Tracy Neal is a courts and tribunals reporter based in Nelson for the New Zealand Herald. She works as a court reporter covering Nelson and Blenheim courts and tribunal decisions nationwide.
Tracy Neal is one of the Open Justice reporting team covering courts and justice for the New Zealand Herald, and its regional partner in Nelson-Marlborough, Top South Media. She began her career as a cadet reporter for the Nelson Evening Mail in the mid-1980s, did her OE, freelanced, worked as a travel writer for trade press in Auckland on her return to NZ, then returned to Nelson and her old desk back at the Mail. Tracy was RNZ's regional reporter in Nelson-Marlborough for six years, where she learned the fine art of cutting and compiling audio for radio. She also prepared court news from her patch for NZME's Newstalk ZB news network. Over the years Tracy has covered everything from this region, from crime to courts to local government, plus natural disasters and some large civil defence emergencies. You can contact Tracy at tracy.neal@nzme.co.nz.
Rural homebirth: Midwife returns to tragedy after popping out for lunch
The baby was pronounced stillborn after resuscitation attempts failed.
'Cavalier' fisherman fined $34k after failures onboard vessel during kina operation
He ignored warnings to fix the GPR device, which meant his boat was 'invisible'.
‘Entirely avoidable’: Farmer jailed over severe animal neglect
Inspectors found 24 dead lambs and euthanised three more on one of his properties.
‘Appalling’: Grazing firm fined $48k after hundreds of cows left to wallow in mud
Two workers resigned after being told to return the cows to muddy paddocks.
'I’ve never seen one that big': Judge shocked at cow's untreated cancer
Judge criticises owner for not seeking vet help; 'The cow suffered significant pain.'
'Horrid rotten egg smell:' Authorities followed their noses to find black gunk seeping into streams
Three people complained of the black substance that smelled like rotten egg.
Nelson woman fined for taking more than 1000 cockles from traditional fishery reserve
Judge: 'If everyone did that, we would not have any cockles left in our country'.
Load of bull: Woman buys 'desexed' cattle beast which went on to impregnate cows
Tribunal says photos of 'MN' and his testicle were evidence he was not fully castrated.
Retired man's life savings gone after sleeping skipper grounds fishing boat
'I have nothing left, thanks to Simon's stupidity.'
'Utterly inexplicable:' Prominent Kiwi winegrower fined $15k for smuggling vine cuttings
'His knowledge of the risk would have been far greater than the average New Zealander.'
Chainsaw-wielding suspect found guilty of cutting illegal forest track
Accused argued he was clearing a fallen tree – but a judge didn't buy it.
Sealord fined more than $250k after crew exposed to asbestos
'This was a major industry player that should have known better' - Maritime NZ.
'One that bites': Fisherman's $20k fine for removing boat's monitoring device
He tried to hide the device in a bag beneath the sea.
Justice for Drakie and Duckie: The five-year neighbourly spat over two Pekin ducks
Drakie died and Duckie was badly injured after being attacked by a dog.
Homeowner says dispute with neighbour over boundary led to minor heart attack
Barry McLeod claims his new neighbour is "trying to steal our land'.
Rapist of young girl in railway station toilet block named
The offending was 'the stuff of nightmares' according to the Crown prosecutor.
'Misguided in their beliefs': Lifestyle property owners refuse to pay rates
They didn't want to pay $1767 for their 1.85-hectare property.
Bad catch: Fishing company loses multi-million dollar trawler over coral weighing ‘less than half a pound of butter’
Judge: “Failure to record was at the heart of these charges – not the amount of material”.
Tenant evicted from farm shed shared with landlord gets $1300
Dairy worker who denied owner access to farm shed turfed out; awarded compensation.
'Freaked out': Poacher caught with 250 pāua fled fisheries officers by running into the sea
Pāua poacher sprung at checkpoint fled into the sea with suitcases of shellfish.
Sensitive fishing data to be kept from public at appeal hearing
Data on fishing in fragile marine area in the South Island to remain confidential.
Poultry factory electrician who fell foul of the rules was justifiably sacked
He put himself and others at risk when fixing a frayed electrical cable.
‘Very sad sight’: Animals killed, maimed in truck crash - driver hadn’t taken break
Carlos Davies hadn't driven that kind of truck and trailer before.
Farmer accused of being stoned at work, sacked after posting about cannabis
The fired worker has now been awarded $20k for the unfair dismissal.
Fire and Emergency NZ failed former rural firefighter by not giving him top job - ERA
Bruce Janes’ job as a principal rural firefighter was disestablished during a restructure.
Lone Ranger: Farmer appeals against conviction after horse killed on highway saying it ‘wasn’t a crime’
Farmer Luke King says the police and justice systems have been against him on all fronts.
Caught out: Pair pinged over blue cod plunder
Fishermen fined, boat forfeited after pair lie about why they had more fish than allowed.
Thirty seven sheep die 'horrific deaths' in prolonged overnight dog attack
'You're never quite prepared for it,' - dog control officer attacked by dogs on farm.
$72k in fines, vessel confiscated after illegal deep sea fishing
Illegal trawling in protected waters an "honest mistake", says judge.
'Sorry it's your time to die': Man egged on by mates deliberately drove into pregnant sheep
Man who killed sheep by running over it with his ute says he's 'not a cruel person'.
Employee awarded $8000 after being tapped on her backside with bucket
The woman complained about her co-workers's conduct for several weeks.
Company takes the rap after pointing finger at driver
A truck driver's first day ended badly when her truck rolled, blocking the highway.