Aaron Dahmen, Chief Political Reporter for Newstalk ZB, has covered every major political story out of New Zealand in recent times.
I started at NZME in 2019, and have covered every major political story out of New Zealand in recent times, including the 2020 general election, COVID-19 pandemic, Pacific Islands Forum, Government Budgets, National Party leadership spills, the New Lynn supermarket terrorist attack, Waitangi, and Rātana. I’ve broken a wide range of exclusive stories, travelled overseas with Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, and made international appearances on BBC UK/World Service and ABC, among others. I previously worked at TVNZ, before moving to Newstalk ZB/NZME in Wellington's Parliamentary Press Gallery. I was named Best New Broadcaster – Journalist at the 2021 New Zealand Radio Awards. I’ve also been a finalist at the Voyager New Zealand Media Awards and New Zealand Radio Awards.
![‘Police are seen as fair game’: Assaults on police nearly double](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=795)
‘Police are seen as fair game’: Assaults on police nearly double
Newstalk ZB can reveal officers reported more than 1000 attacks in the past year.
![CCTV cameras made by state-owned Chinese firms found in NZ Govt buildings, MP's home](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=795)
CCTV cameras made by state-owned Chinese firms found in NZ Govt buildings, MP's home
Manufacturers Dahua and Hikvision both have reported links to the Chinese Communist Party.
![Road use up, smaller share of transport cash going to roads](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=795)
Road use up, smaller share of transport cash going to roads
Severe weather events have put the country’s roading network in sharp focus.
![Revealed: TikTok staff in China – and four other countries - can access NZ user data](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=795)
Revealed: TikTok staff in China – and four other countries - can access NZ user data
The social media giant maintains data is stored in Singapore and the United States.
![Waitangi Day 2023: Political leaders call for a united front at this year's dawn ceremony](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=795)
Waitangi Day 2023: Political leaders call for a united front at this year's dawn ceremony
Thousands at Waitangi dawn powhiri as country welcomes national day.
![Revealed: Govt's multi-million dollar bill on empty building](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=795)
Revealed: Govt's multi-million dollar bill on empty building
More than $2m was dished out in just four months.
![Exclusive: Tobacco giant's legal threat to Government over vaping](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=795)
Exclusive: Tobacco giant's legal threat to Government over vaping
Newstalk ZB can reveal British American Tobacco has called in the lawyers.
![NZ launches multi-agency probe after report of China-run police station](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=795)
NZ launches multi-agency probe after report of China-run police station
There are over a hundred such stations across 53 countries, the report found.
![Government considering paid placements for nursing students](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=795)
Government considering paid placements for nursing students
Health Minister Andrew Little wants financial support for students 'as soon as possible'.
![Govt ministry spends $100k on new website - then scraps it](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=795)
Govt ministry spends $100k on new website - then scraps it
The link to the curriculum wellbeing page still shows up as blank.
![Revealed: Why Govt wiped tens of thousands of community service work hours](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=795)
Revealed: Why Govt wiped tens of thousands of community service work hours
In the year to August, 81,000 hours had been remitted.
![Revealed: Govt falling well short of 2025 electric fleet goal](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=795)
Revealed: Govt falling well short of 2025 electric fleet goal
Govt wanted all vehicles to be electric or hybrid by 2025 - but they're not even close.
![Warning for NZ's Pacific efforts after China-Solomons telco deal](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=795)
Warning for NZ's Pacific efforts after China-Solomons telco deal
Beijing will loan more than $100m to the Solomon Islands for Huawei mobile towers.
![Lights on, but anyone home? Govt's $21k power bill on evacuated building](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=795)
Lights on, but anyone home? Govt's $21k power bill on evacuated building
The building has lights going all night despite being unused and vacant since May.
![Spring Hill prison nightmare - staff sent to hospital after attacks](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=795)
Spring Hill prison nightmare - staff sent to hospital after attacks
Out-of-control inmates have caused chaos at Waikato's Spring Hill prison.
![Revealed: How many Kiwis have cashed in on Govt clean-car scheme](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=795)
Revealed: How many Kiwis have cashed in on Govt clean-car scheme
Programme 'exceeding expectations', Govt says - but Opposition question the numbers.
!['Preaching to the choir': Govt's $638k ad spend on half-price public transport slammed](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=795)
'Preaching to the choir': Govt's $638k ad spend on half-price public transport slammed
Transport Minister says it made sense to focus on Kiwis who were 'really open to it'.
![Australia heckles, sneakers and spies - inside PM's Pacific push](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=795)
Australia heckles, sneakers and spies - inside PM's Pacific push
There was plenty of diplomacy on display at this year's event.
![Revealed: Corrections Minister steps in over prison riot squads](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=795)
Revealed: Corrections Minister steps in over prison riot squads
A Newstalk ZB investigation found Corrections was in the dark over call-outs.
![Prison riot teams under microscope after Newstalk ZB investigation](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=795)
Prison riot teams under microscope after Newstalk ZB investigation
Officials were effectively running blind, despite 'highly threatening and violent' events.
![$6 million Govt support plan to thwart ram raiders](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=795)
$6 million Govt support plan to thwart ram raiders
$6 million from Proceeds of Crime Fund used to fight ram raids
![China dangles Pacific pact - with strings](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=795)
China dangles Pacific pact - with strings
Documents show China is seeking a big Pacific deal.
![Revealed: Prisoners caught in hand sanitiser booze-up](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=795)
Revealed: Prisoners caught in hand sanitiser booze-up
Ten inmates charged after allegedly getting drunk at Waikeria Prison.
![NZ's eating disorder 'crisis': Fears young 'will die on waiting lists'](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=795)
NZ's eating disorder 'crisis': Fears young 'will die on waiting lists'
Documents reveal official warnings over service wait times for eating disorders.
![Taxpayers forked out $800,000 for jobs expos - only 126 attended](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=795)
Taxpayers forked out $800,000 for jobs expos - only 126 attended
Taxpayers pay over $800K for job expos run by the Ministry of Social Development.
!['His name was Kane' - Act MP opens up on her private tragedy](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=795)
'His name was Kane' - Act MP opens up on her private tragedy
'I had the cool family life, with the house, the fence, the man, and the dog.'
!['Expensive failure': NZ's cost per prisoner hits $150,000 a year](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=795)
'Expensive failure': NZ's cost per prisoner hits $150,000 a year
The total cost of the country's prisons has risen $140 million since 2018/19.
![Inflation Nation: Crisis a pain in Kiwis' backsides, toilet paper prices spike](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=795)
Inflation Nation: Crisis a pain in Kiwis' backsides, toilet paper prices spike
New Zealand's inflation crisis isn't just squeezing Kiwis at the pump.
![Inside NZ's 'cooked' rental market](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=795)
Inside NZ's 'cooked' rental market
OPINION: Looking for a room can be tedious, frustrating, and mind-numbing.
![Housing building crisis: Govt minister suggests limiting timber exports to ensure local supply](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=795)
Housing building crisis: Govt minister suggests limiting timber exports to ensure local supply
Govt was warned its efforts to tackle housing issues could be hampered by wood shortages.
![Government ministry lukewarm on jobs for women strategy](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=795)
Government ministry lukewarm on jobs for women strategy
Officials from two ministries don't always see eye-to-eye on proposed action.
![Student nurses intake stalls, pleas to 'reverse trend'](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=795)
Student nurses intake stalls, pleas to 'reverse trend'
The number of people studying nursing has hit a near-decade low last year.
![Covid 19: Ashley Bloomfield music clip cost $40k of taxpayer money](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=795)
Covid 19: Ashley Bloomfield music clip cost $40k of taxpayer money
Music remix and video played at summer festivals and other key events.
![Meet the Minister: Ayesha Verrall's keen medical vision now in Cabinet](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=795)
Meet the Minister: Ayesha Verrall's keen medical vision now in Cabinet
New minister Ayesha Verrall: "I just try and focus on what I'm here to do".
!['I'm glad we're beating Covid - but Christmas is hard without mum'](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=795)
'I'm glad we're beating Covid - but Christmas is hard without mum'
We're winning the fight against the virus, but it comes at a cost.