Matt Nippert is a Business Investigations Reporter for New Zealand's Herald, specialising in breaking stories about fraud and corruption.
I’m Matt Nippert - investigations reporter for the New Zealand Herald and I specialise in breaking stories about fraud and corruption. I started in journalism largely by accident, having failed to become a diplomat, but I now can’t imagine having a job where I’m not actively trying to figure out and make public how the world really works. I’ve got a background in feature-writing and business news-writing, but my focus in recent years has been on investigating the intersection of business and politics. I relish tackling stories that others may consider too difficult or risky. Over the past decade I’ve broken stories about horrific abuse in state care facilities, widespread tax avoidance in New Zealand by some of the worlds’ biggest companies, secret citizenship grants to offshore billionaires, and black PR campaigns designed to derail criminal investigations. I’ve won more than a dozen prizes for my stories, including a Fulbright prize to earn a Masters degree at Columbia University in New York and a press fellowship at the University of Cambridge, but I get the most satisfaction from opening the paper in the morning and seeing I’ve made the front page. I believe good journalism can change the world for the better and my reporting - particularly in corporate tax policy and the exposing of white collar fraud - has directly led to law changes and criminal prosecutions.
Waipareira’s controversial campaign loan repaid, executive salaries skyrocket
A Herald investigation finds Waipareira has the highest exec pay in the charitable sector.
Power list: New Zealand’s highest paid charity executives
Analysis of financial records ranks New Zealand's highest-paid charity bosses.
Estate settlement for Ponzi East Wind fails to satisfy creditors
Liquidators untangling massive Ponzi settle with estate of late mastermind.
Denny and the Jet: Kiwi artist orbits the strange world of Silicon Valley
Artist Simon Denny on space and critiquing and selling to billionaires.
Dilworth allocates $44m for sexual abuse victim redress
Dilworth is budgeting to provide redress for up to 250 victims of historic sexual abuse.
Ārepa hype deflates as regulator says health claims are ‘unsubstantiated’
Regulator says it acted on concerns consumers were being misled about "Brain Drink".
Eric Watson's co-defendant settles with US regulator over insider trading case
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) first filed claims in US courts in July 2021.
Brain drink or fancy juice? Start-up strives to prove health claims
Ambitious beverage startup faces criticism and regulatory turbulence.
Broker backtracks after privacy complaints over demands to send personal info to China
Staff were threatened with dismissal if they didn't comply.
Lord of the waterfront: Peter Jackson secures block as union sells HQ
Billionaire unlocks potential development site after E tū sells its headquarters.
Expat Kiwi sues US Treasury over sanctions for being on board of Russian bank
The banker claims he resigned from the board weeks before the sanction was imposed.
Lord of the land: Sir Peter Jackson’s $350m property empire
The Lord of the Rings mogul has doubled the value of his property holdings since 2019.
Pushpay insider trader flags appeal
Individual found guilty in rare prosecution of insider trading flags appeal.
Sacred Hill's $72m shortfall referred to authorities
Receivers lodge formal complaints over winemaker, which collapsed in 2021 owing $100m.
Missing ERA member: Complainant wins dismissal case, loses $80k in the process
Just when it seemed the fightback was worth it, an employment relations judge went AWOL.
D-Day for Tamihere campaign loan; Te Pāti Māori election launch probed
The Charities Service is demanding evidence of the campaign loan repayment by today.
‘Staggering’ cost of public sector CEO departure
Donovan Clarke had been chief executive of Toitū te Waiora for only 14 months.
The shouting and the ‘slush fund’: Inside John Tamihere’s donations stoush
High-stakes political donations dispute still sees regulators in the dark.
The missing ERA member: Law Society, Opposition slam case logjam
Lawyers, Opposition MPs say questions have been asked for months about mystery departure.
The curious case of the disappearing ERA member
Employment Relations Authority member abruptly departs, leaving 19 cases dangling.
Hackers take businessman for $1.6m ride
A computer hack sees scammers intercept emails and cause redirection of a US$1m payment.
Trust to try to claw back $385k in loans to Tamihere campaigns
Regulator says Te Pāti Māori president has agreed to turn off donation taps.
Wage subsidy fraud case sees high-rise apartment frozen
The two-bedroom apartment was bought in May 2020.
How a forex broker turned $12m into just $50,000
Victims of convicted fraudster get near-zero final payout of 0.36 cents in the dollar.
Covid-cash cheats: More cases coming
Government audit of billions in wage subsidy payments sees dozens charged.
Declining Yellow changes hands, again
Phone directory business, worth billions two decades ago, has again been sold.
Taxman starts clawing back Covid millions
An Avondale brewer is one of hundreds facing demands to repay Covid support payments.
Net closes on Eric Watson in insider trading case
Failed attempt to dismiss insider-trading complaint over Watson's lack of profiteering.
‘If you send me back I will die’: Dramatic escape for first defector to NZ since Cold War
Ex-Chinese consulate staffer feared his Catholicism was putting his life in danger.
Revealed: How Myanmar ‘blood timber’ found its way to NZ
Whangārei importer admits "it doesn't look good" teak found to come from Myanmar oligarch.
Who is Rob Campbell? The outsider on the inside
Professional director Rob Campbell on steering, and critiquing, the very top end of town.
Wallace leaves MediaWorks waiting in departure lounge
OPINION: Wallace, like his predecessors, opted for eject button after failing to take off.
Liquidators press to bankrupt Eric Watson after court affirms monster debt
Liquidators turn legal screws after court rules businessman owes $57m.
'No defence to this claim': Court rules Eric Watson owes $57m
Embattled businessman to face court following cat-and-mouse game over legal service.
Former high-flier fined for importing steroids labelled as 'lube oil'
Unbe-lube-able: Importation charges in court today - but strange past can be revealed too.
Decade-long windup of Ross ponzi leaves mixed feelings
Last rites for giant ponzi Ross Asset Management impart hard lessons.
Revealed: NZ's nine largest criminal fortunes
Crime doesn't pay? Since 2011 courts have identified a billion dollars of its proceeds.
$400k gone: The 'sickening gut punch' when you learn you've been scammed
They thought they'd invested $400,000 at Westpac. Weeks later they learned it was a scam.
The charity boss who helped himself to a house
Late president of the Wellington Region Kidney Society was facing police investigation.
Private School Rich List: The wealthiest institutions for Kiwi kids
Which private school has 63 times more capital behind each student than the public system.
Public sector CEO used work credit card for lobster, booze
Boss also took multiple post-midnight taxis on four-day trip to Sydney for conference.
Clock approaches midnight for Ruapehu ski field
Administrator says only days remain to save North Island ski field from liquidation.
Fraudster accountant again convicted of fraud
Disgraced former accountant fails to in bid suppress his second fraud conviction.
BestStart's $84m loans to rich-listers questioned
Regulator seeks assurance that related-party loans furthered charitable purpose.
Billion-dollar growth: Jamie Beaton's Crimson claims unicorn status
Now-adult wunderkind Jamie Beaton appears to have made a billion-dollar unicorn.
Regulator alleges Waipareira donation was 'serious wrongdoing'
Waipareira issued with a formal warning notice over donation to CEO's political campaign.
Exclusive: John Tamihere campaign funding probed
Two charities run by Te Pāti Māori president face scrutiny over political donations.
Hong Kong ghost returns to haunt failed housing development
Dispute over failed Albany Heights development lives on.
Private School Rich List: The wealthiest institutions for Kiwi kids
Which private school has 63 times more capital behind each student than the public system.
Why pay your tax - when it's cheaper to wait?
Rate hikes, and removal of interest charges on late tax payments, triggers perfect storm.
SkyCity looks forward after 'challenging' year
Lockdowns saw casino operator's flagship Auckland site shuttered for a third of the year.
SkyCity revenues down nearly a third
Casino operator weathers lockdown-ravaged year with revenues down a third.
Insider-trading accused distances himself from Eric Watson
Court hears Watson didn't benefit from insider trading.
Revealed: IRD's new approach to claw back mounting tax debt
Number of people granted tax debt writeoffs increased more than four-fold in 2021.
Marathon race for new TVNZ-RNZ merger chief exec
An interim CEO is mooted as the public media establishment board wrestles with timelines.
Revealed: New Zealand's nine biggest criminal fortunes
Crime doesn't pay? Since 2011 courts have identified a billion dollars of its proceeds.
The woman tipped to become NZ's most famous prosecutor
Upcoming Auckland Crown Solicitor vacancy triggers horse-race with one clear favourite.
Has inflation peaked? Tomorrow's CPI reveal tipped to be bad or worse
Consumer Price Index data will show how high the Reserve Bank has to hike interest rates.
Fistonich loses opening skirmish against Villa Maria receivers
Receivers entitled to use company assets to defend their actions, court rules.
Investment banker's racehorses in forced sale
Long-running Feltex class action backer forced to sell horses.
Matt Nippert: I spent two weeks scamming the scammers. This is what happened
Modern online and phone scams are becoming increasingly difficult to spot.
MediaWorks dangles carrot for Cam Wallace
The media boss is in line for millions if he can find new owners for the company.
TVNZ's board closes ranks over Kamahl Santamaria saga
Broadcaster's head of news goes on leave and its chief executive issues an apology.
Inland Revenue takes flak over surge in overdue taxes
Levels of unpaid GST triple, and PAYE and KiwiSaver debts double, since 2017.
Where's Watson? US authorities place ads in effort to find Eric Watson
Court hears of cat-and-mouse game between securities regulators and embattled businessman.
Departing Chief Censor's warning over surge in online extremism
'You need to have a clear line about what is lawful and what is not.'
$400k gone: The 'sickening gut punch' when you learn you've been scammed
They thought they'd invested $400,000 at Westpac. Weeks later they learned it was a scam.
Mortgagee sale wipes out equity of late fraud complainant
Mortgagee sale sees Browns Bay home at centre of SFO investigation go for less than RV.
Insider information behind dumping of millions Pushpay shares - FMA alleges
Name suppression continues for defendant who pleads not guilty to rare charge.
Fears Inland Revenue laxity has primed 'tsunami' of business failures
IRD denies going soft as data reveals taxman drove 80% decline in court liquidations.
Unintended consequences? Public ownership register 'errs on side of transparency'
Minister defends over-riding official advice in pushing for publicly searchable register.
Corporate secrecy to end as government commits to reform
After years of delays, and the Pandora Papers scandal, corporate secrecy laws overhauled.
Insolvencies slump, but so does IRD enforcement
Insolvencies continue to plumb record lows. Given the conditions, how long can this last?
Corporate veil to be pulled at last
New Zealand told to adopt a register of beneficial ownership, a policy stalled since 2016.
Where's Eric Watson? US regulators seek to serve embattled ex-rich-lister
US regulator chases Eric Watson in Spain, while co-accused concedes case.