David Fisher is a senior journalist for the New Zealand Herald who has twice been named New Zealand’s Reporter of the Year.
David is based in Northland and has worked as a journalist for more than 30 years, winning multiple journalism awards and being selected as one of a small number of Wolfson Press Fellows to Wolfson College, Cambridge. He joined the Herald in 2004. You can contact David at david.fisher@nzme.co.nz
Escape, hide, tell: Three words that could save your life in a terrorist attack
Experts warn public needs tools to escape an attack by a terrorist in a crowded place.
Inside the drafting of Luxon’s ‘cut-and-paste’ Waitangi speech
OIA documents show how PM's speech was crafted - and who owned the words.
'I haven’t got the money' Judith Collins on fresh funding for Defence
NZDF left to fix attrition crisis with current funding as head count struggles to recover.
500k number plates scanned daily: Concerns over Auckland's 'de facto vehicle-tracking' system
Police are able to tap into data gathered from across the road network.
Inside the $11m claim by police that health and safety breaches allow profits to be seized as ‘proceeds of crime’
A new judgment weighs the strengths of a 'novel' police case against business owners.
High-tech Halo camera coming to a road near you
The first of new high-tech cameras has been rolled out with a community's blessing.
Business owner faces $11m proceeds of crime price tag after workplace death
Ron Salter pleaded guilty and served his time - now police want $11m.
Number plate surveillance: How many private CCTV cameras can police access?
Documents reveal police are developing rules as searches soar into the tens of thousands.
Revealed: Transport officials' plans to quadruple speed cameras, triple traffic tickets - and save lives
High-tech traffic cameras would use AI to check whether motorists broke the law.
School principals offered ‘wellbeing’ training at Fiji resort
Overseas courses expand after $6000-a-year professional development fund begins.
Blaze at tyre shop destroys business - but quick work saves customers’ cars
A last-second dash through thick smoke saves classic ute.
Big issues with Paddy Gower Has Issues as Three hiring freeze bites
Staff at the top-rating Three show were told not to come in amid 'recruitment slowdown'.
Police called as desperate Waitangi drivers bust through farm gate
Police are now on Wakelin Rd, south of Kerikeri, turning motorists around.
Luxon and others who stand to win big - or lose large - at Waitangi
Waitangi weekend brings greater risk and reward than previous years.
'Good challenge from both sides': Luxon speaks from Iwi Chairs Forum
PM says meeting included “good conversation” on the Treaty Principles Bill.
CCTV shows mystery man who delivered $5000 cash to pensioner then ran away
The pensioner is reluctant to accept the $5000 - and asks: 'Why me?'
NZSAS veterans offered urgent cash payments to prevent them quitting
The NZDF is tight-lipped over the NZSAS crisis, citing national security sensitivity.
Mystery envelope containing $5000 cash handed to pensioner
He got given $5000 - now doesn't know what to do with the money.
Legal high Kronic King Matthew Wielenga pleads guilty to importing synthetic cannabis to US
'Mr Kronic' sent synthetic cannabis product to go into vapes.
'He’s been sent to us by God': Disgraced lawyer Chris Harder and his remarkable quest for Pike River justice
Former barrister Christopher Harder claims Pike River truths have never emerged.
‘We thought they were growing tomatoes’: Inside NZ's biggest cannabis bust
Police uncovered a large cannabis growing operation linked to Vietnamese organised crime.
NZDF in crisis – our ships can’t sail, planes can’t fly and soldiers have left in droves
NZDF documents reveal depleted military as plumbers labelled 'strategic' trades.
David Fisher: NZDF needs a lot of cash and Judith Collins could be the way to get it
Analysis: NZDF needs people, equipment, a clear direction - and a lot of money.
Judge tosses prison sentence for Billy Te Kahika, who defied Covid lockdown with protest
'I’m a little bit of a stunned mullet,' he told the Herald after learning of the reversal.
'Very high risk' - the dangerous move that cost NZSAS soldier his life
New documents show 'high risk' in a US technique that killed an NZSAS trooper.
'Tooth fairy' fined $7k for making dentures for desperate locals
Tooth fairy Claire Wihongi-Matene was fined for low-cost unlicensed denture service.
Disgraced TVNZ host pursues former colleagues' texts and emails as case looms
Kamahl Santamaria quit under a 'family emergency' cloud and is now seeking 'transparency'.
How did NZSAS soldier die? US special forces report delivers new and confronting verdict
US and NZ inquiries find each other at fault in NZSAS training accident.
The baubles of office: What's the salary for the new PM and Cabinet ministers?
Winston Peters pockets over $500,000 for his 18 months as Deputy PM.
Strip club visit, sexual assault complaints exposed in army inquiry
Inquiry spotlight shines on commander who drank with troops - and much more.
Movie plans for story of two-time VC winner Charlie Upham
Charles Upham's extraordinary story is headed for the big screen, with two projects afoot.
Opinion: David Fisher on finding peace with Billy Te Kahika
Activist Billy Te Kahika spoke with David Fisher ahead of a possible jail sentence.
‘I shouldn’t have to go to jail’: Billy TK on Covid protest prison sentence
Activist Billy Te Kahika says jail term for protest 'threat to all'.
Crewe murders: New evidence in NZ's most infamous cold case
New forensic findings and a witness emerges who has never spoken publicly.
'Perilous situation': Ahmed Zaoui's lawyer speaks of her fears for the NZ citizen
A podcast special interview with imprisoned Ahmed Zaoui's lawyer Deborah Manning.
‘Gutless’: Victim wants apology after TVNZ shared off-the-record material
Email emerges showing TVNZ's "commitment" to a legal fight it then never took.
Death penalty sentence possible for imprisoned Ahmed Zaoui
Lawyer Deborah Manning said Zaoui is being held in 'overcrowded' and 'harsh' prison.
Journalist says he left TVNZ on a point of principle after interview details used in court
Journalist speaks out on why he quit TVNZ's flagship Sunday current affairs show.
Outrage over Māori lecturer comparing NZ colonisation with Israel-Palestine conflict
A complaint about Māori and Palestine reveals two wildly different narratives.
‘Jacinda was ready to sell her grandmother': What drives Winston Peters’ coalition negotiations
Inside NZ First coalition talks and lessons insiders say Christopher Luxon needs to learn.
Fatal dog attack: Family of elderly Moerewa woman 'devastated' by 'tragic loss'
The woman had reportedly spent her entire life in the Far North community.
Would-be National MP lays complaint against own party
She wanted to be an National MP - now she's complained to police about the party.
Election night with Winston Peters - a plea for a truce and a pathway for our nation
OPINION: NZ First's Bay of Islands election night parties and what to expect after voting.
National Party ‘broke the law’ says would-be National MP Uini Smythe with ‘clean slate’ drink-driving conviction
Claims National Party "broke law" urging candidate to go public on conviction.
Revealed: Which ministers crashed more under recent Labour, National Govts
New Official Information Act data shows 10 years of ministerial car crashes.
'Look, miracles do happen': Minor parties make their pitch
It's a crowded field for those polling under the 5% threshold - and a passionate one.
Ahmed Zaoui arrested at gunpoint in Algeria - now being held in prison
Former refugee was the centre of court battles over claims he was a terrorist.
The switch in mood in Northland’s final election debate that got candidates talking
Debates in Northland have been called 'feral', 'misogynist' and 'racist'.
Fatal crash probe slammed after police case against tourist driver collapses
New inquiry into police investigation highlights slew of failures in double-fatal crash.
Hipkins tells Northland - your roads aren’t up to scratch (and neither were schools or hospitals)
Prime Minister Chris Hipkins says North has been underfunded for years.
Hipkins ‘angry’ at National’s ‘race-baiting’ - says Māori have most to lose
Hipkins says he refuses to stay silent on the issue and will stand up for Māori rights.
Northland, the politics of belief and ‘Nimby’, ‘misogynist’ and ‘racist' voters
Can Labour's Willow-Jean Prime hold onto a seat her party has won only once since 1938?
Locals free injured men after chopper rolls during take-off
Two people were in the aircraft when the incident happened at Whangaroa about 3.20pm.
'I'm not a Russian agent': RNZ journo behind 'pro-Kremlin garbage' tells his story
Former Radio NZ journalist Mick Hall speaks on the "Russian propaganda" editing scandal.
New Defence Force weapon is so powerful it might cause brain damage to those firing it
Soldiers have been restricting to firing 30 training shots a day.
Why did PM reject calls to honour Kiwi soldier's courageous mountain rescue?
Private David Stewart was one of six killed in the 1990 tragedy on Mt Ruapehu.
Revealed: Audit shows Te Whatu Ora’s problem with contractors
Audit into new health agency reveals 1100 contractors at head office.
Clairvoyant who 'conned' $19m Lotto winner: Claims of debts emerge
Kim Helmbright created an aura of trust among those who befriended her.
Inside Julian Batchelor's long-simmering property spat before his divisive co-governance tour
Roadshow organiser's 15-year battle with DoC, Māori over access to land.
Fatal police shooting of Kaoss Price was ‘legally justified’
Kaoss Price died after being shot by a police officer in Taranaki last year.
Local RSAs told they exist for veterans - not cheap booze and food
New RSA leadership is investigating local clubs' finances and welfare support.
Health Minister ‘disappointed’ no new waiting list data before election
Health Minister Ayesha Verrall called for fresh data. Te Whatu Ora says yeah, nah.
Health Minister says wait times 'turned around' - wants up-to-date data to prove it
Health minister says waiting lists are coming down and system is recovering.
Ex-National Front Stop Co-Governance Tour organiser believes 'white people' being targeted
Those attending secret meeting in Hawke's Bay screened by former National Front organiser.
Peeni Henare: ‘We’ve got to be far better than this’
Veterans' Minister Peeni Henare says support for veterans is not good enough.
Final ‘koha’: Sir Wira Gardiner’s posthumous High Court win for veterans
High Court decision tells Veterans' Affairs to aim for justice and don't sweat the detail.
Online anger after shooting prompts security move for judges
Safety steps taken by judiciary as judge faces online targeting.
Pump-action shotguns among most common firearms in NZ
Pump-action shotguns are available to those who pass firearms licence checks.
Final act of service: Sir Wira Gardiner’s role in court case to improve veterans' lot
Sir Wira gave his mana and name to a legal case as a koha to others who served.
SAS trooper talks about fighting in Afghanistan - and the post-war help he can't find
Gregg Johnson suffers memory loss - is it an injury from the War on Terror?
Elite soldier killed in training ‘expendable’, says family at odds with inquiry report
Nicholas Kahotea's whānau say the US has not apologised for its role in his death.
David Fisher: Luxon hits the pre-campaign trail to build political muscle
OPINION: The smell of the election is in the air as National's leader meets the people.
Exclusive: What ScoMo said about NZ and Aukus
The nuclear submarine deal was 'top-level room at the casino', says former Australian PM.
Watch: Armed police in new Megaupload raid arrest new extradition target
The impending extradition of Julius Bencko leaves only one Megaupload 'fugitive'.
Megaupload coders sentenced to prison after home detention bid denied
Kim Dotcom alone remains liable for extradition.
Megaupload executives appear for sentencing 11 years after arrest
The pair's new Mega business is an example of remorse and rehabilitation, the court hears.
David Fisher: The momentous milestone in marathon Megaupload case
The Megaupload marathon reaches a milestone with sentencing of two coders in a plea deal.
Police automatic surveillance of number plates - new accountability and privacy rules mooted
New rules come in assessment of impact on privacy from number plate surveillance.