In case you missed anything, here are our most read stories for the month.
1 - THE PENCILSWORD: TO THE FUTURE WE STRIVE, TO THE CHALLENGE WE RISE
Photo: Unknown
Illustrator Toby Morris wraps up the election, depicting how the country played it safe.
2 - FOLLOW THE LEADER: JACINDA ARDERN, LABOUR
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The election may have been a slight fizzer for Labour Party leader, Jacinda Ardern, but we depict a politician who is inspiring a political movement in New Zealand through compassion and humility.
3. THE MISPRONUNCIATION ISSUE: WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE IN AOTEAROA
Photo: Illustration: Te Hana Goodyer
Travel to any corner of this country, listen closely and you might hear it. Te Aniwa Hurihanganui speaks to Māori who share personal stories of the damaging effect mispronunciation has had on their lives.
4 - FOLLOW THE LEADER: BILL ENGLISH, NATIONAL
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Toby Morris follows National Party leader Bill English during his election campaign, and finds the selfie-hunters are more interested in a pic with the Prime Minister, than the man himself.
5. WHAT DID THE FIRST EVER YOUNG VOTERS DEBATE TELL US?
NZ First’s Darroch Ball, the Māori Party’s Carrie Stoddart-Smith, Labour’s Kris Faafoi, National’s Chris Bishop, the Green Party’s Chlöe Swarbrick, ACT’s David Seymour, and United Future’s Damian Light at the TVNZ Young Voters Debate. Photo: Images: TVNZ
Seven major party candidates and a room full of young voters. Katie Parker reviews the very first Young Voters Debate, which featured some robust kōrero on the issues that matter to (that's right) the youths.
6. NO CHOICE: WHEN A LEGAL ABORTION IS DENIED
Photo: Illustration: Lucy Han / The Wireless
The decision to have a child can be life changing. But Kate* says she didn’t have a choice. Susan Strongman interviews a woman who was denied a second trimester abortion through North Shore Hospital.
7. UNDER PRESSURE: MENTAL HEALTH WORKERS GIVE THEIR VIEW OF THE CRISIS
Look familiar? Newspaper headlines from The NZ Herald in 2003, Evening Post in 1994 and The Press in 2000. Photo: Unknown
The public system has its flaws, say mental health workers and suicide prevention strategists, but the unrelenting attention on a “broken” system is dangerous too. We reveal a mental health system under immense pressure.
8. THE MISPRONUNCIATION ISSUE: WHY IT MATTERS
Photo: Illustration: Te Hana Goodyer
Māori names are more than just letters and phonetics. In this feature, Māori reveal how mispronouncing their names diminishes the deeply personal meanings their names hold.
9. YOUNG MEMBERS OF POLITICAL PARTIES GIVE US THEIR ELECTION HOT TAKES
Chlöe Swarbrick and her team follow election night results at Green Party HQ. Photo: Supplied
They cheered and drank at Sky City. They cried in Ngongotaha and mourned at St Matthews church. Max Towle spoke to an elated Young Nats member, a dejected Māori Party member, and other young politicos.
More needs to be done to help those at risk, so let's get the facts straight. Jess McAllen takes a look at what needs to be done to have an informed debate about a tough issue.