The woman died when she was just 41. It was cancer that eventually claimed her life – cancer combined with a system that failed her. She’d been told a year ago she needed immediate treatment. She didn’t understand. The woman was a refugee who couldn’t speak English and did not want to see a GP [...]

Eight years ago, Kieran* was considered dangerous. He attacked his teacher with a pair of scissors. His school saw him as a troublemaker who did not want to learn. Kieran is autistic. He is now 20-years-old and next year he will finish high school. Thanks to the same teacher he attacked 8 years ago, he [...]

Despite the overwhelmingly negative response to the Search and Surveillance Bill being rushed through parliament, the Māori Party says the bill does not sour their relationship with the National Party for the election. However, Waiariki’s Māori Party MP Te Ururoa Flavell condemns the Government’s treatment of the Surveillance Bill, especially in regards to the Urewera [...]

The Government needs to change the focus of its Working for Families package in order to address the needs of the poorest children in New Zealand, according to a senior academic. Mike O’Brien, associate professor of Counselling, Human Services and Social work at Auckland University, says a fundamental change is needed in the way Working [...]

It’s the hand ACT has bet the house on, but even its go-to guy would prefer the game be played differently. The party is pinning its hopes of political survival on former Auckland Mayor John Banks winning the seat of Epsom at this year’s general election. A win in Epsom could see as many as [...]

Ten seconds after the button was pushed the heavy metal doors opened, revealing wide-open spaces and new white, concrete buildings. This was after passing through security control, where the possibility of a strip search loomed as part of keeping drugs and other contraband outside. As the buzzer rang I walked through the doors to be [...]

New Zealand’s child abuse rates won’t change a great deal despite amendments made to the Crimes Act last month, say non-governmental organisations and politicians. While many welcome the Crimes Amendment Bill as a step forward, some also say the Government needs to do more to lower child abuse cases. The bill increased the maximum penalty [...]

Until solar energy becomes more cost effective, its role in New Zealand’s energy strategy will remain limited, says the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA). The New Zealand Energy Strategy 2011-21 outlines the Government’s direction for the energy sector and what role energy will play in our economy. Under the strategy, the Government has committed [...]

There are fears that if the Auckland Council adopts a new recycling method, it could be detrimental to the environment and result in less waste being recycled. Comingling is when all recycling is put into one bin per household. The waste is thrown into the back of a truck, and taken to a recycling plant [...]