Kelly Makiha, a Multimedia Journalist at the Rotorua Daily Post, specialises in court and police reporting.
I started work as a Multimedia Journalist at the Rotorua Daily Post as an 18 year-old in 1996 and I am still here, loving every single day. I wanted to be a journalist since I was a child and remember making my mum follow the flashing lights of emergency services so I could see what was happening. I started writing for my local newspaper in Timaru when I was a young teen and knew then that this was the job for me. I made the move to the Rotorua Daily Post and it was meant to be a stepping stone but I fell in love with this city, got married and we are now raising our three children here. I have covered all rounds but specialise in court and police reporting and have been chief reporter or assistant editor for most of my career. I am now back doing what I love – writing stories that matter, holding people and organisations to account, celebrating heroes, paying tribute to amazing lost loved ones and using my role to highlight issues to make a difference. Each day I’m honoured to be surrounded by a group of professionals who work hard and believe in what we do.
'What next?': Locals' fears after shooting, stabbing near shopping centre
Police want witnesses or people with video footage of the incidents to come forward.
‘Bang, bang’: Neighbour hears shotgun blasts as man critically injured in shooting
An area at Te Ngae Shopping centre has been cordoned off.
Ouch! 'Curious little girl' with squished finger rescued by firemen
Plus: New ACC data reveals the most common injuries and causes for Kiwi kids.
Eruption victims will be paid despite company going bust - helicopter boss
Volcanic Air Safaris' insurance will pay reparation, a liquidator says.
'Emaciated and at the point of death': Crown opens case in animal cruelty trial
Farmer Warren Koberstein is on trial facing animal cruelty charges.
'Biggest red flag': Teen victim reveals how to spot sexual grooming
'It happens so easily and you don’t even realise before it’s too late.'
Rotorua business stalwart's gruelling achievement after diagnosis
Former legendary Rotorua butcher Ross Dittmer has just overcome a massive hurdle.
How a runaway rapist got a passport and skipped the country before his trial
Man was on bail accused of raping two teens when he was allowed to leave for Australia.
'Get inside': Man arrested after explosives team moves in on suspicious device
'I wanted to go outside or look out the window ... but everyone was told to get inside'.
Emergency housing and security firm boss Tiny Deane fined
A separation between the security business and the emergency housing work was required.
Rotorua hot pool mystery echoes 1980 search for man's remains
Police are trying to find out if a man has fallen into a 'near-boiling' geothermal pool.
Landlord loses five-year battle over 'dangerous and insanitary' flats
A judge has ordered Rotorua's Stephen Bhana to pay the local council.
Ultra-Trail apologises after some runners struggle to get water on hot day
4500 starters ran distances up to 160km in 'hot' weather for the weekend's event.
Rotorua hot pool mystery: Did a man fall in? Why police can't find a body
Why searchers are struggling to confirm their suspicion in the near-boiling pool.
'They have taken from our mokopuna': Kohanga reo staff 'hurting' after van stolen
The van was going to be used to transport children whose parents were struggling.
'Fights breaking out' as 'organised' beggars make up to $400 a day
'It’s the easiest way to get a something when you got a nothing without having to steal.'
'Self-hatred and disgust': Victim in teen prostitution ring speaks out
A Rotorua couple behind illegal teen prostitution ring have been sentenced.
Sold! Buyer of Tiny Deane's emergency housing security business revealed
Why Tiny Deane was given another extension to sell his business.
Rapist on the run in Australia after Rotorua jury convicts him of attacking teen girls
He fled to Australia while on bail but his trial went ahead without him anyway.
Homeless man fined $35 by police in effort to improve Rotorua's 'reputation'
'We don’t want to get a reputation as a city of beggars.'
Watch: 'A slap on the hand': Fed-up store owners call for crackdown after latest raid
'What do you do? It’s your business, you have invested money in it.'
'A special place to go': How Rotorua's generosity is making a difference
Why the Supper Club fundraiser is vital for struggling families.
'I was just freaking': Balaclava-wearing man with axe steals car from lunch bar worker
'I was just freaking and thinking ... what is he doing?'
Lakeside concert: What to expect and who is on the show
Rotorua is set to be spoilt on Saturday with the annual Lakeside concert.
Kāinga Ora’s big plans for Rotorua: Where the new houses are going and when
The agency has released details about its building programme.
Best of Premium 2023: Couple reveals what it takes to buy a supermarket store
They courted playing netball, now Darren and Karen Huston own a New World.
Best of Premium 2023: Drug kingpin 'learnt from the best' - his father, court told
He would illegally buy the drugs using the dark web, paying for it with Bitcoin.
'The rock of our Te Arawa kapa haka': Mourners pay tribute to poi expert
Ngamoni Huata was a poi expert who will be missed for her knowledge and guidance.
'Simply unacceptable': Nine dead on Rotorua roads in 2023
Someone is killed on Bay of Plenty roads about every 10 days.
‘You can’t dream if you can’t see it’: How biking stars are growing world champs
Julian Dean, Tuhoto-Ariki Pene and Sammie Maxwell are tapping into raw talent.
High honour for master carver who was once told he was a 'failure'
Master carver Clive Fugill has been made a companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit.
Freedom from secrecy and shame: How a sex abuse victim has transformed her life
'Now I live a life that I thought only existed in movies or books.'
P-addicted Rotorua man pimped out girls as young as 13 for sex
He had a sexual relationship with a 13yo he helped into prostitution.
Farmer's mystery: Neighbour concocts device to illegally take $9000 of water
He built a device to take his neighbour's water supply.
Why a leading entertainment figure sentenced for indecent assault still can't be named
The matter will now be heard in the Court of Appeal.
Council denies WorkSafe charge after tourist injured falling into geothermal sinkhole
The case was called at a hearing in Rotorua.
Sex stabbing trial: Jury enters third day of deliberations
The jury has been out since Monday afternoon.
'Highly manipulative': Sex stabbing attack pre-meditated, Crown says
The jury has retired to consider its verdict.
Sex stabbing trial: Wife describes controlling and violent marriage
Jurors watch two police video interviews with the defendant as trial progresses.
'Traumatic': Babysitter indecently assaulted says court trial worse than the crime itself
'I felt like the defendant ... I’m the victim in the matter.'
'Get off', children heard dad yell after mum stabbed him during sex
Children give evidence in the trial of their mother who allegedly attacked their father.
'You're killing me': Woman on trial after stabbing husband with scissors during sex
She claims she acted in self-defence, the jury has been told.
How this woman lost 50kg naturally - and still eats hot chips
'There’s no fasting, no pills, nothing like that.'
Alleged underage prostitution ring: Fox to face more charges
He also faces drugs charges including for allegedly administering meth to a minor.
Tiny Deane on failed sale: 'I was led down the garden path'
Today's hearing comes after a security licensing authority found him guilty of misconduct.
Revealed: What Lakeside 2024's concert will look like
Mark the date in your calendar: Lakeside is back for 2024.
'Disgusting and repulsive man': Leading entertainment figure sentenced
'I do not accept that she encouraged in any way the conduct that occurred,' judge says.
Celebrity TV chefs open new restaurant
Cooking on Fire winners Alia and Shaun to open new Rotorua business in Lava Bar building.
Pāpāmoa and Tauranga Lotto players strike first and second division
Check your Lotto tickets if you live in Pāpāmoa or Tauranga.
Deal's off: Emergency housing security firm sale falls over
Tiny Deane will face a final licensing authority hearing this month.
Kāinga Ora reveals nine more housing developments for Ōwhata
What do locals think about more Kāinga Ora houses on the eastern side of Rotorua?
'We need it and I can do it': Why top developer is building for Kāinga Ora
'I realise I will have some people who will give me a bit of stick.'
Private investigator eyes controversial security business
Details have been revealed in a licensing authority decision.
'Should never have happened': How 3 prisoners caused court evacuation, fire callout
Prisoners go to 'extreme and elaborate lengths to obtain contraband' - Corrections.
'I knew it was a gun shot': Ōpōtiki Mayor speaks out on gang violence
He wants the new Government to deliver more police for his town.
‘Ingrained hatred’: Should warring Mongrel Mob and Black Power be rewarded for good behaviour?
An expert makes the suggestion as police crack down on gang violence.
Gang crackdown: Weapons, drugs, cash seized by police given special search powers
Police also made two arrests in Ōpōtiki amid gang tensions.
Police given special search powers after woman shot amid simmering gang violence
A woman was shot in Ōpōtiki.
'Crisis' predicted as hundreds of new homes planned – but no new schools
'It takes five years to build a new school,' says concerned principal.
Rotorua bounces back: How tourism 'jewel' survived a hammering
Visitors to the city have spent more in past year than they did before pandemic hit.
Council charged after tourist injured falling into geothermal sinkhole
The charge laid by WorkSafe carries a maximum $1.5m fine.
From P addict to 'squeaky clean': Solo dad eyes new Kāinga Ora homes
The housing agency has announced a major development.
McClay: Work starts now to restore Rotorua's reputation
Rotorua MP Todd McClay says he will work hard to get back the Rotorua that once was.
Kirkpatrick says local roots crucial in win over Coffey
East Coast electorate reverts back to blue with Dana Kirkpatrick's election win.
Lotto players in Whakatāne and Ōpōtiki among winners
Check your tickets if you're in Ōpotiki and Whakatāne.
Well-known New Zealander denying violence charges elects jury trial
The man appeared in court in Rotorua.
From 'eyesore' to architecturally-designed homes: Koutu housing plans revealed
Bennetts Rd in Koutu will see a new housing development.
'Excruciating pain': Car crashes into bedroom inches from sleeping mum, daughter
Renea Wharekura thinks every day how lucky they are to be alive.
350 homes, 470+ jobs: Fast-tracked development aims to ease city's dire shortage
Construction work on the first 215 houses could start this year.
Lotto loot for Tauranga and Rotorua players
Tauranga and Rotorua Lotto players strike it lucky.
'Unreasonable': Inquiry finds failings after child nearly died choking on apple
Chief Ombudsman finds flaws in WorkSafe and Education Ministry's actions after tragedy.
'Terrified': Robber on parole holds up vape store workers at knifepoint
A victim says she suffers emotionally and psychologically, and had to get counselling.
'That attracted some attention': Drunk driver on his phone nearly hits cop car
'You crossed the centre line straight into the path of a police officer.'
Armed hold-up: Pair jailed for meth-fuelled robbery of tavern
Why getaway driver was given harsher sentence than robber 'brandishing ... a pistol'.
Fire alarm: Smoking prisoners force court to evacuate, judge says
Rotorua Courthouse evacuated after fire alarm goes off during hearing.
More time: Tiny Deane granted another extension to sell security firm
He was ordered to sell the business after a licensing authority's misconduct ruling.
'Heartbreaking': 13yo girls prostituting themselves to buy P
Meth is now easier to get than cannabis, a police chief says.