Emma Russell, Multimedia Journalist at New Zealand's Herald, uncovers health investigations and writes daily news following the country's biggest health system shake up and continued repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Kia ora, I'm Emma. I'm really proud of two major investigations I've uncovered since starting at the New Zealand Herald in 2018. The first exposed inequalities in cancer care in a 2019 investigation called ‘Cancer: Why can’t we get it right?’. The second was a 2022 campaign called ‘In her Head’, which uncovered serious issues with how women are treated in New Zealand’s health system, and the severe neglect that some wāhine had faced. I also write daily news including following the country’s biggest health system shakeup and continued repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic. Growing up, I watched people I love struggle with their mental health, with them becoming stripped of a voice and left feeling powerless. I observed the role the media has to influence positive change. This led me to study journalism, with history and English, at the University of Canterbury and through a postgraduate diploma at Auckland University of Technology. I learnt about three key staples to journalism - holding powers to account, shining a light on injustices, and giving people a voice. Many of the stories I cover are harrowing and confronting. Those stories have stayed with me, but by sharing them we provoke meaningful conversation. To me, journalism is more than a job, it’s a privilege and one I am committed to never taking for granted

'My potential babies': Former couple in frozen embryo fight
"I knew I had to just suck it up and give him what he wanted," mum tells.

Leaked letters reveal senior docs warning Middlemore unsafe to teach juniors
"It's a terrible space to be in and it speaks to their feelings that they are failing..."

'Every ED doctor is worried': Clinicians respond to scathing Middlemore Hospital report
South Auckland doctor describes the hospital's current state as a "sh** storm".

Medical student inserted IUD into disabled woman without consent
Health Commissioner: 'It is particularly disappointing that this issue is continuing'.

'He was just a skeleton of a baby': Family moves to Australia to save starving infant
Gideon's body started 'eating itself' to survive - 'He was essentially starving to death.'

'No such thing as too young for breast cancer': Mum fights to live for her kids
When it comes to breast cancer - 'don't wait like I did; your outcome might be better'.

'I don't know if my son will ever walk again': ACC declines support for blind toddler
Lawyer says this case raises an interesting issue about a disabled child who is injured.

Former All Black Dan Carter visits 'world's most at-risk country' for natural disasters
'They don't live with a lot but their gratitude, smiles, their energy was infectious.'

'His foot was like a corpse': Toddler nearly dies after IV mishap
'It's terrible because if it had gone on for another hour, he might have been dead.'

Alana Scott never expected kids after cancer. Groundbreaking surgery gives her hope
'It feels quite strange, I don't think I have fully taken it in that it's happening ...'

'I felt like I was failing as a mother': New mum $10k out of pocket after ACC snub
"Eventually I broke...I didn't want to be here anymore. I felt defeated, and quite alone."

'We love you': Widow's diary of husband's last months with cancer
"We all just kept saying "we love you" until he took his final breath..."

Room service with a side of bassinet, 5-star postnatal stay for $980 a night
Mums can now recuperate from childbirth dipping their toes in 5-star luxury.

Mum ate one meal a day, slept on hospital floors to afford son's cancer treatment
More and more families really hurting, says cancer society boss.

'We lost our dearest daughter': Investigation finds 'missed opportunities' to try save 6yo girl
'It was a disaster...we could not believe this happened in New Zealand,' mum says.

'Priscilla is a miracle': The woman not expected to recover - until she did
'You have to keep fighting the system ... I never gave up on Priscilla.'

'She is too young to die': Family take legal action after hospital advises to let 44yo mum die
Mum, 75, sits at daughter's bedside ready to do CPR - as hospital won't do it.