Ben Tomsett is a Multimedia Journalist for the New Zealand Herald, based in Dunedin.
Prior to joining the Herald, Ben Tomsett wrote for the Otago Daily Times and Southland Express out of Invercargill. He grew up on a dairy farm on the outskirts of Tapanui, West Otago. Following his high schooling at Blue Mountain College, he went on to complete a diploma in Film and Television Production and a Diploma in Journalism at Aoraki Polytechnic. Post-studies, he put writing on the back burner and set out abroad to make a few stories of his own. Snowboard instructing was a cost-efficient and highly enjoyable avenue to see the mountains of the world while working odd jobs such as fruit picking in British Columbia, Canada, and making soap on an organic donkey farm in Midi-Pyrénées, France, gave him decent journal fodder. On the coattails of the global pandemic, Ben returned to New Zealand in 2020 and later took his first job as a journalist close enough to his old stomping grounds. He quickly found telling the stories of New Zealanders was more rewarding and exciting than writing his own. He has a broad range of interests, though he tends to lean towards local politics, farming, the environment, and tales of the bizarre. In 2022, Ben was named runner-up for best junior news journalist at the New Zealand Community Newspaper Awards. You can contact Ben at ben.tomsett@nzme.co.nz.
'Daddy's girl': Te Anau character crushed in fatal workplace accident
Lynda Kelly, 63, has been remembered for her care and compassion.
Is Ashburton's water supply a health risk to babies? Council denies Greenpeace claims
Greenpeace tests have shown high nitrate levels in Ashburton's drinking water.
On The Up: Rural doctor shortage - how one medical programme is solving the crisis
West Coast GP plays key role in University of Otago's Rural Medical Immersion Programme.
‘Can we afford this?’: Patients shocked by $1000 after-hours medical fees
Fees as high as $1000 have been quoted for after-hours appointments.
One of NZ’s largest solar farms on hold after tiny village fights back
The farm would house 560,000 solar panels with the capacity to power 70,000 homes.
'Real buggers': Woman scammed by fake Facebook meat business
Aroha Hicks lost $250 to the scam which is operating through social media marketplaces.
Second Otago farm placed under restriction over bird flu fears
The chickens will be euthanised by CO2 containerised gas, an industry standard practice.
'It's really quite scary': Ground zero at Otago chicken farm bird flu outbreak
Process under way to cull 80,000 chickens on Otago farm.
Kākā advocate banned from botanic garden over ‘harassment’ claims
Animal welfare inspectors say the bird is doing fine at Dunedin Botanic Garden.
Government rug-pull postpones vote on Otago’s proposed land and water regional plan
The change left council members and farmers across Otago grappling with the implications.
Hundreds of jobs to go as Timaru meatworks closure confirmed
Alliance has closed its Smithfield plant, and Australian recruiters are already in town.
'Farmers are standing up against Fish & Game': Southland anglers face access cuts
The move comes amid 'deteriorating' relationships between farmers and Fish & Game.
Otago flooding: Concern overnight for river levels, Dunedin highways closed, NZDF brought in
Dunedin and surrounding areas are enduring a once-in-a-century weather event.
Dunedin cut off: Floodwaters close state highways, second rain 'peak' later today, Clutha declares state of emergency
Officials hoping for breaks in the weather to help ease surface flooding.
South Dunedin residents ‘encouraged’ to self-evacuate as flood waters rise
'Risk of flooding, slips are high. Follow the advice of local authorities' - MetService
'Gut-wrenching, heartbreaking': 600 Timaru workers face losing their jobs
Alliance Group plans to shut its South Canterbury freezing works by the end of this year.
Power outages, road and school closures as snow causes havoc
Heavy snow is falling in parts of the South Island.
The village people: Unofficial roadblocks, nunchaku and drug growing claims
Police say they are looking into allegations of rogue behaviour.
Otago orchardists crack the hazelnut market
'It's satisfying to grow something and sell it directly to the public.'
'These animals need to die': Controversial cat hunting contest returns
Nationwide, it is estimated feral cats kill up to 100 million birds each year.
West Coast residents without power as rivers rise, fresh warnings for North Island
There are rain and wind alerts for Tasman, Taranaki and Wellington.
Deluge hits - parts of NZ to be doused with 62 hours of rain
Orange weather warnings have the potential to be upgraded to Red.
Central Otago bunny hunt called off for another year due to fire risks
Following the last three cancellations of the annual event, its future is up in the air.
Watch: Search on for NZ's 10th meteorite after crash landing in remote SI site
A search party has embarked on a hunt for a fresh meteorite after a fiery explosion.
Tarras airport: Plans put on hold
Christchurch Airport bought 750ha of farmland in Tarras in 2020.
'Horror movie': Irish farm worker who lost arm in NZ accident wins $6m court battle
But Kiwi farm boss says he will review Irish judgment; claims worker accepted fault.
Google Maps leads travellers to cow sheds
Confused navigators looking for a lake end up at dairy sheds.
'Unable to cope': Farmers increasingly under pressure
Isolation, long hours, adverse weather taking their toll on farmers, says support trust.
Playful sea lion stuns at national surfing champs
The sea lion made an appearance during the 2024 National Surfing Champs on Sunday.
Canterbury fire crew respond to fellow volunteer's death
Gavin Thomas Lack served with the Lincoln volunteer brigade for over 12 years.
'Give something back': Man volunteers to milk cows this Xmas to give farmers a break
Ryan West continues his family tradition of milking the cows before opening the presents.
Judas wallabies: GPS tracked wallabies set to give up locations of the invasive species in South Canterbury
'Seeker’ animals have been a successful method of pest control for feral goats and tahr.
One person killed in a quad-bike accident last night in Timaru
Emergency services were called to the fatal scene at 11.40pm.
Run, rabbit, run: Bunny shoot planned to tackle furry pests
Queenstown Lakes District Council set to carry out its first bunny cull in local park.
‘It’s a rain gauge for disease’ : An Otago-based company’s AI-assisted technology has a trove of applications
Farming tech used in various applications.
Group of locals band together to save rural Southland pub
The Waikaka pub has been community hub for decades.
Farmers have their say on council plans
ORC's draft land and water regional plan has received strong feedback.