Stories by Natalie Akoorie
News
Mum of 1968 missing toddler isn't sure she wants remains found
"It's a moment where you want to know and yet you don't want to know."
Disabled man claims he was abused, neglected while in supported living
Mike Sherman says he was hit by a carer and had his food and drink withheld: "People didn't treat me like a human being."
Not detective's job to investigate gun possession before fatal police shooting, court hears
A detective who visited Joel Buckley five months before he died said it was not his job to investigate whether he still had possession of a military-style rifle.
Elite private school widens roll
The Anglican boarding school in Hamilton allows girls to attend from Year 11 (fifth form).
Woman's family say coroner needs to correct mistake
The family of Carmen Walker - who died following complications during a procedure at Waikato Hospital - say the coroner should correct a mistake in his findings.
Councillor won't face further consequences for expletive-laden rant
Hamilton's Andrew Bydder was censured by his colleagues and ordered to apologise for ableist slurs and derogatory comments.
Why Rotorua businesses want emergency housing motels gone
A hearing is being held on Tuesday over extending contracts for seven motels for another 12 months. Audio
Commissioner to be appointed after school board steps down in wake of teacher sacking
Four elected parents resigned after a furore into the Onewhero Area School board of trustees' decision to dismiss the teacher over a school rugby trip.
Councillor still hasn't apologised for expletive-laden rant
Andrew Bydder was meant to apologise to mayor Susan O'Regan as well the Cerebral Palsy Society.
Large scrub fire at Waikato wetlands not the first
The 7100 hectare wetland made up of peat bog, vegetation and fen, was the scene of two fires in the 1980s.
Details of Ross Bremner's deadly attacks revealed for first time
Bremner's frenzied attacks on his parents and a couple he didn't know killed three of them. Some details can now be reported for the first time.
Bay of Plenty locals have 'had a gutsful' of gangs - police
Police have arrested 28 people in Ōpōtiki and around the North Island as part of Operation Highwater.
Shane Jones calls letter from Hamilton Airport unprofessional, odd
The airport has accused the Regional Development Minister of spreading misinformation that casts it in a negative light.
Fury over English-only edict to nurses: 'It's against human rights'
A nurses union representative says it's discrimination if foreign nurses are forbidden from speaking in their native language. Audio
Minister warns council over airport runway saga
Regional Development Minister Shane Jones has labelled the decision "perilous".
Councillors spend $42k on upskilling themselves
It included $3000 on a two-day course in Canada and $790 on a Koru Club membership.
Under-fire head of prestigious private school resigns
He went on extended leave amid claims of a toxic culture and has now resigned.
Missing Marokopa family: 'Stockholm syndrome' likely to affect children
A child psychologist says Tom Phillips' three children will be vulnerable and susceptible to anxiety after being isolated for three years.
Sister City relationships 'there to achieve other objectives'
Sister City relationships provide an opportunity for foreign agencies to interfere in New Zealand's democracy and councils need to be vigilant, the head of the Security Intelligence Service says.
Family 'devastated' after human error ruled out in mum's death
Carmen Walker's sons, along with a surgeon who observed the procedure, say the blood loss that led to her death was preventable. Audio
'Dirty' drug, blood loss caused woman's death
The death of Carmen Walker in Waikato Hospital after a cancer procedure was caused by an adverse drug reaction as well as blood loss, a coroner has found.
'Don't give up looking' - new social housing complex opens in Hamilton
Residents of a new Salvation Army social housing complex in Hamilton say they are grateful to live there.
Officials to investigate four deaths of people in care
A disability advocate welcomes the investigation, saying all deaths in support homes are concerning.
Police to investigate handling of two cases referred to watchdog
The separate cases relate to the deaths of 8-year-old Zahquiel Taipeti in Hamilton and Steven Cranston near Raglan.
Doctor wrote almost 300 prescriptions for herself, friends, family
The medication included codeine, opioids and a sedative for her infant children, a disciplinary tribunal has found.