Stories by Finn Blackwell
News
'I ran outside and there was a tractor in the side of my house'
Brendan Schwass' property was left with a hole in the roof and a smashed section of wall.
Piha residents divided over Easter road access
The hard-hit west Auckland community is split over whether road access should be reinstated to visitors in time for Easter.
'I really believe that avocados are the best produce ever' - congress attendee
Auckland's Aotea Centre has become a hub for all things avocado, and growers are being told the sky is the limit when it comes to taking a slice of a $20 billion global market.
Protest against anti-cogovernance rally goes ahead in Auckland
A protest against an anti-cogovernance rally has gone ahead in Auckland, despite the rally being cancelled.
Underpayment leaves lasting trauma of Woop victims
Interns underpaid by an Auckland food bag company say they have been left with questions after an Employment Relations Authority ruling.
Auckland Council votes to leave Local Government New Zealand
The votes were tied at 10-all before Mayor Wayne Brown used his casting vote in favour of leaving.
'Surrounded by mayhem' - Residents describe post-cyclone conditions in Karekare
A month on from Cyclone Gabrielle making landfall and residents of a coastal Auckland settlement are trying to get back to normal, despite being surrounded by devastation.
Two more men charged with murder over Auckland dairy worker stabbing
Janak Patel was killed outside the Rose Cottage Dairy in Sandringham last November, sparking widespread protest.
No pleas entered as teens accused of Beach Haven murder appear in court
A clash broke out between court security and family of the accused after they were barred from entering the courtroom.
Man pleads not guilty to manslaughter over Boxing Day motorway crash
The man accused of kidnapping a woman in South Auckland last year has pleaded not guilty to a new charge of manslaughter.
Service held for firefighter killed in Cyclone Gabrielle
Hundreds of mourners have turned out at Muriwai in Auckland to farewell one of two firefighters killed during Cyclone Gabrielle. The death toll for the cyclone currently stands at 11,...
'Time is of the essence': Piha residents fear more flooding, slips with drains still blocked
Residents in the coastal settlement are pleading for Auckland Council to act quickly in restoring critical infrastructure throughout the town.
Resident questions future of houses in slip-hit Muriwai
Residents in a coastal community in West Auckland have been left fearing for the future, after cyclone Gabrielle brought tons of land down in slips, leaving some homeless.
Flood-damaged Epsom home targeted by thieves
At least nine homes in the Auckland suburb of Epsom have been broken into after being damaged by floodwaters.
Auckland mayor vows 'better' weather response after criticism
Auckland mayor Wayne Brown is promising "better" communication than Friday ahead of tonight's forecast bad weather.
Papakura locals on rising costs: 'There's not as much money left over'
Shoppers are feeling the pinch of rising grocery prices, meaning compromises at the dinner table.
Better to 'bite the bullet' and get rail work done now, Michael Wood says
Auckland's rail network is "neglected", says the Transport Minister, who was given a guided tour of the south Auckland sites today.
Mt Albert residents reflect on Jacinda Ardern's resignation
On the streets of the prime minister's electorate, people said the announcement had come like a bolt from the blue.
'Quick dip and a swim' turns deadly for family group
It's been one of the biggest rescue efforts this summer, and one witness says the outcome could have been much worse.
Man loses $40,000, banks warn to protect passwords
Bank customers beware is a frequent message this summer as New Zealanders are being warned to watch out for financial scams.
Taupō Ironman the focus of ADHD battler's mental health awareness efforts
A digital business manager raising money for the New Zealand Mental Health Foundation says it is a cause that needs to be supported.
'Squeezing a lot more into a short period of time': A year of intense rain bursts
Last year's record rain was "binge rainfall" - where a lot of rain falls in a short period of time, a Niwa weather forecaster says.
Missing Kiwi's translator says volunteer likely in Russian hands
The search continues for the son of two prominent New Zealand doctors reported missing while working in Ukraine.
Auckland Council to prioritise communication with commuters over delays, cancellations
Auckland Council's Transport Committee chair says his priority this year will be ensuring commuters get clear communications if city services are delayed or cancelled.
Disparities in follow-up diabetes tests after pregnancy - study
Only half of women with gestational diabetes were tested for type 2 diabetes within six months of giving birth an Otago University study has revealed.