Stories by Laura Bootham
News
Local elections: 'The country's looking a bit redder'
Debates over poverty and homelessness favoured left-leaning candidates in the local body elections, says politics lecturer Bryce Edwards.
Voting papers 'simply didn't arrive' in Horowhenua
More than 100 people have missed out on voting in Horowhenua thanks to a "shonky" election process, the newly elected mayor and residents association says.
Enough to break your art
Well-loved public artworks are vanishing or being left outside, unmaintained by councils, prompting the art sector to call for the creation of a public register of art.
Call to put counsellors in primary schools
Counsellors should be put in primary and intermediate schools to help young people deal with mental health struggles, the Association of Counsellors says.
Funding partnerships considered to cope with tourism boom
A new funding system is required to ensure smaller communities see the profits being brought in by record numbers of tourists, Local Government New Zealand says.
Spark and Vodafone top consumer complaints
The Commerce Commission last year received more complaints about telco companies than any other business.
Veterans help return soldier's stolen medals
A mission to reunite an Afghanistan veteran with his stolen medals has proved successful, after the owner was tracked down through Facebook.
Youthline overwhelmed by calls for help
Youthline is so overwhelmed with young people calling its service that 150 a week are missing out on help.
NZers happy, but some struggle to make ends meet - survey
Most New Zealanders are happy, according to a quality of life survey, while 19 percent say they're struggling to make ends meet.
Community up in arms over cenotaph move
Foxton residents are up in arms over a plan to shift the town's cenotaph, describing the move as sacrilegious.
Legal aid closures put Māori 'at a disadvantage'
The decision to close six of the country's eight legal aid centres will deny Māori justice in the legal system, warn community law advocates.
Large fire at Christchurch electronics company
Two cleaners raised the alarm about a fire after a light apparently exploded at Tait Communications' Christchurch office.
Cervical screening age to be raised
The Ministry of Health is raising the age at which women begin having cervical smear tests from 20 to 25.
Iwi pulls out of Kermadec support trip
The government may have lost a key iwi supporter for their proposal to create a marine sanctuary near the Kermadec Islands. Audio
Iwi wants Karori campus land back
A Wellington iwi would like to see land bought by Victoria University in 2014 for $10 and now deemed "surplus to requirements" returned to it.
Decades-long wait for gender surgery
The transgender community wants health officials to cut the wait time for gender reassignment operations, saying it could take decades before people get one.
Let Family Court decide euthanasia issues - ex-PM
Former prime minister Sir Geoffrey Palmer has waded into the emotionally-charged euthanasia debate, calling for the Family Court to have the final say.
September will feel like summer instead of spring
Forget spring - it's summer that has sprung, with meteorologists predicting yet more record-breaking temperatures for 2016.
Urgent call for better ship pilot training
The Transport Accident Investigation Commission wants ship pilots' training improved urgently after a cruise ship hit a rock in the Marlborough Sounds.
Expert weighs in on curbing-the-carbs 'rubbish'
A New Zealand nutrition expert has attacked carb-cutting diet fads endorsed by Hollywood celebrities in a highly regarded medical journal.
Heritage-listed demolition gets iwi backing
Tūhoe is backing controversial plans to demolish the historic Āniwaniwa Visitor Centre next to Lake Waikaremoana.
High cost to criminalised marijuana - NZIER
An economic think tank is calling for marijuana to be legalised saying it could save the country over $300 million a year.
Overworked doctors 'falling asleep at the wheel'
The long shifts worked by resident doctors are putting them and their patients in danger, warns the organisation representing the doctors.
Fonterra faces legal action from Aus farmers
Farmers in Australia have joined forces to launch a class action against Fonterra and another dairy company for slashing the price they pay farmers for milk.
Pilots continue safety bid over runway extension
Wellington airport's proposed runway extension has too short a safety buffer, the Airline Pilots Association says.