Catherine Hutton is an Open Justice reporter, based in Wellington.
Catherine has worked as a journalist for 20 years, including at the Waikato Times and RNZ. Most recently she was working as a media advisor at the Ministry of Justice.
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Travel company to stump up $140k for unlawful pay cuts during the pandemic
Employee's wages were cut twice during the pandemic without his written consent.

Driver who gave a gang member a lift was repaid with 18 punches, robbed of $1900
The victim was also kicked as he cowered on the ground and his car was damaged.
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‘Can’t courier $1m of drugs’: Police under scrutiny over testing of 11kg meth find
A defence lawyer says all of the drug haul should have been driven to ESR in a police car.
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$673,000 cash, 11.3kg meth found in drug searches, court hears
Crown says Sunia To'ofohe was a drug dealer; defence says he's a victim of poor policing.
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Reeling in the fishers: Police called as man chucks pāua into ocean during standoff
The man said he panicked and feared his fishing gear would be taken.
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Officers seize more than 22,000 banned items from people walking into court
Knives, homemade tasers and knuckledusters were among seized items.
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Two young men, two bad decisions, two grieving families – Coroner issues festive season warning
Drink-driving: 'Do not do it ... and do everything you can to stop anyone else.'
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'No cure for foolishness:' Man who sold stolen property online was 'a bit of a fool'
Abhinav Dutt's lawyer said his offending was very much out of character.
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'Implausible, even fanciful:' Judge's reaction to man's claims he didn't know goods were stolen
Police seized 6000 stolen items after executing search warrants in Operation Trump Card.
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Man who brutally murdered his friend, biting chunks from his ear, jailed for life
Wire Reddington had been on a two-day bender when he murdered Jamie Gill last year.
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Girl confronted church volunteer after learning about sexual abuse at school
Stephen Rolston has been jailed for the 'distressing' abuse which lasted seven years.
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Dame Kerry Prendergast wins stoush against her former council over parking ticket
Two JPs found no evidence that the area was properly designated as a footpath.
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'You are mental, you bastard': Exes clash over wedding details during abuse trial
The judge called a short adjournment to allow the woman to compose herself.
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'Nothing made him stop': Wife details decade of alleged violent sex abuse by porn-obsessed husband
The woman also claims she was forced to have sex involving toys several times a week.
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Porn, sex toys and beatings: Couple's allegedly violent marriage revealed in assault trial
Ex-wife alleges years of abuse; defence claims her story changed to suit her interests.
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Tenant leaves rental in awful condition - but takes carport, gate and garden shed
Landlord wins $27,000 after tenant left rental in 'damaged and very untidy state'.
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'I've been framed': Man resentenced for killing after spending 7 years behind bars
Warren Pay, jailed for murder, is now free after being re-sentenced for manslaughter.
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Man admits fatal punch in nightlife hotspot, taunting and kicking unconscious victim
Siale taunted and kicked his unconscious victim, who later died.
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'A violent, physical fight': Accused pleads guilty part way through stabbing trial
Shane Watson stabbed a man in the neck and shoulder during a brawl this year.
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Hockey sticks and knives: Chaotic fight leaves man in ICU, dog dead
A jury is being asked to decide who was the aggressor, a home owner or a visitor.

'I’m trusting you,' judge tells serial thief with long history of offending
”Please don’t let us down, don’t let [your wife] down," offender told.
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How police brought down kingpin of $2.9m stolen goods ring
The goods were stashed across lockups, homes, businesses and a shipping container.
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'He has this addiction:' Pensioner cast porn to tv, sexually assaulted teen
'I wasn’t really myself after it happened,' teen tells the court as 69yo is sentenced.
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Man evicted from dead parents' home after being declared a squatter
He was allowed to live there if he paid bills and did maintenance - but he didn't.
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'You have problems and need help': Young mum stabbed partner in front of their kids
The father said they had only just agreed to no longer fight in front of the children.
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Man exchanged 1600 messages with key player in $2.9m stolen property ring
Judge: 'You established yourself as the main conduit for stolen property in Wellington'.
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'Kick them out': Aussie landlord sends his kids to NZ to evict tenants
The tenants felt they “had no rights and no choice” other than to leave that day.
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Migrant's 'leading role' in syndicate that smuggled meth in a picture of the Virgin Mary
The Colombian national has been jailed and now faces the possibility of deportation.
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'The cover of Christianity:' Man groomed, abused boys he met at church youth group
'You broke my heart when you assaulted my brother,' victim tells Gordon Barnes.
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Former mayor challenges $40 parking ticket saying there's clearly a 'signage problem'
'It’s plainly a footpath, laid out by council for pedestrians' - council's lawyer.
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Man facing manslaughter charge after assault outside cinema complex
Luke Smith was fatally injured in central Wellington.
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'All she wanted was love': The 'gentle and kind' woman behind the murdered sex worker label
Leah Stephens was allegedly killed for talking about a murder she witnessed.
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Man found guilty of friend's murder after drug-fuelled night at Wairarapa property
The mothers of both men hugged outside court after the verdict was delivered.
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Heavy meth user had been awake for three weeks before alleged killing
Wire Reddington is accused of killing his friend after a night of heavy drinking in 2023.
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Schizophrenia or drug-induced psychosis? What led to man's brutal homicide on rural driveway
Defence claims schizophrenia but the Crown argues drug-induced psychosis.
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'Grandiose ideas': Murder accused claims to have healed 78 inmates, compares self to Jesus
Wire Reddington's psychosis worsened without medication before the alleged murder.
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Murder-accused: It wasn't me. It was my brother ... or I was insane
Defence claims Wire Reddington's schizophrenia could support an insanity defence.
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Tipene Reddington's bracelet data undermines brother's murder accusation
Crown: Ankle data suggests Tipene Reddington was at the house, not close to murder scene.
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Miscarriage of justice: Four quashed convictions in Fuller-Sandys murder case
The Court of Appeal has however ordered a retrial for Stephen Stone.
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'I wasn’t even there': Brother of murder accused denies being the killer
Jamie Gill was drinking with the siblings before his body was found in a paddock.
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'Very sorry:' Father's tearful apology for son's terrifying assault on teen girl
Jarimar Schuster sent to prison for five years for Wellington sexual assault.
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Dead man was missing bits of his ear. A piece found nearby had his friend's DNA on it
Defence lawyer says there are other ways the alleged killer's DNA could have got there.
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Blood, flesh and a dinner plate: grisly forensic scene at Jamie Gill's death
The 32-year-old victim grasped at the mud with his hands as he was dragged on his back.
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Man allegedly confessed to killing, saying his brother 'didn’t have the balls' to finish the job
But while their mother recalls son's aggression, she denies hearing an alleged confession.
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Murder victim found face down in muddy paddock with pieces of his ears missing
Wire Reddington says he didn't kill Jamie Gill - but if he did he was insane at the time.
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Tinder match found guilty of strangling woman in BDSM relationship
'He wanted sexual gratification, and he just took it,' Crown says.
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Bondage and discipline: Fiancee was jealous when partner had sex with other people
Her fiance is accused of strangling two other women during BDSM sex.
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Bondage & discipline trial: Fiancée describes strangulation with another man
She said ‘breath play’ does happen in the BDSM community but is risky.
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Bondage trial: Woman says she felt 'helpless' after allegedly being strangled during sex
The man is accused of choking two women he met on Tinder until they blacked out.
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Bondage and discipline trial: Subordinate was also in business with BDSM partner
The pair, who met through Tinder, began a consensual BDSM relationship in 2019.
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Bondage and discipline: Man doesn’t deny kinky sex but says he didn't strangle women
The Crown says 'this is not a case of BDSM gone wrong', there was no consent.
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'You invaded their lives': Woman stole strangers' identities then took their money
Lexie Aiolupotea-Nofoagatotoa jailed for prolific, ongoing and significant offending.
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Drug addict avoids jail after becoming rehab's 'best client'
Judge: 'Sending you to prison now, at this juncture, would be a backwards step for you.'
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Person of interest in Baby Ru killing admits assaulting NZME journalist
Rosie Morunga also admitted unrelated shoplifting at supermarkets and retail stores.
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Schoolgirl who died after waking with chest pains may have had 'surprisingly silent disease'
Taya Awhina Kauri's heart was later found to weigh twice that of other 9-year-old girls.
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Violent rapist claims failure to get his meds at trial caused miscarriage of justice
Court finds Corrections staff weren't responsible for accused's 'train wreck' testimony.
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'Extreme distress': Man trespassed from abortion clinic for the 15th time
A judge tells Paul Barnao having strongly held beliefs doesn't justify breaking the law.
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Man paused prolonged attack against partner so she could cook him dinner
Judge: 'You treated her like some sort of animal'.
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Court rules iwi was wrong to assert minister has to consult on proposed MACA legislation
Judge rules: "Minister is entitled to consult as much, or as little, as he wishes".
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Crown admits there's no evidence convicted killer Gail Maney murdered anyone
The only witness recanted their evidence and has since died.
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'A labyrinth of lies:' Lawyer criticises case against convicted murderers
Gail Maney and Stephen Stone's lawyers say it's too late for a retrial now.
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'Oh, he got you did he?': Owner's response when unmuzzled dog bites man
The dog was already on a short leash when he attacked a stranger.
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Expert fears there will be another waterfront death before council completes safety work
Dr Frank Stoks gave evidence at the inquest into Sandy Calkin's death in Wellington.

'Not acceptable:' Someone dies at Wellington's waterfront every 1.7 years
But, the city council still has to finalise funding for waterfront safety improvements.
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Council grilled on why it didn't investigate man's fatal fall into Wellington Harbour
Sandy Calkin had been drinking but his friends say he was steady on his feet.
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'I miss him every minute of the day': Grieving dad wants harbour safety improvements
An inquest begins today into how Sandy Calkin died in Wellington Harbour in 2021.
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Man who strangled vulnerable woman was on release conditions from prison
The woman was strangled so hard she saw black spots and later had teeth knocked loose.
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Court overturns ruling on commercial building’s seismic assessment
Engineering NZ says the case highlights limitations of seismic reports.
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Former Wellington Mayor in court challenging $40 parking ticket
Kerry Prendergast denies parking on a footpath, saying signage in the area is 'ambiguous'.
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Homeless woman stole $1700 worth of cigarettes from grocery store
But she's now turned her life around and been wished good luck by a judge.
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Alcoholic unsure he could honour bail conditions asked for instant sentence
Defendant describes his criminal record as 'a colourful one - in the wrong way'.
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High school counsellors were awarded $1.8m for workplace stress - now that's being challenged
Kath and Ron Cronin-Lampe were awarded damages after dealing with 32 deaths.
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Man who hurled items during parliamentary protest had 20 foster homes as a child
Now a judge has praised his efforts to comply with his sentence as 'extraordinary'.
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'Not the boss of me': Relief teacher physically threw misbehaving boy out of class
The boy refused to give a student's work back to them.
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Lawyer: Failure to interview gang member for presentence report is 'highly unusual'
Dylan Anderson was jailed for 12 months in May for his part in a fracas outside court.
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Man killed toddler after being bailed to boy's home following ‘deficient’ OT report
The judge let him move in based on the findings of a ‘deficient’ Oranga Tamariki report.
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‘Get a job': Judge blasts man who sent girls inappropriate Snapchat messages
A 12-year-old victim said she felt like her innocence had been stripped away.
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'Moment of madness': Former teacher, artist’s fall from grace during Parliament protests
Billy-James Natanahira threw pavers at police during the March 2022 riot.