Robin Martin

New Plymouth

Senior Reporter at Radio New Zealand (RNZ)

Senior RNZ reporter based in New Plymouth. Taranaki Whanganui is my patch. Feel free to DM your tips.

Articles

Iwi must deal with us 'whether they want us or not' - seabed miners

5 days ago | stuff.co.nz | Robin Martin

The head of a company that wants to mine millions of tonnes of ironsands from the seabed off the Taranaki coast says local iwi - which unanimously oppose the project - must engage with Trans-Tasman Resources "whether they want us or not", if it gets its consents.
Iwi must deal with us 'whether they want us or not' - seabed miners

6 days ago | rnz.co.nz | Robin Martin

The head of a company that wants to mine millions of tonnes of ironsands from the seabed off the Taranaki coast says local iwi - which unanimously oppose the project - must engage with Trans-Tasman Resources "whether they want us or not", when it gets its consents.
New Plymouth ponders first-ever public-private partnership for inner-city revamp

6 days ago | rnz.co.nz | Robin Martin

NPDC bought the Metro Plaza in 2019, expected to be unoccupied before work begins. $1.1m budgeted to demolish the plaza. KDH to get a strip of land for the Brougham Street development in return for public access to riverside walkway. KDH-owned buildings on Devon and Brougham streets also to be demolished. $10 million City Centre Strategy adopted in December 2021.
New Plymouth to pull plug on Winter Edition of Festival of Lights

1 week ago | radionz.co.nz | Robin Martin

The plug is being pulled on the winter edition of New Plymouth's popular Festival of Lights as part of a council cost-cutting drive. The event, which features light installations, music and food stalls throughout the CBD and foreshore, is to be mothballed from next year, though this weekend's festival will go ahead. Event director Lisa Ekdahl said the four-day festival over Matariki didn't stack up in the current economic climate.
New Plymouth to pull plug on Winter Edition of Festival of Lights

1 week ago | rnz.co.nz | Robin Martin

The plug is being pulled on the Winter Edition of New Plymouth's popular Festival of Lights as part of a council cost-cutting drive. The event, which features light installations, music and food stalls throughout the CBD and foreshore, is to be mothballed from next year, though this weekend's festival will go ahead. Event director Lisa Ekdahl said the four-day festival over Matariki didn't stack up in the current economic climate.
'Waves swamped the whole entire boat' - witness to fatal capsizing

1 week ago | rnz.co.nz | Robin Martin

A witness to Sunday's tragic capsizing in Taranaki - which claimed two lives - says the small pleasure boat was side-on to breakers at the Pātea bar before being swamped. Paul Mandela says the boat's skipper was thrown into the water, while it is believed his passengers were trapped in the vessel. A six-year-old child is thought to be among those who lost their lives. Mandela and colleagues were working on the restoration of the Pātea Surf Lifesaving Club. He saw the tragedy unfold.
SH3 at Awakino reopens after mudslide, delays expected

2 weeks ago | rnz.co.nz | Robin Martin

A lower speed limit is in force on a section of the main highway north of New Plymouth after a large mudslide. Contractors have been clearing lanes at Awakino on State Highway 3 after the slip happened on Thursday afternoon. Motorists are being told to expect delays and allow for extra travel time. Contractors were also clearing several smaller slips on SH3 between Tongapōrutu and Piopio which came down in the wet weather overnight.
SH3 still closed at Awakino after mudslide as crews work to clear road

2 weeks ago | rnz.co.nz | Robin Martin

SH3 remains closed today south of Awakau Road at Awakino in Taranaki after a mudslide came down on the road surface yesterday. The New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) said contractors were working to clear the road and it was anticipated it would be open to single-lane traffic under stop/go controls by the end of the Friday. UPDATE 9:40AMThe closure area has been extended, with SH3 now being CLOSED between Awakino Gorge and Mokau.
Former New Plymouth mayor David Lean remembered as a 'visonary'

2 weeks ago | rnz.co.nz | Robin Martin

Former New Plymouth mayor David "Daisy" Lean is being remembered as a "visionary" who injected a youthful energy into the role. The 76-year-old, who died earlier this week, was one of the country's youngest ever mayors when elected in 1980 - at just 32 years of age. He wore the mayoral chains until 1992.
Former New Plymouth mayor David Lean remembered as a 'visonary'

2 weeks ago | radionz.co.nz | Robin Martin

Former New Plymouth mayor David "Daisy" Lean is being remembered as a "visionary" who injected a youthful energy into the role. The 76-year-old, who died earlier this week, was one of the country's youngest ever mayors when elected in 1980 - at just 32 years of age. He wore the mayoral chains until 1992.