Derek Cheng is a Multimedia Journalist for New Zealand’s Herald. He values holding those in power to account and shining a light on issues kept in the dark.
Journalism is a powerful tool that has allowed me to cover huge stories, from general elections to the Christchurch earthquake to the March 15 terrorist attack to the Covid-19 response. It gives us access to those who make decisions that affect millions of lives, or to pivotal moments where we are tasked to write the first draft of history. The privilege to do so, sometimes, is a daunting one. It's also multi-pronged, and my stories have covered the whole gamut - from scrutinising the Government's decisions to a first-person account of a climbing accident where I had to have my face reconstructed. I've worked for the NZ Herald on and off since graduating with a journalism diploma the end of 2004, but I've also never lost sight of the pursuit of adventure, and have repeatedly left work for indefinite overseas trips to chase mountains and perfectly steamed dumplings. I had my first taste for political journalism in the Helen Clark years, started properly in the press gallery in the John Key years, and have covered Jacinda Ardern's time at the top, including her historic election victory in 2020. Throughout, I've learned the value of holding those in power to account, and shining light into corners that some would prefer to remain under cover of darkness. Never has that been more important than during the Covid-19 pandemic.
What’s wrong with our schools? New report paints bleak picture of a system standing still
New report asks: What should the role of a school be in modern NZ?
'Lost generation': NCEA and UE results fall, school leavers lack qualifications
For several years NCEA results were improving - then it all started to unravel.
$20 to visit NZ’s most iconic places, including for Kiwis? Govt considers new charges
'I would find it very hard to charge Kiwi kids.'
6500% increase: NZ immigration site swamped following Donald Trump's victory
Trump exodus: Americans have registered their interest in moving to NZ in their thousands.
Would legalising cannabis lead to a reduction in substance-related harm? A new study's ‘tantalising prospect’
Alcohol is on average more harmful than cannabis. Would legalising it reduce overall harm?
The number of repeat serious youth offenders is dropping. No-one knows why
The number of serious offenders was rising for more than three years, but is now falling
Opinion: Luxon digs himself an embarrassing hole over the use of force at boot camps
OPINION: The PM, grilled by Mike Hosking, negates what Cabinet has already approved.
Opinion: McKee wants to change NZ's gun laws. She'll have to get past this man first
Police don't want the law loosened. Neither does their minister.
Up to 260 hits in one canister: Inside Govt moves to crack down on nitrous oxide
Inhaling excessive amounts can cause neurological impairment, spinal injury, psychosis.
800% more third strikers under the Govt's changes to toughen Three Strikes 2.0 – but will it make us safer?
Is the price tag of tens of millions of dollars worth a policy that may not work?
Government toughens Three Strikes 2.0, likely to include thousands more offenders
The new regime will now be retrospective, with a lower threshold for a first strike
Cheaper and more potent: New research on tensions in medicinal cannabis market
Legal cannabis overseas has led to health problems among teenagers. Is that NZ's future?
'Intrusive': Inside the Govt's vision for boot camps, including new police powers officials opposed
Cabinet has agreed to make its future boot camps as least boot-campy as possible.
Firearms Minister Nicole McKee’s conflicts of interest and the plan to manage them
The Prime Minister's Office says Nicole McKee hasn't breached any Cabinet rules.
Inside Christopher Luxon’s latest action plan - what you need to know
What stalking, greyhounds, fast-tracking and beneficiaries have to do with the plan
Government proposes changes to gun club regulations to address closure fears
Minister vs Police over what is and isn't safe. Minister vs Justice over need for change
In the pocket of the gun lobby? Firearms Minister's messages revealed
Nicole McKee says it would be remiss of her not to have regular contact with Colfo.
‘Not feasible’: Ministry warns coalition commitment risks doubling prison population
Meeting the commitment could see 'unmanageable increases to the prison population'.
Youth crime: Ministry of Justice data reveals doubling of burglary and 57% rise in robbery charges
The Ministry of Justice has released the latest data on court charges for the year.
The 'invasive' police search powers that convinced Justice Minister to ban gang patches in private homes
The home ban was opposed by several agencies as well as the Privacy Commissioner.
‘Absolute dog’s breakfast’: Why a new move banning gang patches in a private home is causing an uproar
Should it be a jailable crime to have a gang patch in your house, even if it's not yours?
Budget docs: Treasury recommended less health funding, lower tax cuts
Three months later, Budget papers have been released.
The official warnings over Act MP's proposed gun club changes
The minister's proposals are based on what is being called an untested assumption.
‘Jobs for the boys’: Which former Nats MPs have been chosen for key government positions?
When governments hire ex-MPs, there is a risk of trust in politicians being eroded.
How bad is the education 'crisis' behind a rushed new curriculum?
What PM didn't mention when he outlined the dire state of maths performance in schools.
From rural marae to New York to Cabinet: Tama Potaka’s path to politics
Tama Potaka on where he stands on certain issues.
‘Increasing risk of political corruption’: New report says lobbying and donation rules need overhaul
NZ's weak rules and 'she'll be right' attitude leave it vulnerable to corruption crises
'A cruel hoax': How a minister, a property mogul, a ‘good bloke’, and the pandemic combined to resolve a 170-year injustice
Some of a Wānaka forest with popular trails can now become 150 homes on prime real estate
Govt’s pre-Budget lack of action on cancer drugs, scramble after backlash revealed
National had promised to fund 13 cancer drugs but there was no sign of it in Budget 2024
More and more students leaving school before turning 17
School-leaver data is considered more robust – has the slide in education continued?
'Heartbreaking': Children no safer today than when Malachi Subecz was brutally murdered
'We need to have done everything we can, and at the moment we can't say we're doing that.'
Firearms Prohibition Orders too broad, give police too much power – select committee
The orders as originally proposed would capture people who are no threat to public safety.
36 cameras, helicopters, and nearly half a million dollars: Inside the operation to kill a single stoat
The stoat left its droppings all over trap boxes as if taunting the DoC trappers.
Government moves to overturn Court of Appeal decision over Māori customary marine rights
The Government disagrees with a recent ruling.
Will Luxon shelve abuse in care recommendations his Government doesn't like?
Many recommendations are based on some gang members having special treatment
TikTok justice? Why the Govt has hit the brakes on sentencing changes
Those at the coalface say the programme is working, but the Govt has frozen the funding
This is Ireland but not as you know it
Top tips for visiting the island you thought you knew, but don't.
David Tamihere intending Supreme Court bid as murder convictions upheld: 'I’ll keep at it'
'You've got to grab them by the short and curlies,' a defiant Tamihere says.
Two slain tourists, lies, and jailhouse snitches: David Tamihere's 34-year legal saga
How Tamihere owes his case being reviewed again, decades later, to the 'jailhouse lawyer'.
Explainer: Will Darleen Tana be kicked out Parliament, or is this a stand-off waiting to happen?
The waka-jumping law allows her to be ejected - but is this a stand-off waiting to happen?
Revealed: The top crimes witnessed by Kiwis
A new poll reveals the most common crimes in New Zealand.
Anti-gang laws softened but still likely to breach Bill of Rights Act
A select committee report ignores suggestions to make the law more Bora-consistent.
$2 or $23 an hour? Disabled workers at centre of political stoush ‘often’ receive minimum wage equivalent
Outrage at wage top-up scheme's dumping misplaced, says minister.
Derek Cheng: Examining the evidence around Luxon's law and order reforms
OPINION: Why the PM's hands are tied in dropping the dumb stuff in justice reform.
Crime steady overall, rise in feeling unsafe, big rises in fraud, vehicle theft – survey
Highly victimised groups were Māori, young people, the disabled and the LGBT+ community.
What's coming up in final days of Luxon’s action plan
Several items were mere formalities. Others were easy ticks. Anything substantive?
Revealed: Sliding levels of trust and confidence in police, people feel less safe after dark
Police Minister says downward trends justify law and order focus.
The 'disgusting' Irish must-do that's worth travelling across the world for
It's not Guinness and it's not whiskey, but it is green, slimy and gooey.
Government moves to harsher punishments for offences committed on bail, parole, or in custody
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says longer sentences will bring greater accountability.
Will the Govt's sentencing reforms make any difference?
Robbing the corner dairy will mean a longer sentence under a law change.
Three Strikes 2.0: Why the Government has watered down the hardline policy
The 'manifestly unjust' clause will apply to both sentence length and parole.
How the Govt wants longer sentences by straitjacketing judiciary on guilty pleas, remorse, youth
Should offenders get a discount for remorse or youth if they keep reoffending?
Winston Peters delivers serious warning as scrutiny week concludes
Ministers have survived hours of questioning by Opposition MPs during the week.
Oil and gas bonds idea won’t work - officials kill Shane Jones’ idea for long-term industry certainty
Officials quash idea from Shane Jones to give oil and gas sector more certainty.
‘As low as $2 an hour’: Disabled workers miss out on minimum wage
Social Development Minister accused of an almost 'eugenic-type definition of productivity'
Tertiary Education Minister Penny Simmonds slams Te Pūkenga priorities
Govt is defending shifting balance of tertiary education costs from providers to students.
My night at an Irish castle and the series of unbelievable events that followed
Where entrepreneurial nuns and rude awakenings in the night go hand-in-hand.
Former gun lobbyist now Cabinet Minister Nicole McKee on sidelining her personal views
McKee: 'I’m not going to keep everyone happy. I can see that already.'
Nicola Willis wants tourists to pay more to keep national parks pristine
Charging international visitors more when they come to NZ is currently being consulted on.
Big spike in serious repeat young offenders revealed
Latest statistics show a 26 per cent spike last year in serious repeat young offenders.
Explainer: Here’s how first changes to gun laws are supposed to increase public safety
Nicole McKee: 'People think if you belong to a club, you’re a Brenton Tarrant'.
Where are the billions of dollars for tax cuts coming from? What we know so far
The Government needs to find and generate billions of dollars to fund its tax cuts.
'If you're unwell, give up your licence' – Gun law change may have unintended consequences
'People are avoiding going to the doctor' – is that the right outcome for public safety?
The horrifying truths that lie in Ireland's most ghoulish castle
Paranormal activity is rife, but that's the least of your concerns...
Law change could ‘worsen safety, stability, and well-being of our children’ says OT
Oranga Tamariki's scathing criticism of Govt plans to repeal section 7AA
The damning testimonials showing how the education system is failing neurodivergent kids
Dr Nina Hood: 'We're talking big numbers here. The scale of the problem is enormous.'
Yoga, clothing, a pet: What principals spent 'treat yourself' Covid-19 wellbeing money on
The ministry doesn't know how many schools were sent draft guidance to 'treat' themselves.
Analysis: There’s a reason Luxon can’t point to evidence Three Strikes works. It doesn’t exist
ANALYSIS: No evidence it will reduce crime also doesn't mean it won't or can't.
Social Investment 2.0: The answer to lifting up our most deprived, or a Trojan Horse?
Governments have failed to break the cycle of disadvantage. Will this one be different?
Fines for Fiji trips during term? Seymour's tough talk as Govt reveals truancy plan
The Government wants to lift regular school attendance from 46 per cent to 80 per cent.
Christopher Luxon reveals nine Govt targets to be delivered by 2030
The Government announces a suite of policy as Parliament returns for another sitting week.
Social media change forcing parties to buy their way to relevance, says Swarbrick
Social media policies are curtailing the reach of politicians — unless they pay for it.
PM outlines Govt's main focus for next 100 days: 'We want to find the balance'
Public service targets will continue to be rolled out across government services.
Luxon’s next ‘action plan’ - the easy ticks and potential game-changers
A line by line look at each action point, including the easy ticks and the meatier ones.
Behind the coalition talks: What the parties asked about to inform negotiations - Fees-free, Three Strikes, UNDRIP
One party didn't ask officials for any information to inform coalition negotiations.
‘Intolerably imprecise’: Watchdog blasts spy agency for use of class warrants for highly intrusive surveillance
NZSIS warrants 'did not meet the legal tests for necessity and proportionality'
Watch live: NZ spy agency bosses grilled after China-backed espionage revelations
They represented a 'major national security risk' training those with different values
‘Very low’: Former security minister on the risk of MPs’ personal information being stolen in China-sponsored cyberattack
Little responds: Paul Buchanan says NZ considered Achilles heel of the Five Eyes network.