Stories by Kate Newton
News
Swimmers hoping to play it straight at outdoor venue
Collisions with the lane ropes or even other swimmers are a possibility when the Commonwealth Games pool events begin tomorrow, with backstrokers struggling to swim straight at the outdoor venue. Video
Decision due today on Games no-needles breach
A decision about whether to sanction any team or athlete over syringes found at the Commonwealth Games is expected later this afternoon. Video
Commonwealth Games: Vibrant village of the sporting gods
On a seven-hectare site north of the Gold Coast lies a modern Mount Olympus. Kate Newton visits.
Property managers frustrated by negligent landlords - study
Property managers are struggling to convince some landlords to carry out even basic maintenance, despite skyrocketing rents in Auckland, a study shows.
Weightlifting women chase second shot at glory
Bodies "broken" from high-impact gymnastic and athletic careers, Alethea Boon and Andrea Hams thought their sporting careers were over in their twenties.
Bodies in space: The physics of para-swimming
Para-swimmer Jesse Reynolds has been chasing down his personal best in the build-up to the 2018 Commonwealth Games. Kate Newton finds out how. Video
Bodies in space: The physics of pole vaulting
How do Eliza McCartney and her fellow pole vaulters propel themselves nearly five metres into the air, weakling reporter Kate Newton wonders? Video
Dismal rental WOF uptake blamed on tight market
Only two houses have been given a rental warrant of fitness in the first six months of a voluntary Wellington City Council scheme.
2017: Are we there yet?
Analysis - Hands up who thought we'd all be living through a nuclear winter by now? Kate Newton takes a non-exhaustive look at an exhausting year.
Medicinal cannabis oil arrives in NZ
The arrival of a new, cheaper medicinal cannabis product in New Zealand is good news for patients but will still be prohibitively expensive for many, advocates say.
Two killed in latest pursuit crash
Neighbours heard a 'boom' and saw injured victims lying in the road after a car fleeing police crashed into a tree, killing two passengers.
Election17: A brief history of quite a long time
Winston-watch is enough to make even the most ardent political junkie's eyes glaze over. While you wait, Kate Newton has what you might have missed since Election Day.
A brief history of voting quirks from ghost votes to political animals
What happens if you vote but die before election day? Advance polling has opened and Kate Newton has all your strangest questions covered.
Hey, big political spender
Gareth Morgan leads the way among New Zealand rich-listers spending up large on the election campaign - donating $1.4m to his own political party.
Councils urged to avoid building on flood plains
Building on flood plains should be banned until councils better understand the risk, a flooding researcher says.
Dotcom flags new court action over govt spying
Kim Dotcom says he is taking new court action against the government after discovering agents may have spied on him for two months longer than it previously admitted.
Forcing renters to pay letting fees 'doesn't make sense'
Letting fees charged to tens of thousands of renters are unfair, onerous and should be borne by the landlord, tenant advocates say.
Edgecumbe no stranger to disaster
Edgecumbe is best-known for being struck, in 1987, by a damaging earthquake - which also increased its flood risk, Kate Newton reports.
Two dozen prosecuted for defaulting on student loans
More than two dozen people have been prosecuted for defaulting on their student loans since the government began chasing down overseas borrowers.
Hit & Run authors dispute NZDF account
It is impossible the Defence Force carried out a simultaneous raid on a separate Afghan village the night that civilians were killed, the authors say. Video, Audio
Donated bikes stolen from Auckland primary school
Thieves have stolen more than a dozen donated bikes from a south Auckland primary school - the second time bikes from the school's fleet have been taken. Audio
Peter Thiel's citizenship 'never discussed'
US billionaire Peter Thiel's decision to invest $15m in a Crown-owned venture fund had nothing to do with him gaining New Zealand citizenship, the fund says.
Mixed reaction from parents, teachers to 'cohort entry' proposal
Starting five-year-olds at school in groups rather than on their birthdays would be less disruptive for children and their teachers, parents say.
Manning release could result in Assange extradition
After nearly five years in political asylum, Wikileaks founder Julian Assange could agree to extradition to the US, comments from his lawyer and Wikileaks suggest.
New PM and deputy like chalk and cheese
First Person - One is a small-town Southerner, the other a self-styled Westie. Kate Newton was there for the promotion of Bill English and Paula Bennett.