Stories by Jean Edwards
News
'Gut-wrenching': NZer's close call after taking scenic flight day before fatal crash
A Christchurch woman has described her horror at witnessing two helicopters collide on Australia's Gold Coast, just a day after her son and his girlfriend took the same scenic flight.
Irish abuse probe seeks victims and witnesses in New Zealand
Police investigating allegations of abuse at mother-and-baby homes in Northern Ireland have launched a special appeal in Aotearoa.
Likely cause of Bromley wastewater plant fire revealed
The report was released to RNZ under the Official Information Act.
'Shocking' lack of respite care for those with chronic mental illnesses - mother
Only Cody Te Poono knows exactly what was going through his head when the family home burned to the ground one August afternoon.
NZ Agricultural Show: Horses preened for competition at three-day show
Prestigious horse and pony events are among the traditional highlights, along with shearing, wood-chopping, gumboot-throwing and the ever-popular duck-herding.
Gloriavale man jailed for child sex offending named after losing appeal
Another Gloriavale man jailed for child sex offences can now be named, after losing a High Court fight to keep his identity a secret.
US grand jury to determine if police should be charged after fatally shooting Kiwi man
A grand jury is to determine if US officers should be charged over the fatal shooting of Christchurch-born man Christian Glass in Colorado.
Jailed Gloriavale child sex offender loses fight to keep name secret
A Gloriavale child sex offender sentenced to more than two years in prison has lost a High Court fight to keep his name a secret.
South Island braces for deluge of snow and freezing temperatures
A second cold front is forecast to bring fresh snow to sea level in Dunedin and Christchurch tonight, with up to 20cm expected to fall on higher parts of Banks Peninsula.
Gloriavale funded community living costs with millions in govt money
Gloriavale Christian community received almost $5 million in government money in the 2021 financial year, while its church trust held more than $4 million in cash, a court has heard.
Gloriavale leader's granddaughter denies claims of inappropriate behaviour
Gloriavale's Overseeing Shepherd Howard Temple is respectful of girls and does not have a reputation for inappropriate behaviour, his granddaughter says.
Gloriavale leaders burnt member's book on 'practical wisdom', court told
Gloriavale leaders burnt a book written and distributed without their knowledge by a Christian community member, leaving the man and his wife to contemplate leaving the commune, a court has heard.
Gloriavale women 'not downtrodden and subjugated', member says
Gloriavale's leaders did not know about sexual abuse at the Christian community, which has become an "entertainment show" for the country's media, a member says.
'It cannot stand': Father of US police shooting victim pleads for justice
The parents of a Christchurch-born man shot dead by United States police have made an emotional plea for those involved to be charged, accusing the officer who pulled the trigger of murder.
Gloriavale Christian School principal hits out at critics
Gloriavale Christian School's new principal has accused people of making a coordinated effort to shut the school down and take its children away by lodging simultaneous complaints against every…
Gloriavale leaders lied about aunt's death - former member
Gloriavale leaders claimed God must have blessed the food that killed one of the members at the Christian commune and lied about the circumstances surrounding her choking death, a former member says.
Sexual harassment of Gloriavale workers a 'normal' occurrence, court hears
Workplace sexual harassment was normal at Gloriavale, where leaders would grab girls' bottoms, unzip their dresses or ping their bra straps in the kitchen, a former member says.
Court hears of sexual culture at Gloriavale where women, girls blamed and punished
Gloriavale founder Hopeful Christian told a father who had just buried his daughter that he could take comfort from the fact she would not be molested, a court has heard.
Former Gloriavale woman describes culture of bullying, mockery
A former Gloriavale member has described an ingrained culture of bullying and mocking by powerful and controlling leaders who punished women.
'I can't wait any more': Nurses plan to leave NZ over residency rules
Frustrated New Zealand-trained migrant nurses may leave the country because they cannot find an immediate path to residency, as the government tries to entice foreigners to fill thousands of health…
Gloriavale: Court set to hear of workers' 'slave-like conditions'
Six former Gloriavale women will tell a court they lived in "slave-like conditions" working as employees under an all-pervading regime of secular and religious control.
Bromley stench: Woman wins fight with council over air purifiers' cost
The Bromley woman bought two air purifiers to cope with the stench from the burnt-out wastewater treatment plant nearby.
Locals complained about scrap yard before major fire
Investigations into complaints about a scrap metal yard where a ferocious fire broke out in Christchurch have not revealed any breaches of regulations, the city council says.
Bromley stench: Council faces lawsuit to cover costs of air purifiers
A Bromley woman is taking Christchurch City Council to the Disputes Tribunal after it refused to pay for air purifiers she bought to cope with the stench from the burnt-out wastewater treatment plant.
Gloriavale ordered to improve workplace safety standards
Gloriavale has been ordered to improve workplace safety standards again after a visit by inspectors, but no children were found working in the reclusive Christian community's commercial businesses.