Senior Writer, NZ 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.

Steve Braunias: The Secret Diary of Christopher Luxon
Christopher Luxon has been busy this week forming the Government.

Steve Braunias: The Secret Diary of Shipwreck Chippy
OPINION: The loss of life was heavy. The loss of morale was profound.

Steve Braunias: Why a wedding makes a difference to a couple’s love
OPINION: The look of love at a wedding in Waihi

Steve Braunias: Double-murder trial verdict 'breathtakingly fast'
Two men with connections to the Killer Beez street gang were found guilty.

Steve Braunias: Secret Diary of The Beatles
OPINION: Time for something more important than politics!

Steve Braunias on meeting 'patron saint of English football' Sir Bobby Charlton
An audience with a footballing legend.

Steve Braunias: The agony of Year 12 NCEA exams hits home
OPINION: When did our children get smarter than us?

Steve Braunias: The Secret Diary of Winston Peters
OPINION: 'Who is this person, and why is he talking to me?' wonders Winston Peters

Steve Braunias: The secret diary of the prime minister elect
OPINION: $60 supermarket trips, meetings with Seymour and landlord conversations.

Steve Braunias on writing for the first readers
OPINION: An editor is the first person who reads what you write

Steve Braunias: The Secret Diary of... the leaders
OPINION: Spaceman Seymour was floating in his tin can far above the world.

Steve Braunias: The Secret Diary of ... The leaders
OPINION: Spaceman Seymour was floating in his tin can far above the world.

Steve Braunias: Leaders' true colours shining through
There was blood on the floor, hair on the walls and unmentionable odours.

Steve Braunias: The Secret Diary of Shipwreck Chippy
Opinion: Prime Minister emerges from isolation but loses momentum.

Rotorua: a fuming classic, a humid paradise
OPINION: Steve Braunias discovers little change in Rotorua in 17 years

Steve Braunias: The Secret Diary of ... The Abominable Peters
OPINION: Winston Peters reaches the South Pole

'Nightmare on Queen St': Luxon bores himself to sleep at debate - Steve Braunias
He was political leader as somnabulist, gabbling like a man talking in his sleep.

Friends accused of fatal shootings during 'crime spree'
It was one hell of a month in Auckland with a spate of shootings, the court heard.

'I truly believe him': The woman who loves Baby Chance's killer
Darien Aipolani-Williams, 24, has four daughters with Boston Wilson.

Steve Braunias: The Secret Diary of ... Truckin’ Luxon
OPINION: Truckin’ Luxon was a man of considerable appetite and little discretion.

Steve Braunias: Searching for an ounce of charisma in the leaders’ debate
OPINION: There was a very exciting coat hanger incident that set the bar.

Steve Braunias: The Secret Diary of Shipwreck Chippy
OPINION: "We just have to keep afloat,” said Shipwreck Chippy.

Steve Braunias takes to the air: 'Just about the greatest feeling in the world'
Opinion: I thought: “Other than death, what’s the worst that can happen?”

Steve Braunias: The Secret Diary of Spaceman Seymour
OPINION: Spaceman Seymour's search for intelligent life to promote to political power.

Steve Braunias: The Secret Diary of the Abominable Peters
Opinion: Veteran is back on the ice and heading for the South Pole.

Steve Braunias: Farewell to something beautiful
OPINION: That’s it for the tree. It’s over. It’s coming down.

The Secret Diary of ... Truckin’ Luxon
OPINION: Luxon in the driving seat with Seymour - or is he?

Are vampires stealing our sleep? Auckland wanderer's theories published after death
Steve Braunias: He lived as a wanderer in rags, roaming hostels across Auckland.

The Secret Diary of ... Shipwreck Chippy
OPINION: Shipwreck Chippy assembled his gang of castaways and said, “All is not lost.”

'Are you thinking of dying? I may be available'
OPINION: Everyone has to put their vanities to one side at an event on behalf of the dead.

The Secret Diary of ... the Abominable Peters
OPINION: He had known them all, the good and the great, the mad and the bad.

Steve Braunias: In praise of cowtown Palmerston North
OPINION: There's more than meets the eye to Palmerston North

The Secret Diary of ... Truckin’ Luxon
OPINION: Truckin’ Luxon chokes on the dust of Genghis Seymour

Steve Braunias: Life and death in the Auckland shadows - a tragic end to the NZ dream
Steve Braunias on the tragic story of a meaningless death over a crazy misunderstanding.

Steve Braunias: The Secret Diary of Shipwreck Chippy
OPINION: “You have to keep an eye on your enemies ..."

Steve Braunias: The Secret Diary of Christopher Luxon
OPINION: It's time for New Zealand to see the real Christopher Luxon.

Steve Braunias: Making life more beautiful: A portrait of my father
OPINION: "I grew up in the shadow of my father's name, on a sign above the garage."

Steve Braunias: The Secret Diary of Lonesome Cowboy Chip
Opinion: The chairs in his office are empty apart from good old loyal Two-Cakes.

Baby Chance death: Verdict tinged with agony and tears
Boston Wilson is found guilty of murdering his 10-month-old nephew.

'I lost control': Guards drag man found guilty of murdering baby nephew away
10-month-old Chance died from critical injuries in December 2021.

Juror leaves baby murder trial after being reduced to tears
Next week, a jury will be tasked with determining the verdict for Boston Wilson.

Steve Braunias: Auckland’s trees offer silent sanctuary from High Court
OPINION: ' I sit there with a thermos and a sandwich, and forget all about the trial'

Birkdale baby death: Boston Wilson tells jury he accidentally dropped the child
Boston Wilson is accused of murdering his 10-month-old nephew.

Steve Braunias: The crashing waves of grief as court hears of Baby Chance's death
Steve Braunias at the trial of a man accused of murdering a 10-month-old baby.

Steve Braunias: The secret Chinese intelligence report on Chris Hipkins
Opinion: Agents keep close tabs on the PM during his trip to China.

Steve Braunias: Boston Wilson's trial for the killing of a child
Wilson's nephew, 10-month-old Chance, died in December 2021.

Steve Braunias: Here we go again, another trial for the killing of a child
Another young man in the dock, another entry into the long catalogue of infanticide in NZ.

Steve Braunias: The Secret Diary of Chris Hipkins
Opinion: Prime Minister is in fix-it mode, keeping the wheels on the Government bus.

The Secret Diary of the 37 criminal charges against Trump
OPINION: A run-down of the evidence and the charges.

Steve Braunias: The driveway drug deal and killing of Robbie Hart
Steve Braunias reports on a methamphetamine killing in West Auckland.

Steve Braunias on the misconception that 'I' and 'you' exist
OPINION: "There is no such thing as an I," wrote Georg Groddeck

Steve Braunias: The secret diary of Michael Wood’s 12 reminders
OPINION: The saga of the Auckland Airport shares.

The Secret Diary of ... King’s Birthday Weekend
OPINION: As a long weekend looms, what are political leaders thinking? And the King ...

'Do not shake your head': The judge who had had enough of a child killer
No one could comprehend the violence. No one could get their heads around it.

Steve Braunias: The Secret Diary of ... Mark Lundy’s Parole Board hearing
OPINION: Braunias' spin on the conversation at Mark Lundy's parole hearing this week.

Steve Braunias: The Secret diary of Sheriff Chippy
No frills: “this is the taste of hope and happiness”.

Steve Braunias: The secret diary of Christopher Luxon
Will the shambles in Parliament this week be an opportunity for National?

The Secret Diary of ... The King’s Coronation
Breakfast at the Palace: “The Coronation tomorrow … Such a lot to do … "

The meth-soaked desperado killers: A driveway slaying in a time of Covid
Steve Braunias on the trial of methamphetamine desperadoes.

Steve Braunias: The Secret Diary of Artificial Intelligence
The satire of ChatGPT is that of a grumpy old white male

Steve Braunias on the curious incident of the lawn mower in the day time
Steve Braunias feels bereft without his mower

Meth and the wild west: How a drug deal turned into 'execution-style' slaying
Steve Braunias reports from the so-called “execution-style” murder trial.

Strange scenes in court as three co-accused deny killing in New Lynn
All three defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges, writes Steve Braunias.

Steve Braunias: The secret diary of Elizabeth Kerekere
OPINION: Green MP would like respect - and for someone to fetch her coffee.

Steve Braunias on the mean, beautiful emblem of Auckland, the Phoenix palm
We are living in a time of war on Phoenix palms, explains Steve Braunias

Steve Braunias meets the biggest-selling artists you’ve never heard of
Eccentric superstar couple created a worldwide movement.

Steve Braunias: The secret diary of a Three Waters policy adviser
OPINION: Chris Hipkins loves the election-winning 'Affordable Water Reforms'.