Catherine Hutton

Kiwirail has confirmed plans to replace its three ageing current Cook Strait ferries with two new larger purpose-built rail ferries. Interislander's current fleet, comprising the Kaitaki, Kaiarahi and… Audio

A once-in-a-generation report into the country's mental health services describes patients and families pleading for help from a failing system. The inquiry is the country's sixth and the most… Audio

The mayor of Waimate in Canterbury says the area had a lucky escape overnight with the Pareora River holding its banks. Craig Rowley says about 90mm of rain fell in the district overnight with a… Audio

Social workers who work for non-government agencies want to get the same pay as their state sector counterparts. Next month, Oranga Tamariki's social workers will receive a 30 percent pay rise, as… Audio

Aged care providers want urgent changes to immigration rules to plug what they describe as gaping holes in their caregiver and nursing workforces. Audio

Three million dollars is being earmarked for a memorial to remember the victims of the country's worst ever aircraft crash, the Mt Erebus disaster. From today, architects and designers will be able to… Audio

The government is working with Auckland Council, iwi, local government and community groups to find a site for the National Erebus Memorial in Auckland. From today, the Ministry of Culture and… Audio

Authorities remain stumped by a mystery vapour that left children sick at a Wairarapa school on Friday and prompted a full scale response from emergency services. Police, fire, ambulance, the Red… Audio

A Wairarapa primary school is re-opening after a mysterious vapour cloud sparked a full scale emergency on Friday. The foul-smelling vapour made many pupils of Carterton's South End Primary ill with… Audio

An elderly Auckland woman who is taking her severely disabled son to court says she has been left with no other option. Diane Moody wants the Employment Court to declare that Shane Chamberlain is not… Audio

An Auckland Councillor has described how his blind mother-in-law was humiliated at a Work and Income office. Efeso Collins told his story to a packed hall in Wellington where people had gathered to… Audio

More than 100,000 households are experiencing what is being described as "energy hardship", spending more than 10 percent of their income on power. A government review into power prices found… Audio

Families caring for their adult disabled children are furious a promised fast track review of the law won't be released for months. They say despite several decisions from the Court of Appeal, the… Audio

Twenty percent of New Zealanders are heavy drinkers who are responsible for drinking three quarters of the country's alcohol, yet they aren't paying the costs of cleaning up their mess. That was one… Audio

A controversial scheme to fund free long term contraceptives for beneficaries and their daughters ends on Monday. The previous government set aside almost a million dollars for the scheme over six… Audio

Families caring for adult disabled children are appalled by attempts to simplify the guidelines for how much support and money they can get. Six months ago the Appeal Court suggested the Health… Audio

Privacy breaches by immigration advisors has forced Immigration New Zealand to halt efforts to move some of its visa applications solely online. Documents show the department knew four months ago that… Audio

Sir Peter Jackson's World War One exhibition will clse in early December, after Massey University and the Ministry of Culture and Heritage failed to agree on extending the lease. Audio