Cherie Howie is a reporter with the New Zealand Herald specialising in general news and features.
Cherie Howie has been a reporter at the New Zealand Herald since 2011, starting at the Herald on Sunday and continuing with the NZ Herald daily and the Weekend Herald. She’s from Motueka and studied at the University of Canterbury in Christchurch and Aoraki Polytechnic in Timaru before working in Dunedin, Invercargill, Blenheim and overseas, including stints at the Southland Times and the Marlborough Express. She specialises in general news and features, and is most interested in us - how we live, what makes us tick, our triumphs and challenges and, when they tell us something new, stories from our past. The work Cherie is most proud of was a 6-month project showing that 40 years after the Erebus disaster, 257 dead was not just a number, working with families of almost 150 of those on board flight TE901 to tell the stories of adventurous souls who set off on a big adventure, and never came home. In 2021 she also tracked down the whereabouts, and sometimes dramatic tales of adventure, of the summer Olympic Games’ gold medals Kiwi athletes have brought home since the first, swimmer Malcolm Champion’s as part of the triumphant Australasian freestyle relay team in 1912. Cherie can be contacted at cherie.howie@nzme.co.nz.

Watch: Thousands gather for Anzac Day Commemorations around NZ
The national day of remembrance for fallen servicemen and women begins with dawn services.

‘My Davey will come home’: The ‘dead’ WWII soldier who lived
David Dawson's name is on two war memorials. But he didn't die a soldier.

'Biblical storm': 750 lightning strikes hit Auckland
'These thunder slaps are godlike', wrote one Aucklander after a sleepless night for many.

‘Inaction is not an option’: Mum wants neighbour’s tree removed after Cyclone Tam fright
Girl, 10, and nanny had lucky escape when part of a tree fell on a car they'd just exited.

'Is this real?': Two Instant Kiwi millionaires crowned 17 min apart
Husband kept scratchie win secret from wife for two days over fear they hadn't really won.

SAS soldier's miraculous survival after 100km/h skydiving crash
A skydiving crash nearly took Jono Magee's life. This is how he was saved.

Philip Polkinghorne claims Covid-19 vaccine led to wife's death
Ex-eye doctor – acquitted of murdering wife last year – spoke extensively for documentary.

'No words': Boy with brain tumour offered dream Disneyland trip
Hone’s father said the garage sale exceeded the family's expectations with donations.

'Beautiful': 9yo with brain tumour selling toys for first trip on plane
Hone Hillman is selling toys out of his mum's garage so he can visit his favourite cousin.

Winter arrives early as thick snow falls in the South
The first snowfall of the year makes landfall following a day of wild weather.

Police arrest eight teens in crime rampage, two charged over Mānawa Bay jewellery smash-and-grab
Police arrested eight youths, aged 15 to 19, during a day of violence.

On The Up: Perspective, confidence and balance - top Kiwis share the secrets to their success
On The Up: How four inspirational New Zealanders keep focused on their goals.

Settled weather for most after late-week deluge and rescue dramas
Some places received almost half a metre of rain in the late-week drencher.

Homicide investigation launched after fatal Manurewa stabbing
Police said a man was found critically injured with stab wounds overnight.

King sends message as sacked UK High Commissioner Phil Goff prepares to leave London
Goff is expected to leave the UK this weekend.

Police take ‘enforcement action’ over Destiny Church haka on motorway
Dozens flooded on to the busy motorway - halting traffic - in the November incident.

Police sweep Auckland high school after ‘credible’ email threat, principal says
Waiuku College went into lockdown before 9am due to a credible threat.

‘Human error’: Skydiver crash lands in powerlines
Power out north of city after 'experienced' skydiver's crash landing.

Pedestrian killed on motorway struck by at least three vehicles - none stopped
Police are urging the motorists involved to "do the right thing and come forward".

‘Fearless’: Flip-flop-wielding great-granddad fends off dogs attacking Auckland neighbour
'They bit him on the elbow and on the hand.'

‘Let me just play for five more minutes’: Partner on beach as swimmer swept to death at Piha
Partner held on to hope for 'miracle' before body found after swimmer caught in rip.

‘Big dreams’: Missing Piha swimmer wanted to buy house with partner; body found on nearby beach
'Devastated' family now trying to fly to NZ from India.

Watch: Cyclist spins through the air after collision, confronts pensioner driver at home
‘How the hell?’, grandmother says after cyclist told her to pay $12,000 in bike repairs.

Police officer accused of perjury over speed radar qualification
Police mistakenly certified untrained officer to use speed radar device, court told.

‘Software malfunction’: IT outage hits Auckland public hospitals
Hospitals across the city were affected by the outage.

‘A little bit of everything’: Long-weekend weather a mixed bag for Aucklanders
Heavy rainfall warnings have also been issued in the North and South Islands.

Smoke warning for West Auckand after fire on Māngere Mountain
Smoke from the blaze drifted as far west as Piha, prompting a Fire and Emergency warning.

‘A very different future’: Meet NZ's first Generation Beta baby
Obesity could end, and increased diversity may topple 'anti' politics in a Gen Beta world.

‘Love you mum’: 501 sentenced for stealing $249k Porsche before police pursuit
Pinched Porsche 911 eventually recovered after dramatic wrong-way police pursuit.

Large fire at former Centrepoint commune overnight
The commune - which was led by convicted sex offender Bert Potter - had a dark history.

‘A hole in all our lives’: Young, married mum of three killed in crash
The hospital nurse who died 'touched the lives of so many' – friend.

Oriental fruit fly: Legal controls on fruit, vege announced for Papatoetoe – Biosecurity NZ
The restrictions announced today are expected to last at least two weeks.

Watch: Ocean swimmers bust alleged poachers at marine reserve
'You betcha they didn't expect to see us,' swimmer says of boaties caught with '200 fish'.

‘Keep track of your kids’: Multiple assaults in Wānaka mass disorder involving 300 drunk youths
Holidaying teens have been involved in violent altercations and excessive drinking.

Hot cross what? Easter buns on sale six days after Christmas
Buns representing Jesus Christ's death on sale days after celebrations marking his birth.

Dame Lydia Ko and honours for former All Blacks coaches and My Food Bag founders
Champion golfer among six new dames and knights.

‘Our best year on the roads in a century’: Road toll falls below 300 for the first time in a decade
"Have we seen people starting to make safer choices when they’re driving?"

‘Our rainbow baby’: Christmas a time of new life for couple after daughter’s death
'We’ll always be a family with three kids, even if one is not around,' Dad says.

‘It's magical’: Kiwi teacher working as Santa's elf in Lapland village
Experiencing phenomena like the Northern Lights makes up for long work hours, Kiwi says.

Spate of crashes leave one dead, several injured and part of SH1 closed
Seven people have died in road crashes around the country since Wednesday.

'The supermodels of the dog world': What it's like to own a greyhound
Racing dogs also 'incredibly lazy' in retirement, a rescue owner says.

Ex-rugby player fired from teaching job over misconduct allegations to return to work
Commissioner's decision puts teacher’s ‘mana ahead of the law’, former board leader says.

Watch: ‘I just embraced the Steve Irwin instincts in me’: Brothers rescue beached shark with bare hands
Brothers showed “fantastic empathy”, but expert sounds warning for set net users.

Praise for stabbed security guard as police minister visits hospital
“We shudder to think what could’ve happened if knife-wielding offender wasn’t stopped."

We're expecting! How Jack Tame predicted his wife's pregnancy
'It’s amazing how much a line on a stick can change your life,' popular radio host says.

'Reckless, unlawful, irresponsible': Police furious at Tamaki's highway convoy
Police say thousands of people were affected by Saturday's convoy.

Tamaki blasts lack of respect for NZ flag after leading highway-blocking convoy
Destiny Church leader, supporters are protesting the flying of flags other than NZ's.

Former Tipene Funerals undertaker accused of misconduct denies charges
Former Casketeers' undertaker Fiona Bakulich is accused of putting bodies in plastic bags.

‘Wettest day since 1979’: State of emergency for Westland as flooding causes evacuations, road closures, slips
Part of SH6 will stay closed all weekend due to flooding, fallen trees and slips.

Derailed: Auckland trains won't be running for 96 days over coming 13 months
One last push: Acting mayor says the closures are "unfortunately necessary".

'I birthed my niece and nephew': Auckland surrogate makes sister-in-law a mum
Like the fictional Phoebe in Friends, Rebecca Haworth helped her brother become a dad.

‘Assault incident’ at Z petrol station in Papatoetoe leaves two injured, one critically
A 'sharp' weapon was involved and one person was critically injured, a witness says.

Mayor says deaths inevitable unless Govt cracks down on spectators as well as boy racers
Masterton Mayor Gary Caffell said yesterday's illegal car meet was 'gut-wrenching'.

‘Outstanding’: Huge coastal farm station on market for first time in 30 years
The station boasts dramatic views across Cook Strait to the Kaikōura Ranges.

Giving NCEA students confidence: Meet Kiwi maths teacher-turned YouTube star
There’s no black cape, but Subash Chandar K comes out at night to help those in need.

‘Kind, generous’: Mother’s grief for man who died after being found critically injured on road
Two men have been charged with murder following the man's death.

‘Suspicious’: Fire destroys building on grounds of historic Queen Mary Hospital
It took firefighters four hours to put out the fire in the hot springs resort town.

Newmarket clothing shop owner charged with making intimate visual recordings
The married man has pleaded not guilty to multiple charges today.

Santa’s little helper: Kiwi teacher to work as elf in Santa village in Finland
Kids already warned to be on their best behaviour with the Arctic Circle-bound teacher.

Shots fired in Act, Tui beer online smackdown after meme takes swipe at university's Treaty course
'Hey @actnewzealand, keep my beers’ name out of your mouth’.

The dog with no name: Hope and heartbreak on patrol with animal control
City in canine crisis as council shelters fill amid rising attacks and roaming incidents.

Bluebridge ferry Connemara suffers engine issue, drops anchor
More than 450 people were on the ferry when the incident occurred.

TVNZ cost-cutting plans could transform wider NZ media, union leader warns
The union strikes back after TVNZ this week proposed a series of major changes.

Rescue effort under way after navy ship runs aground, crew in life rafts
The incident took place near Samoa, the New Zealand Defence Force said.

Nurses union slams Health NZ response to alleged racism at North Shore Hospital
Plea comes after patient request to avoid Asian ethnicity staff was initially given okay.

‘I knew I had cancer’: Grandmother’s health message after first ignoring symptoms
Before cancer diagnosis, she only went to the doctor for her grandkids.

‘When’s it going to be my turn?’: Kiwi journalist’s terror as Israel airstrikes hit Beirut
'It was just bang after bang after bang, and the building shaking.'

Former National Party minister accused of child sex abuse
Complainants understood to be boys then aged under 16.

Ministry of Education responds over claims school staff ate free lunches meant for students
Hard to learn right from wrong when ‘teacher’s nicking your lunch’, David Seymour says.

‘Life is meant to be a joy’: New Zealand’s oldest person ticks off another birthday
Skinfluencers might want to take note of the 'line-free' supercentenarian’s skin routine.

Woman found on beach: Jo Sione-Lauaki victim of foul play, police reveal
Mother of eight's body was found on remote Northland coastline on August 2.

‘Like a scene from The Purge’: Residents stunned after multiple businesses violently targeted in overnight burglaries
Supermarket, petrol station, liquor store and book shop hit.

'She had all these dreams': At least three Kiwis a week dying from accidental overdoses
"Millions are spent preventing road deaths. The same is needed for drug overdoses"

‘It is fraud’: Students kicked out after spike in out-of-zone parents sending kids to school
Hundreds of parents have had to prove their residence after enrolment fraud spiked.

New human rights boss stands by pro-Israel comments, 'transphobia’ accusations
Stephen Rainbow has also faced accusations of being transphobic.

'I feel like I need to be an octopus’: Mum on her year with triplet sons
One year, three times the fun for parents of 'spontaneous' Auckland triplets.

‘Absolute tragedy’: Father died outside Parliament amid fight to save elderly mum’s waterfront home
A bank is forcing the sale after $40,000 mortgage arrears built up over three years.

Man ran from mental health centre, stole SUV at knifepoint before fatal Waikato crash
Stunned motorists spoke of erratic, speeding driver before tragedy.