Belinda Feek is an Open Justice reporter based in Waikato. She has worked at NZME since February 2015 and been a journalist for 20 years.
Belinda's career started out in the small South Island town of Oamaru where she first started covering court, along with the police and entertainment rounds. She has continued writing about crime since then, including while working in Whanganui before moving to Hamilton in 2007. Her journalism career has also seen her cover large breaking news events including the Kaikoura earthquake and White Island eruption. Belinda, who is of Ngati Kahungungu descent, has a keen interest in the justice system and exploring the journey of those who have to go through it with balance, honesty and integrity.
‘Amazing times, dark times’: Dawn Raids lawyer calling time on his 44-year career
“I have never doubted my passion for my job... [it's as] natural as breathing oxygen".
'I hope you get what you deserve': Daughter confronts man who killed her father in crash
Livai Nuku survived the crash he caused, but suffered a traumatic brain injury.
'My best friend': Meth-fuelled driver kills brother on hunting trip
Keely-Shaye Albert had never held a licence and was driving on a private road.
How a man who murdered his wife could serve less than two years in prison
'There are some cases where you’ve got complete sympathy.'
Man jailed for killing elderly wife in failed suicide pact
John Salter strangled his wife Jean with a necktie but couldn't take his own life.
Gang associates guilty of murdering 27-year-old who 'narked' on Mongrel Mob captain
Jury returns unanimous guilty verdicts in case of Bay of Plenty man Eli Johnson's murder.
Murder victim said he'd be 'dead tomorrow' after testifying against Mongrel Mob boss
The Crown and defence are closing their case in the Eli Johnson murder trial.
'Against his will': Mum says son was ‘forced’ to testify against Mongrel Mob boss
'He would stay up all night making sure no one was coming,' victim's mum tells trial.
Man's last words after being stabbed for allegedly testifying against gang boss
The crown says Eli Johnson paid the ultimate price for testifying against the Mongrel Mob.
'This is a Kangaroo court': Psychologist saw ADHD clients despite being under supervision
Gunther van der Heijden didn't turn up for the HDPT hearing.
‘Intense drive for violence’: Corrections concerned about Filthy Few gangster
Corrections wants to monitor David Stephenson closely now he's back in the community.
'Callous and brutal': Man fatally beaten in his own home by Mobster
The blows in the attack, which was over drugs, could be heard from the street.
Felt 'like a slave': Ex-restaurateurs to pay $423k for exploiting migrant workers
Seven migrants were exploited by the couple in two restaurants over a 12-month period.
'You betrayed him': Family confront woman involved in kidnapping
Joshua Terrey was kidnapped and beaten before later being found dead in a park.
'I lost my moral compass': Mexican cartel cocaine kingpin jailed
Tangaroa Demant went from exporting crayfish to importing cocaine.
'You are the highest chain of command': Mongols gang president jailed
Jim 'JD' Thacker has been sentenced to more than two decades in prison.
'He never had a bed': Mongols vice president's 'shocking' road to 16 years jail
Hone Ronaki was deported from Australia in October 2018.
The text that sent a Mongols gang member to jail for a long time
The Auckland man was jailed for 14 years and nine months.
'Lifestyle, cars, money and his uncle' drew man into Mongols gang
Kane Ronaki is the last of 11 Mongol gang members to be sentenced this week.
Ounces or kgs? Dispute over drugs in Mongol sentencing
The judge stepped in to settle the dispute.
'Ramsey the chef', 'Rhino' among Mongols associates jailed for drug op
A number of gang members and associates are being sentenced this week.
Drugs and a shoebox full of cash: Gang chief gets 12 years in prison
Police op targeted gang's nationwide distribution of meth and other drugs.
‘His body was touching mine’: Woman claims physio straddled her
The woman claims the physio was barefoot and topless.
'Knife to a fist fight': Coromandel man found guilty of brother's murder
The jury deliberated for six-and-a-half hours to reach their verdicts this afternoon.
Coromandel murder trial: Remorse no defence for brother’s murder, Crown says
Joey Richards' counsel submitted he should be found guilty of manslaughter.
‘He just grabbed his tummy’: Witness tells jury of moment accused stabbed brother
Guy Richards managed to walk several metres before collapsing.
‘Severe meth use disorder’: Man busted with drugs, cash, axe in car jailed
Bradley Davies was sentenced for his ninth breach of a protection order.
Man accused of urinating on goods at supermarket, causing $15k loss
Its alleged the 31-year-old has also pinched thousands of dollars worth of grocery items.
Five more in court charged with Tauranga man's murder
Four were due to appear in Tauranga today, while one appeared in Hamilton District Court.
'I had bills to pay': Former teacher targets elderly in burglary, theft spree
The woman spent the stolen funds on groceries, alcohol, and cigarettes.
‘Explanations defy logic’: Woman faked evidence to win Tenancy Tribunal hearing
Judge Paul Mabey found there was a 'consistent pattern of fraud' in the woman's offending.
Mongols trial: Guilty verdicts for gun, drug possession, money laundering
The fate of the nine Mongols members has finally been decided.
Jury in Mongols gang trial to begin deliberations on Wednesday
Justice Melanie Harland has been summing up the case over the past two days.
Mongols trial: Judge prepares jury for likely lengthy deliberations
Justice Melanie Harland is summing up the 12-week case in the High Court at Hamilton.
Mongols president ‘not involved in the drug trade’ - court told
High Court told Jim Thacker did not have control over what his members did.
Mongols trial: Self-defence will be ‘easily disproven’, crown says
The crown says the accused would struggle to use self-defence on some of their charges.
Mongols trial: Key witness testimony so detailed he could have been ‘expert’, Crown claims
Jury has listened to evidence of more than 200 witnesses since August.
'Shouldn’t have happened': Envirowaste to pay almost $1m after worker crushed at landfill
Gratten Layne's widow says the lives of family have not been the same since his death.
Defence opens case in Mongols trial as accused have multiple charges dismissed
Each of the accused had at least one charge dismissed today.
'I don't have to make anything up': Key witness in Mongols trial
Secret witness in the Mongols gang trial denies having a 'mad' cocaine habit of his own.
'Easy one ounce a week': Gang president's alleged 'extremely bad' cocaine habit
The storage spot in the Corolla was no good because it couldn't hold a kg of cocaine.
'It's used to get rid of someone', key Crown witness reveals allegations of gang operation
The witness said he became a prospect for the gang.
Mongols gang trial: Drug dealing, shootings - and Louis Vuitton
They allegedly had a penchant for drugs and violence - but also Gucci and Louis Vuitton.
10-week Mongols gang trial to begin in Hamilton
The trial involves nine Mongol gang members and is set to take about 10 weeks.
Kopu murder: 'You put holes in the hearts of everyone who loved Bayden,' father's words for killer
Bayden Williams' family swore obscenities to his killer as he was jailed for 14 years.
'There will be a day of reckoning': Family's anger after drugged driver kills man
Craig Searle's family have told the driver they will never forgive him for what he's done.
Man to fight murder charge after alleged incident at Coromandel
Joey Richards will go on trial for murder in May next year.
'I wanted him to tell me it wasn't real': Former girlfriend's reaction to shooting
Macy Randall begged her then-boyfriend to tell her he hadn't shot Bayden Williams,
Large pool of blood on Kopu roadside first indicator of shooting
A large pool of blood drew the attention of the officers who were first to the scene.
Murder accused felt like there'd been 'no justice' after earlier fight
Adrian Phillips felt like there had been no justice after a January fight.
Kopu murder trial: 'Hey Dad, how's your day' - Father's last words with son
The original jury was discharged and a new one empanelled yesterday.
Driver dumps sewage in protected stream instead of facility so he can go home
Kyle Maitai didn't want to drive to Kawerau; instead dumping the sewage into a canal.
High school avoids prosecution after student drowns
Instead, an "enforceable undertaking" will cost Melville High School about $266,000.
A company looked after the kids of essential workers in lockdown. It's now lost a bid to claim $316,000
If its assumption was correct, Edubase would have gotten at least triple the normal rate.
'They took my son', mother's heartache after accused appear in court over alleged historic kidnapping
The accused all entered not guilty pleas before Judge Robert Spear.