Stories by Rachel Helyer Donaldson
News
New funding to drive 'fair' nationwide rollout of diabetes tech
A three-year, $1.4m project aims to address inequities experienced by Māori and Pacific people with type 1 diabetes.
'Unacceptable negligence': Parents shocked after children escape daycare
The father of one of the two children who went missing from the Mt Eden BestStart said in a message viewed by RNZ that it was a "catastrophic failure of duty" and he was not reassured by BestStart's…
Khandallah pool celebrates 100 years - but will it last?
The pool could see out another 60 years with the right upgrade, councillor says - but its future is uncertain.
Why we're no longer 'rock stars' - Economy fell far after a high, says expert
New Zealand did have the largest decline in GDP in the developed world last year, but one economist says "it's important to keep things in perspective".
LGBTIQ+ renters putting up with 'uninhabitable' housing - researcher
LGBTIQ+ people face "a lot of difficulty" finding housing due to prejudice, and many are resorting to "survival techniques" to avoid homelessness.
What happened to summer?
The bad weather has been a "bummer", and there's more in store - but don't worry, all is not lost.
Calls for warning labels on alcohol may grow after US announcement
After America's top doctor said that alcoholic drinks should carry a warning about cancer risks on their label, New Zealand researchers are saying there is a need to tackle alcohol health problems.
Christmas in the North / South Korea Demilitarised Zone
A New Zealand Defence Forces captain says the sacrifices army families make at this time are humbling.
Overloaded maternity system facing job cuts
Health NZ has proposed getting rid of the national maternity and early years programme Starting Well, and 25 fulltime roles will be cut from Health NZ's funding team.
Fears women worried for safety this Christmas may not call police
It is the first festive period since the police stepped back from responding to low risk calls.
Researcher urges caution on rock lobster catch limit increase
Seafood industry players are welcoming a government proposal to ease catch limits - but an academic says the rock lobster population may not support it.
Weather: Warm start to the weekend
Fire-weary Canterbury should get a much-needed respite from high temperatures and gales as a change in the weather arrives, while much of the motu has had a warm start to the weekend, MetService says.
Student loan lending up, despite fewer borrowers
Fewer tertiary students accessed funds through the Student Loan Scheme last year, but the amount they borrowed was up.
Insufficient exam places for midwifery graduates
The midwives' union says it is "completely unacceptable and appalling" that dozens of midwife graduates were prevented from sitting their final exams before Christmas.
Parents Centre to close by end of 2024
The closure of New Zealand's largest parent support centre and education provider is being described as a real loss, after seven decades of advocating for women, new parents and young families.
Diabetes register to improve access to care - expert
A new national diabetes register will show for the first time how many people are living with each type of diabetes in Aotearoa.
Five rare huia feathers up for auction in Auckland
Interest in the taonga has taken flight after a single feather sold for a record-breaking $46,000 in May.
'It would be awful': Wellington's Begonia House faces demolition
The landmark glasshouse in the city's botanic garden needs replacing rather than being "patched up", councillors have been told.
Wellington Council Crown observer sits in on briefing of financial shortfall
Lindsay McKenzie starts in the role today.
Comedy and satire could get new boundaries with new Bill
A proposed law change would give comedians some leeway when using other works of art to make their point, but it's not a free pass, a professor says.
Calls for kitten foster parents as summer ramps up
Thousands of kittens will need foster parents in the coming months, and those staying at home for Christmas are the perfect candidates, SPCA says.
'Make a plan as a family' - How to deal with sex extortion
Young people exploited online often try to deal with it alone - but it's good to have a family plan, experts say.
Big-name businesses returning to struggling Wellington centre
Wellington's Golden Mile has done it tough this year, with grim financial times leading to the closure of about 50 stores, but some businesses are staying the course and even expanding. Audio
Call for wider access to meningococcal vaccines
Meningitis can kill in 24 hours, and "it's essential we have a vaccination programme, free to everyone, because treatment often comes too late", bereaved dad says.
Dame Maggie Smith's death a 'huge loss', NZ actor says
The 89-year-old Englishwoman had a career that straddled "the old world of acting and the new".