Stories by Felix Walton
News
Police abandoned 60 percent of reported cases in 2023
Police abandoned 572,037 of the cases reported to them last year - almost 60 percent - with the number of reports up 50 percent since 2019.
Scepticism over Brian Tamaki's plan to sue councils over rainbow projects
A lawyer specialising in local government says the Destiny Church leader has little ground to stand on.
Brynderwyn Hills motorway to temporarily reopen
The gateway to the north will reopen this weekend - but visitors will have to get in quick.
About 50 Godfreys staff to lose their jobs
Workers from 11 company-operated stores will be affected by the business permanently closing in May.
Questions raised over why LynnMall attacker was labelled a security threat
Ahamed Samsudeen was designated a person of national security interest in 2016. That would "impact every aspect of his life", coroner hears.
Why police failed to stop the LynnMall knife attack earlier
Police officers who were surveilling LynnMall terror attacker Ahamed Samsudeen say they did not have the right equipment to prevent the attack.
Big names compete for top fiction prize
Four award-winning authors are in the running for the $65,000 fiction prize at this year's Ockham Book Awards.
Whakaari eruption victims awarded $10m in reparations
Judge allocates each individual $250,000, but says some victims may get more.
Average Kiwi has $1300 of unwanted stuff - Trade Me
And recycling advocates are urging budget-conscious Kiwis to avoid cheap and flimsy junk and buy second-hand instead.
Whakaari trial: 'You cannot mend a mother's broken heart'
Victims of the Whakaari / White Island disaster returned to the Auckland District Court to confront the five tourism companies found guilty in last year's trial.
Pain of son's death at Whakaari 'never goes away'
Family of 23-year-old tour guide Tipene Maangi broke down in tears as they spoke in court.
'An absolute joke': The Auckland Sotp sign
A spelling mistake at a bus stop has been driving locals round the bend.
Whakaari White Island: WorkSafe may have cast its net too wide, legal expert says
A legal expert says "complacency" within WorkSafe prevented the agency from achieving a better result during the Whakaari/White Island trial.
Aucklanders have their say on the scrapped fuel tax
Aucklanders will soon be saving more money at the petrol pump, but they're wondering at what cost.
'They put me in prison, basically locked in a cell for 23 hours a day'
Former prisoners described verbal abuse and poor treatment within Intervention and Support Units, which are often used to house mentally ill prisoners.
Banned in advertising, vape and tobacco companies turn to social media
A University of Auckland study found children between 14 and 17 - especially Māori and Pasifika teens - were more likely to see vaping ads than those aged 18 to 20.
Advocates push back as wealthy suburb blames Kāinga Ora block for crime
Businesses say they've traced 40 incidents back to nearby apartments.
KiwiSaver financial hardship withdrawals rise yet again
The overall number of early withdrawals has also jumped significantly in the past year, from 17,900 in 2022 to 29,530 in 2023. Audio
Winston Peters: NZ Racing needs to get its 'mojo' back
The Minister for Racing spoke as the TAB and NZ Thoroughbred Racing boosted stakes for the 2024-2025 season.
Impact of streaming services on local productions 'significant and so damaging'
New Zealand's TV and film producers have joined an international call to action against streaming services.
Psychiatric care increasingly defaulted to prisons - former public health leader
The conditions faced by mentally ill prisoners are comparable to the notorious Lake Alice Psychiatric Hospital, a former public health leader says.
'Astounding' heat for two months in near-record year
2023 was one of NZ's hottest on record, but far from the wettest, while Whakatāne and Nelson have lost their crown as the country's sunniest spots.
'It took out a wheel': Calls to fix SH1 potholes 'pronto'
Vik Olliver was going 100km/h on State Highway 1 when he hit a hole that left him with a $4000 bill. He's not alone. Audio
One of our few native frogs could disappear in decades
The Hochstetter's frog is suffering through a dry summer and could disappear over the next several decades.