Tara Shaskey is a news director and Open Justice reporter, based in Taranaki.
Tara Shaskey began her journalism career in 2014 as a motoring reporter for Stuff before taking on other rounds such as crime and justice, arts and entertainment, and Māori issues. In 2022, she joined NZME as part of the Open Justice project, a specialist team of multimedia journalists who cover a wide range of courts, tribunals, and legal issues across New Zealand. You can contact Tara at tara.shaskey@nzme.co.nz.
'I thought he would die': Mother faces the man who took her baby
He stole her car with her baby in it and then dumped the boy on the roadside.
Top NZ sports star sentenced for sending nude images of woman
The man, who cannot be named yet, threatened to post a woman's naked photos online.
Gang member swaps patch for socks while in court for sporting insignia
People wearing insignia from at least six different gangs are currently before the courts.
Rugby player charged for alleged assault during post-match handshakes
An opponent was knocked to the ground and taken to hospital by ambulance.
'I only ever tried to help': Aunt clawed, punched for mentioning niece's ex
The woman was in the backseat of a car when she grabbed her aunty's hair and attacked her.
'Promising rugby player' convicted in covert sex video case can now be named
Leslie Topia Barrowcliffe was selected for the Chiefs under-20s squad this year.
Terrified woman woke to find knife-wielding intruder performing sex act next to her bed
Her toddler was asleep next to her in a cot and the man had exposed himself.
'Can’t do anything': Brain-damaged man's decline after hospital's morphine overdose
Trevor Flood was being treated for cancer when he suffered a significant brain injury.
Teen mobster involved in murder lied to avoid jail, now he’s rejected early parole
Tana Ormsby-Turner has assaulted inmates and racked up misconducts while inside.
Torched car and fake sex ads: Man's harassment campaign against ex revealed
The judge said the man's actions were 'calculated, manipulative, and highly premeditated'.
Luxury Airbnb drug lord successfully appeals 'excessive' sentence
At the peak of his drug peddling, Louis Hall squandered almost $1m at the casino.
Life sentence for rapist who made girls his ‘playthings’ for 20 years
He punished his victims when they resisted his abuse. Now he will be punished, they said.
'Promising player' argues conviction for covert sex video will destroy his rugby career
Player also wants suppression but judge says disruption to rugby career isn't hardship.
Teen fired from pizza delivery job takes on company - and wins $10k
Jake Pirret-Buik says he was wrongfully accused of stealing $50 and sacked on the spot.
Destruction order upheld for 'well-loved elderly pet' that landed cyclist in ICU
The man suffered broken ribs and a collapsed lung after rottweiler Indy rushed the riders.
'I’ll shoot you': Barricaded man fired at police during 14-hour siege
An officer feared for his life when the gunman pointed the firearm directly at him.
Ex-student catches teacher trying to send sexually explicit images and videos to teens
The teacher reported himself to police after being spoken to by a school colleague.
Man dies as wife drives him to hospital after St John fails to send ambulance
He was suffering 'classic heart attack symptoms' but an ambulance was not dispatched.
Father fights to transfer te reo Māori-speaking son from kura to mainstream school
Now, a Family Court judge has made the final call on where the boy should go.
Woman dies from aorta tear after being sent home from ED with indigestion medication
A doctor ruled out her shortness of breath and chest pain as being cardiac-related.
The fight's over: Eviction imminent for Black Power veteran squatting on coastal land
Kevin Moore has been illegally occupying Māori land for more than a decade.
Grieving parents tell the 'numbed soul' who burned their daughter to death: 'Rot in hell'
Emma Field was alive but likely unconscious when a fire took hold of her bedroom.
'Chronic distress': Teen took his life after repeated online abuse
The recurring messages 'really got to him', a coroner was told.
'Chaos': Death penalty for dog that rushed group of cyclists, causing crash and injury
One man suffered several broken ribs when he collided with another bike's handlebars.
'Blow their heads off': Black Power member shot at rival in ED carpark, shut down hospital
The shooting followed several altercations between the groups at a motel nearby.
'Send the boys over': Tribesman who murdered 'police nark' fights prison recall
Lenin Lazarus fatally shot Shane Hohepa at a patching party at the gang's headquarters.
Man died after junior doctor botched chest drain procedure
The patient did not provide informed consent for the doctor to perform the procedure.
Mental health issues raised as man appears in court charged with murdering his relative
A 60-year-old man died in an alleged family-harm incident in Pātea at the weekend.
'I can float': School missed 'red flag' in drowned student's swimming form
A coroner has found closer supervision of Jaden Chhayrann should have taken place.
'A very practiced liar and deceiver': Scepticism as former Dilworth housemaster vows to be truthful
Sexual predator Ian Wilson has been declined parole for a fourth time.
‘Your kids saw this’: Ex-lifeguard jailed after brutal stomping on fellow diner’s head
The attacker, an ex-lifeguard of 19 years, then put him in the recovery position.
Landmark prosecution: Man suffered two brain bleeds during workplace accident
Grant Bowling was hit from behind by an agriculture vehicle and collected in its bucket.
'Shhh': Man drank 27 RTDs before sexually assaulting sleeping party guest
'You should not have touched me,' the woman has told her attacker.
Man accused of murdering young promising rugby league player appears in court
Te Omeka Pairama Akariri-Buckley, 17, died after an atercation in Taranaki.
Woman’s 'meticulously' planned suicide could have been prevented - Coroner
She left notes around her house for those who would eventually find her.
Health NZ must apologise after surgeon circumcised man without his consent
He made the unexpected discovery when the postoperative bandages were removed.
Migrant caught repeatedly masturbating in public blames being 'lonely and homesick'
He claimed to be massaging a 'sore testicle' before admitting to pleasuring himself.
'A listening ear': Mental health worker had sexual relationship with client's ex
The client was suspicious after her ex had information she'd only shared with the worker.
'Pleading for his life': Mobster murdered fellow gang member, dumped his body
Killer appeals against his conviction and sentence, with partial success.
Ex-sports star threatens to share woman's nude pics
Woman repeatedly asked New Zealand representative to delete images.
Rugby mates covertly film threesome with woman, then shared it on Snapchat
One of the men plays representative rugby and argued a conviction may impact his career.
Man accused of murdering his wife on Valentine’s Day unfit to stand trial
Levonne Kaye Wensor, 48, was found dead at her New Plymouth home in February 2022.
Abuse in Care inquiry: Snapshot of 138 recommendations for redress
The 3000-page report calls for apologies, redress and police investigations.
'Little to no financial compensation': Abuse in care survivors suffer third-class system
The Prime Minister said he was committed to doing 'the right thing'.
Grandparent raising infant grandchild left fighting for paid leave
The grandparent's application was declined after returning to work to complete a handover.
'This is the last thing I will ever see': Man blinds flatmate in eye-gouging attack
He asked his flatmate why he had been 'tracking' him before launching the frenzied attack.
Support workers caught abusing disabled woman - 'you’re an ugly human being'
She wanted to keep her iPad and charger in her room.
'You or your mum:' Boy woke next to grave dug by dad, told to choose who was going in
More than a decade of man's 'monstrous' violence against partner and son comes to an end.
New police investigation into infamous prison escapee and murderer Phillip John Smith
He was jailed for life in 1995 for murdering the father of a boy he sexually abused.
'Screaming for his life': Violent home invasion after brothers booted from Halloween party
A girl hid under her blanket on the floor after windows were smashed around her.
'Foolish' dealer filmed himself cooking meth, couriering drugs and cash
Now Kodee Kee-Sue has been jailed for more than 13 years.
'Vigilante, self-help violence': Fisherman's life upended by father and son in jetty assault
The man was beaten, knocked off the jetty and held underwater.
Ex international sports star charged with posting 'nude images' of woman online
The alleged offending occurred on four separate occasions over two weeks.
'Cruel and brutal treatment': Mother who murdered toddler claims sentence is unjust
Southern Thompson said her difficult background and remorse warranted a greater discount.
Man with lung condition dies 40 minutes after 'unsafe discharge' from hospital
Patient in his 80s was still struggling to breathe and had no proper care plan in place.
Lawless rampage: What car-jacking fugitive did after dumping baby on roadside
Michael Smith stole a car that had a baby asleep in the backseat. Then he went on the lam.
Gang member 'squatting' on beachside property takes eviction fight to Supreme Court
Kevin Moore has been illegally occupying Māori coastal land for the past 11 years.
Violent history revealed of man guilty of burning his 'soulmate' to death
Leigh Beer has been found guilty of murdering Emma Field. Now his history can be revealed.
Taranaki man found guilty of murdering 'soulmate' after setting her mattress alight
Emma Field was alive but likely unconscious when the blaze took hold.
Car-jacker who left baby on roadside admits motor theft, disputes abduction
There was a baby inside the stolen vehicle who was then abandoned on a berm.
Man accused of bedroom fire murder either a 'failed hero' or 'caught red-handed'
Emma Field was alive but likely unconscious when a fire took hold of her bedroom.
Woman allegedly murdered in bedroom blaze was unconscious, trapped
Emma Field was alive when the fire took hold.
'Shocked and mortified': TSB Bank teller stole from customers to feed gambling habit
The woman picked her victims carefully - they were either elderly or had health issues.
Kiwi got partner out of jail with forged letters claiming terminal cancer
But two years later, the fraud was discovered and it all came crashing down.
Firefighter recalls finding alleged murder victim's body in dark, burnt-out room
Emma Field was alive but likely unconscious when the blaze took hold of her bedroom.
'I didn’t do it': Ex-mobster loses his cool while giving evidence in murder trial
Defence accused him of torching the place after breaking in and assaulting the woman.
Dragged to his death: Now the woman involved is up for parole and says she's sorry
Jacob Ramsay was beaten over money he owed and then chained to a car and dragged.
'I was screaming': Murder-accused emotionally recalls trying to save partner from fatal fire
But he claims he can't remember much else, including how the blaze broke out.
Koha the roaming Staffy's life on the line after killing an 18yo sun-bathing cat
He was impounded and facing possible destruction while his owner was taken to court.
'Conditioned to it': Murder-accused 'disrespectful' to partner on night of fatal fire
The 21-year-old was alive but likely unconscious when her bedroom was engulfed in flames.
'I love you': Parents of alleged murder victim recall their daughter’s final goodbye
The 21 year old was alive but likely unconscious when a fire took hold and killed her.
'Left her to burn to death': Murder-accused allegedly torched sleeping partner's bed
The 21yo was alive but likely unconscious when her bedroom was engulfed in flames.
'Extreme weather': Neighbour to pay up after scoria, foliage blocks drains amid 2023 storms
The affected neighbour took time off work to clean up and had to get in a drainlayer.
'Govt sanctioned cultivation of cannabis': Judge's concern about legal scheme
Licensed cannabis growers can currently legally obtain illicit seeds and plants.
Police claim security worker is a Tribesmen, he says 'he surrendered his patch'
Verner Saimasi argued he cut ties with the gang and turned his life around.
'Highly culpable': Farmer milked cow even after 'part of her udder dropped off'
Some of Ray Nairn's ill-treated cows needed to be euthanised.
'Surreal, raw and tender': Murder-accused in court after death at accommodation complex
Whatitiri Whakaruru, 26, died last month after being fatally stabbed in South Taranaki.
Wanted man arrested, facing drugs and car theft charges
Police made a public appeal to help locate Quaide Clements.