Stories by Indira Stewart

A New Zealand midwife has spent the last few weeks in Peru where she travelled to help a first-time mum give birth in a hut in the middle of the Amazon rainforest. It isn't the first time Sharon… Audio

Residents in South Auckland's Ōtara suburb say they're deeply concerned after being left in the dark about a Māori Mental Health and Addictions housing building which is being built next to its local… Audio

There are many names for the man who has held New Zealand's Superheavy-weight Arm wrestling championship title for the last 8 years. Some call him big MAT, others call him 'the BEAST'. And at 6.2 and… Video, Audio

After making history on Saturday defeating the World Champion Australian Kangaroos, Tonga's rugby league team and their massive community of fans are now setting their sights on a world cup victory… Audio

The new Riverside Market in Christchurch has brought revival to the city's hub and one Muslim woman says it's given her her life back. Video, Audio

On Budget Day this year, First Up visited Tāmaki College in Auckland to find out what the students there wanted to see in the government's budget - but while we were there, several of the students… Video, Audio

Documents obtained by First Up show the sacked coach of Tonga's National Rugby League team asked his players to sign statements boycotting their national federation - under the notion that he would be…

The Tamaki Regeneration Company says it has relocated the family of at least one evicted Tamaki College student back in Glen Innes and others are welcome to return too. It comes after First Up first… Audio

Figures released to First Up under the Official Information Act have revealed 182 state house tenants and their families were evicted from their homes in Tamaki to make way for a new housing… Audio

A young man who lost his leg in the 2016 Ritchies bus crash says he can't watch the Rugby World Cup because it reminds him of the dream he can no longer fulfill: to play for his homeland, Tonga. Audio

The only neurosurgeon working for the Southern District Health board area says patients are at risk because there aren't enough neurosurgeons and he's calling on the government to help. Audio

Tonga's Rugby League federation is in chaos following an evolving dispute over money allegations and control of its National team's affairs. A war of words has broken out between Mate Ma'a Tonga… Audio

A South Auckland Doctor says the measles outbreak in his community has become a crisis and a public health emergency. This comes less than a week after Associate Minister for Health Julianne Genter… Video, Audio

Tonga will open its first ever public library next month and it's taken efforts in New Zealand and Tonga to build it. Thousands of books have been donated by more than 50 Auckland Council libraries… Audio, Gallery

An Australian flying school with a legacy for training many of the Pacific region's first indigenous pilots has closed its doors after almost half a century of operation. Gil Layt's Flying school, run… Audio

Despite facing 18 inquiries over the last 30 years, hundreds of families say investigations into the department of Oranga Tamariki, formerly known as CYFS, do not go far enough. Audio

Last night hundreds gathered in Auckland's Aotea Square to show their support for the protestors - or protectors as they prefer to be called -  who have been blocking construction of a billion dollar… Audio

A Wellington woman says she was shocked to learn rest homes aren't required to provide oral care plans for residents after discovering her mother had lost two front teeth. Caroline says she visited… Audio

A second chance at life helped suicide survivor Tuala Tusani radically turn his life around from a violent gang past to becoming one of South Auckland's most successful businessmen. Now, he's… Video, Audio

Oranga Tamariki says it uplifted a baby less than 10 hours after an emergency caesarian delivery because of hygiene issues inside the family home. The Ministry had originally planned on uplifting the… Audio

The Chair of the Tonga Advisory Council says it's exploitation that Tongan fans continue to bring huge profits to New Zealand Rugby League while Tonga's National Rugby League walk away with nothing… Audio

Over the last decade more than 200 produce growers in Auckland have closed up shop as more rural land has been rezoned to residential to keep up with the demand for housing.

Now, after 60 years of… Video, Audio

Ticket sales for this weekend's long awaited clash between Tonga and New Zealand are down compared to previous matches the Tongan NRL team has played in the country. Many members of the Tongan… Video, Audio

A Samoan couple say Oranga Tamariki gave them less than 48 hours notice that their foster daughter of almost a year would be uplifted. They say they've tried repeatedly to apply to be the permanent… Audio

A South Auckland doctor says the recent death of two babies in Samoa shortly after receiving a vaccine against measles has made many Pacific people fearful of getting vaccinated against the disease… Audio