New Zealand's Latest Breaking News, Business, Sport, Weather, Entertainment, Politics

Latest FromDavid Fisher

Wayne Thomas Patterson, who was sentenced to eight years in prison for the audacious fraud. Photo / File

BUSINESS

Inside the home of a master fraudster: The modest flat that hid a fortune

5 Oct, 2019 5:41pm
3 minutes to read

Wayne Patterson pulled off his $3.4m fraud using 123 false identities.

NEW ZEALAND

Hacker could have health data of one million New Zealanders

5 Oct, 2019 3:48pm
5 minutes to read

A hacker may have accessed personal health information of one million people.

Ashley Palmer, who has died. Photo / Supplied

NEW ZEALAND

Sex pest tax fraudster dead after life of court and jail

5 Oct, 2019 2:38pm
2 minutes to read

Notorious ex-con dies leaving history of tax fraud and sexual offending.

Former bank manager Stephen Versalko, who stole $17.8m from ASB Bank. Photo / Bradley Ambrose

BUSINESS

$18m fraudster Stephen Versalko speaks: 'I was an absolute fool'

3 Oct, 2019 11:00am
3 minutes to read

Banker finally apologises for blowing millions on prostitutes and fine wine.

Shane Jones (right) speaking at the Northland Forestry Awards. Photo / Jess Burges Photography

NEW ZEALAND

Logger takes axe to Shane Jones over awards night conduct

1 Oct, 2019 5:34pm
3 minutes to read

Logger lashes Shane Jones after awards' night electioneering - 'Bring it on Mr Jones'.

Forestry minister Shane Jones (centre) with the top winner at the Northland Forestry Awards, Michelle Harrison, and her husband Nigel. Photo / Jess Burges Photography

NEW ZEALAND

Shane Jones: I got you cash, now show me the votes

27 Sep, 2019 5:30pm
7 minutes to read

Forestry minister Shane Jones says: 'This is reciprocity. If you want it, back it.'

On patrol in Afghanistan - NZ troops on the streets of Bamiyan township. Photo / Supplied

NEW ZEALAND

RSA: 'Yellow food, pokie machines, cheap alcohol' while modern veterans miss out

23 Sep, 2019 5:00am
8 minutes to read

RSA under pressure as contemporary military veterans lose safety net.

Former Defence Force chief Sir Jerry Mateparae addresses the inquiry into Operation Burnham. Photo / Boris Jancic

NEW ZEALAND

David Fisher: NZ Defence Force's extraordinary incompetence on display

21 Sep, 2019 7:21pm
15 minutes to read

Opinion: Evidence shows defence officials ignored evidence that civilians may have died.

Steve Wilce, the fantasist sacked from his Defence Technology Agency job in 2010, is standing as a candidate for the Far North District Council. Photo / Supplied

NEW ZEALAND

Vote for me! Council candidate's fantasist past exposed

19 Sep, 2019 3:00pm
4 minutes to read

Candidate once claimed to be elite soldier, rocket scientist and Olympic sportsman.

NEW ZEALAND

Labour sex assault: Top lawyer warns of 'kneejerk reaction' to allegations

17 Sep, 2019 6:46pm
3 minutes to read

Marie Dyhrberg QC says 'follow the evidence'.

NEW ZEALAND

He's lived 61 years in NZ - then gets told he's not a resident

12 Sep, 2019 9:55am
5 minutes to read

Tim Dare came to NZ as a child - 61 years later he's told he's not a resident.

Cheryl Gwyn, the Inspector General of Security and Intelligence and Security, now a High Court judge. Photo / Mark Mitchell

NEW ZEALAND

David Fisher: Wanted - spy watchdog, with or without teeth?

10 Sep, 2019 5:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: The former spy watchdog was uncompromising - who will replace her?

NEW ZEALAND

Ex-spy bosses attack claims failed over CIA torture links

9 Sep, 2019 1:44pm
6 minutes to read

Three former intelligence agency leaders lash back after critical report on CIA torture.

A long-awaited report into our intelligence agencies' links to the CIA rendition programme has identified a lack of support for those posted overseas. Photo / File

NEW ZEALAND

Official: Our spies, the CIA torture scandal and 'kill' missions

9 Sep, 2019 10:24am
8 minutes to read

Our role in the War on Terror links spies to CIA torture and "kill missions".

Watching fortunes rise and fall. The advice from the Financial Markets Authority - just hang up on cold callers. Photo / File

NEW ZEALAND

A cold caller rang with a get-rich proposal. It went horribly wrong (for them).

3 Sep, 2019 4:29pm
5 minutes to read

The bold claims and invisible world of the online trading sales company targeting Kiwis.

One of five sitting on the Royal Commission into Abuse in Care - Dr Anaru Erueti:

NEW ZEALAND

Our dark history of abuse in care - inside the first hearing

20 Aug, 2019 2:05pm
9 minutes to read

Inside the first proper hearing of the Royal Commission into Abuse in Care.

The club drug Ecstasy has enjoyed a resurgence in supply - but it comes with risks. Photo / File

NEW ZEALAND

Warning: Huge spike in mega-dose Ecstasy pills flooding into NZ

17 Aug, 2019 6:39pm
6 minutes to read

Massive jump in the amount of MDMA seized at the border this year.

Matt Blomfield and his wife Rebecca Blatchford at their home in Greenhithe, Auckland. Photo / Hayden Woodward

NEW ZEALAND

Meet the new Whaleoil - blog site bought by defamation victim

9 Aug, 2019 1:33pm
5 minutes to read

Matt Blomfield sued Cameron Slater for defamation and won - now he's taken his website.

Personal and sensitive information has been classified incorrectly and is available to the public at Archives NZ. Photo / File

NEW ZEALAND

David Fisher: Archives NZ's guardianship of our past under threat

8 Aug, 2019 3:00pm
8 minutes to read

Comment: Our national archive is in trouble and all of government needs to help fix it.

Former Prime Minister Sir John Key in Afghanistan with members of the NZDF provincial reconstruction team. Photo / Supplied

NEW ZEALAND

NZSAS stopped 15 'spectacular' attacks by terrorists

8 Aug, 2019 12:59pm
6 minutes to read

New details of NZSAS action in Afghanistan include stopping massive terror attacks.

Records detailing coroner investigations were left in the public archives, including police reports on the death, psychiatric details and autopsy details. Photo / File

NEW ZEALAND

Dishonoured in death: Privacy breach saw 33,000 coroners' files open to public

8 Aug, 2019 7:00am
6 minutes to read

Files containing personal details about deaths from 1977-2000 were open to the public.

Kaitāia campaign trail - Brian and Hannah Tamaki of Destiny Church, former MP Hone Harawira, and Far North mayoral candidate Jay Hepi. Photo / Peter de Graaf

PREMIUM

Racism cuts Māori out of local elections, says Far North mayoral candidate

8 Aug, 2019 5:00am
6 minutes to read

Racism claim: Far North council is "white man, white man, white woman, white man".

Facebook Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg with Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern in November 2017. Photo / Supplied

NEW ZEALAND

Big Read: Inside Jacinda Ardern and Facebook's emails after March 15

7 Aug, 2019 7:54pm
14 minutes to read

What the Prime Minister and Facebook's executives said to each other after March 15.

NEW ZEALAND

They were abused as children. Did they then suffer legal hurdles?

7 Aug, 2019 5:00am
4 minutes to read

Crown and its lawyers to face scrutiny of historic claim settlement strategies.

Sir Anand Satyanand told the Herald he needed to make a

NEW ZEALAND

'Searing experience': Head of Govt inquiry into state child abuse quits

6 Aug, 2019 1:59pm
6 minutes to read

The head of the Royal Commission into abuse in care has resigned.

Former blogger Cameron Slater, who set up Whaleoil in 2005 to combat depression. Photo / File

NEW ZEALAND

Whaleoil blog ends under weight of 'numerous legal cases'

1 Aug, 2019 9:55am
3 minutes to read

Cameron Slater's Whaleoil blog ends, citing pressure from legal cases.

Government agencies handling historic claims of abuse in state care have

NEW ZEALAND

'Hundreds' of names of alleged child abusers held by government

1 Aug, 2019 5:00am
6 minutes to read

Details emerge of identities of alleged abusers held by government agencies.

Archives NZ says the content of the files it provides to the public are not its responsibility. Photo / File

NEW ZEALAND

Archives NZ privacy hole known for years and not fixed

26 Jul, 2019 6:11pm
5 minutes to read

Archives NZ privacy hole known for years but left open for the Herald to walk through.

Publicly available files at Archives NZ disclosed personal details of more than 500 state wards from Hokio Boys' School and Kohitere Training Centre. Photo / File

NEW ZEALAND

Whistleblower says Archives NZ privacy breach known for years

26 Jul, 2019 7:00am
6 minutes to read

Investigation: Files were public for years and the government knew, says whistleblower.

Tyrone Marks, 59, who was at Hokio Boys' and Kohitere Training Centre, and a Lake Alice patient. Photo / Aaron Smale

NEW ZEALAND

Big Read: Privacy breach exposes life in children's homes

24 Jul, 2019 3:00pm
16 minutes to read

Lives of 500 children raised as state wards exposed - inside the horrors of a boys' home.

Lieutenant Tim O'Donnell (left), in Afghanistan with Private Allister Baker (middle) and Lance Corporal Mattie Ball (right). Photo / Supplied

NEW ZEALAND

Fight back or Taliban will strike: NZDF's emails on NZSAS raid

24 Jul, 2019 2:38pm
5 minutes to read

Ambush-death of Lieutenant Tim O'Donnell needed response, isolated commander told NZDF.

Archives NZ holds seven million files from government agencies, including personal records of former state wards. Photo / File

NEW ZEALAND

Privacy breach: 'They drugged and abused us - and it's still happening'

24 Jul, 2019 5:00am
6 minutes to read

Files included behaviour, criminal offending, family and medical details.

Journalists Nicky Hager and Jon Stephenson at the launch of the book, Hit & Run. Photo / Mark Mitchell

NEW ZEALAND

Military called on conflicting NZSAS civilian casualty stories

20 Jul, 2019 5:00am
4 minutes to read

NZDF told to front up and explain tangled stories before inquiry into NZSAS raid.

American Reiss Berger, who had charges of careless driving causing death dismissed after his lawyer carried out his own investigation. Photo / David Fisher

NEW ZEALAND

Tourist walks from fatal charges after own investigation

14 Jul, 2019 6:00pm
5 minutes to read

Former MP Mike Sabin's investigation helps clear tourist driver of fatal charges.

Oranga Tamariki developed a plan to return baby Chu, now 5, to the country of his birth even though he barely knew anyone there, or spoke the language, or knew the culture. Photo / File

NEW ZEALAND

Oranga Tamariki bungle: Risk drug mum's baby would be sold by gangs

13 Jul, 2019 10:11am
9 minutes to read

Family Court judge lashes child protection agency over care of drug smugglers' baby.

Destiny Church Bishop Brian Tamaki with Far North mayoral candidate Jay Hepi in Kaikohe. Photo / David Fisher

NEW ZEALAND

The Holy Trinity to electoral success for Brian and Hannah Tamaki

11 Jul, 2019 7:54pm
8 minutes to read

David Fisher analyses the plan behind Brian and Hannah Tamaki's political ambitions.

Destiny Church's Brian and Hannah Tamaki.

NEW ZEALAND

Destiny's Tamakis put up ex gang boss for Far North mayor

11 Jul, 2019 9:27am
4 minutes to read

Brian and Hannah Tamaki put up a mayoral candidate in Far North electoral race.

NZSAS troopers leaving a Chinook helicopter in Afghanistan. Photo / Supplied

NEW ZEALAND

The deleted SAS raid footage politicians didn't see

9 Jul, 2019 3:00pm
5 minutes to read

NZDF used edited Apache footage to get Beehive support over Hit & Run claims.

Video imagery from an Apache helicopter gunship shows armed men leaving a house in the village. Photo / Supplied

NEW ZEALAND

Analysis: NZSAS secrets revealed - how it happened and what it means

2 Jul, 2019 11:00am
12 minutes to read

David Fisher explains how the NZSAS secrets became public and what it means.

NZSAS troopers leave a Chinook helicopter in Afghanistan. Photo / Supplied

NEW ZEALAND

NZSAS secrets spilled online as inquiry digs deep

1 Jul, 2019 5:08pm
5 minutes to read

NZDF said 'no', Chief Ombudsman said 'no' but NZSAS secrets are out there now.

Intelligence and Security Inspector-General Cheryl Gwyn

NEW ZEALAND

NZ's spy watchdog battles to see secret emails

17 Jun, 2019 5:00am
6 minutes to read

New clash between spies and their watchdog over claims of NZSAS collateral damage.

Megaupload founder Kim Dotcom faces extradition to the US. Photo / File

BUSINESS

US offers extra options to extradite Kim Dotcom

14 Jun, 2019 2:00pm
3 minutes to read

US says no need to prove actual owner of Megaupload movies and music for extradition.

Bram van der Kolk and Mathias Ortmann during the 2015 extradition hearing. Photo / File

BUSINESS

Comment: The Megaupload coders and their emails

14 Jun, 2019 9:28am
5 minutes to read

Four are accused but two sit in court - the Megaupload accused at the Supreme Court.

It seemed the Kim Dotcom case would forever be a part of New Zealand. Photo / File

BUSINESS

A tale of two Kims: The parallel cases

13 Jun, 2019 6:30pm
4 minutes to read

Comment: The US is finally presenting its case against Kim Dotcom - but will it matter?

The Megaupload accused in 2012 - Bram van der Kolk, Kim Dotcom, Mathias Ortmann and Finn Batato. Photo / File

BUSINESS

The US: Megaupload accused knew piracy made them money

13 Jun, 2019 2:09pm
3 minutes to read

The United States makes its case for Kim Dotcom and others to be extradited.

Kim Dotcom, who faces extradition to the United States on allegations of massive copyright infringement. Photo / File

NEW ZEALAND

Kim Dotcom 'conspiracy': US takes its case to Supreme Court

12 Jun, 2019 5:53pm
4 minutes to read

The United States steps forward to say why Kim Dotcom and others should be extradited.

Kim Dotcom at the 2015 extradition hearing. Photo / File

BUSINESS

Kim Dotcom's lawyer says Megaupload like Dropbox, YouTube

12 Jun, 2019 2:18pm
4 minutes to read

Lawyer Ron Mansfield aligns Kim Dotcom's website with popular websites.

The Supreme Court is Kim Dotcom's final safety net in the Megaupload extradition case. Photo / File

NEW ZEALAND

David Fisher: Speed-dating, magic and Kim Dotcom at the Supreme Court

12 Jun, 2019 8:45am
4 minutes to read

In the Supreme Court, lawyers tackle a judicial Everest in the Megaupload case

The FBI killed Megaupload in 2012 and had New Zealand police arrest Kim Dotcom. Photo / Getty Images

BUSINESS

Supreme plotting at Kim Dotcom's court of last resort

11 Jun, 2019 6:40pm
4 minutes to read

What if, asked a Supreme Court justice, I just took your novel and sold it on the street?

Accused: Kim Dotcom and three others face extradition to the United States on charges related to alleged massive copyright infringement. Photo / File

NEW ZEALAND

Dotcom lawyer: Movie warnings on copyright 'propaganda'

11 Jun, 2019 4:43pm
4 minutes to read

Ron Mansfield tells the Supreme Court that Megaupload never breached copyright.

Kim Dotcom faces years in a US prison if extradited and convicted over allegations of massive copyright infringement. Photo / File

NEW ZEALAND

'Cut-and-paste' Megaupload judgment put before Supreme Court

11 Jun, 2019 2:34pm
4 minutes to read

Yellow-highlighted pages on more than half of extradition judgment, says lawyer.

Kim Dotcom during a 2013 press conference, talking about the 2012 FBI-inspired raid which saw him and three others arrested. Photo / File

NEW ZEALAND

FBI showed no proof of Megaupload copyright breach - lawyer

10 Jun, 2019 5:22pm
5 minutes to read

Supreme Court told there's no evidence linking alleged Megaupload breaches to copyright.

NEW ZEALAND

Dotcom extradition: Supreme Court told of 'cut-and-paste' decision

10 Jun, 2019 11:43am
4 minutes to read

Extradition case against Kim Dotcom and others reaches NZ's highest court.

Kim Dotcom with wife Liz Dotcom. Photo / Supplied

NEW ZEALAND

Dotcom in final Megaupload plea to Supreme Court

10 Jun, 2019 5:00am
4 minutes to read

Seven years in the making, Dotcom has one final appeal to the Supreme Court.

Former detective sergeant Theo Ackroyd, who was head of Gisborne police's child protection unit while also chairman of the Gisborne Intermediate board of trustees. Photo / David Fisher

NEW ZEALAND

Cop said he reported teacher - new report says he didn't

9 Jun, 2019 6:03am
6 minutes to read

Cops says he told Teachers' Council - but they called looking for answers.

NEW ZEALAND

Arthur Taylor: Why more prisoners should serve their sentence in the community

8 Jun, 2019 4:37pm
4 minutes to read

Long-time prisoner Arthur Taylor has hit out at the treatment of inmates.

Reiha McLelland, 13, who took her life in 2014. Photo / Supplied

NEW ZEALAND

Secret report: What police kept from teen suicide inquest

8 Jun, 2019 5:00am
8 minutes to read

Inquest into the suicide of teen Reiha McLelland not given police internal inquiry.

The Megaupload accused in 2012 - Bram van der Kolk, Kim Dotcom, Mathias Ortmann and Finn Batato. Photo / Sarah Ivey

NEW ZEALAND

Kim Dotcom's final extradition appeal ends the sideshows

8 Jun, 2019 5:00am
6 minutes to read

The long-running extradition case reaches the Supreme Court for its final(ish) hearing.

Home invasion gunman Ned Paraha. Photo / Supplied

BUSINESS

Whale Oil book's home invasion gunman declined parole

31 May, 2019 5:11pm
4 minutes to read

Police seeking Crown Law advice on charges after fresh inquiries.

Police are investigating an inmate's claim she was pepper sprayed, handcuffed then smashed to a concrete floor. Photo / File

NEW ZEALAND

Inmate assault claim probe after lawyer's visit blocked

31 May, 2019 4:11pm
5 minutes to read

Inmate claims she was pepper sprayed, handcuffed and face-smashed into the floor.

Former MP Georgina Beyer, speaking in 2004 in support of legislation which would allow civil unions. Photo / Mark Mitchell

NEW ZEALAND

Georgina Beyer - why I'm not going to Destiny's big gay out

31 May, 2019 1:25pm
4 minutes to read

Transgender former MP and mayor says: "I want to hear an apology."

Destiny Church's Bishop Brian Tamaki and Pastor Hannah Tamaki. Photo / Mike Scott

NEW ZEALAND

Brian Tamaki invites gay community for date with Destiny

30 May, 2019 3:51pm
6 minutes to read

Destiny Church opens its doors to rainbow community - but who will walk through?