Stories by Sarah Robson

Packaging and other material that's been put in soft plastic recycling bins has ended up in storage, because the Australian company that was taking it has been inundated.

University of Otago will build a new $28 million dental training facility and treatment clinic in South Auckland.

The Department of Conservation is another step closer to deciding on a new Great Walk.

Scientists have come up with a more accurate way of counting dolphins, by identifying them using photos of the unique pigment patterns on their fins.

Justice Minister Andrew Little says a ban on conversion therapy could be considered as part of a review of the Human Rights Act.

The Law Society has apologised after a staff member accidentally sent confidential information about a sexual harassment allegation to the wrong person.

Pensioners are increasingly turning to Work and Income for help to pay for essentials like food, power and housing.

The government is taking a closer look at ideas aimed at preventing people from ending up in huge amounts of debt when they need to buy a car.

Capsicums could be in short supply in supermarkets over the next few weeks, after biosecurity concerns were discovered at the border.

Young Labour and the Young Greens are throwing their weight behind calls for the government to ban gay conversion therapy.

The government is under pressure to follow Britain's lead and ban gay conversion therapies.

The government will lift the student loan cap for medical students and others doing long undergraduate courses, Education Minister Chris Hipkins has announced. Audio

The number of people whose benefits are suspended or cancelled each day has dropped by more than a fifth in just a matter of weeks, the Social Development Minister Carmel Sepuloni says.

Employees at both organisations will take part in two two-hour stoppages on 9 and 23 July after this afternoon's vote.

Auckland City Mission will get almost $17 million from the government so it can increase the number of beds it has for alcohol and drug detox.

An Auckland mum who was told by Work and Income that her benefit had been cut because she'd been on two Tinder dates has had her payments wrongly suspended for a second time.

A dispute resolution service for complaints against lenders says it's surprising more people aren't coming to them for help with loan sharks.

Tighter regulations could be in store for debt collectors, amid concerns about their treatment of people they're chasing for money.

An interest rate cap alone won't work to stop people ending up trapped in a cycle of debt, budget advisers say.

Law changes made three years ago to crack down on loan sharks and other high cost lenders aren't working and many people are still struggling with spiralling debts, budgeting services say.

The government is under pressure to move quickly to let beneficiaries earn more money without being penalised.

The Ministry for Children, Oranga Tamariki, has launched a new round-the-clock support line for caregivers.

Community groups have told MPs the proposed law to measure and reduce child poverty is too narrow.

The editor of Otago University's student magazine says he's "really angry" copies of it were destroyed by the university. Audio

A passenger on board an Air NZ plane that had to circle over Tauranga Airport for almost two hours says there needed to be better communication from the crew.