Kate Newton
Five years since Covid lockdown began
The lockdown, which began at 11.59pm on the 25th of March, 2020, was unprecedented, as the government attempted to prevent Covid-19 from arriving, and then spreading, in New Zealand. In Depth reporter… Audio
1500 more houses granted consent on flood plains in Auckland
Fifteen-hundred more houses have been granted consent on flood plains in Auckland in the past year. In Depth reporter Kate Newton has more. Audio
Research reveals urban heat island effect in central Auckland
New research has revealed a potentially dangerous 'urban heat island ' effect in central Auckland. In Depth reporter Kate Newton has more. Audio
World's largest ray species found in Hauraki Gulf
Manta Watch New Zealand has just completed its first ever aerial survey of the manta ray population in the gulf, and this week will launch an app where members of the public can report their own… Audio
Local iwi and ecologists call for Hawke's Bay river to be re-widened
Local iwi and ecologists say a Hawke's Bay river that flooded during Cyclone Gabrielle should be re-widened to make space for future floods. Analysis provided to RNZ shows the Ngaruroro River has been… Audio
Hundreds of schools at risk from sea level rise
Government data shows hundreds of schools are among critical infrastructure at risk from sea level rise now and in decades to come. Kate Newton reports. Audio
Treasury report outlines high chance of another big storm
A Treasury report says there's an 80 percent chance that another massive storm as damaging as Cyclone Gabrielle will hit New Zealand in the next 50 years. In Depth reporter Kate Newton spoke to Ingrid… Audio
Data shows more CO2 in atmosphere than ever recorded
New data show there is more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere than ever previously recorded. Data journalist Kate Newton reports. Audio
School attendance plummets world wide
New Zealand's plummeting school attendance rates are part of a global crisis that international experts warn will take more than an awareness campaign to turn around. Kate Newton reports. Audio
Concern Fast-track bill could lead to building in flood areas
Scientists, engineers and insurers are all sounding warnings over the government's Fast-track Approvals Bill, saying it's likely to lead to more building in flood prone areas. Reporter Kate Newton… Audio
Communities say managed retreat 'long overdue'
Communities at risk from climate change hazards say a national plan for how to move them out of harm's way is long overdue. Kate Newton reports. Audio
Homeowners under-insuring as premiums go up
Homeowners are under-insuring their houses, ratcheting up their excesses and using savings to help cover "shocking" increases to their insurance premiums. Kate Newton reports. Audio
Data shows cost of insuring a house jumped more than 30 percent
Treasury data shows the cost of insuring a house jumped by more than 30 percent in some parts of the country, in less than a year.
The data, released to RNZ under the Official Information Act, also… Audio
PM’s tobacco ‘talking points’ contradicted official advice emails show
Ministers, including the Prime Minister, repeatedly insisted that the Labour government's smoke free legislation would increase tobacco-related crime, despite officials telling them it could have the… Audio
Health minister's notes similar to tobacco industry investigation finds
An RNZ investigation has highlighted similarities between notes the associate health minister's office sent to officials, and strategies and arguments used by the tobacco industry.
The notes repeated… Audio
Over a thousand consents granted to build on flood plains in Auckland
More than 1400 new house consents have been granted in flood plains in Auckland since devastating flooding damaged thousands of homes a year ago.
The number has been released just days before the… Audio
What's happening at the most accurate polling booth in NZ?
If you want to know who will win this year's election, you could do worse than ask the residents of Birkdale - a suburb on Auckland's North Shore.
For at least four elections in a row, Birkenhead… Audio
New Zealand's climate future
The drought began early this year. Before January was even half-over, Auckland, Kaipara and Whangarei were already registering on the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research's drought… Audio
NZ First Foundation spent $130k on company run by Peters' lawyer
Tens of thousands in donors' funds given to the New Zealand First Foundation were spent paying expenses, wages and bills for people closely associated with the New Zealand First leader Winston Peters.
…NZ First stays silent on foundation donations
New Zealand First has once again opted not to name any donations from the mysterious foundation bankrolling the party on its electoral return.
But an electoral law expert says for the first time the… Audio
