A South Island gymnastics coach once described by a young girl he abused as a "grandfather figure" is attempting to have his 15-year prison sentence reduced.
The blaze on Christchurch's Port Hills in February started on private property but investigators have not determined how it started, a new report shows.
Police Commissioner Andrew Coster says there's no bad blood with the National Party as he leaves the force early to head up the new Social Investment Agency.
The Health and Disability Commission (HDC) has found a woman's rights were breached when her right fallopian tube was removed without her informed consent.
RNZ has cancelled the broadcast of a podcast episode featuring disgraced former minister Kiritapu Allan, saying it does not meet its standards of impartiality.
The Foreign Minister has called claims a West Papuan politician paid a bribe ahead of the release of kidnapped New Zealand pilot Phillip Mehrtens "a disgrace".
The coalition government disagrees with advice provided by officials that $3 billion a year is needed to reach New Zealand's child poverty reduction target.