Julia Gabel, part of the Investigations team for New Zealand’s Herald, has gained invaluable experience in reporting on the important issues, including health and housing.
I’m Julia Gabel – I started at the Herald in 2020. Since I was a child, I’ve always loved writing. I studied a Bachelor of Arts and after living in Beijing for two years, I found my way into the field when I did the Journalism Post-Graduate Degree at AUT. My first role at the Herald was the 3-11pm shift, where I covered the wide range of stories that come across the newsdesk. I shifted to the investigations team and it’s been an invaluable opportunity, allowing me to dive deep into some pressing and important issues – including health and housing – and see how the world of investigative reporting works. Another exciting change I've seen while I've been at the Herald is the development of Kahu, our Maori news platform, which I sometimes write stories for alongside my live and investigative mahi. Whether it’s live shifts, investigative or any other reporting at the Herald that I get to do, the most important facet of reporting to me is people – getting to meet people as part of our mahi, hearing their stories, sharing them. It’s a privilege to be able to do that.
Auckland floods then and now: Photos capture devastation - see how same spots look today
Traumatic memories hard to shake for victims of flooding a year ago in Auckland.
Auckland rates: See how much you could pay with our interactive map
Auckland Council has proposed increasing rates about 7.5 per cent this year.
Waterbeds, wine coolers and wool bathing shorts: What Consumers Price Index tells us about our past
The CPI has been around for more than 100 years, so is a window to our past.
Death of the Remuera tractor? Find the suburbs with most EVs
The Herald has mapped data from the Ministry of Transport.
The food prices jumping the most in 2023
Cost of vegetables increases after adverse weather events, disease.
Three Kāinga Ora units in South Auckland overcharged more than $400k in rates
The error was identified during Herald data analysis.
Tough times ahead for building sector as consents continue to drop annually
Building consents were down 14 per cent in October 2023 compared to October 2022.
Gender pay gap explained: Why women are effectively working for free until end of the year
The gender pay gap has remained around 9 per cent since 2017.
How does the price of fuel compare in your community?
Data for the map was supplied by price tracking app Gaspy.
State of the nation in nine charts: What country is Luxon inheriting?
Economist: Strong domestic inflation pressures are expected for some time yet.
What are special votes? All you need to know
The how, when and why of the special vote process.
Deepening downturn: Consents for new home continue to drop after post-pandemic peak
Most of the consents issued over the past year were for townhouses, flats or units.
'Fingers crossed': Why mortgagee sales are near lowest levels despite sharp rates increases
Interest rates have risen sharply over the past two years.
'Let down': Family of man who had half his skull removed left out of parole hearing
The Parole Board chairman has apologised to the family.
Interactive: How special votes could make Winston Peters kingmaker
The official election result will be declared on November 3.
'Inaccesible:' Disability advocacy groups call for better access to voting system
Voting is now open for all eligible people.
Early election voting begins today: Everything you need to know
The advance voting period for the 2023 election starts today.
'We're living a life sentence': Mum’s four years of pain after son’s waterfront killing
“It’s every mother’s worst, worst nightmare."
'A reclamation for all of Aotearoa': New interactive map shows original tangata whenua place names
Each map displays around 900 Māori and Moriori place names.
The beloved Kiwi vegetable that costs 234% more than a year ago
What's driving high fruit & vegetable prices? Industry experts explain.
New Zealand business sales up by $6 billion, salaries increase more than inflation
“The overall picture – is one where the economy looks like it was moving forward."
'Appalling' employment gap for disabled people needs urgent attention - advocacy group
"Some people just think of disabled people as being, somehow, less than or not as good."
Election 2023: How political pollsters find people to survey
'There’s never been an election where the main polling companies have got it wrong'.
'A dirty window': What you need to consider before reading a political poll
This is what you need to consider when reading polls.
Bubbles bring more submissions: Council changes up budget consultation
The council won the “SuperEngaged” award for its Budget Tool.
Removing GST from fruit & vegetables: How much would households save?
Herald analysis shows wealthier households would have much more to gain.
Cost of living for average household increasing faster official inflation
Cost-of-living for average household increases 7.2 per cent.
New machine learning tool spots black petrels hooked in fishing lines 30 times faster than humans can
So far this year, eight black petrel captures have been reported by commercial fishers.
Was 2023 the last? Government’s statistician talks about the future of census
'It’s getting harder to get responses from New Zealanders.'
'You couldn’t get me to move back': Largest net migration loss to Aussie in a decade
One nurse says she has no regrets about making the move and wishes she had done it sooner.
All he wanted was a truck ride - now 40 truckies are coming to the party
Support from kind-hearted truckies for a surprise birthday convoy is on a roll.
'It warms our heart' - Truck convoy to turn up to lonely boy’s party after mum’s desperate plea
She wanted to give him a truck ride. 60 truckers answered the call.
Poll shows how many Kiwis would be willing to leave their homes
Our editorial series explores managed retreat and where new homes should be built.
Muriwai residents to learn their fate next month
Minister for Auckland Michael Wood assures the beach communities that decisions are close.
'Hardest and happiest times': Chef opens up on closure of top Auckland restaurant
Verner closed the restaurant due to personal reasons.
The Herald's fruit & vege guide: This week's best value
Several root and good soup vegetables are on this week’s “best buys” list.
A break from the rain? Auckland set for week of sunny weather
It will be a welcome reprieve for the sun-starved city.
Cheapest fruit and veggie to buy this week
Each week, United Fresh president Jerry Prendergast shares his top produce picks.
New poll shows Kiwis feel less safe, want more police and harsher penalties
The latest step of the Herald's Rebuilding Better explores solutions to crime.
Pensioner hoped for more focus on struggling superannuitants in Budget
Bill MacPherson happy with family announcements but feels pensioners missed out.
The Weekly Fruit & Veggie Guide: Best buys as food prices continue to rise
United Fresh recommends kiwifruit, mandarins, broccoli and some leafy greens.
Interactive map shows bird's-eye view of flooding, silt damage in Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti
Map was created by Dragonfly Data Science in partnership with Social Wellbeing Agency.
Data shows official inflation rates underestimates Kiwis' true pain
Who is feeling inflation the most and why.
The Veggie Index: The best fruit & vegetables to buy this week
The lowdown on the best value veggies and fruit.
Fruit and vegetable best buys: Broccoli, cauliflower and mandarins
Cauliflower remains one of the best buys but price could rise next week.
'It's gotten worse': Stories of human struggle behind the cost of living crisis
Herald interactive and Kiwi accounts show the impact of rising costs, inflation.
Cost of living crisis explained: New Zealanders almost $5000 worse off
The cost of living crisis is hitting New Zealanders hard.
'It’s going to be a tough year': Bleak new recession forecast for NZ
Experts are predicting a GDP fall of around 2 per cent by early 2024.
The Veggie Index: The best fresh fruit and veges to buy this week
Industry association United Fresh shares what produce is best to buy right now.
Waka Kotahi marks speed limits on another 2500km of road as too fast
PM Chris Hipkins has significantly narrowed speed reduction scope.
Child poverty not improving, still 120,000 in material hardship
Statistics show gradual declines on most measures but campaigners say still too high.
Interactive: Check the gender diversity in your industry
Data shows nine professions are becoming less gender diverse.
Stocktake of the workforce: Gender diversity getting worse across many professions
Data shows nine professions are becoming less gender diverse.
Census 2023: Four surprising uses of the collected data
'There are huge stories that wouldn’t get told without the Census.'
750 buildings condemned after January floods, Cyclone Gabrielle
Hundreds of buildings have been red-stickered and thousands yellow or white-stickered.
Cyclone Gabrielle: Maps of road closures across state highway network
Cyclone Gabrielle caused widespread damage, closing roads and isolating communities.
New Zealand records biggest increase in registered deaths in 100 years
Stats NZ has released the latest yearly figures on births and deaths in New Zealand.
Swipe before and after - satellite images reveal extent of flooding in Hawke's Bay
Hawke's Bay has been devastated by Cyclone Gabrielle.
Cyclone Gabrielle: Live tracking, rainfall stats, region-by-region warnings, shelter locations, train and bus services
The entire North Island is now under or facing heavy rain and/or strong wind warnings.
Killed by a golf ball: Family say they are still 'trapped in grief' after man’s death
Family called for new investigation saying they wanted 'the truth'.
Recovery from Auckland floods could take 'years'; 'Not safe to swim'
Record amounts of torrential rain caused widespread damage across the region.
Auckland floods - interactive map: How hard was your suburb hit?
Data was supplied to the Herald by Fire & Emergency NZ and Auckland Emergency Management.
Interactive flood map tracks deluge damage
Residents across Auckland have been affected by widespread flooding and road closures.
‘Swimming for our lives’: Drowning death toll tracking up since 2018
Since the start of summer, 32 people have drowned in New Zealand.
Why don't we fix roads before we lower speed limits? The experts reply
"Improving road quality is happening, but is necessarily relatively slow.”
How speed limit reviews could affect your holiday journey
The Herald analyses the impact speed limit changes could have on journey times.
Revealed: How lower speed limits will affect long-distance travel times
Lower speed limits could slow productivity too, so where should safety balance lie?
Revealed: Killer state highway zone where speed limit could be cut by 40km/h
“You can hear the sirens go off with all the accidents, once a week or so."
Lower speed limits - and upgrades - ahead for 30% of NZ's state highways
Waka Kotahi's full plan covering speed limit and safety changes is expected this year.
Taking risks: The shocking stats on who is more likely to die on our roads
Far more men than women are killed every year on New Zealand roads.
Gang member shot dead at Auckland church once involved in brutal kidnapping
Mongrel Mob member Daniel Eliu was shot dead outside a Manukau church today.
Rebuilding Better: Younger New Zealanders more optimistic
More younger people considered society as unified than any other age group.
Who do we trust? Poll reveals Kiwis' views on key institutions
Survey asks New Zealanders about the trustworthiness of key institutions.
Exclusive poll reveals how divided we feel – and what we can agree on
New poll shows sense of division – and signs of unity – among Kiwis.
Overseas visitor numbers growing; Queenstown Airport almost back to pre-Covid volumes
Overseas visitor numbers at Queenstown Airport are almost the same as they were pre-Covid.
Review: A new off-grid getaway with all the comforts of home
Watercliff eco cabins are nestled in Bay of Plenty bush for a peaceful getaway.
Members of rainbow community more likely to experience daily feelings of anxiety and depression - report
Academic says stats provide powerful way for rainbow communities to advocate for needs.
'There's just no extra money': Parents grapple with rising prices as cost-of-living crisis bites
'It's really hard just trying to put food on the table at the moment.'