Doug Laing, Multimedia Journalist at Hawke’s Bay Today, covers all aspects of provincial journalism including local government, sports, major events, social and justice issues.
I’m Doug Laing – Multimedia Journalist at Hawke’s Bay Today. You could say journalism ran in my blood - my father, Les Laing, was a journalist who while working for the NZBC and then Radio New Zealand mentored and helped train broadcasters on-station throughout New Zealand. Journalism is a life-long 24/7 calling for me. I followed in Dad’s footsteps from a young age, writing stories for the local weekly rugby programme while at primary school in the 1960s, and Junior Kiwi - a newspaper for schools. As a 14 year old, I worked as a reporter at the Wairarapa Times-Age during school holidays and began my fulltime career at the Central Hawke’s Bay Press, Waipukurau, in July 1973. I’ve also worked at the Daily Telegraph, had a short stint in public relations in Auckland, worked at The Dominion/Sunday and New Zealand Times, before returning to the Daily Telegraph in May 1987 as Chief Reporter. In 1999 the Daily Telegraph merged with the Hawke’s Bay Herald Tribune to create Hawke’s Bay Today, and I’ve been here ever since. I continue covering all aspects of provincial journalism, including local government, sports, major events, social and justice matters. I've been involved in two books, "Cavaliers in South Africa 1986" (rebel rugby tour) and "Shear History" (Golden Shears 50 years). Finalist Qantas Awards breaking news category (Flaxmere police shooting 1996), Napier Pilot City Trust Awards for "Outstanding Contribution to the Quality of Life for all Napier Citizens" and 2020 NZ Rural Sports Award for Outstanding Contribution to Rural Sports
A career in sheep dog trials - 40 years, 12 titles
Tararua District farmer Bernard Arends had a big start to the sheep dog trials series.
Iwi misses out in Hawke’s Bay sheep and cattle station Kahurānaki bid
"Gutted", but Ngāti Kahungunu chair looks forward to meeting new owners.
Kiwi sets world shearing record in historic South Africa feat
Copp and Tienie du Plessis tallied 970 at Teebus Waters, near Steynsburg.
A big day for Hawke’s Bay’s ‘Mr Wool’
Hawke's Bay wool industry leaders applaud new wool deal for Government buildings.
Jack Fagan joins NZ shearing tour team
Jack Fagan will compete, as Mark Grainger can't leave his drought-stricken farm.
Absolutely outstanding in their field, and butchery
A specialised Hawke's Bay meat producer gets the big one despite the cyclone.
The mountain ahead: Fight to buy back Kahurānaki maunga starts by climbing it
Hīkoi to Kahūranaki aims to show it's 'possible to reclaim whenua, one maunga at a time'.
Hawke’s Bay butcher a cut above almost all the rest
'I never would have thought picking up a knife would get me close to the Eiffel Tower.'
Week of acclaim for Hawke's Bay's farmers of the year
A Central Hawke's Bay farming couple win the big one – Farmer of the Year.
On top of the world: Laura Bradley claims record number of wins by a female shearer
From Papatawa to the big time - Laura Bradley's remarkable 16 wins.
NZ Champs and Golden Shears double for Toa Henderson
Results from the 39th New Zealand Shearing Championships at Te Kūiti on March 27-29.
Paerata Abraham regains NZ Shears open speed shear title
Wairarapa shearing contractor Paerata Abraham beat his employee, Llyr Jones.
Jack Fagan eyes NZ Shears Circuit defence
Te Kūiti shearer is well-placed for a successful New Zealand Shears Circuit title defence.
Golden Shears champ shines at Warkworth A&P Show
All the shearing action from the Warkworth and Methven A & P Shows.
Kiwis beat Wales in first shearing test
Kiwis David Buick and Jack Fagan defeated Gethin Lewis and Llyr Jones.
Kiwi shearers chase revenge in Welsh test match
David Buick and Jack Fagan to go head-to-head with Gethin Lewis and Llyr Jones.
Takapau puts its hand up to save rugby club
The Takapau rugby club has a history of 140 years, but was on the verge of folding.
Rural Games success for Toa Henderson
Henderson pipped shearing gun Jack Fagan twice over the weekend at two events.
Mountain for sale: Iconic station has been in family for more than 100 years
'Time for someone else to have a go' with one of Hawke's Bay's most outstanding features.
Plenty of players, but no committee: Rugby club could 'fold' after 140 years
'It has become unsustainable for the few still involved.'
Hawke’s Bay’s shearers' golden moments at the Golden Shears
Hawke's Bay may have missed the biggie, but the region didn't walk away empty-handed.
'I used to dream of this moment': Toa Henderson's Golden Shears triumph
Results from the 23rd Golden Shears International Shearing and Woolhandling Championships.
Young guns day at Golden Shears
Finals results in the day sessions on the first day of the Golden Shears in Masterton.
Big local win in Golden Shears speed shear
The first night of the 2025 Golden Shears closed with a local speed shear success.
Rowland Smith warms up for Golden Shears with Hawke's Bay win
“They would have jumped a bit when they saw him turn up,” said one woolshed veteran.
'Very happy to have made it': Justin Meikle's shearing surprise
Meikle decided to enter the five-round circuit while supporting son Tye's junior efforts.
Leon Samuels sets the line for Golden Shears defence
Results from the Taumarunui, Apiti, Kaikoura, and Pahiatua shows over the weekend.
Waikato shearer breaks world merino shearing record
The record took place in Australia at Spring Valley Farm, Darkan, southeast of Perth.
Big entry numbers for this year’s Golden Shears
The 63rd Golden Shears will be held in Masterton from February 27 to March 1.
Women win three of four finals at Ohura Shears
Laura Bradley, Sarah Bryant and Jodiesha Kirkpatrick dominated at the Ohura Show.
Toa Henderson and Pagan Rimene win big at Otago Shears
Pagan Rimene successfully defended her title of New Zealand Woolhandler of the Year.
Kiwi Jack Fagan wins world's richest speed shear
Te Kūiti's Fagan triumphs in a field stacked with talent.
Fishing suspense: 120.8kg tuna holds first place as Megafish heads into final day
The tournament, dating back almost 50 years, has 128 boats at sea.
Yellowfin and a 92.2kg marlin dominate first day of Megafish
At least a dozen yellowfin weighed on the first day as 128 boats compete.
Nathan Stratford leads the way in National Shearing Circuit
One qualifying round remains in the PGG Wrightson Vetmed National Shearing Circuit.
Wally isn't so wayward now, winning two sheepdog titles for CHB farmer
He was named Wally - as in Where's Wally? - for his wayward tendencies in puppy days.
'Finally got it': Ngaio Hanson's first open woolhandling win
All the shearing and woolhandling results from the weekend.
NZ's top shearers eyeing a black-singlet comeback
The national team selection series takes place over the next 12 months.
Wave of yellowfin tuna in Hawke's Bay as $20k fishing competition nears
'It is looking like a record number for a season ... it's a bit weird.'
Rowland Smith's second win in shears comeback
Results from the weekend's Taihape Shears and Tapawera Shears.
Alexia Phillips to attempt shearing world record
World Sheep Shearing Records Society confirmed Alexia Phillips’ February bid this week.
Closed waters as powerboats surge into the Bay
A fleet of at least 11 boats is expected, mainly from Auckland.
Rare treble for miracle shearer David Buick
The treble was last achieved in 2016 by 2014 World Champion Rowland Smith.
'Give it a nudge': Shearer sets sights on solo world record
The current record is 872, set by Stu Connor in Cornwall in 2021.
Rotten summer: Wairoa A&P Show cancelled for the third time in four years
'Another good thing that’s not happening': Wairoa's series of weather blows continues.
Father and son win big at Peninsula Duvauchelle Shears
North Otago farmer Justin Meikle and his teenage son Tye are on a roll.
Shearing world record attempt falls short
The world two-stand, eight-hour strong wool lambs record still stands.
Shearing: Digger Balme, 60, wins at Rotorua Show
Age ain’t doing nothing to slow down this veteran competition shearer.
Boost for shearing numbers in the North at Whangārei Show
A new event with combined novice, junior and intermediate handicaps helps with entries.
'Step up the biosecurity': Hawke's Bay's bird flu fears
Bump up farm bio-security, or inevitable will happen, warns veteran Bay poultry farmer.
Hawke’s Bay drought closer as 30C temperatures forecast
Drought looms: It was one of the Bay's driest Novembers.
Iwi wants to buy Takitimu Seafoods site after $9m surplus recorded
In 2022-2023 it had a $2m deficit as Takitimu Seafoods collapsed, with 70 job losses.
Shearing: Stratford and Moore win at Tapanui and Nelson
It was a big weekend of shearing for former winners of the National Shearing Circuit.
Whakatu Freezing Works: The history, the industry and the aftermath
Ewan McGregor, a 79-year-old historian, says he's got "a few books in me yet".
Amy Ferguson wins Corriedales woolhandling open final
Landscape architect Brittany Smith took out the senior title.
Jack Fagan wins second Corriedale shearing title
Fagan flew in from Western Australia in his successful bid to regain the title.
One farmer offloads 1500 of his 2000 ewes as Hawke's Bay-wide dry starts to set in
Drought speculation for Hawke's Bay is premature, but the Bay is vulnerable, Niwa says.
Kirkpatricks dominate at Wairarapa Spring Shears
A shearing dynasty from Hawke’s Bay and Gisborne moved in on the Wairarapa Show.
Flying Southlander wins Ashburton shearing final
The Ashburton show attracted 44 shearers, with 14 in the open class.
A decade without steam - now the train is back for Art Deco Festival
The train will be based in Napier throughout the February 13-17 festival.
Kiwis fall short in transtasman shearing and woolhandling tests
Blades shearers hold up the Kiwis' end in transtasman tests but it's not enough.
Gavin Mutch holds it together for Great Raihania Shears win
Mutch nabs the big shearing win at the Hawke’s Bay A&P Show.
A patties' cleansweep for Hawke's Bay at national sausage awards
The Bay butchers won both beef patty categories at the annual event.
Familiar faces claim the red ribbons at Gisborne show shears
Gisborne Shearing and Woolhandling Championships held at Poverty Bay on Saturday.
Kiwis chase elusive shears clean sweep in Australia
NZ chasing transtasman machine shearing, blades shearing, and woolhandling tests.
Can a lamb be shorn every 37 seconds for nine hours?
The world solo 9hrs lambshearing record is 872 – now there's a challenger.
Possible record entries for National Shearing Circuit
There are more North Island and international competitors than usual in this circuit.
Shearing: Chris Vickers wins NZ Merino Shears Open title
56-year-old Chris Vickers took out the Open shearing title on Saturday night.
The finest show on the finest wool starts tomorrow
150+ competitors to vie in NZ's biggest merino shearing champs in Alexandra this weekend.
Generation after generation – 90 years of Wattie's in Hawke's Bay celebrated
'Who else loves their job like this after 22 years?'
Government offers an extra $4.55m for cyclone recovery in Hawke's Bay
Money will provide expertise to speed up Wairoa, Pakowhai and Pōrangahau flood protection.
A new chairman for Shearing Sports NZ
Warren Parker is a Raglan farmer and shearing contractor.
Jack Fagan's shearing world record smashed in England
English shearer Nick Greaves now holds eight-hour strong wool lamb shearing world record.
Kiwis end shearing test series in Wales
NZ comfortably beaten by Wales in test series, but good news for Te Kūiti's Jack Fagan.
Kiwi shearers beaten in first test in Wales
It wasn't all bad news for the Kiwis, as they both made the five-man Cothi Shears Open.
New Zealand beat France in rare continental shearing test
Jack Fagan and David Buick beat Frenchmen Pierre Grancher and Gilles Grancher.
Big double for Kiwi shearers at Great Yorkshire Show
Jack Fagan wins Great Yorkshire Open Final, while he and David Buick take out test match.
Foundation gives $200k grant to Wairoa flood recovery, others urged to support the town
The Auckland funder established links with the town after Cyclone Gabrielle.