Jimmy Ellingham

More than 11 years after the deaths of two patients at Palmerston North Hospital's mental health ward triggered damning reviews into the facility, a replacement has been opened. But the families of… Audio

Each year thousands of hospital workers are assaulted on the job. New figures obtained by Checkpoint show a 30% rise in assaults in just two years to over 7000 in the 12 months to June. One frontline… Audio

"Save our chateau". That's the message Ruapehu's mayor is hoping politicians will hear tomorrow when he drops a petition off to parliament signed by thousands of people. The petition is urging the… Audio

Should shopkeepers be allowed to defend themselves with pepper spray? It is an idea the Ministerial Advisory Group on Retail Crime has consulted on with industry players. But, the proposal faces stiff… Audio

Voting papers are about to arrive for the local body elections, but for residents in two districts they won't include anything about a mayoral contest. The mayors of Manawatu, in the lower North… Audio

A Gang Conflict Warrant remains in place in Levin, giving police extra powers after a string of gang-related shootings. The Horowhenua town also played the unwitting host of a boy racer invasion over… Audio

A Gang Conflict Warrant remains in place in Levin, giving police extra powers after a string of gang-related shootings. The Horowhenua town also played the unwitting host of a boy racer invasion over… Audio

A school girls' first XV rugby team is about to play for an unprecedented fourth national title in a row. The team, from Manukura in Palmerston North, are put through their paces every day at the… Audio

Residents at the Radius Hampton Court rest home in Hawke's Bay's Taradale, eagerly await the visits of Cleo the dog each week. But they may be about to lose touch with their canine companion. As… Audio

Residents at the Radius Hampton Court rest home in Hawke's Bay's Taradale, eagerly await the visits of Cleo the dog each week. But they may be about to lose touch with their canine companion. As… Audio

After providing help and support to women for almost four decades, Auckland's North Shore Women's Centre will close its doors in November due to funding shortfalls. And it's far from alone 236 service… Audio

A soldier with links to far-right groups and who thought he was spying on New Zealand for a foreign power was sentenced today for attempted espionage.At a court martial at Linton Military Camp near… Audio

A soldier with links to far-right groups has admitted handing over and attempting to hand over sensitive military information to a person he thought was a foreign agent. But the soldier was actually… Audio

After more than four years living in a motel room, a New Plymouth man paralysed in a fall is finally in a home of his own. Shane Emeny's Kainga Ora house has been modified for a wheelchair user and… Audio

A soldier with links to far right groups and who is accused of spying will face a court martial hearing next week - a first-of-its-kind prosecution that's for now shrouded in secrecy. The Linton-based… Audio

A patient at an Auckland mental health programme that will close its doors next month says she's feeling anxious about the future. Rauaroha Segar House, a publicly funded intensive service for people… Audio

Jimmy Ellingham has the news from the neighbourhoods around the central North Island Audio

What food did Paddington Bear have with him when he arrived in England? Which teacher in Harry Potter can turn herself into a cat? A group of four bright young minds from Palmerston North are… Audio