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Latest FromKirsty Johnston

Property speculators are converting cold, damp garages into so-called

NEW ZEALAND

Auckland councillor urges officials to investigate over 'utility rooms'

17 Jun, 2019 12:25pm
4 minutes to read

Chris Darby said if converting garages for profit is rife, it needs further investigation.

Auckland's property market is flatlining, with the regions expected to follow. Photo / File

BUSINESS

City of Sales: Inside look at Auckland's property investors

15 Jun, 2019 3:03pm
15 minutes to read

With the boom years over, property investors gather to learn how to get rich in a downturn

The owner of this Manurewa home converted the garage into three

BUSINESS

Would you live here? Garage renos aimed at vulnerable tenants

15 Jun, 2019 11:00am
6 minutes to read

Garage conversions add value to a house sale, but have been described as "exploitation".

Linda Robson, left, is a former meth dealer and recovering addict who worked with Te Ara Oranga.

Groundbreaking meth pilot gets $4m in Budget

30 May, 2019 7:51pm
3 minutes to read

Te Ara Oranga sees police and health staff work together in Northland to treat addicts.

Passengers desperate not to be left on the dock are reportedly increasingly lashing out at crew. Photo / File

NEW ZEALAND

Ferry fury: Waiheke passengers 'hold gangway hostage'

25 May, 2019 7:00pm
3 minutes to read

Some crew are refusing to work on the Waiheke run because they are scared

Governments have repeatedly ramped up enforcement in an attempt to eradicate methamphetamine. It's now more pure and more available than ever. Photo / Mike Scott

NEW ZEALAND

Fighting the demon: Inside NZ's failure to fix meth crisis

7 May, 2019 5:00am
6 minutes to read

New Zealand is home to one of the most lucrative methamphetamine markets in the world.

NEW ZEALAND

Watch: Life as a meth addict - 'It's like being possessed'

6 May, 2019 7:00pm
9 minutes to read

Lucy lives a life consumed by addiction. But can she get it back?

In 2014 Karl Goldsbury was convicted for dealing meth. Fighting the Demon goes inside prison to interview him about the methamphetamine crisis. Photo / Mike Scott

NEW ZEALAND

New Zealand's P epidemic: Inside the crisis

6 May, 2019 5:00am
2 minutes to read

"It forced me to confront my own preconceptions about addiction."

Sir Peter Jackson has issued his second stinging missive about the proposed housing development at Shelly Bay in Wellington.

NEW ZEALAND

'Snake oil salesmen and The Sopranos': Peter Jackson rails against $500m development

21 Apr, 2019 5:00am
5 minutes to read

Sir Peter Jackson in fresh war of words over $500m Shelly Bay development.

'Ruthless' cutbacks blocked, but advocates say they are happening by stealth. Photo / 123RF

NEW ZEALAND

Limit showers and meals: 'Ruthless' plans to cut disabled care revealed

21 Apr, 2019 5:00am
5 minutes to read

Documents reveal "appalling" disability sector cost-saving tactics for the first time.

Brenton Tarrant (inset) lived in a weatherboard duplex in Dunedin's east. Photo / Dean Purcell

NEW ZEALAND

Hidden in plain sight: How alleged gunman was radicalised

24 Mar, 2019 5:00am
9 minutes to read

Young, white, male, a loner. Uneducated but not stupid. His real life was on the net.

An ambulance carries wounded person to the hospital after gunmen attacked the two mosques and fired multiple times during Friday prayers in Christchurch. Photo / Getty Images

NEW ZEALAND

Too experienced in death: Chch doctors face all too familiar crisis

16 Mar, 2019 3:38pm
3 minutes to read

"Unfortunately, we are too experienced in this. I don't want to get more" -surgery chief

Mosque shooting survivor Tarik Chenafa with his daughter Norhan, 4, and son Nader, 8. Photo / Diego Opatowski

NEW ZEALAND

Terror victim's harrowing escape from mosque window as gunman opened fire

16 Mar, 2019 3:29pm
5 minutes to read

'I'm lucky I didn't take my daughter with me' says a survivor of the terror attack.

A woman who says her priest abused her while grieving for her baby son is taking the Church to court. Photo / 123rf

NEW ZEALAND

Despair, shame, guilt, betrayal: Church faces legal fight after sex abuse allegations

9 Mar, 2019 5:00am
4 minutes to read

A woman who alleges church abuse will take her case to the human rights review tribunal.

Former Massey University journalism professor Grant Hannis appears in Wellington during sentencing on a charge of indecent assault. Photo / Melissa Nightingale

NEW ZEALAND

Disgraced professor: Second rest-home sex complaint

5 Mar, 2019 5:00am
3 minutes to read

Police were unable to gather enough evidence to prosecute Wellington journalism lecturer

Staff from three government departments who worked with Maggie Barry when she was a minister in the previous National-led government raised concerns about her behaviour. Photo / File

NEW ZEALAND

Staff at three depts had Barry complaints

2 Mar, 2019 5:00am
3 minutes to read

Details of conduct criticisms about former minister will remain secret.

NEW ZEALAND

How thousands of rape cases disappeared

3 Jan, 2019 5:00am
4 minutes to read

This summer we look back at the big stories of last year. This is from May.

The woman who tried to save the boy is helped to a waiting ambulance by paramedics. Photo / Michael Craig

NEW ZEALAND

'He told her to go': Teen lets would-be rescuer swim to safety as he is swept away

30 Dec, 2018 7:15am
5 minutes to read

A teenage boy saved the woman trying to rescue him from drowning by letting her go.

This year, 2018, has been a reminder that change does not come without hard work and frustration. Illustration / Rod Emmerson

NEW ZEALAND

Our New Zealander of the year is...

29 Dec, 2018 5:00am
5 minutes to read

All year, we have watched as Kiwi women have fought for their rights. Our winner is....

Dr Ashley Insley pictured outside Tauranga Hospital. Photo / Alan Gibson

NEW ZEALAND

The gap between the rich and poor at university in New Zealand

28 Dec, 2018 5:00am
19 minutes to read

This summer we look back at the big stories of the year. This is from September.

Kirsty Johnson writes that Grace Millane's death is another reminder to women that we are not yet equal.

NEW ZEALAND

Kirsty Johnston: I'm angry about Grace Millane's murder

13 Dec, 2018 11:12am
7 minutes to read

COMMENT: I've spent most of 2018 writing about rape. I'm tired. And I'm angry for Grace.

National MP Maggie Barry. Photo / Jason Oxenham

NEW ZEALAND

Maggie Barry whistle-blower threatened with legal action

8 Dec, 2018 5:00am
5 minutes to read

Parliamentary Service told the staffer to desist or it would be "forced" to act.

National Maggie Barry could be investigated for misuse of public money following a complaint to the Auditor General. Photo/File

NEW ZEALAND

Complaint laid with Auditor General over Maggie Barry allegations

5 Dec, 2018 3:35pm
4 minutes to read

A former staffer of MP Maggie Barry has laid a complaint with the Auditor General.

Maggie Barry has denied all the allegations. Photo / Supplied

NEW ZEALAND

National backs Maggie Barry as more allegations detailed

2 Dec, 2018 5:00am
3 minutes to read

National Party confirms support of MP accused of bullying her staff.

NEW ZEALAND

Exclusive: Bullying claims rock National MP Maggie Barry

1 Dec, 2018 5:00am
8 minutes to read

Barry denies accusations and says issues were dealt with by mutual agreement.

WhaleOil blogger Cameron Slater is at the centre of the defamation case alleged by three academics. Photo / File

NEW ZEALAND

Hacked emails allowed in cash for comment case - judge

23 Nov, 2018 4:13pm
3 minutes to read

Hacked emails allowed (so far) in defamation case of academics vs blogger, PR, ex-MP.

Crimson, a $200 million tutoring business founded by 23-year-old wunderkind Jamie Beaton, spent a year battling the Herald to try to keep the allegations a secret. Photo / Supplied

NEW ZEALAND

Crimson Consulting: The court file they didn't want you to see

21 Nov, 2018 5:00am
6 minutes to read

Documents have been released in the long-running Crimson Consulting court case.

NEW ZEALAND

Texts show teen pleading for help throughout alleged rape

16 Nov, 2018 6:00am
9 minutes to read

Police took five months to interview the suspects, then dropped the case.

A Kiwi victim will travel to Denmark to testify against an alleged cyber criminal. Photo / 123RF

NEW ZEALAND

Porn, threats and cyber attacks: Kiwi victim to give evidence in Denmark court

11 Nov, 2018 5:00am
3 minutes to read

An Auckland teen will travel to Denmark to testify against an alleged cyber criminal.

A court has ruled the behaviour was illegal.

NEW ZEALAND

No more using fake names, welfare bosses pledge

26 Oct, 2018 10:31am
4 minutes to read

Welfare services to stop using fake names and signatures when dealing with "risky" clients

Backlog of sex assault claims grows by 78 per cent.

NEW ZEALAND

Unassigned: Sex assault claims wait to be investigated

22 Oct, 2018 5:00am
4 minutes to read

Numbers of unassigned rape cases are climbing rapidly.

Former National MP Jami-Lee Ross says affairs are

NEW ZEALAND

Jami-Lee Ross: 'A lot of bed-hopping in Parliament'

20 Oct, 2018 5:00am
5 minutes to read

"My behaviour hasn't been good enough as a husband."

Lafoai Luaitalo is one of the lucky ones - a student from a low decile school who got a scholarship to university. About to graduate with a law and arts degree, she now wants to set up a scholarship for people like her. Photo / Greg Bowker

NEW ZEALAND

Wealthiest students get half of uni scholarships

6 Oct, 2018 5:00am
6 minutes to read

Schools in the most exclusive areas were winning up to $1 million in prizes each year.

Angela Hart and her daughter Gilly Hart, 37, of Christchurch. Gilly has muscular dystrophy and Angela is Gilly's caregiver. Photo / File

NEW ZEALAND

'We have been optimistic before and been let down'

27 Sep, 2018 4:26pm
5 minutes to read

A mum caring for her disabled daughter says she's optimistic about a proposed law change.

Sushila Butt and her daughter Alisha, 23. The Butts have two disabled children who live at home. Photo / Doug Sherring

NEW ZEALAND

'Nightmare' over: Win for families caring for disabled

27 Sep, 2018 10:30am
5 minutes to read

The Government will repeal a disability law described as a "shame on society"

Brendan Boyle, chief executive of the Ministry of Social Development, defended the use of fictitious names.

NEW ZEALAND

Ministry's use of fake names unlawful, court rules

26 Sep, 2018 9:32pm
2 minutes to read

It was revealed last year the Ministry were using fictitious names on their decisions.

A number of children from South End School, Carterton, were admitted to hospital. Photo SNPA

NEW ZEALAND

Police identify mystery plane after Carterton outbreak

22 Sep, 2018 4:20pm
3 minutes to read

Investigations into an mystery outbreak in the Wairarapa have so far proved fruitless.

NEW ZEALAND

Disability law labelled 'shame on society' could be repealed

19 Sep, 2018 5:00am
3 minutes to read

Family carers of the disabled fighting to overturn "discriminatory" law.

NEW ZEALAND

Big read: How a high-school drop-out dared to dream of university

15 Sep, 2018 5:00am
19 minutes to read

New university data indicates circumstances you're born into are likely yours for life.

Dr Ashley Insley pictured outside Tauranga Hospital where she is currently working. She grew up in the isolated East Coast community of Te Kaha. Photo / Alan Gibson

NEW ZEALAND

Want to be a doctor, lawyer or engineer? Don't grow up poor

15 Sep, 2018 5:00am
5 minutes to read

"People think education is a level playing field but this is showing that's not the case."

Critics say the foetal bovine serum industry raises moral and ethical issues. Photo/123rf

NEW ZEALAND

Whistle blower accuses farmers of 'appalling' treatment of pregnant cows

26 Aug, 2018 5:00am
4 minutes to read

The harvest of foetal bovine serum is the latest in a string of animal welfare issues.

The woman's file was closed before she had a chance to respond to detective's decision. Photo / File / 123RF

NEW ZEALAND

Police to victim: Prosecution 'not worth the stress'

23 Aug, 2018 5:00am
5 minutes to read

The woman's file was closed before she had a chance to respond to detective's decision.

Ashley Peacock will live with support staff at a purpose-built house in the countryside.

NEW ZEALAND

At last: Ashley Peacock to be released from cell-like room

6 Aug, 2018 5:00am
5 minutes to read

"It's Ashley's last chance to get any sort of life."

Grace Leung chose to speak out about her attack after discovering it may be linked to a serial predator. Photo/<ark Mitchell

NEW ZEALAND

Public 'left in the dark' over suspected serial sex predator

29 Jul, 2018 5:00am
3 minutes to read

Rape agencies say the public have a right to know information about a suspected predator.

Harmony Stewart was home having a party when the shooting happened at their Wilson Pl property in Papakura, South Auckland. Photo / Brett Phibbs

NEW ZEALAND

'Covered in blood': Teens at party terrified after drive-by shooting

28 Jul, 2018 1:17pm
2 minutes to read

"They came back in covered in blood, I was just trying to help them."

A second victim has spoken about her attack by a man police believe could be linked to up to 12 assaults in Wellington. Photo/123rf

NEW ZEALAND

Sex attack victim: 'If I'd known I wouldn't have walked there'

24 Jul, 2018 3:53pm
5 minutes to read

A second victim has described her attack by a suspected serial predator.

Grace Leung managed to escape the man who attacked her on this pathway at Massey University in 2011 by punching him in the face. Photo/Mark Mitchell

NEW ZEALAND

'Scream and I'll kill you': Police hunt serial sex attacker

21 Jul, 2018 6:00am
5 minutes to read

Detectives believe up to twelve assaults are possibly linked by similar criminal behaviour

Grace Leung managed to escape a man now suspected to be a serial attacker. Photo/Mark Mitchell

NEW ZEALAND

'Scream and I'll kill you': How one victim escaped a possible serial attacker

21 Jul, 2018 5:00am
10 minutes to read

Grace Leung was attacked as she walked home in 2011. Now police are re-investigating.

The doctor misplaced the file somewhere on the 1.5km journey between the breast cancer screening service's Bond St clinic and Dunedin Hospital. Photo/123rf

NEW ZEALAND

Police called in after doctor loses confidential cancer patients' files

8 Jul, 2018 6:00am
3 minutes to read

The document contained diagnoses and treatment plans for breast cancer patients

Victim advocate Louise Nicholas said she

NEW ZEALAND

Deputy police commissioner should 'apologise for rape comments'

29 Jun, 2018 10:52am
6 minutes to read

Regret is not enough, say survivor advocates.

Ashley Peacock has suffered two black eyes this year. Photo / Supplied

NEW ZEALAND

Officials agreed to release him a year ago. So why is autistic man Ashley Peacock still locked up?

21 May, 2018 5:00am
5 minutes to read

"We have done everything possible to get Ashley out of that place. And still."

Rape Crisis says having police believe you as a victim can help with the healing process. Photo/123rf

NEW ZEALAND

Rape victims can have file review

20 May, 2018 5:00am
2 minutes to read

Police say they are happy to facilitate sexual assault victims who want cases reviewed.

An artist's impression of how the site may have looked. Image / Andrew Louis

NEW ZEALAND

Myth of Mangahawea: Is this NZ's first human settlement?

19 May, 2018 1:00pm
17 minutes to read

Scientists have uncovered evidence of one of the first Polynesian settlements in Aotearoa.

NEW ZEALAND

Bullying concerns brushed off: HNZ staff

19 May, 2018 5:00am
4 minutes to read

The deceased man's family are calling on the government agency to be open and transparent.

NEW ZEALAND

A message to toxic men - please stop. We are tired of it

17 May, 2018 10:10am
4 minutes to read

COMMENT: This is the mundane reality of being a woman. And we are bored of it.

Sushila Butt and her daughter Alisha, 23, are some of the families calling for a change to the Funded Family Care policy. Photo / Doug Sherring

NEW ZEALAND

New report slams 'disgusting' family carers policy

15 May, 2018 5:42pm
3 minutes to read

Study finds discontent and scepticism about commitment to paying family carers.

NEW ZEALAND

More Housing NZ staff make bullying claims

5 May, 2018 12:00pm
3 minutes to read

Health and safety advocates call for WorkSafe to investigate bullying claims at Housing NZ

Detective Superintendent Tim Anderson spoke openly about his views on the way the justice system treats victims of sexual assault. Photo/file

NEW ZEALAND

Top detective: 'I think the system isn't serving our victims well'

4 May, 2018 5:00am
3 minutes to read

Detective Superintendent Tim Anderson said police frustrated at low prosecution rate.

NEW ZEALAND

Sex cases vanish: Why thousands of rapists walk free

3 May, 2018 7:00pm
26 minutes to read

More sex crimes are being reported to police, but offenders aren't getting to court.

NEW ZEALAND

How thousands of rape cases disappeared

3 May, 2018 5:00am
4 minutes to read

For years, police inappropriately classified some rape cases as "K3 - no crime".

NEW ZEALAND

'A campaign of bullying' – worker's plea for help before death

28 Apr, 2018 11:06am
5 minutes to read

The Housing New Zealand worker's death was never notified to health and safety authorities

Andy Robinson from Henderson described his power being restored as a

NEW ZEALAND

11 days without power: 'I'm feeling grubby and caveman-like'

22 Apr, 2018 5:00am
4 minutes to read

Auckland man very sick of cold showers after going without power since last week's storm.