Stories by Laura Tupou
News
Flying sheep, a vortex in the bedroom - West Auckland residents on the storm
Flying animals and torn off roofs is how some residents of a small rural west Auckland community will remember last week's storm after gusts of over 200km/h ripped through the region.
Shot father-to-be Jerrim Toms: A generous jokester
Jerrim Toms will be remembered by his family and friends not as the 29-year-old man shot dead by the police, but as a "jokester" and an incredibly generous man.
Police shot father-to-be four times, firing 'upwards of 12' bullets
The family of a man shot dead by police say detectives have told them at least 12 shots were fired.
Footage of prison brawl that led to strip search released
Footage has been released to RNZ of the attack on Corrections officers at Auckland prison which led to a mass strip search in 2016. Video
Hike in petrol price to pinch South Auckland families
The proposed double-tax hike on petrol is likely to disproportionately hit South Auckland families and courier drivers.
Murder-accused 'no executioner fleeing the scene' - Defence
An Auckland man on trial for the murder of his girlfriend never intentionally fired the fatal shot, his defence lawyer told the jury.
Crown closes case in Chozyn Koroheke murder trial
The Crown has closed its case against an Auckland man on trial for the murder of his girlfriend at her East Auckland home.
Woman had no choice in helping murder accused, court told
The woman accused of helping a man evade police, hunting him over the killing of his girlfriend, says she felt she had no choice but to organise a taxi for him.
Decision reserved in prison strip search case
A manager at Auckland Prison says a strip search - prompted by a violent attack on staff - resumed despite an intelligence officer saying there was no evidence to support it.
High profile prisoners take strip-search case to High Court
CCTV footage of an attack by some maximum security prisoners on staff has been shown to a court after two high-profile prisoners claimed the strip search that followed was unlawful.
Murder accused: Shooting was 'never deliberate'
The man accused of murdering his girlfriend thought the safety catch was on when he fired the fatal shot, a court has heard.
Law change to grant 170 Pacific Islanders NZ super
About 170 extra people will receive New Zealand superannuation or veteran's pension a year after the eligibility for residents of Realm countries are relaxed, the Ministry of Social Development says.
Easier NZ super access to ease pressure - Cook Islanders
Changing the eligibility for New Zealand superannuation for residents of the Realm countries will ease pressure on families supporting relatives moving back to New Zealand, some Cook Islanders say.
NZ signs up to anti-plastic pledge
New Zealand is turning the tide on the production and use of plastic to help clean up the oceans.
'Someone's been shot' - murder trial hears 111 recording
The 111 phone call made after a woman was shot dead at her home in east Auckland was played at a murder trial today.
'He smacked her in the stomach ... pulled the trigger'
A woman who saw her close friend shot dead has described her friend's violent relationship with her boyfriend.
Murder-accused shot girlfriend at close range - prosecution
The man accused of murdering his girlfriend had a history of abusing her, a court has heard.
2018 Census: Do you have mould growing that's larger than an A4 piece of paper?
The 2018 Census questions are out and people are starting to fill in their details. Here is what you need to know.
Fake Mars tickets: 'Buyer beware'
A tearful 9-year-old and his mother, turned away from a Bruno Mars concert after finding out their $700 tickets were fake, have been helped out by two kind individuals.
DHBs refunded after test meltdown
About quarter of a million dollars will be refunded to district health boards after an IT meltdown forced prospective physicians to resit the most difficult test of their careers.
Auckland councillor calls for bus booze ads to be dumped
An Auckland councillor is demanding Auckland Transport immediately pull alcohol advertising from city buses.
Coromandel local fuming after police pollute beach
Police are apologising after an operation in the Coromandel, allegedly targeting cannabis, went slightly awry when blue liquid was left staining sand at a popular local beach.
DHB rosters reshuffled so doctors can resit test
District Health Boards are being forced to reshuffle rosters to give 120 doctors time off to resit a test after a fault with the online system meant some couldn't finish.
Computer meltdown thwarts career-defining test
Some resident doctors will have to re-sit a career-defining test after an IT meltdown meant 120 of them couldn't finish their online theory exam.
Restaurant workers treated like modern-day slaves - judge
Working and living conditions of some workers at a Filipino restaurant were not far removed from a modern-day form of slavery, an Auckland District Court judge says.