Stories by Ben Strang
News
Police patrols have fallen in Auckland city, data shows
The number of foot patrols across the entire Auckland City police district dropped by 6 percent between October and April official police data shows. Audio
ACC's soaring costs may lead to rise in levies
The Accident Compensation Corporation is facing a financial hole, with forecasts showing from October it will "no longer break even", according to internal sources. Audio
Howzat? David Boon wins cricketer Boony's test shirt
David Boon has won a cricket club's raffle for David Boon's last Australian test shirt, but it's not what you're thinking. Audio
Foreign agency ran spy operation out of GCSB for years
A foreign agency ran a spy operation out of one of New Zealand's spy agencies for years without ministers knowing.
Updates: Foreign agency ran spy operation out of GCSB for years
A foreign agency ran an operation out of the New Zealand spy agency for years, and ministers were never told.
With Wellington under restrictions, firefighters may turn to sea water
FENZ is also planning to bring water tankers into the region if Wellington moves to level four restrictions.
Hope replaces great expectations for All Blacks fans
Opinion - All Black fans are having to adapt to a new normal - hoping for success rather than simply expecting it, writes Ben Strang.
Open Championship marks 60 years since golfer Sir Bob Charles' win
The Open Championship began on Thursday, marking 60 years since a then 27-year-old Bob Charles claimed the famous Claret Jug.
Auckland Council in talks on moving some roads to safer ground
Auckland Council is in talks with the government about moving some roads to safer ground, the supercity's deputy mayor says. Audio
'Real possibility' some roads will be abandoned - Transport Minister
Michael Wood admits some roads may need to be abandoned as a result of climate change, and the extreme weather it will bring.
Weaknesses in Waka Kotahi's crisis response strategies exposed
Until recently Waka Kotahi was not factoring climate change and the need for resilience into many of its transport projects.
Thousands of state houses on flood prone land, and more going up
A sizeable chunk of state housing is on flood prone land, with more builds being put on land expected to flood in the future.
Chaotic scenes at Auckland Council during flood, documents reveal
Emails and communication from the day of the record-breaking January floods have been released to RNZ.
Schoolboy completes perfect over
A perfect over in cricket is almost unheard of - a holy grail bowlers don't even think about searching for, it's so unlikely to happen.
Black Caps continue to get up off the canvas
Analysis - The Black Caps have shown true fighting spirit with another dramatic test win writes Ben Strang
Auckland Mayor's diary nearly empty day of the flood
On the day Auckland was hit by the worst flooding event in recorded history, and the city's mayor came under fire for his inaction, Wayne Brown's diary was an empty slate.
Black Caps: Neil Wagner won't back down
Little more than a week ago, Neil Wagner bore the brunt of England's Bazball revolution, battered in one of the most expensive bowling spells in test cricket history.
Analysis - Tim Southee's leading a 'futile fight against time'
Sports Call - Don't blame Tim Southee if his winning percentage as New Zealand Test captain ends up among the worst in the team's history.
Auckland mayor Wayne Brown grants two interviews, of 108 media requests
Auckland mayor Wayne Brown gave two direct interviews to journalists in his first month in office, of the 108 requests made by media. Audio
Govt agencies admit trouble achieving Road to Zero targets
The road toll has soared this year and is on par with 2018, the worst year for road deaths in recent memory. Audio
Police reduce threshold for speed cameras
The police have quietly lowered the threshold at which speed cameras ping drivers.
Mother says govt spent hundreds of thousands on abusive ex's court claims
A mother says the government has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars paying for her abusive former partner's legal claims.
Record numbers of attacks on police with firearms
Police were assaulted by someone wielding a firearm 21 times in 2021, the most ever in a single year.
Police staff take personal grievance over treatment since vaccine mandate overturned
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.