Tom Dillane is a reporter at the New Zealand Herald who covers Auckland Council, civic issues, crime, the media industry, and has dipped into several sports investigations.
Tom Dillane began as a reporter in the Herald’s Auckland newsroom in 2018. He writes about Auckland Council, civic issues, crime, the media industry and has dipped into several sports investigations. His reporting has helped expose inequalities in the Government’s Covid-19 border policies, misconduct within Cycling NZ surrounding the death of Olympian Olivia Podmore, and, failures in the emergency response to the Auckland Anniversary floods. He also reported from the field following the devastation of Cyclone Gabrielle in Hawke’s Bay. In 2023, Tom began in the role of Deputy Head of News - helping commission and curate the content of the NZ Herald paper and website. He is the winner of the 2021 Voyager Media Award for Best General Reporting and the runner-up in the 2022 Voyager Media Award for Best Individual Investigation. A native of Melbourne, Tom arrived in Auckland for his first job journalism in 2016 thinking he would stay for a year. The industry and New Zealand have always provided a fresh reason to stay. He graduated from the University of Melbourne with Arts and Science degrees and studied a graduate diploma of journalism at RMIT. You can contact Tom at tom.dillane@nzme.co.nz.
‘I f***ing love you’ - Queens of the Stone Age pump out profanity, heartbreak, and a Hollywood star in Auckland
Tom Dillane witnesses the best live rock band in the world by far.
Journalist Michael Morrah reveals plan to save Newshub
'We’ve got to give it a crack, right? We could save part of the newsroom.'
‘He just played God’: The police medical officer whose examinations torment recruits 20 yrs on
Dr Z allegedly sexually assaulted police recruits over two decades. Two finally speak out.
$228m without a metre of track, now Auckland Light Rail disestablishment to cost millions more
A Cabinet paper has revealed it will take six months to wrap up Auckland Light Rail Ltd.
'You don’t mark your own homework': Auckland Council and mayor under fire over flood review snub
Former police commissioner Mike Bush has not been invited back to review his flood report.
The inside story of Mayor Brown's office the night of the Auckland Anniversary floods
"If no one told you, would you know there was a war in Ukraine?” asks Mayor Brown.
‘Milestone of sorts’: Consolation and anger as major Auckland CBD street reopens
'We begged for them to give us a loading zone, but they didn’t budge.'
Mayor irate at Auckland Council’s $7.4m recruiting spend during hiring freeze
Brown’s anger with the recruitment spend comes as council has filled a $375m budget hole.
Students opt for ‘rigorous’ Cambridge curriculum over NCEA uncertainty
The international Cambridge exams have registered a 6 per cent increase in 2023 in NZ.
‘Chickens coming home to roost’: Rates rises, axed cycle lanes in Mayor Brown's 10-year budget
'The decisions of the past have determined our current budgetary woes.'
'It's pretty dumb': CRL boss on why there's 'no way' he'll guarantee a finish date
A completion date of mid-2026 is not guaranteed, according to City Rail Link execs.
The $5m cost of Parliament’s 3 overhang MPs - and how only 29% is salary
"It is the system we’ve got and sometimes democracy is expensive".
The Labour Minister who lost by 4 votes and the seat with ‘bigger than Jacinda’ margin
Labour leader Chris Hipkins has already indicated the party will be seeking a recount.
‘Incredibly frustrating’: How a $1m Queen St pedestrianisation project ballooned to $12m
'We could do a lot more ... without having to do massive infrastructure,' Swarbrick said.
‘We were bleeding money’: Howick RSA may lose clubrooms after $4-6m sale
The $4-6m sale is the second RSA in weeks that has been bought for redevelopment.
'Complete shambles’: Point Chev RSA to lose clubhouse after multimillion-dollar sale
Members lament plans for new clubrooms falling down after deal with Foodstuffs.
'Powered-up': Auckland property market rising after 18-month slump
Three data reports in a week conclude a recovery in house prices has arrived.
Why visit the Aspen in summer? The snow melts to reveal a diverse cultural underbelly
It’s a well worn saying in Aspen that the locals either have three houses or three jobs.
‘Massive hole in our universe’: Woman, 62, sentenced over lawyer's tragic death
Telise Martin, 31, was killed by a car on her way to the courtroom in April.
‘Go back, go hard’: Deputy mayor on tough negotiations with Govt over $2b flood buyout
"Little to be positive about” in the Govt's terms a week ago, according to deputy mayor.
‘Adamant there is no issue’: New Auckland Unlimited chair denies perceived stadiums conflict
Council has bailed Eden Park out to the tune of tens of millions of dollars over the years
Dead in her car for up to 12 days: Pensioner had ‘access to funds’, mental health issues - coroner
Helena Wakefield, 72, was eligible for $870 a week pension but did not claim it.
'Fit and healthy' man died holding his breath in pool
Ant Clausen's family found him at the bottom of an Auckland pool while on holiday from UK.
Arrest warrant next step for bail 'absconding' Mongols associate arrested in $5.9m Remuera mansion with firearms
The 32-year-old failed to show up for sentencing in Auckland District Court today.
‘It hasn’t got easier’: Father of flood victim watched final moments before son's death
Daniel Mark Miller's body was found in a culvert in Wairau Valley.
Mayor Wayne Brown’s $300k bill with top law firm
It can be revealed some of the legal advice was on the damning Auckland flood review.
'Miracle he survived': Wife speaks after diver dragged into ferry propeller
The diver recalls being yanked underwater by his umbilical cable before blacking out.
‘Taking eye off the ball’: Brown hits out at past cuts to emergency response budget
Wayne Brown is angry about the historical cuts as a 1% rates bump is proposed to refund.
'I should sue you': Leo Molloy hits out after US company wrongly suspects him of involvement in child sex assault case
Outspoken Auckland businessman Leo Molloy was one of three Kiwis wrongly approached.
'Heartbreaking': Lawyer killed by car remembered by top school as ‘exceptional young woman’
No charges have been laid over the crash which killed Telise Martin.
Auckland Council CEO left work to go home during peak of response to fatal floods
Outgoing CEO Jim Stabback admitted 'with hindsight' he would have stayed in his office.
'System failure': Damning Auckland flood review finds lack of leadership by mayor, council
“This unprecedented event unfolded with extraordinary speed. Minutes mattered."
'Minutes mattered': Mayor, council response to Auckland floods criticised in review
The report was commissioned by Mayor Wayne Brown.
Auckland fatal flood review out: Council requested release ‘extensions’
It can be revealed Auckland Council has been behind some of the 'extensions'.
Revealed: Inside Waka Kotahi on the night of Auckland’s floods
"The problem is our social media game is normally so strong."
Exclusive: Mayor Brown seeks feedback on $36m cut to arts spending: ‘No decisions have been made yet’
The Herald can reveal Auckland Council's total spend on the arts according to Mayor Brown.
Inside Wayne Brown’s flood review: Staff interrogated in 'minute detail', no call to minister
Former police commissioner Mike Bush is conducting the review. Who has he called?
Road cones 'annoying', causing road rage - Mayor Wayne Brown on his cone crackdown
Auckland Council spends at least $145m on temporary traffic management each year.
Road cone war: Brown seeks to slash $145m spend on AT traffic management
The mayor says roadworks take too long and are too disruptive.
Firefighters fuming over chief's 'communication fails' to mayor in Auckland floods
Wayne Brown's review into the fatal Auckland floods was this week delayed.
Backlash forces Auckland Council to keep cordons fending off looters
Muriwai residents were outraged at the decision to lift cordons for red-stickered houses.
Wayne Brown used a private mobile during floods; council expects access
Brown made 8 calls on his council phone in 48 hours. But a personal phone also exists.
‘A loving father’ - Hawke’s Bay man killed in bridge collapse ‘key provider’ for 3-year-old son
The farmer's truck was swept away in floodwaters after driving over a collapsed bridge.
‘No way he could have survived': Dad among dead after bridge collapses, ute swept away
Brendan Miller's work truck is believed to have washed away in the floodwaters.
Search for bodies in Napier called off due to sewage leak
A laborious and sweltering trip up Napier’s Tutaekuri River for search teams.
‘What the hell? We’re alive': Massive slip misses couple’s home by a mere metre
The lime fields beside Helen and Clive Foster's property are now massive pile of rubble.
Gabrielle escapes Gabrielle: 88yo widow warned neighbours of approaching flood waters
Gabrielle Mei reveals she shares a name with the cyclone that gutted her home.
'Quite overwhelming': Tokomaru Bay locals huddle around flickering internet pop-up
People mill for days on end around a few flickering internet connections across Gisborne.
‘We’ve been forgotten about’: East Coast hospital left without power, water and road access
Staff have watched emergency helicopters fly over them in frustration, despair for days.
'Inland tsunami’: Man died at home despite attempts to save him as floodwaters surged
John Coates was an extremely well known local of the Te Karaka community.
Gisborne’s bridge to nowhere: Incredible scenes at mangled road - ‘It’s ****ing beyond belief’
The road north out of Gisborne ended in a mangled metallic plunge along State Highway 35.
Piha local narrowly escapes death as home reduced to rubble
Marine Parade has more than a dozen homes still submerged in water that will not drain.
'Oh my god, we know what this is': First, the houses shook, then a community rallied as a deadly slip hit
"Torrential rain, hectic winds... people were carrying dogs, cats, babies, you name it."
Sandbag stations and evacuation centres open ahead of Cyclone Gabrielle
Long queues for sand, supermarkets and support as residents prepare for the storm.
Mayoral staff 'screaming' at computers after flood email lock-out
Exclusive: Wayne Brown and staff didn't get vital flood emails from Auckland Council.
Former National PM Jim Bolger says Ardern set for high-profile global roles
Bolger said Ardern will have many offers post-PM, but none will be harder than leading NZ.
Wayne Brown’s 'staggering' $123k legal bill, plus his $5k a week chief of staff
Brown has irritated some within council after vowing to slash management salaries.
Police investigate 'tragedy' as Bay Dreams music festival ended
The young festival goer suffered a seizure at the end of the Mount Maunganui event.
'Help!' - Mayor Wayne Brown’s ‘moaning’ first email to Council CEO covering beer and balance sheets
The Herald has obtained a 'frustrated' first internal email from the mayor.
50-year gap: The science of 5.1 earthquake that shook Auckland, Waikato, BOP
Seismologist Dr Jen Andrews points out the rarity of the quake on the Kerepehi Fault.
Special report: School spent years chasing former principal - and thousands of dollars
A four-year saga has spanned a police investigation and a Teaching Council censure.
Wayne Brown earmarks $415k to key advisors after pledge to slash council salaries
The Mayor sets aside almost half a million in adviser salaries over next six months.
Twitter to stay in Christchurch Call summit
Jacinda Ardern initiated the summit to eliminate violent extremism on social media.
Suitcase murder accused: Kids' mother appears in court
The woman walked into the dock with her eyes looking down.
Suitcase homicides: Korean woman, 42, to appear in Auckland court
The woman will appear in Manukau District Court today after being flown from Korea.
Suitcase murder case: Suspect in police custody, due in court tomorrow
Three NZ police officers travelled to South Korea to transport her back to Auckland.
‘We were very scared’: Teens forced to share one-bed hotel room after Jetstar flight cancelled
'It was a terrible, uncomfortable, uneasy experience,' said one of the girls.
Suitcase homicides: Arrested Korean woman may be extradited ‘soon’ according to NZ Coroner
The South Korean Ministry of Justice says it may 'surrender' the woman in 30 days.
‘Quiet family, normal family’ - Neighbours recall children in suitcase homicides
A homicide investigation was launched after the remains of two children were found.
‘This will be financially devastating for us’: Autistic boy rebuffed by local school
Brody McDonald ran onto the road twice on his first day of school. He wasn't allowed back.
‘We had not seen that particular drug at the border’: Synthetic opioids enter NZ
Customs confirms two batches of imported synthetic opioids are 'unlinked'
‘We live in fear’: Drug ODs rise by 50 per cent over five years in NZ
Exclusive info on importation of two 'worrying' batches of synthetic opioids in 2022.
Complaint from crew banishes disgraced film heavyweight from Kiwi set
A man convicted of indecent assault has been removed from NZ director Lee Tamahori's set.
Woman arrested over suitcase homicides hiding out in exclusive Korean high-rise
Arrested woman was staying in a Korean apartment complex owned by a metals company.
'Just more pain': Olivia Podmore family's legal battle to obtain daughter's medical records
Podmore died in August 2021, in a suspected suicide the day after the Tokyo Olympics ended
'Very disappointing': Local Govt NZ execs echo Ardern in seeking review of voting process after 40% turnout
The data shows voter turnout compared to the same time in the last election.
Odd Auckland vote outcomes: Viv Beck amasses almost 6000 votes in abandoned mayoral campaign; Lisa Lewis gets votes
Beck pulled out of the Auckland mayoral race on Sept 16 but was still on ballot papers.