Neil Reid is a Hawke’s Bay-based senior reporter for the New Zealand Herald who has covered some of the country's biggest news and sporting events since 1992.
Since graduating with a Diploma in Journalism in 1991, Neil Reid has spent the past three decades on the frontline of the New Zealand media landscape. During that time, he has been a member of the Parliamentary Press Gallery – covering several elections – and a raft of live news events including the Raurimu massacre, the fatal Ansett Flight 703 on the outskirts of Palmerston North, the White Island disaster and more recently the deadly Cyclone Gabrielle in Hawke’s Bay. His reporting has also taken him overseas to cover news events, including the 2009 MV Princess Ashika ferry sinking in Tonga which claimed 74 lives. Neil has a huge interest in sport, and as a full-time sports reporter and editor travelled to and covered three Rugby World Cups (2003, 2007 and 2011), two Olympic Games (2000 in Sydney and 2004 in Athens), the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester, was ringside at Las Vegas’ Mandalay Bay for David Tua’s 2000 world heavyweight boxing title fight against Lennox Lewis, and has also covered numerous All Blacks, Kiwis and Black Caps tours. Based in Napier since January 2022, he covers a wide range of news and sport; the latter including a passion for the East Coast rugby team and Napier City Rovers football side. Away from daily reporting, he has also written three books; including ghostwriting former Black Caps star Craig McMillan’s 2009 autobiography, Out of the Park. Neil can be contacted neil.reid@nzme.co.nz. You can follow him on Twitter at @NeilReidnz.
Table-topping Napier City Rovers fizzing for National League run home
Napier City Rovers' hopes of making the National League final are in their own hands.
England rugby star opens up on being accused of sexual assault during New Zealand tour
England players were questioned by police as soon as they landed at Christchurch Airport.
Napier City Rovers' sights on National League glory
With three rounds to go, team remain in the hunt for grand final spot.
Brothers in arms: The footballing siblings who live, play and also got red-carded together
Blues Brothers: Ethan Richards on his on- and off-pitch relationship with brother Kieran.
Warriors ‘didn’t want me’: Ivan Cleary opens up on depression, tragic death of rising star
Ivan Cleary's new tell-all book has revelations that will leave Warriors fans stumped.
Rovers united: Bonding on and off the field
'Super-tight' team spirit includes eight footballers living in the same complex.
ABs and Boks ‘squared up’ in a bar, and the player who feared ABs wanted to ‘kill’ him
A new book claims a member of the 1981 Springboks was to be kidnapped in New Zealand.
Johnny Sexton on why he hated touring NZ and abuse from Kiwi fans
Johnny Sexton uses his book to get plenty of gripes related to NZ off his chest.
Controversial call and finishing cost Napier City Rovers top spot
Watch: Match officials called 'really poor' - penalty not given after striker cut down.
Solar tsunamis: New Zealand plans for potential ‘major infrastructure failure’
It's a matter of 'when, not if' the Earth is hit hard by extreme space weather.
Why Tairāwhiti needs a specialist emergency response team
Initiative will make region 'one of the most well-resourced' in NZ.
The values driving Napier City Rovers up the National League ladder
Talent isn’t always enough to succeed in high-pressure situations.
Best of the Bay: What Napier residents love the most – and the least – about the ‘Art Deco Capital’
Napier mayor welcomes public feedback - the main gripes will be listened to.
Province told keep kids out of pre-match haka or risk losing points
Ngāti Porou East Coast face a fine or losing points if fans don't stay off the field.
How Hawke’s Bay rugby has defied the New Zealand sporting credit crunch
Inside the proud provincial rugby union defying player drain and credit crunch trends.
Hawke’s Bay residents set to have say on public transport reforms amid ‘clear decline’
There are multiple reasons for a public transport drop-off; plans to reboot the system.
Scared kids push to slash speed limit past Gisborne school after cars clocked at 106km/h
Lives at risk: Speedsters clocked driving 106km/h past rural school.
Millions of cubic metres of silt cleared from Cyclone Gabrielle hammered sites
An award-winning silt taskforce nears major a milestone in cyclone-hit Hawke's Bay.
Magpies swap rugby boots for gumboots to help Hawke’s Bay community
Rugby stars give back to the community that supports them so much.
Leaders work towards ensuring region 'fit' to handle projected expansion
The region's population will grow – housing, roading and infrastructure are the priority.
Napier City Rovers aim high after rampant first-up National League win
Stunning start backs up Napier City Rovers' hopes of doing well in the National League.
How Covid-19 derailed NZ football golden boot contender’s pro trial in Denmark
Footballer Oscar Faulds travelled around the world to trial for a pro deal. Now he's back.
Enforcement and education: Officials' message in the wake of sobering fatal crash statistics
Transport report reveals 'large proportion' of fatal and serious crashes in 50km/h areas.
'Major deficiencies': Almost half of Hawke's Bay highways get a two-star rating
A State Highway described as a 'goat track' is among the routes needing urgent funding.
‘Poorly maintained’ CBD buildings in the sights of Wairoa council
Wairoa Mayor Craig Little: 'People want their main street to look good.'
Napier City Rovers set lofty goals ahead of National League
Captain Jim Hoyle opens up on Napier City Rovers' National League qualification and hopes.
Cop's plea to those who know the truth about Ariki Rigby's murder
Hunt for killers of teen who died in 'unfathomable circumstances' enters third year.
Police apologise for mistaking teen's body for sheep as killer still at large
As police continue to hunt for the killers, her family prepare a special memorial event.
Big Ben’s perfect timing helps Napier City Rovers secure National League spot
Napier City Rovers discover a new hero on the way to qualification.
Ultimate test of character awaits Napier City Rovers in National League hunt
Return to winning ways a must as Napier City Rovers hunt National League football place.
Autopsy completed on 5-year-old found dead in pond
Authorities have completed their examination as family plan tangi.
'Beautiful little man': Fundraiser for 5-year-old Khyzah's family raises over $10,000
'The loss of this cherished boy has left a big hole in everyone’s hearts.'
Gisborne community reels after rural pond tragedy claims life of 5-year-old Khyzah
Inside the search for Khyzah and the raw grief which has shaken his family's community.
New Zealand football’s golden boot contender’s golden chance in Europe
Top scorer in New Zealand domestic football head-hunted by professional Danish club.
'We're going to die up here': SAS hero on siege and survival in Kabul
An ex-soldier's explosive new book opens up on New Zealand SAS operations in Afghanistan.
Rise again: Napier City Rovers out to replace Chatham Cup pain with league joy
Napier City Rovers coach Bill Robertson: 'The message is to recover and bounce back'.
Rough waters and rougher realities: Eric Murray on the true price of gold
The Kiwi rower discusses winning, losing, and why winning a gold medal isn't everything.
Kiwi diver Lizzie Roussel on motherhood, financing her Olympic dream
Kiwi diver Lizzie Roussel will have a special fan poolside at Paris 2024 - her 2-year-old.
He feared an injury would end his football career. Now he’s an inspirational leader
Napier City Rovers captain Jim Hoyle opens up on captaincy and commitment.
‘Thick as bats***’: Book reignites Sir John Key’s alleged David Beckham comment
Ex-PM's alleged critique features in hard-hitting new book on David Beckham.
21 minutes left! England star's selection slammed over season time limit
Star's selection set to breach player welfare minute limit – player safety group hit-out.
Concussion: Should rugby laws change forever?
Player welfare group says tragedies like Billy Guyton's could help others.
Sex, drugs and gambling: England's wild NZ cricket tours revealed
Revealed: Just how wild England cricket tours of New Zealand really have been.
Triumph and tragedy: Meet the footy fan who takes his mum’s ashes to the game
Mega-fan won't work on match day; a day dedicated to his mum and favourite football team.
Kiwi sport legend’s Super League heroics just 48 hours after vasectomy
Dean Bell and ex-All Black Craig Innes have opened up about their time with Leeds.
Meth, cocaine, dope, guns and ammunition seized in central city bust
Police used a sniffer dog and armed officers during the raid.
150 days on oxygen, 78 nights in hospital - one prem baby's battle against the odds
Ardie Neil was born at 27 weeks and weighed just 1.2kg.
TVNZ job cuts: Mediation ordered after ERA ruling against broadcaster
ERA orders TVNZ to start mediation with union over job cuts.
She's overcome heartbreak. Now she's tackling one of the world's 'most dangerous' waves
Gisborne's Olympic surfer Saffi Vette opens up on life's hard lessons and goals.
Property boom: Gisborne region soars in home consents and sales
Huge amount of property market "positivity" after a tough 2023.
Government told heartland town's 'economic potential' undermined by roads
Council tells Government town's economic potential is "undermined" by roading network.
'Quite disappointing': Heartland rugby boss calls for governance battle to end
There is a push for any new national board to look after the game at a grassroots level.
'Ghost town': Proposed alcohol crackdown 'calamitous' for CBD
'We do not need additional medieval, antiquated laws that will stifle business and tourism
Abuse leads to pool staff undergoing 'de-escalation' training
Council officials say they won't 'tolerate' their pool staff being abused.
Inside the rural factory keeping a village afloat, one pair of socks at a time
A woollen goods factory is defying the odds, in the process keeping a Kiwi village going.
Gone in six seconds: Injured footballers on long road back to fitness
A sportsman who suffered a horror knee injury six seconds into a match opens up.
Danish football recruit’s 17,000km journey to New Zealand with victory in mind
New Napier City Rovers goalie opens on up pressure, pain and a desire to be the best.
Technology could be used to tackle trolls attacking All Blacks
Why many All Blacks have two signatures - technology to tackle online trolls.
Senior gang leader backs payrise for police - here's why
Denis O’Reilly opens up on his fears should police not receive significant pay rise.
'Verifiable nightmare': White Island survivors battled horror 387C heat
Court documents reveal US tourists' battle for survival as Whakaari/White Island erupted.
Why football legend George Best's NZ contract was scrapped
Revealed: The contract clause stoush that scuppered George Best's planned stint in NZ.
Gisborne brawl deaths: Gang leaders involved in peace talks ahead of tangi for fight victim
Dozens of people are at tangi for one of two men killed in 21st birthday party tragedy.
Gisborne brawl deaths: Tangi under way for victim
The incident on Saturday night left two dead and three critically injured.
Olympic effort needed by Napier City Rovers in season opener
National champions first-up Central League opponents for Napier City Rovers.
White Island victims' multimillion-dollar civil claim heads to mediation
Victims' lawyer says no amount of money will erase the pain inflicted by the tragedy.
'What's your legacy?': Emotion-charged challenge from Napier City Rovers legend
Watch: Napier City Rovers' new-look squad's challenge to leave a legacy.
From Napier City Rovers to the Premier League and the World Cup
Napier City Rovers is where it started for Scottish football international Jonathan Gould.
Sonny Bill Williams’ controversial meeting with Muslim cleric who is banned from UK
Sonny Bill Williams described spending time with controversial cleric as "an honour".
Swedish-born Kiwi footballer's Olympic dream
Silver fern tattoo on Swedish-born footballer highlights Kiwi roots.
No regrets: Neil Barnes opens up about X-rated language in Netflix Six Nations series
Neil Barnes says he wasn't going to change his style for Netflix camera crews
'He chose to drink': The tragic demise of former Exponents guitarist
Ex-The Exponents guitarist David Barraclough died only four weeks after cancer diagnosis.
'I didn't want to drown': 82yo crocheted for hours in caravan swept away by floodwaters
Laughter has been one of Cyclone Gabrielle survivor's coping strategies a year on
The kind-hearted footballers who ditched the pitch to help Cyclone Gabrielle recovery
When wild weather hit, generous players swapped their football boots for gumboots.
Cyclone Gabrielle: First came the rain, then destruction and death
Cyclone Gabrielle forever changed the lives of many in Hawke's Bay a year ago.
Cyclone Gabrielle miracle: How a massive sinkhole near HB coastline saved lives
Cyclone survival stories continue to come out - including gratitude for a sinkhole.
'How does that happen?' Elderly Cyclone Gabrielle victim's family hunt for answers
Helen Street died in Cyclone Gabrielle - her family want a full inquest into how and why.
The hunt: Fugitive dad Tom Phillips urged to give up, police told to offer reward
More than two years ago Marokopa dad vanished with his three young children.
'It's a miracle that only 11 died' - Hawke's Bay township remembers Gabrielle
Cyclone Gabrielle destroyed parts of Rissington - but some in the hamlet are rebuilding.
Police hope drone search results help in search for missing dad
Joseph Ahuriri, of Gisborne, vanished at the height of Cyclone Gabrielle.
Why South African cricket great Faf du Plessis disliked all New Zealanders
What led to ugly scrap between the Black Caps and Proteas - and backlash that followed.