Stories by Veronica Schmidt

Fire and Emergency is telling fire chiefs they should suspend volunteers facing serious criminal investigations, after a convicted child sex abuser was allowed to remain in a brigade.

Fire and Emergency New Zealand is facing an independent review following years of bullying and sexual harassment complaints.

Fire and Emergency is reviewing its policies after RNZ revealed a firefighter was allowed to remain in his brigade after being convicted of sexually assaulting his young son.

When a firefighter abused his young son, many in their small town refused to believe it. Fire and Emergency kept him on, and locals turned on the boy's mum, saying she'd made up the allegations.

Children who give evidence in sexual violence trials are often traumatised by the experience and more support services are needed to help them through the process, experts say.

A child who was sexually abused by a volunteer firefighter is only the latest of many to be let down by Fire and Emergency's complaints process, an advocate says.

A man who fought to keep his name secret after he filmed people in a gym changing room can now be identified.

Feature - How was Phillip Barnes promoted to CEO of International Accreditation New Zealand, after he planted a spy camera in a gym's changing room? Veronica Schmidt investigates.

The identity of a man who repeatedly hid a spy camera in an Auckland gym's changing room will be revealed tomorrow.

A man who put a spy camera in an Auckland gym's changing room is trying to have his case heard in the Supreme Court in a last-ditch effort to keep his identity secret.

The identity of a man who repeatedly hid a spy camera in an Auckland gym's changing rooms will be revealed, after a Court of Appeal ruling.

The New Zealand Security Intelligence Service behaved in a "questionable" way by deciding not to inform police it knew a serious crime was being committed, an investigation by the Inspector-General of…

A man who repeatedly hid a spy camera in an Auckland gym's changing rooms has applied to appeal in a bid to keep his name secret and his criminal record clear.

A former senior government manager planted a spy camera in an Auckland gym's changing room capturing video of a naked couple, then went on to plant the camera on at least three more occasions, the…

When a stranger videoed Veronica Schmidt undressed in a changing room, the store's staff refused to call police. Here she writes about what it took to finally get the offender in front of a judge.

The Service - As a new podcast reveals SIS secrets from the Cold War, the executive producers explain why they decided classified information should be divulged.

RNZ staff are working from sheds, garages, sewing rooms and gyms to keep the media outlet's website and radio stations running during lockdown.

A New Zealander who arrived home from Thailand yesterday morning says the Covid-19 measures at Auckland Airport are "loose" and she felt safer in Southeast Asia.

A woman who went on a Tinder date with Grace Millane's murderer says he "flipped" when she refused to take him home with her.

A woman who lived with Grace Millane's killer says he was so scary one of their flatmates took a knife to bed with her for protection.

A 26-year-old is the fourth person to die shortly after changing from a branded version of the anti-epilepsy drug lamotrigine to a generic version. Video

Pharmac has backed down on a controversial drug brand switch affecting patients with epilepsy and mental health conditions after three people died following the change.

Analysis - Four months on from becoming a symbol of empathy and compassion, Jacinda Ardern is trying to defend a decision to veto ACC cover for traumatised survivors.

The hotel read about how Yama Nabi was struggling to cope with blood at his job at the meatworks following the mosque attacks, and decided to donate to the butcher.

Distressed survivors can't get support because ACC doesn't cover mental injuries the way it covers physical ones. Can a government which says it's prioritising mental health continue with this model?