Anna Leask, specialist in crime and justice reporting for the New Zealand Herald, has covered some of New Zealand’s biggest events, incidents, tragedies and disasters.
Anna Leask is a senior journalist and crime and justice specialist for the New Zealand Herald. From a young age, Anna was an avid storyteller and writer so it was no surprise to anyone when she chose journalism as a career. Anna studied Mass Communications and Sociology at Canterbury University before completing a Post-Graduate Diploma in Journalism in 2005. This led her to her first job at The Star in Christchurch. She spent two years there covering all things crime and court and then made the move to the Herald on Sunday. In 2010, Anna became a police reporter, a role that soon came to be much more about broader crime and justice issues, particularly the people involved. Anna has covered some of the most high-profile crimes and events New Zealand has seen. To name a few, the Pike River mine disaster; the Christchurch quakes; and the unprecedented four-day sentencing of the gunman responsible for the 2019 terror attack. Alongside her daily reporting Anna writes, hosts and produces monthly episodes for the chart-topping podcast 'A Moment In Crime' which won a silver award in the true crime category at the inaugural New Zealand Podcast Awards in 2021. You can contact Anna at anna.leask@nzme.co.nz.
Police dog allegedly choked unconscious during 'dangerous' incident in Avondale
The man's bid to evade police ended soon after his car became stuck on train tracks.
'Reminded every day': Sole survivor of crash that killed four football mates ready for answers
Crash survivor wants answers.
Man who flew from Whangarei to Queenstown without travel exemption probed by police
Investigation underway after man allegedly travelled to Queenstown without exemption.
'Threedom' south of Auckland; police - good compliance at checkpoints, some cars turned away
The latest on New Zealand's Delta outbreak and the fight against Covid-19.
Police out in numbers in bid to prevent Easter long weekend crashes, deaths, disaster
Police will be out in numbers to target unsafe driving on the roads this Easter weekend
More than 130 drug offences racked up by NZDF personnel - most for MDMA
The defence force has punished more than 130 personnel for using illegal drugs since 2014.
Unlawfully detained: NZDF conducting full inquiry into man's military police kidnap allegation
Minister confirms inquiry into "serious" allegation man was kidnapped by military police.
Body buried in backyard: Memorial for Christchurch homicide victim to be held this week
The funeral for alleged murder victim Martin Berry will be held this week in Whanganui.
Man considers kidnap charges against military police after car incident
Man considering kidnap charges against military police officers who 'detained' him.
Wicked, cruel, pitiless mass murderer jailed indefinitely
The man behind the Christchurch terror attack will never be released from prison.
Cruel, depraved 'monster': Mosque gunman will never be released from jail
Christchurch mosque gunman Brenton Tarrant will never be released from jail.
'What courage': Judge commends mosque Eftpos hero, prompting applause from court
On March 15, Abdul Aziz grabbed an Eftpos-card reader and threw it at Tarrant.
Victim's son to gunman: 'You became the trash of society'
Son leaves courtroom calling the man who killed his father a 'piece of s***'.
Tears, heartache, anger and forgiveness as mosque victims face mass killer
Day one of the mosque attacker's sentencing saw victims read impact statements in court
Lois Tolley murder: Another arrest in Upper Hutt execution-style killing
A third man has been charged in relation to the crime.
Desert Rd death: Man jailed for role in alleged shallow grave murder
Judge says Yanlong Piao provided "extensive assistance" to police.
Teen murderer escaped more than an hour before Oranga Tamariki staff noticed
More details emerge on how a teen killer escaped from a youth justice residence.
Killer on the run: Teen murderer missing from Youth Justice facility
Teen jailed for brutal murder escaped from a Youth Justice facility on Friday.
Excuses, lies and sad stories at police lockdown checkpoints
The Weekend Herald joined police on the front line as they set up long weekend checkpoints
Desert Rd human remains: Man at centre of homicide investigation named
Name released in homicide investigation after body found buried off Desert Rd.
Desert Road human remains: Police search West Auckland house
An Auckland house is being searched in connection to a body found buried off Desert Rd
Ohakune manhunt: Tama Rawhiti still sought after police car stolen at gunpoint
Police are still hunting a man they believe stole a patrol car at gunpoint in Ohakune.
Disgraced Ratana Church minister jailed for 'predatory', repeated child sex abuse
Disgraced Maori church minister jailed for child sex offending.
Winter isn't coming New Zealand - it's here, and it's cold, brace yourselves
Temperatures dipped below zero overnight as snow blanketed parts of New Zealand.
Ratana Church minister pleads guilty mid-trial to child sex offences
Trial for Ratana Church Minister ends suddenly after he pleads guilty to all charges
'I just kept my eyes closed' - jury hears details of alleged abuse on boy by Ratana Church minister
First of three complainants in a child sex case against church minister gives evidence.
Ratana Church minister on trial in Auckland for child sex offending
A minister of the Ratana Church is on trial in Auckland for child sex offending
Police reveal how they caught alleged Christchurch gunman
Police who dragged alleged gunman from car following shooting refuse to be called heroes.
The Chase: 'No quick fix' for pursuits and calls for ban on chases
Police Association has welcomed a major review into pursuits.
Police pursuits: Review wants study into why drivers flee
A major review of the police pursuits policy has been released today
The Chase: major review of police pursuits to be released today
A joint review of the police pursuits policy is set to be released today.
The Chase: Son urges drivers not to flee cops
Today the "Herald" launches "The Chase" - a four-day series about police pursuits.
The Chase: 'I'm not at peace' - pursuit death haunts cop
'I thought "Jesus Christ this is my fault, this is my fault, this is really bad".'
Chch pursuit: Dead teens' link to high-profile murder-suicide
Teen brothers killed in Christchurch pursuit crash were the nephews of 1989 murderer.
New charges for Ratana Church minister stood down after allegations of child sex offending
Fresh charges have been laid against a Ratana Church minister accused of child sex abuse.
Woman found dead after riding incident was mum-of-3
"She was an inspiration, a go getter and I loved her company."
Tunnel standoff: Double-decker buses stand by to aid police in removal of man
Extensive traffic delays as police work hard to talk down an armed man.
Man pushed into an open fire dragged himself to creek
A man suffered serious and extensive burns after he was pushed into an open fire on Jan 1
'Wrong place, wrong time': Teen planned to join police before fatal stabbing
Rima Sikei was killed on December 7. Today his brother Semisi speaks.
10 court cases that captivated the country in 2018
We look back at some of the top crimes that captivated our readers in 2018.
Fatal police shooting: Jerrim Toms threatened service station staff before death
A man shot dead by police allegedly threatened to kill staff at a service station earlier
Grace's family: 'She will forever be a Kiwi'
The Millane family have thanked New Zealand for the "outpouring of love".
Judge tells Grace Millane's family 'your grief must be desperate'
New details about the man accused of murdering Grace Millane can now be revealed.
West Auckland house targeted after sex offender outed on Facebook
West Auckland residents are fuming after a "mob" targeted house of sex offender.
First rape at 15: Predator Colin Mitchell's victim speaks
A woman raped by Colin Mitchell in 1973 tells her story after his name suppression lifts
Top cop's depression battle: How I came back from the brink
Auckland detective Jackson Shewry speaks out about the depression that nearly ended him.
Infamous serial killer found dead in prison
Serial killer Hayden Poulter has died in prison less than a month after he was recalled.
Cop almost killed as alleged offender pulls rifle, fires twice at close range
Cop could have been killed last night after an alleged offender tried to fire rifle twice.
Revealed: The 10 Kiwi crims with the longest prison stints
The Herald can reveal who the longest serving inmates in NZ prisons are.
'I'm not a baby killer': Mum vindicated after confessing to crime she didn't commit
Terri Friesen's manslaughter conviction has been quashed 30 years later.
Ratana Church minister on sex charges stood down
A senior Ratana Church minister accused of child sex abuse has been officially stood down
Ratana Church minister accused of child sex offending
A minister of the Ratana Church has been charged with sexual offending against a child.
Budget 2018: $300m boost for police 'commended'
Funding was a key election promise and part of Labour's coalition agreement with NZ First.
Youth justice funding as age increases to 17
The justice system is in crisis and failing children and families, says the Government.
Parole Board won't recall Dean Wickliffe
Career criminal Dean Wickliffe let down by sober driver when he got behind wheel.
Sex abusing dance teacher denied parole
A sex-offending dance teacher has been denied parole for a second time.
'It happened to you, you didn't do it'
Sex abuse survivor didn't tell anyone for 10 years. Now she's urging people to speak up.
Tributes flow for family killed in fire
Tributes are flowing for a young mum and dad and their baby son who were killed in a house fire.
Remembering the Raurimu massacre
On February 8 1997 Stephen Anderson went on a shooting spree at his family lodge just out of the small North Island town of Raurimu
No extra monitoring for serial rapist
Serial sex offender Stewart Murray will not be subject to intensive or extended monitoring, the Department of Corrections has confirmed.
Slain mum 'a fiercely intellectual woman'
The 41-year-old who died after an alleged attack in Remuera loved skiing, equestrian and marathon running and was an "all-round sportswoman".
Jailed Kiwi's internet girlfriend arrested
The internet girlfriend of a Kiwi grandfather jailed in Bali after allegedly smuggling methamphetamine on to the island has been arrested, police say.
Hurt climber uses laces to stay alive
A teenager who fell 100m down Mt Ruapehu might have died if not for his quick thinking - and shoe laces.
Triplet murder: father granted bail
A man who admitted murdering one of his newborn triplets and wounding another is facing life in prison, but has been granted bail.