Stories by Niva Chittock
News
Gloriavale leader Howard Temple facing indecency charges involving 10 girls
The 83-year-old appeared in the Greymouth District Court today, charged with sexual offending against the girls over a period of more than 20 years.
Dickason told psychiatrist of parenting and mental health strains
Lauren Dickason relied on her husband to help manage her depression and anxiety, the High Court at Christchurch has heard. Audio
Mother on murder trial: Self-prescription is 'problematic', says expert
A forensic psychiatrist told the Christchurch High Court it is concerning the woman accused of murdering her children was self-prescribing for her mental health.
Dickason told psychiatrist her children would be 'better off in heaven'
The High Court has heard what was going through Lauren Dickason's mind in the lead-up to killing her children. Audio
Dickason 'distant', on edge of breakdown before leaving for NZ - mother
Lauren Dickason's mother has told the court her daughter seemed absent in the final months before she left South Africa for Timaru.
Lauren Dickason sobs as police interview video plays in court
Her face crumpled in the video as she stated what she had done - killing her three children - was "irreversible". Audio
Mother searched how to cause child drug overdose before killing daughters
Lauren Dickason made online searches on how to cause child drug overdoses in the weeks leading up to the deaths of her three young daughters. Audio
Dickason trial: 'She's done this to hurt me' father said after finding daughters' bodies
"She's done this to hurt me" were some of the first words from Lauren Dickason's husband after finding his three young daughters dead in their beds.
Dickason murder trial: Family concerned for mother's mental health before move to NZ
The High Court has heard Lauren Dickason's family had serious concerns about her mental wellbeing in the weeks before she moved to New Zealand.
Dickason murder trial: Mother spoke of harming children three times before their deaths
The High Court in Christchurch has heard Lauren Dickason spoke about harming her daughters on three separate occasions before they died.
Lauren Dickason murder trial: Crown details mother's messages to friends
Crown lawyers say a mother charged with murdering her three daughters in Timaru in 2021 talked about harming her children in messages to friends.
School's numbers cut to stop out-of-zone enrolment
The Ministry of Education says a Christchurch intermediate's roll is being reduced to encourage students to go to their local school.
Few travel plan changes for government organisations, despite climate promises
A majority of the government organisations working to become carbon neutral from 2025 have not yet established travel limits for their staff.
Surgery centre's emergency closure sign 'how bad nursing crisis has become'
Christchurch's only 24-hour surgery was forced to close its doors for almost three hours on Tuesday night due to high demand.
To tweet or not to tweet - Emergency responders mull Twitter limits
Twitter's new interim viewing limits will not stop important messages from getting to the public, emergency services say.
Nurses Organisation pleased Te Whatu Ora beginning recruitment process in Canterbury
According to tools used to determine safe staffing levels, Canterbury's neurosurgical, emergency and intensive care departments were short dozens of full-time roles.
Grocers, retailers get ready to implement changes for plastics ban
New Zealand will wave goodbye to another lot of single-use plastics on Saturday including produce bags, cutlery, plates and bowls.
Christchurch's Chisnallwood Intermediate to have roll cut by 200 students
The Ministry of Education has decided to push ahead with plans to reduce the roll, rejecting the school's alternative proposal.
Council investigating how human and animal waste is entering its waterways
Christchurch City Council is now leading an investigation into how human and animal waste is entering its waterways.
Teachers strike to hit extra-curricular activities
High school teachers are ramping up their strike action after refusing the latest collective agreement from the Ministry of Education. Audio
Christchurch venues call for updated noise plan to protect live music culture
Protecting live music venues is taking on a new urgency in Christchurch, with the popular 12 Bar announcing it will close.
WorkSafe declined case of teen injured on school trip
The mother of a teenager who received a permanent eye injury on a school trip says she feels there is a failing of culture at WorkSafe.
Environmentalists challenge case for possible new waste incinerator
Zero Waste Network Aotearoa says the company behind a controversial waste incinerator should not be allowed to buy land.
Council ends unsafe tree planting and spraying after concerns
Canterbury Regional Council has finally restarted willow tree planting and chemical spraying, six months after a complaint was made about its safety practices.