Kelly Makiha, a Multimedia Journalist at the Rotorua Daily Post, specialises in court and police reporting.
I started work as a Multimedia Journalist at the Rotorua Daily Post as an 18 year-old in 1996 and I am still here, loving every single day. I wanted to be a journalist since I was a child and remember making my mum follow the flashing lights of emergency services so I could see what was happening. I started writing for my local newspaper in Timaru when I was a young teen and knew then that this was the job for me. I made the move to the Rotorua Daily Post and it was meant to be a stepping stone but I fell in love with this city, got married and we are now raising our three children here. I have covered all rounds but specialise in court and police reporting and have been chief reporter or assistant editor for most of my career. I am now back doing what I love – writing stories that matter, holding people and organisations to account, celebrating heroes, paying tribute to amazing lost loved ones and using my role to highlight issues to make a difference. Each day I’m honoured to be surrounded by a group of professionals who work hard and believe in what we do.
Victim's mother - 'I’m just livid': Why a man is appealing his murder sentence 22 years later
He murdered a young pregnant stranger by stabbing her 15 times.
Explosive pie-eating scenario discovered as pupils learn media skills
Lynmore Primary School pupils have got a new-found love of the role of the media.
Country music awards hit high note with renowned guest artists
Country music singers from throughout New Zealand are vying to be the best.
'Trump on steroids': The argument to keep convicted entertainment figure's name secret
A leading entertainment figure sentenced for sexual offending wants his name kept secret.
What it's really like inside a courtroom
Girls' High students have had a taste of working in the criminal courts.
Mountain bike community rallies after friend's shock diagnosis
Tour de France rider Julian Dean donates bike to Parkinson's New Zealand fundraisers.
Pipeline work halted after sacred site protest
The council says it needs more direct discussion with iwi and mana whenua.
Convicted rapist extradited from Australia
Lee Josey has appeared in the Rotorua District Court.
'Tragic accident': Coroner rules child died after oven tipped on her
'Dearly loved' girl’s death a reminder of need for constant adult supervision - Coroner.
Jaw-dropping moment as high school student nails the voice of Frankie Valli
If you haven't been to Jersey Boys yet, get your tickets now.
'On the world stage': Rotorua group joins PM's delegation
The experienced cultural group will perform four times during a week-long visit.
'Thank you all for caring': Community rallies for fire victims
A woman and children who lost everything in a fire last week are now in emergency housing.
'We’re not suddenly okay with it. We are tired'
Rotorua sees big drop in public submissions on continued contracted emergency housing.
NZ's 'most serious' child porn bust: Man with 800 hours of material jailed
'This is so, so, serious ... It just strikes at the values of a civil society.'
Where the jobs are: Top region, industries looking for workers
Which industries had the biggest boost?
'Get ready to get back up': Job ads rise
Jobs ads are picking up in the Bay of Plenty more than anywhere else in the country.
'Everything gone in flames': Volunteer and solo mum of three left with nothing
A community volunteer and mother with three children has lost everything in a house fire.
Go-ahead given for 202 new homes in Rotorua
Approval has been given to build 202 homes at Ngongotahā, for starters.
'Aggravation': Kids as young as 6 and 10 steal dirt bikes from motorcycle store
Upset owner: 'We aren’t just talking about money, we are talking about our sanity.'
'It’s our livelihood': Store owner 'shattered' as ram-raiders steal $40k of bikes
Eleven masked people travelling in three cars broke into the motorbike store.
You have a visitor - it's the police
A man was arrested in hospital and had his motorbike impounded.
Two more men admit roles in red shoes gang attack
A man involved slashing a man's legs and taking his red shoes had a gun at his home.
'Sexual deviance': Former mayoral hopeful jailed
He said he was cleansing an 18-year-old woman's chakras through spiritual massage.
'Terrorising' teen intruder forces school into lockdown
Teen girl not from the school allegedly ran through the front gates threatening students.
Teen 'terrified' after alleged street bashing by girl 'terrorising' school
The victim suffers panic attacks and nightmares and is too scared to walk anywhere.
'A good mate, a really competitive bugger': Squash legend dies
Three-time national champ Trevor Johnston always squeezed in a run to keep fit.
'You have robbed me of my safe place': 'Sick' prowler caught peeping on camera revealed
Joshua Williams left a solo mum a note saying: 'Hey cute. What’s your number'.
How 'friends with benefits' turned into sexual abuse, explicit videos and death threats
She was a social butterfly. He left her 'paralysed in fear', unable to leave home.
Container-like Kāinga Ora apartment builds: Why little's changed in 3 months
Ranolf St and Malfroy Rd development shocked residents in March - when will it be done?
'Grenade' hidden in baby formula tin put Rotorua suburb into lockdown
Charles Rameka told police he'd planted a bomb in a car.
A 'crackhead…rampage': Govt applies to extend 7 Rotorua emergency housing motels
Consent sought for 7 contracted emergency motels to continue a further year.
'Complete control': Trusted PTA treasurer rips off school for two years
School is ‘severely impacted’ by the thefts and the PTA is ‘broken’, leaders say.
Farmhand impales two cows after botching common farming practice
He was trying to get them back on their feet. Instead, they had to be put down.
'Not a socialist charity': How $35k bike cage at state housing site was funded
The storage cage designer was given a brief to design something no one could break into.
Drugged driver admits killing retired Rotorua couple in high-speed crash
A driver has appeared in court charged over the deaths of John and Janice Christensen.
Tokoroa teacher killer 'happy to die' in prison as he goes before parole board
The man who killed Tokoroa teacher Lois Dear has applied for parole for the first time.
'Hugely inappropriate': $110k trial gives Kāinga Ora tenants free use of e-bikes
NZTA says a library of e-bikes and pushbikes is having 'significant positive impacts'.
'Rich mates': Govt puts Rotorua on 'fast track' to more homelessness - Waititi
It comes after Kāinga Ora said 110 planned new homes in the city were being 'reassessed'.
'Brakes' go on 110 Kāinga Ora homes in 'priority' city as hundreds still promised
'It had to slow up really, they couldn’t keep building at the same pace,' says a builder.
Homeless sleeping in tents on central city footpaths
They are liable for a fine for breaching a council bylaw. So what happens next?
'Terrified': Mobster on meth carjacks couple, speeds off sitting on driver
Woman pinned to seat by tattooed gangster struggled to breathe, says judge.
'He’s a mongrel': Victims' families push back as killers of Kiwi women seek parole
The murders of two women by strangers rocked New Zealand.
Trust’s 30-year legacy: How it made - and gave - its millions
The remarkable origin and history of a trust that has changed the lives of thousands.
New homes expected to create nearly 900 jobs
Plans include stand-alone homes, duplexes and terraced and apartment-style homes.
'I really miss my dad': How a truck driver's measurement error killed a 'hero' father
'To the man who took my hero, my daddy, away: You have ruined the rest of my years.'
'Deeply disturbed': Teachers and students allegedly assaulted by 13-year-old girl
School to build front gate to protect students after five incidents in about five weeks.
Man wanting more than casual sex violates sleeping woman, threatens to post video
He sent her hundreds of texts and threatened to kill her and throw her in a hot pool.
'Ripped off': Woman driven by meth habit printed fake bank notes
She left school at 12 and had a "severe" methamphetamine habit.
Retiring principal reflects on discovering Jonah Lomu and his 33 years in the job
'Every teacher has the opportunity... to capture and nurture and inspire a young person.'
'Take back Fenton St': New homeless motel plan revealed
Four motels used for emergency housing are being cut.
Man who impersonated police had car equipped with flashing lights
Working for emergency services was his 'calling' and it was his dream to be a cop.
Kāinga Ora apartment plans 'now under assessment'
'All contracted work with construction already under way is still going ahead.'
Fears and tributes after death of 'quiet bloke' found in natural hot pool
Local 'streeties' have shared memories of man who died in Sulphur Point area.
'Don’t stand in the dock chewing your gum': Judge's advice to gang offender
'It’s almost a year after these two fired a gun ... in the middle of the afternoon.'
'We just want to come home': Rotorua mum and baby stranded in riot-torn New Caledonia
They intended to stay four nights. They've been stuck for two weeks.
What the Kāinga Ora report means for Rotorua and the hundreds of planned home builds
There are at least 330 new Kāinga Ora homes budgeted for the city by mid-2025.
Gang murder trial aborted after judge falls ill
What comes next for five men accused of killing one of their own.
Mongrel Mob associate's leg slashed to the bone, red shoes stolen in Black Power attack
Details of the incident have been revealed after one attacker admitted his involvement.
Tribesman killed by 'hotbox' beating after secretly using gang account, Crown alleges
Five men are standing trial for murder in the High Court at Rotorua.
Neighbour's relief as target market for new apartments revealed
Neighbouring business owner feared unruly tenants would be back.
Engineer jailed over fraud linked to almost 1000 properties
It's been described as possibly the biggest-ever building industry scam in New Zealand.
Watch: A tour through Kāinga Ora's newest city apartments
Take a peek inside one of the new Kāinga Ora Lake Rd apartments.
'Social housing doesn’t have to be an eyesore': Open home for new Kāinga Ora apartments
Twenty households are about to get new homes on Lake Rd. And you can have a look inside.
Mongrel Mob gang patch theft leaves six injured in cascade of crashes
Three of the injured were innocent members of the public.
'Undoing the harm': Deadline set to end use of homeless motels in Rotorua
Meetings have been held on the future of emergency housing in the city.
They've never met him, but they're trying to save his young life
Where to now for Waarakihi Hooper Felise's push for a bone marrow donor.
Mum, daughter injured after stolen car smashes into their vehicle
Police are looking for the driver of the stolen vehicle.
Director's bold new show aims to shine light on 'monster' in the shadows
'It continues to take our mothers, our fathers, our sons and our daughters.'
Going 'semi-viral' wasn't the intention, says Anzac Day teen speaker
Rotorua Boys' High head boy Jared Lasike's thoughts on the huge response to his speech.
Theft of artificial turf angers cricket boss: 'if this is just for s***s and giggles'
It happened four times last year and now it's happened again.
Award-winning restaurant reopens after car smashed through doors during dinner
A customer seriously injured in the smash still has a long road to recovery ahead.
'Learn from our ancestors': Teen's Anzac speech calls out Kiwis for divisiveness
A young Rotorua leader has delivered a powerful message during his Anzac Day speech.
Anzac Day: Lost lives not the only ones remembered at dawn service
As the sun rose across the steamy Ohinemutu village, thousands in Rotorua remembered them.
Why Anzac Day is extra special for two 17-year-olds
What's happening on Anzac Day in Rotorua?
'Container'-like Kāinga Ora homes shock residents
'These are not containers ... they are fully functioning modern homes,' says Kāinga Ora.
'Wanton lawlessness': Gang car chase over stolen patch ends in crash, injuries
Innocent people were injured after two rival gangs started a chase in Te Ngae Rd.
Race to find bone marrow match: 'There is a little boy here who needs your help'
'If they can’t help my son, we are hoping they might be able to save other kids.'
'Blindsided and betrayed': Bid for two more years of Rotorua homeless motels shocks
The mayor and MP say they are disappointed by the housing ministry's move.