Drink-drive shift makes Rose proud
A shift in attitudes towards drink-driving was the major change seen by retired police superintendent Paula Rose in her 27 years in road policing. "When I started with the Ministry of Transport in 1984...
View ArticleHamilton leads the way with 'living wage'
Hamilton has become the first city council in New Zealand to approve paying all staff a 'living wage', and Auckland and Wellington are considering following suit, a campaigner says. Campaigners say the...
View ArticleChild poverty 'a stain on NZ's human rights record'
The Government has been slammed for its track record on child poverty and violence against women following a critical report from an international human rights watchdog. The Amnesty International...
View ArticleKiwis booked on world's first commercial space flight
Space enthusiast Mark Rocket has been waiting six years for seat on one of the world's first commercial space flights - but says it will be worth the wait. The Christchurch entrepreneur booked his...
View Article'Farmy Army' leader honoured for quake aid
The driving force behind Christchurch's 'Farmy Army' says providing help and hot meals in the earthquake-struck city was a humbling experience. John Hartnell was made a member of the New Zealand Order...
View ArticleGovernment to appeal legal aid decision
The Government will appeal against a ruling that the new legal aid system is unlawful. Justice Minister Judith Collins said leave to appeal the Court of Appeal decision had been filed in the Supreme...
View ArticleParliament to consider tougher penalties for online child sex abuse
A new law which would mean tougher penalties for online child sex abuse will be introduced to Parliament this week. The Objectionable Publications and Indecency Legislation Bill increases maximum...
View ArticleKiwi employers struggling to find staff - survey
Half of all New Zealand employers are struggling to find staff with the right skills, with engineers most in demand, a survey has found. The Canterbury rebuild and major infrastructure projects in...
View ArticleBomb tests help work on cold case
Data from nuclear bomb testing helped New Zealand scientists pinpoint the age of a skeleton found in Australia, leading to a decades-old cold case being reopened. The University of Waikato's...
View ArticleSale of alcohol to underage girls astounds police
Police are astounded that two girls were served alcohol during a controlled purchase operation despite telling bar staff they were 16. The teens were served drinks at Hotel Motueka last week, said...
View ArticleWorking families tax credit not aimed at reducing poverty, court told
Tax credits for working families are not aimed at reducing poverty, but at getting beneficiaries into work, a court has been told. The Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) is challenging the Government's...
View ArticleSale speed not slowed with plain tobacco packaging - study
Plain tobacco packaging doesn't slow down transaction times for retailers, according to a study supported by anti-smoking groups. Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) said the study refuted the tobacco...
View ArticlePassengers forced to leave Air NZ flight
Passengers on an Air New Zealand flight to Auckland were forced to leave the plane shortly after boarding at Christchurch Airport this morning after they were exposed to fumes from de-icing. Air New...
View ArticleMissing woman's husband seeks closure
The husband of missing woman Kaye Stewart says he won't have closure until his wife's remains are found - and only "the lousiest person in the world" knows where she lies. "Somebody killed my wife,"...
View ArticleMagnitude 3 earthquake strikes near Haast
A magnitude 3 earthquake struck near Haast early this morning. The 2.45am shake was centered 10km to the southwest of the town, at a depth of 5km. The Mercalli intensity - how strongly the quake is...
View ArticleWeather: Flood warning for Southland
Surface flooding is expected in Southland today as rivers peak following heavy rain yesterday, and more heavy rain is expected in parts of the country later today. Environment Southland said the...
View ArticleExpert: Workers hit by quake stress
Post-traumatic stress from the Canterbury earthquakes may only now be taking effect, and having an impact at work. A University of Canterbury business expert Tony Mortensen said international research...
View ArticleBad weather heading north
Snowfalls are expected in North Canterbury and Marlborough today as the front over the South Island moves northwards. MetService said there had been little snow so far today, with just some scattered...
View ArticleAngry Lego faces 'a sign of the times'
The increase in angry faces among Lego mini figures is a sign of the times, says the author of a new study on the toys. The faces of the figures have changed, reflecting a growing focus on conflict in...
View ArticlePower cuts as wild winds batter Wellington
High winds with gusts up to 126km/h battered Wellington last night, causing power cuts as trees fell through lines. MetService said the worst of the winds were between 8pm and 9pm, although they...
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