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Kurt Bayer
South Island Head of News
Christchurch

Kurt Bayer is NZ Herald's South Island Head of News based in Christchurch, covering the South Island and stories of national interest.

Kurt Bayer is South Island Head of News for the NZ Herald based in Christchurch, covering the South Island and stories of national interest. He has been with the Herald since 2011. Prior to being at the Herald, Kurt spent a decade working with a national news agency providing coverage for regional, national and international publications including The Daily Mail, Mail on Sunday, Daily Express, Sun, The Times, Sunday Times, Daily Telegraph, Guardian, and Scotsman. Since 2011 post the Christchurch earthquake, Canterbury has provided a busy beat, with more quakes, royal commissions of inquiry, long-running insurance wrangles, plus the ongoing fallout from the Pike River mine disaster, the March 15 terror attacks, and high-profile murder cases like the ‘Black Widow’ Helen Milner, the Ashburton WINZ slayings, and dozens of others. While often reporting on live and breaking stories, Kurt also has an interest in covering military history, leading the Herald’s WWI centenary coverage and ghost-writing the Sunday Times number one bestseller, The Forgotten Highlander, as well as antiquaries, cricket, and quirky human interest stories. In 2021, he was named Voyager Media Awards Crime & Justice Reporter of the Year while also winning Regional Journalist of the Year. In 2017, he went to write about the South Island Gumboot Throwing Championships and came away with the longest throw of the day and an invitation to compete at the national championships, finishing fourth – behind Dame Valerie Adams. You can contact Kurt Bayer at kurt.bayer@nzherald.co.nz.

Check out Kurt’s latest content
The violent path to a Mongrel Mob boss' death
Rotorua Daily Post

The violent path to a Mongrel Mob boss' death

15 Jul 02:09 AM
Live: Auckland, Northland, Coromandel brace for month's rain in two days
Rotorua Daily Post

Live: Auckland, Northland, Coromandel brace for month's rain in two days

29 Apr 10:21 PM

Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown says he has a close eye on sub-tropical storm.

Fears 'extremely dangerous' gunman fled South Island on domestic flight
Rotorua Daily Post

Fears 'extremely dangerous' gunman fled South Island on domestic flight

07 Sep 09:34 PM

Police confirm shooting suspect is in Hawke's Bay area but is "extremely transient".

Wanted: Global manhunt for NZ gangster on the run
Rotorua Daily Post

Wanted: Global manhunt for NZ gangster on the run

27 Mar 09:30 PM

Image of fugitive Shane Ngakuru published for the first time.

Premium
'I'll never forget you': Hero saves drowning family
Rotorua Daily Post

'I'll never forget you': Hero saves drowning family

04 Feb 04:00 PM

A man who had been watching some swimmers heroically saves four from drowning in a rip.

US lawsuits claim White Island tourists unaware of danger; graphic new details
Rotorua Daily Post

US lawsuits claim White Island tourists unaware of danger; graphic new details

07 Jan 04:00 PM

The 2019 eruption claimed 22 lives.

NZ's shocking summer continues: Child dies after incident at waterfall beauty spot
Rotorua Daily Post

NZ's shocking summer continues: Child dies after incident at waterfall beauty spot

05 Jan 07:11 AM

As of this evening, there have been 28 water-related deaths across NZ.

Live: Positive Covid case in Blenheim the 'kick up the backside' the South Island needed
Rotorua Daily Post

Live: Positive Covid case in Blenheim the 'kick up the backside' the South Island needed

22 Oct 11:20 PM

Infected person isolating and believed to be connected to Te Awamutu cluster.

Operation Trojan Shield: Why did cops spill on fake phone app?
Rotorua Daily Post

Operation Trojan Shield: Why did cops spill on fake phone app?

09 Jun 12:00 AM

The 'sting of the century' has resulted in 800 arrests worldwide, including across NZ.

'Meet a Muslim': National roadshow ahead of mosque attacks anniversary
Rotorua Daily Post

'Meet a Muslim': National roadshow ahead of mosque attacks anniversary

07 Mar 11:03 PM

'Ignorance leads to misunderstandings,' says imam touring NZ.

Destiny Church: Concerns over 'Apostle' Tamaki's latest venture
Rotorua Daily Post

Destiny Church: Concerns over 'Apostle' Tamaki's latest venture

04 Feb 04:00 PM

'Apostle' Brian Tamaki has also written a new book.

Premium
Underarm 40 years on: 'What a stupid way to finish a great game'
Rotorua Daily Post

Underarm 40 years on: 'What a stupid way to finish a great game'

30 Jan 04:00 PM

Kiwi batsman reveals his on-field view of infamous sporting moment.

Never again: How will NZ prevent future terror attacks?
Rotorua Daily Post

Never again: How will NZ prevent future terror attacks?

07 Dec 04:00 PM

Royal commission report into Christchurch mosque shootings released this afternoon.

Wicked, cruel, pitiless mass murderer jailed indefinitely
Rotorua Daily Post

Wicked, cruel, pitiless mass murderer jailed indefinitely

27 Aug 05:00 PM

The man behind the Christchurch terror attack will never be released from prison.

Cruel, depraved 'monster': Mosque gunman will never be released from jail
Rotorua Daily Post

Cruel, depraved 'monster': Mosque gunman will never be released from jail

27 Aug 03:05 AM

Christchurch mosque gunman Brenton Tarrant will never be released from jail.

Mosque attacks sentencing: 'This is a day for justice that we have long been waiting for'
Rotorua Daily Post

Mosque attacks sentencing: 'This is a day for justice that we have long been waiting for'

23 Aug 05:00 PM

The sentencing of the convicted mass killer begins in Christchurch today.

Mum's grief, frustration: Slain officer's relatives quarantined in Rotorua
Rotorua Daily Post

Mum's grief, frustration: Slain officer's relatives quarantined in Rotorua

21 Jun 08:30 PM

Matthew Hunt's overseas relatives confront quarantine and top cops publicly break down.

Police shooting: Frustration as slain officer's family quarantined out of town
Rotorua Daily Post

Police shooting: Frustration as slain officer's family quarantined out of town

21 Jun 06:00 PM

Constable Matthew Hunt's funeral likely to be delayed because of Covid quarantine rules.

Coronavirus: NZ officials probe possible community cases
Rotorua Daily Post

Coronavirus: NZ officials probe possible community cases

21 Mar 06:51 PM

Elderly told to stay at home, pubs and clubs to stay open - with restrictions.

Gasps in court as accused gunman pleads not guilty
Rotorua Daily Post

Gasps in court as accused gunman pleads not guilty

13 Jun 10:02 PM

Survivors and family members reacted with gasps when the not guilty pleas were entered.

Fine holiday weather for most this week
Rotorua Daily Post

Fine holiday weather for most this week

01 Jan 01:29 AM

Thunderstorm warning for inland North Island, but otherwise mostly fine.

Wife dies of 'broken heart' three days after husband
Rotorua Daily Post

Wife dies of 'broken heart' three days after husband

29 Dec 04:00 PM

Taupo couple Denzil Lovell, 84, and Hazel Lovell, 78, died 3 days apart.

Meth plague at record levels, P-related arrests nearly doubling
Rotorua Daily Post

Meth plague at record levels, P-related arrests nearly doubling

08 Jul 05:00 PM

Meth is spreading across NZ at record rates.

Gang member jailed for Mongrel Mob funeral ambush
Rotorua Daily Post

Gang member jailed for Mongrel Mob funeral ambush

23 Jun 02:31 AM

Gang member Tuterangi Moeke jailed for ambushing Mongrel Mob funeral.

$3.1 billion: House sellers still cashing in
Property

$3.1 billion: House sellers still cashing in

04 Jun 08:24 PM

House sellers across NZ are still cashing in despite some markets cooling off.

NZDF gets extra $360m
Rotorua Daily Post

NZDF gets extra $360m

17 May 02:44 AM

Defence Minister: "Funding will help the Defence Force meet increasing demand."

Canterbury's rebuild gets $300m boost
Rotorua Daily Post

Canterbury's rebuild gets $300m boost

17 May 01:59 AM

Cash boost could fast-track new stadium and residential red zone development.

Poppy Appeal to help NZ's veterans
Rotorua Daily Post

Poppy Appeal to help NZ's veterans

05 Apr 04:44 AM

Ambassadors help launch RSA's annual Poppy Appeal

'Boy' star seriously injured in car crash
Rotorua Daily Post

'Boy' star seriously injured in car crash

27 Jul 08:28 AM

Messages of support for James Rolleston after vehicle he was travelling in hit a bridge.

High-rolling fraudster now out of jail
Business

High-rolling fraudster now out of jail

14 Apr 01:44 AM
How rapist's crimes tore a family apart
Rotorua Daily Post

How rapist's crimes tore a family apart

12 Apr 10:29 PM

The father of one of child rapist Robert Selwyn Burrett's young victims says the sentence is too lenient, given the damage Burrett has done to his daughter.

Ministry investigation after rapist jailed
Rotorua Daily Post

Ministry investigation after rapist jailed

11 Apr 10:29 PM

Shocking case of child rapist Robert Burrett prompts a Ministry of Education investigation. WARNING: Some readers may find content distressing.

Calls to save UK Maori meeting house
Rotorua Daily Post

Calls to save UK Maori meeting house

15 Mar 10:15 PM

Custodians of the only Maori meeting house in Britain are calling for a $500,000 refurbishment to save it from falling further into disrepair.

Riot: 'A lot of fire & smoke'
Rotorua Daily Post

Riot: 'A lot of fire & smoke'

01 Jan 02:33 AM

Beer cans were 'flying everywhere' and police say it was pure luck nobody was killed in the massive New Year's Eve riot in Gisborne which ended in 63 arrests.

Alleged drug mule arrested in Taupo
Rotorua Daily Post

Alleged drug mule arrested in Taupo

29 Oct 12:20 AM
How online Casanova worked his victims
Rotorua Daily Post

How online Casanova worked his victims

01 Jul 11:56 PM

He wined and dined her, even asked her to marry him. Then one day she woke up and he was gone - with all her belongings. One woman's wary tale of love.

Online fraud hurt victims 'very badly'
Rotorua Daily Post

Online fraud hurt victims 'very badly'

01 Jul 04:37 AM

An online Casanova who preyed on vulnerable and lonely women he met on internet dating sites before ripping them off has today been jailed for two years and four months.

Fatal fall: Victim was 'ultimate thrill-seeker'
Rotorua Daily Post

Fatal fall: Victim was 'ultimate thrill-seeker'

03 Sep 04:19 AM
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