Zoe Madden-Smith

3 weeks ago | 1news.co.nz | Zoe Madden-Smith

More than 200 schools across the motu held pride events this week, standing firm against a reported rise in anti-rainbow hate. One of Auckland’s biggest school pride events, Lil Gay Out — hosted annually by Hobsonville Point Secondary School — was cancelled this year after receiving protest threats from anti-rainbow groups. The event usually draws hundreds of students from secondary schools across the region but organisers say it needed to be cancelled to keep students safe.

1 month ago | 1news.co.nz | Zoe Madden-Smith

ME/Chronic fatigue syndrome is a physical disease but misinformation from decades ago claiming it was psychological has resulted in stigma that still impacts the care of patients today. Zoe Madden-Smith looks into the controversy around the mysterious illness for Re: Investigates. Watch it now on TVNZ+. On a good day, Tammy Rumsey can say a short sentence and have her face washed by her mum. On a bad day, she is too weak to turn her head on her pillow.

2 months ago | 1news.co.nz | Zoe Madden-Smith

When plumber Hera Eruera arrives at a plumbing job she gets a mix of reactions. One time a customer opened the door and immediately said: "No, not interested". Hera replied, “Oh, did you not call for a plumber?” And the customer said "Oh you’re the plumber, I thought you were a sales rep trying to sell me something". “I said ‘No, definitely the plumber, I heard you had a leak’.

Mar 13, 2025 | 1news.co.nz | Zoe Madden-Smith

If a person spends more than 13 weeks in hospital, their benefit is automatically cut to $55 a week. Some patients and advocates say that's not enough to survive on and the automatic process further punishes people who are too unwell to fight it, Zoe Madden-Smith reports. Rhiannon Purves has been bedridden in Wellington Hospital for months. Her entire life is confined to four walls as she is unable to walk and is hardly able to speak.

Mar 11, 2025 | 1news.co.nz | Zoe Madden-Smith

If a person spends more than 13 weeks in hospital, their benefit is automatically cut to $55 a week. Some patients and advocates say that's not enough to survive on and the automatic process further punishes people who are too unwell to fight it, Zoe Madden-Smith reports. Rhiannon Purves has been bedridden in Wellington Hospital for months. Her entire life is confined to four walls as she is unable to walk and is hardly able to speak.