Stories by Sam Olley

Covid-infected women who triggered an 11-day lockdown in Northland were rejected entry by one government department then approved by another, police evidence shows.

A group of 91 police staff are taking a personal grievance over the way they were treated for refusing to get the Covid-19 vaccine.

A North Island mother sent her son to Christchurch after a gang pestered her 14-year-old for a year until he joined them. Audio

Te Whatu Ora's board chair is "disturbed and concerned" by the loss of 24-hour doctor access at Rāwene Hospital, but remains unapologetic.

The Public Service Commissioner has apologised to survivors at the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care this afternoon.

National says the loss of 24/7 access to a doctor at Rāwene Hospital - where there will be no doctor on-site in the evenings or overnight from next week - is "not acceptable".

Health worker shortages have become so bad in the Far North that Rāwene Hospital will soon have no doctor on-site in the evenings or overnight - and one GP says shortages are threatening lives. Audio

Oranga Tamariki has admitted multiple failings today at the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care.

People wanting to stand for local government have just a few hours left to put their name on the list. Audio

Te Tai Tokerau children finishing primary school have the worst tooth decay in the country.

The family of a man mauled to death say they have heard nothing from the owner of the aggressive dogs found at his property.

Twenty-five neo mastiff crosses and bulldog crosses have been rounded up at the Northland property where a man was killed in a suspected mauling yesterday afternoon.

A former Celebration member believes deliverance - the Pentecostal equivalent of exorcism - has been used to replace counselling, medical care, and even law enforcement at the controversial church.

Nearly 1000 people have opted out of the government's $350 cost of living payment, Inland Revenue says.

A teenager who stabbed a young Northland man to death has been sentenced to life in prison.

Vegan cheese is on the rise, and makers are competing against each other at New Zealand awards.

The origins of a swamp kauri bowl gifted to the US President are causing controversy in Te Tai Tokerau - with one environmentalist calling the present an "appalling" mistake.

Te Tai Tokerau is mourning a man who spent decades lifting others out of poverty, homelessness, addiction and imprisonment. Video

An Automobile Association advisor says the end of fuel tax relief will see chaos at the pumps. Audio

A man who waited more than 4.5 hours on the phone to Air New Zealand says the airline needs to introduce a permanent call-back service.

As construction sites missing plasterboard freeze, industry leaders say building businesses will fail.

Rock-bottom consumer confidence has increased concerns about a possible recession.

A reported truce between the Killer Beez and Tribesmen is considered an "incredibly tricky" achievement, a gang expert says.

Police say they've made progress in building "trust and confidence" with gun owners.

The four-month trial for 11 parties charged with health and safety breaches will be held in the Environment Court in Auckland.