Maryana Garcia is a multimedia reporter based in Hamilton, covering Waikato stories of national interest.
Maryana Garcia is a live news reporter working with the Waikato Herald team. She studied a Bachelor of Arts with a major in History at the University of Auckland. Maryana also earned graduate diplomas in English literature from the University of Waikato and communications from Wintec. Maryana has been with NZME since 2021. She started as a regional reporter for the Rotorua Daily Post and Bay of Plenty Times writing about health and crime. During her time in the region, Maryana covered the Covid-19 pandemic, Cyclone Gabrielle and the local effects of the war in Ukraine, troop withdrawals from Afghanistan and protests in Iran. Maryana is also a poet and essayist. Her creative writing has been published in The Spinoff, Turbine, Poetry New Zealand, Takahē, Mayhem and Australia’s Meniscus Literary Journal. Maryana’s poetry has been featured on the walls of Auckland Hospital as part of Ara Manawa’s Poetry in Place exhibition and in the collections A Clear Dawn: New Asian Voices from Aotearoa New Zealand and Ko Aotearoa Tātou | We Are New Zealand.
'Troubles me': Shooting inquest probes police lethal force 'threshold'
'Is incapacitation a nicer way of saying lethal force or killing?'
'One shot would have been plenty': Inquest into death of man shot by police resumes
'It's not a given that the first shot will do the job.'
Person dies on Mt Ruapehu, rāhui in place
Local iwi has placed a rāhui over the ski area of the mountain.
Electric wheelchair fire leaves one person critically injured
The man was transported to Waikato Hospital in a critical condition by helicopter.
Witnesses sought in fatal accident of Steven Cranston on State Highway 23
Police enquiries into the death are ongoing.
Police searching for white T-shirt, track pants in child homicide investigation
This is the second appeal police have made to residents of the neighbourhood.
Child dies in Waikato driveway incident
Emergency services were not able to revive the child.
WorkSafe opens investigation into child's death after quad bike accident
WorkSafe were advised and inquiries into the circumstances of the crash are ongoing.
'Would be playing with his cousins': Family files complaint against police after alleged murder of 8-year-old
Police also notified the IPCA the alleged killer was trespassed on the day of the murder.
Person injured after being trapped in machinery at Waikato animal feed plant
One ambulance crew responded and treated a patient with minor injuries at the scene.
Hamilton child homicide: Residents urged to keep an eye out for ‘white clothing’
Police are continuing their inquiries in the area, after the boy was killed on Sunday,
Watch: How the NZDF is helping feed mourners at Tūrangawaewae Marae
NZDF has mobilised 28 personnel to support the tangi of Kīngi Tūheitia.
Alleged child murderer was trespassed from Hamilton motel before death of 8yo
Police have notified the IPCA of these events 'in the interests of transparency'.
'Show them heart': How Turangawaewae Marae feeds thousands
'All of it’s enjoyable. The people here are all working for the same cause.'
Man accused of murdering 8yo Hamilton boy appears in court
The victim of Sunday night's alleged assault was Zahquiel Taipeti, 8.
‘Give mummy big hugs’: Child, 8, killed after group attack in Hamilton has been named
Zahquiel's family paid tribute saying he could rest in his late mother's arms.
‘Go rock the heavens’: Family pay tribute to boy, 8, who died following assault
A man has been charged with murder after the incident.
Police believe Hamilton house fire was deliberately lit, three men arrested
Police have now arrested three me in relation to the fire.
Tūrangi deaths: Woman identified, described as loving mum
Maxine Puhi was one of two people found dead in a Tūrangi home this week.
Council yet to establish origins of asbestos at Taupō landfill
The council says it is too early to tell how many customers are affected.
One dead in Waikato motorcycle crash
The road was closed last night while the Serious Crash Unit examined the scene.
Rope tangles in helicopter rotor leaving one person seriously injured in Marokopa
One patient is being transported to hospital in serious condition.
Car fire blocks eastbound lane of SH29 on Kaimai Range
A Fire and Emergency spokesperson said the fire was reported at about 2.56pm.
Asbestos found in landfill used to recycle concrete
Concrete recycling at the site has been put on hold. The landfill remains open.
Police, WorkSafe probe death at rural Waikato property
Emergency staff responded to a death at a rural property on Tuesday.
Police investigate 'unexplained death' at retirement home
An increased police presence is expected in the town as enquiries continue.
One person critically injured in SH1 crash near Taupō
The road was closed for over an hour as emergency services attended the scene.
Waikato work week off to frosty start with sub-zero temperatures
The coldest temperature recorded in the region this morning was -2C at Taupō Airport.
Man suffers gunshot wounds while hunting in Tongariro Forest
Due to the remote location, the man was winched out by helicopter.
'All of Tūrangi heard us': Meet Olympic medallist Hayden Wilde's biggest fans
Bruce and Nita Wilde cheered their grandson on from their home in Tūrangi.
Emergency services rescue trapped person after car and caravan roll near Cambridge
The southbound on-ramp on SH1 at Cambridge is closed because of an accident.
'Going on plan B': 85yo Tokoroa man plans to live in garage after house fire
Two fire trucks are in attendance and the fire investigator.
Pipe dream: Man has to pay more than $11k for working as unregistered plumber
Board says fine sends a warning to anyone working unlawfully in the industry.
Council fined after 2.8 million litres of 'raw human sewage' spilled into 'spiritually significant' stream
"Multiple alarms were raised, and their being ignored had serious consequences.”
Rescuers free driver from car after it ends up in university pond
The driver was not injured, a Waikato University spokesperson said.
Truck fire forces temporary closure of southbound lanes on SH27 south of Mangatarata
The fire happened near Mahuta Rd South and Torehape Rd East.
Waikato police spike milk truck after alleged theft
No milk spilt and nobody hurt - but police say things could have been worse.
Police seek pair after Hamilton aggravated robbery
Police want the public's help to identify two males.
Physical search not the focus of latest phase in Tom Phillips investigation, police reveal
"There is a vast area in which Tom and the children could potentially be."
Waikato road deaths six times higher this month than in June 2023
This time last year, Waikato's road death toll was one. Today, the toll reached six.
One dead after serious two-car crash in Gordonton
A secound person suffered serious injuries.
'This little place has a lot going for it': Marokopa according to the locals
Residents of the town don't want their home to be remembered only for Tom Phillips.
No action on Blue Springs walkway works a year after track closure
South Waikato District Council expects the track will reopen in November.
Hamilton's tallest buiilding being converted into 191-room hotel
'It’s well needed and brings such a positive feel to the CBD.'
'Thinking the worst': Medical event mistaken for six-car crash on SH1
Crews were 'thinking the worst' after being told of a six-car crash.
Human remains unearthed in Hillcrest are pre-European, police reveal
The remains will be exhumed in consultation with local iwi.
More than 300km in seven days: Waikato student running to raise aid for Palestinian children
'I couldn’t stand by and do nothing anymore. I want to make a difference.'
Crash near Te Awamutu: Person trapped after car crashes into ditch
The person was rescued by emergency services.
Suspected human remains unearthed by excavator at Hamilton construction site
Police are working to identify the remains and to see if they are human.
Body found near Wairere Falls: Family of Pauline Grey thank police, iwi for search
A rāhui is in place on the Wairere Falls Track for the next seven days.
One person dead after van rolls on SH27
Emergency services responded around 11pm to the crash in Hauraki District.
'Did not return': Drone deployed in search for missing woman, 67, near Wairere Falls
Police want to speak to the person who located a jacket on a walk in the area.
Police checkpoints set up around Marokopa as Tom Phillips search intensifies
The new police activity comes after a $80,000 reward was offered for information.
Fatal hit-and-run victim's body left by side of road for hours after miscoded 111 call
“Although made in good faith, we think that decision was an error in judgement"
Te Kūiti baby death: 'Inconsistencies' in parents' stories - police
The baby had been known to police due to previous 'non-accidental' injuries, police say.
'Hysterical screaming' heard before baby's 'violent' death
'Nobody in the community likes to think that this sort of thing can happen'.
Woman remains in critical condition after SH3 crash near Ōtorohanga
The woman sustained multiple trauma injuries in the crash involving a car and a truck.
Passers-by pull person from car after it crashes into Lake Taupō
“There was a group of young guys who went in and grabbed him straight out of the car.”
Vincent Ashworth made Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to agriculture
Ashworth worked to improve farming practices in Ethiopia and Afghanistan.
Power cuts cause overflow of untreated effluent in Raglan
Waikato District Council has asked the public to delay showers and limit water use.
Waikato multiple fatality crash investigation to take 'months'
“We do not understand why it happened,” police said.
Weather causes 27 power outages across Waikato, over 17,500 homes affected
Homes could be without power for at least the next five hours.
Over 130 Huntly properties without power after vehicle crash
No injuries were reported as a result of the crash.
Car crossed the centre line in crash that left five dead - police
Inspector Jeff Penno has provided an update following the Ōhaupō crash.
Five dead in crash sees Waikato's May road toll almost double in a night
In 2022 and 2023, the Waikato region had the highest road death toll in the country.
The NZ region where 102 people were reported missing each month
From January 1, 2023 to March 31 this year, 1532 missing persons reports were made.
One person seriously injured in truck and car crash on SH30
There are reports of injuries.
University of Waikato staff strike on Open Day after salary talks 'hit a wall'
The Tertiary Education Union has demanded a 5 per cent salary increase for staff.
Waikato students join nationwide protest calling for recognition of Palestinian state
'What is happening in Gaza is genocide. We don’t want to be neutral.'
One person dead after truck and car collide near Hamilton
The road between Hamilton and Te Awamutu reopened just before 7pm.
One dead after truck and van crash near Te Aroha
Police have reported serious injuries were sustained in the crash.
Police seeking drone footage after fatal Waikato crash
The three-vehicle crash happened on Sunday, May 19 on State Highway 5 at Tāpapa.
'Unaffordable': Hamilton mayor responds to public feedback on draft LTP, 19.9% rates hikes
Developers say increased contributions could force them to build elsewhere.
'One in a million': Leon James Kennerley named as victim of Flat Rd fatal crash
Kennerley, 49, died after a crash on Saturday, May 4.
Traumatic truths, domestic violence and a hair salon: The story that won a $10k Australian prize
Tracey Slaughter is the first overseas winner of the Calibre Essay Prize.