Amy Williams
Food banks overrun with demand
Food banks around the country say they've had a flood of demand on re-opening this year and it's not just the homeless needing help.
City Missions say people who have jobs but can't afford their… Audio
Small changes can make Christmas safer for everyone - Michael Baker
With just three sleeps until Christmas, themed facemasks with santas and mistletoe may come in handy. The Grinch of Christmas is invisible this year: It's estimated that about 85,000 people will be in… Audio
Drug dealer 501 deportee wins court case
A former drug dealer who was deported from Australia as a 501 has won a court case that has opened the floodgates for others to seek justice. The man, who had name suppression, represented himself in… Audio
How much does the 12 days of Christmas cost?
Forget house prices, let's talk partridges. The cost of putting on a Christmas spread and buying gifts for your true love has soared in recent years thanks to inflation.
Fifteen years ago we… Audio
Lymphoedema sufferers struggle for care and diagnosis
Imagine recovering from cancer only to have a leg or arm become more and more swollen, and not be able to get the treatment you need - that's the case for many lymphoedema patients around the country… Audio
Lymphoedema sufferer heads to Australia for treatment
People living with a chronic condition that causes a limb to swell are choosing to go to Australia for surgical treatment that isn't offered here, and paying out of their own pocket.
Many are cancer… Audio
Aucklanders preparing for interest rate rises
Tighten your belts and prepare for recession - the Reserve Bank's hawkish move to turbo-charge interest rates doesn't stop here.
After raising the wholesale interest rate 75 basis points to four and… Audio
Auckland scrapping for $20m to fill 2024 events calendar
Auckland's major events calendar looks alarmingly empty from 2024 and the city's culture and economic agency says it urgently needs to find $20m a year to start filling it.
Most events on the diary… Audio
Auckland mayor promises cost savings as budget hole looms
Auckland's mayor is promising to find huge cost savings, so a massive financial hole won't be filled by significant rate rises.
The hole in ther council's budget has tripled in size - to $270… Audio
Auckland Council finances hit by high inflation, interest rates
Auckland Council's budget is blowing out as inflation runs hot and interest rates continue to rise.
Staff are warning the funding gap is estimated to be $180m higher than the anticipated shortfall of… Audio
Auckland City's massive budget hold
Auckland City's budget woes, and the potential impact on ratepayers and services. The council has this morning made a statement to the NZX saying it is facing "increased pressure" on its budgets due… Audio
Grace Millane's killer appealing other convictions
The lawyer for Grace Millane's killer has told the Court of Appeal in Auckland that two other women felt driven to be her voice in separate trials which resulted in further convictions.
Jesse Kempson… Audio
Concerns about future ownership of Auckland Council flats
Auckland Council has run out of funds to continue its part in an own-your-own-home scheme it set up in the 1970s for those over 65.
One hundred and fifty flats will be affected and already 60 are… Audio
Crown appeals sentence for convicted teen rapist
The Crown has been appealing the sentence handed down to 18 year old Jayden Meyer, who raped four girls and sexually violated another.
Meyer was a minor at the time of his offending. He was sentenced… Video, Audio
Fuel companies warn higher petrol prices coming
Fuel companies are warning higher petrol prices are on the way this summer.
The added pain at the pump is expected due to a cut in global oil production, and sanctions on Russian marine oil tankers… Audio
Auckland public transport hit by staff shortages
Auckland commuters have been slow to return to public transport but who would blame them many work from home at least part of the week and the service is still hit and miss. Auckland Transport said… Audio
Big hole in Auckand events group low on funding
Covid-19 restrictions have eased, the border's open to tourists, it's the summer Auckland's been waiting for - but there's a big hole in the promotions budget.
Economic development agency Tataki… Audio
Education Ministry turned down used MIQ air purifiers
The Ministry of Education turned down air purifiers taken out of MIQ hotels for use in schools at a time when Omicron was surging and it was still waiting for its own order to arrive in the country.
… Audio
GIB drivers strike for better pay, working conditions
GIB's value is hugely valuable in Aotearoa currently, and so are the people delivering it to building sites across Auckland - that's the message from workers who have walked off the job.
About 40… Audio
Seven-week trial over political donations drawing to a close
A seven-week trial over political donations that took three years to reach the High Court in Auckland is drawing to a close today.
The Serious Fraud Office brought charges against seven people… Audio