Stories by Sam Olley
News
Gaelene Bright murder-accused appears in court
A 65-year-old charged with murdering Far North woman Gaelene Bright has appeared in the High Court at Whangārei.
'I'm not backing down from that rubbish': Church leader accused of hate speech and exploitation
The leader of a church accused of persistent hate speech, and exploiting members for thousands of dollars of tithes and weekly unpaid work - has told parishioners he has no intention of standing down.
Ex-church members want Celebration Centre charity deregistered
Some Christians who donated thousands of dollars to the Celebration Centre Church want its charitable status removed.
'A toxic environment': Ex-Celebration Church members felt exploited
An evangelical church based in Christchurch is the latest to be accused of exploiting members for long voluntary hours and huge donations, despite the church owning assets worth millions of dollars.
More to ram raids than meets the eye - child advocates
Child welfare experts say locking up offending kids will not stop a spate of ram raids.
'Chasing our tail': Potential buyers despondent as Northland house prices climb
Aotearoa's average house price may be dipping, but in some corners of the country, the climb continues.
AA Traveller apologises after massive data breach
AA Traveller has apologised after a data breach affected hundreds of thousands of customers. Audio
'I've felt worthless': Councillor dismayed by abuse over moko
New Zealand's youngest regional councillor received a facial tā moko in January. He's faced relentless insults since.
Plume rises from Ruapehu, but scientists optimistic for ski season
Volcanologists say a steam plume rose from Mt Ruapehu this morning, up to 1.5 kilometres in the air.
Women who insulted moko kauae told to apologise
A Havelock North mother who was told her moko kauae scared children in a playground, wants to meet with the women who insulted her.
Community mourns four teen crash victims
'Rest in love boys,' say messages as community mourns four teenagers, three 16 and one 17, killed in yesterday's crash in Invercargill.
Tell-tale hints before volcanic eruptions found using AI
Researchers have pinpointed precursors to volcanic eruptions, in data collected before explosions including the deadly 2019 Whakaari surge that killed 22 people.
'I just want him back': Niece desperate to bring missing fisherman home
Whānau of a missing fisherman will continue looking for him when the police search ends.
Marsden Point refinery protest scales back
The organiser of a protest outside the former Marsden Point oil refinery insists anti-vax campaigners have left.
Tamariki Māori going unprotected against Covid-19
Most Te Tai Tokerau schools are not holding onsite Covid-19 vaccination clinics due to concerns about anti-vax retaliation.
'I don't believe that we're under a democracy' - Marsden Point protesters rally
Police say there are now 90 demonstrators outside the former Marsden Point refinery, but they remain peaceful.
People with lingering Covid-19 symptoms struggling with brain fog, returning to work
Post-viral brain fog is causing forgetfulness, fuzziness, and frustration for New Zealanders trying to return to work after Covid-19.
As Covid-19 rules change, workers return to offices
Workers are returning to offices full of empty desks, blank screens, and quiet staffrooms.
Doctors suspended over anti-vax claims win court appeals
Today's judgement says the Medical Council wrongly suspended the two doctors before investigations were completed.
Experts believe 700kg cocaine caught at border was destined for another country
Experts say the amount caught far exceeded how much is usually consumed in Aotearoa, and so they suspect the shipment's intended final destination was another country.
'There's nothing left standing really' - two months after volcanic eruption in Tonga
Two months on from the devastating Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcanic eruption, a family from Nomuka is yet to return home. Video
Police investigating cleaning company after graphic posts
Police have launched an investigation into a trauma cleaning company that for years posted graphic pictures of callout scenes.
Thames-Coromandel mayor to remain unvaccinated despite Novavax claims
The arrival of the Novavax vaccine in Aotearoa won't change the Thames-Coromandel mayor's Covid-19 vaccination status. Audio
Neighbours divided over Russian oligarch's lodge in Northland
Northlanders living near a luxury lodge owned by a Russian oligarch are putting up Ukrainian flags on their properties.
Pair who caused Northland lockdown won't be charged
Two Covid-infected women who put Te Tai Tokerau into a 11-day lockdown and hid from police won't be charged.