Tara Shaskey is an assistant editor and reporter for the Open Justice team, based in Taranaki.
Tara Shaskey began her journalism career in 2014 as a motoring reporter for Stuff before taking on other rounds such as crime and justice, arts and entertainment, and Māori issues. In 2022, she joined NZME as part of the Open Justice project, a specialist team of multimedia journalists who cover a wide range of courts, tribunals, and legal issues across New Zealand. You can contact Tara at tara.shaskey@nzme.co.nz.
Ex-student catches teacher trying to send sexually explicit images and videos to teens
The teacher reported himself to police after being spoken to by a school colleague.
Mental health issues raised as man appears in court charged with murdering his relative
A 60-year-old man died in an alleged family-harm incident in Pātea at the weekend.
Rugby mates covertly film threesome with woman, then shared it on Snapchat
One of the men plays representative rugby and argued a conviction may impact his career.
'You or your mum:' Boy woke next to grave dug by dad, told to choose who was going in
More than a decade of man's 'monstrous' violence against partner and son comes to an end.
Ex international sports star charged with posting 'nude images' of woman online
The alleged offending occurred on four separate occasions over two weeks.
Lawless rampage: What car-jacking fugitive did after dumping baby on roadside
Michael Smith stole a car that had a baby asleep in the backseat. Then he went on the lam.
Violent history revealed of man guilty of burning his 'soulmate' to death
Leigh Beer has been found guilty of murdering Emma Field. Now his history can be revealed.
Taranaki man found guilty of murdering 'soulmate' after setting her mattress alight
Emma Field was alive but likely unconscious when the blaze took hold.
Car-jacker who left baby on roadside admits motor theft, disputes abduction
There was a baby inside the stolen vehicle who was then abandoned on a berm.
'Highly culpable': Farmer milked cow even after 'part of her udder dropped off'
Some of Ray Nairn's ill-treated cows needed to be euthanised.
'Surreal, raw and tender': Murder-accused in court after death at accommodation complex
Whatitiri Whakaruru, 26, died last month after being fatally stabbed in South Taranaki.
Woman charged in relation to stolen car with baby inside appears in court
The baby was left on the roadside by the alleged thieves.
Cheating suspicions fuel frenzied scissors attack on sleeping partner
She later phoned him from prison to coax him into telling police he lied about the attack.
Gang boss 'slighted' over stealing claim leads brutal bashing
The victim was on his couch when three gang members walked into his home and attacked him.
Black Power member illegally squatting on beachfront land for 11 years
Kevin Moore claims he is tangata whenua and refuses to move from the beachside land.
'Only a monster could have done that': Family of slain camper address teen killer
The teen was on a programme for at-risk youth when he fatally stabbed Adrian Humphreys.
Teen pleads innocence as life term handed down for murdering camper
The teen was on a programme for at-risk youth when he fatally stabbed Adrian Humphreys.
Officer justified in shooting at man in lengthy siege that shut down schools, highway
The armed man allegedly shot at police before the 14-hour stand-off.
'Unhinged' businessman raped wife next to sleeping children
It occurred amid the man's obsession with opposing the Government's Covid-19 mandates.
Jurors weep as teen found guilty of murdering camper for his car
The teen was on a programme for at-risk youth when he fatally stabbed Adrian Humphreys.
Tāngarākau campground murder: Forensic evidence alone proves teen killed camper, Crown claims
Adrian Humphreys was fatally stabbed while camping last year in remote Taranaki.
'I'm not going down for this': Teen protests his arrest for murder of a camper
Adrian Humphreys was fatally stabbed through his sleeping bag while camping.
'Don't tell no one': Teen’s alleged confession about camper's murder
A 17-year-old has been accused of murdering Adrian Humphreys at a remote campground.
'I felt sick': Youth worker finds body of camper allegedly murdered by teen
Adrian Humphreys was stabbed five times while staying at a remote Taranaki campground.
'It's a horror story': Teen allegedly murdered man while on camp for at-risk youth
He allegedly stabbed the camper five times while trying to steal his car keys.
'High-pitched scream' rang out after teen allegedly stabbed camper, 57, to death for car
Adrian Humphreys was fatally stabbed while camping at the remote site.
Killer driver's jail sentence quashed due to injuries she suffered in crash she caused
She was driving drunk when she caused a crash that killed a young woman.
'Poorly written': Woman forged will to net multimillion-dollar estate
But her efforts made a lawyer suspicious, so he called in an expert.
Farm worker death: Jurors weep as young mother acquitted of murder, guilty of manslaughter
Jacob Ramsay was beaten, chained to a car and towed along a tanker track.
'Extremely angry': Woman incited grisly tanker track attack, Crown suggests
Jacob Ramsay was beaten, chained to a car and towed along a tanker track.
Murder-accused sends 'love letter' to killer partner in prison, revealing 'no regrets'
Jacob Ramsay was beaten, chained to a car and towed along a tanker track.
'Nearby smiling': Young mum accused in murder of man who was beaten, chained and dragged
She allegedly smiled as the assault unfolded and stopped a person from intervening.
Mentally ill man beaten, stabbed by Black Power in McDonald's for wearing red
He had no association with any gangs and was simply ordering his daily combo.
Beer-guzzling burglar nabbed after leaving a bottle - and DNA - at the crime scene
He took the beer from a fridge mid-heist and left the empty on the steps.
Chef caused crash by towing cart he knew was too heavy
Out-of-control van crossed the centreline and collided with an oncoming vehicle.
Man found with record meth haul blames Bali bombings for drug offending
The dealer was found with 443g of meth and $350,000.
Doctor accused of peddling Covid misinformation
Dr Peter Canaday is before a tribunal on a charge of professional misconduct.
Man in court accused of shooting at police in lengthy armed stand-off
The 33-year-old was arrested after a lengthy impasse with police.
Notorious Black Power member nothing but a 'squatter' - lawyer
Kevin Moore claims he's tangata whenua. Historical documents say otherwise.
Once upon a time: Burglar rests in victim's bed, eats their Weetbix, wears their underwear
Reminiscent of the Goldilocks tale, the intruder helped himself to the victims' home.
'Give me the weed': Men shot at and cannabis fleeced in 'drug deal gone wrong'
The shooter was addicted to a cough syrup drink and living a 'gangster' lifestyle.
'She snapped': Woman stabbed man 14 times in spat over who will cook dinner
The man suffered a severed artery in the bloody attack.
800+ plants discovered: Cannabis operation brought down by property manager
The grower said the weed plants were for her personal use.
Arrested and jailed: Thief who fleeced $42k from Tegel social club account apprehended
The woman stole from her colleagues and then dodged her sentencing.
Man, 51, grooms teen in 'secret' relationship, promises marriage
It came to an end when the girl's mum learned of the relationship and confronted the man.
Woman fleeced more than $42k from social club account
The theft was discovered when a member wanted to withdraw $10k but only $4 was available.
'This is for you': Man posts photo of knife to Facebook before stabbing woman
He went to her house and delivered on his threats hours after their social media exchange.
Shopping mall child sex offender back in jail after 'blatant' supervision order breaches
Graham Bartlett was caught doing an indecent act on an infant at a shopping mall.
Motel resident claims drunk sex assaults on manager just ‘fun and games’
He ignored the woman's pleas for him to stop and continued to grope her.
Beaten, chained, dragged behind a car: Farmworker's horrific murder revealed
The body of Jacob Ramsay, a 33-year-old father, was dumped in a rubbish pit.
'Disturbing': Masked, armed teens execute violent robbery
Police have made a number of arrests following a violent robbery and two ramraids.
Rival gang clash: Man murdered by Mongrel Mob president
It was believed there wouldn't be any trouble between the rivals. Then one was dead.
'F*** the mob': Chaotic court scenes in the case of a Mongrel Mob murder
Rei Marshall, a father of two, was stabbed to death by the president of a gang.
Man, 28, requests naked photos of girl, 13, in exchange for keeping her 'secret'
'I want him to know he is a dick for doing that and can go to hell', the teen said.
'He lives his sentence every day': Man held hand of childhood friend as she died in crash that he caused
He had been performing doughnuts in a farm vehicle which tipped and crushed the woman.
'I'm not afraid of going to jail' - sexual predator to victim
The man had destroyed the lives of his victims, the Crown said.
'Angry and heartbroken': Dog mauls 4-year-old's face 15 hours after family fostered it
The trust responsible for bullmastiff cross knew it had aggressive tendencies.
Company to be sentenced following forestry death
The man, 45, had been felling at a privately-owned forest block when he died.
'Significant enterprise': Drugged woman unconscious in a taxi leads police to meth lab
Man was on bail for cooking P when police raided his home and found it happening again.
Wage subsidy fraud: Beneficiary poses as business owner, pockets $50k for drugs and gambling
Man squandered the money as fast as he falsely claimed it.
'Cut off': Woman who used stolen, forged prescriptions to get pills blames hospital
The doctor wouldn't give her a prescription so she helped herself to the forms.
Worker suffers brain injury after being hit by vehicle at site without traffic plan
The companies responsible have now been ordered to pay more than $320,000.
Senior lawyer sends junior counsel to 'high-stakes' sentencing
His actions, which delayed the meth-dealing case, have been referred to the Law Society.
Man who claims innocence wept as lengthy lag handed down for tyre iron attack
The victim lost four teeth and suffered a fractured skull.
'Not in a good place': Former All Black caught drink-driving, four times over the limit
Carl Hayman told police he was depressed, grieving and suffering early onset dementia.
New violence charge laid against man awaiting trial for murdering his partner
Leigh Beer, 31, has been accused of killing Emma Field on May 27.
Charge reduced and bail granted for one of the men accused of murdering a young father
The man has now admitted to being an accessory in the death of Rei Marshall.
Woman stabs ex 14 times, severs his artery during argument over who will cook dinner
The woman claims to have 'blacked out' during the bloody attack.
Woman attacked with tyre iron in carjacking by man who feigned flat tyre
She was parked on the side of the road when the offender pulled up, saying he needed help.
'Profoundly disturbing': Unwell offender to live rough after garden festival attendees take bail accommodation
The only other option was to put the man in jail for two weeks.
Drunk teen driving to McDonald's causes crash, hospitalises woman in her 80s
The victim has since met with the teen in an 'incredible' restorative justice process.
'Deeply disgusting': Woman spits blood in police officer's face
Most officers would prefer to be physically assaulted than spat at, a judge said.
Appeal fail: Teen who broke cop's jaw and caused brain injury to remain in jail
After the assault, the offender was congratulated by a mate for 'hitting a cop'.
'Living with a life sentence': Teen haunted by a violent rape
Unlike her rapist who received intensive supervision, Sarah says she got a life sentence.
'Horrific tragedy': Widow gives birth after husband's alleged murder
The newborn baby boy is the spitting image of his father, who he will never meet.
Man crushed partner between car and wall during heated argument
Instead of helping her after crushing her, the man kicked the woman and told her to go.
'The rich get credit': Prison time looms for arsonist who can't afford $150k reparation
The woman smacked her ex with a piece of timber and then burned down his house.
'You put so many damn holes in him': Grieving mum recounts son's 'execution-style death'
The woman's son was fatally shot by his neighbour following a confrontation.
Farmer fined $95K for RMA breaches, including moving stream
It's not the first time the farmer has been in court for breaching the RMA.
Convicted baby killer back in court, risks another recall to prison
The man is on lifetime parole for murdering his seven-week-old daughter.