Raphael Franks is a Multimedia Journalist for the New Zealand Herald, focusing on breaking news, crime, transport and human interest stories.
Raphael hails from Christchurch but made Auckland his home in 2022. While attending Christchurch Boys’ High School from 2014 to 2018, he worked in Coca-Cola Amatil’s bottling plant; and while studying geography at the University of Canterbury, he worked in retail. Marking a total reversal in career ambitions, Raphael was offered the opportunity to join the Te Rito Journalism Cadetship programme in 2022, funded through the Public Interest Journalism Fund. Through this, he got experience working in some of the country’s largest newsrooms and some of the country’s smallest. He began working for the Herald in the same year. During this time, Raphael has covered the Auckland Anniversary Floods, Cyclone Gabrielle, two different shootings on Queen St and another on Ponsonby Rd, the closure of Newshub, the slimming down of TVNZ, and other major news events of the day. You can contact Mr Franks on 027 436 5668 or at raphael.franks@nzme.co.nz.
Customs seizes 130kg of cocaine from shipping container at Port of Tauranga
The Class A drug was worth up to $50.44 million.
'Harder on the younger generation': Will Budget changes push Kiwis overseas?
The public share their thoughts on changes to Best Start, KiwiSaver and student loans.
‘Go on little boy, your mum will be waiting’: Family’s tribute to 4yo killed in dog attack
A small community is shocked by the death and praying for the surviving child.
'Tragically taken': Tributes flow for 'beautiful man' killed on hunting trip
Stuart Stobie was 'tragically taken in a hunting accident'.
‘Dangerous and reckless’: Police escort mining company truck away from protesters
The protesters dismissed mining company OceanaGold's description, saying it was 'low-key'.
‘Extreme care’: Thunderstorms, downpours bear down on Nth Island, wind warnings for harbour bridge
Civil Defence has warned people to keep watch on the incoming storm due from 3pm today.
19hr deluge: Thunderstorms, gales prompt warnings
Civil Defence has warned people to keep watch on the incoming storm due from 3pm today.
'Chew through your brain': Boy's agonising ordeal after insect crawls into ear
Mother shares advice for others after schoolboy terrified by incident.
Grief-stricken motorcycle community planning final ride for victim of crash that killed three people
Motorcyclist mates determined to give beloved rider the send-off she would have wanted.
'Watching pornos a reason to go to jail': Barbs fly between senior Māori MPs over haka row
Rawiri Waititi defends party's MP after she copped criticism from Shane Jones.
'I was begging them': Man with broken neck went home fed up after ED wait
"They just didn't take my concerns seriously," Urlich reflects on his ordeal.
'Bad start for holidays': Days of rain from midweek, MetService issues first warnings
Month's worth of rain to drench Bay of Plenty; snow forecast for south.
Auckland scientist’s death on Mt Ruapehu a ‘freak accident’ climbing with friends
Wednesday Davis died on Saturday after falling while climbing Mt Ruapehu.
Snow for Desert Rd, Interislander ferries cancelled as polar blast hits country
Rain forecast for most main centres. Auckland to hit 15C high, fall to 9C low overnight.
Te Pāti Māori wants Māori Parliament, issues declaration of independence
Police say the thousands of protesters were 'well behaved'.
'Lower than low': Coastguard building, digger fire: Man arrested, charged with arson
Police arrested a 37-year-old after report of a break-in last night.
'Like seeing a UFO': Boaties wowed by close encounter with whale shark
Seven boaties were coming back from the Alderman Islands when they came across the beast.
Coroner names Christopher Taukiri as man shot by police near Matamata
Taukiri allegedly pulled a gun on police and another person. His funeral was on Tuesday.
Missing boat of man who fell overboard, spent day floating in ocean, found 170km away
Will Fransen, 61, fell off the boat and spent 24 hours floating alone on January 2.
Scorcher! Temperatures of up to 31C expected as people return to work
In Auckland, MetService has forecast highs of 26C through to Friday and 18C lows.
Top boys' college distances itself from teacher after Covid-19 ‘whistleblower’ email to Herald
The teacher characterised a man accused of leaking Covid vax data as a 'whistleblower'.
Woman guilty of murdering father by arson found dead in her cell
Martin murdered her father Ronald Russell Allison in 2013.
Morocco earthquake: Kiwis in Marrakech describe panic amid deadly 6.8 shake
Bay of Plenty man Rob Young said people ducked for cover, ran out to the street.
Who is the fairest Kiwi town of them all? Finalists for competition announced
Keep New Zealand Beautiful has shortlisted two towns for each category for its comp.
New payment for people displaced by floods, Cyclone Gabrielle
The interim, weekly payment will be available from September 4 through MSD.
Sports games cancelled in Auckland as polar blast, thunderstorms kick off school holidays
Snow will be welcomed by skiers, including those going to Tūroa and Whakapapa on Ruapehu.
Roads flooded in Tologa Bay, warning upgraded: Weather watches extended across NI
Heavy rain watches issued for Northland, Auckland, Coromandel, Bay of Plenty.
Severe weather warning: Heavy rain, tornadoes possible for North Island
A streak of bluebird days comes to an end - a slightly warmer and wetter weekend ahead.
Fire and Emergency preparing for 'significant' weather event
MetService issued warnings Northland to Fiordland, watches for Bay of Plenty & Tasman.
Live: Slip closes SH2 at Karangahake Gorge, SH25 Coromandel, more rain coming
Slips have closed highways and roofs have been ripped off as the downpours begin.
Easter holiday weather: Heavy rain to hit upper North
MetService has forecasted gales and downpours for Northland, northern parts of Auckland.
Teachers strike: Secondary schools close as teachers picket
This latest strike is the second in as many weeks, with rolling strikes planned from May.
Sharks on tour: Great white conservation research reveals ‘incredible’ journey
The 2.75m great white Daisy has shown up again after going missing for a month.
Secondary and primary school teachers to strike next Thursday nationwide
Several schools already announced they would be closed come Thursday.