Raphael Franks is a Multimedia Journalist for the New Zealand Herald, focusing on breaking news, crime, transport and human interest stories.
Raphael hails from Christchurch but made Auckland his home in 2022. While attending Christchurch Boys’ High School from 2014 to 2018, he worked in Coca-Cola Amatil’s bottling plant; and while studying geography at the University of Canterbury, he worked in retail. Marking a total reversal in career ambitions, Raphael was offered the opportunity to join the Te Rito Journalism Cadetship programme in 2022, funded through the Public Interest Journalism Fund. Through this, he got experience working in some of the country’s largest newsrooms and some of the country’s smallest. He began working for the Herald in the same year. During this time, Raphael has covered the Auckland Anniversary Floods, Cyclone Gabrielle, two different shootings on Queen St and another on Ponsonby Rd, the closure of Newshub, the slimming down of TVNZ, and other major news events of the day. You can contact Mr Franks on 027 436 5668 or at raphael.franks@nzme.co.nz.
Oyster farms to close after sewage overflows, Watercare fix years away
Mahurangi Oysters owner Jim Aitken says 10 operators in the area are affected.
Duck hunter allegedly shoots down drone flown by animal rights activist in Canterbury
The pilot has described the incident and defended his flying of the drone.
Severe thunder, rain for top of North Island as winter blast hits south
Temps in parts down to single digits. Auckland is in line for rain tonight.
Warnings upgraded: 140km/h gales, torrential downpours to lash upper North Island for 41hrs
Thunderstorms, 180mm of rain from tonight in upper NI, tree and powerline damage likely.
Long delays on motorways in Auckland as storm batters NZ
It comes after flights across the South Island were disrupted this morning.
Storm disrupts flights around NZ: Heavy rain hits, temp plunge
While South Island gets battered, North Island in for a different forecast.
Feedback sought on ‘most significant’ fisheries reform for decades
A review of rock lobster, Pacific bluefin tuna limits ongoing since December.
Storm hits: Power cuts, road closures as rivers rise in Northland
Severe weather watches and warnings are in force.
‘Extreme care’: Thunderstorms, downpours bear down on Nth Island, wind warnings for harbour bridge
Civil Defence has warned people to keep watch on the incoming storm due from 3pm today.
19hr deluge: Thunderstorms, gales prompt warnings
Civil Defence has warned people to keep watch on the incoming storm due from 3pm today.
Man crushed by tractor loses arm, fractures skull and neck
Blake Anderson's parents are staying in Wellington to be by his hospital bed.
Bird flu update: 160k chooks to be killed after authorities say only one farm affected
The high pathogenic bird flu detected on Otago farm last week. MPI says other farms clear.
Drizzle forecast for entire country, heavy showers in Auckland amid sudden 10C drop in temps
Polar jet stream pulls series of cold air surges across NZ today, Sunday, early next week.
South Dunedin residents ‘encouraged’ to self-evacuate as flood waters rise
'Risk of flooding, slips are high. Follow the advice of local authorities' - MetService
‘Exceptional situation’: Dunedin residents warned of overnight downpour, asked to stay home
'Risk of flooding, slips are high. Follow the advice of local authorities' - MetService
33-hr drenching: Severe thunderstorms for upper North Island, snowstorms, downpours in south
Snowstorms are also forecast for parts of south. Severe weather alerts are out across NZ.
Intense downpours to hit NZ, warnings issued for upper north
Auckland has a cloudy Thursday forecast, but heavy rain is tipped for tomorrow.
Watch: 'F***ing sellout' - Oil and gas protesters shout in Shane Jones' face
He said protesters were 'being extreme', people gave govt mandate by voting.
Body found in search for missing Gisborne 5-year-old boy
The extensive search started Sunday afternoon.
'Batten down the hatches': Red severe thunderstorm watch issued for lower North Island
Severe weather alerts have been issued along the East Coast.
'Third-world stuff': Energy minister praises chilly Kiwis' restraint amid grid crisis
The country’s grid operator issued a warning notice in advance.
'Third-world stuff': Crisis meeting held ahead of grid emergency as polar blast bears down
Friday promises NZ's coldest day of 2024 - and more frosty temperatures are due tonight.
Coldest day of 2024 so far: Kiwis wake to frosts, snow with more cold temps on way
MetService says this May has been a stark contrast to the warmer conditions last year.
'Be prepared to evacuate': West Coast residents on flood alert, severe thunderstorm watch for north
Power cuts, landslides and road closures struck the West Coast yesterday.
PM blames Labour for recession, says they should spend a ‘generation’ out of power
It comes on the same day as New Zealand enters a recession.
Snow falls in South Island, Auckland set for heavy showers, temperatures go below zero
MetService is calling this the 'coldest weekend of the year so far'.
Firefighters race to contain Port Hills blaze as strengthening winds pose threat
Police are urging people to keep away so firefighters can tackle the uncontrolled blaze.
Thunderstorms to rattle North Island, 'unseasonable' snow for South
Cold air from the south will sweep muggy conditions in the north for two days.
'Sad event': Winston Peters speaks on Golriz Ghahraman's shoplifting charges
Police charged former Greens MP with two counts of shoplifting last Wednesday.
Fishermen get two-for-one surprise when kingfish spits out kahawai
Murray Wootton and Joe Edlington's videos have gone viral online.
Heavy rain falls on West Coast, Franz Josef river rising rapidly
NZTA warned motorists against driving due to the risk of surface flooding.
Health authorities warn of potential killer heat with more hot days forecast
MetService issues heat alerts in lower North Island, Te Whatu Ora warns of health impacts.
Watch: Close encounter - 10-year-old's shark shock on Hauraki Gulf
A spate of shark sightings and encounters have already made headlines this summer.
Hottest day of summer sees country hit 34C: 'Cry mercy' says Niwa with more scorchers to come
Auckland to reach highs of 27C, 26C every day till next Monday. High humidity to return.
Watch: 'Grab the camera': Great white shark circles boatie for over an hour
A shark expert says it appears the shark had been caught in a net and injured.
Watch: 'What the hell was that?' - Flour mill silo collapses in central Christchurch
A resident across the road said he heard a big bang and looked across to see cloud.
'Extensive damage': Severe storm hits Wellington, multiple injuries, thousands without power
Thunderstorms to bring heavy rain, hail and damaging gusts to east of North Island.
Settled and warm: 10 days of over 20C highs for much of NZ
With fine days on the way, MetService warns people to protect themselves from the sun.
70yo fatally pierced by equipment at freezing works in 'freak accident'
'A man died on our floor. Someone’s got to be accountable.'
Drenching from remnants of Lola to take over from wintry hammering
Winter-like weather will grip New Zealand on Friday then wind will change on Sunday.
‘El Nino has arrived’: Lower than normal rainfall, ‘dramatic’ temp swings, strong winds
While strong, damaging wind threatens this weekend, next week could be over 30C in places.
Weather: South Island gets more snow, roadfall warnings, Auckland in for showers
MetService issues heavy snow warnings, watches in South Island, Desert Rd to get flurries.
Live: Major roads closed as snow falls; coldest night of year in Auckland
Most of MetService's weather watches and warnings lapsed last night, a few end today.
'Triple whammy': Gales, heavy rain, snow as 'blizzard-like' storm nears
MetService has issued a 'triple-whammy' of strong wind, heavy snow, heavy rain watches.
Groundswell NZ sells golf balls emblazoned with PM's face at Fieldays
Groundswell NZ was stopped from selling the balls, claiming Labour 'narked' on them
Fire and Emergency preparing for 'significant' weather event
MetService issued warnings Northland to Fiordland, watches for Bay of Plenty & Tasman.
Revealed: The Southland dairy farmer who slept with his AR-15 ... and led to Nash losing his portfolio
Nash resigned as Police Minister following the “unwise” criticism of a judge’s sentencing.