Libby Kirkby Mc Leod

Waitomo Hotel. Chateau Tongariro. Rotorua Museum and the Blue Baths.

Across central New Zealand many iconic historic buildings are sitting empty while their owners, both private and public, grapple… Audio

Tourism to Waitomo's glow-worm caves is quietly picking up but the area is struggling with the impact of extreme weather on the roads.

Before the global pandemic, Waitomo hosted more tourists than… Audio

Last year, the Anglican church purchased ten acres at Rangiaowhia outside of Te Awamutu, with the intention of enabling its return to Ngāti Apakura.

The hapū is currently leasing the land from the… Audio

Dip down into a valley south of Hamilton and you arrive at one of New Zealand's most unique environments - Waitomo.

Covid lockdowns gave scientists an unexpected opportunity to learn more about the… Audio

In the rural Hawkes Bay community of Puketapu, locals say the loss of a bridge ripped away by floodwaters during Cyclone Gabrielle has torn the community apart.

They say it's not only causing… Audio

National is facing a turf grab from its traditional political ally as it edges closer to polling day. Act is on a clear mission for the rural vote, roping in the former Federated Farmers president to… Video, Audio

The Public Service Association claims the South Waikato District Council has breached its obligations to act in good faith during a recent restructure.... but the chief executive says it's just a case… Audio

The Mayor of South Waikato says it gives him no joy to be suggesting an 18.5 percent rate rise - one of the biggest in the country. Gary Petley says it's the best option to get the council through the… Audio

Some Waikato builders are still sending leftover construction material to landfill, despite the council's plan to minimise and recycle waste.

Currently, 50 percent of what goes to landfill comes from… Audio

For more than 60 years, the dairy giant Fonterra and its predecessors have been one of the biggest employers in the Hamilton central city.

That could be about to change, with the company looking to… Audio

Today on The Panel Wallace and panellists are joined by Dom Harvey, Libby Kirkby-McLeod and Kate Evans. Audio

A Waikato council is considering banning most vehicles from using certain rural roads at night to stop racers causing mayhem.

Waipa residents have been complaining for months that they feel… Audio

The Coromandel's been hit again with widespread surface flooding, multiple slips and closed roads, just days before the summer holiday-makers descend.

Key arterial routes were knocked out for much of… Audio