Laura Dooney
A Blue Belt around greater Wellington would protest marine life
A blue belt across the entire Greater Wellington region has been proposed by a regional council candidate. Thomas Nash, who is standing in the Poneke / Wellington constituency, says the council needs… Audio
Te Papa told Govt it risked losing relevance as national museum
Te Papa told the Government it risked losing relevance as a national museum when it asked it for money to help move into South Auckland. The museum's bid for 1.5 million dollars to develop a detailed… Audio
Young council candidates say they're reaching non-voting youth
Young people running in local elections say they're reaching part of the population that wouldn't otherwise vote. Voter turnout has been declining since the 1980s.... at the last local body election… Audio
Questions around Peter Jackson’s role in Shelly Bay development
Claims have been made that Sir Peter Jackson is throwing more money at opposing a controversial Shelly Bay housing development on Wellington's coast. A Wellington iwi has sold the site to a property… Audio
Levin prisoners escape: Police admit best practice not followed
The police have admitted they didn't follow "best practice" when three prisoners managed to escape from custody in Levin yesterday.
The trio were able to flee when one of only two officers was… Audio
Leafy locals lash louts over liquor licence
Residents from an upmarket Wellington suburb are opposing a liquor store in their leafy neighbourhood. Laura Dooney reports. Audio
South Auckland arm of Te Papa canned due to lack of funding
The community in South Auckland says the loss of a planned arm of Te Papa museum there is a huge blow. Audio
Thousands farewell Sir Brian Lochore on pitch he used to play on
Thousands have gathered today at a rugby pitch in Masterton to farewell rugby great Sir Brian Lochore. They heard tales of Sir Brian's life, his love not just of rugby, but farming, his wife Pam, and… Video, Audio
Leadership 'lacking' in new conservation strategy
The government's new action plan for biodiversity involves making the country pest free by 2050, and reducing fishing bycatch of seabirds and marine mammals, to zero. But a conservation ecologist says… Audio
International students will bear blame for fraud under new proposal
Advocates say it's unfair to put the blame on international students who could be caught out if dodgy agencies lie in their visa applications. Under a new interpretation of the rules, the final blame… Audio
Family says driver's sentence doesn't fit crime
Whanau and friends of Samuel Jackson-Seligman-Lemaire, who was killed by a 72-year-old woman driving the wrong way on a Wellington motorway say her sentence of six months community detention isn't… Audio
Ngāti Rangi celebrates Treaty settlement
Ngāti Rangi iwi members say the passing of a treaty settlement into law marks the beginning of a new era for the iwi.
The iwi's settlement passed it's third and final reading in Parliament on… Audio
Inaia Tonu Nei report urges major changes to NZ justice system
Māori are calling for urgent reform of the country's justice system - including the abolition of the current prison system and changes to Oranga Tamariki.
A report called 'Inaia Tonu Nei - The Time… Audio
Man admits stealing guns from police station
The man charged with stealing nine guns from a Palmerston North police station has pleaded guilty. And it's been revealed he was planning on taking 26 guns on April the 25 but was interrupted by… Video, Audio
Supermarkets targeted by vegan sticker protest
The meat industry says the actions of vegans who are stickering meat in supermarkets to deter people from buying it, are disturbing, and illegal.
Supermarkets hit by the protest are having to take… Audio
Vegans told putting stickers on supermarket meat is illegal
The meat industry says it hopes the actions of vegans who put stickers on meat in supermarkets to stop people buying it doesn't become more widespread in New Zealand.
Supermarkets across New Zealand… Audio
Increased funding needed to halve child poverty
The government wants to halve child poverty within the next decade, and the funding to do this is expected to be a key part of the government's Wellbeing Budget this week. Official figures show more… Audio
Wellington apartment owners pay more than QV on quake repairs
Wellington apartment owners are being forced to spend more than the value of their home to quake-safe their buildings. A new survey shows apartment owners in Wellington are facing bills on average of… Audio
Porirua project aims to create healthier homes
The Porirua East Housing Project brings together local community organisations, in a bid to get homes healthier, quickly, and to monitor them to make sure it's making kids healthier. It's believed to… Audio
Hear extinct bird calls at Te Papa's new exhibit
Te Papa Museum's brand new $12 million nature exhibition is opening on Saturday. Called Te Taiao Nature, it replaces the old nature zone, and is the biggest change the museum has seen since it opened… Audio