Catherine Hutton
Co. sitting on money desperately needed by disabled - advocate
A privately owned company which distributes funds on behalf of the Ministry of Health is sitting is on half million dollars, which an advocate says is desperately needed by disabled people. Manawanui… Audio
Disability providers says more money needed to avert crisis
An organisation representing disability providers says the government needs to take immediate action and inject half a billion dollars a year to stave off a crisis in the sector. The Disability… Audio
Ministers taken to court over treatment of vulnerable citizens
Government ministers are being taken to court over the way they treat the country's most vulnerable citizens and their parents.
A disability advocate has filed papers asking the Employment Court to… Audio
Council candidates refuse to share stage with sex offender
Candidates on the Kāpiti Coast - including the mayor - are refusing to share the stage with the convicted sex offender and former councillor David Scott. The 73-year-old, who was convicted of indecent… Audio
Family carer pay boost could be cut by funding shortfall
Moves boost the number of family carers paid to look after disabled relatives could be kneecapped by a funding shortfall.
From next year the government plans to allow partners and spouses of a… Audio
Clients could be turned away from disability support providers
Disability support providers may be forced to stop accepting new clients and some services may close because of a freeze in government funding.
RNZ's Catherine Hutton reports. Audio
Pay gap difficulties for NGOs hiring social workers
A growing pay gap between community social workers and their state agency counterparts is putting programmes for vulnerable families at risk.
Non-government organisations say it is increasingly hard… Audio
Disability care funding changes give false hope - family carers
Parents struggling to look after disabled family members say changes announced by the government on Sunday mean very little and just gives false hope.
Until now only family members other than spouses… Audio
Mum frustrated as govt stalls on high-needs respite scheme
The mother of a boy with special needs says the government's refusal to spend $10 million on a new respite scheme is frustrating.
At the end of 2018 the Ministry of Health was supposed to introduce… Audio
Family Court review finds 2014 reforms failed
A review of the family court has found the radical reforms of 2014 have delivered few of the promised benefits for parents and children.
It cites one case where a custody dispute over a ten-month-old… Audio
Family court system needs sweeping changes, review says
A review of the family court system is calling for sweeping changes.
The Independent Panel's review of the 2014 family justice system reforms, acknowledges the family justice sector is in trouble and… Audio
Budget 2019: Disability advocates have low expectations
Disability advocates aren't holding out much hope today's budget will deliver the wholesale changes they are hoping for.
But at a conference at Te Papa they heard about overseas projects designed to… Audio
Govt called on to slow-down gun law change
Gun traders and competition shooters are urging the government to put the brakes on fast-track changes to gun laws, warning the implications haven't been thought through. Audio
Family Court lawyer spending skyrockets
Spending on lawyers in the Family Court has rocketed despite reforms five years ago aimed at slashing the court's running costs. The previous government made the changes with the bold promise they… Audio
NZ grounds Boeing 737 Max planes following Ethiopia crash
One of the country's largest travel agents says the decision to suspend Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft in and out of New Zealand will potentially inconvenience thousands of customers. Audio
KiwiRail 'in favour' with govt, but not Treasury - Jones
KiwiRail's plans to upgrade its network are running into funding obstacles. Newly released documents show its attempts to get money from the Provincial Growth Fund have not all been successful, with… Audio
Govt forces KiwiRail to keep electric trains
It's emerged the government forced Kiwirail to backtrack on a decision to ditch its electric locomotives. According to the Treasury, it's the first time a state-owned enterprise has been directed by a… Audio
Keeping Kiwirail electric a 'no-brainer' - Twyford
The Transport Minister Phil Twyford says the decision to force Kiwirail to backtrack on its decision to ditch its electric locomotives was a no-brainer. In October the Government announced it was… Audio
MPs told of overwhelming demands on mental health system
MPs have been told pressures on the mental health system are not sustainable and demand is overwhelming. Members of the ministerial inquiry into mental health fronted up to the health select committee… Audio
Facebook battle brings donations for underdog
A David and Goliath battle between Facebook and a small Wellington events company has resulted in thousands of dollars in donations for the underdog. But despite media attention and claims to the… Audio
