Raphael Franks is a Multimedia Journalist for the New Zealand Herald, focusing on breaking news, crime, transport and human interest stories.
Raphael hails from Christchurch but made Auckland his home in 2022. While attending Christchurch Boys’ High School from 2014 to 2018, he worked in Coca-Cola Amatil’s bottling plant; and while studying geography at the University of Canterbury, he worked in retail. Marking a total reversal in career ambitions, Raphael was offered the opportunity to join the Te Rito Journalism Cadetship programme in 2022, funded through the Public Interest Journalism Fund. Through this, he got experience working in some of the country’s largest newsrooms and some of the country’s smallest. He began working for the Herald in the same year. During this time, Raphael has covered the Auckland Anniversary Floods, Cyclone Gabrielle, two different shootings on Queen St and another on Ponsonby Rd, the closure of Newshub, the slimming down of TVNZ, and other major news events of the day. You can contact Mr Franks on 027 436 5668 or at raphael.franks@nzme.co.nz.
Warnings upgraded: 140km/h gales, torrential downpours to lash upper North Island for 41hrs
Thunderstorms, 180mm of rain from tonight in upper NI, tree and powerline damage likely.
'Hard to say we're not worried': Kiwi toy billionaire Nick Mowbray faces $3b tariff bill
Zuru co-founder Nick Mowbray is in the US trying to sort out the impact on his business.
'Stabbed so ruthlesslessly in back': Judge blasts ex-funeral director, sentenced to jail
The former employee and star of The Casketeers was found out by chance.
Victim of Manurewa stabbing mourned by family
It's understood the incident occurred during a party at a social housing complex.
‘Unsatisfactory’: Why police did not oppose bail for trio accused of gang raping tourist
The mother of one accused defended her son, saying it was a 'misunderstanding'.
‘Disconcerting, unnerving’: Anger at German backpacker’s alleged gang rapists getting bail
The victim was allegedly bundled into a van on Auckland's K Rd on New Year's Day.
Backpacker allegedly gang-raped by three men in ‘horrific’ Auckland CBD attack
Three men are before the court jointly charged with rape.
‘Flames as big as a house’: Yachtie plucked to safety as inferno engulfs boat
Rescuers came across the stricken man on a liferaft off the Hawke's Bay coast.
‘Go on little boy, your mum will be waiting’: Family’s tribute to 4yo killed in dog attack
A small community is shocked by the death and praying for the surviving child.
Primary school targeted in native tree poisoning attack, principal hits out at police
Principal Deborah Barclay says police and the council seem ambivalent to the offending.
Watch: Anti-vax ex-Māori All Black questions Efeso Collins’ grieving widow
Fia Collins wants a coroner to hold an inquest into her husband's death.
Cemetery squeeze: West Akl runs out of space for dead
Waikumete at capacity; council bid for land near Kumeū goes to court.
Auckland water restrictions by May? Dam levels keep dropping as dry spell persists
The region is already on drought alert, with dam levels 20% lower than average.
‘Burden on ratepayers’: Fewer people go to Western Springs than their corner dairy - Mayor
Save Our Speedway advocate Jason Jones cast doubts on Brown's crowd numbers.
'Tragically taken': Tributes flow for 'beautiful man' killed on hunting trip
Stuart Stobie was 'tragically taken in a hunting accident'.
Watch: Police slate 'appalling' high-speed motorway joyride video
The video shows a boy weaving through traffic, undertaking, covering 3km in a minute.
Jason Gunn’s ‘arse on camera’: TV icon’s heartfelt message to supporters after colonoscopy
'Soon I will go into the hospital. I will be heavily sedated. Wish me luck,' Gunn said.
Ex-funeral director pleads not guilty to charge of interfering with human remains
The man will keep his identity secret for the time being.
Suburbs outside of central Auckland are hit hard by crime, why does CBD get the funding?
South Auckland councillors call for Simeon Brown to remember there's a city outside CBD.
Auckland suburb of 15,000 people to have no supermarket for year
Loss of shop comes as the suburb intensifies, nearest other store over 2.6km away.
Dogs maul woman in Northland: Man comes to rescue, also gets attacked
The woman was painting her house when four dogs broke through her fence and set upon her.
Long delays on motorways in Auckland as storm batters NZ
It comes after flights across the South Island were disrupted this morning.
Storm disrupts flights around NZ: Heavy rain hits, temp plunge
While South Island gets battered, North Island in for a different forecast.
Watch: ‘Extremely dangerous’ drivers cut across medians in 100km/h zone to avoid car fire
'Auckland drivers are the worst in the world' was one assessment of the rule-breaking.
Tipenes say ‘not us’ to news of second arrest in scam, body-mishandling case
Ex-employee Fiona Bakulich admitted ruse last month. A second person has been arrested.
Cop hits couple after U-turn: Victims slate police response as ‘total bulls***’
Upper Hutt police area commander says their response to the incident 'was proportionate'.
Auckland Transport plans to remove all parking on one of the city’s busiest roads
A clearway will be extended along Onewa Rd, traffic lights will be synchronised.
‘Never had a blind person’: Uproar after small-town museum bans woman's guide dog
The museum near New Plymouth says it was a misunderstanding and apologised.
Unjust desserts: Cheesecake Shop wrecked before man makes off with $52 cake
The stolen cake was worth just $52.90.
‘Miracle she’s alive’: Mum-of-two fighting for life after days trapped in car wreck
The solo mum is in an induced coma, 'fighting to come back' to her boys, says friend.
Auckland gets ‘remarkable’ $10m gift from family of influential nurseryman
The 5.6ha of land has a forest of kauri trees bred from Tāne Mahuta, NZ's largest tree.
Police admit mistake: Road spikes left on patrol vehicle’s roof fall off, puncturing tyres on seven cars
Officers will be retaught how to use spikes after the Southern Motorway incident.
Surgeries, outpatient appointments off at hospital after water leak trips power
A mother of a boy with surgery planned today faced the stress of the sudden change.
Short showers, limit sprinklers: Auckland on drought alert, water saving encouraged
The region's dams are lower than normal, prompting Watercare to activate plans.
Watch: Man confronts armed police with metal pole in Ōrere Pt, tasered before death
Police confirmed the weapon the man had was a metal pole, not a samurai sword.
Raphael Franks reviews luxury LA hotel, Sandbourne Santa Monica
The seemingly unending white sands of Santa Monica State Beach are close by.
‘Bloody thief’: Victims of former Tipene Funerals undertaker vindicated by guilty pleas
Fiona Bakulich swindled her grieving clients for six years.
Outrage as university says AI tutors will run lectures in course
Three AI programs are set to replace lecture slides in a university course this semester.
Former Caskeeters undertaker pleads guilty to interfering with human remains
Fiona Bakulich, who appeared on the popular TV show, faced 14 charges.
‘Dangerous and reckless’: Police escort mining company truck away from protesters
The protesters dismissed mining company OceanaGold's description, saying it was 'low-key'.
Police car rammed, attempted carjacking - offenders flee at high speed across Auckland
A pair fled at high speed from Greenlane to Manurewa, got arrested after fleeing on foot.
Police hunting for man after Masterton church fires
Four churches hit on Saturday, three others targeted.
‘Fewer thugs trying it on’: Shopper who did botched citizen’s arrest backs law change
Justice Minister to announce change making citizen's arrest easier later today.
‘Can’t find the body’: Mother of missing Argentinian hiker wrestling with reality of son’s fate
Hector Gaston Arigau has been missing for two and a half weeks now.
‘Absolute moron’: E-scooter rider on motorway metres from high-speed traffic
The scooter travelled a short section on the motorway holding up vehicles unable to pass.
‘I laid out crystal-clear expectations’: PM got assurance from Bayly he would behave
Bayly gone after putting hand on staffer's arm. Four months ago, he called man a loser.
‘He’s out there’: Auck residents fear more arson attacks, as footage of carport blaze emerges
Hooded, masked offender caught on video as he targets cars in Auckland's Greenlane.
Fire bug on the loose in Auckland: Multiple incendiary devices planted under cars
Police launch manhunt for arsonist who torched one electric car and targeted others.
‘Hateful’: Police on alert as protest against Destiny Church planned for Auckland
Action comes after violent scenes at Rainbow Parade last weekend.
‘Trust can be reinstalled’: Tipene Funerals director addresses scandal
'We’ll lay it all out on the line for us all to hear.'
Mother, child barricaded inside library describe terror during Destiny Church protest
Police investigating assault allegations after about 50 people targeted show for kids.
‘Do better’: Reserve Bank governor says retail banks' profit margins should be cut
Adrian Orr's comments on Newstalk ZB come after the RBNZ cut the OCR yesterday.
Destiny Church leader Brian Tamaki facing family heartbreak
The church leader shared details online amid a week of increased attention.
Police pour cold water on potential new sighting of fugitive father Tom Phillips
Police were alerted to four people dressed in camouflage clothes.
Watch: Four men chase down out-of-control car after driver’s medical event
Video shows a man with his legs dangling out of a window steering the car to safety.
Largest-ever NZ airport cocaine bust uncovers 100kg smuggled in luggage
Cocaine amounts seized in Auckland have been increasing: 183kg found this year alone.
Fresh sighting of missing Marokopa fugitive Tom Phillips and his children
The father and his three children were spotted sitting in a layby on State Highway 4.
Radio personality among Destiny Church protesters
Concerns are being raised about people linked to Destiny Church and the violent protest.
Watch: Rainbow community ‘needs love and support’ amid hatred, says Swarbrick
Brian Tamaki says he instructed Destiny Church group to storm library hosting kids' event.
Two people seriously injured in South Auckland dog attack
The council says there is no risk to the wider public but they will be investigating.
‘Remain vigilant’: Rainbow community defiant against violent protests
Destiny Church groups stormed children's event yesterday, blocked Rainbow Parade.
Auckland Rainbow Parade: Destiny Church members disrupt march, perform haka
The group went through barricades despite a large police presence.
Lotto Powerball results: Do you have tonight’s winning numbers?
Tonight's $5 million draw comes on the back of a $10.5m win last Saturday.
Destiny Church groups storm library during drag king’s science show
A second event hours later was cancelled over fears over more violence.
Man killed by three vehicles on motorway a ‘decent person’ with troubled past
Joshua Love: failed businessman, political candidate, criminal, but mourned by family.
‘May God give him rest’: Man hit three times on Auckland motorway died on birthday
He was Joshua Nathanuel Love, 34, of West Auckland.
Missing hiker’s belongings turn up in river, search hampered by bad conditions
Hector Gaston Artigau, 21, of Argentina, was seen a week ago before he was washed away
Tipene Funerals scandal: More people could be implicated in body mishandling case
Tipene ex-employee Fiona Bakulich faces new charges, the Herald can reveal.
‘I had to sit down, I was shaking’: Hamilton woman’s shock at $10.5m Powerball win
The woman was rummaging through her handbag when she found several unchecked tickets.
Feedback sought on ‘most significant’ fisheries reform for decades
A review of rock lobster, Pacific bluefin tuna limits ongoing since December.
Watch: 'Right behind me' – Large great white shark chases solo kayak fisher
Matt Wells, 19, recorded a video of his encounter. Wells is helpless as he paddles away.
‘Tough times’: PM responds to poll results, Seymour’s Polkinghorne letter
Luxon: Seymour letter 'ill-advised'. Seymour hits back, said PM didn't know the facts.
Two injured, popular tourist highway closed, after serious truck crash
Fire crews were called to the rural Canterbury crash about 5.15am.
Desperate mum holding out hope for her only son missing in remote NZ wilderness
Argentine Hector Gaston Artigau dreamt of travelling the world. He went missing last week.
Student dies at Rotorua Boys' High School hostel
Rotorua Boys' High School principal says support was in place for the school community.
One person dead after Lewis Pass crash
First responders tried saving the person after the crash about 9.50pm yesterday.
'Wet weekend': Rain, hot muggy nights for start of Auckland Anniversary Weekend
Warm, muggy temperatures cloak the North Island with only one cloudless day.
Prestigious boys' college cancels centenary celebrations amid sex abuse allegations
A former staff member faces 11 charges of sexual abuse against four boys.
‘I’ve written about things I haven’t shared before': Former PM Ardern reveals book release
Ardern was expected to get an advance from $1m to $1.5m for the rights in Australasia.
Fishermen beat shark with broom after beast takes giant tuna's tail
The trio of men beat the shark away as they tried to haul the fish onboard.