Waikato

Europeans didn't arrive until 1835, when Wesleyan missionaries, the Rev James and Mary Wallis arrived and were welcomed by the locals. By 1850 large-scale conversion of land to pasture began after… Audio

UK-based New Zealand writer and researcher, and co-author with Australian writer Greg Armstrong of the forthcoming book, Half a World Away: The Beatles' Australasian Tour 1964. Audio

The 46th National Agricultural Fieldays at Mystery Creek near Hamilton showcases the very best of New Zealand agriculture, and this year our team checked out a Taranaki farmer who sells angus beef on… Audio

The high milk payout to dairy farmers and better sheep and beef prices has Fieldays exhibitors rubbing their hand with glee but cautious farmers may ruin the party. Audio

The annual National Agricultural Fieldays gets under way at Mystery Creek near Hamilton today. Audio

Linda van Eyk breeds belted galloway cattle at Pirongia in Waikato. In the US, the striking cows are sometimes called Oreos - that's because their coats resemble the Oreo cookie - which has creamy… Audio

The education landscape in Hamilton has just changed with the city's first Islamic early childhood centre now taking enrolments. The centre is located in the city's mosque and has the name "Iqra"… Audio

Caesar Roose was born in 1886 on an island in the Waikato River, opposite the railway town of Mercer. At the age of eighteen, he launched his first commercial boat and for the next 60-years Roose… Audio

A statue to honour war horses is being pushed for in the Waikato. More than 24,000 horses left New Zealand to serve in the First World War, but only four came back. Stuart Stubb's father - Major… Audio

The first step in developing a three-billion dollar freight, commercial and residential development at Ruakura is underway in Hamilton. Audio

By 2020 it's estimated that, from the Middle East alone, about 70-million people will travel overseas on holiday, spending about $20-billion every year. Andrew McRae reports on symposium held in… Audio

The rights of freedom campers to park-up anywhere on the Coromandel Peninsular is being argued in the High Court in Hamilton. Audio

Anti-abortion campaigners are refusing to stop their weekly picket near Thames Hospital, despite protests from staff that the group is causing distress to the women it's targeting. Audio

People opposed to seabed mining off the North Island's west coast say if an application to mine is successful, it will open a flood of mining activity. Audio

The future of birthing units in two small Waikato towns hangs in the balance as the district health board considers closing them. Audio

Music director Peter Walls explains why Waikato's professional orchestra, Opus, gets heaps of praise from people in high places, but needs heaps more cash to reach its full potential. Audio

More now the hundreds of hectares of a Coromandel forest which have been closed to stop the spread of kauri die back disease. Audio

Move over the America's Cup, Hamilton is making history instead with the first ever race in this country of people paddling giant pumpkins. Audio

A disease which has killed thousands of kauri trees over ten years has spread to the Coromandel, where part of the Whangapoua forest has been closed to try to contain it. Audio