Stories by Eric Frykberg
News
Woman who left mother to die 'stressed' at the time
A woman found guilty of leaving her mother to die in her own waste was extremely stressed at the time, her lawyer has told an appeal hearing.
Napier-Gisborne rail plans overdue
Hawke's Bay authorities insist restoring part of the defunct Napier-Gisborne railway line is realistic, even though the scheme is at least a year overdue and no work has been done on it so far.
Pay talks to continue for rail workers
Talks will resume on Monday to try to settle differences that led to a train strike in Wellington last week.
Renters caught out as supply falls
Too many would-be tenants are chasing too few rental homes, with Wellington renters doing it especially tough, the latest TradeMe figures show.
False UV protection claims not good enough for sunbathers
Sunbathers are dismayed to find two brands of sunscreen were withdrawn for false levels of UV protections and a third had its status downgraded.
Wellington Electricity seeks $31m upgrade
Wellington Electricity wants to be able to sling emergency wiring over power poles in the immediate aftermath of another big quake.
Powerco lines upgrade costs customers
Powerco customers will have to pay an extra $2.70 a month to upgrade lines, transformers and other gear under a draft decision announced today.
'That is not negotiations - that is a stick up'
The company running Wellington's rail service is keen to talk to avert tomorrow's train strike but says the union will not speak to it unless it withdraws its current employment offer.
Crime DNA match denied due to lack of informed consent
A police error in taking a DNA sample seven years ago has created a hurdle in prosecuting a serious assault involving two tomahawk-wielding men years later.
Fonterra pledges to reduce greenhouse gases
A dramatic pledge to cut greenhouse gas emissions has been made this morning by New Zealand's largest economic entity, Fonterra.
Couple lose legal fight over failure to pay property tax
A couple who bought and and sold 39 properties - worth $8 million - without paying tax on the profits have lost the latest in a long series of court battles with the IRD.
Wellington Airport signs runway extension MOU
Wellington Airport has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with a giant Chinese construction firm to work as a partner on the proposed extension to its runway.
Power companies told to look after lines
The companies that deliver electricity to people's homes have been ticked off for poor maintenance of their lines.
Synthetic drug suspected in Hutt Valley death
Police fear another person has died from the use of synthetic drugs. Video
Mining industry caught off guard by ban
The government's decision to block new mining projects on conservation land has come as a shock to the mining industry.
Increase in children with 'severe' dental issues
Health experts have expressed worries about a rise in the number of young people with serious dental problems.
Are there too many native birds?
Agricultural experts are pointing to an unusual problem lying just over the horizon for New Zealand - too many native birds.
Wage concerns prompt bus tendering rethink - govt
The government is to look at reforming the competitive tendering system for choosing companies to run public transport systems.
New govt won't intervene on Wellington's trolley buses
Transport Minister Phil Twyford has ruled out intervening to save Wellington's trolley buses because the cost would be too great.
Govt urged to avoid 'boom-bust cycle' with infrastructure
The new government has been told it must not chop and change practices to have any hope of meeting ambitious development goals set for New Zealand.
Air travel numbers to double by 2036
An expected 7.8 billion passengers will be taken on flights by airlines by 2036, a new report says.
Shipping's future on the horizon
You've heard of self-driving cars, driverless trucks, and airliners that fly on auto-pilot - how about autonomous ships?
Forestry calls for wooden public buildings
The new government could help revive forestry by favouring wooden buildings, the Wood Council of New Zealand says.
NZ First refuses to say if Kermadec plans are afloat
The proposed Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary could still be blocked by New Zealand First, new information suggests.
Kermadec sanctuary plans still afloat
The Labour and Green parties have rejected reports that the proposed Kermadec Ocean marine sanctuary is dead in the water.