Monday, 06 September 2010 12:58 pm

Lead Story

Youth use social media to connect on Chch quake

Sep 6th, 2010 | By Nicole Bennik | Category: Front Page Layout, Lead Story, News

Christchurch youth were quick to turn to social networking sites to tell their stories after a 7.1 earthquake hit their hometown in the early hours on Saturday morning.

Some of NewsWire reporter NICOLE BENNIK’s friends were out early with their video camera to record the chaos.



OUR POLLS: Split vote on SAS in Afghanistan

Aug 27th, 2010 | By Newswire Team | Category: Front Page Layout, Lead Story, News

Wellingtonians are evenly split over whether the SAS should be withdrawn from Afghanistan.

But a clear majority thinks the Kiwi reconstruction team should stay in Bamiyan Province, according to four NewsWire polls conducted over the past three weeks.



Whitireia distances itself from student fee ruckus

Aug 16th, 2010 | By Newswire Team | Category: Front Page Layout, Lead Story, News

Whitireia Community Polytechnic is distancing itself from a scandal that has erupted over funds and assets missing from the polytech’s student association.

CEO Don Campbell points out that the students’ association is an independent body over which the polytech has no direct control.



Hygiene alert: beauty clinics lack oversight

Aug 13th, 2010 | By Aaron van Delden | Category: Front Page Layout, Lead Story, News

Complaints about beauty therapy clinics and nail bars may see Wellington City Council add them to its inspection regime.

Enquiries by AARON VAN DELDEN reveal incidents involving infections and pests, and put the issue on the council’s radar.



The name Rimutaka means ‘nothing’, says iwi

Jul 4th, 2010 | By Owen Winter | Category: Front Page Layout, Lead Story, News

The suggestion to change the spelling of Rimutaka – to Remutaka – is more to do with pronunciation than spelling, says the local iwi.

Mike Kawana, of Rangitane-O-Wairarapa, says Rimutaka, in fact, “means nothing”, reports OWEN WINTER.



Baby killer whale goes under knife at Te Papa

Mar 18th, 2010 | By Samantha Guzzo | Category: Front Page Layout, Lead Story, News

Internationally recognised scientists have brought their scalpels to Te Papa for a rare chance to dissect a dead baby orca found off the West Coast of the South Island.

SAMANTHA GUZZO endured blood, guts and smell to record their work, which began at Te Papa’s research lab this week.



Few arrests as city turns into super Sevens party

Feb 7th, 2010 | By Kylie Klein-Nixon | Category: Front Page Layout, Lead Story, Multimedia, News, Sport

Dorothy, Toto and Tin Man played the Wicked Witch and Batman in central Wellington after the Sevens on Saturday night – but the games were drinking, not rugby.

The city was a riot of colour and (largely clean) fun at the conclusion of super Sevens weekend, reports KYLIE KLEIN-NIXON.



Capital city shines for the super Sevens weekend

Dec 5th, 2009 | By Newswire Team | Category: Front Page Layout, Lead Story, Sport

Thousands of people have jammed into Wellington for the biggest party of the year.

NewsWire’s KIMBERLEY CRAYTON-BROWN, PENELOPE SCOTT and CARL SUURMOND report on the dressing up, the parade, the teams…and, oh yeah, the rugby.



THUNDERSTRUCK: Hell’s bells go all night long

Nov 29th, 2009 | By Newswire Team | Category: Arts/Entertainment, Front Page Layout, Lead Story

AC/DC’s first NZ concert in 14 years – staged at Westpac Stadium in Wellington – could be heard as far off as Brooklyn, Petone and Miramar. NewsWire’s KYLIE KLEIN-NIXON, PENELOPE SCOTT, KIMBERLEY CRAYTON-BROWN and VAUGHAN ELDER were among 35,000 fans.



Polytechnics face mergers, loss of community input

Sep 14th, 2009 | By Lee Stace | Category: Front Page Layout, Lead Story, News

The Government’s tertiary education revamp will cut community interest and involvement in polytechnics and institutes of technology.

LEE STACE talks to Whitireia Polytech chairman Dennis Sharman, who leads the sector’s protests to the Education Minister.



Recession triggers drink spiking for theft not sex

Aug 12th, 2009 | By Kara Lok | Category: Front Page Layout, Lead Story, News

DRINKS are being spiked in Wellington bars for robbery rather than sexual assault, say some Wellington ambulance officers.

Paramedics who took a recent victim to hospital urged her to check her wallet. KARA LOK reports on recession-spurred crime.



Whitireia journalism grad one of top three in NZ

May 17th, 2009 | By Newswire Team | Category: Front Page Layout, Lead Story, News

Whitireia Journalism School’s Luke Appleby was named one of NZ’s top three journalism students at the Qantas Media Awards. He’s pictured here with head tutor Jim Tucker at the awards dinner in Wellington on Friday night.



Swine flu fears beat needle phobia as more jabs delivered

May 6th, 2009 | By Newswire Team | Category: Front Page Layout, Lead Story

With influenza top of mind thanks to the global swine flu alert, this winter’s flu vaccinations are proving more popular in many centres. DAVID HAYAT reports that the trend has shown up this week at Whitireia Community Polytechnic.



Capital’s carbon zero – gone by lunchtime

Apr 20th, 2009 | By Paul McBeth | Category: Front Page Layout, Lead Story, Student Features

Wellington City declared it would be a leader in the battle against climate change but its carbon-zero goal is unrealistic, the mayor now admits.
NewsWire reporter PAUL McBETH continues his investigation.



Now’s good: Business bargain hunters set to make a fortune

Mar 24th, 2009 | By Paul McBeth | Category: Features, Front Page Layout, Lead Story

A former banker seems like the last person to approach for advice in a credit crunch.

However, PAUL McBETH finds Kiwibank director Richard Westlake knows a thing or two about thriving rather than just surviving.



Rainy outlook – but no gloom – for Cuba Carnival

Feb 20th, 2009 | By Newswire Team | Category: Front Page Layout, Lead Story, News

IT was drizzling in Cuba St today, but business people were far from gloomy about prospects for the Cuba St Carnival.

An expected traffic jam caused by closed streets for the carnival and a Harley rally is likely to be more of a problem than the weather.



Botanic Gardens stream polluted with paint

Jan 27th, 2009 | By Jenny Meyer | Category: Lead Story, News

Wellington Botanic Gardens stream was looking so murky recently tourists and children visiting the top attraction were speculating on the cause, reports JENNY MEYER.

Wellington City Council thinks someone was careless when cleaning paint brushes.



Fears for safety of Jewish band at city concert

Jan 14th, 2009 | By Laura Frykberg | Category: Lead Story, News

A Wellington Jewish folk band performing at the Botanical Gardens was offered extra security by Wellington City Council, which feared it might attract anti-Israel protests.

The band declined, reports LAURA FRYKBERG.



We’re away for a holiday break – but back soon

Dec 22nd, 2008 | By Jim Tucker | Category: Lead Story, News

Students and staff at Whitireia Journalism School wish you a great holiday break.

We’re away for a couple weeks, but new material will continue to be posted from early January. Watch for a new blog/column on Wellington life over the summer.



Scorch-O-Rama gets go-ahead from council

Oct 31st, 2008 | By Sarah Coddington | Category: Lead Story, News

Wellington City Council has approved plans to replace the Chocolate Fish cafe, including putting tables on both sides of Karaka Bay Rd.

But some of the neighbours are not happy, reports SARAH CODDINGTON.