Megan Wilson is a Multimedia Journalist for the Bay of Plenty Times and Rotorua Daily Post.
Megan Wilson started working as a journalist for NZME based in Tauranga in 2021. She writes for the Bay of Plenty Times and Rotorua Daily Post. She graduated from Victoria University of Wellington in 2015 with a Bachelor of Arts and from the London School of Journalism in 2021 with a post-graduate diploma in journalism. Since starting as a journalist, she has primarily covered health and general news, writing about COVID-19, staff and resourcing issues in the public health system, and the battle Kiwis face for unfunded, life-saving drugs, treatments and health screening in New Zealand.

'Serial entrepreneur' Wayne Wright honoured for services to education, philanthropy
Wright co-founded BestStart - the country's largest early childhood education provider.

Health NZ approves company's bid to become its own primary health organisation
About 80,000 enrolled patients will move to the new Health NZ contract by July 1.

Watch: Small plane makes 'hard landing' at Tauranga Airport
One person suffered minor injuries as the plane's front landing gear collapsed.

'Persistent meh': Why a couple in their 30s, including a senior doctor, are leaving NZ
They are seeking a lifestyle where 'everything’s at your fingertips'.

'Putting lives at risk': The barriers facing Māori from getting immunised
Māori vaccination rates lag behind European children in Bay of Plenty and Lakes.

He thought his back pain was just him 'getting old'. Instead, he had cancer
Pāpāmoa father Blair Harrison now has a curve in his spine and is 5cm shorter.

'Fragmentation': 140,000-patient GP network to leave regional funders
'We think that is the best way to be able to rapidly increase funding for the front line.'

'A privilege to get old': Why a 79yo retiree volunteers for St John
'If I just sat at home in front of the TV, well, I wouldn’t see a soul.'

The Doctors Bayfair opens new 'purpose-built' medical practice
The new space allows staff to better support the needs of the 'rapidly growing' community.

'Pushing really hard': MP backs Pāpāmoa for new 24/7 urgent care clinic
The PM has announced Tauranga will gain a new 24/7 urgent healthcare service by 2026.

On The Up: The 'iconic' Mount Maunganui building getting 'a makeover'
'I would love something to go in here that is an asset to the town ... '

Concern 'patients will suffer' as practices with 46,000 enrolled switch funder
The centres say changing their primary health organisation will help avoid fee increases.

On The Up: How growing up 'on the stage' has led to an 'incredible' career
The model and artist is walking in New Zealand Fashion Week this year.

On The Up: 'Sleeping in garages': How a charity is helping children in need this winter
'There’s lots of families sharing one house to try and save money.'

On The Up: Two new 'destination' eateries to open in Historic Village
'I think that what we’re bringing is a young, fresh approach to a historic sort of site.'

'Further industrial action' may follow 24-hour doctors' strike
Health NZ is ‘committed’ to settling the collective agreement with the union.

Sexual health clinics cut as specialist retires, leaving one left
The specialist said 'delays in advertising' meant his colleague hadn't been replaced.

Doctors' strike: Appointments postponed, some clinics to close
More than 5000 senior doctors are striking, including 206 in Tauranga and 100 in Rotorua.

'Stretched' health system 'getting quietly worse' - striking anaesthetist
He says he works 'well in excess' of his contract and the hospital faces staff shortages.

'Huge step forward': New rural 'community base' for Pāpāmoa
Its mission is to 'serve the community' for recreational and educational purposes.

College 'acted unreasonably' in handling historical sexual abuse complaint - Ombudsman
Ex-Tauranga Boys' College student said his teacher asked him to perform bondage on him.

'Kiwi dream': Designer's unique holiday home hits the big screen
Fifteen years has been dedicated to the design and build of The Chodge in South Waikato.

'Golden opportunity': 56ha of 'prime farmland' rezoned, approved for development
More than 450 homes could be built on the land.

'Total disgrace': Mental health unit upgrade to begin - five years after funding allocated
Updgrade would 'significantly improve' environment for patients and staff, says Health NZ.

'The show must go on': Jazz fans embrace wet weather festival
'It’s a good excuse to be social and listen to some music,' one local says.

New mum takes first steps with walker after 2017 spinal injury
Casey Brady, 32, was told she would never walk again after a motocross accident in 2017.

‘I love my life’: How a mother found hope after her darkest days
Lynda Hills struggled with her mental health throughout her youth.

On The Up - 'Memory, culture, and nostalgia': MasterChef winners' 'immersive' food experience
'It’s nice to come home and bring this dinner which is really special to us.'

'An honour and a privilege': Local artists shine in prestigious portrait award
'I had a good feeling that it was going to get through and it did. So hard work paid off.'

On The Up: The business estate still in hot demand after 20 years
In the past year, $70m worth of building consents have been issued for the development.

‘We’re back’: Bay duos chase another bite at Pork Pie Charity Run
Fifty teams are driving their Minis down the country in the movie-inspired fundraiser.

How a ‘near death’ experience changed one woman’s path to hope and happiness
Hills is giving a free talk on hope beyond suicide on April 4 in Pāpāmoa.

How author Vanya Insull built an ‘empire’ from posting recipes online
She is going on a book tour to celebrate the release of her third cookbook.

‘Catastrophic impacts’: Possible Kaituna River dam project faces pushback
Concerns included the fast-tracking of the project and a 'perceived lack of consultation'.

‘A new frontier’: How supercritical geothermal could change NZ energy
About $12m to $15m has already been spent on investigative work.

'The only one that’s ever worked': Pill funding welcomed by endometriosis patient
'This will really help, especially young women who are learning to manage the disease.'

Revealed: Hundreds of children escaped from early childhood centres in NZ in five years
Four children were found 'running around on the road'; another was found near a highway.

Doctor shortage: How long could it take to recruit for Whakatāne’s maternity ward?
Plus, how many overseas doctors are being considered for the positions.

'Didn’t get what we wanted': Pathlab workers strike for second time in two months
Members didn't like striking 'but it's ... our only means to enact any sort of change'.

'It’s a perfect area': 89 new homes to be built in Tauranga
Construction will begin on the two-storey development at the end of 2025.

The ‘amazing’ highs and ‘huge toll’ of 38 years in real estate
'I remember going home and saying to the kids ... ‘We’re going to Disneyland'.'

‘We’ve had no one apply’: Teacher shortage hits region
The Bay could be short of 180 primary school teachers in 2025, according to projections.

‘Creating capacity’: New private surgical facility anchors $80m development
Pioneering surgeon-led facility will create 100 jobs and is part of a $80m development.

‘Undervalued’ social workers strike: ‘Who’s going to look after the kids?’
Seven week-strike planned after union says Oranga Tamariki offered members 0% pay rise.

‘A full and very positive life’: Funding to begin for life-extending cancer drugs
Rhys Drayson passed his given life expectancy after taking the drugs in a clinical trial.

'Attacked' with rocks: Man spends $5k on lights, cameras after council 'inaction'
The damage has been so severe that the resident received a $28K insurance payout.

‘Hell of a fight’: Retiree battles ACC after delayed terminal cancer diagnosis
He was turned down, then offered $19,732, which he said was an 'insult'.

A ‘war cry’ for sexual assault survivors: One-woman play comes to Bay
High school and tertiary students are being offered free tickets.

'Deeply disappointing': Proposed job cuts will worsen access to palliative care - doctor
Public money would be spent on hospital admissions for people with 'nowhere else to go'.

Mum's drug funding hope for 3yo son with cystic fibrosis
'The earlier children receive Trikafta, the better their long-term health outcomes.'

'Critical decisions need to be made quickly': Iwi concerned about maternity service change
Bay of Plenty iwi met with Health NZ to discuss 'urgent challenges' for Māori.

Second BoP daycare has child escape, found by member of public
The incident sparked a risk assessment and supervision review.

Why fast-growing schools are having to say 'No' to new students
'The ministry won’t give you more buildings if you have too many out-of-zone enrolments.'

'I was in shock': Grandad finds four preschoolers on road after escaping from daycare
'I would be asking a lot of questions ... cars don’t go slow around there.'

'I heard all my bones break': Runner loses leg in farming accident
The 'shattered' bones in his leg were 'like Weet-Bix', he said.

'Not sustainable': Tauranga worker would earn extra $30k for same job in Hamilton
'We do the same job as the Te Whatu Ora labs, but we’re paid significantly less.'

'This is going to kill someone': Midwife's fear after maternity service 'downgrading'
Higher-risk births were sent to a hospital more than an hour away after specialists quit.

‘Started from nothing’: From cleaning flats to running a holiday home business
The 'boutique' business manages holiday homes in Mount Maunganui and Pāpāmoa.

'Deeply distressing': Daycare apologises after four children escape
They left through a gate that 'unexpectedly malfunctioned' and were quickly returned.

How surfer Ollie Dobbin bought three Ōhope businesses before the age of 24
His first business was a surf school which he bought when he was still in high school.

New year, new job? Farmer switched to stacking shelves - and aims to own a supermarket
He started again at the bottom, and is working his way up.

Body found, believed to be missing Tauranga man
Jarrad Ormsby was last seen in Hamilton on December 19.

ADHD: The regions where assessments are 'a lot faster' than in other places
A support organisation says it's important to diagnose and treat ADHD 'before it spirals'.

'So grateful': Student receives scholarships to go to India and Japan
'I never ever thought I would get anything like this before.'

'Super dangerous': Former MP witnesses truck overtaking in wrong lane
'I would've thought the driver’s best option was to have braked.'

'I want to know he’s okay': Sister of man missing three weeks speaks out
His sister said the last contact was Jarrad calling their father on December 18.

Watch: Truck’s 'shocking' overtaking on Kaimāī Range prompts investigations
'Pretty bloody scary,' said one comment.

'Rollercoaster year': Entrepreneurs share their highs and lows
New products and international expansion are on the cards for the two businesses.

Health NZ redundancies: More than $251k paid out in Bay of Plenty, Lakes
'We’ve lost people ... all vital to making sure a hospital functions accordingly.'

Abuse survivors' group backs man’s move to reject King’s Service Medal
Fears survivors of abuse in faith-based institutions will be 'ghosted' in redress system.

The four summer activities that racked up $16.5m in ACC payouts in one region
'You don’t want to spend your summer holiday in A and E.'

Fights, fireworks, family fun and almost 4500 breath tests: Tauranga rings in 2025
Police were 'pleased' overall but not everyone in the city was on their best behaviour.

New Year Honours: Bay of Plenty, Coromandel, Taupō recipients named
Plus - we ask why one city, unusually, has no honourees on this year's list.

'Volunteering certainly helps': How widower copes after losing wife of 44 years
'There’s a whole lot of people out there who you can help and talk to.'

'A sanctuary for so many children': Dancing school closes after decades of teaching
'The contribution they’ve made to ballet in this country ... has been immense.'

'Blessing in disguise': How failing an eye test saved a man from vision loss
He says there 'isn’t enough knowledge' about the disease. A surgeon hopes to change that.

'Devastated': Seven staff laid off as 'busiest cafe in Tauranga' closes
'It was one of the hardest decisions we’ve ever had to do in our lives.'

'My heart just broke': Witness' grief comes 'flooding back' after swimming hole tragedy
'You just feel so wholeheartedly for these people that are going through this tragedy ...'