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.
Prince William pays tribute to Christchurch terror victims
Royal praises Kiwis for supporting mosque shooting victims on fifth anniversary.
Latam Airlines horror plunge: Cockpit mishap may be to blame – report
Report says incident happened when a flight attendant was serving a meal in the cockpit.
McDonald’s apologises after NZ, global stores couldn't serve food
A global software outage left customers unable to buy Big Macs at stores nationwide.
Journalist's $3m home fails to sell, but he still wants TVNZ court battle
Santamaria had hoped the sale of his house could have helped fund legal costs.
Witnesses say they may have seen body in Gulf Harbour water a day earlier
Fisherman didn't drag object he hooked further out of the water as it was too heavy.
'Absolute carnage': Pink fans furious after train delays mar Auckland concert
Frustrated concertgoers faced delays leaving Eden Park.
Man dies at West Auckland house party
A 40-year-old man has been arrested and charged common assault.
Auckland pedestrian killed in hit and run
The person died late yesterday on Great South Rd.
'No sacred cows' - TVNZ CEO as axe falls on top shows, possible cuts to Shortland St
TVNZ has confirmed four of its flagship shows face the axe in a major restructuring.
End of an era: Fair Go axed after 47 years on Kiwi screens
The iconic consumer affairs show has exposed countless rip-off merchants over the years.
Pedestrian hurt by driver fleeing police
'This person suffered a moderate injury and was transported to hospital for checks.'
Women more likely to own the family home but not a rental, NZ report finds
Gisborne leads the country in having more women own housing.
Cancelled classrooms: Does your school have one of the 20 axed NZ projects?
Everything you need to know about the 20 schools at risk of losing promised classrooms.
'Like a photograph': Horror night still vivid in memories of West Auckland families
Seth Smith can still see that tragic night in Muriwai like it was 'a photograph.'
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.
Will my bags make it: What it’s like flying from Solomon Islands to Auckland
Flying with Solomon Airlines on one of the newest routes to NZ.
Builder threatens to liquidate rather than pay $16k fine, claims buyer
Builder denies the accusation, but the home buyers claim directors have done it before.
Man robbed on Auckland city road in a spree of overnight incidents
Two men made off with a phone and wallet in street robbery, police say.
Stay on top of a coral reef: Fatboys Resort in the Solomon Islands
Fatboys Resort in the Solomon Islands - 'better than 24-hour butlers in the Maldives'.
One year on: Could Auckland cope with another flood? No, experts concede
Thousands of Auckland properties are still in the firing line, council admits.
Flood-damaged homeowners targeted by looters, waiting for answers a year on
The buy-out process could, in some cases, take up to a decade.
Site of NZ's most infamous cult fails to sell
The 7.62ha site has been billed as an 'incomparable' Auckland development opportunity.
Fire crews targeting residual hotspots of Titahi Bay blaze ahead of windy day
A drone picked up thermal hotspots overnight which crews will now focus on.
'Cowardly': New claims in case of Kiwi accused of killing beloved Gus the groper
Kiwi tried to shove Gus' body into a supermarket bag in front of upset locals.
Golriz Ghahraman allegedly identified in second shoplifting incident
A source claims they believe Ghahraman allegedly had unpaid items worth almost $15,000.
Three men smash their way into motel room and attack toddler, parents
Family say they don't know the men who began bashing them without saying a word.
Every reason you've never thought of to visit the Solomon Islands
These lesser-visited isles might not be top of your travel list, but they should be.
House prices in 2024: What can we expect from the market?
Interest rates, inflation, migration - the experts gaze into their crystal balls.
Six of NZ's flashest homes on the market right now
If you could have any dream home, would it be one of these?
Xmas Day rescue: Paragliders landed in a tree after encountering 'difficulties'
Emergency services were called out to the rescue.
Nelson Airport evacuated after Xmas Day bomb scare, while weather cancels New Plymouth flight
Auckland-to-New Plymouth passengers told to board a bus or go home.
'Escalated so quickly': Auckland family home destroyed in blaze after dishwasher catches fire
The fire started near dishwasher but family say they had no chance of putting it out.
Teen in court charged with murder of security guard
It comes after another man, 26, was also charged with murder,
Orange haze from Australian bushfires hangs over Christchurch, could stay for Xmas
More than 60 Aussie fires have sent vast plumes of smoke over New Zealand.
Mayor Wayne Brown appoints new AT chair as he calls on body to improve its image
Richard Leggat takes over as board chairman with a call to fix Auckland transport.
National still to calculate tax cuts; Labour says scrap them
The parties' finance spokespeople have sparred on radio about economic management.
Spectacular waterspout dances on water at sunrise in Auckland's Ōrewa
Beachgoers all stopped in awe of the sunrise waterspout.
Holiday delays as one southbound SH1 lane reopens after truck fire south of Auckland
Motorists are facing delays on SH1, near Meremere, just south of Pokeno.
Coromandel communities party in the streets as vital highway link reopens for Xmas
The news brings a welcome economic boost to the beleaguered Coromandel Peninsula.
Newmarket Olympic Pools: police investigating after 9-year-old dragged underwater
The child was swimming in a lane when he bumped into another swimmer.
Boy dragged underwater in alleged assault at public pool
Mike Zhang is calling for calling for calm in the waters this summer.
Strong Wellington kayaker drowned after paddling in storm-force winds: Coroner
A beloved family member and sportsman likely took too great a risk on a kayak trip.
Devastating Coromandel fire: EV not to blame, $3.7m mansion owners thank community
Social media speculation had incorrectly blamed an EV for the fire.
Auckland rail’s Western Line reopens after Newmarket station fault, but delays still expected
Commuters should still expect delays and cancellations until at least 9am.
'Anxious to sell': More homes being listed for sale by Kiwis crossing the ditch
Bigger salaries and work opportunities are proving irresistible.
Bush sting: DOC rangers set up hidden camera after native bush cut down
Rangers are asking for help identifying a man caught peeking at the cameras.
Four Auckland teens arrested after speeding away from police in two stolen cars
The police helicopter kept watch overhead while police got into position to lay spikes.
Black algae triggers health warning on Waiheke Island
Tourists and residents should avoid eating mussels and oysters from affected beaches.
Share My Super founder donates $10m for child poverty - how others can help
Baby Boomers who might not need their pension payments can make a difference.
Auckland shooting: Woman 'shaken' after shots fired through children's bedroom window
Police said gunmen recklessly shot through several windows in a Pt England home.
Four arrested and six cars seized in blitz on Manawatū boy racers
Speeding fines were also issued to 17 drivers.
Critically hurt scooter rider taken to hospital after late night crash
St John paramedics took the rider to Auckland hospital.
Truck driver dies after hitting power pole in inner Auckland
Emergency teams freed the driver, but they later died in hospital.
One person dies in suspicious house fire north of Wellington
Crews took eight minutes to put out the fire, but a person was found in critical condition
One dead, six injured after horror South Island crash
Two people were airlifted to hospital and one died at the scene.
Watch: Wayne Brown claims Auckland property owners 'blackmailers' over coastal walk
Brown's fiery clash with property owners caught on camera.
Was the grass really greener in Oz? A returning Kiwi and an Aussie share their stories
One Kiwi couple came back to start a family and says NZ 'provided all we need'.
Is the grass really greener in Oz? Kiwis who crossed the ditch share their stories
'It was a big pay increase,' says teacher.
Mystery death: Woman found dead in Auckland home in unexplained circumstances
Police are making inquiries into the death.
Sunny in South, wet and windy in North as new rainmaker hits Auckland
Bad weather is back in the North today and tomorrow.
Police treating Marist Rugby League Club blaze as arson
'Our enquiries are continuing to locate those responsible.'
Person dies after serious crash on Auckland motorway
The person died at the scene in yesterday's crash that caused 8km gridlock.
'Bureaucratic nonsense' - Walkers injured as Takapuna-Milford heritage dispute rumbles on
Walkers have reported broken bones, while paramedics have difficulty reaching patients.
Motorists face delays after crash on Harbour Bridge; one person critically hurt
The motorbike crash has reduced southbound traffic to one lane over the bridge.
Autistic man who was brutally bashed four years ago dies
Bradlee Mackay went far and wide asking people for car regos, collecting 40,000 of them.
Analysts say housing crash over - find out just how much prices fell
Auckland prices fell the most during the downturn, closely followed by Wellington.
In pictures: Photos show Auckland CBD flooded by passionate protesters in support of Palestine
Hundreds of people gathered in Aotea Square this afternoon.
Sailor dies during Bay of Islands yacht race after being struck by boom
The sailor was knocked unconscious and could not be revived by a Coastguard crew.
Two more deaths in horror start to Labour weekend on roads
A pedestrian was struck and killed by a car in the early hours of Saturday morning.
'No place for novices': Briton died on Mt Ruapehū after tackling steep slope without safety rope
It took more than eight hours to get Emma Langley off the mountain.
'Like a lake': 24 townhouses being built on site swamped in Auckland floods
Neighbours are concerned for future buyers of homes being built on flooded site.
Labour's laws in limbo - What happens to 52 bills after the election?
What might happen to bills and laws after the election?
Watch: Speeding car crashes off dragway, narrowly misses family at AutoFest show
Car smashed through track fence, missing food trucks and family by metres.
Auckland's Southern Motorway re-opens after blockage due to serious crash
Serious Crash Unit investigators are looking into how the pedestrian was hit.
House prices and apartment living: Political parties' housing policies compared
More apartments or more suburbs, renters or landlords: Election 2023 in focus.
65 days on the run: Police arrest woman over Queen St drive-by killing
Police have ended a 23-year-old woman's days on the run.