Ben Leahy
Reporter
Ben Leahy is a reporter for the New Zealand Herald.
We are your advocate, Aotearoa. Uncovering stories that matter, asking hard-hitting questions of those in power, live-blogging sport events, monitoring the highs and lows of the NZX and providing Premium expert opinion and analysis. Bringing you distinctive, quality journalism and breaking news from across New Zealand and around the world. With specialists working together to create indepth reads, engaging video, and unmissable podcasts.
Check out Ben’s latest content
'Beyond ridiculous': Neighbours almost sell 87-year-old's $800k home over $51k debt
John Boardman faced losing his home for a body corporate debt he claims was a 'scam'
Parents gaming system as top Auckland schools close rolls to out-of-zone pupils
Some schools have hired private investigators to identify 'fraudulent' applications.
'Cleave my head open': Tenant allegedly breaks neighbour's ribs, charges another with machete
Tenant allegedly threatens to cut neighbour and puts another in hospital nine days later.
Streets of gold: Auckland's most expensive streets revealed
The average price of homes on Auckland most expensive street is $11m.
Auckland’s most expensive mansion now worth $73m - jumps almost $15m in latest CVs
See the top 10 most expensive Auckland homes in latest property valuations.
Paved paradise? Top Auckland school builds staff car park on $150m gifted farmland
The ASB MAGS Farm is protected by a covenant requiring it be used to teach farming.
Driver dies after rolling car in a Waikato paddock
Police said the coroner will investigate the cause of the death.
Dargaville water crisis: Businesses face losses and residents raise health concerns
Repair work will take time as Dargaville's 5000 residents asked to stop using water.
'Get out of my house and out of my life': Landlord to tenant after bad haircut
A bad haircut sparked violence and furious text messages, landing a landlord in court.
'Spiritual crisis': Pastor fined for building unconsented church, Christian group millions in debt
The church faces $80,000 in fines, has more than $2m debt, and faces calls to sack pastor.
Sexual vendetta: Tenant showed flatmate's nude pics to Epsom boarding house
The landlord must pay $7778 damages after a slew of complaints from tenants.
'Offered sex in the lift': Tenant allegedly running brothel from apartment can't be evicted
CCTV showed people moving through the building 'day and night', landlord told tribunal.
Homeowner upset after developer fells 50yo boundary hedge
Owner says hedge was pride of her backyard. Developer says it had to come down for safety.
Flippers under fire: Property traders using $60m tax dodge to buy new build homes cheap
A small developer says he is being put out of business by unscrupulous property traders.
'Insanity': Auckland villa owners told double-glazed windows violate heritage rules
Owners installed double-glazed windows without council consent. Now they have to go.
Developer 'goldmine': Herald analysis maps 840 of Auckland’s most valuable state homes
Exclusive analysis reveals $1.7b 'treasure map' of Kāinga Ora's Auckland properties.
How property traders made millions flipping homes: Inside 71 Auckland real estate deals
The Herald reveals gains and losses on $60m of homes flipped by Hills Real Estate traders.
'Disappointed': Number of new cops who skipped swim test higher than first thought
Three wings or 349 police recruits missed swim exam. They're being sent back to the pool.
Court orders $10m Auckland mansion sale cancelled after fatal landslide
Buyer and seller fought over whether sale should go ahead after home left on cliff edge.
The NZ schools that produced the highest-achieving Cambridge exam students
And hear from of our top scholars that ranked the best in the world.
'Last day today': 15,000-person Auckland suburb to have no supermarket for year
Woolworths Te Atatū is giving treats to customers today on its final day of opening.
'Begged': Authorities not acting fast enough in flood-prone areas, owners say
One desperate owner stood by himself in the dark trying to stop a creek from flooding.
Sunny start to school holidays for NZ but heavy rain could move in from Wednesday
School kids should be able to get outside for today and tomorrow's start to the holidays.
Woman's body found south of Auckland, homicide investigation lauched
A man is in custody helping police with their enquiries following the discovery in Waiuku.
Ali Williams and Anna Mowbray’s planned $24m mansion helipad set for public hearing
A five-day hearing on whether a helipad can be built at the Auckland home is set for May.
On The Up - Auckland private school buys multimillion-dollar waterfront farm
Saint Kentigern students will grow food and study ecosystems on the land.
‘Goldmine’: Developers brace for $500m state home sell-off
The huge sell-off is part of the state housing agency's big cost-cutting 'reset'.
Huge 1250-home ‘urban village’ set to be fast-tracked in Auckland
Where will the new homes rise and who is the project's controversial co-director?
Final report blames human error for HMNZS Manawanui’s sinking
Autopilot oversight led to $100m Navy ship disaster on reef in Samoa, report says.
‘Dear friend’: Tom Cruise honours Val Kilmer with heartfelt tribute
Tom Cruise led a minute's silence for Val Kilmer at CinemaCon.
‘Abused’ tax rules: Board contender for Herald owner in case involving tax avoidance on C$110m
Jim Grenon's companies seeking to appeal to Canada's Supreme Court.
Kāinga Ora sells up state houses in Auckland’s wealthy suburbs
Kāinga Ora said it's been waiting on final building approval from Auckland Council.
Property manager in liquidation: Landlords fear losing more than $70,000
Haven Living had promised to repay landlords but now it's in liquidation.
‘Chaos’: Residents complain of illegal parking at new Pak’nSave
'We had people lined up with trolleys before the ribbon was even cut,' says store owner.
The cost of a private school education: NZ’s most expensive & how much fees have jumped
A Herald analysis of 20 leading independent schools' fees.
‘If I die who will look after my son’: Hero couple tell how they helped three stab victims
'It’s still in my mind, the shouting, [and begging] save us,' witness tells Herald.
Unexplained: Police probe after woman found dead inside Auckland flat
Police will conduct a scene examination at the Morningside property today.
More landlords shocked, claiming property managers have kept their rent
Haven Living sent payment receipts for months, but says it has now repaid money owed.
‘I set fire to the seven churches’: Man claims to be behind Masterton church attacks
Four church fires in Masterton all started between 4.25am and 4.35am, fire officials say.
Man killed near Huntly in roadside stabbing
The man died at the scene after reports that he was stabbed in public.
Seriously hurt Hawke’s Bay woman may owe her life to quick-acting cop
A woman who drove off a steep bank may not have been found in time if not for an officer.
‘Perfect for family’: Rundown ex-gang rehab up for $1700 rent
Pistol and drugs once found at home. But house is fit for new tenants, its manager says.
500 schools ranked: NCEA hotspots where top marks meet affordable housing
Discover the schools with the highest academic results and most affordable house prices.
Home buyer angry after ‘winning’ auction before home sold to another bidder
A home buyer was told the house had sold to him. Then the auctioneer reopened bidding.
Auckland landlords get $29k compensation after finding rental used as meth lab
The discovery was only made after police raided the house.
‘Everyone was scared of my soldier girlfriend’: Fearful woman granted NZ asylum
Bisexual woman can't leave NZ for fear of arranged marriages and gun-toting girlfriend.
‘Forced to marry a lesbian’: Bigamist denied refugee status in NZ
He says a politician threatened him with a pistol and coerced him into marrying a lesbian.
Landlords shocked, allege property managers kept $12,000 of rent
Haven Living sent payment receipts for months, but says it has now repaid money owed.
‘Disappointing’: Second police officer posing in gang colours sparks controversy
Officer shown posing in Mongrel Mob vest and hat. Police say behaviour below expectation.
Man seriously hurt after central Auckland stabbing
Emergency teams arrived to find the man with multiple injuries.
Layby slaying: Motorcyclist shot and body abandoned in creek; police seek footage
Police believe he was killed between 7pm and 11pm on Tuesday.
‘Catastrophic failure’: Luxury Mercedes-Benz owner wins payout after engine blew up
A man's $50,000 Mercedes was plagued by engine failure barely a year after purchase.
SH1 traffic delays near Bombay to ease as highway reopens after crash
Diversions have ended but motorists could still face delays until congestion eases.
Kāinga Ora’s $1.2m Meadowbank apartments sit vacant for months
Kāinga Ora said its been waiting on final building approval from Auckland Council
US man hooks possible record 250kg tuna near Great Barrier on his third-ever fishing trip
The beginner angler fought a marathon 8.5-hour battle and also missed Christmas lunch.
How Kiwi family could have saved $18k when moving money to Australia
Herald readers have been writing in saying online dealers are saving them a 'fortune'.
Mortgage wars: Another major bank cuts home loan rates as competition heats up
Kiwis can now get 5.99% six-month rates from three major banks.
‘Drinking, arguing, yelling’: Hamilton tenant evicted from retiree village
Epiha Nathan also parked in the driveway, blocking ambulances, tribunal says.
Two dead and third taken to hospital after crash near Christchurch
Emergency teams arrived at the scene just after midnight to find two already dead.
Landlord claims tenant kicked him in the groin during lawnmowing feud
Tenant's kick was self defence but she did commit earlier assault, Tenancy Tribunal rules.
Summer to finally arrive for parts of NZ hit by horrible holiday weather
Niwa’s outlook for rest of summer picks above-average warmth for the North Island.
$19k exchange costs for moving money to Australia shocks family
Kiwi dad losing sleep over exchange costs after sending daughter money for new house.
‘It’s us!’: Wellington couple find out they’ve won $7m while driving to work
A life-changing $44 million was up for grabs.
How much you need to earn to buy an average home under new rules
Aucklanders likely to need staggering income to buy average-priced house.
The tricks and tips Kiwis need to know before buying a home in Australia
Kiwis need to be careful when buying in Australia or they could be hit by hidden taxes.
Take a tour through the most expensive homes sold in 2024
Dare to dream: check out how the other half live.
Eat, drink and be merry: Prison locked down after inmates' Christmas Eve booze-up
Prisoners often try to stockpile fruit to be used in homebrews, officials say.
Fake Booking.com listing scams Kiwi family out of $10,000
Holiday home owners fear angry people will show up at their door demanding money.
Triple whammy: Auckland 11-year-old triplets fight Oranga Tamariki cuts
Auckland's Mackay triplets are writing to MPs and campaigning against counselling cuts.
Man in custody, baby recovered alive after overnight Blenheim hostage standoff
Police described it as a family harm incident.
Thundestorm alerts issued around NZ, motorists warned to take care
Motorists are being warned to drive 'carefully' as heavy falls start in Rotorua, Taupō.
Is Double Grammar Zone losing its premium price tag?
New data suggests Double Grammar Zone homes may not be as highly prized as they once were.
‘Can’t wait to move in for Christmas’: Richie McCaw reveals first pic of dream Wānaka house
Richie and Gemma McCaw are planning a new Wānaka life 'full of adventure'.
‘Big heart’: Rānui man who died in cabin fire named by police
Andrew Orr 'tragically' died inside a cabin that caught on fire.
Coromandel murder-accused’s pigs to be moved to Wellington
An animal welfare group is coming to collect around 40 of the 'pet pigs'.
'We've had our hearts ripped out': Kiwi's UK death preventable according to inquest
UK inquest into death of Kiwi man vindicates his family.
Gang leader's funeral: Eight arrests today as some mourners flout patch ban
The funeral is for Napier's Angus Benson, a Mongrel Mob Barbarian chapter president.
Man arrested for overnight Auckland hit and run that left victim critically hurt
A 52-year-old man faces a range of charges and a vehicle has been seized, police say.
NZ house prices could rise 5% in 2025 as analysts signal market turning point
Also find out where house prices and rents rose fastest and slowest in NZ's year in review
New Zealand's brand new schools: Are any being built near you?
School planners have focused on NZ's fastest growing suburbs over the next two years.