Taranaki

Alana Brough planted dwarf fruit trees and a vegetable garden in the berm outside her home.

It comes after the plan was included in the list of projects up for Fast Track Bill approval.

A New Plymouth councillor says Local Water Done Well legislation is the first step towards a Taranaki unitary council - a move he welcomes.

But the company proposing to mine the Taranaki seabed says they were there first.

When Vannessa Savage-Taranaki isn't eeling, diving, or running after her tamariki, she's bringing te ao Māori to the international pageant stage.

Trans-Tasman Resources wants to mine 50 million tonnes of sea bed a year for 30 years, and it's just been included on the fast-track projects list.

Emergency services were called to the property in Auroa, South Taranaki at 8.50am.

Another medical centre has fallen victim to the nationwide shortage of GPs, but a kaupapa Māori health service is invigorating another. Audio

Hundreds of people have marched in a hīkoi protesting ongoing proposed seabed mining plans off South Taranaki, despite three previous court cases against the plan. Audio

The park was once described as among the best cricketing venues in the world, but has not been included as a Central Districts T20 home ground this year.

A $7 million playground emerging on the New Plymouth coastline promises something for everyone - young or old. Video

"New Zealand must look after itself before it cares for the planet", Resources Minister Shane Jones said, with the coalition arguing exploration will deliver energy security.

"The amount of near misses on this corner now is at least one a day. It's pretty dangerous," locals say. Audio

A controversial composting and Urutī if would

Two people are in a serious condition and another two are in a moderate condition.

They'll ditch rules that "invite every Tom, Dick, and Harry to vexatiously object to peaceful use and development", the government says.

Tickets are now on sale for the 2025 Te Matatini festival.

Officials from the company will be in the country next week to visit possible investment targets as well as talk to government officials.