Ben Bell
Southern mayors asking for real answers to rate hikes
Three southern mayors are pleading for the Government to offer real answers to a looming decade of big rate hikes, now the cost of three waters is back on their books.
The coalition Government has… Audio
Rivers still rising in Gore as rain eases
Gore remains in a state of emergency Friday morning, after Thursday's heavy rain and widespread flooding.
Despite the rain easing, some river levels are still rising.
The District Council says the… Audio
Around the motu : Tess Brunton in Dunedin
Otago correspondent Tess Brunton discusses another temporary closure of Oamaru Emergency Department, due to doctor shortages. And down in Gore, an $11,000 attempt to patch up relations between mayor… Audio
A little local political difficulty pulls national media focus
The nation’s news outlets aren’t usually interested in local government ructions in the south, but deep rifts in one dysfunctional council have made many headlines lately. When a ‘showdown’ meeting in… Video, Audio
A little local political difficulty pulls national media focus
The nation’s news outlets aren’t usually interested in local government ructions in the south, but deep rifts in one dysfunctional council have made many headlines lately. When a ‘showdown’ meeting in…
Video, AudioGore council united behind embattled mayor
The dust has settled in Gore and its young, embattled mayor now has a freshly united council behind him. His deputy had called on him to resign, leading to an extraordinary council meeting where it… Audio
Gore grief: The trouble at the Gore District Council
A council paralysed, a mayor and a chief executive not speaking to each other - what's going on in Gore? Audio
Gore grief: The trouble at the Gore District Council
A council paralysed, a mayor and a chief executive not speaking to each other - what's going on in Gore?
AudioMore turmoil at Gore council as veteran councillor quits
A Gore councillor has quit, saying there's "unsustainable anxiety" at the council.
The resignation of Bret Highsted has triggered a costly by election. The mayor and chief executive aren't talking to… Audio
New Zealand's youngest ever mayor
This year Gore elected the country's youngest ever mayor, when Ben Bell, aged 23, won the mayoralty by just 8 votes. Ben Bell edged out the six-term incumbent, Tracy Hicks. Despite his youth, Ben has… Audio
23-year-old Ben Bell wins Gore's mayoral race
Ben Bell will become the country's youngest mayor.
The 23-year-old has ousted six-term mayor Tracy Hicks by just eight votes, after a judge dismissed his bid for a recount.
He spoke to Michael… Audio
Longstanding Gore mayor ousted by 23yo with 8-vote lead
Meanwhile Gore has elected the country's youngest ever mayor. 23-year-old Ben Bell has beaten Tracey Hicks by eight votes after waiting a nail-biting five days for 67 special votes to be counted.
… Video, Audio
Gore's Ben Bell waiting to find out if he's youngest Mayor
Local election results are in and are most towns know who is in charge. But a handful of places are still waiting for the results - Gore being one of them. Twenty-three year old Ben Bell is… Audio
Gore election results still too close to call
We have something of a cliffhanger in the local body elections in Gore.
As things stand, twenty-three-year-old Ben Bell has a narrow 13-vote lead over long-time Gore District mayor Tracy Hicks in… Audio
Survivors - New Zealand's tiny native frogs
After 35 years of counting threatened Archey's frog on the Coromandel Peninsula, Ben Bell has seen their numbers crash due to the chytrid fungal disease, and the population slowly recover. Audio, Gallery
Survivors - New Zealand's tiny native frogs
After 35 years of counting threatened Archey's frog on the Coromandel Peninsula, Ben Bell has seen their numbers crash due to the chytrid fungal disease, and the population slowly recover.
AudioWorthless or Priceless? Archey's Frog makes world list
A small frog that lives only in Coromandel forests and in one site near Te Kuiti has been listed as one of the world's most endangered species. Audio
Vocal Appropriation
Victoria University biologists demonstrate how birds incorporate sounds from their environment into their song Audio
Introduced birds are starting to copy our native bird songs
Immigrant birds are starting to mimick the songs of New Zealand birds according to scientists studying bird calls in Wellington. Audio
Maud Island Froglets
Dacia Herbulock goes on a nocturnal visit to Karori Wildlife Sanctuary to see a new brood of froglets. Audio