Jared Savage
Investigative Journalist
Jared Savage, an Investigative Reporter for New Zealand’s Herald, has reported on some of the most high-profile and controversial cases in recent New Zealand history.
I’m Jared Savage and I’ve been a reporter since 2004 where I landed my first job at an Auckland suburban newspaper after completing a Bachelor of Communications at AUT. Journalism has allowed me to travel the country, and the world, to report on ordinary people doing extraordinary things. I’m constantly amazed at the generosity of those who have invited me into their homes. Often, they are sharing the most traumatic moments of their lives, and their trust is something that cannot be taken for granted. I’ve covered the natural disasters of the Samoan tsunami and the Christchurch earthquakes, dodgy political donations, a mayoral sex scandal, two Rugby World Cups, but somehow keep gravitating towards the drama of the courtroom. I’ve reported on some of the most high-profile and controversial cases in recent New Zealand history; the Kahui twins, Scott Guy and Chris Cairns’ perjury trial in London to name a few. Lately, I’ve taken a special interest in the evolution of organised crime in this country, in particular the millions of dollars made from the lucrative meth trade and the devastating social and health impacts of the ongoing crisis. It’s my firm belief that sunlight is the best disinfectant.
Check out Jared’s latest content
'Frightened all the time': Inside a $3m kiwifruit tax evasion scam
'Money mule' was allegedly kidnapped and assaulted after threatening to blow the whistle.
Ferrari-driving gang member admits importing 613kg drugs, faces losing $7m in assets
The main target in Operation Weirton has pleaded guilty on the eve of High Court trial.
Comancheros bust: Influential gang member charged with 200kg drug import
The Comanchero was charged months after two men allegedly broke into a shipping container.
‘We’ve got a big problem': Meth use in NZ spikes to record high
Consumption doubled in the second half of 2024, according to wastewater testing.
Mongrel Mob boss jailed after he was found with $68k in Louis Vuitton handbag
Mathew Karetu was dealing drugs as the national president of the Barbarians chapter.
Funeral for father of high-profile gang boss set to disrupt Tauranga traffic, police warn
Expected influx of members of the Mongols outlaw motorcycle club could clash with locals.
The drug-dealing Mongrel Mob boss who had $68k cash in a Louis Vuitton handbag
The gang leader was seen in a pub carpark buying 1kg of meth for $140,000.
Gang members arrested after alleged 200kg meth heist at Port of Tauranga
Two men allegedly broke into shipping container and pulled out five suitcases of drugs.
Operation Reach: Senior Head Hunter charged over plot to smuggle 50kg cocaine from Brazil
The 60-year-old appeared in court yesterday, nine months after Operation Reach co-accused.
Alleged boss of Mongrel Mob drug ring is son of gang’s slain president
Steve Taiatini was vocal about dangers of meth before his death. His son has been charged.
Boy, 8, killed in suspicious circumstances can now be named
'Monster', was shouted in court as a 25-year-old woman appeared in relation to his death.
Guns, drugs and gang violence: Major organised crime probe ends in seizures, arrests
ANALYSIS: Operation Highwater reminder of problem of gangs in NZ's small towns.
Major police probe prevents tangi shooting and attempted murder of rival gang member
Police seized illegal drugs and firearms and restrained assets worth $800k.
The meth lab, the gang taxing and a murder charge
Five years after a meth lab was found in bush, the chaotic fallout can be revealed.
Inside story: When police took down the Comanchero hierarchy
Exclusive book extract on how detectives investigated the Comancheros motorcycle gang.
Mongrel Mob killer probed for allegedly posting photo of victim’s body online days before trial
Police believe the disturbing image was 'clearly meant to intimidate' witnesses.
Gang member on run for year: Cops' alarming find when he was finally caught
Name suppression lifted when the gang's 'orchestrating influence' was sentenced.
Police pack rapist Brad Shipton dies after long battle with dementia
Rape victim of notorious detective hopes other women can bury their trauma with him.
'Even I was shocked': Kiwi sailor likely to die in prison after 1.4 tonne cocaine bust
Hamish Thompson failed in his latest legal bid to quash his conviction and life sentence.
Security breach: Trio in high vis gear allegedly broke into Port of Tauranga
Alleged burglars found in imported shipping container area.
Inside the 5-year search for justice after innocent man killed in gang revenge
Two men were shot dead weeks apart in the same second-hand store in Tauranga.
Mongrel Mob boss' last interview: Slain gangster on prison, suicide, meth addiction
The tough-looking gangster shared his private pain in an interview before his death.
Gangster’s Paradise: The inside story of how ‘The Sheriff’ cleaned up Kawerau
The investigation loosened the Mongrel Mob’s grip on a small rural town.
Murder trial witness recounts ‘terrifying’ encounter with Mongrel Mob
The witness came home to find door ajar, and friend David Kuka "gasping for air".
Crown alleges Mongrel Mob trio responsible for murder to ‘avenge’ fellow gang member
The Tauranga man was shot twice just weeks after a gang member was killed at same address.
Revealed: Why gang boss will stay inside special ‘prison within a prison’ for high-risk inmates
Mongols president has been in solitary confinement for nearly 3 years.
Fire at property where Mongrel Mob leader Steve Taiatini was killed
Firefighters called overnight to blaze at address where Steve Taiaini was struck by ute.
Killed on a pedestrian crossing: Motorcyclist charged with manslaughter
Geoffrey and Karen Boucher were on a pedestrian crossing when they were struck and killed.
Exclusive: Alleged ‘Mr Big’ behind 500kg drug shipment extradited from Spain to NZ
Alleged drug kingpin appeared in NZ court, granted interim name suppression.
Malachi's murder: Inside the custody battle that left 5yo with killer caregiver
Family Court file reveals desperate effort by Malachi's cousin to be his legal guardian.
Revealed: The plot to smuggle 200kg of cocaine from a Mexican cartel into Tauranga
Port worker was promised $250,000 for his role in drug smuggling plan
Operation Silk: Inside the biggest gang trial of 2022
Mongols gang insider gave evidence of guns, drugs and cash in marathon court case.
Mistaken identity murder: Two more men charged over 2018 'brutal' execution
New arrests means total of four men arrested over murder of Tauranga man in 2018.
Highway tragedy: Gang 'life member' in police sights after crash killing two
A senior patched member of the Filthy Few was the rider involved in the double fatal.
Serial fraudster hit with 15-year companies ban after latest lies
It is the second longest company directing ban ever handed down.
NZ's most wanted: $50m drug bust fugitive arrested in Spain
EXCLUSIVE: Police seek extradition over 500kg drug shipment smuggled into NZ.
Revealed: High-profile Oz gang member charged with assaulting woman before his death
Police charged 501 deportee with assault without formal statement from alleged victim.
'It's a no brainer' - Study of groundbreaking drug project finds stunning drop in crime
Traditional rivals on drug policy urge Government to urgently fulfil election promise.
Mistaken identity murder: Man charged over 'execution' of innocent man four years ago
Nearly four years after shocking death, a man will appear in court charged with murder.
The 5-year hunt for Comancheros gang boss
Exclusive: NZ in talks with Turkey over return of 'international commander'.
DNA breakthrough: Police flooded with tips in murder cold case
Detectives are working through new leads following news of killer's DNA discovery.
DNA breakthrough gives police new hope of solving 1980 murder of 6yo
Police find crucial evidence in Alicia O'Reilly homicide thought to have been destroyed.
NZ's meth crisis: The rural towns bearing the brunt
Wastewater data obtained by the Herald provides a stark view of our national drug problem.
Analysis: One name sticks out in mammoth drug bust
Aussie gangster on the run in the Mediterranean among the names listed in court docs.
Exclusive: Man charged in plot to import cocaine from Mexico worked at Tauranga port
A stevedore was among eight people arrested after an eight-month covert investigation.
CYFS should have checked Baby Royal within 24 hrs - weeks later, he was dead
CYFS report says social workers should have seen 'vulnerable' baby within 24 to 48 hours.
Exclusive: New police blitz to target gangs and guns
Gang turf war and gun violence leads police to launch nationwide operation on firearms.
'Meth easier to buy than milk' - Emails to NZ's top cop led to downfall of Mob boss
Tired of the gang running the town, a constable wrote directly to the Police Commissioner.
Mistaken identity murder: Police identify suspects in 'brutal' execution
Suspects identified in 'execution' murder of innocent man, three years after his death.
The inside story of how police took down the Comanchero gang
Exclusive book extract on how detectives investigated the Comancheros motorcycle gang.
'Audacious': Judge hopes to deliver verdicts in child sex trial by Christmas
Judge retires to consider verdicts in "difficult" sex case which he'd like to erase.
Gangland: Inside NZ's biggest cocaine bust
The "fishing trip" that resulted in a huge cocaine haul.
'It's fiction, isn't it?: Prosecutor grills horse trainer on trial for child sex charges
Horse rider grilled by Crown prosecutor on police lies, sex toys and childrens' clothing.
'I was scared to make him mad' - accused gives evidence in child sex abuse trial
A woman on trial for child sex abuse says she was scared her partner would kill her.
Laken Rose child sex case: 'I tried to stop him. I always tried to stop him'
Laken Rose told police she tried to stop her former partner from preying on children.
Guilty pleas to more charges in horse trainer sex abuse trial
Horse trainer admits 5 more charges of inducing an indecent act on a 14-year-old girl.
Equestrian child sex trial: Mother of 3yo victim gives evidence
Mother of 3-year-old sex abuse victim gives evidence in trial of female horse track rider.
'Nevaeh would still be alive': Grandparents called police after assault. She was dead the next day
Great-grandparents who phoned police to warn of father's erratic behavior want answers.
Spies, lies and an unsolved mystery: Top investigator on the case which haunts him
Private investigator reveals how he solved the disappearance of Lee Sheppard in new book.
Inside the tragic death of Baby Royal
Social workers should have visited baby after concerns raised just weeks before his death.
Alicia O'Reilly cold case: Police re-open investigation into 1980 rape and murder of 6yo girl
Forty years on, police review cold-case rape and murder of six-year-old girl in Auckland.
Rise and fall of Todd Muller: The man who could have been PM
Throughout his life, people had thought Todd Muller could be Prime Minister.
Six shootings: The Mongols and the violent turf war over Tauranga
Police on covert investigation quietly intervened to stop further violence in gang wars.
Gang raids: Police target Mongols MC across Bay of Plenty
Homes linked to notorious Australian motorcycle gang searched by police in armed raids.
Gang war fears grow: Mongols boss locked up over loaded pistol
Mongols leader robbed Greazy Dogs rival of gang colours at knifepoint, police allege.
'People I hang around with kill people for that': How changes in gangs led to 'uncontrolled growth'
Why a subtle change in traditional gang hierarchy led to "uncontrolled growth" in numbers.
Revealed: Shooting victim was Bay Mobster
Man shot dead in Auckland was Bay of Plenty gang member.
Gang tensions at boiling point: Greazy Dogs face off with Mongol Nation
Greazy Dog gang turns up in force at house of senior patched Mongol.
From lavish parties to a prison cell: Head Hunters' $1m man jailed for 12 years
Head Hunter boasted of making $10,000 every day from meth. Now he's going to prison.
The Head Hunter who made $1 million in three years
Bucket of drugs and cash buried in sand dunes of popular Bay of Plenty beach.
'Got it bro': The inside story of how undercover cops snared meth, guns in gang sting
Undercover officers paid $52,500 to Rotorua duo in a single drug deal.
Buried in shallow grave: Arrest in Desert Rd body mystery
Man charged with accessory to murder after the fact in Desert Rd body case.
'Bullet to the head': Police arrest second man with threatening to kill Simon Bridges
Man allegedly threatens to kill Simon Bridges in Facebook post, the second this week.
Man charged with threat to kill Simon Bridges, family
Man appears in court after social media threat to kill National Party leader, family.
Gangs of New Zealand: Inside the 'uncontrolled growth' of the gang scene
Gang scene explodes with new patches and numbers, up 50 per cent to record 7000 members.
Police hand one of NZ's oldest cold cases to Coroner
Brother of boy missing since 1957 hope Coroner will grill witnesses at inquest hearing.
Tauranga shooting: Head Hunters' show of force at victim's funeral
The 32-year-old victim was an associate of the motorcycle gang.
Inside the gang tensions which brought a city to a standstill
Arrival of Ozzie bikie gangs has upset the fragile equilibrium of the NZ gang scene.
Mistaken identity: 'Brutal' death of innocent man linked to gangster shooting
Today marks two years since an innocent man was "executed" in a case of mistaken identity.
Gang wars: Mongols v Mongrel Mob behind tit-for-tat shootings
Arson and tit-for-tat revenge shootings in turf war between new Oz gang and Mongrel Mob.