Doug Laing, Multimedia Journalist at Hawke’s Bay Today, covers all aspects of provincial journalism including local government, sports, major events, social and justice issues.
I’m Doug Laing – Multimedia Journalist at Hawke’s Bay Today. You could say journalism ran in my blood - my father, Les Laing, was a journalist who while working for the NZBC and then Radio New Zealand mentored and helped train broadcasters on-station throughout New Zealand. Journalism is a life-long 24/7 calling for me. I followed in Dad’s footsteps from a young age, writing stories for the local weekly rugby programme while at primary school in the 1960s, and Junior Kiwi - a newspaper for schools. As a 14 year old, I worked as a reporter at the Wairarapa Times-Age during school holidays and began my fulltime career at the Central Hawke’s Bay Press, Waipukurau, in July 1973. I’ve also worked at the Daily Telegraph, had a short stint in public relations in Auckland, worked at The Dominion/Sunday and New Zealand Times, before returning to the Daily Telegraph in May 1987 as Chief Reporter. In 1999 the Daily Telegraph merged with the Hawke’s Bay Herald Tribune to create Hawke’s Bay Today, and I’ve been here ever since. I continue covering all aspects of provincial journalism, including local government, sports, major events, social and justice matters. I've been involved in two books, "Cavaliers in South Africa 1986" (rebel rugby tour) and "Shear History" (Golden Shears 50 years). Finalist Qantas Awards breaking news category (Flaxmere police shooting 1996), Napier Pilot City Trust Awards for "Outstanding Contribution to the Quality of Life for all Napier Citizens" and 2020 NZ Rural Sports Award for Outstanding Contribution to Rural Sports
'Your record's smoked': Runner needs 'divine intervention' to keep his 36-year NZ record
Richard Potts ran an NZ schools 1500m record in 1989. It still stands, but for how long?
No backing down for Napier health services protest
A Napier health services protest rally will start on Sunday at 1pm, at the Sound Shell.
After 16 national titles, 33-year-old runner gets her world championship call-up
It's been a 15-year wait for Laura Nagel, who ran at the world junior champs in 2010.
Big three set for Napier NPC games in 2025
Three big city teams will face the Magpies at McLean Park. All the best!
Golden Shears champ shines at Warkworth A&P Show
All the shearing action from the Warkworth and Methven A & P Shows.
Hawks and Ball the talk of the NBL as they aim for three from three
Jackson Ball, 17, has scored 76 points for the Hawks in his two starts this year.
Obituary: Nigel Marple - one of NZ’s finest photojournalists
Nigel Marple went from Napier to Sarajevo, confronting tragedy, triumph through his lens.
Hawke’s Bay Sports Awards postponed indefinitely
The Hawke's Bay Sports Awards have been an annual event since the mid-1960s.
Kiwis beat Wales in first shearing test
Kiwis David Buick and Jack Fagan defeated Gethin Lewis and Llyr Jones.
Mayor encourages public protest at Napier Health Centre over overnight health care
Over 100 signed a health services 'Buller Declaration', and the mayor urged them to rally.
'A star is born': Teenager scores 40 points for the Hawks in NBL opener
Jackson Ball turned 17 this week.
Kiwi shearers chase revenge in Welsh test match
David Buick and Jack Fagan to go head-to-head with Gethin Lewis and Llyr Jones.
Kahurānaki for sale - Iwi and hapū look at options to buy ancestral maunga
'Everyone agrees it’s very important, so we’ll work through it all and see where we get.'
Napier healthcare services in the spotlight at public meeting
An opposition MP and city leaders are expected at Thursday night's meeting.
Takapau puts its hand up to save rugby club
The Takapau rugby club has a history of 140 years, but was on the verge of folding.
Hawke’s Bay women take historic 100m national relay title
The depth of Hawke's Bay sprinting talent was on show at the national championships.
Rural Games success for Toa Henderson
Henderson pipped shearing gun Jack Fagan twice over the weekend at two events.
Triple treat: Cruise trio brings 5200 visitors
Scores of passengers off the three ships thronged into the Emerson St shopping precinct.
Mountain for sale: Iconic station has been in family for more than 100 years
'Time for someone else to have a go' with one of Hawke's Bay's most outstanding features.
Young guns set to soar as new-look Hawks ready to take flight
The Hawks start a new season on Wednesday, aiming for the first title in 20 years.
'Not the time for pitching visionary projects': Councils suggest a strategic regional deal with Govt
The Cabinet plans to decide in May the first regions to progress.
High waves hit Hawke’s Bay, Napier closes viewing platform
A low pressure system east of the North Island is causing large swells.
Plenty of players, but no committee: Rugby club could 'fold' after 140 years
'It has become unsustainable for the few still involved.'
Hawke’s Bay’s shearers' golden moments at the Golden Shears
Hawke's Bay may have missed the biggie, but the region didn't walk away empty-handed.
'I used to dream of this moment': Toa Henderson's Golden Shears triumph
Results from the 23rd Golden Shears International Shearing and Woolhandling Championships.
Young guns day at Golden Shears
Finals results in the day sessions on the first day of the Golden Shears in Masterton.
Big local win in Golden Shears speed shear
The first night of the 2025 Golden Shears closed with a local speed shear success.
Rowland Smith warms up for Golden Shears with Hawke's Bay win
“They would have jumped a bit when they saw him turn up,” said one woolshed veteran.
'Very happy to have made it': Justin Meikle's shearing surprise
Meikle decided to enter the five-round circuit while supporting son Tye's junior efforts.
Leon Samuels sets the line for Golden Shears defence
Results from the Taumarunui, Apiti, Kaikoura, and Pahiatua shows over the weekend.
Waikato shearer breaks world merino shearing record
The record took place in Australia at Spring Valley Farm, Darkan, southeast of Perth.
Doubts remain over Napier Health Centre overnight service
City residents await news on what plans there are for urgent overnight healthcare.
Big entry numbers for this year’s Golden Shears
The 63rd Golden Shears will be held in Masterton from February 27 to March 1.
Usual care won’t be impacted by emergency exercise at hospital
Health NZ and ambulance service test tent's capacity in emergency shake-down.
Super Rugby Pacific: Fijian Drua descend ahead of Hurricanes clash in Napier
Strong Bay connections for two Fijian Drua coaches in Saturday's big game.
'They’ll soon get the message': Time for crackdown on pitch invaders, ex rugby boss says
Sports watchers are fed up with the antics of pitch invaders, ex rugby union boss says.
'Not ideal': Overnight Napier health care in the balance as March 1 changes loom
It's just over a week before changes begin but Health NZ can't say what they'll be.
Return of the Tri - athletes from 15 countries race their way to Napier
The World Cup event on Sunday is part of the second Napier Triathlon Festival.
Eskdale Park, gifted a century ago, is reborn after 100,000 cubic metres of silt removed
The seeds of a new future for Eskdale and its flood-ravaged valley are emerging.
Women win three of four finals at Ohura Shears
Laura Bradley, Sarah Bryant and Jodiesha Kirkpatrick dominated at the Ohura Show.
Seeing Sheila more clearly with wheelie bins banished from Napier’s main street
Bins being left on the street outside of collection hours were not a 'good look'.
Cabinet funds Napier-Wairoa highway realignment, Bailey Bridge to remain at least four more years
The cyclone sped up the need for a project in the melting pot for at least 20 years.
One conviction so far after claims of 'network of corruption' of gaming funds
Eight people were alleged to be linked in a network of gaming proceeds corruption.
Napier prepares for first Super Rugby game in four years
The last Super Rugby game in Napier attracted 9226 fans. Can the Bay beat that next week?
Art Deco Festival: Thousands set to roll in as Napier has its day in the sun, two years after cyclone
Art Deco event organisers appear set to get fine weather for the three-day festival.
Remarkable catch wins $20,000 prize – but the fish itself could be worth many thousands more
Northern bluefin tuna are a delicacy in Japan, where they sell for over $5000 a kg.
'Difficult conclusion': Irish pub announces voluntary liquidation five weeks before St Patrick’s Day
Owners say bar is a victim of Covid, the cyclone, and the other business pressures.
Toa Henderson and Pagan Rimene win big at Otago Shears
Pagan Rimene successfully defended her title of New Zealand Woolhandler of the Year.
‘One of the sharpest’: Hawke’s Bay 16yo scores Tall Blacks berth
If he gets on the court, he’ll be the third-youngest in Tall Blacks history.
Kiwi Jack Fagan wins world's richest speed shear
Te Kūiti's Fagan triumphs in a field stacked with talent.
A farm lost over cannabis plants: Could this be NZ's last case with the Privy Council?
Shaun Allen went to jail and had the farm he’d owned for just six months confiscated.
Fishing suspense: 120.8kg tuna holds first place as Megafish heads into final day
The tournament, dating back almost 50 years, has 128 boats at sea.
Green exiting Bluewater: Prominent Napier hotelier selling jewel in accommodation crown
At 76, Rodney Green says it's time for someone else to have a go.
Wings, wheels, and waves: Napier festival celebrates transport heritage
Some of the model jets sound like the real thing and can do 300km/h.
Napier overnight and weekend urgent care services centralised at health centre, for now
Staff at health centre told nurse-led overnight service might be 'delivered differently'.
Yellowfin and a 92.2kg marlin dominate first day of Megafish
At least a dozen yellowfin weighed on the first day as 128 boats compete.
Nathan Stratford leads the way in National Shearing Circuit
One qualifying round remains in the PGG Wrightson Vetmed National Shearing Circuit.
Embattled Napier property developer Malcolm Herbert dies aged 61
Developer Malcolm Herbert led construction of several major buildings in Hawke's Bay.
Wally isn't so wayward now, winning two sheepdog titles for CHB farmer
He was named Wally - as in Where's Wally? - for his wayward tendencies in puppy days.
Hunt on for a 3-4 bedroom home to use as Napier homeless shelter: 'This is an issue that is not going away'
'In less than 12 months, we have tragically lost two living on our streets.'
Liquidation: Alpine Drinks in Hawke's Bay unlikely to be able to pay $800,000 to creditors
The amount owed has been cut by two-thirds, but hopes are drying up for creditors.
'Finally got it': Ngaio Hanson's first open woolhandling win
All the shearing and woolhandling results from the weekend.
World’s best teen runner to race against the men in Hastings
Sam Ruthe ran a 4m 1.72s mile at the age of 15 last weekend. He'll run 3000m in Hastings.
Going up in the world - three-storey inner city housing ready in Napier
The lack of parking created some opposition - so what does it look like now it's done?
NZ's top shearers eyeing a black-singlet comeback
The national team selection series takes place over the next 12 months.
Napier powerboat racing carnage: 'Like the Waitemata Harbour on steroids'
Less than half the boats in the Napier racing survived the first two races undamaged.
Speed limits back up to 100km/h by July
The speed limits were lowered almost two years ago.
Supermarkets mystery as Napier lags in Countdown rebranding
A supermarket brand in Napier for 36 years has still got some time to go yet
Kiwi man's rebuild of the famous 'lost Bugatti' to be unveiled at Art Deco Festival
All but three of the country's 15 vintage and classic Bugatti models will be in Napier.
Mysterious collapse of water bottling company owing creditors $2.6m
The firm, established at Awatoto in 2018, closed last July and is in liquidation.
Wave of yellowfin tuna in Hawke's Bay as $20k fishing competition nears
'It is looking like a record number for a season ... it's a bit weird.'
Rowland Smith's second win in shears comeback
Results from the weekend's Taihape Shears and Tapawera Shears.
$17m refurbishment milestone for Hawke’s Bay Hospital outpatients
The Puawānanga Outpatients facility's second refurbishment stage is complete.
Alexia Phillips to attempt shearing world record
World Sheep Shearing Records Society confirmed Alexia Phillips’ February bid this week.
Clubs Hastings committee resigns amid property sale furore
The president and committee of clubs Hastings, formed in a merger in 2016, have resigned.
'Aim high': Teen scores $135,000 scholarship to Australian university, sheds Olympic dream
Hastings Christian School's Lucy Smith chose academics over an Olympic dream.
Closed waters as powerboats surge into the Bay
A fleet of at least 11 boats is expected, mainly from Auckland.
Marine rescue: One person dies after being taken off boat due to medical event
Coastguard, rescue helicopter, and ambulance all called to alert near Cape Kidnappers.
Napier council starts social housing sale process in February
The council decided against selling all its housing.