Stories by Sharon Brettkelly

A look inside an Auckland building that's an incubator for the deep tech sector, aimed at finding solutions for some of the world's biggest carbon-emitting materials.

Auckland's aquatic backyard and prime fishing grounds are weed-deep in trouble from exotic caulerpa, a fast-spreading algae that smothers everything in its path. 

Family disputes are getting increasingly complex and costly to unravel. There's agreement on updating the law, but actual changes have stalled. 

If congestion charges work to break up gridlock, why don't we have them in place by now?

New Zealand's $3 billion screen industry could shrivel up without some drastic improvements in funding. One solution is to ask the big streamers to cough up. 

New Zealand's inquiry into how we handled the pandemic has already spoken to hundreds of people of all persuasions, but the work is definitely taking the hush-hush approach.

A kiwi health drink with some unique ingredients has been making a splash. But after it promised too much in its marketing it's been slapped down by food authorities.

A Jewish and a Palestinian man both find they’ve been naïve in believing New Zealand to be a safe haven from hatred and abuse.

Introducing more competition into the grocery sector will be one of the first, and trickiest, tasks facing the new government.

The new government is vowing to take a hard line with gang members, including those with tattoos showing gang affiliations.

Grey hair and wrinkles are finally becoming something to celebrate.

The book that was for many years a travellers’ bible turns 50 this year. But with instant information available anywhere, how will Lonely Planet keep up?

Once the juggernaut of student radio, Auckland's 95bFM is resorting to a fundraising concert to try to clear debt in an age when every commercial station is struggling for funds.  

Why do experts have very little hope for a peaceful solution in the Middle East?

There's a lot we still don't know after election day. Here are the answers to those lingering questions from Saturday night. 

From preparations that begin two years out, to a double vote count after the polls close, our elections are a massive logistical exercise. 

Sir Russell Coutts has leased his SailGP manufacturing factory to Rocket Lab – and his specialist carbon composite workers are part of the deal. 

Self-serving, messy, and directionless. With record numbers pouring into the country, our immigration policies are under the microscope – and they don't stand up to scrutiny. 

Air pollution is the invisible killer behind one in every 10 deaths in New Zealand. There's no safe level of it, but it's an easy issue to ignore. 

It's just a "moderate, tiny proposal" over indigenous representation, but Australia's The Voice referendum has caused huge uproar.  

The only chance 18-year-old Afghan refugee Arezo Nazari has of bringing her parents to New Zealand is through the government – and so far, three ministers have turned her down. 

The cryptosporidium outbreak in Queenstown highlights the challenges of providing a clean water supply.  Why is it so difficult to make our drinking water safe?

The entire community of Naseby has decided to turn down the lights – and reach for the stars.

If you're disinterested, despondent or deflated by the election campaign and its daily parade of pointless behaviour, here's why you shouldn't miss your opportunity to exercise a little strategy in…

Christchurch Airport says it's premature to try and stop a new airport that's only just having the groundwork laid; but Tarras locals know what they don't want.