Nita Blake Persen
Councils called upon to cull stray cats
Conservationists want local councils to take on the job of culling stray cats, saying the SPCA's policy of trying to find homes for them is not helping high-risk native wildlife. Audio
Special Operations Officer dies in training exercise off Coromandel
Soldier Wayne Taylor died after falling during a training exercise off the Coromandel coast this morning. He was a father of four who served in Afghanistan and East Timor. Video, Audio
Family, community heartbroken after fatal Taupo crash
A tight-knit community is in mourning after Palmerston North mother of four Pesi Tuivai died along with three others in a crash north of Taupo. Others are fighting for their lives. Video, Audio
Police boost patrols on overbridges to deter rock-throwers
An Auckland taxi driver says he's lucky to be alive after a 2kg rock was dropped from a motorway overbridge yesterday afternoon and crashed through his windscreen. Video, Audio
Changing habits will take longer than banning plastic bags
Single use plastic bags might be on their way out but 'binning the bag' may take a bit of getting used to for many New Zealanders. Nita Blake-Persen reports. Audio
More evidence of stalled Auckland housing market
The latest QV House Price Index shows Auckland house prices edged down 0.6 percent in the third quarter of this year, and were for the year overall up just 0.8 percent. Audio
Auckland church struggles with cost of housing homeless
The Faith Family Baptist Church in Panmure says it faces a $160,000 bill to upgrade its facilities so it can keep helping 15 people each week. Video, Audio
Mother fears for disabled son without a teacher aide
An Auckland mother fears her four-year-old son will be confined to the corner at his creche, unable to learn because of what she says is a lack of teacher aides available for disabled students. Lucy… Audio
Havelock North gastro cost households $21m - report
A report revealing Havelock North's campylobacter outbreak cost households $12 million is putting pressure on the council to give victims more financial help. The contaminated water crisis hit the… Audio
Excessive red tape deters international teachers
Teachers moving to Auckland from overseas to help fill the city's teaching shortage say lengthy and expensive red tape is forcing them to head home again and warn others against making the move. Audio
