In 2015, the first year of a three-year survey 33 blue whales were sighted in the South Taranaki Bight, this year there were 68 different individuals.

Greenpeace and KASM give evidence about the potential impacts on marine mammals at the EPA seabed mining hearing in Wellington. Made with funding from NZ On Air.

Trans-Tasman Resources gave evidence today at the hearing which will determine whether or not they will get marine consents to mine iron ore off the coast of South Taranaki. Made with funding from NZ On Air.

Trans-Tasman Resources is proposing to mine 50 million tonnes of iron ore per year off the coast of Patea in south Taranaki. Made with funding from NZ On Air.

A man who held up McDonald's in Whanganui with a knife has been given time behind bars.

Two women will vie to be Labour's Whanganui electorate candidate to contest September's general election. Nominations closed on

People on foot still tried to get their chicken fix by lining up alongside cars at the drive-through, but were turned away after waiting for up to 20 minutes.

It could be a call centre anywhere in the world, but Connect Global is based in the small South Taranaki settlement of Waverley. It provides desperately needed jobs for ten locals. Made with funding from NZ On Air

Kopere Downs has been a shearer for 20 years, and now he's reached a major milestone. He has shorn his millionth sheep. Made with funding from NZ On Air.

Search teams elated as DOC worker stumbles across missing tourist.

This year one of the centerpieces at alternative festival KiwiBurn was a giant weta, built in Auckland by a team of designers. Made with funding from NZ On Air.

Watch NZ Herald Focus: Henry Vaeoso is honouring the late Jonah Lomu with community driven aerobics.

A ban on sheep at a popular rodeo in Whanganui has led to an idea to dress men up as sheep to take part at the event instead.

Whanganui's annual Soapbox derby has been running for four years. And each year it gets more popular with local kids - and kids at heart. Made with funding from NZ On Air.

Whanganui's annual Soapbox derby has been running for four years. And each year it gets more popular with local kids - and kids at heart. Watch NZH Local Focus: Soap box derby bigger every year

A rare 1945 Douglas DC3, owned by Air Chathams, and touched down at Whanganui Airport. Made with funding from NZ On Air

A rare 1945 Douglas DC3, owned by Air Chathams, and touched down at Whanganui Airport. Made with funding from NZ On Air

A man who climbed the fence to the dog pound told the court there was no sign on the gate telling him he couldn't. Oliver Dekker

Hawera Police want to speak to a Taranaki teen who has been missing since January 6.

Watch NZH Local Focus: This is the city with the cheapest housing in New Zealand and local real estate agents are rejoicing.

Most of those injured in yesterday's Tongariro National Park bus crash have been discharged from hospital, tour boss says.

Look at what you can get for your real estate dollar in Whanganui, New Zealand's most affordable city. Made with funding from NZ On Air.

Watch NZH Local Focus: Daniel Lee is walking the length of New Zealand to raise money for the rescue helicopter that helped save his life.

23-year-old Daniel Lee is walking the length of New Zealand to raise funds for the rescue helicopter that saved his life as a child. Made with funding from NZ on Air.

Acclaimed voice tutor Cesar Ulloa believes music is a powerful force that can soothe, excite, delight and delve into the listener's

The man killed after pointing a shotgun at police didn't "get in with a bad crowd, he was the bad crowd" says elderly victim's daughter.

A neighbour of the Whanganui house where an armed man was fatally shot by police on Friday night said the shot man had been at the

Savey Kevin Sous, who was shot dead after ignoring pleas to drop his weapon, was known to police and had a history of violence.

A police officer stepped in to drive an ambulance last night as emergency workers tried desperately to save a man shot by police.

The man who allegedly aimed a firearm at police in Whanganui and was shot by an AOS member has died.