Stories by Robin Martin
News
Oil firm must clean up before leaving Taranaki, says High Court
The High Court has ruled against a Singaporean firm which wants to disconnect its oil production vessel from the abandoned Tui oil field in offshore of Taranaki and leave capped pipelines on the ocean…
Lockdown silence allows detection of smaller earthquakes
Noise complaints are dropping substantially. It's so quiet you can hear the earth move.
Lockdown rules mean large queue for local bank
Hundreds of frustrated customers - some of them elderly - queued around the block at the New Plymouth headquarters of the TSB Bank when it opened this morning.
'Victory for the oceans' after mining company loses appeal
An environmental group says a Court of Appeal decision upholding a ruling preventing the mining of millions of tonnes of ironsands off the coast of Taranaki is a victory for the ocean.
Mining company loses appeal to mine ironsands off Taranaki coast
Trans-Tasman Resources has lost a bid to overturn a decision preventing it from mining millions of tonnes of ironsands off the coast of Taranaki.
Wider testing puts strain on assessment centres, says doctor
A Hawke's Bay doctor says many assessment centres do not have enough swabs to meet demand for testing of Covid-19 after the government made a call for increased testing.
Millions worth of meat headed to landfill
Independent butchers are hoping the government will let them reopen and say the window to save millions of dollars worth of product is closing.
Property brokers tell landlords not to offer rent holidays
A nationwide property management company is actively discouraging landlords from offering rent holidays to struggling tenants during the Covid-19 shutdown.
New Plymouth rounds up freedom campers
Freedom campers in the New Plymouth area have been rounded up and told they must head to a holiday park for the lockdown.
Good Samaritan groups told to stop
Taranaki Civil Defence is asking Good Samaritan groups to leave caring for the vulnerable during the Covid-19 lockdown to essential services, close family and neighbours
Electronics sales through the roof as workers set up home offices
Technology retailers experienced a surge in demand for home office supplies as the Covid-19 shutdown loomed on Wednesday evening.
Funeral cover ads 'really bad taste'
A insurance company's decision to pull funeral cover advertising during the Covid-19 lockdown is being welcomed.
'How do I pay the wages, the power bill, the phone bill, my mortgage?'
Already reeling before the announcement of a nationwide lockdown, some hospitality businesses are now worried about their long-term viability.
Coronavirus: Panic buying of vegetable seedlings at garden centres
Garden supplies and vegetable seedlings are the latest target for panic buying and people in isolation keeping busy, as concerns about the Covid-19 coronavirus grow.
Council leaders seek to relax statutory obligations
Local government leaders want councillors to be excused from turning up in person to meetings in recognition of the likely disruption of the Covid 19 virus.
Cultural dimension woven into new Taranaki airport terminal
Travellers passing through the new $29 million airport terminal in New Plymouth next week will find themselves immersed in the culture of the local hapū Puketapu.
Coronavirus: WOMAD organisers ask unwell attendees to stay home
WOMAD festival organisers insist that - beyond taking extra care with their personal hygiene - healthy festival-goers need only come prepared to have a good time.
Farmer tells govt to cough up if it wants 'orphan' oil well plugged
A Taranaki farmer says if the government wants to plug an 'orphaned' oil well on his property it can pay for the work itself or stay off his land.
International students help pilot academy to take off
A flight school snapped up on TradeMe five years ago has taken off for the commercial arm of the Whanganui District Council.
New Plymouth mayor calls for water infrastructure 'warrant of fitness'
The city is facing an infrastructure bill of hundreds of millions after years of successive councils failed to invest, the mayor says.
Ammonia leak kills thousands of fish
An ammonia leak at a South Taranaki meat processing plant - which has killed more than 1000 fish and eels - is being described as a significant environmental incident.
'Rising hysteria' - Confusing response to chemical spill criticised
Emergency alerts combined with a lack of information about the wellbeing of staff caused alarm during ammonia spill at a meat processing plant.
Yarrow Stadium facing numerous 'high risks'
An analysis of the $50 million repair and upgrade of the earthquake-prone Yarrow Stadium in New Plymouth reveals it has a high degree of risk.
Yarrow funding request 'almost robbing Peter to pay Paul' - sport groups
Taranaki sports organisations are crying foul over being asked to back funding applications for the $50 million upgrade to Yarrow Stadium that they did not support in the first place.
High-profile businessman jailed for part in meth ring
A prominent Taranaki businessman's fall from grace is complete after he was jailed for two years and 10 months for his part in a methamphetamine supply ring.