Stories by Robin Martin
News
Kāinga Ora under fire for 'broken' promises
A Christchurch woman says the housing agency broke a promise to only house tenants with unblemished records in her neighbourhood.
Public outcry over Taranaki Cathedral whare shocks Dean
An outcry over the contemporary Māori design of the new whare at Taranaki Cathederal in New Plymouth has shocked its Dean.
An exciting mystery: Kākā makes return to 'dead zone'
It has been decades since the distinctive calls of the cheeky native parrot have been heard in New Plymouth, but the bird is back. Audio
'Her nerves are shattered': Mother forced to use hotels to get a break from neighbours
An elderly mother feels unsafe in her own home because of problems with the Kāinga Ora tenants next door, which began about three years ago.
Exploring the 'good, bad and the ugly' of Taranaki heritage
The first Taranaki Heritage Month is being praised for being brave enough to tackle darker elements of the province's colonial history.
Fears of 'a bad heritage outcome' if historic nurses home not restored
Heritage Taranaki is calling for the government to step in and save the historic Barrett St Nurses Home in New Plymouth.
'It's unsellable' - Family in six-year battle to save home
A New Plymouth mayoral candidate is calling on the council to honour a commitment it gave to help a family caught in a six-year wrangle with a property developer.
'Powerful' news images up for auction
Heavyweight bidders have been manoeuvring behind the scenes ahead of this afternoon's charity auction of more than 100 examples of New Zealand's finest photo-journalism.
Threats, rates and mullets in spotlight at feisty mayoral debate
One New Plymouth mayoral candidate was banned from today's debate for allegedly making threats against the media, while another has dropped out of the contentious race.
Family lucky to be alive after being caught in slip, but miss seeing dying relative
A Taranaki family making a last-minute dash to see a dying relative say they are lucky to be alive after their car was caught in a massive slip near Urenui on State Highway 3.
New Plymouth mayor fears site may harbour a 'cocktail of chemicals'
There needs to be independent oversight of multi-national agrichemical company Corteva's promised testing of its controversial Paritutu site in New Plymouth, mayor Neil Holdom says.
A purr-fect ending for Rio's two-week tree adventure
A Whanganui moggy has used up one of its nine lives and gotten a new nickname after being rescued from a Phoenix palm in Gonville where it was stuck for more than two weeks.
Taranaki Retreat marks fifth anniversary
Not long after completing a mental health qualification a New Plymouth barber realised the perfect place to use his new skills was at his barber's chair.
Te reo advocate Hana Te Hemara celebrated in mural
A five-storey mural of te reo advocate Hana Te Hemara will be unveiled in Ngāmotu / New Plymouth this week as part of celebrations to mark the 50th anniversary of the Māori language petition to…
Pātea marks 40 years since freezing works closed
Commemorations being held this weekend to mark the 40th anniversary of the Pātea freezing works closing will be bittersweet for former workers attending.
Taranaki rivers in need of 90 percent E. Coli drop to meet 'swimmable' standard
The amount of E. Coli in Taranaki rivers will have to drop between 60 and 90 percent to achieve the government's "swimmability" targets, according to a new report.
E coli discovered in 21 private groundwater bores in Taranaki
Taranaki Regional Council is warning people using private bores for drinking water to make sure they are secure from surface runoff contamination and the water is adequately treated.
Why Taranaki tyre shops are doing a roaring trade
Taranaki tyre shops are doing a roaring trade replacing bent and buckled wheel rims and tyres blown out on the region's pothole-riddle roads - but it's business they'd rather not have.
Pulling stumps on Pukekura Park 'would be a tragedy', ex-player says
New Zealand Cricket may abandon New Plymouth's Pukekura Park - one of the country's best-loved provincial grounds.
Waka Kotahi siphons $500m out of Taranaki to spend elsewhere
The mayor of New Plymouth says Waka Kotahi has siphoned off half a billion dollars from Taranaki over the past decade while the region's state highways are falling apart.
Mt Messenger bypass: Protesters occupying area make 'last stand'
Waka Kotahi representatives were a no-show at a hui to try and resolve an occupation at its Mt Messenger Bypass site on State Highway 3 in North Taranaki today.
New Plymouth Māori ward yet to get any nominations
A former New Plymouth mayor says he can understand why no one has put their hand up to stand for the city's Māori ward.
Campground murder case not closed despite arrest - police
Police investigating the murder of a man at a remote campground say despite their relief at an arrest, the case is not closed.
Alphorn group adds music to Swiss national day celebrations
In the early 20th Century more than half the Swiss living in New Zealand lived in Taranaki; now a new generation is celebrating its Swiss heritage by taking up the traditional alpine instrument. Audio
From cellar-dwellers to NBL title contenders: 'Amazing feeling' for Airs veteran
The Taranaki Mountain Airs basketball team couldn't have scripted a better home send-off for retiring veteran Aaron Bailey-Nowell aka 'Aunty'.