Nicki Harper is a reporter for Hawke's Bay Today
We are your advocate, Aotearoa. Uncovering stories that matter, asking hard-hitting questions of those in power, live-blogging sport events, monitoring the highs and lows of the NZX and providing Premium expert opinion and analysis. Bringing you distinctive, quality journalism and breaking news from across New Zealand and around the world. With specialists working together to create indepth reads, engaging video, and unmissable podcasts.
Child sick after pond contaminated by birds and cow faeces
Testing of water at Pandora Pond likely to be more frequent this coming summer.
MS sufferer concerned about medicine mix-up
Hastings woman says wrong instructions on medicine bottle could have been fatal.
Legal action lodged over Te Mata Peak track
Environmental Defence Society challenges council decision and seeks order to remove track.
HB Regional Prison volunteers earn national awards
Volunteer-run yoga classes one of the most popular among prison inmates.
Calls for public re-notification of WCO application
Special tribunal considers re-notification of WCO application, given new science findings.
Iwi, winery sign new track deal - but not everyone's happy
Ngāti Kahungunu and Craggy Range yesterday agreed to explore an alternative track.
Watch Video: Agreement signed on Te Mata peak track
Ngati Kahungunu Iwi and Craggy Range have purchased extra land to build a new track.
Te Mata track row: Craggy Range insists it took 'principled approach'
A marketing expert says Craggy Range needs to take the lead on solving track issue.
Locals build landing pad for rescue chopper
Porangahau locals armed with shovels have built a new rescue helicopter landing pad.
Garth McVicar's police shooting praise results in tax office scrutiny
A document has raised questions over the tax structure of the Sensible Sentencing Trust.
Iwi speaks out over Te Mata track proposals
Iwi unhappy Craggy Range has backtracked on a pledge to remove the Te Mata walkway.
Controversial Te Mata track to stay?
Craggy Range denies Environmental Defence Society claims it is misleading the public.
Council considers drug testing all staff
All staff, not only those working in dangerous roles, will be subject to random drug tests
Kiwi family struggles to pay for son's healthcare in Australia
Fred Ramsay, 1, may never walk or talk because of his rare genetic condition.
McVicar stands by comments on police shooting
Garth McVicar says charitable trust set up under Sensible Sentencing banner is legitimate.
Mum struggles without student allowance
Mature students getting a raw deal with student allowance restrictions, says Hastings mum.
The Kiwi company betting big on hemp
Bay hemp seed growers poised to diversify product range with recent law change.
Opposition to 'battery farm' rest home
Residents say facility would impinge on their privacy and sun, and create more traffic.
Green co-leader hopefuls pitch to party
Greens gathered at national conference at Pukemokimoki Marae, Napier, over the weekend.
Heat is on hospital with no air conditioning
Hawke's Bay hospital staff and patients feel the heat with no air conditioning.
Crash triggers call for lower speed limit
More than 300 people are at Hohepa Homes each day, creating many possible traffic hazards.
District plan options tabled in response to Te Mata track fallout
Council to consider changes to district plan to recognise cultural importance Te Mata Peak
Chlorine exposing leaks in pipes
Hot water cylinder and water pipe leaks exposed by chlorine in the system.
Whooping cough on the rise in Hawke's Bay
There were 101 cases of whooping cough in Hawke's Bay in 2017, compared to 16 in 2016.
Senior health manager resigns
DHB senior manager Tracee Te Huia says she will co-operate with the ongoing investigation.
Hold your horses, town residents warned
Reports of horses being ridden at full gallop around Wairoa township prompts stern warning
Free mobile dental clinic swamped
Scheme with local iwi to deliver free dental care in Wairoa may be extended.
Reversing urban biodiversity loss an increasing focus
Hastings and Napier have some of the lowest urban biodiversity rates in the country.
Fourth death linked to water crisis
Hawke's Bay DHB says that on review, another death was probably linked to gastro outbreak.
Eyes on becoming nation's hemp tech hub
Hemp producer and manufacturer Kanapu Hemp Foods Ltd is going from strength to strength.
Fined driver: I'm not freedom camping
A man facing fines maintains he wasn't breaking freedom camping laws at Westshore Reserve.
Memories of Erebus remain raw
Alan Dorday was working as a navigator the night of Erebus - his wife shares his story.
More people buying first home, but market still tough
Growth in first-home buyers looking for property in the Bay, but high prices are daunting.
Hundreds help make boy's dreams come true
Eight-year-old with cancer has run out of treatment options, but wishes can come true.
Havelock North gastro bill reaches $21 million
Highest costs of gastro outbreak related to household disruption.
Mumps isolation only for Waipukurau School
Country is in the grip of a major mumps outbreak, with 57 cases notified in the last week.
Battleground: Close race in Tukituki
Could Labour stage an upset in the Hawke's Bay electorate of Tukituki?
New Hastings site for kura confirmed
Government to spend $12 million on new kura location and premises in Hastings.
NZ drinking water record 'troubling'
Water inquiry panel asks Health Ministry to act quickly to make drinking water safer.
Yule's last day as Local Govt NZ president
Hastings mayor receives excellence award upon standing down as LGNZ president.
Hopes for settled weather for lambing season
Farmers don't want a repeat of past seasons' winter blasts striking during lambing.
State land sits idle amid housing crisis
Tukituki Labour candidate Anna Lorck says Housing NZ has not lived up to its promises.
Candidates face large Grey Power crowd
Candidates quizzed about housing, retirement age, water bottling and more.
GPs highlight workload pressures
GPs say the Government is pushing too hard, and it's threatening to break them.