Stories by Charlotte Cook

A Ukrainian woman in New Zealand has spent all morning on the phone to her family at home, who are sheltering underground as shockwaves rattle the bunker.

The Christchurch mosque terrorist says he pleaded guilty to the murder of 51 people last year because of the inhumane and degrading treatment he experienced while awaiting his trial.

The Department of Conservation spent $130,000 looking after Toa, the orphaned Orca.

Corrections has revealed more details about the LynnMall terrorist's violent behaviour while he was remanded in prison.

Covid restrictions have disrupted the legal system so badly that some people are spending longer in prison waiting for a trial than they would be sentenced to if found guilty, a barrister says.

The risk of asbestos inhalation during the Waikeria Prison riot earlier this year may never be known because the Department of Corrections rushed to clean equipment before testing it.

A man who has been in prison for a decade has been told he will have to wait another two years before he can receive any form of psychological treatment, his lawyer says.

Department of Corrections is under resourced, leaving inmates waiting years for psychological help and rehab programmes, the Parole Board says.

Almost half of prisoners are being let off internal disciplinary charges while violence against officers is on the rise.

At a popular pub on Cuba Street, expats watched their teams battle it out in the European football championship semifinal.

People who might otherwise be left out in the cold now have a warm, safe and dry place to stay with the opening of Wellington's largest transitional housing facility.

Only 48 of the 156 advertised roles for security staff at managed isolation and quarantine hotels have so far been filled.

Prison inspectors had to intervene when two inmates seriously assaulted another inmate at Arohata Prison and staff did nothing to protect the woman.

While Wellington waits to see if the region will move back down to alert level 1, there is growing frustration from some older people over the speed of the Covid-19 vaccine rollout.

Wellington businesses say they feel hobbled under the level 2 Covid-19 restrictions, but are grateful for the resurgence support payment.

At least one Wellington community testing centre is fully booked as thousands rush to get tested.

National grid operator Transpower says the hydro lake levels are 67 percent of where they would normally be at this time of year, but there is no cause for worry yet.

A study of blood samples has revealed eight cases of Covid-19 that went previously undetected in the community.

"What's all the fuss about masks?" is the title of an official-looking pamphlet that was being thrust in the face of Wellington train commuters yesterday.

A review into Wellington's billion dollar highway Transmission Gully has found the project was flawed from the start. Audio

The man convicted of the Christchurch mosque shootings has held off from initiating a judicial review of his prison conditions, and designation as a terrorist entity.

No toilets, topless calendars and comments about their appearance are just some of the things women tradies say they deal with on a daily basis.

The Hutt Valley High School principal says officials have known about the problems for years and failed to act. Audio

The head of managed isolation and quarantine facilities has made more changes to the exercise bus system, after failures onboard a bus from the Grand Mecure Hotel.

A Feilding childcare centre investigated over claims of smacking children and feeding them mouldy food has lost its licence and is set to close.