Lynley Ward is a reporter and news director for the New Zealand Herald.
We are your advocate, Aotearoa. Uncovering stories that matter, asking hard-hitting questions of those in power, live-blogging sport events, monitoring the highs and lows of the NZX and providing Premium expert opinion and analysis. Bringing you distinctive, quality journalism and breaking news from across New Zealand and around the world. With specialists working together to create indepth reads, engaging video, and unmissable podcasts.
Auckland to miss out on online voting
Aucklanders won't be able to choose their next council at the click of a mouse because it is too big.
Kicked out of home for carparks
About 40 residents of Auckland's council-owned properties face being kicked out of their homes to make way for 44 carparks.
A lolly to make your skin crawl
An exotic deadly arachnid with a fearsome reputation is a key ingredient of a lollipop at a popular Auckland sweet shop.
Hero mum's second chance
The hero mum-of-six who suffered serious head injuries as she came to the aid of a shopper being mugged says she has been given a second chance at life.
Coastal property lags behind city prices
Coastal real estate continues to lag well behind soaring city prices with latest capital value ratings reflecting slow property market trends.
Seasoned rivals in TV contest
One couple on the upcoming season of the hit TV show recently sold a designer home for more than $1 million on Auckland's rural west coast.
Foot fetishist foiled by police
A man with a foot fetish has been kicked out of the University of Auckland after taking illicit photos of female students' feet.
Police seek fugitive after stabbing
Police want to speak to Bensemann Vakauta, after a man was stabbed in an apartment at the former Auckland Railway Station yesterday.
College match turns abusive
A schoolboy football player and a referee are in hot water over a testy exchange that allegedly involved spitting and forced a match to be abandoned.
City kids board to beat traffic
Parents are forking out tens of thousands of dollars in boarding fees to spare children from being stuck in commuter traffic travelling to and from school.
Matariki this year gets risque
An R-rated burlesque haka has been added to this year's Maori New Year line-up.
Police sex scandal worsens
The police unit rocked by allegations two staff tried to entice a woman into a sexual tryst by sending her lewd footage is also under investigation over bullying allegations.
Doctor in training - aged 11
Young cancer survivor Samir Azizi has learned so much about his disease he plans to be an oncologist. At just 11, he is already being asked by hospital staff to explain procedures to young patients.
Taste of Pacific for thousands
Cook Island dancers thrilled some of the 60,000 visitors who flocked to the popular Pasifika Festival at Auckland's Western Springs yesterday.
Auckland prepares for big weekend
A temporary headquarters has been set up to manage massive crowds expected in Auckland this weekend for the NRL Auckland Nines, Rapture and the Lantern Festival.
School donation tops $1000
A top Auckland secondary school is asking parents to shell out more than $1000 when their sons return to class in two weeks' time.
Travellers sought in measles scare
Passengers on the same flight as a baby with measles are being tracked the length of the country as health authorities try to halt the march of the highly contagious disease.
Alert over measles outbreak
Holidaymakers heading to Taupo, Turangi or Australia have been urged to make sure they're fully immunised after a measles outbreak.
Poorer girls face school shut-out
Girls from poorer suburbs may be shut out of a top Catholic girls' school in one of Auckland's richest suburbs when an enrolment zone is introduced this year.
Chuang pays price for affair
Bevan Chuang confesses that revealing her affair has come at a cost, as she is dropped from prominent roles in community organisations.