Stories by Amy Williams

All charges against the Destiny Church leader for breaches of Covid-19 restrictions have been dismissed and dropped, his lawyer Ron Mansfield says.

A court has heard a group of men with chequered pasts are not making up claims they were abused as boys in a state care home.

A New Zealand surgeon who has given Lautaimi Faumuina the ability to fit a shoe on his foot again says the patient's leg was the size of his torso when they first met. Audio

An Auckland charity that was concerned it would have to stop providing staples for families to make school lunches has received enough donations to keep the service going into next year.

The space is a collaboration between Māori wardens, Auckland Council and Eke Panuku.

Something as simple as a peanut butter sandwich and an apple can go a long way in a lunchbox, but an Auckland charity providing staples for families to make school lunches has run out of money.

Its lawyer has told a court that the owners' conviction would not have a "chilling effect" for other land owners or managers.

A lawyer for the owners of Whakaari/White Island says the conviction of their company has "concerning implications" for other landlords permitting adventure activities on their land.

Their lawyer says the appeal does not diminish their sorrow at the tragedy.

Three former staff members from the south Auckland home have pleaded not guilty to multiple criminal charges in Manukau District Court. Audio

Missed appointments and failing to prepare for work have contributed to 14,409 sanctions being issued in the past three months.

Parents say airlines need to stop sending prices sky-high during the school holidays, so they do not have to take their kids out of school to nab the cheaper fares. Audio

The secretive sect known as the Two by Twos or The Truth will be under the spotlight at Australasia's first cult awareness conference.

Members of an underground sect probed by the FBI want to know how a man with a reputation for being a sexual predator was allowed to continue with the group's home meetings. Audio

William Stephen Easton, 79, was remanded in custody where he will await sentencing in December.

The trial filled the public gallery and press benches for the entire eight weeks, justifying live blogs by seasoned court reporters, multiple podcasts and a NZ On Air grant for a documentary.

A domestic violence victim who was ordered to pay her abuser's court costs then had some success on appeal, but is now faced with chasing him to pay his share of the bill.

Housing agency Kainga Ora knew about the shooting, but mother of four Kelly Dey did not

Kelly Dey's state house tilted dangerously and flooded on the night of a major storm. She says she was assured it was safe. Audio

The number of historical sex charges laid against a Northland man who was part of a secretive sect has tripled since police arrested him last month.

A woman who received thousands of dollars in an accidental transfer says it was more difficult to return the money than expected. Audio

Some services are now using their own reserves to pay for the clients: "We will not turn anyone away."

The man is facing 17 charges of indecent assault, spanning three decades.

Some are worried about being forced to return to work under the government's tough-love approach.

The Ministry of Social Development is no longer funding 44 of the 132 budgeting services it supported last financial year.