An example of a school lunch. Photo: RNZ / Marika Khabazi Dozens of schools are losing their canteens – some with just 24 hours notice – as the fallout from a school lunch makers liquidation spreads. Libelle, which provides about 125,000 meals a day for the government’s revamped school lunch programme, went bust on Tuesday. … Read more
Sarie Morton was killed when she was struck by a train near Matamata College on 12 March. Photo: Supplied KiwiRail failed to follow a decade-old Coroner’s recommendation to fence off an area of railway line where a young Matamata College student was killed by a train this week. Thirteen-year-old Sarie Morton died after being hit … Read more
In an effort to get thousands of roaming dogs off the streets and into forever homes Auckland Council is opening the country’s first council-operated dog adoption centre in Pukekohe. The need is more pressing than ever with all Tāmaki Makaurau’s dog shelters at capacity. Less than half of roaming dogs in the city were reclaimed … Read more
By Reece Baker A couple at the Homegrown music festival. Photo: RNZ / Reece Baker Thousands have gathered at the Wellington Waterfront as the first night of the Homegrown music festival has kicked off in the capital. Chef Fu, The Kratez, King Kapasi, Stan Walker, Lee Mvtthews, and Synthony will be playing at the Park … Read more
John Hope Muchirahondo, 39, appears for sentencing at Christchurch High Court after being found guilty of a raft of sexual assault charges at a trial last year. Photo: Pool/KAI SCHWOERER Warning: This story discusses sexual violence. A prolific sexual predator, who attacked and violated vulnerable and sometimes unconscious women for a decade, will remain behind … Read more
Environment Southland investigated the discovery of dead eels in the Low Burn Stream at Nicholson Road, Brydone. Photo: Supplied / Environment Southland Iwi representatives in Southland have described the killing of thousands of eels after a man discharged effluent into a local stream as “the worst thing they’ve ever seen”, a court has heard. The … Read more
A review has been launched after a Hillmorton Hospital inpatient died at the weekend. Health New Zealand have provided few details of what happened, but, in a statement, Canterbury Specialist Mental Health Services general manager Vicki Dent confirmed a Hillmorton patient died in Christchurch Hospital over the weekend. St John was notified of an incident … Read more
Earlier four fire trucks were at the scene. File picture. Photo: RNZ / Richard Tindiller Fire and Emergency says four homes had to be evacuated during a fire next to State Highway 1 in Northland’s Brynderwyn Hills on Friday afternoon. Wildfire specialist Rory Renwick said the blaze, which raced through a hectare of grass and … Read more
The only published and available best-selling indie book chart in New Zealand is the top 10 sales list recorded every week at Unity Books’ stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington. AUCKLAND 1 Dream Count by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (Fourth Estate, $38) Dream Count is the first novel in 10 years from the author … Read more
A new poem by Ted Greensmith-West. My grief is like a never-ending anticipation of impending dooms The dark hand that lurks behind the curtain is like Dorothy in photonegative with snarled teeth and pigtails… and acts as the constant reminder that Cole is dead forever now, like dust. // The chance of falling in love … Read more