We’ve all wrestled with a jar or plastic milk seal that’s proven difficult to budge, but what happens if the thing you are struggling to open is crucial to your health?

Fair Go: Foiled by tricky meds packaging? You're not alone

We all want to follow the advice of our medical professionals — but sometimes, we have our hands full just getting pills out of their packs.

May 7, 2024

6:02

Lizzie Smith

Fair Go: Couple baffled after ute failure blamed on fuel mix-up

When Dion and Lizzy's usually reliable Ford Ranger broke down, they felt something smelt off when they were told what had gone wrong.

April 30, 2024

6:56

The owner of one debt collection company Fair Go spoke with said they very quickly try to work out whether someone who hasn't paid a debt either can't pay or won't pay.

Debt help service faces budget squeeze

A debt solutions charity is seeing Government funding end as demand looks set to rise.

April 23, 2024

5:50

Sam Armstrong

Fair Go: Muriwai renter shocked at 7-day notice to leave home

Sam Armstrong was given urgent notice to leave after Auckland Council assessed the land as risk category 3, but she'd lived there for a year since Cyclone Gabrielle, so why the haste and was it justified?

April 10, 2024

8:12

Karen has held her personalised plate for nearly 15 years, but now has to justify it to Waka Kotahi after someone complained about KAREN.

Fair Go: KAREN number plate draws complaint

Karen has held her personalised plate for over 15 years. Now she has to justify it to Waka Kotahi after someone complained that it's offensive.

March 25, 2024

6:38

Vape industry swipes at Health Ministry over enforcement: 'Little experience'

Vape industry swipes at Health Ministry over enforcement: 'Little experience'

The vaping industry is lobbying the Associate Health Minister to strip health officials of the responsibility for vaping regulations and laws in favour of the Ministry of Justice.

March 5, 2024

1:45

Vapes available for sale online.

Fair Go: Kids get vapes delivered straight to their front door

When a concerned parents got in touch to explain just how easy it had been for her son to access vapes online, Fair Go put it to the test.

March 4, 2024

8:35

February 2024
Slingshot has stopped sending paper bills to customers, which has left some feeling excluded because they don't want to deal with the company online only.

Digital exclusion – is it OK to refuse to post out a bill?

Slingshot has stopped sending paper bills to customers, leaving some feeling excluded because they don't want to deal with the company online only.

February 27, 2024

4:10

Too little insurance cover could be a second calamity when disaster strikes - here's how to avoid it.

Do you have enough insurance cover if a natural disaster strikes?

Fair Go’s Garth Bray looks at climate change, insurance and the risks for your home.

February 15, 2024

1:48

December 2023
Times are tough, in household and government budgets.

The Chipolata Budget – more sizzle, less sausage

Analysis: It’s the kind of conversation many families may be having right now ― what we can’t get for Christmas after all, says Garth Bray.

December 20, 2023

November 2023
Despite approving the black plates Waka Kotahi has discovered its own toll road cameras can sometimes struggle to read them.

'Readability issues' with some black number plates

Despite approving the black plates, Waka Kotahi has discovered its own toll road cameras can sometimes struggle to read them.

November 13, 2023

5:23

Simon bought a Segway escooter advertised as going for 20km before running out of juice – but every time he’s used it it’s fallen short of that mark.

Fair Go: Man says Segway fails to reach 20km range claim

Simon bought a Segway e-scooter advertised as going for 20km before running out of juice – but every time he’s used it, it’s fallen short of that mark.

November 7, 2023

6:45

October 2023
Clients of Ian Uhatahi were left high and dry after he did a runner, so others have stepped up to help one couple left with half-done work.

Good Samaritans help clients of Akl handyman who left jobs unfinished

Clients of contractor Ian Uhatahi were left high and dry after he did a runner. Now meet the guys who are putting it right.

October 16, 2023

4:29

As Auckland scaffolder Emerson discovered, Parking Services Ltd is enforcing breach fees for private parking spaces that ramp up rapidly.

How a quick drink stop saw man face $340 parking fee

As Auckland scaffolder Emerson discovered, Parking Services Ltd is enforcing breach fees for private parking spaces that ramp up rapidly.

October 9, 2023

4:58

September 2023
Where the hear on a mug can be seen.

Microwave accidents costing close to $500k a year

Fair Go takes a deeper dive into what is 'microwave safe' after one of our own gets burned.

September 25, 2023

3:39

After Jerry’s dog took a liking to his hearing aids, he was frustrated he wasn’t allowed to get a better replacement for the same amount of money.

Man battles insurer over hearing aid replacement

After Jerry's dog took a liking to his hearing aids, he was frustrated he wasn't allowed to get a better replacement for the same money.

September 21, 2023

7:06

Ian Uhatahi appears to have made a habit of taking large deposits and failing to deliver promised work.

Auckland handyman leaves customers out of pocket by thousands

Ian Uhatahi appears to have made a habit of taking large deposits and failing to deliver promised work.

September 11, 2023

8:30

August 2023
The Fair Go team put bank calls centres to the test

Call Centre Olympics: Fair Go tests bank call centre response times

We also ask a scam investigator what the banks are doing, and if they are doing it quickly enough.

August 16, 2023

4:59

Dr Hayden Thorne’s research into the US Supreme Court and successful legal strategies was turned into a book without his permission.

Kiwi academic's thesis put up for sale without his knowledge

Dr Hayden Thorne’s research into the US Supreme Court and successful legal strategies was turned into a book without his permission.

August 9, 2023

6:10

July 2023
Fair Go has spoken with two clients of Dean Lister, director of Eleven Ltd, who paid hundreds of thousands of dollars for work that hasn’t been completed.

Clients left 'in such a mess' after builder goes bust

Fair Go has spoken with two clients of Dean Lister, director of Eleven Ltd, who paid hundreds of thousands of dollars for work that hasn't been completed.

July 24, 2023

8:45

Despite paying a power bill, a flat of new grads had their electricity cut – what could they do about an extra power meter and a gigantic bill?

Mystery meter gives Akl flatties massive power bill shock

A $2800 bill with six weeks to pay left six young women grasping for answers, so Fair Go obliged.

July 10, 2023

7:39

An Auckland couple had seen faecal matter, toilet paper and period products on their lawn and in their house.

Sewage-flooded couple find a Fair Go fix with Watercare

An Auckland couple say they've had a better offer from Watercare to help fend off other people's wastewater flooding their home.

July 4, 2023

3:19

June 2023
Vaping (file photo).

Govt criticised over confusing process to change vape rules

Some health advocates say will still leave consumers confused about how much nicotine they are actually vaping.

June 22, 2023

A 60-year-old man has also been arrested after police raided his home.

Alleged 'money mule' charged with laundering $1m fraud

Police tell Fair Go they've had success investigating a fraud that cost two their life savings.

June 13, 2023

0:46

An Auckland family says its being asked to pay for other people's pollution, after wastewater surges from the public sewer blanketed their backyard in filth during floods.

Family battles Watercare over public sewer dumping in their back yard

An Auckland family says it's being asked to pay for other people's pollution, after wastewater surges from the public sewer blanketed their backyard in filth during floods.

June 12, 2023

9:20