Stories by Niva Chittock
News
'Extremely stressful': Patients waiting hours in urgent care clinic
GP Angus Chambers says people are struggling to enrol into medical centres or get appointments at his clinic.
'We are not safe': Christchurch businesses on edge as street crime rises
People who work in the Christchurch's CBD say they don't feel safe in parts of the central city where brawls, assaults and theft have become more frequent.
Three Waters: Industry representatives agree reforms are long overdue
While Water New Zealand Conference attendees thought the government's plan had merit, some believed it had not been well communicated or understood.
'Three weeks is just too short' for postal voting - electoral officer
An electoral officer says there needs to be easier ways for people to vote as a trial of ballot boxes in some areas draws good results. Audio
'Everyone's seen it coming' - High school losing 1.5m each year in coastal erosion
Waitaki Boys' High School's grounds are being swallowed by the sea, with up to a metre and a half now lost each year.
Outgoing Christchurch mayor 'optimistic' for city's future
Christchurch's outgoing mayor shed a tear at her official farewell this morning.
RSE employers should be shut out of scheme if they break rules - worker advocate
Worker advocates warn employers must not be allowed to exploit the next wave of workers in the Recognised Seasonal Employers scheme.
'Invasive' rental property agencies bending guidelines - Consumer NZ
A Consumer New Zealand investigation has found some rental property agencies are collecting unnecessary, and in some cases potentially illegal information, from prospective tenants.
Gloriavale school principal rejects claims leaders controlled their lives
The Gloriavale school principal says the Christian community and her way of life are being attacked by those who have chosen to leave. Audio
'Grave concerns for our children' in Gloriavale, father says
A former member of the Gloriavale Christian community has told a court how his daughter suffered third-degree burns after having a seizure at work in the kitchen.
Gloriavale leaver given one week off work for the birth of her child
A former Gloriavale member says she returned to work a week after her baby was born and believes the early separation from her eldest child has had an ongoing effect.
Gloriavale children subject to frequent smackings, court hears
An ex-Gloriavale member said she could always be scared into doing something by the thought of being smacked. She broke down while giving evidence in the Employment Court today.
Christchurch City Council votes against introducing government housing plan
Christchurch City Council has voted against a government directive to introduce new housing intensification standards.
Remembering the Queen: New Zealanders react to bonus day off
The news of a new one-off public holiday has gone down well, with some New Zealanders looking forward to a bonus day off.
Decision on new housing intensification rules delayed by council
Passionate speeches against potential new housing intensification rules were delivered at a Christchurch City Council meeting, but the decision has been delayed.
Christchurch housing density: Tensions high before council vote
Tensions are running high in Ōtautahi as the city council prepares to vote on controversial new national housing density rules.
'We don't have a housing crisis here' - Cantabrians push back on subdivision plans
A group of Cantabrians are taking their local council to court after it allowed a development to go ahead on prime farmland.
Some Marlborough communities still isolated a week on from wild weather
Some residents remain almost completely isolated a week after the region declared a state of emergency.
Water fluoridation: Christchurch council tries to avoid 'expensive' process
Christchurch City Council is doing all it can to avoid an estimated $63 million bill to fluoridate the city's water.
Westport community raise stormwater concerns in feedback on $54m flood plan
Westport residents have had their first opportunity to question experts about a potentially ground-breaking business case to ease severe flooding in the town over the next hundred years.
National's 'regressive' benefit plan won't work - Support services
Support services say National's new welfare policy is outdated, and will worsen the situation for beneficiaries.
Family on boat stuck on Kaikōura coast rescued themselves - coastguard
Coastguard says the family of four whose boat became stuck on the Kaikōura coast over the weekend rescued themselves.
Some Canterbury residents still trapped by floodwaters, slips
Floodwaters stubbornly remain in some parts of Christchurch and Banks Peninsula, turning backyards into lakes and sending rubbish bins drifting past front fences.
Continuing downpours cause widespread disruption across Canterbury
Schools have been shut, businesses inundated and dozens of roads closed around Christchurch today, as heavy rain continues to lash the region
Court of Appeal throws out controversial Canterbury water bottling consents
A long-running Canterbury water stoush has been settled - at least for now - with the Court of Appeal yesterday throwing out controversial water bottling consents.