What charities need from you this Christmas

Christmas is celebrated by many as a time of joy and togetherness, but the holiday season can also add a whole new set of pressures for Kiwis living in need. Alex Casey talks to three charities who are working with The Warehouse this Christmas to lighten the load for those who need it most.  Sometimes, … Read more

Plunket’s founder was an awful person obsessed with eugenics

Emily Writes speaks to researcher Leimomi Oakes about Plunket’s dark past and the despicable views of its founder Sir Frederic Truby King. Since becoming a parent six years ago and being introduced to our country’s Plunket health service, I’ve been fascinated by the history of the organisation. By all accounts, its founder Frederic Truby King … Read more

The YHA was set up by volunteer members. Now it’s refusing to listen to them

Former YHANZ board member and Opoutere YHA member Mark Ebrey argues that the national board of the Youth Hostel Association is losing touch with the people that really matter – it’s members.  All over the country, organisations are losing touch with their stakeholders. The Plunket Society recently taking over local branch funds is just one example of … Read more

The fight for Karori Plunket Creche: a mother speaks

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On Friday 20 April the doors to the Karori Plunket Creche will close to the last child, the last family, for the very last time. Angela Cuming spoke to Liz Taylor whose son Allan attends the creche. In March, Plunket announced Karori Plunket Creche’s closure, and took the $50,000 the community had fundraised and  earmarked for renovations. … Read more

The Bulletin: Rest home horrors

Good morning and welcome to The Bulletin. In today’s edition: Reports detail terrible conditions in rest homes, lawyers called in over Plunket money, and Dunedin students are burning fewer couches.  Rest home patients are suffering from bad care and understaffing. The NZ Herald reports in some instances residents are being strapped to chairs all day, and not moved at … Read more

The Bulletin: Tensions take off between Air NZ, government

Good morning, and welcome to The Bulletin. In today’s edition: Finance Minister considers influencing Air NZ through board appointments, Plunket volunteers might walk out, and everyone’s favourite former President is in town.  Air New Zealand has complained to finance minister Grant Robertson, over attacks by regional economic development minister Shane Jones, reports the NZ Herald. But the complaints don’t … Read more

New Zealand is a village – let’s make it the kind that helps raise the child

Plunket’s chief executive Amanda Malu says celebrating and supporting whānau and their parenting choices is how the village of New Zealand can help raise every child. Plunket people, like many across the country, were genuinely thrilled by the announcement from the prime minister and her partner Clarke Gayford on Friday last week. Yet the news … Read more