Stories by Finn Blackwell
News
Vandalism causes widespread internet outage in Auckland
The internet went down around Māngere Bridge and Onehunga early on Monday and still hasn't been fixed.
Police spend millions on station they moved out of five years ago
Staff left the Auckland station in 2019 - but the bills have continued mounting up.
Man charged with scientist's murder appears in court
The 26-year-old, who was granted interim name suppression, was arrested on Wednesday afternoon.
Polkinghorne jury hears meth use can increase violence
The expert testimony comes after a meth pipe was found at the workplace of a surgeon accused of murdering his wife. Audio
Auckland Transport welcomes new transport officers
From January to June, 120 incidents of violence, threats and aggression were reported by bus operators across the network. Audio
Polkinghorne 'fell asleep' in meetings, appeared aggressive, former colleague tells court
The former CEO of Auckland Eye has spoken about the discovery of a methamphetamine pipe at their workplace.
Police log more than 20,000 hate crimes in NZ since 2020
The national total has been increasing, from 1315 in 2020 to almost 6400 cases last year.
Drop in crime or lack of reporting?
Auckland council says crime in the central city is dropping, but a Queen Street building manager is questioning the figures.
'It tasted like poison' - Mum says son tried meth 'lolly'
A former meth addict says it's lucky no children have been hurt after she unwittingly took home a contaminated food parcel. Audio
'Please give us a police station' - Central Aucklanders still feel unsafe
A building manager in downtown Auckland says safety measures put in place in the central city are not working, and that a brick and mortar police station is the key to making a difference.
Philip Polkinghorne murder trial: Barber told to say nothing to police
Paul Adriaanse told Philip Polkinghorne he wouldn't lie to police if they came asking questions.
Surgeon's wife broke down in tears over money troubles before death, niece tells court
Pauline Hanna's niece says her aunt was worried about leaving Philip Polkinghorne as she did not have money to live off.
12yo suffers serious face injury after lunchtime attack
"We don't understand [why] the student hurt my son," his father says.
Police, AT working to mitigate issues on troublesome bus route
Auckland Transport says it has noticed repeat issues on the 70 bus, having to alert police to the behaviour of some passengers.
'He is an angry man': Pauline Hanna recorded saying about husband before death
The High Court murder trial heard a recording of Pauline Hanna saying her husband was angry and wanted to have sex with everyone.
'Maybe I just didn't listen': Jury hears murder-accused surgeon's police interview
Philip Polkinghorne, who claims wife Pauline Hanna committed suicide, questioned if he put too much pressure on her before her death.
Police called 163 times to a single motel in a year
The callouts in the upmarket suburb range from breaches of bail, family harm, assaults, to disorder, general theft and trespass.
Fatal shooting by police necessary to protect themselves, watchdog rules
The Independent Police Conduct Authority has found the shooting of David Fononga in West Auckland last year was justified.
Retired surgeon on murder trial: Blood found on wife's bed belonged to husband
Philip Polkinghorne denies killing his wife Pauline Hanna in their Remuera home in 2021.
Polkinghorne murder trial: Police quizzed on state of bedroom
A police sergeant giving evidence at a murder trial of a man accused of staging the murder of his wife to look like a suicide says there was no proof of the body being moved but the state of the…
Rope at scene of surgeon's wife's death 'seemed unusual', detective says
A police officer has described what he saw at the scene of Pauline Hanna's death
Neighbours decry rooster menacing Auckland suburb
Residents on the North Shore have rallied behind a poster searching for a troublesome fowl.
Doubts over govt's police promise as numbers keep falling
A recruiting pause and officers heading to Australia have seen a big decline in constabulary staffing.