Stories by Natalie Akoorie
News
'We'd be lost' - Town could lose its only ambulance
Residents in the small King Country town of Te Kūiti are concerned the community could lose its only ambulance.
Te Huia supporters concerned funding for service will not continue
Advocacy groups say the train service is "developing well", but the transport minister says it's one of NZ's most heavily subsidised public transport services.
For Today: Waikato youths reach for the stars with Kiwi classics
A small town school production is reaching for the stars with For Today, a musical featuring iconic Kiwi songs from a golden era in New Zealand music.
Call for law affecting people with limited decision-making ability to be axed
The legislation requires such significant reform it needs to be replaced, the Law Commission says.
Commission fails in bid for hybrid council model in Tauranga
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has also rejected the commission's recommendation that a Crown observer be put in place.
'Despair' among prisoners observed after inspection
The discovery of vulnerable prisoners being locked inside their cells for up to two days at time, for as long as nine months, has alarmed lawyers. Audio
Bail refused for man charged over injuries to teen run over in Ngāruawhāhia
A man charged over a hit and run incident that left a teenager in a critical condition has failed in his bid for bail.
Call for stronger trail grading standards after mountain biker's death
A coroner's inquest into a mountain biker's death in 2022 has found there was no warning of the danger and difficulty of the trail where the man suffered fatal injuries.
Boarding house owner ordered to pay tenants for failing healthy homes standards
The owner did not provide proper heating, hot water nor kitchen facilities, but charged ex-prisoners high bonds.
Mayor's Anzac trip to Belgium criticised as rates rise
Hamilton's mayor will travel to Belgium for Anzac Day at the same time the city's residents are facing their biggest rates rise in two decades.
Controversial, 'ugly', container project to get public toilet
Neighbours say the shipping container art site is a "one-finger" salute to council.
'Imagine losing everything you've ever worked for' - Educator cleared of bullying, harassment claims
The outcome is three years too late for the educator, who says the allegations and investigation destroyed her career.
Council dysfunction, healthcare chaos and political showdowns
As Local Democracy Reporting begins a new chapter, here's a look at some of the best stories and their impact since the project's inception in October 2019.
Waikato DHB cyberattack: Cancer hub out of action in chaotic aftermath
A cyber security breach that brought Waikato District Health Board to its knees took out one of the country's four regional cancer hubs, prompting the Cancer Control Agency to declare a national…
Plan to eradicate super weed from new Waikato subdivision 'ambitious'
The cost of managing an invasive "super weed", if it is not eradicated during construction of a billion-dollar Waikato development including 2500 new houses, will fall to ratepayers.
Waikato DHB warned a cyberattack 'catastrophic for patient safety'
Waikato District Health Board was warned its IT security was inadequate and severely compromised just months before a massive ransomware attack that brought Waikato Hospital to its knees.
Waikato DHB cyber attack: Out of date software used by some staff
Five per cent of Waikato District Health Board's workstations were running out-of-date software susceptible to viruses and malware shortly before a cyber attack paralysed services at its five…
Waikato DHB failed OIA requirements over cyber security breach – Ombudsman
A district health board has failed to meet its requirements under the Official Information Act, prompting intervention from the chief ombudsman.
Too early to say if local government shake-up will mean amalgamation
It's too early to say if amalgamation is on the cards for New Zealand's 78 councils, but the way towns and cities are run is poised for overhaul.
Waikato cyberattack: Servers in question not culprit, DHB says
A set of Waikato District Health Board servers were at end-of-life and unpatched when hackers struck in the early hours of 18 May, a source claims.
Solicitor-General orders new inquiry into woman's death
A new inquiry has been ordered into the death of a patient following cancer treatment at Waikato Hospital a decade ago after the pathologist who conducted the autopsy changed his conclusion on the…
‘Friday kōrero’ in Te Kūiti for local democracy
If there's one message Tanirau Manawaiti stands for, it's that having a say in local and national government decisions shouldn't be taken for granted.
Mayors and rangatahi school each other on civics and culture
Mayors are learning about Māori culture and helping rangatahi develop leadership skills in a two-way mentoring programme.
Civics and citizenship education being left to chance - academic
A civics and citizenship curriculum should be cemented in New Zealand schools because knowledge students are entitled to is being left to chance, says a leading academic.
Young people take fight for lower voting age of 16 to Court of Appeal
A youth-led campaign to lower the voting age to 16 will take its case to the Court of Appeal in an effort to push through the change before next year's local body elections.