Dawn Picken
Weekend and opinion writer
Dawn is a weekend and opinion writer for the Bay of Plenty Times
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 Dawn’s latest content
Dawn Picken: An insider's guide to the ICU for the vaccine hesitant
ICU a reality for more people amid Covid-19. You don't want to go there, says Dawn Picken.
Dawn Picken: Once upon a time, I could venture with my kids
Opinion: The anti-staycation: where you wish you had left home but stayed to work instead.
Dawn Picken: How studying the Māori language benefits us all
Opinion: If you want to better understand someone's culture, study their language.
Horopito hideaway: Away from it all at Ruapehu's Nightsky Cottage
Luxurious eco cottage fills a niche in the Ruapehu accommodation market.
The upside of social media
OPINION: Social media is a cesspool. It's also a repository for good memories.
Dawn Picken: Inequity hurts everyone - it's time to fix the whare
Opinion: We are still living in the house colonialism built and it's time to fix it.
Dawn Picken: Advice for a 17-year-old in a new world
Opinion: For a teenager, postponement looks permanent. But this pause is not forever.
Dawn Picken: Why we can't be productive during lockdown
COMMENT: Building resilience may be the most productive thing we do in lockdown.
Dawn Picken: 10 ways to kill time without killing other humans
Ten tips for staying occupied and sane during lockdown
Savouring small moments in the time of Covid-19
Many of us have the equivalent of a personal pandemic running parallel to coronavirus.
Dawn Picken: Coronavirus myths and hoaxes are travelling faster than the virus
A virus just as deadly as novel coronavirus is sweeping the planet.
What does minimum wage mean for Bay business?
How a higher minimum wage affects employees and business owners across the Bay.
Dawn Picken: Single can be satisfying on Valentine's Day
Valentine's Day takes on a different meaning when you're single
Dawn Picken: Long road towards equality in sports
COMMENT: We still have a ways to go to eliminate racism and sexism in sports.
A land of unrest - our explosive neighbours
Volcanoes shape our past, present and will likely shape our future, say experts.
Joy and pain: The highs and lows of tackling the New York marathon
Locals talk about experiencing the New York City Marathon in all its madness and joy.
Dawn Picken: How to make family gatherings merrier and less scary
It's time to change our attitudes.
Am I losing my mind? Managing your memory in an age of rising dementia and forgetfulness
Are you losing your mind or ageing normally? How to tell the difference.
Exploring pros and cons of meat-free diets
Plant-based diets are a hot trend. But are they better for you and for the planet?
The pros and cons of meat-free diets
Plant-based diets are a hot trend. But are they better for you and for the planet?
'Emotional Russian roulette': The painful ordeal of IVF
Infertility can be an emotionally and physically painful condition couples try to hide.
'I love you, Karin. I'm sorry': Survivors tell of aftermath of suicide
Bay locals talk about what it's like to lose a loved one to suicide.
The Elms: Land grab or historic opportunity?
A Tauranga historic site provokes controversy and pointed comments.
Are you in pain? You're not alone
Sufferers and clinicians say we need better ways to manage chronic pain.
A tale of two cities: Just how do Tauranga and Rotorua compare?
They're so close yet could hardly be any different.
How do we grow great kids? Advice from the trenches
Navigating the waters of parenthood is a tough job.
Let's not get drinks: Why more Kiwis are cutting out booze
Meet your neighbours who choose to live sober.
Let's not get drinks – meet the Kiwis choosing to live sober
Meet your neighbours who choose to live sober.
The nightmare of living with a narcissist
There are different types of narcissists - and they can be downright dangerous.
Taming the mortgage monster: Fat loans have families scratching to save
Bay families are juggling monster mortgages with life's other expenses.
Living with ghosts: One woman's journey of loss and grief – and what she did next
Just what is normal after the death of a loved one?
Comment | Make all kids wear same uniform and stop fleecing parents
COMMENT: Why can't schools sell their emblems to parents to add to generic uniforms?
Cancer drug brings Kiwi woman 'back from the dead'
A miracle drug has given a friend new life. Others need it too, writes Dawn Picken.
Private accommodation providers tax eyed
Private innkeepers aren't happy with a council proposal that could increase their rates.
Bay residents Under the Knife
Bay residents are getting filled, nipped and tucked with mixed results.
A bumper crop, but not enough workers
The Bay of Plenty's kiwifruit industry is still grappling with a worker shortage.
Bella Vista Homeowners face heartbreak and homework
Residents of a Tauranga subdivision are still waiting for word about their homes' safety.
Crash victim's road to recovery: 'I had a cast on every limb'
This year brings new challenges for Welcome Bay's Tina Jennen after a car crash last year.
Inside Story: Waiting game on cancer
Dawn Picken talks to patients and doctors about the process of treating the Big C.
Trashed rental shocks anguished owners
A "heartbroken" Mount Maunganui couple have been left more than $30,000 out of pocket after their rental house was trashed.
Search and rescue: Saving people's lives
If you find yourself disoriented in the bush, local volunteers are ready to help.
Kiwis reveal brushes with death
A recent study suggests 25 million people worldwide have had a near-death experience. Kiwis reveal encounters that transformed their lives.
Big Read: Rise of the Cyber Citizens
Stacey Kemey's Tauranga home is filled with light - and children. We're greeted at the door by Archer, who's almost four years old