Kelly Makiha, a Multimedia Journalist at the Rotorua Daily Post, specialises in court and police reporting.
I started work as a Multimedia Journalist at the Rotorua Daily Post as an 18 year-old in 1996 and I am still here, loving every single day. I wanted to be a journalist since I was a child and remember making my mum follow the flashing lights of emergency services so I could see what was happening. I started writing for my local newspaper in Timaru when I was a young teen and knew then that this was the job for me. I made the move to the Rotorua Daily Post and it was meant to be a stepping stone but I fell in love with this city, got married and we are now raising our three children here. I have covered all rounds but specialise in court and police reporting and have been chief reporter or assistant editor for most of my career. I am now back doing what I love – writing stories that matter, holding people and organisations to account, celebrating heroes, paying tribute to amazing lost loved ones and using my role to highlight issues to make a difference. Each day I’m honoured to be surrounded by a group of professionals who work hard and believe in what we do.
Where the jobs are: Top region, industries looking for workers
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Tokoroa teacher killer 'happy to die' in prison as he goes before parole board
The man who killed Tokoroa teacher Lois Dear has applied for parole for the first time.
'Terrified': Mobster on meth carjacks couple, speeds off sitting on driver
Woman pinned to seat by tattooed gangster struggled to breathe, says judge.
Tribesman killed by 'hotbox' beating after secretly using gang account, Crown alleges
Five men are standing trial for murder in the High Court at Rotorua.
Race to find bone marrow match: 'There is a little boy here who needs your help'
'If they can’t help my son, we are hoping they might be able to save other kids.'
'It happened so fast': Mum hit by car in a restaurant tells how she survived
She and her husband had just finished their garlic bread when they heard a bang.
Eruption victims will be paid despite company going bust - helicopter boss
Volcanic Air Safaris' insurance will pay reparation, a liquidator says.
Rotorua hot pool mystery echoes 1980 search for man's remains
Police are trying to find out if a man has fallen into a 'near-boiling' geothermal pool.
Ultra-Trail apologises after some runners struggle to get water on hot day
4500 starters ran distances up to 160km in 'hot' weather for the weekend's event.
Rotorua hot pool mystery: Did a man fall in? Why police can't find a body
Why searchers are struggling to confirm their suspicion in the near-boiling pool.
Rapist on the run in Australia after Rotorua jury convicts him of attacking teen girls
He fled to Australia while on bail but his trial went ahead without him anyway.
Watch: 'A slap on the hand': Fed-up store owners call for crackdown after latest raid
'What do you do? It’s your business, you have invested money in it.'
Best of Premium 2023: Drug kingpin 'learnt from the best' - his father, court told
He would illegally buy the drugs using the dark web, paying for it with Bitcoin.
‘You can’t dream if you can’t see it’: How biking stars are growing world champs
Julian Dean, Tuhoto-Ariki Pene and Sammie Maxwell are tapping into raw talent.
High honour for master carver who was once told he was a 'failure'
Master carver Clive Fugill has been made a companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit.
Sex stabbing trial: Jury enters third day of deliberations
The jury has been out since Monday afternoon.
'Highly manipulative': Sex stabbing attack pre-meditated, Crown says
The jury has retired to consider its verdict.
Sex stabbing trial: Wife describes controlling and violent marriage
Jurors watch two police video interviews with the defendant as trial progresses.
'Traumatic': Babysitter indecently assaulted says court trial worse than the crime itself
'I felt like the defendant ... I’m the victim in the matter.'
'Get off', children heard dad yell after mum stabbed him during sex
Children give evidence in the trial of their mother who allegedly attacked their father.
'You're killing me': Woman on trial after stabbing husband with scissors during sex
She claims she acted in self-defence, the jury has been told.
How this woman lost 50kg naturally - and still eats hot chips
'There’s no fasting, no pills, nothing like that.'
'Disgusting and repulsive man': Leading entertainment figure sentenced
'I do not accept that she encouraged in any way the conduct that occurred,' judge says.
Pāpāmoa and Tauranga Lotto players strike first and second division
Check your Lotto tickets if you live in Pāpāmoa or Tauranga.
Private investigator eyes controversial security business
Details have been revealed in a licensing authority decision.
'I knew it was a gun shot': Ōpōtiki Mayor speaks out on gang violence
He wants the new Government to deliver more police for his town.
‘Ingrained hatred’: Should warring Mongrel Mob and Black Power be rewarded for good behaviour?
An expert makes the suggestion as police crack down on gang violence.
Gang crackdown: Weapons, drugs, cash seized by police given special search powers
Police also made two arrests in Ōpōtiki amid gang tensions.
Police given special search powers after woman shot amid simmering gang violence
A woman was shot in Ōpōtiki.
McClay: Work starts now to restore Rotorua's reputation
Rotorua MP Todd McClay says he will work hard to get back the Rotorua that once was.
Kirkpatrick says local roots crucial in win over Coffey
East Coast electorate reverts back to blue with Dana Kirkpatrick's election win.
Lotto players in Whakatāne and Ōpōtiki among winners
Check your tickets if you're in Ōpotiki and Whakatāne.
Lotto loot for Tauranga and Rotorua players
Tauranga and Rotorua Lotto players strike it lucky.
'The buggers': Visitor gutted after car stolen, dumped — then stolen again
Not only is the car gone, but 'irreplaceable' photos have also been lost.
Serial groper breached parole before indecent carpark act
The Parole Board found his excuse for the carpark act 'utterly implausible'.
'Stunned': Jury returns verdicts in leading entertainment figure trial
After a three-month High Court trial, the jury took just over two days to reach verdicts.
Leading entertainment figure trial: Jury retires to consider verdicts
The trial is nearing the end of its 12th week after originally being set down for six.
'Sexual deviancy': Serial groper Jason Trembath jailed again
His lawyer said Trembath was 'wound up' after playing tennis before his latest offending.
Lizzo, Kylie lyrics quoted to jury in sexual assault trial
"First and last time I get to refer to the authority of Lizzo in a court," lawyer says.
'Absolutely ravaged': Ram-raiders drove vehicle 60m through mall
A ram raid at Rotorua Central mall has left devastating impacts.
Well-known New Zealander appears in court on violence charges
The man's lawyer says the charges are 'domestic-related'.
Secret recording played to jury in trial of leading entertainment figure
'Playing with someone’s life': Witness makes claims about his ex and rape complainant.
Korrey Whyman murder case: Man pleads not guilty
A man charged with murdering the Kawerau mum has appeared in the High Court.
Prison plot: Phoney cop call gets girlfriend free hotel stay
‘Fake it 'til we make it’: Plan netted hotel with room service valued at nearly $1400.
Leading entertainment figure on trial says he went into sleeping girl's room for a blanket
It's day six in the dock for a man facing rape, sexual assault and drugs charges.
Man charged with Claude Takao’s murder appears in court
The 47-year-old was found dead down a bank last month.
'You had your way with her': Entertainment figure denies drugging, raping women
The defendant spends his fourth day in the dock giving evidence in his defence.
'I wasn't lying but I was hiding a lot': Entertainment figure questioned over affairs
He says his wife didn’t mind him having sex with other women as long as he wasn’t lying.
Entertainment figure on trial: 'Now that I look back the second kiss could be an assault'
He says he was having consensual sex with the women so was surprised he was charged.
Woman licked cocaine off his finger, leading entertainment figure claims
The woman previously told the court he forced powder on his finger into her mouth.
Leading entertainment figure trial: Defendant admits up to 40 affairs
A leading entertainment figure takes the stand to give evidence in his defence.
Leading entertainment figure trial: Police case attacked in defence opening
'He’s made mistakes but that doesn’t make him a criminal'
Leading entertainment figure trial: Defence lawyer questions senior cop over phones
The counsel asked why the phones of the complainants were not seized and searched.
Leading entertainer trial: Crown witness denies being told to say information
The Crown case against a leading entertainment figure continued today.
‘He’s going to rape me’: Woman tells entertainment figure jury she sent texts for help
Complainant says she later moved out of her home because she felt unsafe.
Mongrel Mob member drowned in river trying to escape police
Norman Te Rangi jumped into the Tarawera River to evade police but drowned.
Tauranga and Taupō Lotto players strike it lucky
Check your lotto tickets if you're in Tauranga or Taupō.
Entertainment figure trial: Complainant tells of white powder, sexual advance and secrecy
'He was pretty angry. Just fuming,' the woman says.
‘Highly predatory’: Groomer who exploited boys for 'sexual gratification' sentenced
A man guilty of six sexual offences against young boys has been jailed.
'Just want a bit of money': Entertainment figure trial witness quizzed on overheard conversation
More Crown evidence has been heard.
600,000km milestone: Teacher spends 20 years driving Tauranga to Rotorua for work
Dave Parry loves his job so much, he drives 120km every day to go there.
Rape complainant quizzed in court over relationship with leading entertainment figure
Young woman says she was “off-my-face” drunk and could not consent to sex.
Leading entertainment figure rape trial: ‘I just felt yuck and disgusted’
Young woman breaks down in tears giving evidence.
Leading entertainment figure on trial a 'creep' and 'sex addict', jury told
A complainant says a leading entertainment figure on trial for sexual assault is a creep.
A history of violence: Former Mongrel Mob member jailed for 29th time
'You have spent most of your life in prison,' Judge tells repeat offender.
Entertainment figure trial: Indecent assault complainant told 'that's just what he does'
She gave evidence the accused tried to push her into a room.
'Okay with it': Wife accepted husband on trial was having casual sex with others
Wife of entertainment figure accused of sexual offences against other women gives evidence
Leading entertainment figure previously at centre of ‘rumours and allegations’, jury told
Second business associate takes the stand in the High Court trial.
Leading entertainment figure trial: Business relations sour after assault allegation, court told
The High Court trial is continuing in Rotorua.
Tears as Crown witness tells court of sexual assault by leading entertainment figure
A jury hears from the first woman to complain to the police about the man.
'MeToo fest': Defence claim as entertainment figure's rape trial begins
A High Court trial for a man facing serious sexual assault and drugs charges has started.
'Frustrating': Trial of entertainment figure stalls as less than half of jury pool turns up
"A summons to attend jury service is a very serious thing and not to be taken lightly."
Trial of leading entertainment figure facing rape and drugs charges adjourned
Accusations include that he used illicit drugs and raped and sexually assaulted women.
‘Addicted to sex’: Kiwi music industry figure standing trial on rape, sexual assault and drugs charges
The man faces 25 charges involving nine complainants.
'You stole my life': How woman survived decades of stepdad's sexual abuse
Jodie Nicoll has had automatic name suppression lifted so she can tell her story.
'She has gone to paradise, but look what she has left behind': Netball legend farewelled
Netball legend Taini Jamieson has been farewelled by family and friends.
'Like a shark attack': Dog mauls child 'with intent to kill'
The victim's traumatised family is now fighting for justice.