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Ben Leahy
Reporter

Ben Leahy is a reporter for the New Zealand Herald.

We are your advocate, Aotearoa. Uncovering stories that matter, asking hard-hitting questions of those in power, live-blogging sport events, monitoring the highs and lows of the NZX and providing Premium expert opinion and analysis. Bringing you distinctive, quality journalism and breaking news from across New Zealand and around the world. With specialists working together to create indepth reads, engaging video, and unmissable podcasts.

Check out Ben’s latest content
Driver dies after rolling car in a Waikato paddock
Waikato Herald

Driver dies after rolling car in a Waikato paddock

31 May 12:26 AM
Sunny start to school holidays for NZ but heavy rain could move in from Wednesday
Waikato Herald

Sunny start to school holidays for NZ but heavy rain could move in from Wednesday

12 Apr 05:00 PM

School kids should be able to get outside for today and tomorrow's start to the holidays.

On The Up - Auckland private school buys multimillion-dollar waterfront farm
Waikato Herald

On The Up - Auckland private school buys multimillion-dollar waterfront farm

10 Apr 06:10 AM

Saint Kentigern students will grow food and study ecosystems on the land.

Man killed near Huntly in roadside stabbing
Waikato Herald

Man killed near Huntly in roadside stabbing

21 Feb 10:55 PM

The man died at the scene after reports that he was stabbed in public.

‘Drinking, arguing, yelling’: Hamilton tenant evicted from retiree village
Waikato Herald

‘Drinking, arguing, yelling’: Hamilton tenant evicted from retiree village

14 Jan 04:00 PM

Epiha Nathan also parked in the driveway, blocking ambulances, tribunal says.

Eat, drink and be merry: Prison locked down after inmates' Christmas Eve booze-up
Waikato Herald

Eat, drink and be merry: Prison locked down after inmates' Christmas Eve booze-up

25 Dec 04:21 AM

Prisoners often try to stockpile fruit to be used in homebrews, officials say.

Thundestorm alerts issued around NZ, motorists warned to take care
Waikato Herald

Thundestorm alerts issued around NZ, motorists warned to take care

21 Dec 02:16 AM

Motorists are being warned to drive 'carefully' as heavy falls start in Rotorua, Taupō.

Coromandel murder-accused’s pigs to be moved to Wellington
Waikato Herald

Coromandel murder-accused’s pigs to be moved to Wellington

19 Dec 11:18 PM

An animal welfare group is coming to collect around 40 of the 'pet pigs'.

Would be dead today: 11yo owes his life to off-duty lifeguards in dramatic rescue
Waikato Herald

Would be dead today: 11yo owes his life to off-duty lifeguards in dramatic rescue

07 Dec 06:00 AM

Lifeguards were cooking on the barbie when they had to rush to save a mum and three sons.

One critically hurt in brawl at Hamilton home
Waikato Herald

One critically hurt in brawl at Hamilton home

23 Nov 01:54 AM

Police are investigating after finding one person critically injured.

New sighting of fugitive father Tom Phillips reported, police make fresh inquiries
Waikato Herald

New sighting of fugitive father Tom Phillips reported, police make fresh inquiries

04 Oct 08:08 PM

The Herald understands a group of young pig hunters reported the sighting.

Temperatures up to 20C but rain and 'wall of westerly' winds expected
Waikato Herald

Temperatures up to 20C but rain and 'wall of westerly' winds expected

23 Aug 08:41 PM

NZ's mixed bag of weather is expected to start with rain and showers this weekend.

'Given up': 16yo shut out of school in defiance of ministry directive
Waikato Herald

'Given up': 16yo shut out of school in defiance of ministry directive

03 Aug 05:00 PM

16-year-old says he has given up on ever finishing his secondary education.

Worker dies in incident on Morrinsville farm in Waikato
Waikato Herald

Worker dies in incident on Morrinsville farm in Waikato

27 Jul 01:11 AM

Police were notified at 8am today and WorkSafe has also been told of the death.

'Unlawful': Three schools defy Ministry of Education, refuse to enrol students
Waikato Herald

'Unlawful': Three schools defy Ministry of Education, refuse to enrol students

17 Jul 05:27 PM

The Education Ministry instructed three schools to enrol excluded students. They refused.

Pasadena School bus catches fire on way home from camp
Waikato Herald

Pasadena School bus catches fire on way home from camp

15 Mar 11:49 PM

Students were not onboard but have been offered access to counselling.

Coromandel communities party in the streets as vital highway link reopens for Xmas
Waikato Herald

Coromandel communities party in the streets as vital highway link reopens for Xmas

19 Dec 07:57 PM

The news brings a welcome economic boost to the beleaguered Coromandel Peninsula.

Devastating Coromandel fire: EV not to blame, $3.7m mansion owners thank community
Waikato Herald

Devastating Coromandel fire: EV not to blame, $3.7m mansion owners thank community

17 Dec 09:40 PM

Social media speculation had incorrectly blamed an EV for the fire.

Missing Hamilton boy found safe and well
Waikato Herald

Missing Hamilton boy found safe and well

17 Nov 10:17 PM

He had been missing for more than 24 hours.

'No place for novices': Briton died on Mt Ruapehū after tackling steep slope without safety rope
Waikato Herald

'No place for novices': Briton died on Mt Ruapehū after tackling steep slope without safety rope

19 Oct 10:14 PM

It took more than eight hours to get Emma Langley off the mountain.

Watch: Speeding car crashes off dragway, narrowly misses family at AutoFest show
Waikato Herald

Watch: Speeding car crashes off dragway, narrowly misses family at AutoFest show

16 Oct 03:30 AM

Car smashed through track fence, missing food trucks and family by metres.

Search teams spend second day in Coromandel looking for person who set off emergency beacon
Waikato Herald

Search teams spend second day in Coromandel looking for person who set off emergency beacon

23 Sep 01:21 AM

With the beacon being unregistered, police are unsure if it is a genuine emergency.

Two dead and two injured in Waikato crash
Waikato Herald

Two dead and two injured in Waikato crash

26 Aug 06:23 AM

Motorists are asked to avoid the area, as traffic detours are still in place.

'High danger': Risk avalanches could hit Ruapehu mountain huts, skiers warned
Waikato Herald

'High danger': Risk avalanches could hit Ruapehu mountain huts, skiers warned

16 Aug 11:23 PM

'There is a very real risk of avalanches around club huts', mountain operator says.

One dead, another missing after being swept off rocks fishing at notorious spot
Waikato Herald

One dead, another missing after being swept off rocks fishing at notorious spot

05 Aug 03:59 AM

A major search effort continues for the missing fisher.

One dead and another badly hurt in Waikato crash
Waikato Herald

One dead and another badly hurt in Waikato crash

21 Jul 06:43 PM

One driver died at the scene and a person in the other car is in hospital.

One dead and another airlifted to hospital after crash near Rotorua
Waikato Herald

One dead and another airlifted to hospital after crash near Rotorua

23 Jun 11:03 PM

Police are examining what happened in the serious crash.

One person taken to hospital with serious injuries in crash near Hamilton
Waikato Herald

One person taken to hospital with serious injuries in crash near Hamilton

07 Jun 08:47 PM

Three others were also injured in the Ngāruawāhia crash at about 2.30am today.

Wild night of Hamilton street racing includes assault, stolen car and a paintball gun
Waikato Herald

Wild night of Hamilton street racing includes assault, stolen car and a paintball gun

15 Apr 12:42 AM

A man who complained to the group was attacked and had his car stolen, police say.

Meter reader attack: Three men charged after man critically hurt
Waikato Herald

Meter reader attack: Three men charged after man critically hurt

15 Mar 11:06 PM

The meter reader was taken to Waikato hospital with critical head injuries in January.

'It's getting worse': Heavy rain, wind as Gabrielle hits NZ; cyclone's latest track
Waikato Herald

'It's getting worse': Heavy rain, wind as Gabrielle hits NZ; cyclone's latest track

11 Feb 04:47 PM

Evacuation centres are today being opened as category three Cyclone Gabrielle bears down.

17 rain, wind warnings/watches as Gabrielle looms, Harbour Bridge may close tomorrow; Air NZ cancels multiple flights
Waikato Herald

17 rain, wind warnings/watches as Gabrielle looms, Harbour Bridge may close tomorrow; Air NZ cancels multiple flights

11 Feb 04:11 AM

Evacuation centres are today being opened as Category 3 Cyclone Gabrielle bears down.

Live: 17 rain, wind warnings/watches for entire North Island as Gabrielle looms; cyclone's latest track
Waikato Herald

Live: 17 rain, wind warnings/watches for entire North Island as Gabrielle looms; cyclone's latest track

11 Feb 01:42 AM

Evacuation centres are today being opened as category 3 Cyclone Gabrielle bears down.

Two youths arrested after allegedly hurting and robbing victims in Raglan
Waikato Herald

Two youths arrested after allegedly hurting and robbing victims in Raglan

10 Feb 07:40 AM

Male and female aged 14 and 16 were found after police executed search warrants today.

Faulty link caused Auckland-Hamilton train carriages to separate mid-trip: Investigators
Waikato Herald

Faulty link caused Auckland-Hamilton train carriages to separate mid-trip: Investigators

14 Dec 04:00 PM

Incident frightened passengers and led to carriages coming to a halt 500m behind the train

Kiwis wake to storms and snowfall as dreary winter weather hits most of NZ
Waikato Herald

Kiwis wake to storms and snowfall as dreary winter weather hits most of NZ

10 Jun 09:30 PM

With severe wind and thunderstorm watches in place, DoC warns it's safer to stay put.

'The home under the pond': Woman fears water catchment will inundate house
Waikato Herald

'The home under the pond': Woman fears water catchment will inundate house

28 Nov 04:13 AM

"I'm struggling at work because this is on my mind, I'm waking up at 4.30am": owner

Grave concerns for missing mum of five, who hasn't been seen since 2018
Waikato Herald

Grave concerns for missing mum of five, who hasn't been seen since 2018

16 Aug 06:59 PM

Police have launched a fresh appeal for information about Auckland woman Leonie Emery.

One person dead in Waikato crash, while pedestrian also hit in Auckland
Waikato Herald

One person dead in Waikato crash, while pedestrian also hit in Auckland

22 Jun 04:46 AM

A pedestrian has hit by a car in Auckland, while another has died in the Waikato.

First-home buyers big winners, prices 'could tumble 10pc'
Property

First-home buyers big winners, prices 'could tumble 10pc'

23 Mar 08:35 PM

Investors have been targeted with tax changes to help stem soaring house prices.

Premium
Buyer beware: Warning over common contract clause that can cost home buyers
Property

Buyer beware: Warning over common contract clause that can cost home buyers

16 Mar 04:00 PM

Single mum Madhu bought a new Auckland home but wonders if she'll ever get to move in.

Premium
Family sell house for $980,000, but cannot afford to buy new Auckland home
Property

Family sell house for $980,000, but cannot afford to buy new Auckland home

28 Feb 04:00 PM

George and Lee just made a big sale, yet still can't afford suitable home in Auckland.

Less than $300k to buy in Epsom: Check out 2020's cheapest house sales
Property

Less than $300k to buy in Epsom: Check out 2020's cheapest house sales

19 Feb 04:00 PM

Find out where you could've bought a classic timber villa for just $15,000.

Investors buy record share of homes as first-home buyers squeezed
Property

Investors buy record share of homes as first-home buyers squeezed

17 Feb 02:39 AM

The biggest housing boom in two decades is taking its toll on first-home buyers: analysts.

Premium
Vacant land sales soar as developers rush to cash in on housing demand
Property

Vacant land sales soar as developers rush to cash in on housing demand

13 Jan 04:00 PM

Pundits hope a jump in vacant land sales helps ease Auckland's pressing housing shortage.

Premium
Where to go to escape Auckland's skyrocketing house prices
Property

Where to go to escape Auckland's skyrocketing house prices

31 Dec 04:00 PM

Can you achieve work-life balance and pay less for your home?

Premium
New Zealand's flashest homes: Take a moment to dream
Property

New Zealand's flashest homes: Take a moment to dream

28 Dec 04:00 PM

Lockdown might even be a joy if you owned one of these stunning properties.

Premium
Revealed: 2020's most expensive home and its All Black billionaire owners
Property

Revealed: 2020's most expensive home and its All Black billionaire owners

27 Dec 04:00 PM

Luxury house sales boomed again in 2020 even without foreign buyers.

NZ already has a capital gains tax - you probably just didn't know it
Property

NZ already has a capital gains tax - you probably just didn't know it

28 Nov 04:05 AM

There is a capital gains tax already on the books, it's just not enforced: Researchers

New house buying frenzy tipped as funding fuel poured on property market
Property

New house buying frenzy tipped as funding fuel poured on property market

11 Nov 04:00 PM

If you thought house prices were high, they could be about to rise even further.

Modest Auckland home sells for $2.4m - and it wasn't bought by a developer
Property

Modest Auckland home sells for $2.4m - and it wasn't bought by a developer

16 Oct 04:00 PM

Developers have been paying big bucks. Now homes are becoming too expensive for even them.

Premium
Exclusive poll: How Kiwis are really feeling about house prices
Property

Exclusive poll: How Kiwis are really feeling about house prices

13 Oct 04:00 PM

Should house prices rise or fall? Kiwis have their say and it may surprise you.

Premium
Election 2020: What's the plan to tackle the housing crisis?  Policies compared
Property

Election 2020: What's the plan to tackle the housing crisis? Policies compared

27 Sep 04:00 PM

How the main political parties plan to deal with house prices and a shortage of homes.

Barfoot & Thompson, others call on National to back Healthy Homes standards
Property

Barfoot & Thompson, others call on National to back Healthy Homes standards

25 Sep 05:00 PM

National wants to scrap new rental standards. Leading agent urges party to reconsider.

'Deeply disappointing': Landlords advised to hold off on heating until election result
Property

'Deeply disappointing': Landlords advised to hold off on heating until election result

06 Sep 07:03 PM

Labour calls landlord advice 'deeply disappointing' and letting down their fellow Kiwis.

Premium
House prices: Find out what your suburb's Auckland Council CV could have been
Property

House prices: Find out what your suburb's Auckland Council CV could have been

11 Jul 05:00 PM

Auckland Council delayed its three-yearly CV estimates. Here's what they could have been.

Premium
The housing market change first-home buyers are begging for
Property

The housing market change first-home buyers are begging for

10 Jul 05:00 PM

First-home buyers are battling to save deposits. This change could make a huge difference.

Premium
Why house prices must fall - and why the news isn't all bad
Property

Why house prices must fall - and why the news isn't all bad

27 May 05:00 PM

Experts and investors take a deep dive into what to expect from post-Covid house prices.

House prices tipped for 7% fall, despite lockdown success
Property

House prices tipped for 7% fall, despite lockdown success

14 May 11:38 PM

Westpac tips house prices to fall 7 per cent by the end of this year.

$1.6m portfolio: Investor buys four properties by age 25
Property

$1.6m portfolio: Investor buys four properties by age 25

11 Apr 07:07 AM

A young Kiwi isn't letting the coronavirus slow him down as he buys his fourth property.

Almost 10 per cent tenants stopped paying rent or left rentals: landlords
Property

Almost 10 per cent tenants stopped paying rent or left rentals: landlords

03 Apr 01:36 AM

Hardship for renters and landlords expected to get worse, property investors say.

Workers on Avatar film accuse landlord of coronavirus profiteering
Property

Workers on Avatar film accuse landlord of coronavirus profiteering

26 Mar 11:33 PM

Three film crew from Avatar's cancelled film set say landlord unfairly pocketed $20,000.

Free or cheaper Airbnb rentals offered to coronavirus medical workers
Property

Free or cheaper Airbnb rentals offered to coronavirus medical workers

26 Mar 08:32 PM

Airbnb wants to match medical workers tackling coronavirus with safe places to stay.

Tenants found moving house during lockdown warned by police
Property

Tenants found moving house during lockdown warned by police

26 Mar 03:17 AM

There is confusion over whether tenants and house sellers and buyers can move homes.

Coronavirus rents: Thousands of Kiwi businesses might not have to pay
Property

Coronavirus rents: Thousands of Kiwi businesses might not have to pay

25 Mar 05:10 AM

Businesses and commercial property owners need to check their leases to see who pays.

Landlords flooded with rent relief requests, tenants want Government help
Property

Landlords flooded with rent relief requests, tenants want Government help

25 Mar 02:04 AM

Landlords and tenants urged to work together because both will need the other in downturn.

House sale confusion: Can buyers move into their new houses?
Property

House sale confusion: Can buyers move into their new houses?

24 Mar 04:00 PM

Settlements and house moving likely to be deferred but no official decision has been made.

Coronavirus lockdown: Wave of uncertainty sweeps NZ property market
Property

Coronavirus lockdown: Wave of uncertainty sweeps NZ property market

23 Mar 06:30 AM

New Zealand's lockdown has raised more questions than answers in the housing market.

Rents frozen: Government to prevent landlords raising residential rents
Waikato Herald

Rents frozen: Government to prevent landlords raising residential rents

23 Mar 01:35 AM

Kiwi renters will get relief from any increases in rent during the immediate crisis.

Auckland first-home buyers at greatest risk from coronavirus pain: experts
Property

Auckland first-home buyers at greatest risk from coronavirus pain: experts

22 Mar 04:00 PM

Banks are urging any customers hit financially by the crisis to contact them early.

ANZ offers NZ's lowest ever home loan rate from a major bank
Property

ANZ offers NZ's lowest ever home loan rate from a major bank

18 Mar 04:20 AM

Bank drops one-year fixed home loan rate to 3.05 per cent.

Airbnb bookings 'collapse' as tourist numbers fall off a cliff
Property

Airbnb bookings 'collapse' as tourist numbers fall off a cliff

18 Mar 04:20 AM

Now some Airbnb owners have turned to targeting guests needing to self-isolate.

KiwiBuild apartments sell seven times faster than other units: report
Property

KiwiBuild apartments sell seven times faster than other units: report

13 Mar 04:00 PM

KiwiBuild flats are the "success story" of the Auckland apartment market, report says.

Māngere Millionaire's Club: Housing boom spreads to South Auckland
Property

Māngere Millionaire's Club: Housing boom spreads to South Auckland

11 Mar 04:00 PM

Humble Māngere home sets a record sale price above the million-dollar mark.

Hong Kong family booted from Airbnb rental over coronavirus fears
Property

Hong Kong family booted from Airbnb rental over coronavirus fears

06 Mar 06:19 PM

Family claim Airbnb rental owner discriminated against them based on their nationality.

Deadly coronavirus looms as threat to red-hot housing market
Property

Deadly coronavirus looms as threat to red-hot housing market

04 Mar 05:36 AM

Virus most likely candidate to topple Auckland's thriving housing market, economist says.

$4m in the pocket: Auckland's biggest property winners
Property

$4m in the pocket: Auckland's biggest property winners

04 Mar 12:57 AM

A Remuera couple recently made a $4m resale gain by selling their mansion.

100 months in a row: NZ house prices haven't fallen since Rugby World Cup 2011
Property

100 months in a row: NZ house prices haven't fallen since Rugby World Cup 2011

02 Mar 04:02 PM

House prices are on a longer winning streak than the All Blacks.

Auckland boom: modest New Lynn home sells for close to twice its CV
Property

Auckland boom: modest New Lynn home sells for close to twice its CV

28 Feb 05:00 PM

A simple New Lynn quarter acre block has sold for close to $2m as Auckland prices heat up.

House prices to grow by 10 per cent and play key role in election
Property

House prices to grow by 10 per cent and play key role in election

18 Feb 04:00 PM

House prices are flying again and threatening to play a big part in the election.

How to get foot on Auckland property ladder from $50k
Property

How to get foot on Auckland property ladder from $50k

17 Feb 10:16 PM

New business offers alternative way to get foot on the property ladder.

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