Reporter, NZ Herald
George Block is an Auckland-based reporter covering mostly crime but also police, the courts, prisons and sometimes defence. He joined the Herald in 2022 and has previously worked at Stuff in Auckland and the Otago Daily Times in Dunedin. He can be reached on george.block@nzherald.co.nz or securely via Whatsapp / Signal on +64273041775.
Albany axe attacker named, to be detained in psychiatric care after acquittal
The man was acquitted of responsibility for the attacks at Chinese restaurants.
Pukekohe Court locked down after BB gun flashed, two arrested after helicopter pursuit
The court was plunged into lockdown and the police Eagle chopper deployed.
Department of Corrections spent over $400k on overseas travel in a year
On one $40k trip to London, managers enjoyed a plush member's club in Piccadilly.
Auckland body in bag: Interpol 'black notice' issued over mystery remains
Police are looking around the globe for answers to the enduring mystery.
Suppression lapses for second man accused of Auckland couple's murder
He has also pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to murder a third person.
Identity of Auckland kidnapping-accused revealed as police hunt accomplice
The man sought name suppression so he could first inform his mother of his situation.
Plush new Auckland rooftop bar to open at site of fatal shooting
The bar will be atop One Queen St, where a man killed two construction workers last year.
Man accused of Auckland kidnapping appears in court after dramatic waterfront arrest
The man has name suppression so he can tell his mum what has happened.
Exclusive: Inside the hunt for New Zealand's next Naval helicopter
New Zealand is eyeing up new Naval choppers - and the lobbying has already begun.
Alleged West Auckland imposter dentist unmasked after years of practice
The man allegedly performed dental procedures for years without qualifications.
Corrections asked to find $100m+ of savings after Govt promise not to cut front-line staff
The Government says the frontline won't be affected in its $100m Corrections savings push.
Air Force crisis: You thought our jets were bad? Check out our choppers
The Air Force's NH90 choppers had a mission-readiness of just 34 per cent in January.
Police officers charged with attempting to pervert course of justice in sex case
The charges come after a court determined a miscarriage of justice had occurred.
Man accused of killing Auckland couple can now be named
He is also accused alongside a younger man of conspiracy to kill a woman.
'Insulting’: Frustrated cops slam latest pay offer
Feedback will be sought by the Police Association over the coming days.
Pair accused of murdering Auckland couple fight to keep name secret amid new charge
The pair is now accused of conspiracy to murder a third person.
HMNZS Aotearoa: Contaminated diesel fuel required multi-million dollar fix
The Navy has launched an inquiry as to how the dodgy diesel caused so much damage.
Deadly love triangle: Auckland man jailed for killing former friend
'You will always be labelled as Sean Hayde, murderer,' Arapo's mum said.
'Cowardly, barbaric': Mother shares grief after man shot partner in front of their son
Their 10yo son watched his father gun down his mum in a 'torturous and cruel' act.
Fourth shoplifting charge against ex-Green MP involves new store
Police say the fourth shoplifting charge occurred in Newmarket.
Ex-Green MP Golriz Ghahraman facing new fourth charge
The former MP's court date has now been pushed back twice.
Christchurch chemist robbery: Gunman barricaded in terrified staff
The robber "smelled like hell" according to a witness.
'Vendetta' - Cameron Slater ordered to pay $475,000 to Matthew Blomfield
Compensatory damages award comes after former Whale Oil blogger lost a defamation case.
Ellerslie double murder accused facing new charge of conspiracy to murder
The pair are now facing a new charge of conspiracy to murder a woman.
Man denies attempting to murder family member at Auckland McDonald's
The man allegedly attacked a family member on January 11.
Helensville homicide: Trio accused of killing Samuel Curle plead not guilty
Five men in total stand accused of Curle's murder — three were in court today.
Mfat spent $43k sending staff to IT conference in Rome
Staff accepted freebies from the vendor, who was submitting on a ministry tender.
Auckland prison death: Family’s fight for answers as body cam footage emerges
Caleb died 20 minutes after he was pepper sprayed, but no one has been found responsible.
Massey security guard death: Man denies killing Ramandeep Singh
The security guard's body was found in a Massey reserve a week before Christmas.
Auckland dad on trial accused of murdering baby daughter, assaulting son
Another young man is on trial accused of killing his daughter.
Security guard death: Family of witness sent photos of body by people linked to defendant
Police say they are aware of what happened and have contacted defence lawyers.
Pair sent to prison for scaring young dad who fell to his death
Their bungled robbery attempt caused Tahana to fall from a balcony.
Christchurch mosque attack terrorist abandons review of prison conditions
The terrorist planned to challenge his designation as an at-risk prisoner.
Businessman charged with assaulting police outs himself - it’s Leo Molloy
He earlier pleaded not guilty to assaulting a police officer.
Gun shop owner accused of illegal sales ‘fears for safety’, tries to keep name secret
The dealer was also charged with possession of banned firearms including an AK-47 rifle.
Helensville homicide: Three more men charged with murder of Samuel Curle
Curle, 36, was found injured near the highway and died 20 days later.
Extremism on the rise behind bars, Corrections warns new minister
The new Corrections Minister was also told the prison population is on the rise again.
Pair deny attempted murder after innocent family caught in crossfire
An upstanding family man was lucky to dodge death in one of the Comanchero shootings.
Money launderer fails in bid to dodge record sentence
Legal arguments could not save Ye Hua from prison pending her appeal.
'I can't see': Prison officer acquitted of assaulting prisoner who later died after being pepper sprayed
The jury were not aware the prisoner later died.
Man whose alleged comments sparked Auckland CBD chaos appears in court
Police swarmed Albert Park after the alleged false statement by the man.
Prison guard defends pepper spraying distressed inmate, feared towel could be used as weapon
Confronting body-camera footage captured the encounter.
Police officer facing perjury charge
The charge carries a maximum penalty of seven years' imprisonment.
Auckland prison officer on trial accused of assault with pepper spray
The man denies assaulting an inmate in Mt Eden prison in 2022.
Head Hunters’ new pad revealed: Gang buys North Shore industrial property
Industrial Wairau Valley is the new home of the freshly minted North Shore chapter.
Record-breaking Auckland money launderer engages medieval legal mechanism in freedom bid
Ye 'Cathay' Hua laundered millions for a drug cartel via her Newmarket business.
Police visit home of Golriz Ghahraman amid shoplifting investigation
The visit by police comes days after she returned to NZ.
Significant police presence as murder-accused appear in court, keep names secret
The 19-year-old's body was found nine months after he went missing.
'My life thru jail bars' - Auckland double killer's prison Instagram revealed
And he's not the only Head Hunter posting from behind bars.
Defence Force disables internet access for all staff over mystery issue
Military leadership won't specify the nature of the issue that cut internet access.
Golriz Ghahraman overseas as police investigate alleged shoplifting incident
Police are looking into report that MP shoplifted goods from clothes store.
Manurewa shooting: Single gunshot killed one, left another fighting for life in unsolved attack
A single shotgun blast through a car window left two men critical, with one later dying.
At home with the Head Hunters: Exclusive look inside the pad police want to seize
The Herald was given a rare look inside the pad at the heart of a long-running case.
Is this Auckland’s wildest bar? A stabbing, a shooting, a drug raid and public sex
Inside the untold story of the short but chaotic life of Auckland's BayLuck Karaoke.
Record-breaking money launderer wins bid to stay out of jail for Christmas
She received the longest-ever sentence for money laundering but remains free for now.
Innocent family of ex-Comanchero gang member caught in crossfire of shootings
Khalid Slaimankhel left the motorcycle gang, then his family was targeted in two shootings
Auckland’s Laneway Festival wins fight for liquor licence
The all-ages designation for the first Laneway in four years proved unpopular with cops.
Victims dismayed at bail for Auckland man accused of driving at Good Samaritans
The man allegedly sped into a group helping a woman he had earlier ran over.
Laneway liquor stoush: Festival looks set for R16 licence
A day-long hearing suggests a compromise that may please neither punters nor officials.
Counsellor caught with meth, cannabis at prison gate on way to inmate appointment
The counsellor was bringing more than just advice into the prison.
Police investigate death of elderly man in connection with horror Auckland pedestrian crash
Nurses were among those injured in the alleged bus stop attack.
Gang's cash courier avoids jail as judge criticises 501 policy's 'brutal' effects
He found solace in the Comancheros. Now he's been given a second chance.
Head Hunters unveil new chapter in Auckland
The North Shore chapter is the first opened by the gang in more than 20 years.
Auckland man fed up with boy racers opened fire with air gun, injuring one
The 65-year-old fired a single shot with an air rifle at the group of hoons.
'Kiwipedo' who tried to buy toddler online for sex to be released from prison
His release location in the North Island cannot be revealed.
Cop discharged without conviction after assaulting teens after chase
The man won a discharge without conviction on the two assault charges.
Nurses among injured in driver's alleged attack at Auckland bus stop
The mayhem in East Auckland erupted on Sunday evening, leaving six injured.
Auckland league club was uninsured and failed to file financials before arson
The club's affairs were in disarray before the arson, Herald inquiries reveal.
Auckland man jailed for MIQ escape followed by crime spree
The escape was announced by then PM Jacinda Ardern in 2021.
Queen Street shooting: Man who spent weeks on run denies murder
Police say Dariush Talagi was at large for 15 weeks before his arrest.
Inmate shanked repeatedly in Mt Eden prison amid 'dire' staff shortage
The remand prison where the shank attack happened is short of about 100 staff, union says.
The $420k Lamborghini, the illegal Bitcoin dealer and the dirty cash
Shaun Lu amassed millions of dollars in assets, turning a blind eye to source of funds.
Exclusive Auckland private members bar raided in smash and grab
It's the favoured nightspot for Auckland's young elite. Now it's been burgled.
Dismay in court at home detention sentence for woman who killed partner
The troubled history between the pair emerged at sentencing.
Māngere manslaughter case: Auckland man denies killing the mother of his children
The accused and the woman who died had four children.
Gunmen who shot pair in legs in revenge attack remain at large
One man was held down and shot in both legs during a home invasion.
Pair deny murdering Ellerslie husband and wife
The killing of the respected orthopaedic nurse and his wife shocked the city.
Auckland home invasion: Men shot point blank
Two men were held down and shot in their legs in the harrowing pre-dawn attack.