East Coast
Māori Party's 'IwiRail' plan for improved regional rail
The Māori Party wants to develop a nationwide train network which it says would bring thousands of jobs to the regions.
Parents struggle to keep kids busy in the holidays
School holiday programmes can cost as much as $114, but one solo mum in Te Karaka is offering a novel idea for just $5 a day. Jacob McSweeny reports. Video, Audio
Exploring the words of 'Earth's diary'
Fossils are the words and strata are the pages of our planet's diary, says palaeontologist James Crampton. He's joining local iwi Ngai Tuhoe on a hunt for evidence of dinosaur fossils in Te Urewera. Audio, Gallery
Tairawhiti significantly short of psychiatrists, DHB warns
The Gisborne region's health board is resorting to prioritising clients and treatment due to a shortage of psychiatrists, its chief executive says. Audio
Wild weather forecast for BoP and East Coast
The East Coast of the North Island is having some wild weather, with swells of up to 6m in the Bay of Plenty and more rain to come.
Panapa Ehau: the business of fungi, kanuka, kina and hemp
Hikurangi Enterprises recently harvested its first crop of industrial hemp and is carrying out R and D on a local fungi, kanuka and kina. Panapa Ehau is its managing director and he tells Wallace the… Audio
Rocket blastoff bumped by winds
The first commercial launch attempt by the country's only rocket company has been delayed due to high winds.
The Future of our regions: Gisborne
A new study predicts that the Gisborne district's population will increase by by nearly 10 percent to 52,000 by 2043. So what does that mean for the region and its infrastructure? David Wilson is the… Audio
Man rescued from ship after stroke
A launch at Gisborne's port went out in rough seas to rescue a man who had suffered a stroke on a log ship, after the rescue helicopter had to pull out.
Child dies after being hit by truck
A child has died after being hit by a truck this afternoon in Gisborne.
Woman hit by car dies in hospital
A woman who was hit by a car near Gisborne last night has died.
Quake tsunami threshold changed after East Cape shake
The magnitude required to trigger an automatic tsunami alert has been lowered, Civil Defence has confirmed.
'Whakapono [religion] is part of our DNA'
Te Ahi Kaa is in Gisborne this week with Donald Tamihere, who took over the role as Bishop of Te Tairawhiti from the late Archbishop Brown Turei. Audio
Police investigating fatal suspected hit-and-run
A man has died after what police say was a suspected hit-and-run in the Gisborne region.
Local MP says cyclone weather spectacular but brief
East Coast MP Anne Tolley says it was quite spectacular, but over very quickly. She says things are not quite back to normal, but the attention can now swing back to the recovery in Edgecumbe. Audio
On the frontline: Women in WWI
A hundred years on, World War One has been on our minds for the past few years. Mostly it's been from the point of view of the men who fought and died - or survived.
Recovery - Women's Overseas… Audio
Hikurangi's hemp ready to harvest
Hikurangi Enterprises' hemp trial is ready for harvest, and this Friday the Ruatoria community can come and smell, touch and smoke the plant, and learn what it's all about. Audio
Forestry worker death investigated
The man, in his 40s, was found by his workmates this morning but could not be revived.
Regional development plans criticised as all talk
The government has defended its Gisborne regional development plans from accusations it needs to intervene more.
Steve Askin's childhood friend reflects on adventures together
Steve Askin was a helicopter pilot, former soldier and family man. Seventeen years ago he appeared in an advertisement with a boy called Pewee - who spoke to Checkpoint today.
Footage of Steve Askin… Video, Audio