Stories by Emma Hatton

Hundreds of people have swum at a popular Lower Hutt pool in the past two months without knowing its roof would be at high risk in an earthquake.

Water Safety New Zealand is calling for a dramatic increase in school swim programmes to help tackle New Zealand's high drowning statistics.

Trucking companies are competing for big contracts at the expense of their staff, a truck driver's union has warned.

Lawyers are warning more needs to be done to stop migrants from losing millions of dollars in property disputes.

The furniture industry is facing changes with the government looking at whether it should ban a widely-used highly flammable foam filling.

The government has announced it will match a philanthropist's $50 million donation to build Wellington's new children's hospital.

A recent study showing women make up only a quarter of board members in the private sector has prompted a debate on whether mandatory quotas should be introduced to bring the number up.

A woman denied a post-study work visa says she's baffled by the Immigration department's decision not to let her stay in the country.

Jacinda Ardern has ruled out any new regional fuel tax while she's Prime Minister, in a spontaneous declaration in Parliament this afternoon.

National standards and charter schools are one step closer to being dropped after the Education Amendment Bill passed its third reading today.

The government is deciding whether to introduce a "national interest" clause to the Overseas Investment Act.

A New Zealander has been elected to lead the top body for emergency medicine for the first time in the group's 35 year history.

The prolific use of herbicides is contributing to antibiotic resistance at rates faster than first thought, a new study shows.

A Wellington pharmacy has been robbed at knife-point twice in six days.

The government needs to pass legislation banning discrimination against overweight people, a health expert says.

The Island Bay Residents' Association wants to quash the city council's plan to revamp the suburb's controversial cycleway.

An abortion law lobby group has complained to the Human Rights Commission and says current laws breach the rights of pregnant people.

An off-the-grid community kitchen project is set to serve up 200 meals per day, half of which will be free for schoolchildren, with produce from a nearby prison.

Victoria University is insisting it did not evict a student from a hall of residence after she tried to commit suicide, but has confirmed it told the woman she would need to leave. Audio

Increased isolation of the elderly, mentally ill and disabled people were some of the concerns residents raised about buses in Wellington at a meeting yesterday.

The owner of the Tolaga Bay Inn, north of Gisborne, has an ambitious plan to turn it into a business and tourism hub.

Nearly half of buses arriving during peak periods on one of Wellington's busiest routes are too small, figures for the regional council show. Video

A tree that was once cleared without a second thought, the kānuka, could be the answer to land erosion on the East Coast - if the usefulness of its oil can be scientifically proven. Video

A couple's three-year fight for Earthquake Commission compensation will come to a head in the High Court in Whanganui on Monday.