Open Justice multimedia journalist, Bay of Plenty
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.

'Not a victimless crime': Teen discharged after child sex abuse images guilty plea
Judge said he believed teen's offending was born out of 'youthful experimentation'.

Bankruptcy case against Bella Vista developer halted as he plans defamation suit
Danny Cancian owes more than $1 million to Carters.

Man charged with sabotage believed to be first in NZ history
The charge was originally introduced to prevent foreign interference during WWII.

Whakatāne murder: Fourth man arrested as trio appear in court
Mark Hohua, 48, died shortly after being airlifted to Waikato Hospital.

'Exceptionally concerning': Rest home patient had undiagnosed fracture for three days
The patient suffered from dementia, and could not adequately communicate with staff.

'Our hearts are full': Dog that attacked vet returned to family after verdict
The Tauranga City Council is not ruling out appealing the decision.

Murder-accused duo plead not guilty
Mitchell Te Kani died at a Maungatapu property on May 14

Dismissed: Judge throws out charge against owner of dog that attacked vet
Experienced vet put herself in a position vulnerable to an attack, judge finds.

'Get him, dog': Black hat sparked fight that led to alleged murder, court told
Jamaine Wharton, 31, died of blood loss from being stabbed three times.

'Hypocrisy' and 'gutless' silence slammed after murder of 5yo Malachi
Judge says Malachi's daycare suspected he was being abused but never told police.

'Clear lessons' after tragic murder of abused 5yo Malachi, judge says
Justice Paul Davison says reporting abuse is a 'community responsibility'.

Woman who beat, burnt and killed 5yo sentenced to 17 years
Killer Michaela Barriball has been sentenced to a near record-breaking prison sentence.

'Utterly unacceptable': Judge slams prison after ongoing detention of teen
The director of Spring Hill prison has apologised and launched a review into the matter.

'There was blood everywhere': Dog on death row awaits fate after owner's trial
Owner of Rottweiler named Chopper on trial after the dog attacked vet Dr Lisa Schneider.

Hiding in a truck: Couple to be deported after breaching Covid restrictions
An Indian couple are set to be deported, despite a judge deciding against convicting them.

'Pretend paramedic' was unlawfully administering drugs to patients
Patients had no idea he was unqualified, a court has heard.

'Not an easy decision': Whakaari/White Island trial venue decided
The trial is likely to attract significant international attention, a lawyer says.

Five on trial after attempt to take back loaned caravan results in attack
Five people are on trial related to an attack at a Kaimai Ranges property last year.

Pair charged during Tauranga homicide investigation appear in court
It was the pair's second appearance.

'Living hell': Family lived in tents after rental damaged in fire
A Tauranga mum and her three kids lived in a tent at their rental, but still paid rent.

Revealed: The courts where privacy was most often breached
Data details Ministry staff viewing court documents without justified reasons.

Watch: Justice Minister Kris Faafoi talks legal aid, and delays
The maximum income thresholds for legal aid are being lifted, but some say not by enough.

Harbour dumper: Ex-politician who reclaimed harbour to appeal conviction
The high-flying Aussie politico locked up for reclaiming Tauranga Harbour is back in court

Tauranga homicide: Pair arrested during investigation appear in court
Two people have been charged with aggravated burglary.

'It sounded terrified': Man living in Mt Maunganui cave convicted for beating puppy
The man was living with his dog in a cave near Mount Maunganui.

Oranga Tamariki investigates how system failed murdered 5-year-old Malachi Subecz
'This is an absolute priority for me and I will have more to say' - Oranga Tamariki CEO.

Police officer convicted for injuring man during arrest
A Tauranga police officer has since resigned after injuring people he was arresting.

Entrusted to his killer: Little boy beaten, starved by carer
Malachi Subecz suffered regular abuse, including being burnt with scalding water.

Man accused of murdering toddler in court again
An accused child murderer allegedly drove drunk while on bail.

Woman pleads guilty to murder of 5-year-old Malachi Subecz
Youngster died in Starship Hospital after injuries suffered in Te Puna.

'Dangerous, insidious, damaging': Pilot jailed after distributing child pornography
Ryan Mackey was found to have 1600 objectionable files on his iPhone.

'I'll wipe them out': Man who threatened Māori convicted under hate speech laws
The man threatened to kill Māori and burn down marae.

Investigation finds both vessels liable for boat collision off Tauranga coast
The small fishing boat collided with a shipping liner in July last year.

'Chopper' faces death row: Dog owner in court after vet attack
Helen Fraser's Rottweiler allegedly attacked a Tauranga vet in October last year.

Exotic plant smuggler: Man fined $5K after trying to import overseas plants
Scott Peters attempted to import eight international plants into the country.

Tearful testimony: Bella Vista developer fights bankruptcy challenge
The developer owes Carters over a million dollars in unpaid building materials.

Grand Theft Loader: Man who stole 20-tonne loader to ram raid bank imprisoned
Keelin Ruru stole a 20-tonne loader to ram-raid a bank. He walked away without a cent.

Drink driver who ran over and killed friend sentenced to home detention
Victim was dragged along a Waihī street after being accidentally run over by his friend.

Driveway tragedy: Dad's heartbreak after daughter run over - coroner reveals findings
Five children are killed in driveway runovers in New Zealand each year.

Motiti Island residents not their own distinct group - Waitangi Tribunal
The Waitangi Tribunal has determined Motiti residents aren't their own distinct group.

Fined: Dairy company kept dumping wastewater despite warnings
Regional council: The penalty serves as a reminder to others about following the rules.

'We're sorry': The organic dairy company that caused a right stink after illegally dumping wastewater
Waiū Dairy CEO: We're sorry, our actions don't represent the values of kaitiakitanga.

Man imprisoned after drugging, repeatedly throttling woman
A Tauranga man who drugged and strangled the woman has been sent to prison.

A billion bottles a year: Whakatāne iwi challenges water bottling consent
A Chinese water giant's consent to bottle water is being legally challenged once again.

Woman, 52, who ran illegal flounder operation fined, has boat seized
A woman who caught and onsold flounder has had her boat seized by MPI.

Mother's bid to have child removed from 'anti-vax' father declined by Family Court
A 12-year-old told his parents that he didn't want to be vaccinated. His mother disagreed.

'Shameful': Man who built his own coastal 'park' by reclaiming Tauranga harbour imprisoned
Tio Faulkner built a "coastal park" in Tauranga Harbour. Now he's in prison.

Supermarket fined after selling plastic-contaminated mince
The supermarket was mincing unsold steak when a plastic pad fell into the mincing machine.

Cheques out, community grants in: High Court signs off on TECT restructure
Despite some opposition, the path is now clear for TECT to proceed with its restructuring.

Woman sentenced after driving dangerously, killing boyfriend
Simon Littlefair was thrown from a moving vehicle, landing on his head.

'Horrific violence': Man sentenced after tying woman in noose and raping her
Shad Undersen told his victim she was going to 'die today'.

Tauranga charter boat company sentenced after crashing vessel into Mt Maunganui
The company pleaded guilty to two charges related to the operation of the vessel.

No trial location yet determined for those charged after White Island disaster
Possible trial locations include a Whakatāne Marae and a number of convention centres.

Cannabis drug bust: Linesman sentenced to prison after rerouting electricity meters
Duane Simon rerouted wiring to steal thousands of dollars worth of electricity.

Man who sexually exploited an impaired woman lured her with the promise of takeaways
Judge: "The Department of Corrections is going to rule your life for the next little bit."

Tauranga pig farmer remanded in custody after sentencing hearing delayed
Tio Faulkner dumped around 1500cu m of steel and concrete into Tauranga Harbour.

From Parliament to prison: How an Aussie politico ended up in a Kiwi remand cell
Tauranga man Tio Faulkner went from rubbing shoulders with Prime Ministers to an NZ jail.

'A hell of a mess': Company fined $27K for allowing pigs to foul streams
About 35 pigs spent five months living in the streams, which flow into Lake Rotorua.

Dismissed: Court refuses to release man who illegally reclaimed Tauranga Harbour from custody
Tio Faulkner claimed that due to being tangata whenua, he was being detained unlawfully.

Man appears in court charged with murder of David Kuka
David Kuka was murdered at his Pyes Pa address almost four years ago.

Pig farmer who reclaimed land to build his own harbourside 'park' back in court
The man wanted to build an area for his family 'similar to Memorial Park'.

Four years jail for gang-affiliated Tauranga meth dealer
The man was sentenced for the possession of cannabis and meth.