says councillors were told a third of the… Audio
Provinces missing out on neurololgy services - advocate
People living with MS in New Plymouth are running a one-day Brain Health seminar tomorrow tagged "Time Matters" to push their message that the provinces are missing out on neurology services. They… Audio
Group lobbies for resident neurologist at Taranaki Hospital
A Taranaki woman who was the youngest person in New Zealand to be diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis is lobbying for a resident neurologist at Taranaki Base Hospital. Jessie-Lee Boylan was aged just 17… Audio
Mayoral candidate threatens to move local rough sleeper
A rough sleeper in Hawera has unwittingly found himself front and centre of the South Taranaki mayoralty race.
Mayoral aspirant Craig Baylis says if he has his way the man known to most locals simply… Audio
Former police officer jailed for stealing $500k from his hapu
Members of a Te Atiawa hapu have stood up in a Taranaki court room to pour scorn on a former police senior sergeant who stole almost a half a million dollars from his own relatives. Many were in tears… Audio
Legendary back country pub on the market for $2.1m
If you've ever fancied owning one of New Zealand's archetypal back country pubs now's your chance. Whangamomona Hotel in eastern Taranaki is more than 110 years old, and it's on the market for a cool… Audio
Tornado slams woman into house
A woman has a suspected broken collarbone after being slammed into the side of her home during a tornado in New Plymouth this morning. Video, Audio
Port Taranaki boss praises staff for rescue effort
The head of operations at Port Taranaki, Ashley McDonald, has praised the quick actions of staff who rescued a man swept out to sea off a New Plymouth beach today. He spoke to reporter Robin Martin. Audio
Len Lye visitor numbers plummet after door charge introduced
Attendance to the Len Lye Centre in New Plymouth has more than halved a year after a controversial door charge was introduced for out-of-town visitors. Audio
Whanganui migrant advocate rebukes iwi leader over comments
A Whanganui migrant advocate says local Maori should concentrate on dragging themselves out of poverty rather than worrying about the small number of refugees due to be resettled in the city.
But… Audio
New Plymouth council roofing project blows budget
Questions are being asked about the $2 million blowout of a roofing and maintenance project at the New Plymouth District Council.
Nicknamed the "purple palace", the council building has been swathed… Audio
Permanent resident threatened with deportation over e-visa fail
A 78-year-old New Zealand permanent resident says she feared being deported back to the UK after officials in Brisbane couldn't read her electronic visa. And she says staff at the airport scoffed at… Audio
Electric blanket fire a timely reminder – Fire Service
A Taranaki woman says she's lucky to be alive after an electric blanket burst into flames on the bed she and her baby were lying in. The 24-year-old and her one-year-old son escaped unscathed, but… Video, Audio
