Katie Oliver is a Christchurch-based Multimedia Journalist and breaking news reporter.
She joined the New Zealand Herald in 2024 after studying journalism at the New Zealand Broadcasting School.

‘Obscene’ amount of poo on popular Southland hiking track prompts potential dog ban
'They return covered head to toe in dog excrement'.

How classical music is being used to curb antisocial behaviour at city bus exchange
Christchurch City Council received 187 incident reports for the facility in 2024 alone.

Armed police raid Christchurch house
The incident involving multiple officers happened around 10am.

'Special humans': Couple who ran Akaroa B&B for 30 years die days apart after crash
A tight-knit community is devastated after the death of the popular B&B owners.

From Russia with love: An adoptee's journey in search of the truth
Victor Alexeyev never anticipated what he would find in the search for his birth mum.

'Very emotional': Family escape Christchurch house fire
A Herald photographer on the scene saw a young family evacuated from their home.

Man dead after outrigger found upturned off Hibiscus Coast
The outrigger was spotted floating upside down around 7.30am.

Watch: Large industrial fire in Christchurch sends black smoke across city
The fire appears to be related to an electrical company.

Speed bumps or no speed bumps? Why not both? $500k for bizarre pedestrian crossing plan
Speed bumps will only be included on one side of the crossing.

‘Disgusted’: Exponents frontman Jordan Luck escapes drink driving conviction
The high-profile entertainer was over the limit in December.

Die-hard Cantabrian family fight to save iconic mural from Orion repaint
'It's not going to get painted, I'll be putting the hose on it straight away.'

Christchurch student faces criminal charges after teachers attacked with scissors
The student has since been excluded from the school.

Horror Christchurch rental: Landlord agrees to pay $13k to vulnerable tenants
The rental had a leaking roof and gutters which overflowed into the dining room.

Man, 70, appears in court after alleged bomb threat clears city street
The man was taken into custody seven hours after police cordons were set up.

Man in custody 7 hours after threats, police evacuate Christchurch properties
Police said the man was taken into custody 'without incident'.

Man’s best friend: Hero dog ‘Moose’ saves owner’s life during devastating fire
Peter Mcmeekan's dog, Moose, woke him up alerting him to the blaze.

Wellington unexplained death: Victim’s name released
The 63-year-old man was found with critical head injuries on a footpath in Miramar.

$21.7m meth bust: Trio of airport workers accused of drug smuggling
Customs have arrested three men for allegedly smuggling the boxes.

Christchurch school scissor attack: Student suspended, teachers recovering at home
Two teachers were attacked with scissors at a school campus in Christchurch.

‘Disgraceful’ lawyer caught by #MeToo movement wants to return
James Gardner-Hopkins has reapplied for a certificate from the New Zealand Law Society.

Miramar incident: Critically injured man dies in hospital
The man was found on a footpath in Miramar about 2.20am on Monday.

Two men charged after man assaulted and shot in South Auckland
Police said there was no doubt the shooting was deeply concerning for neighbours.

House fire rapidly spreading across two properties in Canterbury
Flames have lept across the boundary to a neighbouring home.

New Zealand Olympic team sports new kit deal with Kathmandu
The deal will see Kiwi athletes wearing NZ apparel at future games.

‘Never seen anything like it’: Ruapuna Speedway driver suffered burns in fiery crash
The driver is in serious but stable condition in Middlemore Hospital.

‘It’s a bit scary’: Homicide probe after man found at Christchurch flats
Despite urgent treatment, he died at the scene.

Ruapuna Speedway crash: One person in serious condition, event cancelled
Ruapuna Speedway cancelled tonight's race meeting due to 'medical event'.

Motorcyclist dies following crash in Dairy Flat, Auckland
The rider of the motorcycle died at the scene.

What is hantavirus? The rare disease that killed Gene Hackman’s wife
Hackman may not have realised his wife had died in a bathroom a week earlier.

‘Stitching together our communities’: Auckland’s Pasifika Festival in full swing
Event returns to Western Springs Park to celebrate the best of Pacific culture.

Missing for nearly three months: Have you seen Joshua?
54-year-old Joshua has been missing since December 11.

‘This has kept me awake at night’: Port workers fear cuts could cost lives
The Lyttelton Port Company claims the proposed changes will enhance operations.

‘My heart was pounding’: Dashcam footage shows car ploughing into median barrier
The moment of impact was captured on camera, with a bus driver fearing being hit head-on.

Major Canterbury drug bust sees 120 charges laid, 13 arrested
Police seized $22,000 in cash and $38,000 worth of drugs.

‘She wants the meat’: Queenstown burger joint investigating new ‘horror’ customer incident
A woman claims she left the establishment feeling 'abused'.

One critical, airlifted to hospital after crash near Invercargill beach
The single-vehicle crash occurred about 11.30am near Oreti Beach.

Boy racer blitz: Police impound vehicles, make arrests after car enthusiast event
The bad behaviour came after an otherwise well-run event near Christchurch.

‘Can I suck your toes?’: Mum’s Marketplace sale takes sickening twist
'He wouldn't get out of my house... then he asked to suck my toes.'

Cop who cheated death on the front line now faces biggest fight of his life
A police officer is having to self-fund treatment for multiple myeloma.

Watch: ‘It was vicious’ – Dramatic conclusion to Auckland police chase caught on video
'One minute he was fine and then the next he was beaten to a pulp.'

Person thrown from car after serious crash on SH1 near Picton
Emergency services were called to the crash at Tuamarina at 6.30am.

Teen who died swimming at Christchurch beach was about to start university
The popular teen drew a crowd of at least 300 at his tangi.

A perfect day ends in tragedy: Family’s grief after 10yo dies in freak holiday accident
We still grapple with it every single day, wondering why, why it was our beautiful little

Watch: ‘Crazy’ video captures near-miss with oncoming vehicles on busy highway
Motorists swerve to avoid an overtaking car driving into the path of oncoming traffic.

‘Throw it back’: Second boat nabbed allegedly poaching at Goat Island Marine Reserve
The Department of Conservation is investigating both incidents.

Kiwi in Los Angeles describes ‘ghost town’ as wildfires rampage across the city
'It just looked like a ghost town going through downtown LA'.

Knife-point carjacking leads to hours-long police chase, police car rammed, man found up tree
The wanted driver ran off into bush to try and hide when he was spotted by locals.

‘Vehicles pretty banged up’: Five people injured in serious Waikato crash, SH1 reopens
A witness on the scene moments after the crash said both vehicles were badly damaged.

The vanished: 62 people have disappeared without trace on NZ’s tallest peak
'To live in the hearts of those we leave behind is not to die.'

The woman whose dog detected her cancer before doctors did
"The mammogram at the time didn’t pick it up."

Young Auckland family lose everything in ‘devastating’ house fire
Jake and Richelle Wilkinson and their two kids lost their home and all their belongings.

The NZ police officers killed in the line of duty
Senior Sergeant Lyn Fleming was the 34th officer killed on duty.

Rhythm and Alps: South Island celebrates with Dave Dobbyn, Shapeshifter
Review: The three-day festival in Wānaka has wrapped for another year.

Māori-led kaupapa using psychedelics to help meth addicts recover
A movie reel of life: Magic mushrooms helped one man to confront who he'd become.

Watch: The shark that cleared Ōhope Beach
Chris Service was fortunate enough to have his drone up at the right time when he saw it.

Driver punched in Christmas Day road-rage attack reveals details
'When he punched me, the force of it made me slump in my seat.'

Seventh person dies on NZ roads in five days after fatal Northland crash
Road toll continues to rise in dark five days on our roads.

Bad news for festival-goers: Gisborne beaches closed, thousands expected for RnV
Holidaymakers have been warned to steer clear of the water after heavy rainfall.

Five dead in four days after ‘vehicle incident’ in Napier
Five people have died on New Zealand roads over the last four days.

‘Never seen flames like it’: Fire rips through Piha RSA building
The blaze was reported to Fire and Emergency Services at 11.52pm.

Driver dead after car crashes into house, resident injured, taken to hospital
Motorists are to avoid the area if possible and expect delays.

Fourth and final arrest made following violent death of Boy Taylor in Napier CBD
'Police are not looking for anyone else in relation to Mr Taylor’s death.'

'A lot of zeroes': Central Otago family $5m richer after Powerball win
'It’s been a tough year and now we feel like we can breathe.'

Source of ‘unacceptable’ phantom alarm keeping Auckland CBD residents up all night found
Source of the 'really unpleasant' noise has been identified, but a fix is some time away.

Man critical after being trapped under flaming lawnmower
The man was airlifted to Auckland City Hospital from the North Auckland site.

Police seize patches, charge gang members after social media post outside court
Police have seized six King Cobra patches.

Watch: One dead, 20 injured in tour bus crash near Queenstown
The incident occurred just after 4pm.

Watch: Hot air balloon makes rough landing, 10 treated at scene
The incident happened at about 8.30am.

Police call for information over ‘suspicious’ fire at popular Christchurch beach
The fire in Taylors Mistake put nearby campers at risk.

Victim of Christchurch house fire named
The woman was found dead in her Hornby home following the blaze.

Probe into under fire Christchurch wildlife park finds zoo needs 'culture improvement'
The investigation was launched following animal welfare concerns.

Legendary Auckland restaurant SPQR's replacement name revealed
It promises to be 'a feast for the senses, with a high-end drink and food offering'.

Meth worth millions found in abandoned bags near Auckland Airport baggage carousels
The estimated 28.5kg was found in duffle bags near the baggage carousels.

Christchurch Qantas flight forced to turn around twice
The pilots cited an 'unusual smell' as one of the reasons for the delay.

Canterbury on fire: Behind the scenes with the volunteer firefighters
Firefighters battled wind, heat and exhaustion across Canterbury this week.

Watch: 'I’m giving ya 30 seconds': Mitre 10 worker threatens ute driver with forklift
The hardware store video sparked debate on social media.

Canterbury fire linked to tyre blowout, crews patrol overnight for flare-ups
Multiple crews, tankers, trucks and two helicopters remain at the scene.

Christchurch fatal house fire: Shaken neighbour says victim was in a wheelchair
The blaze destroyed a section of the property, where the woman was found dead.