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Luke Kirkness
Multimedia Journalist, NZME

Multimedia Journalist, Bay of Plenty Times

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.

Check out Luke’s latest content
Parent allegedly assaults son's rugby coach - police investigating
Bay of Plenty Times

Parent allegedly assaults son's rugby coach - police investigating

16 Aug 05:50 AM
Premium
Luke Kirkness: The public had a right to know about Uffindell's past
Bay of Plenty Times

Luke Kirkness: The public had a right to know about Uffindell's past

10 Aug 10:00 PM

OPINION: Fledgling MP's tattered career remains on a knife-edge.

Premium
Opinion: The scary Covid wake-up call New Zealand needed
Bay of Plenty Times

Opinion: The scary Covid wake-up call New Zealand needed

08 Aug 10:30 PM

OPINION: Personal responsibility appears to be lacking for too many people recently.

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Luke Kirkness: The disease risk that requires our full attention
Bay of Plenty Times

Luke Kirkness: The disease risk that requires our full attention

27 Jul 11:00 PM

OPINION: We've learnt first-hand how infectious diseases spread and the impact they have.

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Comment: The case for having nurse apprentices
Bay of Plenty Times

Comment: The case for having nurse apprentices

20 Jul 11:00 PM

OPINION: It might not be a quick fix to the problem, but it makes sense long-term.

Premium
Comment: Air pollution data another reason for Govt to pick a lane
Bay of Plenty Times

Comment: Air pollution data another reason for Govt to pick a lane

18 Jul 10:00 PM

Extending the fuel duty subsidy is counter-productive to public transport goals.

Premium
Luke Kirkness: How the new gang prevention laws miss the mark
Bay of Plenty Times

Luke Kirkness: How the new gang prevention laws miss the mark

14 Jul 10:00 PM

OPINION: Arrests need to be made at times, but they won't lead to significant change.

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Opinion: University not the only game in town
Bay of Plenty Times

Opinion: University not the only game in town

11 Jul 10:30 PM

OPINION: Some advice for school students who are about to finish up

Premium
Luke Kirkness: What we can learn from a businessman about Covid-19
Bay of Plenty Times

Luke Kirkness: What we can learn from a businessman about Covid-19

27 Jun 11:00 PM

OPINION: Why have so many people stopped following health advice?

'Drop in the bucket': Hospice grateful for $3.1m boost but more needed
Bay of Plenty Times

'Drop in the bucket': Hospice grateful for $3.1m boost but more needed

27 Jun 08:00 PM

One-off funding of more than $3 million has been announced but is it enough?

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Luke Kirkness: I didn't vote in the Tauranga byelection. Here's why.
Bay of Plenty Times

Luke Kirkness: I didn't vote in the Tauranga byelection. Here's why.

21 Jun 10:30 PM

OPINION: It is vital politicians connect with young people on relevant issues.

Breath alcohol checkpoints: 153 impaired drivers caught in Bay
Bay of Plenty Times

Breath alcohol checkpoints: 153 impaired drivers caught in Bay

20 Jun 04:01 AM

More than 11,000 drivers were processed over two weekends.

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Luke Kirkness: My failed dreams and what you can learn from them
Bay of Plenty Times

Luke Kirkness: My failed dreams and what you can learn from them

15 Jun 11:00 PM

OPINION: Make the most of your glory days, you don't know how long they'll last.

Premium
Luke Kirkness: It's time to change how we reward Lotto winners
Bay of Plenty Times

Luke Kirkness: It's time to change how we reward Lotto winners

13 Jun 10:00 PM

OPINION: It's time to change how we reward Lotto winners in New Zealand.

Fire in Gate Pā: Empty house fire extinguished
Bay of Plenty Times

Fire in Gate Pā: Empty house fire extinguished

12 Jun 05:10 AM

A fire at a property on Ward St, Gate Pā, has been put out by firefighters.

Complaints about behaviour of nude bathers on Pāpāmoa Beach revealed
Bay of Plenty Times

Complaints about behaviour of nude bathers on Pāpāmoa Beach revealed

12 Jun 12:00 AM

Nude bathing isn't illegal but there have been complaints about it.

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Opinion: How we're missing the chance to punish bad drivers
Bay of Plenty Times

Opinion: How we're missing the chance to punish bad drivers

09 Jun 10:00 PM

Luke Kirkness says the law is the law, and if you break it, you should be punished.

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'Long way to go': Return to normal a struggle for most businesses
Bay of Plenty Times

'Long way to go': Return to normal a struggle for most businesses

09 Jun 10:00 PM

Actual retail sales values increased in the Bay of Plenty in Q1 but how do retailers feel?

'Prolonged and violent assault': Police appeal after teen attacked
Bay of Plenty Times

'Prolonged and violent assault': Police appeal after teen attacked

08 Jun 11:42 PM

A boy in his mid-teens is the victim of a prolonged and violent assault, police say.

Get the umbrella ready, winter outlook reveals plenty of rain to come
Bay of Plenty Times

Get the umbrella ready, winter outlook reveals plenty of rain to come

06 Jun 12:00 AM

The outlook comes as autumn was listed as the second-equal warmest on record.

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The big issue worrying a retiring police district commander
Bay of Plenty Times

The big issue worrying a retiring police district commander

03 Jun 11:00 PM

After more than 40 years on the force, Andy McGregor says it's time to wind down.

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Gang members in prison: Numbers hit 7-year low
Bay of Plenty Times

Gang members in prison: Numbers hit 7-year low

01 Jun 08:00 PM

But the proportion in prison compared to non-gang members is at a 12-year high.

Four buildings at Tauranga Hospital are earthquake-prone
Bay of Plenty Times

Four buildings at Tauranga Hospital are earthquake-prone

31 May 08:50 PM

Theatre block and main ward among those at risk.

Butcher hit 'rock bottom'. Then something made him decide to stay open
Bay of Plenty Times

Butcher hit 'rock bottom'. Then something made him decide to stay open

30 May 09:24 PM

The butcher, subjected to smash and grabs and break-ins, was ready to call it quits.

E-bike giveaway giving back to community
Bay of Plenty Times

E-bike giveaway giving back to community

28 May 01:00 AM

The business hopes the giveaway will alleviate some pressure from people struggling

Premium
Luke Kirkness: More needs to be done to help the real MVPs of society
Bay of Plenty Times

Luke Kirkness: More needs to be done to help the real MVPs of society

23 May 10:30 PM

OPINION: Health workers are incredibly important but do we show it enough?

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Data prompts fresh calls for greater investment in 'death trap' highway
Bay of Plenty Times

Data prompts fresh calls for greater investment in 'death trap' highway

23 May 06:00 PM

The new highway came with a hefty price tag so has it been worth it?

Premium
Bitten, spat at, hit with axes: Top cop says assaults on police becoming more violent
Bay of Plenty Times

Bitten, spat at, hit with axes: Top cop says assaults on police becoming more violent

21 May 06:03 PM

'We are seeing is a propensity of offenders to increasingly use violence toward police'.

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Luke Kirkness: Police need to be respected more and the buck stops with us
Bay of Plenty Times

Luke Kirkness: Police need to be respected more and the buck stops with us

17 May 10:30 PM

Luke Kirkness says police in NZ don't deserve to be spat at, bitten or hit.

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Outlaw gangs to make NZ a safer place, says former drug kingpin
Bay of Plenty Times

Outlaw gangs to make NZ a safer place, says former drug kingpin

11 May 05:00 PM

Billy Macfarlane says a tougher stance on gangs is needed.

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Luke Kirkness: This Government is rewarding laziness
Bay of Plenty Times

Luke Kirkness: This Government is rewarding laziness

09 May 10:30 PM

OPINION: It's time to get tough and ensure people are actually trying to find work.

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'Targeting Māori': The police firearm figures worrying leaders
Bay of Plenty Times

'Targeting Māori': The police firearm figures worrying leaders

08 May 06:00 PM

Actions predicated on race or the situation? Police firearm use data revealed.

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Luke Kirkness: I've started vaping - and I'm on the way to getting hooked
Bay of Plenty Times

Luke Kirkness: I've started vaping - and I'm on the way to getting hooked

06 May 10:30 PM

OPINION: I've picked up a bad habit that is hard to shake despite not being a smoker.

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Luke Kirkness: The answer to solving our gun crime issues
Bay of Plenty Times

Luke Kirkness: The answer to solving our gun crime issues

21 Apr 10:30 PM

OPINION: Guns will always be a contentious issue but the answer is staring us in the face.

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Revealed: The city that's a hotbed for dog attacks
Bay of Plenty Times

Revealed: The city that's a hotbed for dog attacks

21 Apr 06:14 PM

The part of town with the most recorded incidents can also be revealed.

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Luke Kirkness: Proactive steps needed to tackle road toll
Bay of Plenty Times

Luke Kirkness: Proactive steps needed to tackle road toll

18 Apr 10:15 PM

OPINION: What's the price of your life or that of your loved ones?

Premium
Ex-drug kingpin on gun seizures: 'The worst guns' are still with 'the worst people'
Bay of Plenty Times

Ex-drug kingpin on gun seizures: 'The worst guns' are still with 'the worst people'

18 Apr 06:00 PM

Gun Safe was introduced in March 2019 to record police encounters with firearms.

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Luke Kirkness: It's time to move to orange. Here's why.
Bay of Plenty Times

Luke Kirkness: It's time to move to orange. Here's why.

11 Apr 11:00 PM

OPINION: We're past Omicron's peak so it's time to give struggling businesses a break.

One Covid-related death in Lakes DHB, latest case numbers revealed
Bay of Plenty Times

One Covid-related death in Lakes DHB, latest case numbers revealed

10 Apr 01:02 AM

There were 12 deaths nationwide announced today by the Ministry of Health.

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Opinion: Why tougher prison sentences alone won't cut crime
Bay of Plenty Times

Opinion: Why tougher prison sentences alone won't cut crime

06 Apr 11:00 PM

OPINION: It's a complex problem - and won't be solved any time soon, says Luke Kirkness.

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Rawiri Waititi: Māori should be paid a pension from age 57
Bay of Plenty Times

Rawiri Waititi: Māori should be paid a pension from age 57

05 Apr 07:00 PM

There is support and opposition to the idea to lower NZ Super eligibility for Māori.

Two deaths in Lakes region, number of other vaccines administered revealed
Bay of Plenty Times

Two deaths in Lakes region, number of other vaccines administered revealed

04 Apr 01:03 AM

The number of AstraZeneca and Novavax doses in the Bay of Plenty can be revealed.

Latest Covid hospitalisations, cases and deaths revealed
Bay of Plenty Times

Latest Covid hospitalisations, cases and deaths revealed

03 Apr 01:03 AM

There are nearly 700 people throughout New Zealand with the virus in hospital.

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Building company 'shocked and devastated' by worker's death on site
Bay of Plenty Times

Building company 'shocked and devastated' by worker's death on site

31 Mar 02:20 AM

Emergency services were called to the scene on Te Kaka Place on Wednesday afternoon.

Premium
'Why can't they work a little longer?': Locals discuss NZ Super eligibility
Bay of Plenty Times

'Why can't they work a little longer?': Locals discuss NZ Super eligibility

30 Mar 07:00 PM

Experts butted heads on the subject, now Bay of Plenty locals put their thoughts forward.

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'We're all getting old buggers': Experts split on raising age of superannuation
Bay of Plenty Times

'We're all getting old buggers': Experts split on raising age of superannuation

26 Mar 07:00 PM

However, a support group says elderly people are already struggling to make ends meet.

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Luke Kirkness: What some unemployed people are lacking
Bay of Plenty Times

Luke Kirkness: What some unemployed people are lacking

21 Mar 09:30 PM

Keep trying until it pays off, argues Luke Kirkness.

Why it appears part of the Tauranga Harbour Bridge hasn't been fixed
Bay of Plenty Times

Why it appears part of the Tauranga Harbour Bridge hasn't been fixed

14 Mar 08:46 PM

There was a crane crash on the bridge in early December.

Premium
No police have tested positive for drugs in last the three years
Bay of Plenty Times

No police have tested positive for drugs in last the three years

13 Mar 08:00 PM

However, the head of the police association says it's 'naive' to conclude no staff used.

Premium
How Whakatāne Mill opened the door for local industry
Bay of Plenty Times

How Whakatāne Mill opened the door for local industry

09 Mar 09:20 PM

OPINION: It's time to shake things up a bit and take inspiration from the old days.

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Luke Kirkness: It's time we grasped the housing nettle
Bay of Plenty Times

Luke Kirkness: It's time we grasped the housing nettle

07 Mar 09:00 PM

OPINION: The latest CoreLogic property report provides no reprieve for first-home buyers

Premium
Where in the world did our MIQ cases come from?
Bay of Plenty Times

Where in the world did our MIQ cases come from?

05 Mar 05:00 PM

The number of people who tested positive in MIQ and where they came from can be revealed.

Have you noticed unmaintained berms around Tauranga? If so you're not alone
Bay of Plenty Times

Have you noticed unmaintained berms around Tauranga? If so you're not alone

04 Mar 07:01 PM

Tauranga City Council explains why some berms and verges have been untouched recently.

Premium
Luke Kirkness: Now is not the time to became complacent about Covid
Bay of Plenty Times

Luke Kirkness: Now is not the time to became complacent about Covid

01 Mar 09:30 PM

OPINION: Fewer people seem to be taking the threat of the virus seriously, to our peril.

Omicron outbreak: Five in Tauranga Hospital; latest case numbers revealed
Bay of Plenty Times

Omicron outbreak: Five in Tauranga Hospital; latest case numbers revealed

27 Feb 12:00 AM

The latest Bay of Plenty and Lakes District Health Board figures have been revealed.

Meet Flick, the little fire truck that could be yours
Bay of Plenty Times

Meet Flick, the little fire truck that could be yours

23 Feb 11:42 PM

The origins of Flick are unknown but whoever left it at the station has a kind heart.

Premium
Luke Kirkness: Why today's make or break for the Government
Bay of Plenty Times

Luke Kirkness: Why today's make or break for the Government

02 Feb 05:30 PM

OPINION: Are we in for some Covid-19 reprieve with a border announcement looming?

Premium
Luke Kirkness: Calling on New Zealand's team of five million
Bay of Plenty Times

Luke Kirkness: Calling on New Zealand's team of five million

25 Jan 09:30 PM

OPINION: Omicron is in Tauranga. What does that mean looking forward?

Vent temp and gas output decrease at Whakaari/White Island
Bay of Plenty Times

Vent temp and gas output decrease at Whakaari/White Island

18 Jan 07:55 PM

Data was collated during an observation flight to the volcano last week.

Premium
Why we shouldn't meet sharks' existence with fear
Bay of Plenty Times

Why we shouldn't meet sharks' existence with fear

15 Jan 09:30 PM

OPINION: Great white sharks might be apex predators but they don't kill many people.

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Revealed: How many people spent time in Rotorua MIQ
Bay of Plenty Times

Revealed: How many people spent time in Rotorua MIQ

12 Jan 08:00 PM

One recent returnee says the experience of Rotorua MIQ was hugely valuable in her life.

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Revealed: The cost of water-related injuries
Bay of Plenty Times

Revealed: The cost of water-related injuries

11 Jan 07:00 PM

The most common activities that led to injuries were boating, swimming and fishing.

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Luke Kirkness: We cannot afford to get complacent with the virus
Bay of Plenty Times

Luke Kirkness: We cannot afford to get complacent with the virus

10 Jan 09:30 PM

OPINION: There are fears an Omicron outbreak could soon start — we need to be ready.

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Revealed: The number of times New Zealand Defence Force staff tested positive for illegal drugs
Bay of Plenty Times

Revealed: The number of times New Zealand Defence Force staff tested positive for illegal drugs

09 Jan 07:00 PM

The number who tested positive for which class of drug, and their penalty, are revealed.

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Revealed: What books were issued most in the Bay of Plenty in 2021
Bay of Plenty Times

Revealed: What books were issued most in the Bay of Plenty in 2021

07 Jan 11:00 PM

What people in the Bay of Plenty read last year revealed - plus a few suggestions.

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Luke Kirkness: How holiday traffic woes could be hold the answers to Bay's biggest issues
Bay of Plenty Times

Luke Kirkness: How holiday traffic woes could be hold the answers to Bay's biggest issues

04 Jan 10:00 PM

OPINION: The biggest issues crippling our region could be solved this summer.

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Luke Kirkness: Anxious days ahead after Omicron discovery
Bay of Plenty Times

Luke Kirkness: Anxious days ahead after Omicron discovery

30 Dec 10:00 PM

OPINION: Some of us may feel battle-hardened, others more battle-weary.

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Luke Kirkness: Something worth celebrating in 2021
Bay of Plenty Times

Luke Kirkness: Something worth celebrating in 2021

27 Dec 09:30 PM

Opinion: This is the one something worth celebrating in 2021- an otherwise rocky year.