James Pocock is a Multimedia Journalist for the Hawke's Bay Today.
In school, I was one of the lucky ones who never had any trouble figuring out what I wanted to do when I grew up. I always knew I wanted to be a journalist. I went straight from high school to Massey University and graduated with a Bachelor of Communications majoring in Media Studies and Journalism in 2020. I completed my Postgraduate Diploma in Journalism in 2021 and returned to my home region to write for Hawke's Bay Today, where I have remained since. I have a passion for writing and hearing people's stories, from highlighting local success to battles with bureaucracy, authority, disaster and tragedy. We have seen it all in Hawke's Bay and there are always more stories to tell. I also aim to shine a light on the lesser-known issues in the shadow of the big topics. Based in Napier, I write breaking news and features, with a focus on the environment, local government and post-cyclone issues in the region. You can contact me at james.pocock@nzme.co.nz.
'It hurts the people who are already grieving': Thousands worth of rebuild material stolen from Hawke's Bay school and pre-school
Nuhaka School and a pre-school on-site have suffered a series of break-ins and thefts.
EuroCity car dealership in voluntary liquidation, owner promises staff will be taken care of
Owner Terry Elmsly says existing staff will be looked after as part of the sale agreement.
'Best practice': Hastings mayor stands by noise restrictions after closure of bar's outdoor stage
The 50-decibel limit has been called into question, but similar policies exist around NZ.
'It is no more': Outdoor music venue mothballed after noise complaint from new hotel
The hotel doesn't want the stage to be shut but the bar owner says he now has no choice.
Loss of Hawke's Bay Tourism funding would be a 'disaster': Black Barn co-owner Kim Thorp
Kim Thorp says the region struggled to promote itself before Hawke's Bay Tourism.
Rural school bus cuts: Residents fear the end of Te Pohue School
Residents of Te Pōhue want more time to present alternatives to the Ministry of Education.
Robber flees with nothing after BB gun breaks during assault on Hastings dairy owner
The mask wearer fled after his BB gun broke while hitting the dairy owner.
'I kind of just fell into it': How a solo mum in Havelock North became a record holding powerlifter
Lesley Hames wants to break another powerlifting record in her category.
Wairoa flood investigation: Slipping more significant risk than slash, poplar tree risk
Forwarning of flooding should be predictable now, but time for action will remain short.
Like a pub but without booze: Barbershop offers men a safe space
Brad Warren's Boxed Out Barbershop has built an atmosphere full of chatting and laughter.
Bystanders keep the magic alive after 'trolls' wreck Park Island fairy garden
The actions of bystanders have kept the magic alive at Park Island's fairy garden.
Loss of regional council funding would ‘set Te Mata Park back by a decade’
Would you pay 65 cents more in rates per year on average to keep Te Mata Park funding?
Two arrests so far, gang leaders to meet, YMP wants points for match after Hastings rugby van shooting
'Their people were lucky to come out of that alive and unhurt'.
Playground and commercial centre planned on Bull Hill for new Havelock North subdivision
Huge Havelock North development won't touch the bull.
Council proposes 19.6 per cent rate increase, as well as cuts to parks, tourism and sustainable homes
Rates will increase 54 per cent over three years - without cuts it would be 69.1 per cent.
Rugby union shifts club's home games after team van shooting
Games will be moved to Tremain Field in Napier for the 'foreseeable future'.
'Same behaviour': Photos show holes in sports team's van in earlier Hawke's Bay incident
'How someone didn’t get killed I just don’t know.'
Climate vs fluoridation: A tale of two protests in the same city at the same time
It was set to be a fascinating case study. But illness meant it wasn't a fair fight.
Napier rates climb 100pc in hill suburbs after flooding pushes buyers to higher ground
A couple nearing retirement might have to sell the home they've worked their lives for.
Bus fares to drop for youth after outcry at school trips costing six times as much
'I’m pleased, it is a good thing they are listening.'
'Lots of crying': Family reunited with cat missing after cyclone one year on
Phoebe lived in a colony of stray cats for a year after she bolted during the cyclone.
'Big bill coming his way': Cattle killed after hit by truck
Loose cattle near Eskdale cause chaos.
From $380 a year to $2200: Parents stung by hike in bus fares
'Every dollar a patron doesn’t pay getting on the bus falls on ratepayers or taxpayers.'
‘Unwise’: Council raises quarry lease concerns as petition gains 1200 signatures
Quarry expansion could hit land lease stumbling block.
Inside the Hawke’s Bay company pushing to make EV charging easier
Two more EV charging stations are coming to the region this year - will they be enough?
Cyclone hero cook alleges she was 'bullied' over benefit entitlements
Woman who gave away tens of thousands of meals says she was escorted out of MSD offices.
Napier woman wins $47k car, plans to replace her 20-year-old Toyota
'I still really can’t believe it at the moment. It hasn’t really sunk in properly.'
Keeping the lights on after Gabrielle: Inside the Waikaremoana Power Scheme
For weeks after Cyclone Gabrielle, Hawke's Bay's power nearly all came from one place.
Four hurt in Napier crime spree: Dairy hold-up, machete attack, group brawl
Four were injured, three were taken to hospital, and a hold-up left a dairy worker shaken.
Life on Rotten Row, an idyllic lakeside street with a painful history
Some are fine with the name Rotten Row, but others see it as a stamp of colonialism.
'Massive recession’ likely for Hawke’s Bay, mayor says
Economists and CEOs see light at the end of the tunnel. What about on the streets?
Māori King, politicians expected to descend on Ngāti Kahungunu hui
The hui at Omāhu Marae follows several that drew thousands across the motu.
'A real privilege': Stuart Nash to transform historic Napier Courthouse into family home
His father and grandfather both worked in it - now Stuart Nash's family will live in it.
PM makes Horse of the Year visit, stops by Napier social supermarket and tech company
Luxon's HB visit: From tech, to a social supermarket, before a Horse of the Year stop.
Watch: Boat on fire at Napier marina
A burning boat sent fire into the skies over Ahuriri, Napier.
Delays to two huge Hawke's Bay solar farm projects, but developers say bright future ahead
A solar farm in Central Hawke's Bay and one near Hawke's Bay Airport both face delays.
Hastings principal to David Seymour: There is such a thing as a beneficial free lunch
Hawke's Bay researcher says missing one meal a week can set student learning back years.
Charlie Chaplin impersonator to return to Napier’s Art Deco Festival
He has a request for a new generation - please don’t mistake him for Hitler.
One person dead after motorcycle crashes into parked truck
Taradale Rd has reopened after it was blocked by a separate crash.
'Welfare decision': Euthanising Mahia's stranded dolphins was a hard but necessary choice
"They weren’t going to make it, or if they did it would be in a terrible condition."
Flipped give-way sign, faded markings: Did a lack of road maintenance kill a tourist?
The intersection hosted a boy racer meet in the months before Helen Poon drove through.
Students 'fraudulently' using Havelock North Intermediate logo to bully others online
Account-holders on TikTok and Instagram are using a school logo and bullying students.
'Waves were smashing me': Wife and mother of drowning victims wants better beach warnings
One year ago Donna Cruickshank lost a son and husband to the sea.
Clarke Gayford spotted in popular bar day after wedding
The groom was spotted taking in the sights and sounds at popular Hastings bar Common Room.
Power restored after cut hit Napier CBD as thousands of cruise passengers arrived
The power outage lasted for more than an hour at a 'peak' time for shops and eateries.
Tourist, 34, killed in Hawke's Bay crash was a political trailblazer
Helen Poon, described in tributes as an 'iconic' personality, was in NZ to visit friends.
'Every time it rains the kids are panicking': The plight of Havelock North's worst-flooded homes
A report recommends further flood resilience work - but for now residents sit in limbo.
Hawke's Bay's most popular baby names for 2023 revealed
Kate Phillips used a phone app to pick her baby's name - it turns out it's pretty popular.
Napier breaks annual rainfall record that had stood for 144 years
The smallest of late December downpours was enough for Napier to inch over the line.
Sunflowers from the silt: Community garden teaches Hawke’s Bay sustainable practices
The McCarthy family knew what to put on cyclone-devastated land - a community garden.
What happened in Rowen Aupouri's final days before his unexplained death?
Rowen Aupouri's whānau still don't know if his death was accidental or intentional.
Months on, what is happening with investigations into Hawke's Bay's unexplained deaths?
Police are still investigating three unexplained deaths in Hawke's Bay during 2023.
Questions around commercial viability could jeopardise future of Napier-Wairoa rail line
The line was damaged in Cyclone Gabrielle, so is it worth rebuilding?
Hawke’s Bay cruise ship season: No Stats NZ data for biggest ever
There is no Stats NZ cruise ship data, but local businesses say their own numbers speak.
Water restrictions in a near record-wet year: 'We need to rethink our approach'
Napier, Hastings and Waimārama are now under water restrictions - is this the future?
The couple who had a river re-route itself over their land
As the floodwater receded, Annie Phillips realised the river was now flowing 20m closer.
'Nah, we're just three Māori boys': The story behind NZ's quote of the year
As they rescued people from floodwaters, this trio uttered a now-famous phrase.
'We were literally in mid-air': Rescued man's stormy sea ordeal on 30-tonne boat
The seafarer says 'boiling' water conditions were like nothing he had ever seen.
Bystanders restrained woman before police arrival after Shani's Restaurant stabbing
Bystanders restrained the woman before police arrived.
Abandoned boat washes ashore after two rescued during rough swells
Three people on a 40ft boat got into trouble when rough conditions injured two.
'Biggest battle of my life': Woman's organs pulled out in bid to slow cancer in rare treatment
Grace Patel 'almost died twice' after surgery. Now she's got a shot at life.
'It didn’t come from the river': Town's flooding to be subject of independent investigation
"Some said the water came from the river but it didn’t, it came from behind us."
Prime Minister derails hopes for Napier-Wairoa link
The PM said the Government 'shouldn't be progressing' the 'poorly utilised' rail link.
'We want to be the best': The professional racecar driver who bought a Napier supermarket
Ant Pedersen hasn't lost his competitive drive, even when he's not behind the wheel.
Watch: ‘Woah, what the hell just happened?’ Driver still keen on derby after miraculous escape
Dylan Brun lucky to walk away after a 'scary' speedway collision.
'They're wrecked': Retiree's Christmas display hit by vandals
"I do it every year for the community and this is the first time I’ve had any trouble.”
Ruataniwha dam saga: Does a change of government offer another glimmer of hope?
One of the region's new electorate MPs could be key to the revival of dam concept.
Up close with giants: What it's like to stand beside Hawke's Bay's 'most expensive project'
Amid eye-watering winds, 1100m above sea level, stands a remarkable engineering project.
Fighting for a paradise: The couple with the last home in cyclone 'limbo land'
'We fought because we love it. It’s a beautiful spot.'
‘They even took the fly spray’: Youth initiative undeterred after theft of equipment
Project Patu’s new building was stripped of nearly everything.
Landlord who ran unlawful property slams tenant who filmed leaks
Water drips onto sockets, seeps through floor. Scott Healey decides enough's enough.
Frustrations over lack of Marewa pedestrian crossing lead to protest
Advocates say Napier's council has waited too long to improve safety for pedestrians.
'The language is in a much stronger position': Jeremy Tātere Macleod wants new direction for Māori language revitalisation
After 13 years, the director of Te Reo, Tikanga and Mātauranga is moving on.
Hawke’s Bay rugby manager fined by council noise control after party
House owner that hosted Ranfurly Shield party not 'getting the message', neighbour says.
'Huge chunks of track coming our way': Clay projectiles injure speedway spectators
'Instead of watching the race all I was watching was turn one.'
Splash Planet advertisement casting call asked for ‘athletic-looking’ models
The 'distasteful' casting call for a new TV theme park ad was revised due to backlash.
Inside the newly repaired Splash Planet, where everything is on the up, even the prices
Adult entry is now $40 at the gate, and a swim for seniors has gone from $7 to $32.
East Coast young farmers donate $5000 won from helping communities
Young farmers on the East Coast won $5000 to donate for helping their communities.