Stories by Laura Bootham
News
Grocery store to pay $53k for exploiting worker
A Wellington grocery store which exploited a migrant worker has been ordered to pay more than $53,000 in penalties and arrears.
Carmen's silhouette lights up Cuba St again
With MC Amandah La Whore getting proceedings under way, Carmen was once again at the heart of Wellington's red light district. Video
Names of NZ's WWI conscientious objectors commemorated
In an online first, the names of New Zealand's WWI conscientious objectors have been compiled and made available to the public. Audio
Samaritans forced to redirect calls overseas
A lack of volunteers and an increase in demand has forced Samaritans Wellington to redirect some calls overseas.
Goddard's resignation greeted with both relief and disappointment
A British sexual abuse survivors group is welcoming New Zealand Judge Dame Lowell Goddard's resignation as head of the UK inquiry into child sexual abuse. Audio
Police call centre staff only get one day suicide-call training
A suicide prevention group is 'absolutely shocked' police call centre staff have only one day of training to deal with suicide calls, and has called for police to improve training.
Students push universities to supply sanitary products
New Zealand's universities are under pressure to supply free sanitary products to students in the same way they provide condoms.
A warm end to winter
New Zealanders can expect more above-average temperatures for the next three months as the country moves from winter into spring. Video
Girls using 'telephone books, rags' as sanitary products
Students skipping school and university or using "newspaper, telephone books, rags," as sanitary products has prompted a campaign to provide the necessary items to those in need. Video
Wide te reo exposure key to fluency, says researcher
Children must be exposed to te reo Māori outside the home if it is to become their preferred language, a Māori language specialist says.
Hyundai bonnet fault driver speaks out
The driver of a Hyundai Tucson SUV whose bonnet flew into his face as he drove, sparking a global recall of the car, says the bonnet was fully latched at the time.
Hyundai SUVs recalled after dangerous bonnet mishap
Hyundai is recalling 1738 Tucson SUVs in New Zealand after a driver in Hamilton had a bonnet fly up and block their view of the road.
School on alert after abduction attempt
Police are looking for a man who tried to abduct an eight-year-old boy walking home from Ngaio School in Wellington on Monday.
WINZ deaths could have been avoided, hearing told
A bullet-proof glass panel could have protected staff in the deadly attack on the Ashburton Work and Income in 2014, a health and safety expert says.
'Staged' Vito video targets sideline abuse
Wellington Rugby admits actors were used in their video campaign with Victor Vito to tackle ongoing abusive sideline behaviour at junior games. Audio
NZ feeling the heat as 2016 shapes up to be record-breaker
Scientists are warning New Zealand's record-breaking temperatures are causing a surge in pest numbers and ongoing drought. Audio
End of the line for Nigh-oh and Para-pa-rumu
The Greater Wellington Regional Council is introducing new and more accurate recordings of Māori place names on its trains.
Māori home ownership falling behind
New statistics reveal Māori home ownership has plummeted in the past 27 years, with the rate in some parts of the North Island dropping by as much as 40 percent.
Medical student's inspiring journey
Tara Millar, who became pregnant with her fourth child while studying to be a doctor, wants other wāhine with tamariki to achieve their dreams.
Māori organisations leading the charge on health
Māori health workers say they are working with families to change some of the poor health statistics for tāngata whenua.
West Auckland Māori told to boycott after-hours clinic
An urban Māori authority in west Auckland is urging its whānau to boycott an after-hours clinic and go straight to Waitakere Hospital for treatment.
New hub for Māori performing arts
Two polytechnics have combined to launch an ambitious creative arts hub on Wellington's Cuba Street with a strong focus on Māori performing arts.
Rates write-off for Omaio kiwifruit conversion
The owners of Māori land earmarked for development in the eastern Bay of Plenty will have their rates written off for the first five years.
Māori Party opposes bill to abolish charter schools
The Māori Party plans to oppose the Labour Party's bill seeking to abolish Kura Hourua or charter schools.
Urban Māori could be missing out on support
Online poll results suggest Māori living in cities might be missing out on support, the National Urban Māori Authority says.