Stories by Nita Blake-Persen
Audio and features
Rising rate of children living in motels a 'moral failure' - National
The skyrocketing number of children living in motels is being called a 'moral failure' by the National party.
There was an increase of 280 tamariki in motels in the three months to September - now… Audio
More children living in motels as housing crisis unrelenting
The government is running out of motels to place families in as the housing crisis reaches record levels, with children among those hardest hit.
There are now 4512 children living in motels - an… Audio
Whangārei doctor warns of low-vaccine risk as hospitals face surge
As Te Tai Tokerau prepares to move down alert levels, a Whangārei doctor is pleading with people to get vaccinated - saying the effects of not doing so, will be absolutely devastating.
There are… Audio
Wage subsidies: Serious Fraud Office probing claims of abuse
The serious fraud office has started looking into businesses which may have abused the wage subsidy scheme.
More than three billion dollars has been paid out in the latest round of subsidies.
The… Audio
MP and GP, Dr Shane Reti helps vaccinate locals in Northland
A new Northland town has popped up as a Covid-19 location of interest.
The AA driver and vehicle licensing centre in Kerikeri is believed to be linked to the two Auckland women who travelled North… Audio
Fears of Delta spread in Northland after second woman positive
There are fears Covid may be spreading undetected in Northland after a second woman who visited illegally from Auckland tested positive for the virus.
She was tracked down by police officers last… Audio
Northland frustrated as Covid-19 case avoids authorities
Northland will stay in level three until at least Thursday. Residents there are becoming increasingly frustrated as they try to figure out the movements of a Covid positive Auckland woman who visited… Video, Audio
Waiheke, Aotea restricted to residents only in new level 3 rules
Waiheke and Aotea Great Barrier islands are out of bounds for Aucklanders wanting to get out of the city under eased lockdown restrictions.
Borders are being put in place, meaning only residents and… Audio
Waiheke locals urge border for island as Auckland restrictions ease
Waiheke Islanders want to break from Auckland's lockdown and bring in a localised border.
The island has never had a case of Covid-19, and locals fear that the easing of alert level restrictions… Audio
Wage subsidies: Real estate agents claim more than $1m during lockdown
A pause on the housing market during the latest lockdowns is unlikely to be enough to increase affordability.
Latest figures show in the year to August, all major centres saw house prices rise, with… Audio
Auckland port CEO's $1m exit payout 'unjustified' - Phil Goff
The former Ports of Auckland boss brought in lawyers to negotiate his exit payout of nearly $1 million, but any details as to why he was given the money remain under wraps.
Auckland's Mayor Phil Goff… Video, Audio
Wage subsidy bill for Delta lockdown now $2.5 billion
The wage subsidies bill for the latest lockdowns across Aotearoa has reached $2.5 billion, but requests for support are dropping as restrictions ease.
Nita Blake-Persen has the story. Audio
Tai Tokerau rugby clubs, Māori health providers team up to vaccinate
It's game on in Tai Tokerau, where rugby clubs and Māori health providers are teaming up to make Northland the first province with 90 percent of people vaccinated against Covid-19.
A new initiative… Audio
Covid-19: Business struggling at Auckland's northern border as city stops southern travellers
Some businesses on Tāmaki Makaurau's northern border say things are so quiet they fear they may go extinct - and desperately want a travel corridor to keep them moving.
RNZ Tai Tokerau reporter Nita… Audio
New sponsorship programme for NZ communities to welcome refugees
New Zealanders wanting to welcome refugees into their community will be able to apply for a new sponsorship visa from next month.
The sponsorship programme is part of an expanded trial, in which… Audio
Covid-19: All sectors urged to step up and get Aotearoa vaccinated
Businesses worried about ongoing lockdowns are being encouraged to get their staff vaccinated to prevent further lockdowns.
Covid-19 immunisations are progressing at a record rate, but with Delta… Audio
Wellington-Kerikeri flight welcomed in north, but drivers also wanted
Tourism operators in Te Tai Tokerau are feeling the strain as holiday makers remain blocked from driving through Auckland's level 4 lockdown.
A new direct flight between Kerikeri and Wellington is… Audio
Iwi leader urges Covid-19 QR code scanning at Northland border checkpoint
Northlanders wanting to head beyond Auckland for a holiday have been given a ticket out of town thanks to a new Air New Zealand flight.
The airline has announced a direct Kerikeri to Wellington… Audio
Businesses want sector-specific support as wage subsidy bill rises
The government's wage subsidies bill has passed $1.2 billion.
The payout is supporting 838,000 employees, 117,000 self-employed people and 242,000 businesses.
The highest number of supported workers… Audio
Northland with NZ in level 2, but cut off by Auckland lockdown
Trips to and from Northland look set to remain highly restricted, despite the region's drop in alert levels.
Northland will join the rest of the country - apart from Auckland - at alert level 2 at… Audio
Ports of Auckland staff furious over ousted CEO's payout
The Maritime Union is furious outgoing Ports of Auckland chief executive Tony Gibson has been paid nearly $1.8 million before leaving the company.
Gibson, who resigned in May, is facing health and… Video, Audio
Number of superannuitants earning over $200k triples in a decade
The number of pensioners getting superannuation payments while son income of more than $200,000 has more than tripled over the past decade.
Superannuitants are the largest group of beneficiaries in… Audio
Covid-19 Delta cases shock Coromandel community
The latest Covid-19 cases have rocked the Coromandel Peninsula, where hundreds of people have today been tested and the community's set up its own roadblock.
The man who first tested positive for… Audio
Dargaville students down pens, raise hammers to build houses
Students at Dargaville High School are swapping the classroom for a construction site to build desperately-needed public houses for the North.
The school is churning out beautifully made homes for… Video, Audio
Govt urged to boost local help to stamp out meth in Far North
Recovering meth addicts in the Far North are begging the government to boost local resources to help kick the drug.
Former users from across the motu have been visiting Kaitaia in a push to support… Audio