Stories by Ben Strang

One doctor has quit her membership and others are speaking out because of the New Zealand Medical Association's stance on the cannabis referendum.

Police have outlined plans to address bullying and harassment concerns after a review by consultant Debbie Francis earlier this year.

Opponents to cannabis legalisation say the proposed 14 gram limit would make it easy for addicts to keep up their habit, but supporters say users won't consume it all at once.

Police thought about charging organisers of the Black Lives Matter marches in June because Covid-19 restrictions weren't followed.

Legalising cannabis would not necessarily put more drugged drivers on the road, but roadside drug testing should be in place first, one government adviser says.

About a third of all fatal crashes in New Zealand involve someone under the influence of alcohol or drugs, but roadside testing has dropped off significantly in recent years.

Those involved in the cannabis business in New Zealand say one of the biggest areas of confusion ahead of the upcoming referendum is the legality, or not, of medicinal cannabis.

Police want greater legislative powers for dealing with terrorism, following laws in place in the United Kingdom. Audio

Police officers issued more speeding fines during the nationwide lockdown than they did during the same period a year before.

Political parties are allowed to spend an extra $30,000 on expenses in the lead up to the new 17 October election date, and over a shorter time period.

Registered campaigners can only spend $330,000 in the three months before the election, and say they now need clarity about how that might change.

The government is being urged to launch an inquiry into its response to the Covid-19 pandemic as soon as the Auckland outbreak is under control.

Epidemiologists say New Zealand needs a new, more generic pandemic plan which caters to worst-case scenarios.

The government has failed to meet its target of increasing the total number of police by 1800 officers in three years. But there are 1280 more officers than this time three years ago.

Police say people are far more vigilant when it comes to potential terrorist acts after the Christchurch mosque shootings.

The Ministry of Health is planning to fast-track the approval process for a Covid-19 vaccine, and won't rule out offering a supplier indemnity from any potential claims resulting from its use.

The former head of the Ministry of Social Development was paid $400 an hour early in the response to Covid-19, and $94,000 in total during April and May.

Police are urging licensed firearms owners to provide contact details, and say their request by email is not a scam.

A man known as New Zealand's worst recidivist drink-driver has again appeared before the courts, this time for assaulting his former partner after drinking.

At least one gang member a day is being charged with firearms offences as police seize ever-larger numbers of guns.

A report to the police minister earlier this year states the communication system is so old that it will soon be impossible to get replacement parts.

More than 4000 people are in the recruitment process and about 600 people are applying to join each month, according to police.

There are set to be minor tweaks to how international child abduction cases are judged in New Zealand, after a ruling by the Court of Appeal.

Up-to-date data on breaches of the $10 billion wage subsidy scheme are not being provided, with Carmel Sepuloni's office saying it is "not something we're interested in". Audio

Wellington's mayor has awarded the Key to the City to a celebrity inner city cat.