Paul Smith

Have you ever wondered whether you're getting a reasonable lifespan out of your laptop or dishwasher or oven?

Consumer NZ has revealed how long you should reasonably expect your household appliances… Audio

Buyer beware - "heavy duty" batteries are being outlasted by similar products.

Consumer NZ tested fifteen products and found alkaline and lithium models performed three to five times better.

The… Audio

Consumer New Zealand says it's making the biggest change to its product testing process in more than 50 years of existence - by only recommending appliances that last.

Having always limited its… Audio

Panellists Penny Ashton and Stephen Franks discuss calls to ban appliances that can't be repaired, baseball-style caps for police, and unexpected tax bills for parents helping their children get into… Audio

Grab the newest model, buy the latest thing, nothing is built to last. Often if you want something repaired - it can't be. Can we change all that?  Audio

Consumer NZ head of testing Paul Smith joins The Panel for more on the testing process and results. Audio

A large fire on the roof of a restaurant closed off streets in central Wellington on Sunday afternoon.

Crews were called to fight the fire on the Cuba Street just after 4pm.

Charlotte Cook has more.

Advice on how to put a baby to sleep is very clear: on their back, in their own bed with a firm mattress. But an online retailer of baby products is concerned there's a lack of safety regulations when… Audio

Trampolines have been a staple of kiwi backyards for years, but experts reckon more regulation is needed. New ACC data shows there are more than 1000 tramp accidents every month in New Zealand, and… Audio

Dr Paul Smith, is head of testing at Consumer New Zealand. He says although we live in an age of gadgets and appliances, many don't last. And whole classes of appliances are now uneconomic to repair… Audio

Don't expect the toaster that you get for a wedding present to still be there for your silver anniversary. There's only about a two-year life expectancy for a toaster and even the bigger appliances… Audio

The government has changed its plan to impose GST on overseas online purchases of lower valued items. Audio

In March a group of EV owners and researchers raised concerns about the battery health of the newer 30 kilowatt Nissan Leaf cars, which appeared to be degrading at a faster rate than the older model… Audio

Paul Smith of consumer.org.nz has been reviewing which smoke alarms work best – and which ones should be avoided at all costs to keep your family safe. Audio

Faulty airbags are endangering the lives of New Zealand drivers and their passengers, part of a problem affecting 100 million cars worldwide.  A voluntary recall was announced in 2013 but so far… Audio

At long last full awareness of this potentially deadly issue crosses the Tasman, and a major compulsory recall of alpha-type Takata airbags is under way, affecting tens of thousands of cars in NZ… Audio

Can you really save money on petrol with loyalty schemes? We ask paul Smith from Consumer NZ. Audio

Consumer NZs Paul Smith talks about the profit margins of our major petrol retailers. Audio