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.
10,000 complaints, three evictions: The numbers behind Kāinga Ora's 'crackdown'
Housing Minister Megan Woods says moving tenants to new locations is also an option.
Parents and teachers sound alarm over ‘king of toxic masculinity’ Andrew Tate
Education officials have been warned about a possible 'generation of radicals'.
‘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
Manufacturers Dahua and Hikvision both have reported links to the Chinese Communist Party.
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
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
Thousands at Waitangi dawn powhiri as country welcomes national day.
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
Newstalk ZB can reveal British American Tobacco has called in the lawyers.
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
Health Minister Andrew Little wants financial support for students 'as soon as possible'.
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
In the year to August, 81,000 hours had been remitted.
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
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
The building has lights going all night despite being unused and vacant since May.
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
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
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
There was plenty of diplomacy on display at this year's event.
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
Officials were effectively running blind, despite 'highly threatening and violent' events.
$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
Documents show China is seeking a big Pacific deal.
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'
Documents reveal official warnings over service wait times for eating disorders.
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
'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
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
New Zealand's inflation crisis isn't just squeezing Kiwis at the pump.
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
Govt was warned its efforts to tackle housing issues could be hampered by wood shortages.
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'
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
Music remix and video played at summer festivals and other key events.
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'
We're winning the fight against the virus, but it comes at a cost.