Melissa Nightingale is a Senior Reporter for the Herald, based in the Wellington region.
Melissa began working for NZME in 2013 as a journalist at the Whanganui Chronicle, after completing a Diploma in Journalism and a Bachelor of Communications degree at the Waikato Institute of Technology (Wintec). Melissa started on the crime, emergency and health rounds and now specialises in court reporting in her role in the capital - though continues to cover all things Wellington and beyond. She is also the host of the NZ Herald podcast The Fifty Year Secret, which uncovered shocking new evidence in one of New Zealand's oldest cold case murders. Melissa is always on the lookout for great news tips and welcomes the occasional cute animal story to break up the flood of crime. She can be emailed at melissa.nightingale@nzme.co.nz or messaged on X (formerly Twitter) @mel_nightingale.

How one second made the difference in teen's fatal crash with bus
The 17-year-old motorcyclist died after a bus turned across his path in Upper Hutt.

Why Kiwi rich-lister is launching multi-million dollar foundation
Annette Presley was giving a speech at a school when a small boy raised his hand.

Rescuers search for two people after boat capsizes near Pātea
One person is being treated while the search continues for two others.

'Incredible grief': Beloved rugby player, dad and koro's death shatters community
Adam Vardey leaves a hole behind in the community he was deeply involved with.

Toddler died from 'invisible' head injury after fall at daycare
The boy might have survived if he received prompt treatment, the coroner said.

'Master manipulator': Woman, 68, set up charity to steal money from friends
The serial fraudster told victims her daughter had died so she could extract more money.

Wellington mega-landlord facing violence and firearms charges
Matthew Ryan, who owns more than 200 properties, is facing criminal charges.

Les Mills identified as gym where Luxon's former staffer took women's photos
The gym manager told the Herald they take the safety of their members seriously.

Fourth person charged with manslaughter over fatal Loafers Lodge fire
Police have laid the charges against building management, two years after the tragedy.

Missing Wellington nurse found safe and well in Bangkok
Vanron Ngoun was previously last heard from in Naples, Italy, on May 27.

Teen who stabbed another girl seven times 'made an error of judgement'
The teenager handed herself into police and gave a statement against legal advice.

Multiple 'Levin invasion' boy racer cars listed for sale - with a catch
Buyers could score a deal on a car, if they're willing to wait for it to be released.

Fake police 'courier' defrauded 19 elderly victims
The scammer was caught in the act by police when he showed up to collect $170,000 of gold.

Three people charged with manslaughter over fatal Loafers Lodge fire
Police have laid the charges against building management, two years after the tragedy.

Top cop's court battle: Is there public interest in alleged objectionable material?
The material was found on Jevon McSkimming's work computer before he resigned.

Terrified dog Zeus prompts owner's support of fireworks sale ban
A petition to ban the sale of fireworks is being presented to Parliament today.

Media fight to report nature of top cop's alleged objectionable material
The material was found on Jevon McSkimming's work computer before he resigned.

Aussie diplomat's partner escapes conviction after spitting in woman's face
The man was granted name suppression to protect his wife's career.

'Every driver's worst nightmare': Woman's moment of distraction killed her mother
Tracey Nickel did not see the traffic slow in front of her and rear-ended another car.

'Just hoping I'd get home': Passenger describes aborted landing on bumpy flight
Bumpy flight for basketball boss: 'This one was one of the worst'.

Severe thunderstorm watch issued for parts of North Island
Wild weather in the south looks to be improving, with northern areas in the firing line.

'Symbol of hope': Winning photo 'reclaims Māori narrative' amid cultural unrest
The "powerful" photo allowed people to see their tūpuna in the face of a child.

Train station heckler 'apologetic' and upset after swearing at Winston Peters
The man was tearful when visited by the Herald this morning.

Teen avoids conviction for giving cop concussion after he 'swung a haymaker'
Police were trying to find out what had happened to the defendant's injured sister.

Student's business website removed after violent past while insane exposed
The student was found not guilty due to insanity four years ago.

Deputy principal on leave, police complaint laid
The school has not confirmed any details but sent out a cryptic email earlier this week.

Resene workers on less than living wage gather to share struggle to survive
Employees say they work 'extremely hard' but still earn less than living wage.

Man who impregnated girl after meeting at her 15th birthday party jailed
The pair ran away together and lived in a car parked at a campground.

'How they do it in the West Coast': Man disfigures family dog in drunken attack
Ronan Apiti said Buck the dog was like one of his children.

'Gobsmacked': Plaque stolen from man's grave 24 years after death
The distraught family only discovered the theft after their mother's recent death.

Watch: Banana-clad mayoral hopeful talks about his recent arrest, plans for Wellington
The Wellington Live owner said he would "clean the floor" with Andrew Little in the race.

Antisemitic hate message graffitied in Wellington
The Jewish Council said it's seeing a rise in antisemitism in NZ.

Sociopath teen rapist denied parole after nearly 50 bail breaches
Noah Matthews' level of risk remains unclear due to a delay in a psychological assessment.

Wellington struggles to shake Crypto outbreak, reported cases 'high'
The outbreak started in March with the illness continuing to spread.

Wellington professional escapes conviction for filming colleagues on the toilet
The worker told the court he didn't film his colleagues for sexual reasons.

Wellington Airport's iconic giant eagles to fly the nest
The eagles have been a fixture of the airport for 12 years.

Trampoline shatters windows as 'destructive' winds wreak havoc in Hutt
A woman was at home when she heard a loud bang and glass shattering.

'Take this one seriously': Destructive winds peak in Wellington
WREMO is telling people to stay away from windows and doors.

Woman with 'complex mental health issues' appears in court after alleged nitric acid attack
The victim suffered burns to an arm and clothing and was treated at the scene.

Watch: Wellington cyclist sent flying after car cuts across lane
Yats said he knew there was no way out of the crash when the car pulled out.

Watch: Masked machete-wielding robber storms Lower Hutt dairy
A man has been arrested and charged over the incident on Saturday.

Why you should choose a nature reserve as your next NZ getaway
Guests can book encounters with native wildlife, including a night-time visit with kiwi.

Watch: Firefighters trapped above North Shore blaze were engulfed in smoke with 'no escape'
It would have been like being stuck above 'a mini-volcano about to erupt'.

Fire truck breakdown left firefighters trapped in basket above North Shore blaze
The union said the 'last resort' failed when a manual lever broke in a firefighter's hand.

'Dangerous' vigilante deflates woman's tyres for legally using disability park
The woman said it's one of several incidents she's experienced using disability parks.

Stock car driver stirs from coma after serious Palmerston North speedway crash
Taylor Lampp has begun showing signs of progress and stirring from his coma.

'Feel like a human': Resene workers struggle to get by on wages
One man said he couldn't even afford a birthday gift for his child.

'I'm just trying to live my life': Disabled students fight mistreatment on public transport
The students described multiple incidents that make it hard for them to travel to class.

'Faceless' future: Mark Lundy's nervous return to society after decades behind bars
Friend Dave Jones says people do not need to worry about their safety.

Flying fox freak accident: Family relieved little sister spared after boy’s pancreas severed
The child was hit in the stomach and chest area by the flying fox runner.

Legal limbo: 14yo boy barred from school during custody battle
The boy's mother has asked the court three times to let her son go to school.

Death threats and false claims: Mayor's legal battle with ex-councillor revealed
The case has been shrouded in secrecy until today.

Mum of harassed schoolgirl calls for bus passengers to step in
The mum said all her female friends would have similar stories of harassment in public.

Drink driver's wife spent three months in hospital after 'devastating' crash
Everton Augustine's passengers suffered multiple severe injuries in the crash.

Cryptosporidiosis outbreak: Second swimming pool drained after ill person attends lesson
A symptomatic person attended a swimming lesson last weekend.

‘You’ve got to get out’: Lawyer describes court evacuation after bomb threat
Police would only refer to the incident as 'threats'.

School bans energy drinks after spike in sick bay visits
Students were feeling sick after skipping breakfast and "guzzling" energy drinks instead.

Cryptosporidiosis outbreak numbers soar beyond yearly average
The region has had more cases recently than it normally has in a year.

Courthouses reopened following alleged bomb threats
The first court was evacuated about 10.45am.

‘It all went wrong’: Fire chief describes rescuing neighbours from car in flooded river
The couple had gone out for supplies when "it all went wrong for them".

Nearly 70 Auckland beaches unsafe for swimming after atmospheric river
Around 60 beaches have red flags; seven are black-flagged for severe risk.

‘Nearly called an ambulance’: Mum describes horror symptoms amid crypto outbreak
The Lower Hutt woman said her husband looked like he was having a seizure.

Death of ‘true gentleman’ in Wellington treated as unexplained
Tributes for Simon Bird flooded social media on Wednesday night.

Police not looking for anyone else after discovery of two bodies in Wellington
Police found two people dead in the Roseneath home after a welfare check.

Injured man appears in court after allegedly ramming police with child in car
Five police staff were injured in the Lower Hutt incident.

Wellington deaths: Neighbour says British boarders were ‘super lovely people’
Police found two people dead in the Roseneath home after a welfare check.

Ombudsman changes mind, asks KiwiRail to release ‘excessive’ consultant spend
It's a complete turnaround from the Ombudsman's decision two months ago.

Uber driver killed in motorway crash with passenger onboard
The crash happened during what the union called the 'dangerous hours' for drivers.

Alleged Miramar home intruder to keep name secret for now
The man is accused of burgling a home while armed with a knife.

‘Heaven got a really great one’: Young man killed in jetboat accident named
The young shearer's loved ones have been left reeling by his sudden death.

‘I’ll be waiting for you': Family of shooting victim threaten murder accused in court
Two relatives began yelling at the defendant, with one trying to push towards the dock.

Legal expert says name suppression change won’t fix issue ‘exploited’ by some
Huge delays when defendants choose to appeal suppression decisions are hurting victims.

‘Helpless’ mum told toddler must continue visits with dad after sex abuse claim
The child has twice claimed her father has touched her inappropriately on the visits.

Sociopath teen rapist named in rare suppression lift
The teen would normally have kept suppression but his case was sent to the adult court.

Rugby club loses licence after patron’s drunk driving kills young mum
Cass Maguire's father said the club and others were responsible for his daughter's death.

Govt ignored advice on giving sex offence victims ‘veto’ on name suppression
Documents show multiple groups opposed the changes, raising 'strong concerns'.

Man who raped woman beside her sleeping child appeals sentence on ‘character’ grounds
Gabriel Apolonio's lawyer said he deserved a shorter jail term due to 'good character'.

‘Deeply disappointed’: Tory Whanau cancels regular slot on Newstalk ZB
The mayor's team said they were trying to "diversify our media engagements".