Robin Martin
Taranaki contaminated aquifer labelled risk to human health
An aquifer in coastal Taranaki is contaminated with an agricultural chemical at a level that is a risk to human health.
It had been hoped to use the aquifer to augment water supply at Okato, but… Audio
NZ Navy's biggest ship arrives in New Plymouth
The Royal New Zealand Navy's newest and largest-ever ship, the HMNZS Aotearoa is making its first visit to its ceremonial home port in New Plymouth today.
Reporter Robin Martin is on board. Audio
New Plymouth Mayor questions Waka Kotahi's ability to deliver projects
The New Plymouth mayor has joined the chorus of local body politicians bemoaning Waka Kotahi's commitment to deliver road safety projects.
Neil Holdom says lives are being lost on State Highway 3… Audio
Pop-It's - the new craze at primary schools
Over the last 10 years loom bands, fidget spinners and the floss dance have captured the imagination of the nation's school children. Now Pop-It's a moulded plastic toy -- which mimics the sensation… Audio
Whanganui velodrome rebuild hits a rough spot over roof
A former Olympic cyclist says Whanganui will miss a huge opportunity if it chooses a "tin-shed" option for roofing the city's velodrome.
Closed since February over track-safety concerns, the council… Audio
New Plymouth District Council flip-flops over composting plant
The New Plymouth District Council has done a flip-flop over its support for a controversial composting plant which has accumulated a 20,000 tonne stockpile of contaminated waste at its Uruti site.
In… Audio
Six kiwi released at Kaitake range in conservation milestone
Six kiwi have been released onto the Kaitake range in Te Papakura o Taranaki / Egmont National Park today where the call of our national bird has been absent for decades.
The release is a milestone… Audio
Taranaki hospitality school opens student hostel to homeless
A Taranaki hospitality school says opening up its student accommodation to homeless people was an easy decision to make.
The Pacific International Hotel Management School is housing about 50 people -… Audio
Strong opinons come out at Taranaki Māori wards meeting
Passions were running high at a public hearing in Stratford on a proposal to introduce a Māori Ward for the Taranaki Regional Council.
Iwi representatives and supporters yesterday engaged in a battle… Audio
Helicopter passengers taught how to escape underwater and upside down
Ever wondered how you'd escape from a helicopter which has crash landed in water?
Strapped in, submerged and most likely upside down you don't have much time to think.
A new training module is… Audio
Conservationists gather to celebrate kokako recovery
Under the cover of darkness this morning a milestone was celebrated in the efforts to increase the number of kokako.
From a population of just 300 breeding pairs in the late 1990s, the North Island… Video, Audio
Council jibe aims to stoke interest in submissions
A council that caused a stink by using a poo emoji as part of a "give a shit" campaign designed to get people to vote at the local body elections has again delved into its public relations bag of… Audio
Composting business sitting on 20,000 tonne of waste
A Taranaki composting business at the centre of a consents renewal wrangle is sitting on a 20,000 tonne pile of contaminated waste that could take up to 40 years to safely break down.
A regional… Audio
Mainfreight yet to identify reckless truck driver
One of the country's largest trucking companies is struggling to identify a driver caught on camera performing a risky overtaking manoeuvre on State Highway 2.
Video of the heart-in-your-mouth… Video, Audio
Taranaki composting business warned about misleading claims
It's been revealed a composting business at the centre of a resource consent wrangle in Taranaki has been warned by the Commerce Commission not to mislead consumers into believing all its sites and… Audio
Peanut butter baron spreads the good oil
The owner and founder of Pic's Peanut Butter - Pic Picot - wasn't about to let the Covid-related cancellation of a "design thinking" conference in New Plymouth, stop him from getting out and talking… Audio
Gas-guzzling cars go head to head with plug-ins in Taranaki
A battle for hearts and minds is underway in Taranaki between lovers of gas-guzzling classic American cars and the electric-powered new kids on the block.
About 780 vehicles from around the country… Audio
Silver Fern Farms fined more than $330k over ammonia leak
Silver Fern Farms has been fined more than $330,000 over an ammonia leak at its Hawera plant that was potentially lethal to its staff, emergency services personnel and nearby residents.
The February… Audio
Covid-19: 'PPE on steroids' used for recovery of seaman's body
Details have emerged of the extreme precautions - described as "PPE on steroids"- that were taken to remove the body of a man from Wuhan who died on a cargo vessel on its way to New Plymouth.
Amid… Audio
Police share details 'PPE on steroids' body recovery
A police officer has described the "PPE on steroids" recovery of a man's body who died at sea while on a cargo vessel travelling to New Plymouth. Amid covid-19 fears, the crew member -- from Wuhan… Audio
