On this episode we speak to Whanganui photographer Roberta Thornley whose latest exhibition, A Serious Girl, has just opened at the Sarjeant Gallery.Roberta came to Whanganui in 2015 on residency at Tylee Cottage. She is a graduate of the Elam School of Fine Arts in Auckland, where she was born and raised.We spoke to her about her background in pho…

Whanganui's beach side suburb Castlecliff is in the middle of a rejuvenation.The suburb suffered decades of decline throughout the 1990s and early 2000s. It was regional decline as happened over much of the country but Castlecliff seemed to be hit hardest.It lost jobs, services, enthusiasm and attention. How many cities turn its back on its beach s…

This week on The Four Five Hundred podcast we're back to politics as we continue to interview Whanganui electorate candidates for the upcoming general election.On this episode we speak to Green Party candidate Nicola Patrick about her background and why she is standing.Nicola was elected to Horizons Regional Council last year and we touch on that b…

Whanganui based street artist Cracked Ink has been developing his distinctive character based style for almost 20 years now.He moved to New Zealand from the UK over a decade ago and his work now features in public spaces all over the country. And in galleries too.Most people will recognise a Cracked Ink work even if they don't know who's behind it.…

There’s something different about the way Chlöe Swarbrick does politics.During last year’s Auckland mayoral campaign she managed to engage people and bring issues to those who perhaps had not often thought about politics before.She exceeded expectations and finished third ahead of more fancied and known rivals.She’s fast becoming a political supers…