Nicholas Jones is an investigative reporter at the New Zealand Herald.
We are your advocate, Aotearoa. Uncovering stories that matter, asking hard-hitting questions of those in power, live-blogging sport events, monitoring the highs and lows of the NZX and providing Premium expert opinion and analysis. Bringing you distinctive, quality journalism and breaking news from across New Zealand and around the world. With specialists working together to create indepth reads, engaging video, and unmissable podcasts.
'It's not a nice feeling': Woman months overdue for heart surgery struggles to breathe
Health NZ has apologised and scheduled a cardiologist appointment.
Wānaka cancer patient raises $400k to get cutting-edge treatment in China
Emma Holden, 36, will soon travel to Shanghai, China for cutting-edge cancer treatment.
Auckland dad had hidden heart issue that would have killed him within years
Matt Hall-White discovered his life-threatening heart problem while running a marathon.
Big numbers caught in cardiac surgery delays, Health NZ responds
'All hospital areas have patients waiting beyond expectation,' says Health NZ.
Exclusive: Death of two women during pregnancy among NZ maternity system's harm cases
The Herald has obtained details of major harm and death events in the maternity system.
Their mum died on Christmas Eve - then Work and Income asked for $1800
Who is liable for a person's debts when they die?
Cheap drug slashes risk of bone fractures, ‘astonishing’ Kiwi trial discovers
The significant findings could help people avoid bone density problems in older age.
Racial bias ‘did likely exist’ in major medical exam: review
A report into claims of racial bias in a major medical exam has been completed.
Special investigation: Apology after autistic mum's baby taken - but it's too late to get him back
The mother involved speaks to the Herald, in her first interview.
Why Four Square is finally apologising to Kiwi feminist after 55 years
Joss Shawyer resisted forced adoption and supported other single mothers to do the same
'Praying for a miracle': Radical step a family could take to keep their mum alive
Maureen King, 69, will soon run out of publicly funded treatment options.
Revealed: How Asian staff were pulled from surgery at North Shore patient's request
The Herald first reported the situation last Saturday, and can now reveal further details.
Racism fallout at North Shore Hospital after patient request to avoid Asian staff members
A patient request to avoid Asian staff was initially granted.
Why Four Square is finally apologising to Kiwi feminist after 55 years
Joss Shawyer resisted forced adoption and supported other single mothers to do the same
Closure of Birthcare birthing suites ‘could increase pressure on public hospital services’ in Auck
Reaction to Birthcare in Parnell closing its birth suites from December 31.
'We all miss him': Mum-of-four on losing husband to blood cancer
Every day eight New Zealanders are diagnosed with a form of blood cancer.
Kiwi parents of babies with heart defects interviewed in ground-breaking research
What's it like to discover your unborn baby has a major heart condition?
‘Stop throwing mud’: Health NZ hits back at extraordinary claims
A Health NZ leader has responded to claims made at a Parliamentary inquiry.
Service cuts ‘would make a broken system very much worse’: Alzheimers NZ
How will New Zealand handle the growing numbers of dementia cases?
Life after the Paralympics: Cyclist struggles on less than minimum wage
Big Read: The remarkable life of Paralympian Fraser Sharp.
Kiwis importing hearing aids to avoid prohibitive local costs
Carolyn Cooper warns that untreated hearing loss increases the risk of dementia.
Revealed: Why elective surgeries are cancelled at late notice
Health Minister Shane Reti asked top-level officials to provide a briefing on the issue.
North Canterbury wildfire ‘not controlled or contained’, fire services warn
'The fire has jumped the containment line.'
Watch: Armed police make dramatic arrest on North Shore after gun fired from car
Video of the arrest sent to the Herald shows armed police apprehending the men.
Pharmac to fund lifesaving glucose monitors and insulin pumps for type 1 diabetes patients
The funding has been hailed as lifesaving and improving for thousands of Kiwis.
'Fundamental problems' at Oranga Tamariki, warns Ombudsman
Boshier says Oranga Tamariki 'has a long way to go' to regain trust.
Faster cancer treatment measure slips; patients 'deserve better'
Health NZ "acknowledges the challenging situation some people may be facing with delays."
Special investigation: Apology after autistic mum's baby taken - but it's too late to get him back
The mother involved speaks to the Herald, in her first interview.
'We have to face some very strong medicine as an organisation' - Health NZ boss Lester Levy
Health NZ boss Dr Lester Levy says there is a "serious financial problem" in health.
'People are astounded': West Auckland's blind acupuncturist
Pivac has practised acupuncture below his suburban home for 50 years.
Forced adoptions, starvation, beatings: Landmark report reveals horrors for unwed mums
This is what happened to girls and women sent to unmarried mothers' homes.
Health NZ criticised after misread smears allowed cancer to spread
Pippa van Paauwe’s smear tests were incorrectly assessed as normal, two consecutive times.
Cardiac 'crisis' in hospitals, plea for Pharmac to cover heart failure drugs
Heart drugs that add more than eight years of additional life aren't funded.
'It felt like a little nap': Auckland suffers cardiac arrest on the rugby field
Eugene Tuhaka suffered a cardiac arrest while playing touch - this is what saved him.
'A fashionable kitchen shouldn't cost lives': Govt urged to ban engineered stone
Australia’s ban on the popular kitchen and bathroom benchtop material began this week.
'A void in our house': Father of four dies before Pharmac funding breakthrough
Clark's family collected aluminium cans to sell as scrap for his medicine.
Auckland Hospital's elsewhere invitation to pregnant women: ‘Disturbing’ or ‘long-overdue’?
'I think it is really inappropriate … I find the letter disturbing,' says expert.
Auckland Hospital tells women to expect to be discharged 3-4 hours after giving birth
A maternity advocate says the letter sent to expectant mums is 'manipulative'.
'Jump the queue': C-section private surgery quota at Auckland Hospital ongoing dispute
The proposed rules come after years of tension centred on high c-section rates.
‘Outrageous’ difference in fees charged to cancer patients by private clinics
Some patients regularly travel long distances to access cheaper private care.
Exclusive: Blood cancer doctors urge Government: Don’t break promise to our patients
An alliance of haematologists and health groups have today sent an open letter to the PM.
GP sounds alarm over hospital delays: ‘We don’t know what the real wait time is’
Patients are told they'll be seen in six weeks, but wait months.
Budget 2024: No funding for promised cancer drugs disappoints patient
National campaigned on funding 13 cancer treatments available in Australia.
Blood service strike: urgent hospital surgeries postponed; surgeons to warn ‘no guarantee of blood transfusion’
Patients told: "I cannot guarantee you will be able to receive a blood transfusion".
Kiwi music stars fight against gold mine plan beneath conservation land
It could be among the first such projects approved under Govt bill.
'Reducing by stealth': Patients months overdue to see medical specialists
A GP worries the initiative is 'reducing the waitlist by stealth'.
ACC taxi troubles force injured retiree to hobble, hitch-hike to appointment
Mike Fletcher needed his stitches removed, but was left stranded.
‘My life denied’: The cost of cancer treatment delays - a special investigation
Big read: How one woman was caught in a scandal of overwhelmed cancer services.
Sweeping change considered by health watchdog
Decisions by the Health and Disability Commissioner cannot currently be appealed.
‘I feel the bones grating’: Man left in agony as surgeries delayed
Bob Menzies has been waiting for a knee replacement for more than four years.
ACC taxi woes: Flood of complaints, patient nearly missed surgery
Many readers have reported missing vital medical appointments.
Delight as Pharmac proposes to fund new cancer drug
Overall, more than 800 patients would benefit, Pharmac said.
‘Frankly a disgrace’: ACC taxi service for injured sees surge in complaints
Broken ankle sufferer left standing in street in pain for taxis that never arrived.
The household products harming children outlined in hazardous substance briefing
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti received the aide-memoire in December last year.
Engineered stone giant Cosentino warns against ‘chaos’ of total ban
The company faced scrutiny after legal action from stonemasons who developed silicosis.
Exclusive: Insurance gap blocking Kiwis from life-saving drugs will be fixed, Seymour says
A Medsafe technicality is seeing people miss out on desperately-needed funds.
Briefing to health minister reveals dire state of hospitals and cost blowouts
Dr Shane Reti received the briefing from health officials soon after becoming minister.
Revealed: David Seymour's big plans for Pharmac
Seymour wants investigation of possible cost-sharing between Pharmac and patients.
Another major health group wants ban on engineered stone in thousands of Kiwi homes
Pressure is growing on the Government to act, after Australia decided to ban the stone.
Calls for engineered stone ban with tradies' lives at risk
The College of Physicians has written to the PM, saying lives are at risk.
Health Minister bogged down in details of dirty hospital toilet
Dr Shane Reti asked for a briefing on cleanliness at Auckland Hospital.
Hope for cancer patients as price falls on life-extending drug
The scheme won't cover all multiple myeloma patients. Details are due within a month.
The big risk factor for dementia - and what the Government is being urged to do about it
The Government subsidy for hearing aids of $1022 hasn't increased for years.
How much language learning is lost during toddlers' screen time?
The average 3-year-old could be missing out on more than 1100 adult words a day.
'Wonderful doctor' sells family home to buy blood cancer drugs
Dr Logan McLennan's former patients are stepping forward to help the beloved GP.
Major hospital privacy breach ensnares dozens of patients
The hospital has 'immediately ceased using window envelopes'.
Swimmer suffers heart attack off Maraetai Beach - why the symptoms shocked her
“Women are more likely to have atypical symptoms, such as just feeling dreadful fatigue."
Life-prolonging cancer drugs could be funded sooner
New Zealand badly lags behind other developed countries for funded myeloma drugs.
Desperate Pharmac plea from family selling cans for unfunded cancer drugs
A desperate Auckland family is collecting cans to try fund blood cancer medication.
'Out of control': Numbers waiting too long for specialist appointments reach 60,000
The number of people waiting too long for surgery and treatment is also growing.
Leaked report: Problematic heart services at Waikato Hospital linked to avoidable deaths
Report finds "wide recognition of avoidable preoperative mortality".
Briefing reveals acute risks of under-strain maternity units
A ministerial briefing, obtained by the Herald, reveals the severe pressure.
Waitangi Tribunal accepts urgent discussion needed on scrapping of Māori Health Authority
The decision adds to growing tension surrounding government policy affecting Māori.
Health Minister gets official advice on 'appropriate expansion' of free cervical cancer testing
The 'co-payments' most women make to be screened could soon be scrapped.
How a teen saved his granddad's life after a heart attack – and the app that could save your loved one
What was done to save Stuart Jones' life could lift falling cardiac arrest survival rates.
Quest for a vaccine to fight rheumatic fever - a disease that kills and maims hundreds of Kiwis
The race to develop the world-first vaccine, and why it's so badly needed here.
Engineered stone firm sent WorkSafe notices; rejects landlord’s claim of unsafe practices
Engineered or artificial stone will soon be banned in Australia.
Australia bans engineered stone - will NZ follow?
One lung expert says silica dust from engineered stone 'is our new version of asbestos'.
Why 'legend' high school cricket coach refused a funeral after cancer battle
David Biddick died of brain cancer on November 30. This is his extraordinary legacy.
Prostate cancer: 'I don’t want anyone else to go through the hell I’ve gone through'
The Prostate Cancer Foundation wants an initial pilot for all men aged over 50.