Stories by Nita Blake-Persen
Audio and features
New Zealanders dumping record amounts of waste
New Zealanders are generating record amounts of waste, despite promises from the government that it would turn our rubbish habits around. Video, Audio
Parents beg Pharmac to fund drugs as son’s muscles waste away
Two four-year-old children suffering from SMA, a rare degenerative disorder, are living vastly different lives, because while one can access life-changing drugs in Australia, the other - living in New… Video, Audio
Community fights plans for 4th prison within 4km
South Auckland locals are concerned their neighbourhood could soon be home to a new youth justice facility - which would make it the fourth prison within four kilometres. They say Manurewa's already… Video, Audio
Auckland Council quadruples e-scooter provider fees
As the number of e-scooters on Auckland's streets increases, the council is bringing in stricter reporting conditions for companies, as well as quadrupling fees. Video, Audio
40 percent of deportees from Australia re-offending once back in NZ
Re-offending rates by New Zealanders being deported back here from Australia are on the rise. As Nita Blake-Persen reports, more than 40 percent of deportees have been charged with an offence since… Video, Audio
ACC rejects Auckland family's renovation plans to care for daughter
An Auckland family struggling to renovate their home to accomodate the needs of their disabled daughter say ACC is bullying them into accepting plans which will divide their family. Video, Audio
Man injured by Lime scooter fault offered free rides
An Auckland man who broke his jaw after the lime scooter he was riding randomly braked says the company's offered him three free rides as compensation for his injuries. Video, Audio
Stroke victim forced to use public bathroom to shower
West Auckland stroke victim Natasha Sadler is being forced to use a public disabled bathroom to shower, while she waits up to a year for health authorities to modify her own bathroom. Video, Audio
Is it time for charity-owned businesses to start paying tax?
As profits earned by charity-owned businesses continue to skyrocket, critics say a centuries old law which allows them to dodge income tax needs to go. As Nita Blake-Persen reports, you might be… Video, Audio
Auckland dad suffers broken jaw after Lime sends him flying
An Auckland man who was catapulted ten metres off a Lime e-scooter when it stopped suddenly wants them pulled from the road immediately. Video, Audio
Fire evacuees desperate to return home
The battle to bring the Tasman wildfire under control is entering its ninth night tonight - and residents evacuated from around 200 nearby properties are no closer to knowing when they'll be heading… Audio
Porirua teen on a mission to Mars
Rhianne Tarau is gearing up for her biggest year yet - she is heading to the United States in July for space camp, the next step in achieving her goal of being the first Māori woman to head into… Video, Audio
Man petitions to make 'Aotearoa' official, alongside 'NZ'
It's on our passports, cash, signs, and it's in our anthem. But when it comes to the official name of this country, we're just plain old New Zealand. Danny Tahau Jobe has launched a petition to change… Video, Audio
Anti-1080 float wins top prize at Taupō Christmas Parade
An anti-1080 float that featured a coffin emblazoned with pictures of native New Zealand birds won a top entry award in the Taupō Christmas Parade. Audio
Neighbours fight over sickly goat
Two Auckland women have locked horns over the fate of a sickly goat, who was picked up from a roadside paddock amid concerns he was on death's door. Video, Audio
Chch red zone prime spot for autonomous vehicle testing
Driverless cars could soon be cruising around abandoned streets in Christchurch's red zone if plans for 'autonomous vehicle testing' get the green light. Video, Audio
Lime e-scooters: Genius idea or public nuisance?
Hundreds of electric scooters have hit the streets of Auckland and Christchurch - but some pedestrians and motorists say they're a menace and it's only a matter of time before someone gets seriously… Video, Audio
NZ's role in the Malaysian plastics dumping ground
Our plastic is becoming Malaysia's problem - Nita Blake-Persen investigates what really happens to the waste we're shipping overseas to be recycled. Video, Audio
'Tidy Kiwi' resurrected for new generation to keep NZ beautiful
The iconic 'Tidy Kiwi' anti-litter campaign of the 1970s and 80s is making a comeback to help kids tackle New Zealand's soaring amount of waste. Video, Audio
Govt lacks plan to cope with climate change - report
Billions of dollars worth of infrastructure and thousands of homes are at risk of sea-level rise and severe weather caused by climate change, but a new government report says there's a total lack of… Audio
Actors welcome 'Hobbit Law' repeal plan
New Zealand actors are welcoming the new government's plans to scrap the so-called 'Hobbit Law' that prevents film workers from collective bargaining. Audio
Earth Day whakaaro: ‘Everything connects’
To mark international Earth Day, seven New Zealanders recommend a daily change they think Kiwis could make to help Aotearoa’s environment.