Richard Kempthorne
Dam does 'not qualify' for freshwater fund - economist
Money allocated for a large dam project near Nelson from a fund aimed at improving freshwater quality is a misuse of taxpayer money, a former treasury economist says. Audio
Insurance costs place Waimea dam project $700,000 higher
The partners in a large-scale dam planned for the Tasman District say it will cost around 700-thousand dollars more than expected. Mayor Richard Kempthorne says despite what opponents to the dam say… Audio
Holiday hotspot Rotorua favours Easter Sunday trading
Rotorua is a favoured holiday hotspot among tourists and the city's shops will now be able to trade this Easter Sunday. Rotorua's mayor Steve Chadwick has been trying for 17 years to open the city on… Audio
Calls for national strategy to deal with rising sea levels
With new research showing the melting Antarctic ice sheets will see sea levels rise much higher than predicted, Local Government New Zealand says the country's coastlines need to be redrawn. Richard… Audio
Winners and losers in National's $212m roading package
The Government's announcement of a 212 million dollar spend-up on regional highway projects may have put National Party on the road to winning more votes in some provinces, but risks driving away… Audio
South Island storm damage revealed
The full extent of damage to Westland in the South Island from last week's intense winds has been revealed. The Westland District Council says concrete power poles were snapped and native forest has… Audio
Provincial mayors say RoNS done at their expense
Mayors of some of the country's largest provinces say money is being spent on the government's Roads of National Significance at the expense of roading in their areas. Audio
Tasman mayor says funding cap is hurting roads
Provincial mayors say maintenance on their roads is sufffering due to a central government funding cap. Audio
Clean up continues for Nelson residents
The mop up is continuing for residents in Richmond and Stoke. 144 millimetres of rain fell on the Nelson region in just twelve hours on Sunday. Audio
Wealthy businessman facing jail over tree felling
A businessman worth at least 90-million-dollars could face jail time, over 100 native trees cut down next to his Kaiteriteri property last year. Audio
South Island alliance to counter Auckland's power
South Island mayors are forming an island-wide political lobby group to counter Auckland's growing power. Audio
Nelson and Tasman mayors square off over merger
The Nelson and Tasman Mayors are squaring off over a proposed merger of their councils, with one confident ratepayers will support it, and the other expecting it to be rejected. Audio
Latest from Civil Defence on Nelson clean-up
Now to the latest in the Nelson and Tasman districts, where more than 100 houses are still off limits after last week's record rainfall. Audio
Heavy rain threatens homes in Nelson Tasman districts
We're joined by the Tasman mayor, Richard Kempthorne. Audio
State of emergency in Nelson Tasman after heavy rain
A state of emergency remains in place in the Nelson Tasman region as rain continues to fall. Audio
Neighbouring mayors not so neighbourly
The mayors of the South Island's Nelson and Tasman electorates are at loggerheads over whether they should hire a new chief executive in a job that could last just one month. Audio
Tasman mayor responds to David Carter
Listening to that was the Mayor of Tasman, Richard Kempthorne. Audio
Tasman District 'reeling' after PSA reachs South Island
Confirmation that the Tasman District has fallen prey to the vine killing disease PSA has left kiwifruit growers reeling. Audio
Tasman floods: Bad foresty practice to be investigated
The Tasman District Council says it will investigate claims that bad forestry practice is to blame for severe flood damage to properties in the Motueka Valley. Audio