Raphael Franks is a Multimedia Journalist for the New Zealand Herald, focusing on breaking news, crime, transport and human interest stories.
Raphael hails from Christchurch but made Auckland his home in 2022. While attending Christchurch Boys’ High School from 2014 to 2018, he worked in Coca-Cola Amatil’s bottling plant; and while studying geography at the University of Canterbury, he worked in retail. Marking a total reversal in career ambitions, Raphael was offered the opportunity to join the Te Rito Journalism Cadetship programme in 2022, funded through the Public Interest Journalism Fund. Through this, he got experience working in some of the country’s largest newsrooms and some of the country’s smallest. He began working for the Herald in the same year. During this time, Raphael has covered the Auckland Anniversary Floods, Cyclone Gabrielle, two different shootings on Queen St and another on Ponsonby Rd, the closure of Newshub, the slimming down of TVNZ, and other major news events of the day. You can contact Mr Franks on 027 436 5668 or at raphael.franks@nzme.co.nz.
Watchdog assessing complaints after Woolies' false Milkrun ad pricing
Commerce Commission receives multiple inquiries over Facebook ads for delivery service.
Hundreds of grieving students perform haka for victim of house fire
Navaeh Ngamoki-Porter, 14, was rescued from the burning building, but later died.
Heavy rain, 100km/h winds: Severe storm approaching NZ upgraded to Tropical Cyclone Tam
'It will bring significant weather to the upper North Island late Wednesday to Thursday.'
Warnings upgraded: 140km/h gales, torrential downpours to lash upper North Island for 41hrs
Thunderstorms, 180mm of rain from tonight in upper NI, tree and powerline damage likely.
‘Go on little boy, your mum will be waiting’: Family’s tribute to 4yo killed in dog attack
A small community is shocked by the death and praying for the surviving child.
‘Dangerous and reckless’: Police escort mining company truck away from protesters
The protesters dismissed mining company OceanaGold's description, saying it was 'low-key'.
‘I laid out crystal-clear expectations’: PM got assurance from Bayly he would behave
Bayly gone after putting hand on staffer's arm. Four months ago, he called man a loser.
Destiny Church leader Brian Tamaki facing family heartbreak
The church leader shared details online amid a week of increased attention.
Police pour cold water on potential new sighting of fugitive father Tom Phillips
Police were alerted to four people dressed in camouflage clothes.
Fresh sighting of missing Marokopa fugitive Tom Phillips and his children
The father and his three children were spotted sitting in a layby on State Highway 4.
‘I had to sit down, I was shaking’: Hamilton woman’s shock at $10.5m Powerball win
The woman was rummaging through her handbag when she found several unchecked tickets.
'Wet weekend': Rain, hot muggy nights for start of Auckland Anniversary Weekend
Warm, muggy temperatures cloak the North Island with only one cloudless day.
Fishermen beat shark with broom after beast takes giant tuna's tail
The trio of men beat the shark away as they tried to haul the fish onboard.
Storm hits: Power cuts, road closures as rivers rise in Northland
Severe weather watches and warnings are in force.
‘Extreme care’: Thunderstorms, downpours bear down on Nth Island, wind warnings for harbour bridge
Civil Defence has warned people to keep watch on the incoming storm due from 3pm today.
19hr deluge: Thunderstorms, gales prompt warnings
Civil Defence has warned people to keep watch on the incoming storm due from 3pm today.
Witnesses describe ‘heart-wrenching screams’ in Hamilton attack that killed child
Fairfield residents recall grim details of the violent incident early on New Year's Day.
Roads busy from today as holiday exodus begins, one killed in SH25 crash
Parts of the motorway network will be clogged during the Christmas exodus.
'Chew through your brain': Boy's agonising ordeal after insect crawls into ear
Mother shares advice for others after schoolboy terrified by incident.
Deluges forecast for North Island, Auckland faces thunderstorms and muggy temperatures
Akl forecast to hit 24C tomorrow, 26C on Fri. Hastings could reach 30C in weekend.
Grief-stricken motorcycle community planning final ride for victim of crash that killed three people
Motorcyclist mates determined to give beloved rider the send-off she would have wanted.
Youths missing from bootcamp found as police respond to carjacking, machete-wielding teens in Hamilton
OT confirm two teens missing from bootcamp found. Police found armed youths in stolen car.
Grieving family of nurse killed in crash mourns ‘bubbly’ girl whose last act saved lives
'We know that her life made a difference and it wasn’t wasted.'
Neonatal nurse one of two women killed in rural Auckland crash
Tegan Hill, 25, was working in her "dream career" when a crash claimed her life.
'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.
Hīkoi continues south ahead of Treaty Principles Bill vote
Police say 5000 people crossed the Auckland Harbour Bridge on journey to Wellington.
'I was begging them': Man with broken neck went home fed up after ED wait
"They just didn't take my concerns seriously," Urlich reflects on his ordeal.
Pig hunters report seeing missing Marokopa family, police and helicopters deployed
Two helicopters have been sweeping the Marokopa area today.
Census reveals a wealth of detail about New Zealand’s LGBTIQ+ community
This is the first census that has allowed diverse gender responses.
South Dunedin residents ‘encouraged’ to self-evacuate as flood waters rise
'Risk of flooding, slips are high. Follow the advice of local authorities' - MetService
‘Exceptional situation’: Dunedin residents warned of overnight downpour, asked to stay home
'Risk of flooding, slips are high. Follow the advice of local authorities' - MetService
33-hr drenching: Severe thunderstorms for upper North Island, snowstorms, downpours in south
Snowstorms are also forecast for parts of south. Severe weather alerts are out across NZ.
Police arrest 18yo for allegedly ramming cop car with ute at Hamilton ‘invasion’ boy racer event
Over 1000 people gathered on Saturday night. They shot fireworks at officers.
'He wouldn't wake up': Coroner investigates baby's hospital death
Mother Sharnz Welsh is marking the first anniversary of her son's death.
Auckland scientist’s death on Mt Ruapehu a ‘freak accident’ climbing with friends
Wednesday Davis died on Saturday after falling while climbing Mt Ruapehu.
Snow for Desert Rd, Interislander ferries cancelled as polar blast hits country
Rain forecast for most main centres. Auckland to hit 15C high, fall to 9C low overnight.
$80,000 reward for info on fugitive Tom Phillips set to expire
Search for the dad and his three kids, missing for 30 months, has ramped up recently.
'It is child abuse': Mum of Marokopa kids makes plea - 'bring my babies home'
Phillips has been on the run for 30 months. He's accused of robbing a bank while at large.
Missing Marokopa man's eldest child to mark birthday 30 months after disappearing
Eldest daughter Jayda reaches the milestone as attention on her father ramps up.
Waikeria Prison riot inquiry: Staff failed to deal with armed, drug-smoking inmates
Mongols MC members were together in a prison unit, and had a strong influence on the riot.
Ticket sales close for monster $43m Lotto Powerball jackpot, will you be a winner?
Sales close at 7.30pm and the winning numbers will be drawn about 8.30pm.
Te Pāti Māori wants Māori Parliament, issues declaration of independence
Police say the thousands of protesters were 'well behaved'.
Thousands join protest at Parliament as Govt unveils Budget
The nationwide protests come ahead of the coalition Government's first Budget at 2pm.
Te Pāti Māori protests: Party leaders steadfast in encouraging people out, PM Luxon says it is illegal
Strike action is planned across the country tomorrow with major disruption to traffic.
Te Whatu Ora Waikato breached patient's rights, led to late cancer diagnoses - report
An X-ray found nodules in lungs, but the woman, GP were not told. She died months later.
Alleged long-time mail thief used letters to get fraudulent loans, credit cards - police
Cops executed search warrant at alleged thief's house - found hundreds of stolen letters.
'Third-world stuff': Energy minister praises chilly Kiwis' restraint amid grid crisis
The country’s grid operator issued a warning notice in advance.
'Third-world stuff': Crisis meeting held ahead of grid emergency as polar blast bears down
Friday promises NZ's coldest day of 2024 - and more frosty temperatures are due tonight.
Woman in hospital after being badly beaten with hammer
She escaped to call for help and was taken to hospital with serious injuries.
Rail bridge sagging after floodwater washes away support, KiwiRail suspends trains
People ordered to evacuate homes after more rain dumped around the South Island.
Police arrest man after NZ lawyer's death in Sydney
Mitch East, 28, was hit by a car as he stepped out of an Uber early last Sunday.
'So much potential': Fundraiser for Kiwi lawyer killed in Australia raises over $75,000
“Mitch’s time was far from up and he had so much life left and love to give.”
'Like seeing a UFO': Boaties wowed by close encounter with whale shark
Seven boaties were coming back from the Alderman Islands when they came across the beast.
Coroner names Christopher Taukiri as man shot by police near Matamata
Taukiri allegedly pulled a gun on police and another person. His funeral was on Tuesday.
'Cyclonic vortex' forecast to bring rain for weekend one year since deadly floods
Holiday hotspots around Coromandel and Northland would also see rain, hot temps up to 28C.
Still armed and dangerous: Tom Phillips hiding in or near Marokopa, cops say
Police are continuing to devote resources to find Phillips and his three children.
Raglan drowning: Off-duty surf lifeguard rushes to Manu Bay to try and help man
A group of surfers first noticed the man unresponsive in the water just after 9am today.
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.
Health authorities warn of potential killer heat with more hot days forecast
MetService issues heat alerts in lower North Island, Te Whatu Ora warns of health impacts.
Scorcher! Temperatures of up to 31C expected as people return to work
In Auckland, MetService has forecast highs of 26C through to Friday and 18C lows.
Funding denied: Radio host's family take on debt for daughter's surgery
17-year-old Selah Ritchie will travel from NZ to Germany for treatment.
Watch: Blaze extinguished after residents told to shelter inside from toxic smoke
Emergency services have now brought the fire under control on Te Rapa Rd.
Two arrests on Auckland motorways as Te Pāti Māori protests disperse
Te Pāti Māori says protests planned today are 'just the start' - taking aim at new Govt.
Nationwide protests: All you need to know - locations, times and how to avoid delays
With major disruptions likely, authorities warn commuters to plan ahead tomorrow morning.
Marokopa fugitive dad Tom Phillips: Police reveal 12 more sightings
Latest reports follow 14 unconfirmed sightings of missing father in September.
National cries poor in battle for Port Waikato byelection
Electoral law expert explains why parties can spend double usual advertising budget.
Missing Marokopa fugitive Tom Phillips: All the sightings and what we know
Phillips and kids Jayda, 9, Maverick, 8, Ember, 6, first went missing in September 2021.
Fugitive Marokopa man in Piopio: Dad and child steal quad bike, smash storefront at 2am
Phillips and masked child caught on security footage in Piopio.
Watch: 'F****** close': Dashcam footage reveals bad driving on country's roads
Videos show a BMW making dangerous lane change, and a Landcruiser missing a head-on crash.
Drenching from remnants of Lola to take over from wintry hammering
Winter-like weather will grip New Zealand on Friday then wind will change on Sunday.
Government gives Ruapehu Alpine Lifts another bailout
It is the fourth multimillion-dollar bailout since November last year.
Horror holiday in Fiji after Kiwi snorkeler's head sliced open by boat propeller
Eketone, 42, was on 'much-needed break' abroad when propeller sliced his arteries, skull.
Lake Taupō tragedy: Coroner rules on death of couple found floating on shore
Trevor Wiringi, 50, Helen Smith, 49, both of Rotorua, were found dead on October 16, 2020.
Act Party loses fifth candidate in two months
Other candidates resigned after making controversial comments on COVID-19 vaccines.
Who is the fairest Kiwi town of them all? Finalists for competition announced
Keep New Zealand Beautiful has shortlisted two towns for each category for its comp.
Missing dad wanted for armed bank heist, shooting at supermarket worker
Police have charged Phillips with aggravated robbery, aggravated wounding.
'They were like my children': Woman accuses neighbour of shooting her dogs
Sharna Saunders says she wants to forget what she saw after they were allegedly shot.
'Any information could be the key': Police rely on public in search for Marokopa family
Phillips was spotted four times last Wednesday, reinvigorating search efforts.
Missing Marokopa family: Police boost numbers in Waikato for search
Phillips was spotted four times last Wednesday, reinvigorating search efforts.
Live: Slip closes SH2 at Karangahake Gorge, SH25 Coromandel, more rain coming
Slips have closed highways and roofs have been ripped off as the downpours begin.