Melissa Nightingale is a Senior Reporter for the Herald, based in the Wellington region.
Melissa began working for NZME in 2013 as a journalist at the Whanganui Chronicle, after completing a Diploma in Journalism and a Bachelor of Communications degree at the Waikato Institute of Technology (Wintec). Melissa started on the crime, emergency and health rounds and now specialises in court reporting in her role in the capital - though continues to cover all things Wellington and beyond. She is also the host of the NZ Herald podcast The Fifty Year Secret, which uncovered shocking new evidence in one of New Zealand's oldest cold case murders. Melissa is always on the lookout for great news tips and welcomes the occasional cute animal story to break up the flood of crime. She can be emailed at melissa.nightingale@nzme.co.nz or messaged on X (formerly Twitter) @mel_nightingale.
Watch: 35,000? 55,000? Data scientist uses drone to estimate hīkoi crowd
Caleb Moses has crunched the numbers to estimate how many people marched in the hīkoi.
Corrupt prison guard who took bribe to smuggle tobacco gets name suppression for own safety
Details of the danger the guard faces remain shrouded in secrecy.
Wrecked cafe reopens after front-end loader ram raid
The community turned out in force to help clean up the damage.
Person shot in hunting accident north of Whanganui
Police say inquiries into the circumstances of the incident are ongoing.
Tears in court as woman avoids jail for stealing $300k from boss
The judge said Sally Robertson began gambling due to the 'severe strain' she was under.
Gloriavale's banned children's books: fairy tales, literary classics on the list
Duncan Webb said the danger was that people would view Gloriavale as "quaint and silly".
'Who can say no to KFC?' Missing cat lured back after vet and cattery fire
It was 'heartbreaking' telling the family's 2-year-old Beans was missing.
Man not guilty of encouraging child to kill himself, raping boy's mother
The defence case was that the allegations were simply not true, his lawyer said.
Love messages to alleged rapist partner to 'keep the peace' complainant says
The man has name suppression to protect the complainants' identities.
'I can help you': Man allegedly told child to kill himself after pushing boy's mother
The man is also accused of sexually abusing the woman, sometimes in front of the kids.
Police apologise for one of NZ's worst miscarriages of justice
Family battled for 37 years to clear his name after he was convicted.
Man told boss he needed to WFH to homeschool his kid. He was actually on home detention for fraud
Andrew Ross said he did not recall the extensive offending.
Killer driver caught making 'vile, racist' remarks about hit-and-run victim on prison phone
The victim's husband described his "helplessness" as his wife died in front of him.
Forklift driver killed in Port Nelson accident was 'one of a kind' speedway member
Ian Musgrove was farewelled by his community on October 8.
Risk of thunderstorms, hail for parts of NZ tomorrow
Students may have a wet start to the first day of term.
Man found bloodied on doorstep after street stabbing now accused of lying to police
Abbas Munshi is charged with "fabricating circumstances" around the stabbing.
'Fatal force': Daughter accused of murdering mother now named
Julia DeLuney accused of a "brutal and financially-motivated" murder.
Life support turned off: Grieving mother of Wellington assault victim says he was hit from behind
'He took my life', says the grieving mother of a young man killed in Wellington.
Courtenay Place death: Young people 'playing roulette' going out in Wellington
The mum of another young man has spoken out following the death of Luke Smith.
'Unthinkable tragedy': Man was enjoying night of dancing before fatal assault
Givealittle page set up to help family after 'bright light taken far too soon'.
Young man dies after Wellington assault, victim named
A 29yo is accused of critically assaulting a man in Wellington CBD's nightlife area.
'Very sorry:' Father's tearful apology for son's terrifying assault on teen girl
Jarimar Schuster sent to prison for five years for Wellington sexual assault.
Beloved rugby player killed in Auckland crash, second death for club in days
Franck Friconnet was on his way to help move cows on his parents' farm when he died.
Man's body found after drifting boat reported in Marlborough
The man's body was found in the water a short time after first responders arrived.
'Shock and panic’ on board Air NZ flight that aborted landing
The passenger said there was a big jolt as the plane touched the runway.
Missing records hinder investigation into treatment of patient at aged care facility
Ultimate Care was scrutinised after lost records affected a patient's care review.
Police focused on 'lead-up' to baby's death
Police are investigating with the family's full co-operation.
Woman gets home detention for killing partner after years of mutual violence
The victim's daughter told Donna Henry she forgave her because her dad would want her to.
'Beware': Sinister warning at torched property linked to Breanna Muriwai mystery
‘Suspicious fire’ at property connected to unsolved case.
Taxi drivers suspended from Wellington Airport after using parents' room to heat meals
The airport warned drivers not to use the parents' room for privacy and hygiene reasons.
Dignity and reputation: Police defend heavy redactions in Kiri Allan file
Police say the redactions are in line with Ombudsman guidelines for privacy.
'Suspicious fire' at house linked to vigilante search for missing woman's remains
Emergency services attended a suspicious blaze at the property.
Police file reveals new details from Kiri Allan’s career-ending crash
Photos, statements and notebook entries have been released under the OIA.
'Where's my baby?': Woman who had miscarriage in ED toilet never got to meet her son
Kiwi mums share their stories of how the current system only made things worse.
Man sentenced for rubbing hand in cop's face
Steven Rex Richards pleads guilty to downgraded charge.
KiwiRail fined $412k for Cook Strait ferry mayday, passengers describe terror
Kiwirail has pleaded guilty to exposing passengers and crew on the Kaitaki ferry to harm.
Teen who lost leg after being hit by skidding car shares new reality
The driver offered to give CJ the car he hit him with - but police impounded it.
'We are being let down': New dementia research reveals major reason Māori and Pacific people more at risk
The research shows there is potential to change forecasts through policy.
'Mayday': Aviation expert says burst oil seal may have sparked engine fire emergency
Irene King said such faults were not common, because of rigorous maintenance checks.
'Not as it seems': Police warn 'vigilantes' after kidnapping claim spreads online
An innocent man was accosted by a member of the public as rumours spread online.
Dad out of coma, recovering from deadly flu that killed his wife
John Leonard's first messages to his sons after waking up were jokes.
Wellington flooding: Trains resume, worst of rain moves north
Another band of rain is forecast to come through in the next 24 hours.
Baby death in perinatal period more likely if mothers had Covid while pregnant
The annual report looks at causes behind perinatal and maternal deaths.
Coroner’s report on Joji Bilo: Wellington truck crash victim’s death was preventable
Bilo, 25, a road worker, was killed in Ngauranga Gorge in March 2019.
'No one listened to me': Mums share stories of birth trauma to help others
Kiwi mums have shared their stories of birth trauma in a bid to raise awareness.
'Fighting hard': Husband of nurse who died from flu has procedure to fix hole in lung
John Leonard was airlifted to Auckland in a coma for specialist care.
Armed cops arrest man after car chase and crash near motorway
A 35-year-old man was arrested after crashing during a police chase.
Artist wins $25k for tapestry of drawings in prestigious art competition
Ella Jones said she almost didn't enter the competition as she thought it was a long shot.
Health NZ blocks early free access to 'miracle' cancer drug
Early access to the drug could make a significant difference in some patients' survival.
No silver bullet: Maths teaching changes criticised
The changes would further strain the workforce without delivering promised results: union.
Prison guard smuggled contraband to inmate for $3700 cash
The former Corrections officer has been sentenced to home detention.
'She just wanted to go home to her baby': Father describes daughter's last moments before fatal hit and run
Jason Tuitama told police: 'I know I shouldn't have driven; I've drunk too much.'
Wellington nurse's funeral on hold as husband fights for life
Doctors were now talking in days rather than hours when speaking of John Leonard's care.
'Babysitting' mental health patients keeps police from core work, minister says
The minister said other agencies had become used to relying on police.
'Mum is at peace': Woman whose remains lay undiscovered for 36 years finally buried
Patricia Burt laid to rest alongside her husband decades after disappearing.
The signs I missed as my asthma turned deadly – Melissa Nightingale
OPINION: When I started having a severe asthma attack, I didn't know what was happening.
Second person dies after Ōtaki house fire
Investigations are continuing to determine the cause of the blaze.
One dead, one critical after Ōtaki house fire
One person is dead and another is critically injured.
Hospital staff 'already getting hurt' as cops pull back from mental health callouts
Some say the changes should have come sooner, while others say it will cause direct harm.
'Sadistic': Man killed neighbours' cats to protect garden, kept corpse in a cage in wardrobe
Pet owner says he was 'extremely broken' after the death of his cat.
'Heaps of cops': Armed police swarm Porirua suburbs, roads blocked, men arrested
Police, including Armed Offenders Squad members, converged on Plimmerton this afternoon.
How not to ram raid: Offenders escape out windows after getting car wedged in dairy
The culprits fled the scene empty-handed after getting the car stuck in the doorway.
'Set up to fail': The $200b cost of abuse in state care
Abuse in care costs an estimated $857,000 over each individual survivor’s lifetime.
Mother killed with son in Southland house fire was everyone's 'best mate'
The last messages Kelly Kemble Kerr sent to her friend were full of love for her children.
'Could have saved him': Mum's grief after losing unborn baby; fears for 'laid-back' maternity care
Lana calls for more routine screening, saying NZ's maternity care is too laid-back.
'Hitler was right': MPI worker quits job after probe into hateful social media posts
The employee quit his job shortly after being told he was under investigation.
Man accused of child rape won't be retried after convictions quashed
The complainant told police she did not want to pursue a second trial.
'Shadow of what I used to be': Man smashed in head with brick while restraining thief
Victim says his attacker should not be allowed to keep his name secret.
Guy Wallace's evidence in Scott Watson case 'irretrievably tainted'
Wallace at one point asked police if they were trying to lay the murders on him.
Man appears in court on murder charge after fatal stabbing at Waikanae Beach
The man's name will remain secret until at least early July.
'I felt exposed': Woman's fears after info stolen in Covid data breach
The woman feared a harmful person from her past could have accessed her information.
Mum couldn't recognise her own children before mid-life epilepsy diagnosis
When Antoinette's symptoms began at 42 she feared early dementia.
'Hitler was right': MPI investigating 'abhorrent' posts from staff member's account
The employee says his Instagram account was hacked and he did not make the comments.
Precious photos stolen after dead man's home 'ransacked'
Even a baby photo was taken off the fridge.
'You do it': Witnesses argue over performing CPR on murder victim
The dispatcher tried for several minutes to get people at the scene to start CPR on him.
'Go upstairs': Murder trial witnesses describe emotionless scene
First responders initially couldn't see the wound that caused so much blood loss.
Firefighter will 'never forget' amount of blood at murder scene
The firefighter was told it was a medical call, but arrived to find Tongia dead.