News
Leaky homes: 'If you can't afford to pay for it, then tough luck'
Leaky home owners are struggling with escalating repair costs, adding hundreds of thousands of dollars to their debt.
'We talk about the housing crisis ... what about the people crisis?'
Family helping an 86-year-old raise money to fix his leaky home say they feel left to fend for themselves, with their father ineligible for government help.
Leaky homes leading to 'pure desperation'
The lack of government or council help for owners of leaky homes is shameful, two Auckland businessmen say.
Leaky homes crisis hitting poorer families
Sixteen Manurewa families face losing their homes in one housing complex as the leaky homes crisis a toll on poorer neighbourhoods.
Stop using motels, homeless expert says
An international expert on homelessness is telling New Zealand to stop buying motels as emergency accommodation and instead do more to emulate Finland.
Skid-resistant roads reduce crashes by 40%
Advances in technology, such as driverless cars and skid-resistant roads, are expected to slash the number of road deaths and serious injuries in years to come.
Apartment building defects worsening housing woes
A group helping apartment owners with repairs and litigation says the next government will face a growing crisis over substandard buildings.
NZ detainee calls for Labour's plan to resist Canberra
A father of four about to be deported from Perth is urging the Labour Party to make Australia's detention of scores of New Zealanders an election issue.
Girl faced 'pointless and repetitive' police questions
A 12-year-old living in state care who said she was raped three times was questioned beyond what was necessary, a Family Court judge says.
Australia detains NZ bikie again despite court win
A New Zealand-born motorcycle gang member who won a landmark case in Australia's highest court yesterday has been arrested in Perth.
NZ bikies win deportation challenge
Two New Zealand-born bikies facing deportation from Australia have won a long-running High Court battle.
Ministry accused of breaching abuse claimants' privacy
The Ministry of Social Development gave information about state care abuse claims to police against victims' wishes, their lawyer says. Audio
NZ's women referees face 'grass ceiling'
The Black Ferns' Rugby World Cup win has sparked huge debate over whether top women players are getting a fair go financially. What about the referees?
New quake restraints uncertainty exposed
More gaps in what is known about how safe buildings are in an earthquake are emerging, this time to do with police stations, hospitals and a cinema chain. Audio
Queensland trade policy 'really bad' for NZ firms
Queensland is poised to change its trade rules tomorrow in a move New Zealand has labelled a "little bit crazy".
Building regulator looks overseas for help
New Zealand's building regulator is looking overseas for more ideas on how to clamp down on poor construction.
'In need' regulator restructures in face of building boom
The country's building regulator admits it needs a major overhaul after years scrambling just to react to leaky homes and the Canterbury and Kaikōura earthquakes.
Watchdog decides against steel test certificate prosecution
The Commerce Commission has chosen not to take legal action against a steel supplier that put wrong information on its test certificates. Audio
New building technology: threat or opportunity?
Prefabricated skyscrapers and brick-laying robots will change the face of building and the New Zealand industry isn't keeping up, its leaders have been told. Video, Audio
Girls report sexual assault while in state care
Two young girls have reported being sexually assaulted by boys while in state care in Upper Hutt.
CCTV footage of prison assault released
A former inmate who is suing Corrections has made public a video of his brutal prison assault. Video
DHBs stay mum on quake audits
District health boards in high quake-risk zones are not saying if they will audit their buildings to make sure they are up to scratch.
Auckland DHB: 40% of hospital fittings 'poorly restrained'
Almost half of Auckland Hospital's pipes, cables and ducts are not properly secured in ceiling cavities and could crash down on to people in an earthquake.
Minimal compliance on quake standards - specialist
Fewer than 34 multi-storey New Zealand buildings have fully complied with earthquake restraints standards since they were introduced in 1983, including in the Christchurch rebuild.
Engineers design tsunami-resistant buildings
US engineers who have pioneered designs for buildings able to withstand tsunamis are inviting New Zealand to get on board.