Matt Nippert
Business Investigations Reporter
Matt Nippert is a Business Investigations Reporter for New Zealand's Herald, specialising in breaking stories about fraud and corruption.
I’m Matt Nippert - investigations reporter for the New Zealand Herald and I specialise in breaking stories about fraud and corruption. I started in journalism largely by accident, having failed to become a diplomat, but I now can’t imagine having a job where I’m not actively trying to figure out and make public how the world really works. I’ve got a background in feature-writing and business news-writing, but my focus in recent years has been on investigating the intersection of business and politics. I relish tackling stories that others may consider too difficult or risky. Over the past decade I’ve broken stories about horrific abuse in state care facilities, widespread tax avoidance in New Zealand by some of the worlds’ biggest companies, secret citizenship grants to offshore billionaires, and black PR campaigns designed to derail criminal investigations. I’ve won more than a dozen prizes for my stories, including a Fulbright prize to earn a Masters degree at Columbia University in New York and a press fellowship at the University of Cambridge, but I get the most satisfaction from opening the paper in the morning and seeing I’ve made the front page. I believe good journalism can change the world for the better and my reporting - particularly in corporate tax policy and the exposing of white collar fraud - has directly led to law changes and criminal prosecutions.
Check out Matt’s latest content
Apple’s NZ sales slump as taxes still head offshore
The technology giant's sales still top $1 billion, but have declined 6% over the year.
Childcare charity Best Start payments to rich-list founders rocket to $37m
Rich-lister family says doubled repayment levels "unlikely to be repeated".
Du Val's inner circle: The key players in the collapsed property empire
Kenyon and Charlotte Clarke's key people in Du Val Group.
Notorious Kiwi conman Wayne Eaglesome now in Czech Republic
Man parole board calls "prolific high-risk confidence man" spotted in Prague.
Two rough years: Wētā FX books losses of $190m
Sir Peter Jackson's special effects group's financials are now public for the first time.
When your car becomes your coffin
The farmer was found dead in the vehicle he’d complained had trapped him inside.
Wild rumours spread via Facebook end with $842k defamation award
Fabricated chatlogs with "hackers" spread widely amongst Vietnamese-NZ community.
Dilworth’s bill for historic abuse climbs to $55m
Private school, rocked by historic abuse allegations increase, redress provision by $11m.
'You were blinded by greed' judge says of lawyer convicted of mortgage fraud
Francis Peters, one of five members of a family charged by SFO, sentenced.
Auckland family in dock in $8.6m mortgage and investment fraud case
Two Peters family members flee NZ; SFO seeks justice in fraud case.
Eric Watson files US$10m counterclaim against SEC in insider trading case
Embattled businessman, representing himself, claims US$10m in 'reputation damage'.
Waipareira Trust political donations probe referred to Charities Registration Board
The charities regulator concludes a four-year probe into the trust's political donations.
Revealed: NZ's highest-paid company directors
Some professional directors collect more than $500,000 in annual fees.
Beverage start-up Ārepa seeks new approvals for ‘brain drink’ claims
The berry juice ran into trouble with NZ Food Safety last year.
Ex-employee who defrauded Sir Peter Jackson-owned company chased to New York
Gene DeMarco claims he has not consented to his bankruptcy, so it does not apply.
Oji slumps to $130m loss on revenue decline and margin squeeze
Paper, pulp and packaging giant books heavy loss as revenues slide 14 per cent.
Lamborghini-driving fraud-accused charged over $8.6m scheme
SFO prosecution of Gerard Peters and others comes three years after Herald reports.
$2.2 billion Wētā Digital deal described as terrible for Unity
The collapse of a $2.2b deal for VFX software leaves Wellywood more powerful than ever.
Credit Union Auckland breaches Reserve Bank capital requirements, pitches merger to survive
Credit Union Auckland, skating on and under capital ratio requirements, proposes merger.
Former Wētā Digital effects specialists in legal fight over failed start-up
Ground-breaking visual effects venture explodes on launch pad.
Eric Watson belatedly lawyers up in US case of alleged insider trading
Embattled businessman engages with bankruptcy and insider trading cases.
Gloriavale acknowledges ‘significant challenges’ as finances tank
The controversial religious community faces a number of regulatory and legal challenges.
Who is behind the up to $1 billion in claims against Norske Skog's Tasman mill?
The now-shuttered mill had faced environmental complaints going back decades.
Norske Skog facing billion-dollar claim linked to Kawerau mill
A landfill site long used by a Tasman mill is subject to a half-dozen claims.
NZ film festival facing final cut
Covid caused the New Zealand International Film Festival to burn through reserves.
Corporate welfare? Financial state of Reading International revealed
Multinational cinema operator a long way from giant.
Newshub: Goodbye to a battler
The little channel that thought it could can't any more. Can it?
Waipareira’s controversial campaign loan repaid, executive salaries skyrocket
A Herald investigation finds Waipareira has the highest exec pay in the charitable sector.
Power list: New Zealand’s highest paid charity executives
Analysis of financial records ranks New Zealand's highest-paid charity bosses.
Estate settlement for Ponzi East Wind fails to satisfy creditors
Liquidators untangling massive Ponzi settle with estate of late mastermind.
Denny and the Jet: Kiwi artist orbits the strange world of Silicon Valley
Artist Simon Denny on space and critiquing and selling to billionaires.
Dilworth allocates $44m for sexual abuse victim redress
Dilworth is budgeting to provide redress for up to 250 victims of historic sexual abuse.
Ārepa hype deflates as regulator says health claims are ‘unsubstantiated’
Regulator says it acted on concerns consumers were being misled about "Brain Drink".
Eric Watson's co-defendant settles with US regulator over insider trading case
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) first filed claims in US courts in July 2021.
Brain drink or fancy juice? Start-up strives to prove health claims
Ambitious beverage startup faces criticism and regulatory turbulence.
DB adds to bar empire
Brewing giant's Star Group takes over Auckland landmark pub.
Broker backtracks after privacy complaints over demands to send personal info to China
Staff were threatened with dismissal if they didn't comply.
Lord of the waterfront: Peter Jackson secures block as union sells HQ
Billionaire unlocks potential development site after E tū sells its headquarters.
Expat Kiwi sues US Treasury over sanctions for being on board of Russian bank
The banker claims he resigned from the board weeks before the sanction was imposed.
Lord of the land: Sir Peter Jackson’s $350m property empire
The Lord of the Rings mogul has doubled the value of his property holdings since 2019.
Pushpay insider trader flags appeal
Individual found guilty in rare prosecution of insider trading flags appeal.
Sacred Hill's $72m shortfall referred to authorities
Receivers lodge formal complaints over winemaker, which collapsed in 2021 owing $100m.
Missing ERA member: Complainant wins dismissal case, loses $80k in the process
Just when it seemed the fightback was worth it, an employment relations judge went AWOL.
D-Day for Tamihere campaign loan; Te Pāti Māori election launch probed
The Charities Service is demanding evidence of the campaign loan repayment by today.
‘Staggering’ cost of public sector CEO departure
Donovan Clarke had been chief executive of Toitū te Waiora for only 14 months.
The shouting and the ‘slush fund’: Inside John Tamihere’s donations stoush
High-stakes political donations dispute still sees regulators in the dark.
The missing ERA member: Law Society, Opposition slam case logjam
Lawyers, Opposition MPs say questions have been asked for months about mystery departure.
The curious case of the disappearing ERA member
Employment Relations Authority member abruptly departs, leaving 19 cases dangling.
Hackers take businessman for $1.6m ride
A computer hack sees scammers intercept emails and cause redirection of a US$1m payment.
Trust to try to claw back $385k in loans to Tamihere campaigns
Regulator says Te Pāti Māori president has agreed to turn off donation taps.
Wage subsidy fraud case sees high-rise apartment frozen
The two-bedroom apartment was bought in May 2020.
How a forex broker turned $12m into just $50,000
Victims of convicted fraudster get near-zero final payout of 0.36 cents in the dollar.
Covid-cash cheats: More cases coming
Government audit of billions in wage subsidy payments sees dozens charged.
Declining Yellow changes hands, again
Phone directory business, worth billions two decades ago, has again been sold.
Taxman starts clawing back Covid millions
An Avondale brewer is one of hundreds facing demands to repay Covid support payments.
Net closes on Eric Watson in insider trading case
Failed attempt to dismiss insider-trading complaint over Watson's lack of profiteering.
‘If you send me back I will die’: Dramatic escape for first defector to NZ since Cold War
Ex-Chinese consulate staffer feared his Catholicism was putting his life in danger.
Revealed: How Myanmar ‘blood timber’ found its way to NZ
Whangārei importer admits "it doesn't look good" teak found to come from Myanmar oligarch.
Who is Rob Campbell? The outsider on the inside
Professional director Rob Campbell on steering, and critiquing, the very top end of town.
Wallace leaves MediaWorks waiting in departure lounge
OPINION: Wallace, like his predecessors, opted for eject button after failing to take off.
Liquidators press to bankrupt Eric Watson after court affirms monster debt
Liquidators turn legal screws after court rules businessman owes $57m.
'No defence to this claim': Court rules Eric Watson owes $57m
Embattled businessman to face court following cat-and-mouse game over legal service.
Former high-flier fined for importing steroids labelled as 'lube oil'
Unbe-lube-able: Importation charges in court today - but strange past can be revealed too.
Decade-long windup of Ross ponzi leaves mixed feelings
Last rites for giant ponzi Ross Asset Management impart hard lessons.
Revealed: NZ's nine largest criminal fortunes
Crime doesn't pay? Since 2011 courts have identified a billion dollars of its proceeds.
$400k gone: The 'sickening gut punch' when you learn you've been scammed
They thought they'd invested $400,000 at Westpac. Weeks later they learned it was a scam.
The charity boss who helped himself to a house
Late president of the Wellington Region Kidney Society was facing police investigation.
Private School Rich List: The wealthiest institutions for Kiwi kids
Which private school has 63 times more capital behind each student than the public system.
Public sector CEO used work credit card for lobster, booze
Boss also took multiple post-midnight taxis on four-day trip to Sydney for conference.
Clock approaches midnight for Ruapehu ski field
Administrator says only days remain to save North Island ski field from liquidation.
Fraudster accountant again convicted of fraud
Disgraced former accountant fails to in bid suppress his second fraud conviction.
BestStart's $84m loans to rich-listers questioned
Regulator seeks assurance that related-party loans furthered charitable purpose.
Billion-dollar growth: Jamie Beaton's Crimson claims unicorn status
Now-adult wunderkind Jamie Beaton appears to have made a billion-dollar unicorn.
Regulator alleges Waipareira donation was 'serious wrongdoing'
Waipareira issued with a formal warning notice over donation to CEO's political campaign.
Exclusive: John Tamihere campaign funding probed
Two charities run by Te Pāti Māori president face scrutiny over political donations.
Hong Kong ghost returns to haunt failed housing development
Dispute over failed Albany Heights development lives on.
Private School Rich List: The wealthiest institutions for Kiwi kids
Which private school has 63 times more capital behind each student than the public system.
Why pay your tax - when it's cheaper to wait?
Rate hikes, and removal of interest charges on late tax payments, triggers perfect storm.