Derek Cheng is a Multimedia Journalist for New Zealand’s Herald. He values holding those in power to account and shining a light on issues kept in the dark.

Journalism is a powerful tool that has allowed me to cover huge stories, from general elections to the Christchurch earthquake to the March 15 terrorist attack to the Covid-19 response. It gives us access to those who make decisions that affect millions of lives, or to pivotal moments where we are tasked to write the first draft of history. The privilege to do so, sometimes, is a daunting one. It's also multi-pronged, and my stories have covered the whole gamut - from scrutinising the Government's decisions to a first-person account of a climbing accident where I had to have my face reconstructed. I've worked for the NZ Herald on and off since graduating with a journalism diploma the end of 2004, but I've also never lost sight of the pursuit of adventure, and have repeatedly left work for indefinite overseas trips to chase mountains and perfectly steamed dumplings. I had my first taste for political journalism in the Helen Clark years, started properly in the press gallery in the John Key years, and have covered Jacinda Ardern's time at the top, including her historic election victory in 2020. Throughout, I've learned the value of holding those in power to account, and shining light into corners that some would prefer to remain under cover of darkness. Never has that been more important than during the Covid-19 pandemic.