NEW PLYMOUTH | News + Updates [Archive]

NZ1

September 12th, 2009, 10:25 AM

Ticket Sell-out Prompts Second Fleetwood Mac Show

Wed 09 Sep 2009

So many fans are flocking to see Fleetwood Mac at the TSB Bowl of Brooklands in December that a second show has just been announced.

Tickets to the Sunday 20 December show are on sale now through Ticketmaster after the Saturday 19 December show sold out within minutes of public sales opening this morning (Wednesday).

“These will be two amazing nights by an iconic band in New Zealand’s most beautiful outdoor venue,” says Manager Business Development – Events Garry Sharpe-Young.

“This weekend in December will be a high point in the history of the Bowl.”

Recent major New Plymouth shows include concerts by Sir Elton John, Jack Johnson and Westlife, with Sir Cliff Richard and the Shadows coming to the Bowl in February.

Following on the heels of their hugely successful 55-city sold out North American tour, Fleetwood Mac – Stevie Nicks, Lindsey Buckingham, Mick Fleetwood and John McVie – are bringing their ‘Unleashed’ tour to New Zealand for a two-hour plus celebration of all the greatest hits from undoubtedly one of the most enduring, celebrated and influential rock groups of all time.

The New Plymouth i-SITE Visitor Information Centre is geared up to help those travelling to New Plymouth find accommodation.

The i-SITE is encouraging visitors to first fill in an online accommodation enquiry form here, for a quick response.

“We have an up to date directory of available rooms in the region and while people may not get their first choice of accommodation, the team at the i-SITE are working hard to ensure everyone has a bed,” says Team Leader Visitor Experience Karen Moratti-Longstaff.

“We are directing visitor enquiries to the available commercial accommodation first, and are then suggesting the alternative of private home hosts that are registered with us.

“We already have a list of private homes from previous large events. If we need more private accommodation closer to the date, we’ll put a call out to the public,” she says.

“Another option for visitors is getting together with friends and hiring a campervan for the weekend. The team at the i-SITE are able to help with bookings, advice or information for people coming to the region.”

The i-SITE can be contacted on 06-759 6060 or info@newplymouth.govt.nz.

For Fleetwood Mac tickets go to www.ticketmaster.co.nz or phone 0800 111 999.

metroman

September 13th, 2009, 08:44 AM

http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/farming/2850219/Decision-time

metroman

September 14th, 2009, 02:07 PM

http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/2860214/MPs-have-an-open-mind-on-mining

NZ1

September 19th, 2009, 12:28 AM

Car hire but not as we know it
By KIRSTY JOHNSTON - Taranaki Daily News

http://static.stuff.co.nz/1253281604/649/2881649.jpg
CAMERON BURNELL/Taranaki Daily News
HOP-A-LONG: New Plymouth Mayor Peter Tennent and NPDC sustainable transport co-ordinator Nathaniel Benefield test run the city's new car, provided by car sharing company Cityhop

New Plymouth is about to become the first provincial centre where you can own a car without actually owning one.

As of Tuesday the city like-no-other will join Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch by providing a car sharing service for its residents.

Car sharing is intended to reduce the need for individual car ownership.

The model is popular in the United States and the UK with people who don't want the hassle or expense of owning a car but need to use a vehicle occasionally.

Cityhop, New Zealand's first car sharing company, is providing a single Daihatsu Sirion for hire in New Plymouth to kick-start a sharing trend here.

New Plymouth District Council sustainable transport co-ordinator Nathaniel Benefield said he hopes the car will encourage people to think about and plan their journeys before leaving home.

"Instead of bringing their own car into town we want people to walk, cycle, take the bus," he said. "Then for $15 an hour, which includes fuel, maintenance and insurance, they can book the car and take it out."

It would be especially useful for people getting the groceries, going to the airport or taking a trip to many different places around town.

New Plymouth Mayor Peter Tennent said the idea wasn't to usurp rental car companies.

"It's more likely to be used by locals rather than tourists," he said. "The car's quite a zippy little thing, you should take it for a drive."

Once booked, the car will be treated like a regular vehicle and is not exempt from parking tickets or traffic fines.

The car will be parked opposite the bus station 24/7 and can be collected and returned using a hi-tech smart card.

Anyone who has had a full licence for more than a year can register to share it, either by online or by phone.

Registration is $50 until October 5.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/2881636/Car-hire-but-not-as-we-know-it/

NZ1

September 25th, 2009, 10:07 PM

Outback dust coats Taranaki
By LEIGHTON KEITH - Taranaki Daily News

Taranaki locals awoke yesterday to find their backyards coated with a bit of the Australian Outback.

Red dust from the sand storms that hit eastern Australia this week settled on roofs, outdoor furniture, vehicles and pool covers.

More: http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/2905575/Outback-dust-coats-Taranaki

metroman

September 28th, 2009, 03:22 AM

http://nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&object id=1060069

metroman

September 28th, 2009, 03:24 AM

Todd Petroleum to build $65 million Lpg plant in Taranaki.

NZ1

October 8th, 2009, 08:22 PM

Ireland test for Taranaki
By MURRAY HILLS and MATT RILKOFF - Taranaki Daily News

he Irish and the All Blacks are coming to New Plymouth next year.

The June test against the Six Nations champion will be the highlight of the year for the Taranaki Rugby Football Union as it celebrates 125 years.

The test, confirmed by the New Zealand Rugby Union last night, will be played at Yarrow Stadium on Saturday, June 12.

"Fantastic, it's a world class match. The Six Nations champions up against the All Blacks – it's pretty special," Taranaki rugby union chief executive Mark Robinson said. "We're delighted, absolutely delighted."

Mr Robinson said one of the key factors in Taranaki's bid was that Ireland wanted to come to Taranaki, with one of its pool matches in the 2011 rugby World Cup scheduled for New Plymouth. "They've got one game here and they want to get to know the set-up here."

http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/2946695/Ireland-test-for-Taranaki

NZ1

October 11th, 2009, 06:58 AM

Greenpeace protesters arrested
11:30AM Sunday Oct 11, 2009

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10602609

http://media.nzherald.co.nz/webcontent/image/jpg/greenpeace_300x200.jpg

Greenpeace protesters have been arrested in New Plymouth this morning, after vandalising a ship.

Seven members were nabbed by police for painting a slogan on a shipment of palm-based animal feed at the Port of Taranaki.

Greenpeace spokesman Simon Boxer says the feed is destined for Fonterra dairy farms.

He says they painted the words "Fonterra Climate Crime" on the side of the ship.

Mr Boxer said the activists, four men and three women, were arrested and questioned at New Plymouth police station.

Last month Greenpeace staged a 12-hour blockade of a shipment carrying palm kernel expeller, at the Port of Tauranga.

NZ1

November 6th, 2009, 04:54 AM

Jobless figures decline in Taranaki
By MATT RILKOFF - Taranaki Daily News

Unemployment fell by 200 in Taranaki in the September 2009 quarter as jobless numbers increased by 12,000 across the country.

The number of Taranaki people without work shrunk to 2300 in the September quarter, from 2500 in the June quarter.

However, there are still 700 more people unemployed in the region than there was at the beginning of the year.

Nationally, the number of unemployed rose to 150,000 making for an average unemployment rate of 6.5 per cent.

Taranaki's rate is 3.8 per cent, down from 4.2 per cent in the middle of the year.

Only Southland has a lower unemployment rate.

The number of people receiving the unemployment benefit in Taranaki has also dropped slightly. In August 1099 people were getting an unemployment cheque from Work and Income.

In September that had dropped to 1086, a number similar to the 1063 receiving the dole in January 2007.

Regional Commissioner for the Ministry of Social Development, Gloria Campbell, said while the latest unemployment benefit figures were encouraging, there was likely to be an increase from now through to January as secondary and tertiary students entered the workforce.

Nationally, the September quarter surge in unemployment figures across the country has been followed in October by a 705 drop in the number receiving the unemployment benefit to 59,955.

Numbers on the unemployment benefit has been dropping by 200 a week for the last month.

Before that, numbers on the dole were increasing by 3800 a month.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/3036918/Jobless-figures-decline-in-Taranaki

NZ1

November 11th, 2009, 10:36 PM

NZ needs Taranaki to thrive: English

Finance Minister Bill English made a simple plea to Taranaki when he visited New Plymouth yesterday – the Government needs the region to succeed.

"We need more jobs and more investment in the tradeable part of our economy, which is what Taranaki is all about," he said, referring to the region's exporting earnings via the dairy industry and the oil and gas sector.

"So frankly, we need you to succeed," he told 100 guestsat a Taranaki Chamber of Commerce luncheon.

"If not, then New Plymouth kids leaving school this year will spend the bulk of their working lives paying off the debt New Zealand is currently building up."

And until the county's economy does turn around, there is little chance of extra money becoming available for such local projects as roading improvements, he added.

Mr English' speech was given during a whistlestop visit to New Plymouth, in which he toured local industrial plants, met business leaders, and had a private briefing with New Plymouth Mayor Peter Tennent.

He told chamber members that there were two parts to the New Zealand economy – the tradeable portion via exports and tourism, and the non-tradeables comprising the likes of health and social services, and housing.

"In recent times these two have got right out of kilter," he said.

"The income part of the economy has shrunk 10 per cent over the past five years, and in fact our export sector hasn't created a single additional job over the past 10 years. But the consumer part of our economy has grown by 15 per cent in the last five years.

"There's the problem. Try running your organisation when your spending is growing at twice the rate of your revenue."

As a consequence the Government was currently borrowing an average of $250 million a week just to keep up, Mr English said. And this was expected to continue for the next four years.

"So we're building public debt. It is currently at $35 billion, and we expect it to head to $70-80 billion before it starts coming down again.

"That explains why the Government is having to be very tight with its spending right now. Every dollar we let run away here, will help put our public debt up there.

"So right now we don't have the choice to do more of the things we want to do. I know your health board wants more funding for Taranaki, and your polytechnic wants more financial assistance, and you are unhappy with your highway route out of New Plymouth.

"But it's going to need a very well-performing economy before the Government can meet those expectations."

Mr English, who is also Minister for Infrastructure, told the luncheon that the Government saw investment in infrastructure as the best means of helping the New Zealand economy grow.
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Over the next few years it intended investing billions in roading improvements – primarily in the Tauranga-Hamilton-Auckland triangle because that's where the bulk of the country's exports pass through – as well as investing in electricity transmission and ultra-fast broadband.

At the same time the Government intended cutting through bureaucratic red tape in an effort make it easier to do business, he said.

And it also wanted to improve the productivity of the public sector, which was responsible for 30 per cent of New Zealand's total spending.

"Generally, what we want to do is tilt the playing field in favour of what we want," he told the luncheon."What we don't want is more borrowing – and what we do want is more saving, more investment, and more exports and the jobs that would go with that.

"They all add up to a programme to lift our performance as a country. If that can happen, we're confident New Zealand can come out of the recession in good shape."

http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/3050330/NZ-needs-Taranaki-to-thrive-English

NZ1

December 7th, 2009, 07:24 AM

NP leads with property value growth
By RYAN EVANS - Taranaki Daily News

Property values are continuing to climb in Taranaki with growth in New Plymouth leading the country, according to Quotable Value's latest statistics.

Over the past three months, the average sales price for properties in New Plymouth rose by 6.6 per cent compared with the same time last year, with an average sale price of $331,692.

South Taranaki property values are also moving upwards, rising 3.1 per cent to $217,643 over the same period.

Figures for Stratford sales were not available.

Nationally, property values increased by 1 per cent, with an average sale price of $393,373.

The closest region to New Plymouth for growth was Dunedin where property values were up 4.1 per cent.

The worst place in the country was Whangarei, where property values dropped by more than 6 per cent.

Taranaki also fared well compared with both the region's northern and southern neighbours.

Wanganui property values dropped by 2.2 per cent with an average sale price of $217,982 and Hamilton property values also dropped by 0.5 per cent with an average sales price of $343,562.

Quotable Value's house price index compares the sale price of each property sold to its capital value to reach its final growth figures.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/3131223/NP-leads-with-property-value-growth

NZ1

December 8th, 2009, 09:07 PM

Fancy a $1.8M Hotel for free? Instructions to apply below!

Hotel free to a good home
By LEIGHTON KEITH - Taranaki Daily News

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ROOM WITH A VIEW: New Plymouth Girls' High School students, from left, Kristin Henry, 15, Lauren Luque, 14, and Charlotte Kisby, 14, relax in front of the Stratford Mountain House on a school trip yesterday

Businessman Karl Reipen is planning to give away the Stratford Mountain House he bought last year with a dream of turning it into an international attraction.

He wants to hear from individuals, artists, charities and trusts who would have a good use for the historic lodge on the slopes of Mt Taranaki.

Mr Reipen bought the 10-bedroom hotel last year for more than $1 million and is understood to have spent another $1 million on refurbishing it.

At the time, he said he hoped to attract wealthy Europeans and Asians to the pristine environment.

But this year it appeared on the real estate listings with an asking price of $1.8 million.

Now Mr Reipen says the lodge is going for free.

He says a recent quadruple heart bypass operation has made him reconsider his life's priorities.

Mr Reipen arrived in Taranaki from Germany some eight years ago, buying a significant coastal property at Awakino.

He has developed an international quality equestrian facility there and invested heavily in horse and cattle breeding.

The businessman, who made his fortune in Germany in iced coffee drinks, is usually media shy. But earlier this week, he appeared on TV3's Campbell Live to promote his giveaway.

"I have my farm, I have my riding things and a bit of business in Europe, so that's more than enough," he said on television.

Mr Reipen was less talkative when contacted by the Taranaki Daily News yesterday. "I have no time to talk on the telephone," he said before hanging up.

He has enlisted New Plymouth Mayor Peter Tennent to help consider proposals before making a decision who to donate the lodge to.

Mr Tennent said he had met Mr Reipen about his philanthropic gesture and was happy to be involved.

"He acknowledges that quality accommodation on the mountain needs to continue," Mr Tennent said.

The business yesterday was still listed for sale by Robert Angus on the Bayleys website for $1.8 million along with the Dawson Falls Romantic Hotel which has an asking price of $1.4 million.

Mr Angus did not return calls from the Taranaki Daily News yesterday.

Don Sinclair of Remax Team Realty said he had been marketing the Patua Lodge, inland from Okato at the base of the mountain, but potential buyers were wary of the risks in the economic climate.

Mr Reipen bought the mountain house – built in 1899 – from Berta Anderson, who owned it with her late husband Keith for 22 years.
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Proposals for the Stratford Mountain House can be submitted in writing to – The Mountain House, PO Box 303, Stratford, Taranaki.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/3141192/Hotel-free-to-a-good-home/

NZ1

December 19th, 2009, 04:14 AM

Band plans to duck fans
By MATT RILKOFF - Taranaki Daily News

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CAMERON BURNELL/Taranaki Daily News
BOWL PREPARATION: Dozens of workers descended on the Bowl of Brooklands yesterday, preparing the venue for two of the biggest concerts it has ever had.

Supergroup Fleetwood Mac will attempt a sneaky entrance in to New Plymouth today to avoid mobs that have greeted them during their world tour.

They are playing two sold-out concerts at the TSB Bowl of Brooklands this weekend and are understood to have declined Mayor Peter Tennent's offer of a Maori powhiri, or any type of welcome, when they arrive sometime between 3pm and 5.30pm today.

That is unless band member Stevie Nicks can convince her fellow members to accept the powhiri.

New Plymouth Mayor Peter Tennent said Ms Nicks enjoyed the traditional Maori welcome to Taranaki when she was here in 2006.

"She just loved it, but if they don't want it this time and just want to get in the zone to prepare for their concert, I can understand that and fully support it."

The promoter was still trying to convince the band to accept the welcome and experience the difference between New Zealand and the rest of the world, he said.

The decision to slip quietly into the city is apparently to avoid problems similar to those encountered in other countries, where the sheer number of fans turned their arrival into chaos.

If they do not change their minds, they will be visible to their devoted followers for just a few seconds before the concert – as they leave their chartered plane to get into the cars waiting for them on the tarmac.

But just when that glimpse can be had is a closely-guarded secret.

"I won't know when they are due to arrive until just before they take off from Wellington," New Plymouth Airport manager Kevin Hill said yesterday.

Though most flights are registered weeks and months before, there is no obligation for chartered flights to do the same.

"Basically, all I know is a plane is coming and that it will fit at one of our gates. They pay us landing fees and that is it," said Mr Hill.

Whatever the former notoriously hard-living band decide, they have already had their dressing room requirements filled by venue caterers Eurest.

Though they were tight-lipped about just what those requests were. Bowl manager Adrienne Kensington was allowed to say they were quite ordinary.

"Nothing really odd at all. We've had some weird ones before, but this time we didn't have to go out of the country to get everything they wanted."

The two New Plymouth concerts are the last in the band's 10-month Unleashed tour.

More than 17,000 fans are expected each night at the outdoor venue and New Plymouth is bracing itself for 20,000 visitors from outside the region.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/3178533/Band-plans-to-duck-fans/

NZ1

December 19th, 2009, 04:15 AM

Taranaki to host five international rugby teams in RWC
By JARED SMITH - Taranaki Daily News

We couldn't have hoped for more.

Taranaki will host five international teams during Rugby World Cup 2011 pool play, creating a footballing festival.

Team hosting arrangements for RWC 2011 were announced yesterday, with 10 more towns joining the 13 venues with games in also hosting visiting squads.

Ireland, USA, Wales, Namibia and the yet-unknown European qualifier will all stay in New Plymouth while they prepare for pool matches. USA will stay 10 straight nights from September 9-18 before its Irish game on September 11 (10th anniversary of 9/11), then the Europeans on September 15.

They will stay an additional three nights before heading to Wellington to play Australia.

Ireland (four nights), Namibia (4), Wales (3) and the Europeans (3) stay several nights, then fly out following their matches.

Continued:
http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/3178527/Taranaki-to-host-five-international-rugby-teams-in-RWC

Marky Mark

December 19th, 2009, 06:15 AM

:cheers:

NZ1

December 21st, 2009, 01:23 AM

Bowl show 'in top five'
By FELICITY ROSS - Taranaki Daily News

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Veteran Fleetwood Mac guitarist Lindsey Buckingham declared Saturday's New Plymouth concert as one of the five all-time top shows of his career.

That gig was the first of two the supergroup played at the TSB Bowl of Brooklands in New Plymouth at the weekend.

More than 36,000 people attended the concerts and all walked away with the memory of an energetic band still full of melodic power after more then 40 years in the business.

Fleetwood Mac promoter Andrew McManus said the whole band was more than impressed with the venue and the crowd's enthusiasm.

"Stevie [Nicks] knew the venue from playing last time and when I spoke to the band after the show they were just glowing."

He said he received a text message from Buckingham yesterday morning which said it all.

"It said it was one of the top five shows he has played in his career – and he has played a lot of shows."

And the persistent rain during Saturday's show did little to put the band off. In fact, they said it added to act. During the short time Fleetwood Mac was in New Plymouth Mick Fleetwood took his family out and about while Nicks took the day to rest, Mr McManus said.

"Stevie is a professional, she always says `I've got an instrument which 17,000 people are paying to hear and I need to protect it'. So she rests in her suite and doesn't talk."

As for rumours this is Fleetwood Mac's final world tour it won't be if Mr McManus has anything to do with it.

He said Buckingham was writing new material and another album, coupled with another world tour, could be in the works. "And if they do tour and New Plymouth is not on the itinerary then I will be having a serious talk with them," Mr McManus laughed. "Mick and John [McVie] just love touring, they love being on the road and Mick has just been nominated for a Grammy in the jazz section.

"Stevie is the key and I would love to think they could all work together again and be on the road in two or three years.

"This is the third show I have brought to New Plymouth and the venue is just world-class," he said.

"It is the ambience and the acoustics that make it work. We have played a lot of bowl venues where the acoustics just swirl around. It's amazing really."

He says the success of the Fleetwood Mac shows has opened the floodgates for other promoters to bring artists to New Plymouth.
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"The band's enjoyment is important and at the bowl all the boxes were ticked."

http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/3179974/Bowl-show-in-top-five

NZ1

December 30th, 2009, 06:53 AM

NZ1

December 30th, 2009, 06:56 AM

Lisa Tamati has certainly been getting a LOT of press recently with her Death Valley and Length of NZ runs. Now she wants to run from New Plymouth to Perth? :lol:

Lisa looks to the desert for her next challenges
By PETER BINGHAM - Taranaki Daily News

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RUNNING JEWEL: Lisa Tamati was back in her jewellery shop a day or two after completing her arduous run.

If it was possible even Lisa Tamati might balk at a challenge to run from New Plymouth to Perth.

But the Taranaki endurance athlete has achieved the equivalent distance, more than 5000km, in training and during two running feats this year.

She tackled California's Death Valley for a second time in July and two weeks ago completed a 45-day fundraiser from Bluff to Cape Reinga.

The first (217km) was a walk in the park compared with her 2235km slog from one end of New Zealand to the other.

"It was a 43-day, mind-numbing slog," the New Plymouth jeweller said.

"I knew I was going into unknown territory, knew it would be hard but didn't comprehend the amount of pain I would go through."

At one stage damage to muscle, tendon and bone reduced progress to a crawl and only then with the aid of two walking sticks.

Other times she was forced to walk backwards to preserve her legs. The elation on Tamati's face on crossing the finish line was only tempered by what she described as a "disappointing fundraising total" which presently stands at a little over $50,000.

"It was our fault really.

"None of the team are expert at marketing and we needed more time to get fundraising going properly.

"Maybe I bit off more than I could chew this year with my book, the Commonwealth champs, Death Valley and the New Zealand run."

The latter was in aid of Cure Kids and Canteen and Tamati plans to boost the final figure with a 14-day challenge involving Taranaki celebrities through January and February.

Then she will look at a series of gruelling desert runs around the globe.

"It's early days but there are a few things in the pipeline. If selected I will run the world 24-hour champs in France in May and then the Gobi desert classic in June.

Others on the radar include races in the Atacama (Chile), Namibia and Sahara deserts. The hot, flat features of a desert attract her.

"They are completely different to the world we live in, they are exotic and I am very good at running in heat. I have been an asthmatic all my life and am better off running in a dry hot climate. I'm not a very good mountain goat either so I don't do hills," she said.

Don't expect to see Lisa Tamati lounging around through the New Year. She is already back on the road preparing for a year that promises to be busier than ever.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/3198507/Lisa-looks-to-the-desert-for-her-next-challenges/

NZ1

December 30th, 2009, 06:59 AM

Banker records his final tally
By ROB MAETZIG - Taranaki Daily News

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ROBERT CHARLES

Looking back: Retiring TSB Bank managing director Kevin Rimmington enjoys one of his final days in the bank boardroom overlooking central New Plymouth.

It's difficult to imagine mild-mannered Taranaki banker Kevin Rimmington as a gun-toting security heavy, but that's what he once was. Sort of.

Mind you, he was also once responsible for the complete shutdown of the terminal at Wellington airport, where his briefcase was blown up by an anti-terrorist squad.

In the past 48 years he has progressed from being an office junior at the New Plymouth Savings Bank responsible for such minor tasks as changing ink blotters at customer counters, to being the managing director of what is now known as TSB Bank and which holds more than $3.5 billion worth of depositor funds.

During that time the bank has grown from being a little savings bank not allowed to operate outside a 42 kilometre radius to an institution offering full banking services throughout New Zealand.

Within the bank there has also been remarkable change - and Kevin Rimmington has seen it all.

"Way back in 1961 when I started work as an office junior, the banking industry was so regulated that it was illegal to use ballpoint pens," he recalls. That was because of concern within a conservative industry that forgers could pick up the transfer of a signature that resulted from the downward pressure needed to make a ballpoint pen work.

"So one of my earliest jobs was to fill the ink wells at the bank counters, make sure the nibs of the pens weren't worn out, and change the blotters.

"We juniors also had to do such things as sweep the floors and wash the windows. So you can imagine I was keen to progress up the ladder a bit and become a bank teller."

And there was an added attraction - he was issued with his own revolver.

Before that, the only time he got access to any of the bank's Smith and Wesson revolvers was when he and other office juniors were required to carry cash and cheques to other banks in New Plymouth. Whenever that happened, they carried a gun under their jackets as they headed up Devon St carrying a leather bag with all the money.

Nothing ever happened, though. Just as nothing ever happened behind the teller's desk after young Kevin Rimmington got his promotion. The only fun the staff had with the revolvers was when they headed out to the Rewa Rewa rifle range near the Waiwhakaiho rivermouth for practice.

Back in the bank, the only remotely scary occasions were when someone inadvertently dropped their gun, he says.

"So we always had to make sure there was never a bullet in the barrel, so it couldn't fire when it hit the floor."

But this policy almost led to disaster at the bank's Waitara office, he reveals. One day, when the bank's manager was out, one of the tellers convinced another teller that he could pull his revolver's trigger, and because of the lack of a bullet in the barrel it wouldn't go off.

"What he didn't realise is that when the trigger was pulled, the revolver's chamber fed a bullet into the barrel. The gun went off - and the bullet parted the teller's hair and then went straight through the back window.
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"Nobody told the manager, and the bullet hole remained in that window for years."

In the early days of Mr Rimmington's banking career, there were savings banks and trading banks. The savings banks - and at that stage there were only five, at New Plymouth, Auckland, Hokitika, Dunedin and Invercargill - were cash and savings oriented, while the trading banks were the cheque- based business banks.

The early 1960s were also when pounds, shillings and pence were New Zealand's official currency, and each time a bank customer deposited money, tellers had to manually calculate the interest to be paid to March 31 the following year. "Banking was very administrative based in those days," Mr Rimmington recalls.

"We held ledger cards for every customer. On April 1 each year we would calculate the interest to be paid over an entire year, and as the year progressed every customer transaction had its interest adjusted and checked by another staff member.

"So banks spent a massive amount of time in administration. Remember there were 12 pence to a shilling and 20 shillings to a pound, so each transaction could be very complicated."

To help tellers manually calculate interest, a series of charts were prepared covering an entire year, and on the seventh day of each month an office junior was required to replace these charts with the fresh ones.

"And look out if the junior forgot to do it, because it meant the tellers had to re-calculate the interest on all the day's transactions," says Mr Rimmington.

And did he ever forget? "I did once - but only once," he says.

July 10, 1967 was a big day, because that was when New Zealand changed from the old imperial currency to the new dollars and cents. But while the change promised to vastly ease staff workloads by simplifying transactions and interest calculations, the changeover was anything but simple.

"The conversions weren't exact - there had to be some rounding out," Mr Rimmington recalls.

"Not only that, but there was some resistance to the change. Some customers insisted on continuing to use what they called the Queen's money rather than the American currency, so we had to continue to use some of the pounds, shillings and pence for a short time."

One thing the arrival of decimal currency achieved however, was that it opened the way for the introduction of computerisation.

The earliest versions, introduced in 1972, were computers that didn't have any memory and instead transferred information on to magnetic strips on customer ledger cards. But the computers electronically calculated interest rates, so they were welcomed by bank staff.

Four years later advances in computer technology allowed the bank to become the first in New Zealand to develop and use bank- wide, real-time computer processing. "I'll always remember that. We set it all up in conjunction with the Waikato Savings Bank, and we'd ordered the necessary equipment when I received a letter from the Reserve Bank saying that it did not see any need for real-time on- line banking then, or at any time in the future.

"It also said we had no legal right to operate jointly with any other bank, or to set a separate company up. Basically, the legislation of the day didn't allow us to do what we wanted to do - which meant the law had to be changed retrospectively to allow us to purchase the equipment and to jointly operate with Waikato."

Mr Rimmington, who by that stage was the bank's chief accountant, says the letter from the Reserve Bank wasn't one he enjoyed getting.

"But we may have exceeded the speed limit a little in ordering that system," he admits.

Unfortunately, Mr Rimmington no longer has the letter - years later it was blown up by anti-terrorism officials at Wellington airport.

He had been at the airport to catch a flight back to New Plymouth, and had been waiting in line at a bookshop when his flight was called. He was still in the line when the flight was called again, so he decided he had better rush to the plane.

"When I got aboard I discovered I'd left my briefcase behind. I told the air crew, who said they needed to take off and suggested I get Air New Zealand to ring Wellington airport after we'd landed at New Plymouth.

"But when we called from the airport, we couldn't get through. Then when I got home there was a call waiting from a representative of a bomb disposal squad who accused me of being responsible for taking down the whole of Wellington airport.

"And they'd blown up my briefcase, which among other things, contained that letter from the Reserve Bank."

Taranaki Savings Bank's legal fight with the Reserve Bank was worth it, though. That was because its early entry into computerised banking, and the subsequent retrospective legislation, allowed the bank to be the first in New Zealand to install ATMs.

"We'd ordered four - two for central New Plymouth and one each for Fitzroy and Hawera," says Mr Rimmington.

"At around the same time I visited the Bank of New York which had also installed the automated teller machines. I asked the people there how many ATMs they thought were necessary - and they replied that they considered one ATM was needed for every one million people.

"And we'd just ordered four for a Taranaki population that in 1981 was around 104,000. I can distinctly remember telephoning home and saying that we may have over-ordered slightly."

The project went ahead, however, and in one respect it was made easy because the Taranaki bank had already developed and distributed the Cashflow card.

"We hadn't developed Cashflow as a plastic card to push into ATM machines - but as a customer identification card for use by our tellers. But it was ideal for use with the ATMs as well."

Mr Rimmington remembers the first ATM to be installed, which was in the Devon St East shopping arcade known as Centre Court. The bank was worried that some people might attempt to dishonestly use the machine, so a movie camera was installed that took a single frame every time someone inserted a Cashflow card.

"Then we worried that although that system would work well enough, we wouldn't know what time it was. So we installed a clock that also showed the date in the background so that it could also be caught on camera. And then the new ATM proved so popular that the camera quickly ran out of film anyway."

The computer network that included Cashflow was also used by other trustee savings banks throughout New Zealand, but later in the 1980s when all the other banks merged and left Taranaki's bank independent, there was no way this could continue because the former technology-sharing banks had suddenly become competition.

So the staff of the newly named TSB Bank set up their own computer system, which became a major financial success.

"The computerised banking package we developed sold all over the world - everywhere from Malaysia to Ireland - and it earned the bank millions of dollars," he says.

That, says Kevin Rimmington, spoke volumes about a bank that has always valued its independence. "Taranaki people are very independent. I think we tend to be a lot more secure about ourselves than people from other regions. Call it pig-headed if you like. But in the case of our bank, it has worked.

"Look at what's happened over the last two years. The world has gone through a major economic crisis - but TSB Bank has experienced its greatest level of growth. We've thrived at a time when other banks have either gone backwards or collapsed.

"I feel very privileged to have been able to be a part of all of that."

http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/business/3196358/Banker-records-his-final-tally

NZ1

January 4th, 2010, 10:06 PM

Fantastic stone carving competition on the foreshore pathway over the weekend. There would have been a dozen or so entrants from all over the country. Perfect weather for it too!

Holidays a grind for stone-sculpting principal
BY MATT RILKOFF - Taranaki Daily News

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CHRIS HILLOCK/ Taranaki Daily News
PRINCIPAL HOBBY: People have described Graham Wilson's first work at the Te Kupenga Stone Sculpture Symposium as looking like a paua.

It might tell you something about the pressures of Graham Wilson's day job that he spends his time off smashing up large pieces of rock.

Then again, it might tell you nothing about the life of the Merrilands School principal or why he likes carving stone at the Te Kupenga Stone Sculpture Symposium on New Plymouth's Coastal Walkway.

For the past three years he has spent the middle three weeks of his hard-earned summer holiday surrounded by screeching grinding tools, dust and 24 other sculptors, some professional.

"No it's not intimidating, it's one of the most enjoyable things," he said.

"The camaraderie of working together towards a common goal, of making work that we are proud of and hopefully the public can enjoy."

While he admits his wife is not as pleased as he is about the three weeks of carving, the opportunity to engage in a solid bout of sculpting is too good to pass up.

It is hard to find time for carving in between leading the good pupils and staff at Merrilands School and the general coming and goings of life, he said.

Hoping to complete two pieces by the time the symposium ends on January 15, his first is as yet unnamed and still some way from finished.

"I've still got to take a lot out from one side and fix up the lines on the top. There is still a long way to go but the secret of stone carving is knowing when to stop," he said.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/3205334/Holidays-a-grind-for-stone-sculpting-principal

NZ1

January 30th, 2010, 12:27 AM

Diva to sing at Bowl
By FELICITY ROSS - Taranaki Daily New

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First it was Fleetwood Mac, then Cliff Richard and now it's Whitney – the A-list acts keep coming for Taranaki.

A Whitney Houston concert has been confirmed for March 6 and the Bowl of Brooklands is the only New Zealand venue she will play.

The exclusive gig at the TSB Bowl of Brooklands will mark the first time the American singer has performed in New Zealand.

New Plymouth District Council manager of business developments and events Garry Sharpe- Young said getting Houston was an impressive coup.

"She has never performed here before and now she is touring with all of her hit songs and there are a lot of them," he said.

"She is the first international diva to play in New Zealand."

After tickets for the first Fleetwood Mac concert last year sold out within minutes, Mr Sharpe-Young anticipates Houston's one-off concert will sell quickly but, unlike Fleetwood Mac, he says there will be no second show announced.

"It's her big comeback tour and tickets are going to go fast.

"Fleetwood Mac's two December shows sold out lightning-fast, which shows how eager people are to see top-flight international acts at the Bowl," he said.

An exclusive TSB Bank customer pre-sale will take place on February 2 with general public tickets going on sale on February 8 through Ticketmaster.

Tickets are $120 for general admission, $250 for silver and $320 for gold.

The platform seats over the lake will again be in place for the concert.

Mr Sharpe-Young said nabbing the Grammy-winning singer for the only New Zealand show was a challenge.

"A lot of it is built on what we have achieved with previous concerts," he said.

"The TSB Bowl of Brooklands is the perfect venue for her. The combination of New Zealand's most beautiful venue and Whitney Houston will make for a magical evening."

Mayor Peter Tennent said the bowl was establishing a reputation as the must-perform venue around the world for the best of the best.

"We impressed everyone who had the privilege of coming through for Fleetwood Mac weekend and I've got no doubt at all that it will happen for Whitney Houston. It was a huge coup by all those involved in bringing her here and so I am thrilled," Mr Tennent said.

Houston's Nothing But Love Tour will visit Australia before hitting Taranaki.

The region's concert was going to be later in March but the cancellation of Houston's two Perth concerts for March 6 and 7 meant New Plymouth could nab an earlier spot.
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The cancellation of her Perth concerts have been blamed on AC/DC and George Michael, by her promoter Andrew McManus.

He said difficulties in securing rock'n roll air ride trucks to transport the touring sound and lighting equipment to Perth had forced the concerts to be called off.

Houston has more than 400 awards including two Emmys, seven Grammys, 24 Billboard Music and 22 American Music awards.

Her hits include I Will Always Love You, I Wanna Dance With Somebody and Greatest Love of All.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/3277606/Diva-to-sing-at-Bowl

otumoetaiNZ

January 30th, 2010, 08:17 AM

Wow how do you guys get all these? This would be great to have in the bay.

NZ1

February 9th, 2010, 12:42 AM

Shipping firm adds Port Taranaki stop
By ROB MAETZIG - Taranaki Daily News

Beleagured Port Taranaki finally received some good news yesterday - one of the world's largest shipping companies is adding the New Plymouth port to its New Zealand service.

While the arrival of Mediterranean Shipping Company won't make up for the big trade hit the port suffered last year when diary giant Fonterra dropped it from its South-East Asian service, it is still likely to involve substantial numbers of containers.

Significantly, MSC is adding Port Taranaki into its schedule as the final port of call prior to heading to Sydney, which opens up new trade opportunities for exporters from the lower North Island.

Yesterday Port Taranaki chief executive Roy Weaver hailed MSC's decision as excellent news, because it means the port not now has three trans-Tasman services whereas 12 months ago there was none.

"In the wake of our losing the South-East Asian trade, that's where we see our container shipping future - to Australia and North Asia.

"There's a lot of hard work now needing to be done to ensure the MSC service is a success," he said, adding that Taranaki, Wanganui and Manawatu were seen as the prime regions as source of the export product.

MSC's Christchurch-based national operations manager Mike Hodgins, in New Plymouth yesterday to finalise the new service, said two vessels will arrive at Port Taranaki every three weeks.

The first ship to visit the port will be the 30,971 gross registered tonne MSC Krittika which will berth late to next week to unload empty containers for distributions throughout the southern North Island. Then the first scheduled visit will be in the first week of March when a second ship, the 34,231grt MSC Palermo, will berth.

Port Taranaki will be the final port of call after the ships visit Nelson, Auckland, Tauranga, Lyttelton and Wellington.

"They will then head to Sydney and Melbourne, where cargoes can be trans- shipped to anywhere in the world," said Mr Hodgins.

He was confident that a minimum of 400 containers will be loaded onto the MSC ships at each call.

Yesterday's announcement represents good news for the port company as it works to recover from a 35 per cent fall in container numbers as a result of Fonterra's decision to drop the port as the point of export for its SE Asian-bound product from Whareroa, and rail it to Auckland, Tauranga and Napier for export instead.

At the time of Fonterra's announcement late last year, it was estimated container numbers through the port would fall by 22,000.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/business/3305707/Shipping-firm-adds-Port-Taranaki-stop

NZ1

February 9th, 2010, 10:49 PM

Fantastic panoramic of Taranaki
By JARED SMITH - Taranaki Daily News

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SNAPSHOT: New Plymouth photographer Adam Buckle has just won an international award for his landscape photographs of Mt Taranaki.

Self-taught New Plymouth photographer Adam Buckle has just won the landscape section prize at the 2009 International Association of Panoramic Photographers photo contest with a stunning shot of Mt Taranaki.

Mr Buckle sent three photos of different styles and angles of Mt Taranaki, and his Mangorei Mist print was judged the winner.

He said he often enters photography competitions, including this one previously in 2005, but "this time it was a complete shock" to be announced the winner.

It was especially prestigious considering the runner-up was world-renowned Australian photographer Peter Lik, who owned galleries in Queensland and now has several across the United States.

Mr Buckle's works are displayed in New Plymouth, Hawera, Stratford and Oakura.

Mangorei Mist, Ranges in Snow and Enchanted Dawn prints which were submitted for the competition can be viewed at Bookstop Gallery in New Plymouth.

Entries were judged in the United States at the weekend.

Dazzle

February 10th, 2010, 10:30 AM

^^
Nice pic!!
That my new background :)

NZ1

February 26th, 2010, 09:19 PM

It's hard work to keep up with Peter Pan of pop
By ROB MAETZIG - Taranaki Daily New

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BACHELOR BOY: Sir Cliff Richard arrived in New Plymouth yesterday and greeted the city with a smile and wave, and obligingly lowered his window so photographer Cameron Burnell could snap his picture.

Sir Cliff Richard flew into New Plymouth yesterday – with a trademark smile and a cheery wave for the media pack of two.

And ever the gentleman, he graciously tolerated the intrusion of our photographer who was trying to get a picture.

"Could you wind your window down, please," asked our photographer – and the star obliged.

"Thank you, Sir Cliff," exclaimed our photographer, not used to such treatment from celebrities.

And that was the high point of a comedy of errors that saw the Taranaki Daily News find the famous English pop star, then lose him, then find him again, then lose him.

The story goes back to late Thursday afternoon in Auckland.

This reporter was at a conference at the Hyatt Regency hotel – and there was Sir Cliff in the foyer, resplendent in a white top, black trousers and white sneakers.

"Hello, Sir Cliff!" I called, hoping for a few words for the press.

"Hello", he replied – and carried on walking.

Fast forward to my flight back to New Plymouth yesterday morning, reading an article in the New Zealand Herald that told me Sir Cliff had performed in front of a sell-out crowd at Auckland's Vector Arena. It added that the veteran pop star would perform in Auckland again last night before travelling to New Plymouth and Christchurch for further concerts.

And then at 1.30pm yesterday we learned the truth. The Herald was wrong. Sir Cliff's Auckland concerts had in fact been on Wednesday and Thursday, and that he was on a flight to New Plymouth that was due to land at 1.55pm.

We bundled photographer Cameron Burnell into a car and high-tailed it to the airport. When we got there the plane had already landed, and there were three people-movers on the tarmac, loading Sir Cliff and his entourage.

Our cameraman jumped out of the car and ran to the security gate the vehicles were going to drive through. Sir Cliff was in the front seat of the front people-mover. Sir Cliff spotted Cameron and began to wave.

And me?

"Hello, Sir Cliff!", I called as I ran to the scene. But this time he didn't even reply. Instead, the window went up and he was gone.

So there you go folks – we tried, twice, but still didn't get to talk to the Peter Pan of Pop. But at least we got a cheery wave, and that'll keep us going until Sir Cliff's music does all the talking at the big concert at the Bowl tonight.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/3381536/Its-hard-work-to-keep-up-with-Peter-Pan-of-pop

NZ1

February 26th, 2010, 09:20 PM

Cars, Cliff have city humming
By FELICITY ROSS - Taranaki Daily News

New Plymouth is bracing itself for another big weekend as Americarna holds its Saturday fair at the same time people are getting ready for their dose of the Brits.

In a clash of cultures, more than 10,000 fans of English pop will pile into the TSB Bowl of Brooklands tonight for Sir Cliff Richard and The Shadows, while Americarna organisers are hoping for similar numbers at today's county fair, held at Pukekura Raceway.

Organiser John Rae is pleased the weather gods are smiling with today's forecast for a sunny day and clear night.

The last two Americarna county fairs have been plagued by rain.

Yesterday saw the cavalcade of cars cruise through Inglewood, Stratford, Eltham, Kaponga and Manaia before reaching Hawera.

But the main event was the Americarna Main Street Cruise which hit New Plymouth's Devon St from 6pm until 11pm.

Thousands of people lined the footpath, three and more deep, to see the 700 cars rumble past.

Children squealed in delight as some of the shiny machines revved their engines and car lovers spilled out of bars and restaurants.

"This is just fantastic, we come out and watch the parade every year," said Shane Macy, of New Plymouth, and his mates were in agreement.

"Its a good night out. Have a few drinks, check out the cars," Peter Addard nodded.

"I wouldn't want to own one though – too much money."

Mr Rae said the car convoy had gone like clockwork.

"It's just been unbelievable everything has gone really smoothly with no real hassles," he said.

Mr Rae would not comment on one vehicle which was removed from the parade after someone deliberately put something into the exhaust causing it to blind onlookers with dense black smoke.

New Plymouth is crammed full with out-of-towners and accommodation throughout Taranaki is scarce.

"It's pretty full," said Taranaki Motel Association president Deborah Tawa.

"As far as I am aware there is the odd vacancy but the city is rocking and rolling."

Parking for the Americarna county fair and the Sir Cliff Richard and The Shadows concert will be at the Pukekura Raceway. Parking for concert-goers starts at 4pm and up until then the parking will be used by Americarna attendees.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/3381539/Cars-Cliff-have-city-humming

NZ1

March 1st, 2010, 08:52 AM

Stylist finds a slice of Kiwi heaven
Building sites at Taranaki's exclusive Tapuae Country Estate are beginning to sell - six of the 30 properties have sold, and another five are now under contract. And among the buyers is a famous international hairdresser, as Rob Maetzig explains.

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New home: Famous Taranaki hairdresser Patrick Cameron proudly surveys his new building site at Tapuae Country Estate

When Taranaki man Patrick Cameron recently returned home for a short break from his jetsetting lifestyle in the world of hair fashion, he bought himself a piece of land.

But not just any property.

The land he purchased was a 4000 square metre section right on the edge of hills high above the Tasman Sea, and which commands views all the way from Oakura to Tirau Point.

The property is part of Tapuae Country Estate, between New Plymouth and Oakura, which is Taranaki's first-ever farm park.

The concept will see 30 houses built in the confines of a working farm, with each property owner also owning a 1/30th share of the farm.

Property developers John and Mary Washer say they have been inundated with interested people arriving to view the farm park since it opened in October 2008.

Despite the recession they have not encountered any problems selling the premium sites at valuation prices.

Six of the sections have sold, and a further five are now under contract, they say.

Patrick Cameron, a dairy farmer's son from Matapu, is now one of the world's most influential hair trendsetters and an expert in long hair.

He learned his profession in New Plymouth and is now based in London, travelling the world to entertain crowds of more than 15,000 as he showcases the latest styles in hair fashion.

He tries to schedule an annual holiday back in Taranaki to recuperate from the rigours of that hectic lifestyle.

On a recent trip home he went for a drive through Tapuae Country Estate, and fell in love with one of the freehold house sites available for sale.

"I always dreamed of one day having my own private beachfront property, somewhere where I could see, smell and experience the salt air and stunning views," he says, admitting that he "just had to have" the property when he saw it.

"It is a very relaxing and nurturing place, where I will be able to sit back and watch the world go by.

"Tapuae will be my private piece of paradise and I can't wait to spend more time there."

Designs are already in place to build a modern take on the classic Kiwi bach.

Patrick says it will incorporate a series of snug-style living areas that will take full advantage of the spectacular coastal views.

There will be a lot of glass and a real sense of Kiwiana, says Patrick, who intends overseeing the project by email, in a similar manner to the way he has built and renovated other homes around the world.
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New Plymouth architect Glen Brebner has been employed to assist with the design and build process.

It is envisaged the project will be completed by December, in time for Patrick's return to New Zealand for his next Taranaki home break.

Patrick has always had an interest in hairdressing.

In his early 20s he trained under the guidance of New Plymouth hairdresser Lyndsay Loveridge, who continues to be his mentor and close friend.

In 1987 Patrick headed to London, and soon created a name for himself as artistic director at a well-known London salon group.

This resulted in him becoming sought after by global manufacturing giant Wella International to head a series of seminars all around the world.

In 1992 Patrick established his own company, Patrick Cameron Hair International, and made himself available for guest appearances at commissioned fashion events and hair shows around the world.

Each year he uses the Salon International in London to unveil his latest collection, providing inspiration with his latest techniques and images to hairdressers globally.

Keen to put something back into the industry, Patrick Cameron regularly takes time out of his schedule to visit at least five hairdressing colleges to demonstrate his skills to young hairdressing students.

He has also opened up his own London-based school, where he offers elite one and two-day courses on the art of dressing long hair.

NZ1

March 1st, 2010, 08:56 AM

Rock 'n' rolling back the years
By FELICITY ROSS - Taranaki Daily News

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They've still got it.

While their moves may have some dust on them Sir Cliff Richard and The Shadows had about 14,000 people dancing and singing along to their clean rock 'n' roll at the TSB Bowl of Brooklands on Saturday night.

As the music began the crowd started to clap and with the energy of 20-year-olds, The Shadows exploded on to the stage closely followed by Sir Cliff, clad in a hot pink blazer and bedazzled tie.

The crowd, while definitely of the older persuasion, rose into a cheer as the original men of rock 'n'roll, took them on a trip back in time to the 50s and 60s.

The 50th anniversary concert saw the musicians deliver an assortment of hits from their long careers including It's All in the Game, Travellin' Light and Wonderful Land.

At 69, Sir Cliff was moving like he was 19 again, belting out song after song to a televised backdrop of the cartoons which were in tune with the era of the songs.

Halfway through the first set Sir Cliff disappeared backstage and let The Shadows – lead guitar legend Hank B Marvin, rhythm guitarist Bruce Welch and drummer Brian Bennett – take over the show, providing the crowd with their instrumentals almost effortlessly.

Other supporting musicians at the concert included Bennett's son Warren, who accompanied the group on percussion and keyboard, and Mark Griffiths on bass guitar.

The weather was clear and so was Sir Cliff's voice when he reappeared on stage in a black sequinned blazer.

"Thanks for coming out tonight," Sir Cliff told the crowd.

"There must have been nothing on TV. We have chosen songs that we hope will bring back memories." And with that, the group busted out Living Doll to which the crowd erupted into cheers.

One by one women pulled their husbands, friends or whoever was close by up for a dance.

"This is just brilliant," Sally Criston of Palmerston North as she held her cellphone out towards the stage. "My friend Sarah and I have waited and waited to see this show but she couldn't come so I'm letting her enjoy it from home."

And surely Sarah would have enjoyed the well-rehearsed jokes made by various members of the band in between songs.

Welch reckoned the band were too old to be back on the touring circuit but was impressed all the same when he asked the crowd whether they had attended their show at the Bowl in 1961 and several of them said yes.

Police said everyone at concert was well behaved and there were no problems.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/3387228/Rock-n-rolling-back-the-years

DML2

March 2nd, 2010, 07:27 AM

http://static.stuff.co.nz/1262046860/022/3198022.jpg

This guy is the man

NZ1

March 3rd, 2010, 10:28 PM

http://static.stuff.co.nz/1262046860/022/3198022.jpg

This guy is the man

With his near million dollar salary package, yes he is! :P

NZ1

March 3rd, 2010, 10:30 PM

Looks like no more high-rises for New Plymouth... :ohno: A rather short-sited and foolish plan, promoting urban sprawl.

New Plymouth seafront highrise scuttled
By JARED SMITH - Taranaki Daily News

The Waterfront Hotel has been refused permission to build another three storeys in a landmark decision that could affect future seafront building in New Plymouth.

Tauranga-based independent commissioner Bill Wasley yesterday released his decision after hearing a proposal by Waterfront owners Neil and Sue Drought to extend their hotel by 34 rooms and exceed the 14m height limit imposed under the city's district plan.

"I am of the opinion that the physical dominance of the proposal, given its height in respect of the Puke Ariki site and adjacent locality, would be too great," Mr Wasley said.

"The proposal would intrude into viewshafts and would have a greater than minor effect."

The viewshafts are the areas of skyline and the foreshore which can be seen by residents on Cameron St, Victoria Rd, and from Marsland Hill.

Mr Wasley said the height and scale of the extensions had potential to "adversely affect the character and visual amenity of the area".

The neighbouring existing buildings were generally of a similar height, so the introduction of a structure of greater height than that permitted by the district plan would be out of character to the existing urban fabric and likely to lead to other applications.

At a public hearing in December, Sue Drought stated while their preferred option was to add three storeys, they would accept a compromise allowing just two.

The Droughts wanted to extend the hotel because it currently ran at close to capacity.

They say there is a shortage of high quality accommodation in New Plymouth.

The hearing on December 10 and 11 was attended by six of the 29 submitters who were against the proposal, including Bruce Richards of Walkway Properties Ltd, a company part-owned by New Plymouth Mayor and hotelier Peter Tennent.

Mr Wasley took the view of several of the submitters and NPDC officer Katrina Brunton that even two storeys would tower too high over the surrounds

NZ1

March 10th, 2010, 09:31 AM

Old warrior love of David's life
By ROB MAETZIG - Taranaki Daily News

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JONATHAN CAMERON
FLYING HIGH: David Horsburgh with his beloved Amy. The plane was built in 1944 for military use in the Pacific with the US Army Air Force before embarking on a flying career in Australia and now New Zealand

David Horsburgh just loves Amy – and that explains why he spends much of his spare time flying her.

Amy is a vintage twin-engined DC-3 aircraft – registration ZK-AMY – that is one of just two such planes left in New Zealand.

Captain Horsburgh's day job is flying Air New Zealand Airbus passenger jets. But whenever he has the opportunity he gets behind the controls of the old plane.

"She's beautiful – it's like flying on a magic carpet," he said in New Plymouth yesterday.

"Modern-day aircraft like the Airbus are all automatic, but the DC-3 is all manual. She's slow and heavy, and she gives you all sorts of feedback when you're flying her."

The old plane, which was built in 1944 for military use in the Pacific with the US Army Air Force before embarking on a flying career in Australia and now New Zealand, is on a six-week Legend of the Skies fundraising tour of New Zealand.

It is operated by the Southern DC-3 Trust, and has been gifted to the Ashburton Aviation Museum. Trustees are hoping the money made during the tour will clear all finance owed on the purchase cost of the aircraft and present it unencumbered to the museum where a special hangar has been constructed.

Yesterday ZK-AMY spent the day at Taumarunui where it took passengers on $100 half-hour scenic flights, and in the evening it was flown to New Plymouth to prepare for a similar day's flying in Taranaki.

Captain Horsburgh said one of his passengers was 99-year-old Elsa Peacock from Taumarunui and her comment after the flight was: "I'm not getting off."

A Southern DC-3 Trust spokesperson said flights scheduled for 10am and 1pm were already booked out, and another scheduled for 2pm was filling fast.

"But if the flights fill, we'll just open some more," she said.

Tonight the plane heads to Wanganui.

The DC-3 is visiting 11 centres in the lower North Island, In conjunction with Farmlands Co-operative. Bookings can be made by phoning Farmlands phone 0800 327 636. Fares are $100 per adult and $50 per child (under 15 years of age). The aim is to have every seat occupied so if there are spare seats available on the actual day, bookings will be accepted prior to going for a flight.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/3427027/Old-warrior-love-of-Davids-life

Marky Mark

March 10th, 2010, 11:09 PM

2-3 Floors Towering :bash: Just No Vision :ohno: Lets hope another Developer Builds a whole new Hotel on another site ? :)

Looks like no more high-rises for New Plymouth... :ohno: A rather short-sited and foolish plan, promoting urban sprawl.

New Plymouth seafront highrise scuttled
By JARED SMITH - Taranaki Daily News

The Waterfront Hotel has been refused permission to build another three storeys in a landmark decision that could affect future seafront building in New Plymouth.

Tauranga-based independent commissioner Bill Wasley yesterday released his decision after hearing a proposal by Waterfront owners Neil and Sue Drought to extend their hotel by 34 rooms and exceed the 14m height limit imposed under the city's district plan.

"I am of the opinion that the physical dominance of the proposal, given its height in respect of the Puke Ariki site and adjacent locality, would be too great," Mr Wasley said.

"The proposal would intrude into viewshafts and would have a greater than minor effect."

The viewshafts are the areas of skyline and the foreshore which can be seen by residents on Cameron St, Victoria Rd, and from Marsland Hill.

Mr Wasley said the height and scale of the extensions had potential to "adversely affect the character and visual amenity of the area".

The neighbouring existing buildings were generally of a similar height, so the introduction of a structure of greater height than that permitted by the district plan would be out of character to the existing urban fabric and likely to lead to other applications.

At a public hearing in December, Sue Drought stated while their preferred option was to add three storeys, they would accept a compromise allowing just two.

The Droughts wanted to extend the hotel because it currently ran at close to capacity.

They say there is a shortage of high quality accommodation in New Plymouth.

The hearing on December 10 and 11 was attended by six of the 29 submitters who were against the proposal, including Bruce Richards of Walkway Properties Ltd, a company part-owned by New Plymouth Mayor and hotelier Peter Tennent.

Mr Wasley took the view of several of the submitters and NPDC officer Katrina Brunton that even two storeys would tower too high over the surrounds

NZ1

March 11th, 2010, 09:11 PM

2-3 Floors Towering :bash: Just No Vision :ohno: Lets hope another Developer Builds a whole new Hotel on another site ? :)

Exactly! A 7 story building isn't going to dominate Puke Ariki as it is visually quite a different looking building. But I think the main reason is the so-called "view shafts" being obscured by high-rise buildings. I think this is being over-played by the council and some residents.

Instead, the city seems to want to promote sprawl to the East (Bell Block) and West (Spotswood/Whalers Gate). In the former, exacerbating the existing transportation problems.

It'll be interesting to see what the next move of the Hotel owner makes. Unfortunately buying further buildings on that block will probably be prohibitively expensive 

otumoetaiNZ

March 13th, 2010, 05:04 AM

Whats the need for a building like that in a town like new plymouth anyway?

NZ1

March 14th, 2010, 11:31 PM

NZ1

March 14th, 2010, 11:34 PM

Whats the need for a building like that in a town like new plymouth anyway?

Probably the same thing as other cities in New Zealand; for temporary accommodation.

NZ1

March 14th, 2010, 11:37 PM

Normally, bad news doesn't seem to get posted here, however given the contribution this man has made to Taranaki over the years, I think he deserves a special mention.

Events chief dies suddenly
By FELICITY ROSS - Taranaki Daily News

http://static.stuff.co.nz/1268599904/051/3450051.jpg
Music man: Garry Sharpe-Young at the TSB Bowl of Brooklands

The man who brought Fleetwood Mac to Taranaki died suddenly at his home on Friday.

Garry Sharpe-Young, 45, events business development manager at the New Plymouth District Council died after suffering an aneurism.

The Taranaki Daily News understands council staff became concerned when they couldn't find Mr Sharpe-Young for a meeting and went to his home where they found him dead. The council later released a statement saying he died from an aneurism, or a burst artery.

His death cast a pall over the weekend for his council colleagues, many of whom were involved in organising Womad.

Mr Sharpe-Young is credited with bringing in top line international acts and revolutionising Taranaki as a leading events centre in New Zealand.

He joined the district council in September 2008 after two years at Venture Taranaki.

In both organisations he secured major events for the district including TSB Bowl performances by Sir Elton John, Jack Johnson, Fleetwood Mac, and Cliff Richard and the Shadows, as well as TSB Stadium concerts by Motorhead, the Beach Boys and Westlife.

Mr Sharpe-Young was the founder of G-Taranaki, the guitar festival launched in July 2008. The festival was to take place again in August 11-15 this year with the rumoured headline act of Guns 'n Roses guitarist Slash.

"G-Taranaki was Garry's baby," Venture Taranaki chief executive Stuart Trundle said.

"He started it from scratch and convinced some of the world's best guitarists to travel to Taranaki and take part.

Mr Sharpe-Young was in the middle of securing several big acts for the region for next summer.

Council chief executive Barbara McKerrow said Mr Sharpe-Young was a valued colleague and a talented individual with a passion for his work.

"This is a loss for the community and we will miss him terribly," she said.

"Our challenge now will be to build on the legacy of Garry's achievements. We are fortunate to have a world-class venues and events team able to carry on his work." She said everyone at the council was deeply shocked and saddened by his death.

Mr Sharpe-Young leaves his wife Grace-Anne and children Kerr, Krystan-Grace and Kjaric-Grace.

"Garry absolutely loved New Zealand and Taranaki, and worked tirelessly to raise the profile of our region nationally and internationally," Mayor Peter Tennent said.

"He achieved astounding success in attracting some of the world's best known performers to our little corner of the world. This place is the better for his contribution."
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A service to celebrate Mr Sharpe-Young's life will be held at the TSB Bowl of Brooklands tomorrow at 2pm.

SHARPE-YOUNG LIVED FOR MUSIC

Garry Sharpe-Young was a man who knew his music.

He not only brought several great acts to Taranaki in his role as the events business development manager at the New Plymouth District Council, but he also penned nearly 20 books on heavy metal music and interviewed some of the best in the business.

Mr Sharpe-Young died suddenly at his home on Friday after suffering an aneurism.

The Englishman moved to Taranaki eight years ago with his wife and three children in search of somewhere safe, clean and green.

The 45-year-old got into showbiz by accident when he was about 14 doing artwork on album covers. Mr Sharpe-Young worked as a journalist for British, American and German rock magazines, wrote music reference books, biographies for Ozzy Osborne and Black Sabbath and set up the popular encyclopedic rock music website Rockdetector.

While working as a journalist, Mr Sharpe-Young interviewed many of the major bands around and would often travel overseas to interview artists such as Prince and Metallica.

When he first arrived in the region he wrote a music column for the Taranaki Daily News then moved on to Venture Taranaki and the New Plymouth District Council, securing major events for the region.

His biggest coup was Fleetwood Mac, who performed at the TSB Bowl of Brooklands in December to a sell-out crowd.

Mr Sharpe-Young was also the founder of G-Taranaki, the guitar festival launched in July 2008.

In a recent interview Mr Sharpe-Young told the Taranaki Daily News one of his biggest goals was putting Taranaki on the world stage as "the venue" for artists to play.

"I love working with the people here, love Taranaki, I'm absolutely dedicated to getting this venue on the map internationally and I love it."

NZ1

March 14th, 2010, 11:39 PM

Womad buzzes to diverse sounds
By FELICITY ROSS - Taranaki Daily News

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JONATHAN CAMERON/Taranaki Daily News
HANDS UP: French band Babylon Circus plays to thousands and gets them moving at the TSB Bowl of Brooklands during the final day of Womad on Sunday.

The music, dance and food of Womad kept nearly 35,000 people buzzing over the weekend.

New Plymouth's Brooklands Park and TSB Bowl was transformed over the three-day event into a garden of diverse sounds and eccentric sights.

Festival-goers let their freak flags fly with multi-coloured costumes, scarves and hair to match.

Womad 2010 featured 266 performers from 19 countries on seven stages and as well as music and performance, it included cooking demonstrations and musical workshops, artists in conversation and a global village.

While Saturday saw Taranaki provide four seasons in one day, the sun shone yesterday with shady spots a favourite amongst groovers.

"This is awesome," said James Jerios from Nelson, "It's my first time here and I'll be back for sure."

Mr Jerios decided at the last minute to take the drive up to New Plymouth as he didn't want to miss UK/Ethiopian band, Dub Colossus.

"I really follow that music and I figured this would be my only chance to check them out live."

Walk-up sales pushed the three-day attendance close to 35,000 giving organisers hope the event would break even this year. "It's still early days," said Taranaki Arts Festival Trust chief executive Suzanne Porter.

"We are in a very good position and we will release those figures later in the week."

Ms Porter said ticket sales on Friday night were surprising given the chilly start to the festival. "We have had a solid walk-up crowd even though the weather has been cold and a bit rainy."

And despite persistent rumours that Womad is going to be snatched from Taranaki and taken to the South Island, Ms Porter said there was no way – at least not next year.

"There is interest from other cities who want to host Womad but we are not looking to shift it.

"Be assured Womad will be back in Taranaki in 2011," Ms Porter said.

With barely room to move, people meandered their way through the Womad village.

One woman, who wanted to be known only as Kenny, was so taken by a large tree in Brooklands Park that she stopped to give it a hug and have a chat.

"I can feel its spirit," she said, "it's calling me."

Babylon Circus was the must-see act on Saturday and by yesterday word had got around and the Bowl was packed to the brim with festival-goers eager to see them play a second show.

Ms Porter said so far all the feedback from the audience had been good and she considered the festival to be a huge success.
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"It all feels really positive and operationally it has all gone well. I think that has to do with the fact that it is an annual event," she said.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/womad-2010/3448618/Womad-buzzes-to-diverse-sounds

NZ1

March 18th, 2010, 09:42 PM

Tawhiti Museum impresses Key
By KELLY LONEY - Taranaki Daily News

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SHOW PIECE: Nigel Ogle escorts Prime Minister John Key through the new exhibition at the Tawhiti Museum.

Prime Minister John Key found the new attraction at South Taranaki's Tawhiti Museum to be "a mind-blowing experience".

"I'll call back again some time. There's a lot to see here, actually," he said.

It was a busy day for Mr Key, with official openings of the Kupe production station, the TSB Hub and the museum's Traders and Whalers attraction.

"Three very different but great things to be involved with.

"Kupe is a massive investment, bringing jobs and opportunities and the Hub is going to be a focal point for the community. The museum is absolutely brilliant," he said.

His day kicked off with a tour around the now fully operational $1.3 billion Kupe oil and gas production station and a helicopter ride to the offshore platform.

Later, on the subject of health and safety, Mr Key told the crowd of oil and gas industry players and politicians, he had been offered the survival suit he had worn on the flight.

"I think every prime minister should have a survival suit. I might even take the earmuffs with me too and wear them in Cabinet."

On a more serious note, Mr Key said Kupe was an important project that was expected to play a critical role in securing New Zealand's future gas supply needs.

It fitted in with two things the National Government was trying to do, make New Zealand more energy self-sufficient and lift the country's exports.

At peak, Kupe is estimated to produce 10 to 15 per cent of New Zealand's annual gas demand and 50 per cent of its LPG.

About 400 people welcomed Mr Key outside the TSB Hub sports and recreation facility in Hawera.

A lengthy powhiri left Mr Key barely enough time for a quick tour of the complex, a meet and greet and a sandwich before he was raced off to Tawhiti Museum.

After speeches and shaking hands with museum owner and creator Nigel Ogle, he took a boat trip around the new attraction Traders and Whalers.

"I'm quite blown away," he said.

"It was much more impressive than I thought it would be. People should come and have a look."

Mr Ogle said he was "thrilled and honoured" to have a visit from Mr Key, who is also the Minister of Tourism.

"It may help put us on the map," he said.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/3474159/Tawhiti-Museum-impresses-Key

NZ1

March 18th, 2010, 09:46 PM

High-rise war looms on city skyline
By RYAN EVANS - Taranaki Daily News

Another high rise waterfront development proposal is shaping up as the latest battleground in the war for the future of New Plymouth's skyline.

About 100 people have opposed the proposed Kawaroa Apartments development – a 25m high block of luxury flats – 15m higher than permitted – next to the distinctive Richmond Estate building.

Building heights is fast becoming one of the city's biggest challenges as developers look to cash in on demand for central accommodation, while opponents fear each development is one step closer to a Surfer's Paradise look.

Earlier this month, an independent hearing commissioner turned down an application from the Waterfront Hotel to extend its building by three storeys to a height of almost 22m.

The commissioner said the physical dominance of the building would be too great and would negatively effect the character of the area.

The future of the Kawaroa Apartments proposal will also be hammered out in a New Plymouth District Council hearing.

This week, staunch opponents of the apartments development told the Taranaki Daily News they would fight the proposal.

Lois Leonard, the manager of the Devonport Apartment building, which sits directly behind the development, said the body corporate had hired legal representatives to argue its case.

"To fight something like this, you need their language and know the laws that govern the Resource Management Act."

She said the proposed apartments would block views and sunlight to Devonport residents and some would dip out financially, having invested in their flats.

Richmond Estate resident Colin Smith said the feeling of residents there was largely against the development, for similar reasons.

But one of the men behind the proposal, New Plymouth dentist Rob Bristow, said the developers felt what they were proposing was appropriate for the site.

"We would say adding three storeys to the Waterfront is very different to putting seven storeys where we want to put them," he said.

"It's a different situation.

"This is democracy at work. It [opposition] is perfectly understandable and people should have their say."

Waterfront Hotel owner Sue Drought said she was disappointed at the outcome of its hearing.

"It's sad for the city. The city will come to a standstill if they keep saying no to these things," she said.

"New Plymouth will never have a lot of high rises because there's not the money around.

"We're not the Gold Coast, but people are a bit scared of that, I think."

She said she would be disappointed if the Kawaroa Apartments got the go-ahead after the Waterfront proposal was turned down.
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"You can't give it to one, if you can't give it to the other."

The Droughts are still considering their options and that could be an Environment Court appeal, although no decision had been made, she said.

People might have considered the recent Waterfront decision set a precedent for future development, but that was not the case, the council's consents manager Ralph Broad said.

For one thing, the Kawaroa proposal sat in a zoning area where the height restriction of buildings was even lower than the limit near the Waterfront.

Buildings in the "Business B" zone could not be higher than 10m without a resource consent.

"There are similarities. They're both in the coastal environment, but different coastal environments," Mr Broad said.

"We have the same considerations, viewshafts, landscape and local character and buildings, but the answers may not be the same."

The proposal was first put to the council in 2008, but hearings have been delayed while more information about it has been asked for and reviewed by the council.

Mr Broad said a hearing date had still not been set and the council was waiting for independent landscaping impact assessments to be prepared.

The hearing would not be in front of an independent commissioner because in this case the council itself was not a directly affected party, Mr Broad said.

The council opposed the Waterfront extension because it would have been taller than Puke Ariki, if approved.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/3474144/High-rise-war-looms-on-city-skyline

NZ1

March 23rd, 2010, 12:01 AM

Customers bypass Bell Block shops
By MATT RILKOFF - Taranaki Daily News

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ROBERT CHARLES/Taranaki Daily News
BYPASSED: Major Singh says business at his Four Square shop in Bell Block is down as much as 50 per cent since the multi-million dollar bypass opened last week.

Bell Block's bypass could prove fatal to its retailers.

Opened last week, the multi-million dollar bypass diverts traffic around Bell Block and the shopping centre which straddled SH3.

Some retailers felt the change immediately with significantly fewer customers and plummeting shop takings.

Major Singh, co-owner of the Bell Block Four Square, yesterday said till receipts were down as much as 50 per cent as customers found his convenience store suddenly inconvenient to access.

"If this continues and we are not able to return payments on our loans, we would have to look at closing.

"At the end of each day we are throwing out 50 per cent of what we put in the food cabinets. No one is buying it. All the workers in the industrial area along Corbett Rd used to come in before work for their lunch. But now we don't get that," he said.

The till has been even quieter at Barry and Leanne Gooch's fruit and vegetable shop, Cabbages.

"It turned into a ghost town instantly when they opened that bypass. Where we may have had 170 customers a day. Now we might get 70," Mrs Gooch said.

The couple bought the business five months ago and had been aware the imminent opening of the bypass made their purchase a gamble.

"I sat out there on the bus seat and studied the traffic before we bought it. Everyone seemed to be on a mission somewhere and not many were stopping so I thought most of the customers to the shop must be local. But that doesn't seem to be the case," Mr Gooch said.

"We're both feeling quite stressed. We are quite sick about it. We try not to let it show, but it's hard to keep bagging things up for display when you know at the end of the day a lot of it will still be there."

Don Meuli of Meuli Motors said the contents of his till were 25 per cent less than the same time last week and Eden Cafe owner Satish Kumar has seen his takings drop 20 per cent.

Like other retailers, Mr Kumar said opening the old section of Devon Rd to through traffic would solve the problem immediately, as people would be able to more easily have access to the shopping centre.

However, New Zealand Transport Agency plans for the road make it clear this will not happen. The section of Devon Rd made redundant by the bypass will be permanently closed at both ends, with access to the shopping area from Nugent St.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/3474161/Customers-bypass-Bell-Block-shops/

NZ1

March 23rd, 2010, 12:03 AM

City in running for walking cash
By RYAN EVANS - Taranaki Daily News

New Plymouth has been shortlisted for a national programme which could see the city receive a $7 million funding boost for cycling and walking initiatives.

The New Zealand Transport Agency is choosing either one or two towns to become a walking and cycling model community.

New Plymouth joins Hastings, Nelson and Taupo in vying for a place in the programme, which comes with a significant funding boost.

The NZTA has set aside $7m over two years to develop walking and cycling initiatives.

New Plymouth was one of 22 councils to submit a proposal to the NZTA, and the four remaining bids now get to develop their proposals further for the agency to consider.

Council's roading assets manager Max Aves said New Plymouth's shortlisting was an endorsement of work the council had already done on developing walking and cycling initiatives.

"I think it shows that this council is serious about improving its infrastructure and encouraging those alternative modes of transport."

In recent years, council projects to encourage walking and cycling include upgrading the Te Henui walkway and extending the Coastal Walkway, holding safety education and cycling skills workshops and helped establish the North Taranaki Cycle Advocacy Group.

Mr Aves said if the council was selected by NZTA, the money would probably go towards further improvements of off road cycle and walking tracks and continuing a programme of improvements to the on road cycle ways as well.

He said the work that could be done would depend on how many cities were selected for the programme and how money received was divvied up between projects.

"In terms of a major project it might not go that far but spread across the community it could do quite a lot of things."

Mr Aves said the council was now working on a more detailed proposal for stage two of the selection process.

The NZTA will announce the winning communities in June.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/3491064/City-in-running-for-walking-cash

kwl_24-7

April 1st, 2010, 11:19 PM

A legal stoush is set to blow up between the New Plymouth District Council and a major city hotel – and the results may have far-reaching consequences on future commercial developments along the city's shoreline.

Last month The Waterfront Hotel was refused permission to build three more storeys on its building, with an independent commissioner ruling that its physical dominance would be too great.

But now the hotel's owners, Oakura couple Sue and Neil Drought, are taking the council to the Environment Court.

The pair have hired Auckland-based environment law specialists ChanceryGreen, who this week filed an appeal against the decision, claiming that not only is it contrary to expert evidence presented at a resource consent hearing late last year, but that it is also contrary to the Resource Management Act.

And in a series of hard-hitting points, accusations levelled at the council include overstepping the statutory basis for declining the application, incorrectly interpreting the New Plymouth District Plan, and making findings that are not supported by any credible factual or expert evidence.

The Droughts' proposal had to go to a resource consent hearing because it would have seen the height of the hotel increase from the current 12.9 metres to 21.9 metres, way over plans and rules contained in the district plan that restrict building heights to 14 metres in the city's centre.

In his decision, Tauranga-based independent commissioner Bill Wasley said the consent application should be refused because the physical dominance of the proposal would be too great – both in terms of its effect on various "viewshafts" for areas overlooking the city centre, and in relation to the size of other buildings already in the CBD.

But now the Droughts and their lawyers have given notice they intend fighting all of this. In their appeal they claim:

The decision overstepped the statutory basis for lawfully declining an application for a restricted discretionary activity, because it relied on matters beyond the restricted discretion available to it.

Incorrectly interpreted the viewshaft provisions of the district plan.

Incorrectly interpreted plan provisions that relate to amenity values and character of the central business area, including building height, bulk and scale of the proposed development, and dominance and shading.

Placed undue weight on the integrity of the district plan, without any supporting evidence.

Made findings that were not supported by any credible factual or expert evidence – particularly the opinion that the central business area is characterised by low-rise structures.

(if this means the extra 3 floors get the go ahead, good on them)

NZ1

April 6th, 2010, 10:26 AM

I agree KWL_24-7! What the CBD needs is higher density, rather than this focus on sprawling expansion in the Eastern city. One way of doing this is to increase the number of apartments and other associated amenities (such as this one) in the CBD. Ultimately, allowing urban sprawl is a recipe for disaster, especially given the existing roading network problems.

The other 8-story apartment development is about to head to planning for final approval. It'll be interesting to see what happens there, but suspect we all know what the decision will unfortunately be.

Marky Mark

April 6th, 2010, 01:36 PM

so Frustrating !:bash: No other developer will bother if they dont :ohno:

Just read the other proposal ......so New Plymouth has two Towers Proposed .....and the Nimbys and Council will probaly stop both ....I hope not ......dont they ever want the City to develope further ......unbelievable

NZ1

April 12th, 2010, 11:59 AM

Wildcard birthday present thrills Sarah
By MURRAY HILLS - Taranaki Daily News

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DOUBLE TRIUMPH: In a full-beam Taranaki sunset at Fitzroy Beach, three-time world champion Stephanie Gilmore presents Sarah Mason with her trophy for winning the New Zealand women's open surfing title at New Plymouth's Back Beach yesterday. The win, and a wildcard entry to the Dream Tour event, was the perfect birthday present for the 15-year-old Mason.

Birthday girl Sarah Mason couldn't have wished for a better present.

http://static.stuff.co.nz/1271025116/406/3572406.jpg

A wildcard entry to this week's ASP women's tour event was the ultimate prize for the 15-year-old who yesterday won the New Zealand open women's title at New Plymouth's Back Beach.

And the wildcard entry pitches the former Taranaki lass into a heat battle with three-time world champion Stephanie Gilmore and Hawaii's Carissa Moore. "It's exciting. I've never surfed against any of those girls (the Dream Tour), I'll just try to do my best," said the pint-sized teenager.

Asked if she was nervous about lining up alongside the world champion, Mason replied: "I probably won't get too much sleep. It's cool. Conditions were good out there today, good clean, consistent waves. About three foot. It was real good surf."

Struggling to lift the stone trophy, Mason first thanked her family for bringing her across the Tasman from their home in Cabarita, New South Wales, to compete in the TSB Bank Women's Surf Festival.

"I'm really happy with the win. It's always hard coming up against my sister (20-year-old Airini), but we've been battling each other in competitions for a while. We always pat each other on the back."

The two sisters will be battling one another again today when the Australasian girls' pro junior under-21 surfing series gets under way. Gilmore welcomed the four finalists – Mason, her sister Airini, Wini Paul and Mt Maunganui's Laura Rishworth – to the stage yesterday afternoon.

The Dream Tour, involving Gilmore and Taranaki's Paige Hareb, could start today if conditions improve. The event needs about two days to be completed with five days surfing available until the event ends on Friday. Venues are decided daily.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/sport/3571093/Wildcard-birthday-present-thrills-Sarah

NZ1

May 20th, 2010, 03:51 AM

Taranaki's economy is surging ahead and leading the country on the road to recovery.
By MATT RILKOFF - Taranaki Daily News

The region's increase in economic activity for the first three months of the year has not been matched since 1975 and business confidence in Taranaki is the highest in New Zealand.

While 12 of the country's 14 regions recorded rises in economic activity for the first three months of the year, Taranaki made the strongest gains, growing by 4.2 per cent during the quarter.

Read more (http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/3717143/Region-grew-by-4-2-per-cent-this-quarter)

Richard7666

May 20th, 2010, 08:00 AM

Probably the same thing as other cities in New Zealand; for temporary accommodation.

Lol I just saw this exchange, well played.

I think he was saying "New Plymouth is smaller than Tauranga, and isn't Tauranga, and therefore isn't allowed any development"

NZ1

May 22nd, 2010, 10:08 AM

Lol I just saw this exchange, well played.

I think he was saying "New Plymouth is smaller than Tauranga, and isn't Tauranga, and therefore isn't allowed any development"

That you! :lol: Yes, unfortunately I too think that was what was being implied! Oh well.

Quite frankly, I don't want to get involved in a pissing contest between cities. Each has it's own unique and redeeming features as far as I'm concerned!

NZ1

June 12th, 2010, 03:44 AM

City full for historic clash
Taranaki Daily News

All roads lead to Yarrow Stadium tonight.

In an historic match, the All Blacks play Ireland at 7.35pm – the first time Taranaki has hosted a test between two of the world's traditional top rugby nations.

More than 25,000 people are expected to pack the park, with less than 1900 ground admission tickets still on sale.

New Plymouth is ready for a party on a scale seldom, if ever, seen before.

The big tent is up outside Peggy Gordon's and with live entertainment on again, tonight will be popular with many. But the choices are plentiful with many bars planning special promotions.

Accommodation is at a premium, with New Plymouth booked out. Taranaki Motel Association president Deborah Tawa said there wasn't a spare motel room in New Plymouth tonight.

Yesterday the nearest available accommodation was in Stratford with about half a dozen rooms left, with another 20 units in Hawera, Mrs Tawa said.

"We're full and it's fantastic for the region. It puts us on show for next year and proves we can host a big game."

Taranaki Rugby Football Union chairman Peter Crawford described the occasion as "magnificent".

"I've been involved in Taranaki rugby for 21 years and in all that time the only thing that would rival it is the 1996 Ranfurly Shield games.

"But to get both the Irish and All Black teams here is great. If anyone had have suggested even five years ago that this could happen they'd have been laughed at.

"It's magnificent for a small province like this, for rugby and the region should feel incredibly proud."

During the week the build-up has becoming increasingly intense on and off the field, with the All Blacks proving popular as they have immersed themselves in school visits and making themselves accessible to thousands of fans.

After their arrival last Sunday, they've been the only team in town until Thursday night, when the Irish contingent belatedly arrived.

Since then, they, too have joined in the the fun and yesterday five players dropped into Fitzroy primary School, much to the delight of the pupils.

The rugby flavour is everywhere, and while some emerald green is being displayed, the dominant colour is black with many New Plymouth CBD retailers having special displays in their windows.

Spectators at tonight's match will notice some new conditions of entry, putting New Plymouth on the same footing as conditions required for next year's Rugby World Cup.

Smoking is prohibited in all internal areas, and intoxicated patrons or those under the influence will be refused entry.
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That prompted New Plymouth police to issue a friendly reminder of what was expected.

About 40 police will be at the ground, as part of a wider presence in the city as well for the evening.

Acting New Plymouth area commander Blair Telford said patrons must drink responsibly, as they will do their part to help ensure more test matches are played in New Plymouth in future.

"It's good for people, it's good for New Plymouth, good for everybody having the All Blacks here."

He encouraged people to get to the ground early, as all bags will be searched as part of the new rules.

The weather forecast for today is not good, with squally showers, thunder and strong westerlies, although it should clear for the game.

And be warned – umbrellas are not allowed.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/3804612/City-full-for-historic-clash

kwl_24-7

June 22nd, 2010, 10:18 PM

By MATT RILKOFF - Taranaki Daily News

Day one of the hearing on whether to allow a seven-storey apartment block on New Plymouth foreshore played out like a David and Goliath story yesterday.

At the New Plymouth District Council, independent commissioner Christine Foster heard from parties for and against the 23-metre-high apartment block proposed for an area next to the distinctive Richmond Estate building.

Opposed by more than 100 people, the Kawaroa Apartment development is 13 metres taller than the 10 metres permitted for the site without consent. Council officers have already recommended it be declined.

Dawson Developments Ltd, the company owned by New Plymouth dentists Rob Bristow and Adam Wratislav, is behind this development. The firm was yesterday represented by Auckland lawyer Richard Brabant.

He said the fact so many people had made submissions against the apartment block should not influence whether the tower was built or not.

"Turn that around. Should something be allowed because lots people support it? If you want to use logic you just look at something like this and turn it around," he said.

And after hearing supporting arguments from architect Ian Pritchard and landscape architect Richard Bain, momentum in favour of the tower seemed to be doing just that.

That was until the slightly-built David Hermann appeared.

Acting for the Hermann 1 & 2 Trusts, which own an apartment in the Richmond Estate, Mr Hermann produced computer models that showed the trust's apartment would suffer significant shading for as many as eight months of the year if the tower was built.

This was more than Mr Pritchard's models showed.

"From my point of view the character of our apartment when we bought it was that it was north facing apartment, it had wonderful views and an expansive sunny deck," he said.

While it was reasonable to expect development next to the apartment he said the trusts had expected it to be at about the same height as the Govett Quillam buildings rather than a tower 13 metres taller.

The case for the tower then had to contend with Melean Absolum, a consultant landscape architect who used the word "anomalies" enough times to rouse anyone settling into an afternoon slumber.

Ms Absolum said she had found these anomalies in the visual information provided in the application for the building and because of them it was difficult to determine the potential visual effects of the proposal.

"Having reviewed the information available describing the proposed development, even in its revised form, I concur with the reporting officer's conclusion that this development should be declined," she said.
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In March an independent hearing commissioner turned down an application from the Waterfront Hotel to extend its building by three storeys to a height of almost 22 metres.

The hearing for the Kawaroa Apartment development continues today.

NZ1

August 16th, 2010, 04:41 AM

G-Tar future bright
By JARED SMITH - Taranaki Daily News

(note: there's some good pics when you visit the article link at the end of this post)

http://static.stuff.co.nz/1281876557/831/4026831.jpg

ANDY JACKSON/Taranaki Daily News
MAIN EVENT: Slash thrilled a full house at the TSB Stadium on Saturday night before high-tailing it across town to a Midnight Session at Puke Ariki.

UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL: Slash greets fans as he arrives in New Plymouth.

G-Taranaki looks set to become an annual event and work will be starting almost immediately after an ecstatic response from artists and audience alike to Saturday night's finale.

Final attendance figures should be confirmed this week but the numbers look promising after the TSB Stadium was filled for headliner Slash and Alter Bridge singer Myles Kennedy, and Puke Ariki's Midnight Session was packed.

New Plymouth District Council staff will hold a debrief with American promoter Dan Allen this week to discuss future plans.

Mr Allen said crowds were well up on the inaugural 2008 festival.

"If we're going to do this again, and the feeling is we will, we need to make sure we do it every year."

"The artists were unequivocally ecstatic with this – the reception they got and the way we took care of them. Audience members around the concerts said it was phenomenal and they pitied those who didn't have tickets."

The upswing was a combination of the drawing power of Slash, Tony Franklin (The Firm, Quiet Riot), and Guy Pratt (Pink Floyd), but also catering to genres other than rock, as unknowns like Desiree Bassett and Oli Brown now had new fans, he said.

Mr Allen said planning will start "almost immediately", and G-Taranaki could become a summer festival, perhaps at the Bowl of Brooklands.

"We need decisions soon. When I came in at the first year, things were slowly under way, then with the untimely death of Garry Sharpe-Young, we had to pick up the ball and run with it as hard as we could, and some artists we were lining up came off the bill."

NPDC spokeswoman Cathy Thurston said feedback staff received supported an annual festival.

"We're definitely committed to try and keep it running," she said.

Fans and artists alike at TSB Stadium on Saturday gave a big thumbs up.

Through a radio contest, Inglewood's Jasmine Gibbins, 17, had won the right to go backstage to meet the stars.

"I got Vinnie Moore's sweat on my hand. Love it, haven't washed it yet.

"When Slash shakes it, it will be worth so much more."

New Plymouth couple Holly Wenmoth and Ben Evans rated the event well above 2008.

"It brings heaps to Taranaki, and the atmosphere is great," Ms Wenmoth said.

Many people mentioned how well New Zealand rockers Shotgun Alley had done as openers and lead singer RJ Kairua said he was blown away by their reception.

"They've definitely got something going here. So many people from all round New Zealand come and check out these bands."

The biggest cheers of the night were reserved for Slash and Myles Kennedy.

"How are you guys doing? Damn glad to be here," the man in the top hat announced to the roaring masses.

"We're going to do a bunch of s ... t, we thought we'd do a mini Guns 'n Roses concert because I know you guys like that stuff."

"We would have come back even if you had said `go away'," Kennedy yelled as the band returned for their encore with a rousing rendition of Paradise City.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/4026782/G-Tar-future-bright

NZ1

August 18th, 2010, 02:54 AM

I can't find a reference to this on the 'net, but an article in the newspaper today states that the NPL-AKL flights are going to be increased by 1 service per day using Q300's and a Beech 1900D. I've never seen a 1900D being used for scheduled services in NPL.

It'll also be interesting to see if total passenger movements through NPL Airport have broken through the 300,000 mark as they have been expected to.e if total passenger movements through NPL Airport have broken through the 300,000 mark as they have been expected to..

NZ1

October 7th, 2010, 12:36 AM

This secures WOMAD in New Plymouth to be held on an annual basis, for another three years.

TSB joins Womad sponsors
By FELICITY ROSS - Taranaki Daily News
Last updated 05:00 07/10/2010

A major sponsorship deal has guaranteed that Womad will remain in Taranaki for at least the next three years.

The TSB Bank yesterday joined Shell and Todd Energy as a primary supporter of the event.

If the bank had not come to the party, the region may have lost the popular festival to Nelson on alternate years.

The new partner was confirmed by the Taranaki Arts Festival Trust at a special event at the TSB Bowl of Brooklands yesterday.

Taft has received more than $1 million in event partnerships, ensuring the World of Music and Dance – which has been struggling to break even – remains in Taranaki for the next three years.

Taft chief executive Suzanne Porter said the team is relieved the festival will not be going elsewhere. It has been held in New Plymouth since 2003.

"That was the last resort so we are extremely pleased we can keep the festival here in Taranaki," she said. With three significant partners Ms Porter said Womad now has the support it needs.

The investment means the festival can continue within the region until 2013.

TSB Bank managing director Kevin Murphy said Womad was a major event on the national entertainment calendar and the bank wanted to play a part in its success.

"When we heard others were looking to poach, it prompted us to become involved," Mr Murphy said. "Womad has become a significant presence within the region and in New Zealand and so have we. We are in a position to promote the event around the country."

Ms Porter said the continued support from Shell, Todd Energy and the New Plymouth District Council has enabled Womad to keep going each year.

"The combined partnership means we are $350,000 up on last year which provides a buffer," she said. Extra money will enable Taft to provide more community-based projects in the festival leadup.

Womad New Zealand 2011 will be held at the Bowl from March 18 to 20. The full programme will be announced at the launch at Parliament on October 27.

NZ1

November 28th, 2010, 09:04 AM

New retail precinct next to the new express-way! Good to see yet another Supermarket is going to be constructed in the city - that will make three oer a period of four years.

From http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/4396962/Retail-therapy-rings-the-Bell

The biggest project on the horizon is the Bell Block retail park, called Northways, which will be built next to the bypass and spread across three hectares opposite the small northern community, with a new McDonald's and 10,000 square metres of shops, including a new supermarket.

Bruce Ansley, director of South Island-based company Graphite Management, which is developing the project, is astounded at the response of prospective retailers to the plan.

They have snapped up more than half of the space in the shopping complex, although he was reluctant to name the new retailers. The Taranaki Daily News understands the supermarket space will be occupied by a SuperValue, which already has a site in Bell Block's Parklands shopping centre.

NZ1

December 13th, 2010, 06:39 AM

Great success story for another local IT firm!

Fairfax buys online tendering company in $21.6m deal
NZPA | Monday December 13, 2010

Fairfax Media will acquire New Zealand's tender notification service provider TenderLink.com, in a deal worth $NZ21.6 million, the company said in Australia.

TenderLink is the southern hemisphere's largest online tender or "e-tender" company, Fairfax said.

TenderLink is a tender notification service and provider of electronic tendering solutions using a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) model.

"TenderLink fits our strategy of acquiring high growth transactional businesses that provide services to the small to medium enterprise market," Fairfax Digital chief executive officer Jack Matthews said in a statement to the ASX.

"Combining TenderLink with our digital network, this already profitable business has considerable further potential for growth," he said.

The maximum purchase price represents an earnings multiple of eight times, based upon the anticipated 2011 financial year earning before earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation of TenderLink.com.

The takeover is subject to conditions, but is expected to be completed within 45 days.

Fairfax also runs a range of other internet-based businesses, including My Career, Domain, Drive, RSVP, Essentially Baby, InvestSMART, Stayz, but its most successful is the NZ auction site Trade Me.

TenderLink is the largest tender notification network on both sides of the Tasman, listing over 50,000 new tender opportunities annually.

It claims that a subscription to TenderLink will access 99.9 percent of all publicly advertised tenders published throughout Australia and New Zealand, as well as provide links to tenders published in over 300 e-tendering portals it provides to procurers.

NZ1

February 23rd, 2011, 09:37 PM

New Plymouth Airport Reaches Milestone

Wed 23 Feb 2011

From February 2010 to January 2011, 300,852 people came or went through the departure gates.

“That number rises to about 400,000 total terminal users when we include the estimated number family and friends who turn up to see people off and welcome them home, as well as those who come out specifically to have a coffee or meal at the café,” says Manager Airport Kevin Hill.

“On a normal day we can have about 300 people inside the terminal at one time. If a plane is delayed or a flight diverted here from a closed airport then that number can easily jump, which makes the space difficult to move in.”

General Manager Community Assets Anthony Wilson says expansion of the terminal is inevitable – the only question is over gaining the support of the airport’s co-owner, the Government.

“It’s fantastic for the region that the airport has reached this milestone, but the sting in the tail is it’s forcing us to look harder at the development needs at the airport,” he says.

“The terminal opened in 1967 and was designed for 60,000 people per year. We’ve changed the building’s internal layout in recent years to make the best use of the available space, but we can’t keep cramming more people into the same footprint.

“With success comes responsibility to actually provide a facility that meets the demands required of it.”

New Plymouth is the 11th busiest out of New Zealand’s 28 airports, just behind Rotorua. It is also the last of the major airports to be jointly owned with the Government.

New Plymouth Airport reached the 100,000 passenger milestone in the early 1980s, then 200,000 passengers in 2003.

NZ1

June 26th, 2011, 11:28 PM

Green light for Len Lye Centre
MATT RILKOFF

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After years of controversy, New Plymouth looks set to get its Len Lye Centre.

And it will be in a building that will gain international recognition for its stunning appearance and innovative design.

The certainty the centre will be built came on Saturday when Arts Minister Chris Finlayson pledged $4 million over two years for the construction of the $10m centre.

The cash is believed to be the last grant to come out of the Government's Regional Museums Policy fund, with the rest being diverted to the Christchurch city rebuild.

When combined with an earlier grant of $1m from the TSB Community Trust, the centre now has half the money it needs to get going. Its backers have a little more than a year to find the rest if they want to get construction started by October 2012 as planned.

And while this would be a big ask, even at the best of economic times, Len Lye committee chairman Lance Girling-Butcher is confident they can get there, partly because of the design of the new centre.

Basically a warehouse, it is the exterior of 14 metre high stainless steel ribbons that will give the gallery an international iconic status on a par with the artist it honours.

Though the ribbons create a solid wall in what is believed to be a world first, they allow light to pass through them as though through a periscope.

"We have three or four hot prospects in the oven and we believe this building will inspire people in the way that perhaps the idea of a Len Lye Centre was not able to," Mr Girling-Butcher said.

The hope is the Government's cash injection will form the "anchor" for negotiations currently underway with potential project partners. Mr Girling-Butcher was reluctant to say who those partners might be but it is understood to include a major New Zealand corporation.

New Plymouth mayor Harry Duynhoven believes the development will bring both an internationally recognised building to the centre of the city and ongoing economic benefits.

"In the short term, jobs will be generated through the construction process and the use of local materials, stainless steel and concrete.

"In the long term, research from independent business and economic assessment company BERL has indicated that once the centre opens, visitor numbers to the region will increase with a major flow-on benefit to the district's economy with additional spending and more jobs in the hospitality sector," Mr Duynhoven said.
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Though notoriously difficult to predict or even prove, the January 2011 report estimates the Len Lye Centre will initially attract more than 56,000 visitors and add $2.4m to the New Plymouth economy each year, potentially creating $6.8m of economic activity.

Mr Finlayson said the centre got the money because it had the best application and in architect Andrew Patterson's design, the best building.

Mr Finlayson said that combined with the Womad festival, the coastal walkway and the highly respected Festival of the Arts, the centre would confirm New Plymouth was the best "smallish city in New Zealand".

In the making for the better part of 30 years, the centre took its first concrete steps toward reality in 2006 when the council resolved to build a single home for the care and display of Len Lye's works.

Those works first came to New Plymouth on Lye's death in 1980, just three years after the Govett Brewster Gallery held the first New Zealand exhibition of his work.

It was during this exhibition that Lye first met New Plymouth engineer John Matthews who was able to turn many of his ideas into reality.

Such was Lye's appreciation for Mr Matthews' talents and the city gallery, he bequeathed his entire collection to the Govett Brewster and the Len Lye Foundation of which Mr Matthews is chairman.

Marky Mark

June 27th, 2011, 06:34 AM

:banana::cheers:

DML2

June 27th, 2011, 09:22 AM

Yeh looks cool

flyin_higher

June 27th, 2011, 11:38 AM

Len Lye project looks great!

fozzy

June 29th, 2011, 10:57 AM

That looks cool!!! i really like it.

NZ1

June 29th, 2011, 09:36 PM

Yes, it certainly looks fantastic! The dreams of glass-cleaner company owners really do come true! :)

NZ1

July 3rd, 2011, 11:28 PM

Getting on board the cruise market
JOHN ANTHONY

Taranaki will get a post-Christmas perk this year when a cruise liner carrying more than 2000 passengers docks at Port Taranaki. This will be the first cruise ship to visit the region in more than a decade and, if passengers give Taranaki a glowing review, there is a good chance more will follow. JOHN ANTHONY finds out what needs to be done to ensure Taranaki leaves a lasting impression.

Imagine a floating village with a population of 2000 wealthy tourists pulling into Port Taranaki and coming ashore month after month.

Following a visit by the Holland America Line-owned MS Volendam, this could soon become a reality.

Further to this, Port Taranaki could become the first port of call for boutique and medium-sized cruise ships arriving from Australia.

This could prove a lucrative new market for the port and would be an attractive option for cruise ship companies because Taranaki is the most direct link from Australia and would be the perfect West Coast gateway to New Zealand.

But for all this to happen, Taranaki needs the passengers of the Volendam to be leaving with a good impression.

Port Taranaki's commercial manager of cargo and logistics, Olaf Numssen, said if passengers gave Taranaki a gold star then return visits would be likely.

"If that happens, I'm certain more ships will come in behind which means hit after hit," Mr Numssen said.

And he would know because, having helped establish Wellington's cruise ship terminal, he has seen it all before.

With the cruise ship market growing faster than any other sector in the tourism industry, it is a worthwhile market for Taranaki to get on board.

The total predicted value of the cruise ship market to New Zealand for the coming year is $346 million.

For Port Taranaki to become a gateway to New Zealand it would need to employ border control facilities such as customs control and Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry staff.

With 80 ships expected for the 2011-12 season, Bay of Plenty was one region which knew the benefits of cruise ship visits better than most.

Port of Tauranga commercial manager Graeme Marshall said the investment needed to establish Port Taranaki as an entry point for cruise ships coming from Australia would not be substantial.
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Aside from MAF and customs personnel, very little was needed to accommodate passengers other than some shelter and a safe and efficient exit and entry point from the wharf to the destination.

"A terminal isn't necessary.

"The key is to have sufficient room on the dock for coaches to pull up and people to get access to the region," Mr Marshall said.

One person working with both Port Taranaki and Venture Taranaki to help make it a reality is Hawera woman Wendy London, who is a Victoria University PhD candidate investigating the impacts of ports, politics and power on cruise passenger spending in New Zealand.

She has a background in law but, in 2006, she decided to pursue her passion - cruising.

Mrs London and her husband have been on 17 cruises, have three more booked and have spent more than 400 days at sea.

She has been to Antarctica on a cruise and in December will be on the Volendam when it sails into Port Taranaki.

In 2008, Mrs London was the recipient of a $15,000 grant from the Ministry of Tourism to support her Otago University Masters research on the development of an economic risk profile for the New Zealand cruise sector.

Cruise ship passengers were largely attracted to the pageantry involved with cruise ships and that was something on which Taranaki should capitalise, she said.

"There's still very much a romantic part to the industry," Mrs London said.

There was the potential for Taranaki to become a popular destination for cruise ships but that largely depends on the reception visitors get in December.

"It could be the start of something. I won't say something big because it requires something special."

And that something special came down to the people of Taranaki.

"The big message is for the community to be warm and welcoming."

The mix of passengers would be mostly American and Australian and, not surprisingly, shopping would be high on their agendas, she said. "These people love to shop."

Venture Taranaki chief executive Stuart Trundle said the most important thing was for Taranaki people to show manaakitanga (hospitality) to visitors and treat them like family.

On the economic side of the coin, the most important message he had for businesses was to be open, especially considering that the December 27 arrival date was a public holiday.

"It's just about creativity and imagination to meet the needs of a cruise ship passenger as opposed to a visitor who has flown in," Mr Trundle said.

The economic benefits of the cruise ship market to Taranaki could not be overstated, he said.

"This is the equivalent of five or six jumbo jets landing at Auckland Airport."

It will also provide Taranaki people with the opportunity to see an impressive cruise liner in port, a sight which had not been seen for more than a decade.

"This is the equivalent of multiple skyscrapers moving into town."

New Plymouth-based transport company Withers Coachline has been involved in the Auckland cruise ship market for several of years and its whole fleet will be waiting at Ngamotu Beach on December 27, ready to show passengers the sights of Taranaki.

Owner Blair Withers said Port Taranaki was a unique port to sail into. "It's probably one of the more pretty wharves."

If Taranaki gets it right in December the benefits will be felt long into the future.

From his experience, cruise ship passengers loved unique and remote places such as Taranaki.

"They'll go away and say, 'we went to this really neat little place.' That sort of publicity is just priceless." It would be a shame if Taranaki residents and businesses did not step up to make the most of the opportunity, he said.

"We want to keep cruise ships coming here on a regular basis."

There were a lot of unseen economic benefits to the community, including supplies the ship might need, he said.

"There will be a few gallons of milk chucked on the boat when it gets here."

He recommended shop owners pre-organise shipping for their goods so a convenient service was offered to passengers wanting to purchase things without lugging them around.

Market stalls set up at Puke Ariki Landing would also do well because passengers would love quirky Taranaki-specific gifts and trinkets.

He also hoped someone would invest in a Taranaki promotional DVD for passengers to take home and show family and friends.

http://static2.stuff.co.nz/1309124809/429/5196429.jpg

Withers Coachlines owner Blair Withers is out to ensure his is one of the businesses to benefit from the Volendam's visit to Taranaki

http://static2.stuff.co.nz/1309124611/411/5196411.jpg

The two level “Rotterdam Dining Room” on the Volendam

- Taranaki Daily News

NZ1

July 7th, 2011, 04:35 AM

Te Rewa Rewa 'best in the world'
JO MOIR

http://static2.stuff.co.nz/1309956546/358/5246358.jpg
CAMERON BURNELL/Taranaki Daily News

FAMOUS FOOTBRIDGE: New Plymouth's Te Rewa Rewa bridge has scooped the international footbridge award at a ceremony in Poland this morning.

Te Rewa Rewa bridge is the best little bridge in the world.

The distinctive 70-metre footbridge over New Plymouth's Waiwhakaiho River was announced the winner of its category at the Footbridge Awards in Poland early this morning.

The latest award, which saw the bridge beat out six European contenders, comes on the back of two other prizes for the Taranaki icon.

New Plymouth Mayor Harry Duynhoven is in Wroclaw in Poland collecting the award for the aesthetics medium category.

"These awards are hotly contested and it's a huge boost for our industries for a New Zealand bridge to be judged the best in any category," Mr Duynhoven said.

The judges were split across some categories but were unanimous about Te Rewa Rewa, Mr Duynhoven said.

The Footbridge Awards started in 2002 in Paris and are held every three years. This year's awards attracted 55 entries from 18 countries with seven finalists shortlisted across six categories.

Te Rewa Rewa bridge was up against competition from Spain, Belgium, France and England for the overall award.

The judges described the Taranaki entry as a stunning iconic structure with simple form and excellent attention to detail.

"The use of arch and ribs to produce the skeletal form is very well done. The change from a traditional elevation to the more oblique views gives this one the wow factor," the judges said.

The award is the second of international status for the bridge after becoming the first in the southern hemisphere to win the Arthur G. Hayden medal from the International Bridge Conference.

The conference recognises outstanding achievement in bridge engineering that demonstrates innovation in special-use bridges.

The vision of Te Rewa Rewa was conceived by New Plymouth District Council and funded by the NZ Transport Agency, council and the Whitaker Family Trust. The bridge opened last year as part of the northern extension of the Coastal Walkway. Te Rewa Rewa Bridge also won the Ingenium Excellence Award for projects between $2 million and $10m.
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- Taranaki Daily News

nthbeach

July 7th, 2011, 11:12 AM

Cool, conreats to NP

fozzy

July 7th, 2011, 11:17 AM

Congrats "i love this bridge so much i even have it as my screensaver" so i am very glad it's won.

Marky Mark

July 7th, 2011, 12:36 PM

:cheers:

NZ1

August 25th, 2011, 10:27 PM

Public revel in Shield glory
SARAH FOY

http://static2.stuff.co.nz/1314275153/276/5510276.jpg
TIGHT GRIP: Enjoying the glow and feel of the Ranfurly Shield yesterday were, from left: George Bennett, 10, Marshall Higginson, 12, and Elijah Higginson, 10. The trio were among a crowd who turned up to a public showing of the Shield at Yarrow Stadium yesterday.

Getting your hand on the Shield, preferably while donned in amber and black, was the name of the game in an official presentation ceremony at Yarrow Stadium yesterday.

Flag-waving kids, their mums and dads, Taranaki rugby players in jeans and sweatshirts and dignitaries turned up at the main ground to see the shiny Shield and hear short speeches.

New Plymouth mayor Harry Duynhoven talked of the tension in the last minutes of the game before congratulating the team on the boost they had provided to the province. "You thoroughly deserved the applause you got and all the attention you received today," he told the crowd of about 150 people.

South Taranaki mayor Ross Dunlop reiterated the pride of his district. "It has been a gloomy winter and this has really lifted our hearts. Well done. It was a difficult assignment to go down to the south and bring the Shield back."

Earlier he told Taranaki Daily News a good percentage of the players hailed from his mayoralty patch and the whole region could "bathe in the glory." He would attend Sunday's crucial match against Hawke's Bay, saying he had bought his tickets yesterday morning from the iSite centre in Hawera, where they were selling like hotcakes.

Taranaki Rugby Football Union chairman Lindsay Thomson urged the crowd to get the message out to their friends how important it was to fill the stadium for Sunday's game.

"We hope and know that the Taranaki community will come through and will fill this park and Hawke's Bay won't have a chance."

Taranaki captain Craig Clarke thanked the crowd before he and other players signed autographs, posed for photographs and chatted to the mingling crowd.

Among those checking out the hefty Shield was district councillor and radio sports journalist Phil Quinney with son Brock. Mr Quinney was hosting a quiz at Peggy Gordon's bar on Wednesday and said he'd had to shut the quiz down before the Taranaki/Southland match finished. "We had to make sure we concentrated on those last five minutes. Then we resumed the quiz."

The Peggy's crowd exercised their lungs with plenty of cheering before publican Bertie Burleigh shouted drinks, he said.

Mr Quinney would commentate the game on Sunday with Ken Maharey and Ray Hopkinson and anticipated it would be a huge buzz. "Having the Shield lifts the commentary team as much as the players. To call a big game like that is what you do your job for."

He backed Taranaki against the Bay because claiming the Shield lifted a team to new heights. "Hawke's Bay will be tough. But I think for Taranaki, having the chance to keep it over the summer, that will be the big difference."

- Taranaki Daily News

http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/sport/5510245/Public-revel-in-Shield-glory

NZ1

September 14th, 2011, 05:44 AM

Russia's number two jets in

http://static2.stuff.co.nz/1315967517/687/5623687.jpg

Russia's Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov has arrived in New Plymouth for the historic Russia USA Rugby World Cup game at Stadium Taranaki tomorrow night.

The casually dressed leader and his party flew into New Plymouth Airport this morning on a private jet and were rushed into a late model BMW waiting for them on the runway.

New Zealand Prime Minister John Key is reported to be hosting Mr Ivanov at the match tomorrow which will also be attended by Russian billionaire and vodka magnate, Roustam Tariko and current Miss Russia, Natalia Gantimurova.

- Taranaki Daily News

NZ1

November 15th, 2011, 09:31 PM

On the move

The 650 tonne accommodation module started its journey from Fitzroy Engineering to Port Taranaki at 10.30pm Tuesday night and is expected to finish at 6.30am Wednesday morning

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BIG TURNOUT: A crowd of up to 5000 people lined the first section of road to watch the 650-tonne Yolla accommodation module inch its way from the Fitzroy Engineering works at New Plymouth's Waiwhakaiho last night.

LATEST: Already two hours overdue the Yolla accommodation module is unlikely to make it to Port Taranaki before 8am.

The front two sets of wheels on the left hand side of the trailer came off the road and dropped into a gravel filled garden bed on the edge of Moturoa.

Workers have fixed the wheels, and the load is back on the move, but the port arrival will be delayed.

Originally, the 650-tonne load was expected to hit Moturoa at 3.45am this morning, the port by 4.15am and it's final resting place on the wharf by 6.30am.

However, this latest mishap will push that time forward by at least an hour.

There has been trouble from the start, the removal of trees and a power pole delayed the kick off by 30 minutes and trailer problems halted the move at the Northgate intersection for an hour last night.

From Moturoa the load will have about 1km to travel before it reaches the port gates.

But that is not the end, it will then be shipped to an offshore oil platform in Bass Strait where it will undergo another two months work before finally being attached to the platform ready for use.

NZ1

November 30th, 2011, 12:25 AM

There really are some dumbasses out there aren't there? The on and off ramps don't even line up exactly, so it'd have been really difficult to have pull this one off at the best of times!

Dukes of Hazzard-style' car crash

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A Dukes of Hazzard-style car crash in Bell Block has left residents wondering how no-one was killed.

The Subaru Legacy flew 15 metres off the motorway ramp and speared into the side of The Warehouse, shunting the concrete-slab wall back about a metre.

Witnesses say the car had been seen earlier travelling at 190kmh as it headed north from New Plymouth.

They suspect it had been racing another car during the drama at 4am on Saturday.

There were no skid marks or rubber left on the road to indicate the driver had attempted to brake.

Five of the six people in the car were taken to Taranaki Base Hospital.

An 18-year-old is in a stable condition in intensive care with multiple injuries.

A 21-year-old with head injuries was discharged on Monday, and an 18-year-old with spinal injuries was sent home from the hospital yesterday.

Police say excessive speed and alcohol contributed to the crash, but inquiries are continuing.

The force of the impact shattered part of a concrete wall at The Warehouse and a section of the store, which bears the scars of the impact, remained cordoned off yesterday.

A store manager told the Taranaki Daily News that head office had said not to allow the media access to photograph inside the building.

Cameron Brill was one of the first on the scene and he was expecting to find bodies.

"Just from the way that the car looked, it looked like someone was going to be dead," he said.

Mr Brill said he and his two passengers all called 111 and then set about helping people out of the car.

One of the passengers had a gash across the top of his head, and another had a lump the size of a tennis ball on the side of his head, he said.

Debbie Taylor, an attendant at the Bell Block Caltex service station, said yesterday she had been told the driver had been trying to jump between the off and on-ramps.

"Dukes of Hazzard-style," Mrs Taylor said.

"It's attracted so much interest people are amazed and shocked that they have walked away from that alive.

"It's an example to the young ones that they can't live on luck alone."

Most people were saying the car had been travelling at about 190kmh, she said.

"I heard from one customer, a truck driver, that when they passed him it felt like he was stationary."

Shifty's Sports Bar manager Corrine Verstraten said there had been many rumours circulating in the village about the crash.

"We heard one of them was almost scalped and one almost had his face ripped off," Miss Verstraten said.
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"They reckon they were doing about 200kmh." She said there had also been rumours the car had been racing another vehicle moments before the crash.

Tania Johns, of Bell Block Barbers, said the crash was a hot topic of discussion around the town. "How no-one was killed is amazing really," Mrs Johns said.

She said hordes of people were stopping to check out the crash site.

Senior Sergeant Allan Whaley said police were waiting for the results of a blood sample taken from the 20-year-old driver to show if he had been drinking.

"There was certainly excessive speed involved, there is no doubt about that," Mr Whaley said.

"They are very lucky to still be alive." Mr Whaley said it was not known if the car had been racing another vehicle.

"If there are any witnesses to that we would ask them to come forward," he said.

- Taranaki Daily News

HavanaClub

December 1st, 2011, 07:07 PM

Unfortunately they didn't quite qualify for the Darwin awards

(no, really is sad that some teenagers are so detached from reality, and fail to see the opportunities they have. Man, I sound old by saying that...)

NZ1

December 26th, 2011, 03:46 AM

Liner visit tests water

Due in New Plymouth tomorrow! :banana:

http://cruiseweb.com/hal-imagelibrary/ship-volendam/HAL_volendam_350x194.jpg

A cruise liner carrying 2000 passengers and arriving shortly after Christmas could be the first step towards Port Taranaki developing an international terminal and becoming a cruise ship gateway to New Zealand.

MS Volendam, which is a vessel owned by shipping giant Holland America Line, will be the first cruise ship to visit Taranaki since 1999.

If its passengers leave the region with glowing reviews and the stopover is deemed a success by its owners then future cruise ship visits to Taranaki could become a regular occurrence.

And with the cruise ship market growing faster than any other sector in the tourism industry, Taranaki could well become a gateway to New Zealand for boutique and medium-sized cruise ships.

That would require Port Taranaki to install infrastructure to accommodate cruise liners including passenger terminals and border control facilities.

And the arrival of MS Volendam is the first opportunity for Taranaki to prove itself as a viable cruise ship destination.

The 240 metre 61,000 tonne floating village will berth in Port Taranaki at 8am on December 27 and will depart later that evening.

Up to 1432 mostly Australian and American passengers will come ashore, as well as the majority of the 615 crew members.

MS Volendam will be travelling to Taranaki overnight from Port Chalmers and will leave for Wellington later that day.

Cruise New Zealand, which promotes local destinations to cruise ship companies, is largely responsible for bringing MS Volendam to New Plymouth.

Chairman Craig Harris said, with the rapidly growing industry, it was logical to start including Taranaki on cruise ships itineraries.

"We're always trying to open up new destinations and new parts of New Zealand," Mr Harris said.

Last season there were 520 port calls in New Zealand and next season that figure was likely to reach 650, he said.

"This is a toe in the water to see how it all works out."

Taranaki was the most direct route for ships from Australia and setting up an international terminal was an option for the future, he said.

"Discussions are under way to see if we can factor in cruise ships coming straight from Australia."

Port Taranaki commercial manager of cargo and logistics Olaf Numssen, who helped Wellington establish its cruise ship terminal, said if the visit proved successful the region could expect to see more.

"We're doing everything to ensure this market will be open but in the end it is the cruise ship companies which are deciding," Mr Numssen said.

He had seen from past experience that if passengers praised a destination then cruise ship companies would most likely make return visits.
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"If that happens I'm certain more ships will come in behind which means hit after hit."

But it all came down to passenger feedback of a destination, he said.

"There will either be nothing after it or a lot."

Taranaki needed to leave a good impression otherwise it could miss the boat on this lucrative market as it did in 1999.

"Once you get it right in the first instance they will come but if you get it wrong, forget it."

For now the port would keep expenses to a minimum and would only need to erect a marquee as a waiting area for visitors.

It was likely the port's east gate, closest to Ngamotu Beach, would be opened for the occasion so passengers could walk straight onto the beach or to waiting transport.

Venture Taranaki chief executive Stuart Trundle said that because December 27 was a public holiday the best thing Taranaki could do to ensure a positive experience for passengers was to be open for trading.

Having worked on a cruise ship for seven years, including a role as navigating officer on the Queen Elizabeth II, Mr Trundle has a good understanding of passenger behaviour.

But it was important businesses did not treat visitors simply as cash cows. "Treat them as if they're part of your family. Make sure you give them that wonderful hospitality New Zealand is known for," Mr Trundle said.

If the region wins the tourists over then future benefits would be seen, he said. "If we get the mix right it could be the start of a beautiful relationship."

Holland America Line has a fleet of 15 ships which sail to 350 ports in more than 100 destinations worldwide, including Antarctica.

SHIP SHAPE

Arrival of the cruise liner MS Volendam

Arriving: 8am December 27

Departing: 5pm December 27

1432 passengers

615 crew members

61,000 tonne

240 metres long

12 years since Taranaki's last cruise ship

- © Fairfax NZ News

NZ1

January 19th, 2012, 12:41 AM

Let's hope they pull this one off!

Top British band in sights for Bowl gig
KATE SAUNDERS

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Taranaki is chasing one of the world's biggest rock bands to fill its beloved Bowl of Brooklands outdoor music venue.

American concert promoter Dan Allen confirmed to the Taranaki Daily News yesterday Radiohead was the star act being sought to perform at the Bowl next summer.

"The Bowl is unique and they're a band with a reputation of wanting to play in unique venues. The Bowl has a great shot at getting them because of that," Mr Allen said.

Radiohead have sold more than 30 million albums and Mr Allen believed they had the potential to fill the bowl for two nights. The last group to do that was Fleetwood Mac in December 2009.

But don't start saving your pennies for tickets just yet.

Mr Allen said it was only an "increasingly valid rumour" the English band were touring the Pacific Rim later this year.

While he hoped to entice the group, it depended on whether they ended up touring Down Under and if Taranaki could lure them.

"They don't tour that often and when they do it's a pretty big event."

Mr Allen said the goal would be an exclusive, one-off concert in Taranaki.

Rumours of the English band visiting have been fuelled by New Zealand musician Connan Mockasin tweeting recently that he wouldn't be home for the Camp A Low Hum music festival in February, but would be returning home with Radiohead before the end of the year.

The band have announced a 2012 World Tour, with dates scheduled only up until July.

When pressed on the cost of bringing that type of group, Mr Allen said a ballpark figure was in the vicinity of $1 million after taking care of fees, production costs, freight and travel.

Radiohead haven't toured New Zealand since 1998.

If the plan comes to fruition, it could spell a jam-packed summer for a venue suffering from the lack of a star act this summer.

But Mr Allen also confirmed three major acts were on the cards for next summer, with an Australian promoter set to jack up the other two.

That lines up with an agreement signed in January last year between the New Plymouth District Council and promoter Andrew McManus, who brought Fleetwood Mac to Taranaki.

That contract promised six events featuring A-list artists performing at the Bowl between January 2011 and the end of 2013.

In a letter to the Taranaki Daily News, NPDC general manager of community services Cathy Thurston said Mr McManus had since experienced the receivership of one of his companies – a sign of the times – but the council expected that he would deliver those shows in time.

Meanwhile, Mr Allen has also revealed just what we missed out on this summer.

He said George Michael had been "strongly considered" as a prospect.

"But since he's travelling with a 40-piece orchestra the costs were prohibitive to bring him to New Zealand regardless of the city."

Stevie Wonder was also lined up, and could still be a prospect for the end of 2012.

Mr Allen said negotiating with bands took time and audiences had to be patient.

He also said New Plymouth District Council events manager Brent Thawley had done a fine strategic job of building a base that would pay off in the long run.

"The reason there haven't been major acts at the Bowl is not because Garry Sharpe-Young passed away, he would be under the same circumstances as Brent. It's tough times economically."

Both Mr Allen and Mr Thawley were also pressing the prospect of Yarrow Stadium as a prospective music venue to artists.

NZ1

January 19th, 2012, 08:51 PM

Methanex, Todd sign 10-year [$860 million] gas plan

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LIFE'S A GAS: Todd Energy drilling supervisor Felix Hunger, on site yesterday at the Mangahewa wellsite, has a busy time ahead the company plans to drill 25 new wells over the next five years to help meet a new gas supply contract with Methanex.

A deal signed by two of New Zealand's biggest energy companies is expected to add millions of dollars a year to the Taranaki economy for at least the next decade.

It's also going to require a workforce of up to 500 people for up to seven months at the sprawling methanol plant at Motunui as a second production "train" is brought back to life this year.

Todd Energy has signed a contract with Methanex New Zealand to supply gas from its Mangahewa field northeast of Waitara to the Methanex New Zealand site at Motunui.

This 10-year agreement, which will see Mangahewa gas start flowing to Motunui from July, will enable Methanex to restart its second methanol train – and double production of Taranaki methanol to up to 1.5 million tonnes a year.

The agreement will also provide Todd with the commercial impetus to begin a major drilling programme at Mangahewa, which will see up to 25 new wells drilled and production facilities expanded over the next five years.

The first well is being drilled now at an estimated cost of $30million, and the drilling bit is closing in on the four-kilometre depth where the gas-bearing Mangahewa formation is located. After that the rig will be moved to another site in the gas field where it will drill two more wells back-to-back.

Depending on the success of these wells – and Todd Energy is confident they will be producers – up to another 22 wells will be drilled.

It is estimated the combined capital cost of both projects will be up to $860m – almost all of it spent in Taranaki – and that they will boost Government revenues by up to $1.2 billion over the 10 years.

Yesterday's announcement goes a long way towards confirming growing speculation that the Mangahewa gasfield is much larger than originally thought, and may even rival the nearby offshore Pohokura gasfield, which is New Zealand's largest producer.

Todd Corporation Group chief executive Jon Young said the agreement with Methanex will have major economic benefits for Taranaki and New Zealand.

"The appraisal and development of the Mangahewa field is an exciting project that we expect will have positive implications for the regional economy and the wider national interest," he said.

"A significant proportion of that economic wealth and and job creation will occur in the Taranaki region."

Todd Energy chief executive Paul Moore said the supply contract allowed his company to expand its gas business in Taranaki, in properties it wholly owned and operated.
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"Forming this new commercial arrangement with Methanex enables us to make commercially challenging investments that otherwise might not have happened," he said.

Methanex NZ chief executive Bruce Aitken said the second train had been idle since 2004 and will cost $100m to restart. Once operational, it will allow his company to add up to 650,000 tonnes of incremental capacity per year.

"The quantity of gas supply under this contract potentially allows us to produce about 7.5million tonnes of methanol over the next 10 years, representing multibillion dollars of revenues," he said.

Methanex NZ said the restart project will require in excess of 400 to 500 contractors for six to seven months. After that, the operation will require an employee base of about 165 staff.

"We believe strongly that this project will have a positive benefit to the local community and its residents," said Methanex in a statement.

"For example, not only does restarting the Motunui plant signal to oil and gas explorers that there is a local user to be supplied, but Port Taranaki will benefit as a consequence of the increase in the levels of liquids export volumes."

- © Fairfax NZ News

NZ1

January 19th, 2012, 08:54 PM

Give us a lift: leaders

A call has gone out for increased investment in Taranaki's infrastructure following the announcement that Wednesday's lucrative gas deal is expected to see the Government pocket more than $1 billion dollars in royalties and taxes.

The agreement between Todd Energy and Methanex New Zealand to reopen a second methanol production plant at Motunui will require a workforce of 500 people for seven months, a long-term employee base of 165 staff and capital spending of $860 million - most of which would be spent in Taranaki.

Taranaki Chamber of Commerce chairman Grant McQuoid said the announcement was a great start to 2012 but more infrastructure investment was needed from the Government to enable future growth.

Government revenue from the 10-year project is expected to reach $1.2 billion.

"I think it's important that the Government puts back into the regions that are helping grow New Zealand's economy," Mr McQuoid said.

Taranaki's engineering, rural and oil and gas sectors were significant contributors to New Zealand's economy and the Government needed to account for this.

He had been told by energy sector experts there was a shortage of skilled labour in the region and it would require a large number of people to move to Taranaki to fill upcoming vacancies.

Developments on the northern highway, New Plymouth Airport and the blue water highway were all necessary to maintain growth in Taranaki, he said.

New Plymouth mayor Harry Duynhoven said the Government should reconsider where it spent its infrastructure investment.

"What I think is missing in the whole argument is strategic importance," Mr Duynhoven said.

Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce and Energy and Resources Minister Phil Heatley both heralded the Methanex and Todd Energy agreement.

But Mr Joyce said the Government would not make Taranaki a priority for investment simply because it was a cash cow.

Government's role was to make sure there were no road blocks in the way of development, he said.

"We want to be sure that the Government, either local or central, is not getting in the way of things," Mr Joyce said.

Currently the only Taranaki infrastructure which deserved immediate investment was the Waiwhakaiho Bridge, on which planning work had started, he said.

It was hard to identify where infrastructure investment was needed until it became a hindrance to economic growth, he said.

The gas plan, to begin in July, was expected to have long-lasting benefits for Taranaki.

Port Taranaki chief executive Roy Weaver said that while an arrangement was yet to be confirmed, the extra gas was likely to be exported from the port. This would see an extra 20 to 25 per cent of annual cargo.
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"That's a significant lift," Mr Weaver said.

The port currently had about 400 to 500 ship arrivals each year.

The new deal would see another 30 or 40 bulk carrier arrivals each year, he said.

"It's wonderful potential for the community to have on its doorstep."

The port already had the infrastructure to export methanol and the current labour force would be able to cope with the extra cargo, he said.

Taranaki Regional Council chief executive Basil Chamberlain said an increase in port profits and revenue would lower Taranaki rates.

TSB Bank chief executive Kevin Murphy said the deal would provide a degree of certainty to the Taranaki economy for the next 10 years.

"I think it's a huge positive to start the year off. A real confidence boost," Mr Murphy said.

It showed Taranaki was a place for opportunity and development, he said. "It provides confidence for people who are looking to move to this community and looking to invest in this community."

Mr McQuoid said there would definitely be a flow-on effect through the economy but it may take 12 months.

Taranaki businesses needed to seek out opportunities that would arise from the project, he said.

"Businesses should be thinking where is the opportunity for more business rather than being passive and waiting for the opportunity to arise."

- © Fairfax NZ News

NZ1

February 7th, 2012, 09:48 PM

This explains why the two bus routes that depart from King St are going to be moved to Ariki with the 9 other routes.

'Sharing' will test drivers

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A bold new $1.1 million inner city street design has got the thumbs up from New Plymouth councillors despite fears the district's drivers lack the skills to cope with the change.

Lower Brougham St outside Puke Ariki library will next month be redeveloped into a shared space mixing walkers, cyclists and cars.

All the rage in Europe, the shared space is part of the district council Let's Go programme and will have a snail pace 10kmh speed limit.

But that did not stop several councillors at last night's monitoring committee meeting expressing fear New Plymouth drivers' general lack of skill would put pedestrians in harm's way.

"We have got an area we are opening up for walking and cycling but we are still allowing drivers to drive through. My concern is we have issues on the walkway with people walking and cycling and New Plymouth drivers aren't the best. Allowing cars to drive through that area, I dunno, it may be a big learning curve for some of our drivers," councillor Shaun Biesiek said.

Waitara representative Sherril George was the next on the band wagon, calling for more disabled car parks for the elderly users of the library.

"We have already heard that the New Plymouth drivers aren't exactly the best and I can tell you the older ones are probably a damn sight worse," she said.

Ms George clarified she was not trying to be sexist or ageist but wanted to make sure the design of the space was safe for everyone.

Despite being an elderly driver himself, councillor Lyn Bublitz agreed with Ms George espousing a view the Dutch-style design would not fit with the way New Plymouth people used the area.

He proposed the section giving cars access to Ariki St be either fully turned over to pedestrians or maintained as a separate footpath and road.

"We train people in incremental steps rather than this which can only lead to chaos," he forewarned.

But council community assets manager Anthony Wilson brushed off such concerns standing up for both the skills of New Plymouth drivers and the ability of other users to cope with change.

"The experience is if you make it a genuine shared space that everyone treats everyone else with respect. In many ways this is a pivotal part of Let's Go because if we can make this work it may well determine what other shared spaces in the district can look like.

"Yes it is new but so were computers 20 years ago," Mr Wilson said.

He also pointed out the heavy timber planter box bollards used to divide the space into car parks and seated areas could be shifted around, allowing council to experiment with which combination worked best.

In a response to a question from Ms George, Mr Wilson had the unfortunate task of telling her the bollards portability did not mean a car could bang into them without sustaining damage.

"They have to be sufficiently heavy that revellers don't pick them up," he explained.

The project is to be funded from the council's $3.71m model walking and cycling community grant. Design proposals are to be displayed at Puke Ariki with construction due to start in March.

No carparks will be lost in the redevelopment though the angle car parks in front of the library will be shifted to King St.

NZ1

March 6th, 2012, 09:58 PM

Coal exporter in for long haul
JOHN ANTHONY

For the next three decades Port Taranaki is poised to export about 125 million tonnes of the highest quality coal on the market.

The extra cargo, courtesy of new port customer Bathurst Resources, will see increased jobs at the port, investment in infrastructure and the potential for new customers to follow.

Australia-born company Bathurst Resources arrived in New Zealand three years ago to mine for coal in the South Island.

Its flagship operation, the Buller Coking Coal Project, could see an estimated 167 million tonnes of coking coal extracted from the Denniston Plateau and North Buller - an area which has been mined for nearly 100 years.

Bathurst managing director Hamish Bohannan estimates there's enough coal for 35 years of production.

About 75 per cent of the coal would be shipped to Taranaki and stockpiled in a new $1.5 million storage shed before being exported to Japan, Korea and China.

An agreement between Bathurst and Solid Energy will see the remaining 25 per cent transported by rail to Lyttelton Port.

Port Taranaki was banking on a similar deal in November 2007 when Pike River Coal agreed to ship its coal from the Port of Greymouth to Port Taranaki.

Pike River Coal reneged on the contract and instead decided to rail the coal to Lyttelton.

The contract would have been worth as much as $80m to the port and was one of the reasons it spent more than $20m to deepen the harbour to accommodate larger ships.

In 2010, Port Taranaki chief executive Roy Weaver said the volumes discussed with Bathurst were similar to what Pike River reneged on and would increase shipping at the port by as much as 25 per cent.

Bathurst recently invested $1.5m in Port Taranaki with the first outlay of a three-stage development project.

Coal handling facilities already exist at the port so all that was needed to begin with was the construction of a large shed.

"Taranaki has got fantastic facilities that are under-utilised," Mr Bohannan said.

Since December last year Bathurst has been shipping coking coal from Westport to Taranaki three times a week on a small 700 tonne vessel.

"It's rats and mice for the first six to eight months," Mr Bohannan said.

As coal production increases so too will the investment in Taranaki, he said.

Phase two would see the coal storage area increased as shipping movements double to six weekly.

Phase three would see even more coal and sophisticated loading systems installed.

"Stage three takes it to the next level and that needs Escarpment," Mr Bohannan said.

Escarpment is a coal seam on the Denniston Plateau which has been granted resource consent but is being held up in the Environment Court by an appeal lodged by anti-mining groups such as Forest and Bird.

Bathurst, which leases the land off the Conservation Department, is confident it will be successful in the defending the appeal, Mr Bohannan said.

If production gets under way at Escarpment the vessels sailing from Westport to Taranaki would increase in size to 1000 tonnes.

Coal stockpiled at Port Taranaki would then get exported on 30,000 to 60,000 tonne vessels.

Mr Weaver said having a customer like Bathurst using the port and investing in coal handling facilities opened up the possibility of attracting more coal producers to Port Taranaki.

"What it means is potential.

"Often when you have specialised facilities in place there's opportunity for others to use them," Mr Weaver said.

There were a number of large North Island coal deposits which, if mined, could use Port Taranaki as an export gateway, he said.

Bathurst may consider investing money into dredging the port further so even larger ships could enter, he said.

Handling coal was labour intensive so a number of stevedore jobs would be created from the deal but it was too early to say how many.

As at June 2011, Bathurst's annual report showed it had nearly $90m cash on hand, leaving it well funded for development activities. "It adds a lot of credibility to what they're trying to do," Mr Weaver said.

Bathurst is also spending $30m to upgrade facilities at Westport, including a new storage shed and conveyer belt.

Bathurst is listed on both the ASX and NZX and plans to be in New Zealand long-term, Mr Bohannan said.

"We aim to be a permanent fixture on the New Zealand landscape.

"We're proud of what we do and we're part of the community here.

"Our goal is to be a significant mining company along with Solid Energy," he said.

Bathurst currently employs nearly 100 staff but if Escarpment gets the green light nearly 300 additional West Coast jobs would be created.

- © Fairfax NZ News

NZ1

March 14th, 2012, 09:04 PM

30 minutes to drive a 1KM section of Northgate? Maybe one-day central goernment will realise just how much of a bottleneck we have in New Plymouth.

Gridlock has city drivers steaming

Peak-hour traffic slowed to a walk on New Plymouth's northern rim yesterday as roadworks across the city caused delays.

It appears restoration and strengthening work of the State Highway 3 road surface near Waiwhakaiho Bridge was the main culprit although 30kmh restrictions on resurfacing of the Waiwhakaiho Hill also contributed. Frustrated motorists called the Daily News, complaining at the holdups.

One driver said it took half an hour to get from the corner of Mangorei Rd and Northgate to the Fitzroy shops. Another bemoaned his 40-minute trip from central New Plymouth to Bell Block.

The emails were none too flattering either:

"What a pathetic situation! Gridlock both ways from Liardet St to New Plymouth Golf Club in peak hour! Who was the neanderthal who organised (?) this moronic schedule of roadworks?" was probably the most vitriolic.

NZ Transport Agency regional state highways manager David McGonigal said the work to make the highway smoother and safer was being done at night to minimise inconvenience.

"30kmh speed restrictions are in place during the day as parts of the road will remain unsealed," he said.

"We've got electronic signs up to keep motorists in the loop, and we've also informed the public via letter drops and newspaper advertising."

Other work in New Plymouth being carried out over the next fortnight includes the top layers of road seal on sections of Brougham St and Devon St East being removed. A new pavement will be laid with a hotmix surface.

The work on Brougham St between Powderham and Devon will take place from 7.30am to 6pm Sundays to Thursdays.

The street will be closed to daytime traffic during this time.

From 6pm to 7am Sundays to Thursdays Devon St East between Currie and Liardet will be worked on overnight.

On-street car parking will be available during the day, although car parks will be unmarked.

Roading assets manager Max Aves said the taxi stand on Brougham St would be temporarily relocated to lower Brougham St alongside Kingsway Menswear.

Retail stores in the work areas might experience some vibrations from compaction rollers being used by roadworks staff.

Mr Aves said retailers had been advised to consider protecting any of their products from potential vibrations.

Traffic in other parts of Taranaki has also been crawling over the last few weeks with extensive roadworks happening at Tariki, Pioneer Village and south of Inglewood.

New precautionary measures at roadworks sites are greeting motorists in the aftermath of thousands of dollars worth of windscreen damage to vehicles after a reseal job went wrong on Mt Messenger and at Big Jim's Hill near the Waitara turn-off last month.
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Mr McGonigal said NZ Transport Agency had worked closely with its consultant, MWH, contractors Downer and the Road Transport Association to identify measures that would reduce the chance of damage to vehicles.

"We've looked at a range of potential solutions and decided on techniques which have been trialled to great effect over the last week and feedback has been very positive."

Contractors were using a pilot vehicle to ferry traffic through the sites when deemed necessary, which would help keep motorists to the speed restrictions.

Mr McGonigal said contractors were now spreading water on resealing sites that would make tyres wet and lower their temperature, meaning they were less likely to pick up tar and chips.

- © Fairfax NZ News

NZ1

March 18th, 2012, 09:35 PM

Fantastic weekend for the concerts... The city was buzzing with the 30,000 revelers!

There's a bunch of more photo's and videos from the concert on the on the actual news article on stuff. (http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/6596282/Womad-wows-them-to-the-end)

Womad wows them to the end
Sun, sounds and crowds

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The sun, the sounds, the colours and the crowds – thousands packed out Womad at the weekend to enjoy a world-class music festival that delivered yet again.

More than 30,000 people were treated to 400 artists performing on six stages in the TSB Bowl of Brooklands and Brooklands Park.

Somehow, Womad organised the weather gods and about 2500 campers took advantage of the brilliant sunshine to pack into Pukekura Raceway.

On Saturday, spots in the shade were a priority as the sun beat down on the throng soaking up the charismatic performances.

Taranaki Arts Festival Trust chief executive Suzanne Porter said tickets sales were boosted by the weather and a strong walk up crowd.

So much so, the trust would possibly break even.

For a festival whose artist costs top $1 million of its budget, that was very good news.

Ms Porter said youth attendance was again high, and they had taken to the dance zone in the later hours.

Repositioning the chimney stage this year had also been a positive, with audiences enjoying more room.

The party kicked off early on Saturday afternoon with Watussi, an Australian group led by a Colombian ex-pat and cranking out a real Latin American sound.

This was Womad experienced close up, with the oldies working their salsa moves on the very edge of the lake and Mexican sombreros the head wear of choice.

One of those in the groove was Ruby Jane, 22, from Coromandel, who was experiencing her first Womad.

"I love it. It's beautiful and dynamic – a cultural mash," she said, moving in time to the music.

Woodfired Pizza stall owner Rob Roughan was enjoying the atmosphere just as much as the punters lined up plenty deep for his self-taught, well-proofed, authentic pizzas.

"It's more of a mature audience here and they're all having fun. It's casual and vibrant and good for us."

Next up was the much anticipated Alabama 3 Acoustic and Unplugged, and while lead singer Larry Love has claimed no musician is truly original, he goes pretty close.

"You people are not on your laptops, you're out here. It's nice to see real people out in the field talking to each other," Love said.

It felt as if their country blues techno had been whipped away from a dingy pub in London and dropped into the middle of Taranaki.

Word has it there's usually a dark horse act at Womad who take festival-goers by surprise with their brilliance.

This year was no exception. Wacky Japanese group Pascals was the name on many lips.

Who doesn't love a large man, topless under a plastic poncho, playing the drums on his belly?

On Sunday, Melbourne band Bombay Royale stole the show, with their quirky mix of Indian and funk pulling a lethargic crowd to its feet.

The mood was buffered at night by Sharon Shannon Big Band and crowd favourites Staff Benda Bilili, bringing the festival atmosphere to a crescendo. Although an activist was spotted on Sunday afternoon protesting deep sea drilling, New Plymouth police said there were no problems.

Mongolian musician Nars, who was burned during a cooking demonstration at the festival on Friday night, was back in the saddle performing on Saturday.

And although problems with the i-phone app were reported from some festival-goers, Ms Porter said there was room to improve that aspect next year.

The stage is set, then, for the festival to stay in Taranaki.

"There's no intention to move Womad at all. But it absolutely requires the partnership base to keep it here and we're so well supported."

"We're at the point where we know things are working really well.

"There's been very few issues to deal with, but as a CEO I can now enjoy the festival and see more of the acts."

- © Fairfax NZ News

NZ1

May 30th, 2012, 10:16 PM

We're sitting on a vast gas reservoir

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A Solid Energy rig drills for coalseam gas near Whangamomona

New Zealand's biggest coal company has confirmed Taranaki as the country's hot spot for future development of a new energy source – coalseam gas.

State-owned enterprise Solid Energy is now forecasting that the vast coalfields in eastern Taranaki have the potential to produce enough gas to supply a 400-megawatt power station the size of Huntly for 45 years.

The company says an independent assessment of its coalseam gas acreage in Taranaki indicates it has 858 billion cubic feet (24.3 billion cubic metres) of what are known as contingent resources, which could represent as much as 900 petajoules of gas – way up on its previous estimate of 190PJ.

By way of comparison, the Pohokura offshore gasfield in North Taranaki contains between 500 and 1200PJ of gas, while South Taranaki's Kupe field is estimated to contain 300PJ. A city the size of New Plymouth consumes around 5PJ a year for residential use.

Solid Energy has reacted to the results of the assessment – which was conducted by Texas-based Netherland, Sewell and Associates Inc – by applying to the Government for a five-year extension of the petroleum exploration permit that encompasses the eastern Taranaki coalfields. This will give the company time to move into discovery and appraisal phases.

And, so that it can focus is entire coalseam gas operations on Taranaki, the company has dumped a number of exploration permits it now considers to be less prospective, including Waiau and Winton in the South Island, and Counties in the North Island. It also looks likely to mothball an exploration permit at Huntly, including a coalseam-gas demonstration plant it built there.

Dr Steven Pearce, Solid Energy's general manager of gas developments, said in an interview last night that his company will now carry out more exploration drilling in an effort to find the best place to build a pilot gas production plant.

"There's lots that needs to be done – build the pilot plant so we can then begin to understand what rates of gas production we can achieve, and the cost of production," he said.

"But it is very exciting for us. The results of our exploration drilling out there have exceeded all expectations, and we are confident we have discovered a very significant nonconventional gas supply."

Solid Energy's decision to focus its coalseam gas operations entirely on Taranaki follows the drilling of a series of exploration wells along the region's eastern border over the past two years. Four of them were drilled in the Waitaanga and Mt Damper areas, with a further seven drilled in Tahora and Tangarakau.

Dr Pearce said the success of the drilling programme, and the assessment that has resulted in the four-fold increase in contingent gas resources, is extremely encouraging.

Coalseam gas is being used increasinglyaround the world – it already provides 15 per cent of the United States gas supply and close to 90 per cent in Queensland.

According to information supplied by Solid Energy, when coal forms in the ground, associated chemical and biological processes produce methane gas. This methane sticks to the coal surface and stays in place because of high underground pressure within the coalseam. When water is pumped out of the seam, the pressure is lowered and the gas is released to the surface.

NZ1

May 31st, 2012, 11:09 PM

TSB's profit jumps 10pc
JOHN ANTHONY

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TOP PERFORMANCE: TSB Bank chief executive Kevin Murphy and chairwoman of the TSB Bank board of directors, Elaine Gill, celebrate the bank's $66.5 million net profit for the year ended March 31, 2012 up 10.29 per cent on the previous year

A 10 per cent increase in TSB Bank's net profit before tax last year will see an extra $1 million distributed to the Taranaki community.

Yesterday, Taranaki's TSB Bank reported a net profit before tax of $66.5 million for the year ended March 31, 2012, a 10.29 per cent increase from the previous year.

This result sees a dividend of $10m paid to the TSB Community Trust for distribution to Taranaki groups and organisations, a $1m increase on last year's donation allocation.

TSB Bank CEO Kevin Murphy said the 12-month performance was pleasing considering the current economic climate.

"It's been a solid year's performance in a difficult economic environment," Mr Murphy said.

TSB Bank board of directors chairwoman Elaine Gill said even though performance was tracked throughout the year achieving a net profit before tax of more than 10 per cent was a pleasant surprise.

"We got a better result than we expected," Ms Gill said.

The increase in profit came down to prudent financial management within the bank, she said.

The bank's loan portfolio also increased by $114m or 4.34 per cent to $2.7 billion – a commendable result during a period where many customers were focused on deleveraging, Mr Murphy said.

Depositors' funds also increased by $273m or 6.15 per cent to a record $4.7b.

This largely came from customers reducing debt and new customers joining the bank, he said.

A further indication of TSB Bank's strength and performance was Standard & Poor's maintaining the bank's current credit rating at a time when a number of financial institutions around the world continue to see their credit ratings under pressure, Mr Murphy said.

The New Zealand banking industry was only going to get more competitive since the Reserve Bank announced plans to increase the minimum Core Funding Ratio (CFR) from 65 per cent to 75 per cent by January next year.

This would mean banks would need to seek more core funding from New Zealand customers rather than overseas, increasing local competition, Mr Murphy said.

"It's an incredibly competitive environment for banks in New Zealand."

Last year also saw TSB Bank launch an interactive online banking application which allows customers to personalise the way their accounts look.

With banking becoming more technology driven TSB Bank wanted to ensure it was at the leading edge of mobile banking applications, Mr Murphy said.

The bank's Capital Adequacy Ratio, an industry measure of financial strength, remains the highest of all New Zealand retail banks at 15.42 per cent, he said.

Nationwide TSB Bank had a market share of about three per cent.

In the past year the bank also opened a new service centre in Newmarket – the third office in Auckland.

- © Fairfax NZ News

IThomas

June 27th, 2012, 01:15 PM

Big new hotel planned
A major new hotel and conference centre development is being lined up for New Plymouth. Resource consent applications for the multimillion-dollar project are likely to be filed with the New Plymouth District Council before the end of the week, Cam Twigley, an environmental planner with BTW Company, said yesterday. He was speaking on behalf of his client, a New Plymouth investor whose name is not being made public at this stage. The three-storey hotel, which will feature 100 rooms, a small penthouse, full conference facilities, restaurants and bars, will be built on a 5000-square-metre site on the corner of Leach and Hobson streets. The land has the former Brethren Church and two houses on it.

The property was now zoned residential, but was an ideal site for a major hotel development, Mr Twigley said. "We think it is an excellent location. It is along the northern entrance to central New Plymouth, and it is close to other major hotels," he said. The site is across the road from the Quality Hotel Plymouth International, and The Devon Hotel is just a block away. Pre-consent application meetings have already been held with immediate neighbours, and all going well it is hoped construction will start before the end of the year. Mr Twigley said the new hotel would offer high-end accommodation, up around the four-star level.

Venture Taranaki spokesman Paul Stancliffe said confirmation of the hotel project was good news for New Plymouth. "The city needs another hotel of the standing that is planned," he said. "The reality is that apart from one hotel down on the waterfront and a couple of smaller properties, there is a lack of suitable high-end accommodation here. "Currently, that means that if, say, the All Blacks play here, the big corporates bring their guests down from Auckland and take them back again the same day. "Extra high-end hotel accommodation will enable more people to remain in Taranaki if they want to."

Construction of another hotel of this size may also force the operators of other New Plymouth hotels to lift their games to remain competitive, Mr Stancliffe added. Confirmation of the development is the second major hotel-related project this year. Construction of a convention centre costing more than $1million is now under way at The Devon Hotel, which when finished will be able to cater for gatherings in excess of 500 for a formal dinner, 750 in theatre-style seating and 850 for a cocktail function.

SYDNEY

July 19th, 2012, 10:25 PM

$18m hotel plan for New Plymouth

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The Taranaki man bankrolling an $18 million luxury hotel development in New Plymouth has been revealed as former Tenderlink owner Phil Brown. In late 2010, the Inglewood-born entrepreneur sold Tenderlink, a company he built up from humble beginnings in his garage, for $21.6 million. Now he has re-emerged as the sole shareholder of Hobson Hotel Property Holdings Ltd, which has just filed application to the New Plymouth District Council for consents to build a four-plus star 100-room hotel on the corner of Hobson St and Leach St. The four-storey hotel has a budget of $18 million, including a construction cost of $12.5 million. When completed, it will employ at least 50 people.

The hotel will be called Hobson Hotel, and it will operate independently, not as part of any hotel chain or management group. In an exclusive interview yesterday, Mr Brown said the project was the result of a year-long feasibility study showing New Plymouth had among the highest hotel occupancy rates in New Zealand at more than 80 per cent, yet was not particularly well served in terms of both quantity and quality of hotel rooms. "It's no secret that New Plymouth's overall hotel stock isn't up to the standard of other areas," he said. "When I had Tenderlink I heard it all the time - that good accommodation is hard to find in New Plymouth. That the existing quality accommodation is quickly taken up by the oil and gas and corporate sectors. So that gave me confidence that a major new hotel project for the region will work."

His research has been supported by Venture Taranaki, which, in a letter supporting the resource consent applications, points out there has been strong growth in Taranaki's commercial accommodation sector over the first four months of this year, with the number of guests nights up by more than 20,000 people or 8.8 per cent on last year. "The region is, however, currently experiencing a shortage of high-end accommodation capacity," the letter, signed by VT chief executive Stuart Trundle, said. "The limited availability of accommodation, particularly at the upper end of the market, has contributed to the region being unable to attract and secure some business conferences and events, and has made it difficult to attract an affluent market to major sporting and cultural events."

Recent examples have been the loss of two high-profile national conferences that sought to use Taranaki but couldn't because of a lack of suitable accommodation, Mr Trundle's letter said. Similarly, a group of wealthy international Rugby World Cup visitors travelled to Hamilton following their team's match in New Plymouth so they could stay in suitable accommodation. Mr Brown said he was confident the Hobson Hotel would change all of that. "The site is on a major arterial route. The hotel will become a landmark building for New Plymouth and will further enhance the city's reputation for being progressive and vibrant," he said.

Mr Brown, 49, worked in the freight industry before returning to New Plymouth in 1997 to join a business partnership that opened the Crowded House bar and cafe. He then developed Tenderlink, before selling it to Australasian media giant Fairfax Media in December 2010. Hobson Hotel will be a distinctively curved four-storey building built on a long but narrow site on the south side of Leach St, bordered by Hobson St. It will be named after Captain William Hobson, this country's first governor-general, who was instrumental in drafting and signing the Treaty of Waitangi. The hotel will be themed on his contribution to New Zealand - a restaurant will be named "Governors", and conference and meeting rooms will be named after consultation with local iwi.

Designed by New Plymouth architects Boon Goldsmith Bhaskar Brebner, it will feature the 100-seat restaurant, a foyer-reception and 17 rooms on the ground floor, which will lead up a short flight of stairs to a mezzanine and conference area for up to 250 people. There will also be underground parking for 35 vehicles and a total of 58 on-site car parks. The hotel will also have two bars, a day spa, lap pool and gym, with sauna. Two more storeys will offer a selection of executive and studio rooms, plus four one-bedroom apartments, and the top level will feature one luxury penthouse suite. In total, the hotel will have 61 studio rooms and 34 executive rooms. Architect Murali Bhaskar said he was excited by the curved design of the new hotel.

"It's going to be one of the most distinctive buildings in New Plymouth." A feature will be the rare Jamaican inkwood tree on the site. Research has shown it was probably planted during the 1860s when the area was a nursery. BTW environmental planner Nik Pyselman said the 30-metre tree was thought to be the oldest of its species in New Zealand and was protected under New Plymouth's district plan. "So we will have to go to considerable lengths to ensure it remains protected. But we think it will end up as a very good feature of this hotel development."

kwl_24-7

August 19th, 2012, 12:22 PM

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Taranaki Base Hospital redevelopment
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New retail development
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Devon Hotels new conference centre.
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City New World redevelopment
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New New World Westwon
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New Plymouth police station redevelopment

A lot happening at the moment. Great to see after so little construction in the past few years. :banana:

SYDNEY

September 25th, 2012, 01:19 AM

Stunning building !!!!!

All Systems Go for Len Lye Centre (http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK1209/S00533/all-systems-go-for-len-lye-centre.htm)

New Plymouth District Council has succeeded in securing the $10 million required to build a world centre for the works of celebrated New Zealand artist Len Lye. The Len Lye Centre will operate as a combined facility with the Govett-Brewster Art Gallery. Tenders will be called in late October with a goal to start construction in February 2013. The targeted opening date for the new facility is early 2015. New Plymouth District Mayor Harry Duynhoven says: “This is fantastic news. The funding is now committed and we can go ahead and create a landmark building displaying the inspirational creations of one of New Zealand’s most celebrated innovators. “I’ve no doubt the end product will be remarkable and will attract national and international tourists, and importantly, the building of the centre will contribute further to economic growth. A substantial infrastructure project of this kind is especially important for New Plymouth in the current economic climate.” ... MORE (http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK1209/S00533/all-systems-go-for-len-lye-centre.htm)

lwY5KhIz0Kc

kwl_24-7

October 4th, 2012, 11:08 PM

Tower aims for sky

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TOWER POWER: New Plymouth architect Neville Saunders has developed plans for a 22-storey tower block in the city’s central business district to be built by a Taranaki developer.

A New Plymouth architect has unveiled plans for an ambitious 22-storey apartment, hotel and office tower to be built in the city's central business district.

Neville Saunders, who designed the New Plymouth District Council building and the Stratford clocktower, said he had been working on the $30 million "prestige project" for more than two years. However yesterday he still wasn't ready to say who was behind the tower or where and when they intended to build it except that it would be in a "key" location.

"We haven't got a timeframe at this stage," he said. "We are waiting to see the reaction from the public. We might get a load of flak and bombs thrown at us."

The proposal would be New Plymouth's tallest building by far and comprise 125 apartments and four levels of office space. At least half of the apartments would be used as three-star hotel rooms with a cafe on the ground floor.

Mr Saunders estimated those apartments sold for residential use would fetch between $300,000 and $400,000 each.

He would not say if he was one of the developers, but said the "Taranaki developer" was looking for a fourth investor.

Finding a location for such a building in New Plymouth is likely to be the biggest challenge, with a 14-metre height limit in much of the central business district and lower levels for coastline construction because of protected view shafts.

At 73m the tower exceeds the maximum central-city height limit four-fold and would face a long resource-consent process.

The viewshaft constraints would also appear to rule out its development on the YMCA site, which has often been mooted as having hotel and apartment potential.

Also against Mr Saunders' tower is a community with a recent history of resistance to high rise developments and independent commissioners who tend to agree.

In January 2011 dentist Rob Bristow's plans for seven-storey luxury waterfront Kawaroa Apartments were put on ice after an independent commissioner refused consent for the 23m-high development.

The commissioner said the building's location on the waterfront site would create "materially adverse visual dominance" for people in the nearest two wings of the Richmond Estate Apartments.

Yesterday Mr Bristow was not optimistic about the chances of a 22-storey development.

"It would be an interesting challenge for the developer and perhaps they would need very deep pockets," he said.

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In March 2010, resource consent to add three storeys to New Plymouth's Waterfront Hotel, raising the height from 12.9 metres to 21.9 metres, was refused by a Tauranga-based independent commissioner.

In this instance the commissioner said the physical dominance of the proposal would be too great - both in terms of its effect on various "viewshafts" for areas overlooking the city centre, and in relation to the size of other buildings already in the CBD.

The tower proposal comes just days after Taranaki millionaire Gavin Faull said he was looking for opportunities to develop hotels in New Zealand and New Plymouth.

Consent has been recently granted for an $18 million, 100-room luxury hotel on the corner of Hobson and Leach streets, and construction of the King and Queen Hotel Suites on King St is well under way.

AIMING HIGH

A new hotel and apartment high rise proposed for New Plymouth will be the city's tallest commercial building

Proposed hotel, apartment block: 73m

Waterfront Hotel: 12.9m

Wind Wand: 45m

New Plymouth Power Station chimney: 198m

Auckland Sky Tower: 329m

SYDNEY

October 5th, 2012, 01:14 AM

Yum :colgate:

TheTron

October 6th, 2012, 02:06 AM

That's amazing! I hope this gets built!!

fozzy

October 6th, 2012, 11:07 PM

I hope it get built too:) Great design

succu69

November 9th, 2012, 08:53 AM

any new projects in Plymouth??

BrizzyChris

February 14th, 2013, 02:58 AM

Wow, that apartment tower project would be massive for NP. No doubt it would have a fair bit of opposition, but it would be great to see more residents in the CBD.

NZ1

May 7th, 2013, 11:59 AM

Upgrade at airport as passenger lists grow

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The council is now predicting it will close in on 340,000 passengers through the New Plymouth Airport terminal by the end of this year.

A major expansion of New Plymouth Airport's terminal is likely within the next two years to cope with rapid growth in airline passenger numbers.

New Plymouth District Council property assets manager Peter Handcock yesterday confirmed the expansion, which will cost more than $3 million, had been slated to take place during the 2014-15 financial year.

"But we're having to move quickly on this, because passenger numbers are continuing to rise very quickly," he said.

The number of passengers using the terminal each year has moved through 300,000, and the council is now predicting it will close in on 340,000 by the end of this year.

Numbers took a big jump when Air New Zealand began flying 68-seat ATR72 planes between New Plymouth and Auckland from late October last year, and they are expected to jump again this October when the airline more than doubles the number of direct flights between Taranaki and Christchurch.

Mr Handcock said the council had already hired extra airport staff to cope with the passenger growth and more might be required soon.

"And then there are facilities there. We're soon to have more planes parked at the airport each night, which is going to require the relocation of some fuel tanks.

"And we don't think it will be long before more public car parking will be needed.

"Obviously this is all a good problem to have - but the passenger growth does present plenty of planning challenges."

Air New Zealand yesterday confirmed the doubling of direct flights between New Plymouth and Christchurch.

The change will allow Taranaki travellers to get to the South Island city early each week day without having to fly via Wellington. A third 50-seater Q300 plane will stay overnight at New Plymouth airport for this to happen.

Air New Zealand corporate communications executive Kelly Kilgour said the increase would mean a jump from six to 13 return services per week.

Capacity on the Auckland-New Plymouth route would also increase by one additional Saturday afternoon service, she added.

"We believe the New Plymouth-Christchurch market has great growth potential and we hope to stimulate demand on the route with the increase in prime-time services," Ms Kilgour said.

"This will also provide more convenient access between the two ports and avoid customers having to transit through Wellington, freeing up more seats for passengers flying between New Plymouth and Wellington direct."
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From October 14, the Christchurch flight will leave at 6.40am, followed by an Auckland flight at 6.50am and a Wellington flight at 7am.

The introduction of the new services will also mean return travel late in the day - the last flight from Christchurch to New Plymouth will arrive at 7.45pm.

At present there is one return service each weekday and the times are not convenient for business travellers.

When the new service kicks in, there will be two daily weekday flights each way - the flights south will depart at 6.40am and 11am, and the return flights will arrive at 10.05am and 7.45pm.

The improved link between Taranaki and Canterbury is the result of Air New Zealand buying seven new regional ATR aircraft.

This is giving the airline the flexibility to use the Q300 and smaller Beech 1900D planes on other routes.

- © Fairfax NZ News