Kelly Makiha, a Multimedia Journalist at the Rotorua Daily Post, specialises in court and police reporting.
I started work as a Multimedia Journalist at the Rotorua Daily Post as an 18 year-old in 1996 and I am still here, loving every single day. I wanted to be a journalist since I was a child and remember making my mum follow the flashing lights of emergency services so I could see what was happening. I started writing for my local newspaper in Timaru when I was a young teen and knew then that this was the job for me. I made the move to the Rotorua Daily Post and it was meant to be a stepping stone but I fell in love with this city, got married and we are now raising our three children here. I have covered all rounds but specialise in court and police reporting and have been chief reporter or assistant editor for most of my career. I am now back doing what I love – writing stories that matter, holding people and organisations to account, celebrating heroes, paying tribute to amazing lost loved ones and using my role to highlight issues to make a difference. Each day I’m honoured to be surrounded by a group of professionals who work hard and believe in what we do.
'State of disbelief': Man in court accused of murdering Tokoroa father
Rapana Heretini, a father of two, died on May 29 at Waikato Hospital.
Former cop's dying regret over 50yo Mona Blades mystery
Mona Blades disappeared while hitch-hiking from Hamilton to Hastings on May 31, 1975.
Do not pass Go: Farmer, 75, must report to jail after losing appeal
Warren Koberstein was convicted of severe animal cruelty offences.
Man’s drink-driving conviction overturned on appeal after lawyer, police errors
Zebulon Lawrance was more than twice the legal drink driving limit but has been let off.
Lifetime’s work ‘gone’: Farmer fights animal cruelty jail sentence
A jury found he failed to properly feed 834 pregnant sheep, 86 cattle and 32 heifers.
Questions raised around spa pool death of 3-year-old Travis
Travis Mallett, age 3, died after a spa pool incident in Reporoa.
‘Profoundly disturbing’: Men who paid for sex with 13-year-old sentenced
Three men were sentenced in Rotorua on Friday to home detention.
Fatal fight: Jury reaches verdict on logger who claimed self-defence
A jury has reached a verdict in the Nathan Moscrip High Court manslaughter case.
‘A blameless life’: Teacher supplied drugs to teens, sought to avoid conviction
'He was well-liked and respected in the community, or was until this happened.'
Man on trial accused of killing his friend after fight over messages to girlfriend
Moscrip says he was defending himself after Ruatara had confronted him angrily.
Motocross rider, 10, would have died instantly, inquest hears
A pathologist says there was nothing any of the first responders could have done.
Man admits causing hunter's death in Te Urewera firearms incident
A man charged with careless use of a firearm causing death has appeared in court.
'I was his prey': Mobster tortured woman, left her naked in street
Richard Paru was high on methamphetamine when he tortured a woman in her own home.
Rotorua teen prostitution ring: Five men admit being customers
Details have been revealed about five men caught up in an underage prostitution ring.
'Watching pornos a reason to go to jail': Barbs fly between senior Māori MPs over haka row
Rawiri Waititi defends party's MP after she copped criticism from Shane Jones.
Rotorua rides high on Whaka 100 success
Taupō's Sammie Maxwell has reclaimed her title.
Man appears in court over hunter's death
Sean Kavanagh appeared in the Rotorua District Court today.
Kebab shop boss made underpaid migrant staff repay pay rises
Ripped-off workers owed thousands in unpaid wages, holiday pay and for the repayments.
Maccas takeover: Couple sell three McDonald's restaurants - but eye up another nine
They've had the 'time of our lives' but are ready for a new challenge.
Farmhand impales two cows after botching common farming practice
He was trying to get them back on their feet. Instead, they had to be put down.
Tokoroa teacher killer 'happy to die' in prison as he goes before parole board
The man who killed Tokoroa teacher Lois Dear has applied for parole for the first time.
'Terrified': Mobster on meth carjacks couple, speeds off sitting on driver
Woman pinned to seat by tattooed gangster struggled to breathe, says judge.
'He’s a mongrel': Victims' families push back as killers of Kiwi women seek parole
The murders of two women by strangers rocked New Zealand.
'I really miss my dad': How a truck driver's measurement error killed a 'hero' father
'To the man who took my hero, my daddy, away: You have ruined the rest of my years.'
Engineer jailed over fraud linked to almost 1000 properties
It's been described as possibly the biggest-ever building industry scam in New Zealand.
'Malnourished and emaciated': Farmer found guilty in animal cruelty case
A jury has reached verdicts relating to an animal cruelty case.
'Dramatic' collision: Driver sentenced after farmer killed
Tamihana Curtis says he blacked out. A judge rejected the claim.
Name suppression lapses for Taupō man charged with murder
The man accused of murdering Brodie Ruatara has appeared in the High Court.
'You stole my life': How woman survived decades of stepdad's sexual abuse
Jodie Nicoll has had automatic name suppression lifted so she can tell her story.
Mother who murdered, abused toddler sentenced to life imprisonment
The 18-month-old was malnourished and was covered in bruises, scratches and nappy rash.
From dreams to jail: Why cannabis growers got involved in 'massive' $4.2m syndicate
Why they did it. The masterminds behind a massive drug-growing syndicate are sentenced.
'You call that justice?': Sex abuser given home detention
Reginald Scouse took a boy to a church and performed a sexual act on him.
Murder-accused mother on the run recaptured
Woman accused of killing of her 18-month-old daughter and who was on the run found.
Mum accused of toddler's murder cuts off monitoring bracelet, on the run
A mother who was to stand trial for murdering her toddler is on the run.
Man appears in court following firearms incident
A man charged relating to a firearms incident on Te Ngae Rd has today appeared in court.
Month-long sting catches 130 drink-drivers
Kelly_Makiha_FEB16.eps A month-long sting in the Bay of Plenty and Waikato targeting drink-drivers caught 130 people over the limit. The