JOURNALISM
2023
Family wants Pharmac to fund continuous glucose monitors (CGMs)
When Charlie Windell’s wife and son go to sleep each night, he’s not sure if they will wake up the next morning.
'I’m still here with you': Meet the volunteers who sit with dying patients
A regional hospital called for help and were overwhelmed by the response.
Pharmac announces discontinuation of brain tumour drug lomustine
The survival rates for Stacey Gardner’s condition are between 22 and 50 per cent. She worries there soon won’t be any funded treatments left to help her.
Childhood dreams and space stations: One NASA astronaut’s story
The 400km trip from the Earth’s surface to space, on a rocket travelling at a speed of over 28,100km/hr, lasts nine minutes. Dr Kate Rubins has made the journey twice.
From New Zealand to Quebec: Canadian fisherman finds message in a bottle
How one man’s near decade-old message in a bottle reached a stranger.
Gang members line streets after mob boss’ murder
Schools have also closed following Stephen Taiatini’s death and extra police staff had been brought in to provide round-the-clock coverage.
Author remembers the ‘accident’ that created a beloved character
Dame Lynley Dodd celebrates Hairy Maclary’s 40th publication birthday
‘I don’t want to shoot you': Cop tells of moments before he fired fatal shots
The officer broke down as he gave evidence, telling an inquest the man “was going to try and kill me”.
Mongrel Mob gang member sentenced for ‘execution-style’ murder of innocent man
David Kuka was shot in the head and neck, then left for dead at his home in 2018.
2022
'Falling apart at the seams': 382 vacancies for health workers
The regional health organisation declined to provide the total number of vacancies for 2019 and 2018.
'I just battled on': 85-year-old reflects on life with long Covid
Val Stewart remembers what it was like to watch a volcano erupt from the boiler room of a steam engine. Now, she struggles to remember her own name.
From open world to wake up calls: The Covid generation
Young kiwis remember when the reality of the pandemic hit home and how the virus shaped their life milestones.
'Equity issue' as some rural patients face six-week wait to see a doctor
Practices often feel "one resignation away from collapse" . Does the solution lie in training rural people for health careers?
Māori liver cancer patients having to travel more than 200km for surgery
Māori health advocate says it is a choice between travelling to get treatment, or putting food on the table.
Frontlines 'burnt' and 'bled' by two years of Covid-19
Mental health struggles among health care workers have “absolutely escalated”.
'Monstrous surprise': Why a man's heart stopped seven times
Gary Cassidy drove himself to his local emergency department. As he called for help he lost consciousness because of heart failure.
'He promised me he would stay alive’: Mother fears for son in Ukraine
Ukraine's Interior Ministry does not give any information on casualties among its armed forces.
Couple escape dramatic crash as van plunges 300m
It happened so fast Rosie and Tom didn't have time to be afraid.
2021
'Life was getting sucked out of them'
Andrew Leota will never forget what it was like to watch people die of Covid-19 in Kazakhstan.
Our lockdown warriors
When the Bay of Plenty was plunged into lockdown on August 17 a small army of unsung heroes geared up and got to work.
'We do our best.': Local veterans of Afghanistan reflect on 20 years of war
New Zealand withdrew forces from Afghanistan this year, ending almost 20 years of involvement in the conflicts plaguing the country.
Israel-Palestine ceasefire: Calls for peace from Rotorua expats
Omari said his people had heard the term ‘ceasefire’ before. They know it is not a long-term solution.
Parents 'in shock' after 18-year-old suffers brain bleed
Ammoto Roldan Lictao and his wife Elaine are living every parent's worst nightmare.
Rotorua's migrants and former refugees share their stories
For many who call New Zealand home the journey here is a story of sacrifices, dangers and joys that is difficult to put into words.