Tom Kitchin

Hard work is going on in Tairāwhiti to boost the low Covid-19 vaccination rate.

The region, including Gisborne and the East Cape had the lowest Super Saturday numbers and it has the lowest first dose… Audio

The Hawke's Bay district of Wairoa hasn't had a dentist for adults in nearly two years.

The problem's been worsened by a huge dental need because of high rates of drug addiction.

Hawke's Bay… Audio

Iwi leaders in Tairawhiti Gisborne want assurances from the government that their region will be protected from Covid-19. The threat of Covid-19 is heightened in the country's region with the most… Audio

The government is beefing up efforts to vaccinate Māori against Covid-19 - with the Prime Minister out on the road to show support.

Jacinda Ardern is on a quick-fire tour of the eastern North Island… Video, Audio

The Prime Minister continues her whirlwind tour of Eastern North Island centres today - trying to put a rocket under the vaccination uptake.

Data released yesterday show vaccination levels in wealthy… Audio

The small predominantly Maori town of Wairoa in Northern Hawke's Bay has hit a roadblock with Covid vaccinations. Although it led the charge in Hawke's Bay and vaccinated quickly over lockdown… Audio

Meanwhile, wedding planners around the country are also being hit hard just as the season begins, due to Auckland still being in lockdown and alert level 2 hampering gathering numbers.

Hawke's Bay is… Audio

A Hawkes Bay man is taking the housing shortage into his own hands - living on site while he builds houses for his whanau.

Like elsewhere, the region is fighting the scourge of homelessness as it… Audio

Locals in a small, rural district in Hawke's Bay are worried a proposed large housing development will destroy their beloved landscape forever.

A couple wants to build more than 300 homes near the… Video, Audio

Pet food shortages have been exacerbated over lockdown, clearing out supermarket shelves faster than normal.

Global shipping challenges have led to less pet food in the aisles for some months, with… Audio

Locals are on a mission to get rough sleepers vaccinated against Covid-19 in Hastings. It's an initiative led by a local church to help the city's 'whānau pounamu'. Anei a Tom Kitchin. Audio

Greyhound racing in Aotearoa may be shut down if it can't pick up the pace on animal welfare.

A Government commissioned review accuses the industry of a lack of transparency and communication.

Tom… Audio

The homeless outreach centre in Napier is stuck trying to find a home of its own.

It's been closed for some months and nearby businesses say the behaviour of those who still hang out nearby has… Audio

Building new houses at least a metre and a half off the ground and basing civil defence staff in Napier are two of the suggestions coming out of a review into the Napier floods.

Heavy rain last… Audio

A Māori led Covid-19 vaccination clinic in Hawke's Bay is experiencing unprecedented demand.

The drive-thru clinic run by the Hastings iwi authority Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga, planned to vaccinate… Audio

There's been a spike in demand for community service providers across the motu during lockdown.

Food parcels, take away lunches and advise to those in need is being given - and providers are… Audio

A Napier councillor infight over the unanimous decision not to go ahead with Māori wards in time for next year's election was kept from the public eye.

Emails released to RNZ show a councillor wanted… Audio

The small communities of Te Araroa and Wharekahika in Te Tairawhiti are now almost fully vaccinated against Covid-19. The rollout in these isolated areas is ahead of the average achieved by the rest… Audio

The small predominantly Māori communities in Te Tairāwhiti north of Gisborne are almost fully vaccinated against Covid-19.

In Te Araroa this week, close to two hundred second doses were given over… Video, Audio

Around 16 percent of the population have now received at least one dose of the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine.

The Health Ministry wants to get through 1.6 million doses in three weeks in September alone.

… Video, Audio