Stories by Niva Chittock
News
Residents kick up stink over wastewater treatment system
The proposal doesn't address Akaroa's leaky pipes and will cost $100,000 per sewer connection, according to locals.
Weather: Strong wind, heavy rain alerts for start of long weekend
MetService has issued strong wind warnings for the Canterbury High Country, Fiordland and Stewart Island.
Shock as 'grim' head-on crash kills five
It has been a hard night for a Waikato community after a 'heartbreaking' crash on State Highway 3. Audio
Prisoner reintegration trust link to murderer Joseph Brider revealed
A charity which helps reintegrate prisoners into society can now be named in connection with the convicted murderer and rapist.
Sincere Standtrue: 'He was always smiling, wasn't he?'
The final video played in the inquest into a Gloriavale man's death was a tribute to his life, compiled by his family.
Brother's outbursts due to way he was controlled at Gloriavale, witness tells inquest
A former Gloriavale member has told an inquest that sometimes "it can feel easier to die" than to try and leave the West Coast Christian community.
Gloriavale leader did not want WorkSafe notified of death, woman says
Their family was also not allowed to say Sincere Standtrue was in heaven at his funeral two weeks later, his sister says.
Gloriavale members bullied brother before his death, sister says
Sincere Standtrue was often isolated, shamed, bullied and beaten at the West Coast Christian community, his sister says.
Gloriavale inquest told man may have been a victim of harmful sexual behaviour
Sixty-one young people were involved in harmful sexualised conduct around the time of Sincere Standtrue's death, a senior police detective says.
Gloriavale inquest – man likely exposed to chemical and paint fumes
A toxicologist has told a court he cannot rule out the possibility that Sincere Standtrue may have been huffing paint and other chemical fumes before his death.
Gloriavale inquest told paint shop workers 'not adequately protected'
Sincere Standtrue - who had worked in the community's paint shop since he was 15 - was found unresponsive and died in Christchurch Hospital in November 2018.
Inquest underway into death of 20-year-old Gloriavale member
The inquest will examine the circumstances of his death and if the death was self-inflicted.
Preparing for disaster: How Canterbury responds in an emergency
Meetings in cupboards in over-crowded Emergency Operations Centres, equipment failures and inexperienced staff - report after report into our emergency responses have found widespread failures.
AT considers exempting Wynyard Quarter from parking increases
Auckland Transport says it may make Wynyard Quarter exempt from increased street parking until the Wynyard Bridge reopens.
Plan to halve DOC's Chatham Islands staff may 'put vital work at risk'
The Public Service Association says the cuts risk hitting front-line conservation efforts.
Chatham Islands DOC team could be halved
The Department of Conservation has proposed to reduce and restructure it's Chatham Islands team.
Timaru's 'meaty' stench: Hundreds more complaints received
Almost 250 further complaints about horrid stenches in Timaru have been received by the Canterbury Regional Council.
Christchurch City Council will likely fund cash-strapped Arts Centre
Councillors say they are listening to the public and have every intention of funding the cash-strapped centre, despite it being left out of the draft Long Term Plan.
'Traumatising event': Woman 'grabbed', held at knifepoint in car theft
A staff member at Oamaru Hospital was held at knifepoint while a man tried to steal her car, its chief executive says.
West Coast emergency staff preparing for deluge
The region's emergency management group manager says the forecast rain is a huge amount, even for the West Coast.
Fascinating objects on display for the first time, in new exhibition
Choosing an exhibition of 14 objects from more than 1.5 million diverse items in the Otago museum's collection was intimidating, its director says.
What's next for the Christ Church Cathedral rebuild?
The team behind the rebuild began deliberately slowing work last year after the budget ballooned from $104m to $248m.
'A space to birth confidently'
Christchurch midwives and māmā are celebrating the opening of new birthing unit Kurawaka: Waipapa.
Piggery effluent lands Canterbury farm $29,000 fine
A mid-Canterbury farm has been fined for discharging piggery effluent.