Natalie Akoorie is a senior reporter based in Waikato reporting crime and justice issues nationally.
Natalie first joined the Herald in 2011 and has been a journalist in New Zealand and overseas for 28 years, more recently covering health, social issues, local government, and the regions. She began her career at the Waitomo News in 1995 having graduated from a two-year Diploma of Media Arts at the former Waikato Polytechnic. In 1999 she moved to London and worked as chief reporter and deputy news editor at the Hounslow Chronicle and its stable of newspapers, covering the police beat and council. She also freelanced at the Guardian and for a national educational magazine in Cambridge. Natalie has also worked at a business travel magazine in Sydney, the Rodney Times, Whakatāne Beacon, Sunday News, and Waikato Times where she was deputy chief reporter before joining the Herald as a regional reporter in Hamilton in 2011. After a stint as Local Democracy Reporting editor at RNZ in 2021, Natalie returned to the Herald as Open Justice deputy editor in 2022. She has been nominated for several national media awards over the years including Newspaper Story of the Year in 2010 and Reporter of the Year in 2018, and she won a Regional Journalism Scholarship in 2020. In 2023 Natalie was named Runner-Up Regional Journalist of the Year. Natalie has covered a wide range of rounds throughout her 28-year career and has a special interest in the regions, women's health, disability rights, social issues, and in seeking answers for patients in a failing health system. You can contact Natalie at natalie.akoorie@nzme.co.nz.
Strangulation: The cruel method of control that can be a precursor to murder
New Zealand introduced a strangulation law five years ago. Is it making any difference?
School counsellors win $1.8m in damages for workplace stress over student suicides, deaths
Guidance counsellors spent decade in legal battle with high school over workplace stress.
Doctor failed to disclose police charges and Australian investigation
GP struck off a second time for criminal convictions including assault and dishonesty.
'Heartbreaking': Man lived in windowless room before his death
An inquest into Joseph Bruce Carter's death is traversing issues in mental health care.
'I feel like I'm really going to kill you': Man told girlfriend locked in house
Sean Wilson savagely attacked his partner, beating and kicking her in the head and face.
Defamation claim against Stuff, reporter largely unsuccessful
The verdicts are in, in the trial for defamation against Stuff but is the case over?
Court told angry ticket holders result of event organisers' own actions
Defence claims no defamation in articles by Stuff about Cherry Tree Festival cancellation.
News stories resulted in online abuse, lawyer in defamation case claims
Plaintiffs say they suffered mental anguish and reputational damage following stories.
'Deliberate neglect': Sharemilker broke the tails of 116 cows
Four cows had to have their tails amputated because their injuries were so severe.
The girl next door: OnlyFans star Lisa Lewis loses in stoush with neighbour
Lisa Lewis has moved out of the house next to Cosmopolitan Club after bitter battle.
Can hair loss clinic owner call himself ‘Dr Raj’ if he’s not NZ registered medical doctor?
His website included a reference to Dr Raj being a third-generation doctor.
'I could just see her blood pressure drop': Son's final moments with dying mum
Now, 13 years on, a coroner will decide how Carmen Walker died during a medical procedure.
Nurse tasked with checking on mentally unwell man worked double shift
Addicted to synthetic cannabis, he was sent to a care home near a 'tinny house'.
'Silo' effect meant doctors failed to detect cause of Carmen Walker's death
Pathologist claims Carmen Walker's death at Waikato Hospital 13 years ago was iatrogenic.
Surgeon burned his note of medical procedure that killed patient
Surgeon in charge of Carmen Walker's procedure grilled over volume of fluid in bucket.
Hospital disposed of potential evidence in patient death case
Blood drained during the procedure was thrown away with other disposable waste.
'Tears on his cheeks': Cause of patient death still haunts family, doctor
The doctor who blew the whistle on a hospital death claims the case was covered up.
'Pig poo': Piggery under investigation over effluent discharge
Waikato Regional Council said the court order was unprecedented for the region.
'Vexatious': Restraining order imposed on controversial advocate
A judge said years of proceedings brought by Halse in one case were an abuse of process.
Outsourcing elective surgeries was costing Waikato DHB $25m a year
Public hospital hired consultant for $2.4 million to reduce $25m outsourcing bill.
Young dad-to-be who raped sleeping woman gets sentence reduced
A man found guilty of raping a sleeping woman has had his sentence cut by one year.
'Two broken ankles': Victim of inflatable slide collapse to get $10k
TCDC failed to do due diligence on operator with a poor safety record.
Covid booster not to blame for fatal heart attack - but St John apologises for 111 delay
Nurse had no history of heart problems before she died.
Three Waters: Councils' effort to keep control of water assets fails
What the High Court said about a district council's challenge to Three Waters legislation.
'Stressed and extremely undervalued': Underpaid nail salon worker had to take preschooler to work at night
The owner of a nail salon has been ordered to pay her migrant worker $35,187.
'Humiliated, embarrassed, emasculated': The trigger for a murder
Adrian Phillips and Bayden Williams were once friends. Now one is dead, the other jailed.
Waikato woman admits role in P, GBL drug ring
Sharon Marfell was a senior member of a drugs distribution syndicate in the Waikato.
Murder accused had no option but to shoot, says defence
Closing submissions from the Crown and defence counsel for Adrian Phillips are under way.
Murder accused tells court he feared for his life when he shot and killed old friend
Adrian Phillips has described to a court the moment he shot at a former mate.
'Giant heartbroken baby': Murder accused says he broke down
Adrian Phillips banged his head against the wall to feel better after a serious accident.
'Being nato': Murder accused shot victim three times
Ngātea man Adrian Phillips is accused of murdering Bayden Williams in August 2020.
'I had to choose between my brother and sister': Afghan interpreter
The extended families of some Afghan interpreters are not eligible for crucial services.