Stories by Guyon Espiner
News
Pharmac knew of epilepsy deaths for weeks but stayed silent
Pharmac knew for more than two weeks that three deaths had been linked to its epilepsy drug brand switch but didn't tell patients or the public.
Epilepsy patients angry at being told symptoms all in their heads
Pharmac-funded research into whether people with epilepsy were imagining side effects from a medicine brand change has been suspended as angry patients point out that deaths have been linked to the…
Jones declared conflict of interest on same day questions were asked
Shane Jones' office received official documents about a New Zealand First-linked forestry company's bid for public money five times before the minister declared a conflict of interest.
Document leak: Why the NZ First Foundation was set up
Key documents about a mysterious foundation loaning money to NZ First show why the NZ First Foundation was set up, how it would operate and who knew about the idea from the outset.
Call for inquiry into Pharmac's epilepsy drug switch
The Health and Disability Commissioner wants answers and a national MP is calling for an inquiry, after four people died following an epilepsy drug brand switch.
NZ First-linked company applied for $15m govt loan
A forestry company with close links to New Zealand First has revealed it applied for a $15 million loan from the Provincial Growth Fund, which is overseen by NZ First minister Shane Jones.
Fourth death linked to Pharmac's epilepsy medication switch
A 26-year-old is the fourth person to die shortly after changing from a branded version of the anti-epilepsy drug lamotrigine to a generic version. Video
NZ First-linked forestry company wanted $95m in govt funding
A forestry company with close links to New Zealand First planned to apply for nearly $100 million under the One Billion Trees programme, which is overseen by the Forestry Minister Shane Jones.
Pharmac backs down on epilepsy drug brand switch
Pharmac has backed down on a controversial drug brand switch affecting patients with epilepsy and mental health conditions after three people died following the change.
NZ First-linked forestry company pushed for govt funds
A powerful New Zealand First figure helped establish a forestry company that then pushed for money from two key funding streams controlled by a New Zealand First Minister.
Three deaths following epilepsy drug brand switch
Three deaths have been reported to the Centre for Adverse Reactions Monitoring after Pharmac forced patients using the medicine lamotrigine to switch brands.
Mother fears daughter's death linked to Pharmac's epilepsy drug brand switch
A woman who fears her daughter's death is linked to a change in her epilepsy medicine is urging vigilance among the 11,000 people being forced to switch drug brands by Pharmac .
Mysterious foundation loaning New Zealand First money
A foundation that loans money to NZ First is under scrutiny, with a law professor saying it's lawful but fails to provide the transparency voters need in a democracy.
Govt gives Japanese-owned company free pass to buy NZ land
Land Information Minister and Green MP Eugenie Sage has given a foreign-owned forestry company a free pass to buy thousands of hectares of New Zealand land without applying to the OIO.
Austrian countess fined over NZ land purchase
Green Rush - The countess breached overseas investment rules while buying an iconic farm station, but was allowed to keep the property and was fined just a fraction of the purchase price. Video
Green Rush: Foreign forestry companies NZ's biggest landowners
The four largest private landowners in New Zealand are all foreign-owned forestry companies, an RNZ investigation has found.
Green Rush: Will pines really save the planet?
Vast new pine forests are being hailed as a solution to NZ's carbon emissions deficit - but not all environmentalists see them as a silver bullet and farmers say they could gut rural communities.
Foreign forestry companies could face 'oil and gas' style ban
Green Rush - Forestry Minister Shane Jones is considering reining in conversions of farmland to forestry after a rural backlash. Video
John Key may have to relinquish banking role
The former prime minister could be forced to stand down from one of his banking roles because of a potential conflict of interest. Audio
Seizures, driving stand-downs as Pharmac pulls epilepsy drug funding
People with epilepsy say their lives are being turned upside down by seizures after Pharmac switched their medicines in a cost savings drive. Warning: Graphic images.
Gloves off: Smoking researcher shunned over Philip Morris funding
Yesterday smoking researcher Marewa Glover told MPs that children could heal from exposure to smoking in cars. But perhaps most controversial is the source of $1.5m of her research funding - tobacco… Audio
Philip Morris tried to target poor through poverty group, DHB
The tobacco giant tried to gain access to an Auckland poverty group as well as a South Auckland DHB in a bid to get its new tobacco products marketed to poor people.
Tobacco company targeting Māori for money - minister
A tobacco company is targeting Māori with its new e-cigarette because it wants to make money and not because it's concerned about public health, Associate Health Minister Jenny Salesa says.
Smoke and Mirrors: Big Tobacco targets Māori with e-cigarettes
Smoke and Mirrors - Philip Morris is visiting marae and sports clubs to offer free trials and discounts on its e-cigarette as it targets Māori. Guyon Espiner investigates. Video
Exclusive: Youth addiction worry as high-nicotine vape JUUL to hit NZ
Smoke and Mirrors - A US vaping product, which is so popular with young people it's under fire by the FDA, is coming to NZ. Guyon Espiner reports.
