Stories by Catherine Hutton

Disability groups are accusing the Health Ministry of being mean-spirited and tight-fisted in its efforts to claw back money it gave out as a result of the pay equity settlement.

Family Court staff are stressed and struggling to deal with a growing workload, family lawyers are quitting and parents can't get decent legal advice. Audio

The owners of an historic building that houses Sir Peter Jackson's Great War exhibition say they want it back, and are urging the government to end the uncertainty about its future.

Employers can avoid the proposed mandatory registration - and the associated costs and professional development - by rewriting job descriptions, and unions say that undermines the law's very purpose.

Junior midwives taking riskier cases is responsible for a higher rate of baby deaths compared to their colleagues with up to five years experience, the ministry of Health says.

Controversial changes to the Family Court aimed at getting lawyers out of family disputes do not seem to have worked and children were suffering, says Justice Minister Andrew Little.

A police-led programme to tackle domestic violence has drawn up thousands of safety plans for at-risk families but appears to be actually helping in only a very small number of cases.

The Crown has spent more than $1 million on a seven-year battle to extradite a Korean-born New Zealander accused of murdering a woman in China.

Another group of caregivers is going to court to be paid to care for their disabled adult children or spouse.

A mother who took the Health Ministry to court demanding to be paid for caring for her adult son says the needs assessment on which the offer is based is flawed. Video, Audio

The Feilding stockyards are the most likely source of a discharge of animal waste in two waterways, the regional council says.

A quarter of weighing instruments tested don't comply with regulations, New Zealand's weights and measures watchdog says.

The Court of Appeal has told health officials to simplify access to disability support services, describing the existing policy as "verging on impenetrable". Audio

The government has blocked the sale of 19 hectares of land on the West Coast to a coalmining company.

Foreign affairs staff came to the aid of nearly 3000 New Zealanders in the past year.

The annual Round the Bays run around Wellington's waterfront next month will for the first time allow some children to do the event on their scooters. Video

A new lab in Wellington is helping businesses build things like satellite components, sensors for robots and medical devices almost as soon as they are designed.

A programme which helps Pasifika people under severe financial pressure is so successful it met one of its annual targets in five months. Audio

A popular drinking fountain in downtown Wellington has closed because arsenic was detected in the water.

A budget blow out involving Sir Peter Jackson's Great War Exhibition has left one of the country's smallest ministries millions of dollars in deficit.

An application for a fresh appeal in the Scott Watson case claims scientific evidence that helped seal his fate would struggle to stand up in court today.

The police watchdog has criticised an officer and controller who didn't follow procedure after abandoning a pursuit, but says the chase was justified.

The latest violence among rugby league fans has prompted calls for a fan zone, and for World Cup organisers to take more responsibility.

Immigration New Zealand is defending its decision to close public counters and make people apply for visas online following criticism from advisors and lawyers. Audio

An Auckland midwife attempted to write prescriptions for painkillers using the names of other midwives and false patient details.