Melissa Nightingale is a Senior Reporter for the Herald, based in the Wellington region.
Melissa began working for NZME in 2013 as a journalist at the Whanganui Chronicle, after completing a Diploma in Journalism and a Bachelor of Communications degree at the Waikato Institute of Technology (Wintec). Melissa started on the crime, emergency and health rounds and now specialises in court reporting in her role in the capital - though continues to cover all things Wellington and beyond. She is also the host of the NZ Herald podcast The Fifty Year Secret, which uncovered shocking new evidence in one of New Zealand's oldest cold case murders. Melissa is always on the lookout for great news tips and welcomes the occasional cute animal story to break up the flood of crime. She can be emailed at melissa.nightingale@nzme.co.nz or messaged on X (formerly Twitter) @mel_nightingale.
'I am alive’: Teen rescued after waterfall disaster shares recovery from horror injuries
Maia Johnston has listed her horror injuries in an update video.
Rescued teen describes injuries after ordeal in the bush
Maia Johnston survived through 'sheer determination to live'.
Missing teen suffered fall at waterfall, faces weeks in hospital
The 19-year-old was in the first of many surgeries, her mum said.
'She is alive and that's all that matters': 19yo plucked from bush with broken bones after huge search
The 19-year-old was found in a remote area in the hills of Upper Hutt.
'No one listened to me': Mums share stories of birth trauma to help others
Kiwi mums have shared their stories of birth trauma in a bid to raise awareness.
Couple rescued from Mt Ruapehu in dead of night as 'intense' weather sets in
The couple hoped to get off the mountain before bad weather set in, but became lost.
Missing boat of man who fell overboard, spent day floating in ocean, found 170km away
Will Fransen, 61, fell off the boat and spent 24 hours floating alone on January 2.
'Strange bond': Two men's near-identical ordeals surviving alone in the ocean
Rob Hewitt has reflected on his own ordeal of floating alone at sea for 72 hours.
'Glad to see you': First words of man rescued after almost 24 hours in the sea
The man used the reflection of the sun on his watch to catch his rescuers' attention.
Hamilton homicide: Woman, 24, charged with assault after man found dead in driveway
A woman has been charged with assault, and police say more charges are likely.
Final results? Recounts? Overhangs? What you need to know about the election from here
The Herald answers your questions on what happens now.
Revealed: The candidates who got the least votes
Some candidates scraped together just a meagre handful of votes.
Century-old mortuary table from old hospital up for sale
Hamilton man Jay denied he was selling it for haunting reasons.
Woman's 'excruciating' hot water bottle accident
Erin Majurey could instantly feel her skin blistering after the hot water bottle burst.
Tribal Huk gang leader appeals axe attack conviction
Pink's lawyer said the judge did not adequately warn the jury about misidentification.
Police name victim of fatal skydiving accident in Tauranga
The dead man was an experienced skydiver on a solo jump.
Whangamatā riot: Cafe loses thousands in food products
The cafe spokesman said it was a 'free for all' on the night.
'Death sentence': Elderly tourists fear returning home
Liz Capaldi said returning home without a vaccine could be a "death sentence".
Matamata virus cluster linked to St Patrick's Day event
There are nine cases linked to the event at a local business
Stop-go killer appeals conviction
Some evidence should never have gone before the jury, Quinton Winders' lawyer says.