Stories by Natalie Akoorie
News
Woman found safe after disappearing from rehab residence
She lived at the rehabilitation home after suffering a traumatic head injury in a car crash last year, police say.
Councillor questions $70,000 spend on te reo Māori app
Councillor Geoff Taylor called the app a luxury at a time when ratepayers were facing the biggest rate increase in two decades.
'Alarming in its magnitude' - Engineer forged signatures on almost 1000 houses
Jonathan Beau Hall forged his supervisors' signatures - and a judge estimates the cost of his fraud to be in the millions.
Engineer who forged signatures on home designs to be sentenced
An engineer who forged the signatures of higher qualified colleagues is to be sentenced in the Rotorua District Court.
'Pretty dire' situation for patients as junior doctors strike over pay cuts
Disruption to patient care from a nationwide junior doctors strike is bordering on unsafe, a senior doctor claims, despite what health officials say.
Waikato Museum to close for months for vital renovations
Waikato Museum will close for renovations for months after it failed to secure national and international exhibits because of humidity and temperature control issues.
Public transport advocates push for Te Huia funding
More than 200 people signed a petition, calling for the government to continue funding the service.
Waikato's midwife shortage tackled with new programme
The midwifery programme at the University of Waikato hopes to address the region's 50 percent midwife shortfall.
'We'd be lost' - Town could lose its only ambulance
Residents in the small King Country town of Te Kūiti are concerned the community could lose its only ambulance.
Te Huia supporters concerned funding for service will not continue
Advocacy groups say the train service is "developing well", but the transport minister says it's one of NZ's most heavily subsidised public transport services.
For Today: Waikato youths reach for the stars with Kiwi classics
A small town school production is reaching for the stars with For Today, a musical featuring iconic Kiwi songs from a golden era in New Zealand music.
Call for law affecting people with limited decision-making ability to be axed
The legislation requires such significant reform it needs to be replaced, the Law Commission says.
Commission fails in bid for hybrid council model in Tauranga
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has also rejected the commission's recommendation that a Crown observer be put in place.
'Despair' among prisoners observed after inspection
The discovery of vulnerable prisoners being locked inside their cells for up to two days at time, for as long as nine months, has alarmed lawyers. Audio
Bail refused for man charged over injuries to teen run over in Ngāruawhāhia
A man charged over a hit and run incident that left a teenager in a critical condition has failed in his bid for bail.
Call for stronger trail grading standards after mountain biker's death
A coroner's inquest into a mountain biker's death in 2022 has found there was no warning of the danger and difficulty of the trail where the man suffered fatal injuries.
Boarding house owner ordered to pay tenants for failing healthy homes standards
The owner did not provide proper heating, hot water nor kitchen facilities, but charged ex-prisoners high bonds.
Mayor's Anzac trip to Belgium criticised as rates rise
Hamilton's mayor will travel to Belgium for Anzac Day at the same time the city's residents are facing their biggest rates rise in two decades.
Controversial, 'ugly', container project to get public toilet
Neighbours say the shipping container art site is a "one-finger" salute to council.
'Imagine losing everything you've ever worked for' - Educator cleared of bullying, harassment claims
The outcome is three years too late for the educator, who says the allegations and investigation destroyed her career.
Council dysfunction, healthcare chaos and political showdowns
As Local Democracy Reporting begins a new chapter, here's a look at some of the best stories and their impact since the project's inception in October 2019.
Waikato DHB cyberattack: Cancer hub out of action in chaotic aftermath
A cyber security breach that brought Waikato District Health Board to its knees took out one of the country's four regional cancer hubs, prompting the Cancer Control Agency to declare a national…
Plan to eradicate super weed from new Waikato subdivision 'ambitious'
The cost of managing an invasive "super weed", if it is not eradicated during construction of a billion-dollar Waikato development including 2500 new houses, will fall to ratepayers.
Waikato DHB warned a cyberattack 'catastrophic for patient safety'
Waikato District Health Board was warned its IT security was inadequate and severely compromised just months before a massive ransomware attack that brought Waikato Hospital to its knees.
Waikato DHB cyber attack: Out of date software used by some staff
Five per cent of Waikato District Health Board's workstations were running out-of-date software susceptible to viruses and malware shortly before a cyber attack paralysed services at its five…