Ruth Hill

Asbestos dust has been found in corridors and clinical rooms in Dunedin Hospital, and staff and patients, including pregnant women, may have been exposed. Ruth Hill reports. Audio

Almost 80 riverside homes and businesses in Lower Hutt will be bought by the regional council and the land used to construct a new multi-million dollar stopbank to protect against flooding. Audio

New data shows about 2000 children on any one day are living in households where their parents have lost up to half their benefits because they've failed to turn up to an appointment in most cases. Audio

Legal experts say the New Zealand and Australian governments have a responsibility to help a preschooler facing deportation and hundreds of others in the same situation. Audio

The gaffe-prone National MP Maurice Williamson has apologised after his sexually explicit jokes at a conference awards dinner prompted several delegates to walk out. Audio

Senior doctors say the Government is being dishonest by trumpeting increases in elective surgery while ignoring the growing numbers of people who don't even get in the front door of the hospital. Audio

Thousands of children have been affected by benefit cuts in the past two years because their parents have missed an appointment at Work and Income or failed some other condition. Audio

Dairy farmers say bank credit is drying up faster than Fonterra's milk payout and accuse banks of tough tactics. Audio

Thousands of people are having their benefits cut off because they are not filling in the complicated paperwork required. Audio

A child rapist with an intellectual disability who has spent 45 years in mental hospitals and prisons has won a landmark ruling from the United Nations Human Rights Committee that his detention is… Audio

The Press Council has found the New Zealand Herald used elements of subterfuge to persuade a young waitress who had accused the Prime Minister of repeatedly yanking her ponytail into going public with… Audio

A company promoting meal replacement shakes, detox pills and other weight-loss products for children says it could have the solution to the child obesity epidemic. Audio

It's branded "New Zealand's Number 1 Breakfast Cereal" and the Official Breakfast of the All Blacks. Audio

The High Court judgement in the case of Lecretia Seales, who died this morning, has just been released. Our reporter, Ruth Hill, has been reading the judgement. Audio

Police figures show the thin blue line has got a lot thinner, as the number of constables on the beat has dropped by almost 18 percent since 2009. Audio

Unions representing low-paid workers expect the small boost to tax breaks for working families in the Budget will be quickly be absorbed by rising costs. Audio

A company importing aluminium cladding of the type blamed for a catastrophic blaze in Melbourne is investigating whether it may have been used incorrectly in buildings here. Audio

John Key faces yet more embarrassment over the Ponytailgate scandal, with the waitress he annoyed now in talks with a prominent union. Audio

Our reporter Ruth Hill has been reading the Coroner Peter Ryan's report, which shows he's not convinced the rules as they stand are strong enough to stop stoned pilots taking to the air. Audio

Burger King has announced it is scrapping television advertising aimed at children and has stopped including children's toys with their meals. Audio