Stories by Nita Blake-Persen
Audio and features
Jobseeker benefit figures up more than 40 percent on past year
The number of people on the jobseeker benefit is now up more than 40 percent compared to the same time last year.
To make matters worse, there's a prediction today a double-dip recession is on the… Audio
Emergency accommodation providers claim thousands in wage subsidies
Motels and accomodation providers receiving millions of dollars in emergency housing payments from the government have also claimed tens of thousands of dollars in wage subsidies.
One Auckland… Audio
A fight for housing help while caring for dying mother-in-law
Friends and whanau of a terminally ill woman who was bounced between nine different motels in the final months of her life believe her case shows how deadly the housing crisis. is. Lisa Diamond died… Video, Audio
Collins' call for wage subsidy refunds 'misguided'- Business NZ
Business New Zealand says National's plans to change legislation to allow for wage subsidy claw backs are 'wrong' and 'misguided'. Audio
Universities confused over lectures after Bloomfield's comment
Comments from the Director-General of Health around whether Auckland university lectures can go ahead next week have caused confusion for thousands of tertiary students - and the universities… Audio
New Auckland luxury hotel aims to buck the Covid-19 trend
With the borders closed and the country's tourism tanking, it's tough times for most hotel providers.
But one Auckland outfit is hoping to buck the trend - opening today and offering the most… Video, Audio
'People heal people' - Donna's path from redundancy, family loss, to a recipe for success
A Hamilton woman who is turning her redundancy into a budding dessert business is encouraging other people to look beyond job ads for their next chapter.
Donna Williams is among the thousands of Air… Video, Audio
Goff optimistic on Auckland University international students plan
Auckland Mayor Phil Goff is optimistic a pilot plan to bring 1200 international students back into the country can start early next year, but says safety must be paramount for it to work.
Goff wants… Audio
Auckland school rolls low despite govt urging return to class
School rolls in Auckland continue to languish, despite pleas from the Education Minister to get kids back into classrooms.
Some principals are still reporting turnouts of 50 percent or less, and fear… Audio
2.1 million download Covid Tracer app, but who is signing in?
It is back to basics with the government's latest Covid-19 tracking tool - a paper pamphlet to be used by anyone who does not have a smartphone.
More than two million people have downloaded the NZ… Video, Audio
Winter Energy Payment to end: 'Their income is going to fall off a cliff'
Some beneficiaries are about to lose more than $60 from their weekly pay, despite demand for food banks and emergency assistance being at record levels.
The government doubled the Winter Energy… Video, Audio
Domestic boost for Coromandel holidays: 'There's lights on and people outside'
While many businesses around the country are taking a battering because of Covid-19, a real estate agent in the Coromandel Peninsula is enjoying his best August in five years.
The Coromandel is… Video, Audio
$2b in wage subsidies for businesses that have not paid company tax
More than $2 billion of wage subsidies have been paid to businesses which have never paid company tax.
So far more than $13 billion has been paid out through the governments wage subsidy schemes… Audio
Covid-19 testing, isolation needs urgent attention - Air NZ staff
Air New Zealand staff say there are a multitude of loopholes in the airline's border controls - and Covid-19 testing and isolation requirements need urgent attention.
The Health Minister today met… Video, Audio
Public housing waitlist up 50 percent on same time last year
Nearly 10,000 New Zealanders have had to live in motels over the past three months, with the public housing waitlist up 50 percent on the same time last year.
Latest figures through to the end of… Audio
Project to get fresh produce to hungry families to end, but demand grows
A government initiative to help fruit and veggie growers while also feeding hungry whānau is coming to an end - but food banks say demand for the service is only growing.
The Agriculture Minister on… Video, Audio
St John Ambulance workers launch legal challenge in pay dispute
Ambulance workers are launching a legal challenge over what they say is a 'demoralising' about turn on a planned pay boost from St John.
First Union has lodged an application with the Employment… Video, Audio
Wilson Parking receives more than $1m in wage subsidy
The government's wage subsidy bill has now topped 12 billion dollars - with Wilson Parking among the companies to receive more money through the latest round of payments. Wilson's latest claim is for… Video, Audio
Thousands received wage subsidy payouts from multiple employers
More than 40 thousand people have received wage subsidy payouts from more than one employer - with several hundred people getting the payout from four employers or more. The Ministry for Social… Audio
St John paramedics gutted as promised pay boost cancelled
St John paramedics say they're absolutely gutted that their employer has backtracked on its promise to pay weekend and overnight shift rates.
The ambulance service says it's facing a large deficit… Audio
'We should be allowed to be together' - Auckland family kept apart by visa denials
An Auckland mother whose partner has been waiting nearly a year for a visa to meet their baby is appalled a nanny for an America's Cup team has been granted a visa ahead of her child's father.
Under… Video, Audio
Community groups hope for better future after Covid-19
New Zealand's response to the Covid-19 crisis has highlighted a range of inequities across Aotearoa, with access to food perhaps the most noticeable.
As we slowly return to our new normal, community… Video, Audio
NZ Couriers claim drivers' wage subsidy: 'They're rorting everyone'
Dog bites, abusive customers, and bullying bosses - couriers say they're at breaking point.
Courier companies have been docking the government's wage subsidy from payments made to drivers contracting… Video, Audio
'We're hidden' - unemployed man one of many denied benefit help
A Canterbury man who can't find work or access a benefit says he is part of a growing group of New Zealanders whose unemployment is hidden from any official figures.
Because the man's wife still has… Audio
Couriers win right to fight for better work conditions
Courier drivers may be able to argue for better pay, holiday and sick leave and generally better working conditions following a ruling by the Employment Court on Thursday.
The court has found an… Audio