Latest news with #EgmontVillage
RNZ News
16-07-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
Plan to scrap Taranaki polytech's agriculture courses sparks backlash
A tutor at the course said it was great to be able to give people a pathway into the agriculture and farming industries. Photo: David Hancock A proposal to cut agriculture courses at a Taranaki polytech is being described by farmers as "lunacy". It comes as the dismantling of Te Pūkenga would see 10 polytechs revert to regional governance in January. While the others - including the Western Institute of Technology , or WITT, in Taranaki - would remain within Te Pūkenga, and have to prove their financial viability by mid 2026. Part of WITT's proposal involves scrapping its agriculture courses, which tutor Adrian Edser said was worrying as Taranaki was the heart of New Zealand's dairy and farming industry. "I was gutted, I was gobsmacked, as you can imagine it's a very difficult job at times but we're just passionate about being able to give people that pathway into an industry that really looked after us." Edser said the students did a mix of theory and practical education on a working farm in Egmont Village. It helped students move from school to work, with most securing jobs in the industry, he said. Photo: RNZ / Robin Martin Edser did the course himself 30 years ago before starting his farming career. "Most of the farmers that I've talked to, most of the feedback is that it's lunacy, we have to be doing agriculture here," he said. He said he would be compiling feedback on the proposal to try and fight for the course to stay. "I've spoken to a lot of farmers and their feedback has been the same that we need to do be doing what we can, I'm on a crusade to save agriculture and the students." Meanwhile, Lawrence O'Halloran from the Tertiary Education Union said there was no need for the cuts. He said especially as WITT had already reduced its deficit from a forecast $3.6 million to $2.6m. "We don't believe that there is a need to make these cuts, in particular in terms of agriculture. "Taranaki with the tagline like no other, that's how the region markets itself and rightly so, it is like no other especially in terms of agriculture, particularly dairy. "My understanding is 9.5 percent of New Zealand's dairy herd is located in Taranaki, so to have a polytech in Taranaki with no agriculture course, no teaching of agriculture, that is Taranaki like no other in a very bad way." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
11-07-2025
- Climate
- RNZ News
Taranaki weather stats stark reminder of how fast streams and rivers can rise
As more inclement weather closes in on Taranaki, figures showing the staggering water flows in the province's rivers triggered by the storm event last week are a stark reminder of how fast rivers and streams can rise. The torrential rain at the beginning of July saw many rivers hit incredible maximum flows, including 417m³/sec in the Waiwhakaiho River at Egmont Village and 1367m³/sec in the Waitara River at Bertrand Road. Taranaki Regional Council figures show flooding at the Tāngāhoe River in South Taranaki was a one-in-20-year event (with 349m³/sec maximum flow) and the Waitōtara River experienced a one-in-11-year flood when Taranaki was deluged by a huge amount of rain on 3 and 4 July. Flooding in the Waiongana Stream on SH3A had an annual exceedance probability of 2.8 percent, making it a one-in-36-year event with a 194m³/sec maximum river flow. A river last week. Photo: Taranaki Regional Council The monitoring station at the Waiwhakaiho River at Egmont Village recorded 161mm in 12 hours on 3 July as many rivers and streams flooded and the public were urged to stay home and avoid unnecessary travel as roads were inundated with surface water. Council Operations Director Daniel Harrison said the weather events were a stark reminder for the public to be aware of how fast rivers and streams could rise. "The stats from early July are staggering as Taranaki was hit by huge downpours caused by thunderstorms with many waterways experiencing very rare flooding events. "We've prepared for this with our management of flood defences in Waitara and at the lower Waiwhakaiho River and it was extremely pleasing to see how well the schemes worked given the huge volume of water in those rivers. Harrison said Taranaki was a great place to live but severe weather events needed to be respected. "We live in a fantastic part of the world but it's fair to say the environment is extremely dynamic and things can change very quickly so please always be aware of the dangers from flooding and have a plan to get to safety if the rivers rise fast." The regional council provided information to Taranaki Civil Defence Emergency Management (CDEM) about rainfall and river flows during weather events, and alerts were issued by CDEM to the public with support from the TRCl via its communication channels. Other notable weather stats from last week include: Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
04-07-2025
- Climate
- RNZ News
Taranaki residents battle 'shin-deep water' during thunderstorm
A Taranaki resident says water inundated her garages lapping furniture stored there, as thunderstorms battered the region on Thursday. Taryn Utiger said Ōkato streets flooded yesterday, with everyone "battening down the hatches". Up to 280mm of rain fell over parts of Taranaki over 24 hours, with thunderstorms causing flash flooding, slips and sewage overflows. Utiger said she had never seen flooding that bad. "Shin-deep water covering all of our furniture in the garages, firewood stack was completely wet, not what you need for your fire. "So yeah, a lot of water just flooding down our driveway into the garages," Utiger said. Hendrik Hofstee owner Chooks Pumping & Engineer, Egmont Village, is in cleanup mode after business affected by heavy rain. Photo: RNZ / Robin Martin In Egmont Village, Hendrik Hofstee said boot-deep water rushed through his workshop in minutes. "It was just a matter of going through, picking stuff up off the floor, and within probably 10 minutes there was 100 ml going through the whole workshop. "When you've got a lot of planted equipment and gear and everything else stored on site in a workshop situation, it's not ideal." Hofstee said at about 3pm the rain came down so heavily stormwater systems just couldn't cope. He rushed to get electrical equipment off the ground before his business was swamped. Hofstee reckoned it was shin deep at its worst. Chooks director Melissa Beford started calling the firm's insurance company yesterday and assessors were planning a visit to check on damage. Contractors repair a large pothole at Egmont Village after extensive rain in Taranaki. Photo: RNZ / Robin Martin Lettica Shelford, who lives at Egmont village, said State Highway 3 had deep flooding outside her property yesterday. Traffic slowed to a crawl, and she believes a pothole may have damaged some cars. Each time a car went through it sent a wave of floodwaters towards her property, but luckily her home was not damaged. While a lot of flooding receded quickly, Taranaki Emergency Management / Civil Defence is warning people to be careful and avoid travel if they can, with more thunderstorms possible. Lettica Shelford says the entire SH3 was covered with floodwaters yesterday which gouged a large hole in the road. Photo: RNZ / Robin Martin MetService has forecast widespread showers for the region this afternoon, which could become heavy and thundery with hail. Taranaki civil defence and emergency management controller Todd Velvin said he was watching how the forecast played out in the next few hours. "Really got to be cautious how we move around today and what we are looking at. So we are expecting to see heavy falls, but MetService at the moment are saying it shouldn't be as intense as yesterday." He said widespread slips and flooding had impacted the roading network around the region, with closures and some roads down to a single lane. State Highway 43 is closed between Whangamona and Taumaranui, SH3 is closed at Awakino Gorge and down to one lane at Mount Messenger, and SH4 is shut between Whanganui and Raetihi. "Delay your plans if heading north, or look at alternative routes, and if you are going north there are alternate routes down through Bulls or Marton to use State Highway 1." There have also been several sewage overflows from New Plymouth's wastewater system which the council said may affect public health. These have occurred at Pukeariki Landing, Ngamotu pump station, Huatoki pump station, Glen Avon pump station, Mangati pump station, Waitara pump station, under Northgate bridge and the Inglewood oxidation pond. The council is warning people against swimming or collecting food at sites near the stations, and says signs have been put up telling people this. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
12-06-2025
- RNZ News
Woman reported missing in Taranaki found
Police on Friday morning said the formerly missing woman was safe. Photo: RNZ / Richard Tindiller Police say a woman who was reported missing earlier this week from Taranaki's Egmont Village has been found. The person police identified only as Jan was reported missing after she was last seen walking north along State Highway 3 near the intersection of Thomason Road, between Egmont Village and New Plymouth, at around 11am on Tuesday. Police on Friday morning said she was safe. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
12-06-2025
- RNZ News
Search continues for New Plymouth woman missing for two nights
Photo: Supplied / NZ police The search continues for a New Plymouth woman missing for two nights, with police appealing to walkers and bikers to keep an eye out on trails. The woman, identified only as Jan, was last seen walking north along State Highway 3 near the intersection of Thomason Road, between Egmont Village and New Plymouth, about 11am Tuesday. She was last seen wearing long pants and a green jacket. Police, Land Search and Rescue and other volunteers have been searching around Thomason Road and Lake Mangamahoe areas on Thursday. Police ask farmers and residents of Alfred Road and Albert Road to check their paddocks, sheds or sleepouts, and under anything where a person could seek shelter. If you have seen Jan, or have any information that could help, please contact police via the 105 service, either over the phone or online at Please reference the file number 250611/5626.
