Emma Hatton
Cremation costs swell: Paying more for weighing more
It may soon cost an extra $200 to cremate an oversize person in Hawke's Bay, if the council approves the move. But charging more to cremate "oversized" caskets is inevitable throughout the country, a… Audio
Faulty airbags still a concern for many NZ drivers
New figures show two thirds of the dangerous airbags in 80-thousand cars in New Zealand have been replaced, but consumer advocates warn that the last third of car owners will be the hardest to reach… Audio
Councils can’t tackle climate change alone – LGNZ
A new report from Local Government New Zealand shows $8b of council-owned assets would be at risk with a sea level rise of one and a half metres, and insurers are warning that's just the start. Audio
Take the heat seriously, medical experts warn
Temperatures around the country have soared again with Taumaranui taking out the top spot at 32.3 degrees as the heat washes over the country. Audio
Chch builders out of work as rebuild construction dries up
Some Christchurch building firms are so desperate for work they are cutting their margins to the point where they're not making any money. That may come as a surprise to people looking for a builder… Audio
Three dead after police pursuit in Chch
Police say a car ran over road spikes, crashed into a tree and caught on fire. Audio
Companies charged for Gisborne debris to appear in court next month
Forestry companies charged after a large quantity of woody debris ended up on properties in the Gisborne region will appear in court next month. The region suffered devastation in June after two bouts… Audio
Divorce applications spike after Christmas
Relationship experts say the new year stirs resolutions in those unhappy with their relationships, especially if they have had a stressful Christmas, leading to a rise in divorce applications in… Audio
Family settles with govt over paid care dispute
One of eight families who've reached an out of court settlement with the government over care for disabled relatives, says it's won the battle, but not the war. Audio
Vic Uni rejects exchange student after mental illness revealed
Victoria University told a Canadian exchange student it didn't want her to come after she revealed she had a mental illness. The third year student was due to arrive in February and study in… Audio
Don't overfill trolleys - Food waste advocacy group
With Christmas less than a week away grocery shoppers are being warned not to overfill their trolleys. Many are leaving it to the last minute to do their "big shop". But while that often means… Audio
Wellington delays will ease over Christmas - Transport Agency
The Transport Agency is promising lengthy delays north of Wellington won't extend into the Christmas period. But frustrated commuters aren't holding their breath. Traffic travelling to and from the… Audio
Google searches reveal our obsessions
What is Bitcoin, the Keto diet and how do I cut a mango? These were some of New Zealand's most asked questions to the search-engine Google this year. Amongst some of the biggest news events of the… Audio
Early intervention urged to prevent family violence
The justice sector's chief science advisor has singled out early intervention as a crucial way to combat New Zealand's staggering family violence statistics. A report into family violence was… Audio
Water safety hampered as some kids can't afford togs
Water Safety New Zealand is calling for a dramatic increase in school swim programmes to help tackle New Zealand's high drowning statistics. But some schools say some of their children don't even have… Audio
Huawei ban not political - GCSB Minister
The Minister responsible for the GCSB is insisting the decision to ban the tech giant Hauwei from Spark's 5G rollout is because of the technology not because the company is Chinese. The electronic spy… Audio
Union claims truck drivers forced to accept low rates
The trucking industry is being accused of competing for big contracts at the expense of their staff - and road safety. Audio
Secondary school teachers to strike
Secondary teachers across the country have voted to strike next year. As Emma Hatton reports, many describe the latest offer as an absolute joke. Video, Audio
Govt considers flammable furniture ban
The furniture industry is in for a massive shake up with the government looking at whether it should ban a widely used highly flammable foam filling. Fire and Emergency recently hosted a demonstration… Audio
Women on company boards: Do we need a quota?
Should there be a mandatory quota for women on company boards? Earlier in the week an AUT study revealed only a quarter of board members on the country's 100 listed companies are women and while that… Audio
