News
'This is a crisis': Firefighters union warns of roster chaos over mandate
The professional firefighters' union is warning there will not be enough crews left for callouts when the Covid vaccine mandate kicks in next week.
Supply strain stresses hit building standards change
Officials have pulled back from the boldest approaches to making houses warmer, because of the stresses on the supply chain.
Law group argues inconsistency in granting visas to Afghans
About a third of Afghans allowed to resettle here to escape the Taliban do not meet strict criteria imposed by Cabinet.
NZ-affiliated Afghans unfairly denied visas, court told
Lawyers acting for Afghans unable to get visas to come here have told the High Court the government has not acted fairly.
Pilot medical surveillance system 'belongs in dark ages' - expert
Pilots flying into medical trouble are protesting against a safety system they say is broken.
Man accused of killing toddler changed story, inquest told
The accused initially told police he did not know what happened then changed his story to say he fell on the 17-month-old boy but he "seemed fine", an inquest has heard.
Airline pilot accused of being risk to passengers clears name
It's taken five years for Graham Lindsay to clear his name after the CAA put him through medical checks and grounded him - and then faced accusations of being a narcissist and a stalker.
Taihape school rejects Education Ministry's apology over farm debacle
A Taihape school has rejected the Ministry of Education's apology for taking its students' educational farm away - and accused it of incompetence and letting the farm's facilities degrade into a…
Road safety strategy not moving fast enough to slow road toll
Waka Kotahi has no "respect" for taxpayer money and is failing to keep roads safe, former Associate Transport Minister Julie Anne Genter says.
Afghan woman seeking refugee visa told offshore applications not being processed
A woman trapped in Afghanistan while New Zealand authorities have held her passport for three years, is pleading for help.
Niwa working with Education Ministry to monitor CO2 in classrooms
Air quality experts are working with officials on rolling out carbon dioxide monitoring in classrooms to help counter the threat of Covid-19.
Classroom air quality an 'incredible blindspot', researcher says
Air quality experts are looking to the government's pandemic school plan today to do more to protect students in fuggy classrooms. Video
Fenz in the spotlight after firefighters say they were exposed to asbestos
Firefighters who say they are being exposed to cancer-causing asbestos have issued a safety notice against their employer.
Abuse in care: Chair claims church lawyers pushed back on inquiry scope
Church lawyers pressured the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse to narrow the scope of its investigations, the chair of the inquiry told survivors.
Council issues warning to tradies as list of building materials expanded
Auckland builders have an expanded list of materials they can substitute to cope with the supply crunch caused by Covid-19.
Tiwai Point smelter contamination levels exceed key thresholds
Tests at Tiwai Pt aluminium smelter have turned up soil, drains and groundwater contaminated at levels that exceed key thresholds.
Motorhomes and horse trucks with modified cabs given reprieve
Owners of large motorhomes and horse trucks with modified cabs have won reprieve from a crackdown that has forced some off the road.
Tauranga residents push back on contentious road upgrade
Hugely significant; hugely costly; hugely wrong. They are all ways being used to describe the largest overhaul of the main street heading into the centre of Tauranga.
Confusion and frustration over dated but legal earthquake rules
New research shows there are tangled earthquake rules that could lead to owners strengthening the wrong parts of buildings, or having to pay twice to find out if their floors are safe.
Police 'dropped the ball' on road safety enforcement targets in Auckland
More Aucklanders are dying or being maimed on the roads because police are doing only half what they said they would to tackle speeding and booze.
Builders look to cut corners with squeeze on construction supplies face risks
Some builders caught up in desperate times are resorting to desperate measures - backed into a corner by the squeeze on construction supplies, they're looking to substitute products.
Council and iwi agree to temporarily close controversial dump
Horowhenua locals are counting an environmental win over the temporary end to dumping at a controversial landfill.
'It's not very efficient' - Auckland builders expect obstacles in level 3
Auckland builders are being told to plan carefully to avoid chaos when they return to work tomorrow.
Cab owners tell NZTA to drop clampdown or pay up: 'It's their fault'
Some motorhome and horse truck owners are demanding the Transport Agency drop a clampdown that is forcing more and more vehicles off the road, or pay the costs itself.
Facial recognition systems tests fail to record accuracy for Māori
Tests of the main facial recognition system used to produce passports did not record how accurate it is on Māori.