Hamish Bidwell
Multimedia Journalist, Hawke's Bay Today
Hamish Bidwell is a Multimedia Journalist with the Hawke's Bay Today.
We are your advocate, Aotearoa. Uncovering stories that matter, asking hard-hitting questions of those in power, live-blogging sport events, monitoring the highs and lows of the NZX and providing Premium expert opinion and analysis. Bringing you distinctive, quality journalism and breaking news from across New Zealand and around the world. With specialists working together to create indepth reads, engaging video, and unmissable podcasts.
Check out Hamish’s latest content
'Leaving Charlie is not an option': Napier man battling to get street dog back to NZ
Gareth Lewis adopted a sick puppy some years ago and now wants to bring her home.
Club cricket returns to McLean Park for first time in decades
Napier Technical Old Boys to meet Central Hawke’s Bay on Friday.
It shouldn't take a disaster to get good infrastructure
Act leader David Seymour advocates road tolls as a means to get the country moving.
Mystery housing development could join Flaxmere to Hastings
Development in its early stages of planning could be as large as 500 hectares, group says.
Return to 100km/h proposed for part of Napier-Taupō Rd
'The Govt was trying to make life less enjoyable ... 80km/h to Taupō summed that up.'
The legend of Neil: All Black and Hawke's Bay rugby hero dies
Neil Thimbleby was a 'gnarly' prop on the field but 'he’d have you in stitches' off it.
Hastings mechanic hangs up overalls after six decades under the bonnet
Graham Smith has worked for the same business since 1964.
Cyclone red zones might be ‘finalised’ - but in one community, they're a long way from settled
The situation Pākōwhai is in is complex, but two men say there's a simple red-zone fix.
Where’s toby? The curious case of the missing water shut-off valve
The council couldn't find Alex Sutton's toby, until it started leaking from below ground.
'I’m nuts': The man behind a little BMX club that got the national champs
After nine years of work, about 700 riders and their families are descending on the track.
Hawke's Bay 'blueprint' for Hawke Cup success bears out
Hawke's Bay have repelled every Hawke Cup challenger this summer.
Pothole fixes and four-lane expressway coming - but local roads need hundreds of millions
Councils still need hundreds of millions to rebuild our cyclone-devastated roads.
Holiday-park purchase to benefit Wairoa iwi for generations
Settlement group buys holiday park from Hastings businesswoman.
'Get on with the job sooner': Government streamlines flood protection
It's believed a streamlined consent process should enable a faster Hawke's Bay rebuild.
'One to put on the calendar': Rogue weather week could spoil Hawke's Bay's autumn
'It’s a week to tuck away in the back of our heads, to be a little bit more aware of.'
'Bigger than our family:' Golfer turns hand to children's language therapy
Mat Perry is raising money for speech therapy for children with Down syndrome.
'It’ll sink in one day': Gold medallist Tom Mackintosh still can’t believe he won
Tom Mackintosh will enjoy Olympic gold 'in my 60s'.
In a pool of apples during Cyclone Gabrielle, a policeman pulled out his phone
Detective Steve Leonard's photo is now blown up on the wall at police headquarters.
‘A bit aggressive’: Fed-up Pakowhai Rd residents discussed creating roadblock
You might have seen the protest signs. What you might not know is the original intent.
Court fight over: Multimillion-dollar film studio in Hawke's Bay given the go-ahead
A film studio's backers were preparing to walk away, but mediation proved successful.
Sandra Hazlehurst says you can't rush residents into voluntary buyouts
Government wants things done quickly, but council says these complicated issues take time.
'The aroha, the manaaki, and the wairua': Thousands turn out to commemorate Cyclone Gabrielle in Hawke's Bay
Emotions and community spirit were strong as people from all over came together.
'I was just in a blind panic': Good Samaritan swoops to the aid of Hawke’s Bay teen
Anna McGrath thought she'd lost her daughter after a severe seizure.
'He is the complete man': Former mayor leads tributes to Pat Benson
Pat Benson is remembered for his vision, good nature and selflessness.
First in the sky over 'a war zone': How an orchardist rescued 150 people with a chopper
Cam Taylor had no search and rescue expertise, but his community needed saving.
Cyclone rebuild of Hawke’s Bay will be a decade in the making
Projects are lined up in order of priority and will start as, and when, the funds arrive.
Hawke’s Bay growers say looks can be deceiving as devastated industry attempts to build back
Much of the post-cyclone cleanup is done, but horticulture still faces a long recovery.
Hastings mayor focused on finishing voluntary buy-out process
Sandra Hazlehurst helped unveil $400,000 refurbishment of historic Keirunga Homestead.
Watch: The Napier inventor who just wants a seat at the table
Louwrens Burger needs someone to see the value in his revolutionary picnic table.
'Sinking feeling in my puku': Last development on protected side of Te Mata Peak
Hastings District Council prohibited the development of land in this area in 2022.
‘Walking miracle’: Ailing football manager didn't want a tribute match, but they gave him one anyway
David Greene has lived with cancer for all of his 54 years.
Journey of grief: Woman who lost 11 horses in cyclone on why she's leaving Hawke's Bay
Flooding dealt Michelle Skafer a blow that Stable Hearts in Pākōwhai can't recover from.
Multi-level building to be built at Havelock North intersection
The new commercial building is going in at the corner of Havelock Rd and Porter Drive.
'Educated and cunning': Small town cop's unusual find inside hidden compartments of car
'It’s not somewhere generally that we would look for something like seafood.'
33C scorcher in Hawke's Bay's forecast as wave of warmth beckons
Temperatures will be hot and perfect for cricket.
Little-known banking 'handbrake': Insurance paid them out, then ASB said they couldn't touch it
A change to how insurance funds are paid out feels 'unfair'.
The Havelock North man who made our mountains safer
Hamish McCostie has been recognised for services to outdoor recreation, Search & Rescue.
Plenty of tickets up for grabs for festive season internationals at McLean Park
So far 1600 tickets have sold for Saturday’s one-day game and 2000 for the Twenty20.
Blocked by rocks: Landowner wants $200,000 to reopen beachfront drive
Eru Smith says he's tired of negotiating with council and took matters into his own hands.
Bay's head firefighter says weather patterns now ripe for wildfires
It remains open fire season in Hawke's Bay, but probably won't be for long.
Police dog handling dream comes true: 'You get to go home at the end of the day with your mate'
Constable Cole Devenport got the luck of the draw, with his job and his new best friend.
Hastings Golf Club wins hosting rights for NZ PGA Championships
Plans are now under way to have the NZ PGA reinstated to the Australasian Tour.
When rock beats paper roads: Iwi leader's beach block ignites legal quandary
The vexed issue of vehicle use on Waimārama Beach hit a roadblock in the past week.
New Zealand fast bowler 'Billy' Stirling will be 'sorely, sorely missed'
Stirling gave countless hours to Hawke's Bay cricket.
Potential funding for new Hawke's Bay Hospital up in the air
Reti gives no indication of where hospital business case is at.
Iwi boss installs boulders to block vehicle access to beach
Bayden Barber says children are being 'run off the beach by vehicles'.
The plight of ECE teachers: 'Maybe we’re not whinging enough'
"We’ve got a serious shortage of staff - why would you want to work for $10,000 less?"
Hastings mayor and high-profile councillor go toe-to-toe as rift deepens
Hastings mayor Sandra Hazlehurst and councillor Damon Harvey are increasingly at odds.
'We’ve already got laws in place': Couple argue beach traffic can be safe
A total ban - or better policing of driving on coast?
'Big challenge': Rescue helicopter at a crossroads, in need of $18m replacement
Ian Wilmot is retiring as chief executive amid uncertainty over Govt contracts.
Musical chairs: Five council committee leaders changed due to 'succession planning'
Hastings council’s decision is unusual, but it's perfectly legitimate, expert says.
Rain threat for Hawke's Bay: Market cancelled, festival urges umbrellas
Bay View Market Day is off but donations can still be made to Eskdale School.
'Fool's paradise': Why residents want vehicles off a famous Kiwi beach
'There’s a culture now ... the noise, the mess - awful, awful, awful.'
Havelock North flooding: $10m of Government funding to upgrade dams and streams sought
Work on the Mangarau Dam and stream would allow smashed properties to become Category 1.
‘The difference between living and dying’: Why Hawke’s Bay apple crop is rebounding
The 2024 season won’t be the absolute nightmare it could’ve been. Here's why.
Plan for SH2 to be raised at Whirinaki means journey home can begin for some residents
Residents who have fought for their future are now 'walking on air'.
Shellfish ban to last for weeks or months, flooding mooted as toxin cause
NZ Food Safety says flooding could have added nutrients that are causing the toxin.
'Hit the ground running': Nats' Hawke’s Bay winners working unpaid amid negotiations
Katie Nimon and Catherine Wedd aren't officially MPs until a Government is sworn in.
Triple hat-trick? Lightning strikes seven times for bowler in HB premier cricket
One hat-trick is freakish enough. But Caleb Gaylard wasn't done yet.
The silt pyramids of Eskdale
These formations are dominating a flood-hit landscape. So what's the story behind them?
Resilience work or relocation?
Floodwater swamped the substation, knocking out to power to Napier for several days.
Rising son: Globetrotting life of Hawke's Bay's Japanese cricketer
Koji Hardgrave Abe captains Japan's under-19 team, which has qualified for the Asia Cup.
Power Consumers’ Trust admits breaching privacy of submitters to ownership review
Letters of apology will be sent to each of the 200 submitters.
Havelock North resort gets approval to serve alcohol despite ‘animosity’ from neighbours
Public objections were filed by 26 neighbours, including three who spoke at a hearing.
'We get put through hoop after hoop': The wait to return home in Whirinaki
Potential resilience plans include a stopbank and the raising of State Highway 2.
Unison ownership review process to be looked at
Lobby group upset details of consumers were included in the publication of submissions.
New centre a game-changer for child health
Dr Russell Wills takes us on a tour of Te Whatu's Ora's $3.6 million facility.
'It was luck, really': The emergency resilience pods that aided Wairoa in hour of need
Twenty one emergency resilience pods arrived in Wairoa just days before Cyclone Gabrielle.
Three-storey hotel to rise above Havelock North retail block
Joll Road will soon be home to a 40-room apartment hotel.
Bay players on top of the world
Two golds, four silvers and a bronze for Bay cricketers at Junior World Series.
HBRC trying to find ways to reduce cost for landowners hydroseeding silt
Recent rain has settled much silt debris across Hawke’s Bay but it might not last.
Sachin flies in to play Hawke's Bay club cricket
Sachin Jayawardena is one of two Sri Lankan cricketers plying their trade in Hawke's Bay.
‘It’s gone’: Forester paints grim picture of planting industry under new fees regime
The Ministry for Primary Industries will soon charge ETS participants a perpetual fee.
Cyclone Gabrielle: Hastings gets funding for community approach to emergencies
Up to 15 civil defence community hubs are to be established in the wake of the cyclone.
David Seymour on why he’s chosen Hawke’s Bay for the final weekend of the campaign
Seymour says the polling he's seen suggests Hawke's Bay is one of Act's best regions.
Decision time: Anna Lorck fears general election muddies Unison ownership review
Trustees’ term is up, but that election will now take place in 2024.
Have rod, will travel: Puketapu 20-year-old shines at world fly fishing champs
Hugo Pearce finished eighth at the world champs in Slovakia.
What are the public’s shares in Hawke’s Bay lines company Unison worth?
More discussion is needed about the benefits of a one-off payment, pressure group says.
Labour, National at odds over whether funding exists for Hawke’s Bay Hospital
National's health spokesperson needs business case before committing to hospital spend.
Labour promises up to $1.1b to build Hawke’s Bay Hospital
Funding relies on Labour being re-elected this election.