Stories by Charlotte Cook
News
PSA union takes legal action against Access Community Health
A union is taking legal action against a community health company saying it has failed to give staff their entitled breaks and correct pay for more than a year.
'Totally unacceptable' - Prison assaults up despite number of inmates dropping
Violence against prison guards appears to be getting worse with 355 reported assaults resulting in injury in the last 12 months to May.
Covid security herds cat: 'Mittens isn't allowed into the facility'
Wellington's famous cat, Mittens, is facing some Covid-19 restrictions of his own, following multiple attempts to enter an isolation hotel.
Transmission Gully: Govt orders review, NZTA says there are 'lessons to learn'
The NZTA says it has learnt lessons with $1.25 billion of taxpayers money used to build Wellington highway Transmission Gully as the government orders the project be reviewed.
Govt urged to do serology tests on border and isolation workers
A special type of blood test could give vital clues as to how an isolation hotel maintenance worker got Covid-19 from a woman he had never met. Audio
Covid-19: Social media in the spotlight after misinformation
Nasty rumours, inaccurate advice and bullying has circulated through social media following the second wave of infections.
Brownlee queries timing of mask recommendation
Mask manufacturers are receiving massive orders after the government says people will be encouraged to wear them if the country returns to alert level 2. Audio
'It's hell': Reality of unemployment despite drop in numbers
To the surprise of economists, the number of unemployed people fell during the lockdown and with working hours slashed, underutilisation jumped significantly. Video, Audio
Unemployment figures set to be revealed
Official data will reveal how badly the Covid-19 lockdown cut job numbers, with economists saying the wage subsidy programme will have cushioned the worst of the rise.
Woman told rats gnawing through pipes in state house 'not a health risk'
An Auckland woman says rats in her state house chewed through water pipes for more than a week and caused so much damage the ceiling collapsed.
Corrections officer's wait for test results taking a toll
Any officer who comes in to contact with a prisoners bodily fluids must undergo a year of testing for infections.
Wellington's pop-up bike lanes ended
The city council says there's no longer a reason to push on with the $2 million project now that life is back to normal.
Birds find a 'home' in recovery centre during lockdown
While Covid-19 slowed the country to a standstill, one rehab centre continued to be as busy as ever.
Many Covid-19 testing centres closing down
Dozens of Covid-19 community based testing centres around the country are closing down.
Multi-million dollar boost will aid Transmission Gully restart
Wellington's billion dollar project Transmission Gully is getting a $14 million boost to kick the project back into action as negotiations continue.
New Covid-19 antibody blood test to be used in NZ
Scientists expect the test to reveal some cases of Covid-19 that were missed because of initial rules around swab testing and potential community transmission.
Delayed Transmission Gully restart plans expected
It's been 10 weeks since Transmission Gully was put on hold and there's still no date for work to resume.
Covid-19 creates complex conundrum for Transmission Gully billing
Covid-19 will blow the budget again on Wellington's billion dollar road project Transmission Gully, but who will pay the extra is unclear.
Transmission Gully project a 'circus', sections to be re-laid
The Transport Agency has admitted that sections of Wellington's billion-dollar project, Transmission Gully, need to be re-laid after an error.
Mayors with long wishlists chase 'shovel-ready' project funding
Mayors around the country have filed shopping lists of 'shovel-ready' projects they hope will get a share of government cash aimed at boosting the post-Covid economy.
Transmission Gully hits new delays: 'It just doesn't make a lot of sense'
Work on Wellington's billion dollar Transmission Gully project has been drastically curtailed as the completion date is delayed again.
Woman on flight with Covid-19 case contacted by tracing team weeks later
Four-and-a-half weeks after a woman came into contact with a confirmed Covid-19 case, she was finally contacted by the Ministry of Health's tracing team.
Covid-19 rules postpones Cave Creek remembrance
Relatives of the victims of Cave Creek are unable to mark the 25th anniversary because of Covid-19 restrictions. Audio
Kiwi scientist behind frontrunner Covid-19 treatment
A New Zealand scientist has created the compound which is now a front runner as a treatment option for Covid-19.
NZ study could help guide development of Covid-19 vaccine
A New Zealand doctor monitoring 2000 people for Covid-19 says the research could hold clues to developing a vaccine.