Tracy Neal is a courts and tribunals reporter based in Nelson for the New Zealand Herald. She works as a court reporter covering Nelson and Blenheim courts and tribunal decisions nationwide.
Tracy Neal is one of the Open Justice reporting team covering courts and justice for the New Zealand Herald, and its regional partner in Nelson-Marlborough, Top South Media. She began her career as a cadet reporter for the Nelson Evening Mail in the mid-1980s, did her OE, freelanced, worked as a travel writer for trade press in Auckland on her return to NZ, then returned to Nelson and her old desk back at the Mail. Tracy was RNZ's regional reporter in Nelson-Marlborough for six years, where she learned the fine art of cutting and compiling audio for radio. She also prepared court news from her patch for NZME's Newstalk ZB news network. Over the years Tracy has covered everything from this region, from crime to courts to local government, plus natural disasters and some large civil defence emergencies. You can contact Tracy at tracy.neal@nzme.co.nz.
'Sexual discrimination': One woman's battle for rights within a Muslim community
Shama Nisha says her human rights victory has paved the way for Muslim women in NZ.
'It was gangsta': Drugged woman drove car through sleeping couple's home
She narrowly missed the sleeping elderly couple's bedroom and cannot pay for the damage.
'High risk': Judge's skepticism as gang member claims desire to change
Defence lawyer: 'He’s spent much of his life acting out and pretending to be tough'.
Why a judge rejected mental impairment claims in sex offender's sentencing
Victims seek apology; Judge says harm caused to children is 'extraordinary'.
Estranged daughter awarded $372k after being cut from mother's will
The mother updated her will stipulating she was to be left nothing due to her 'behaviour'.
'Physically ill': SPCA chief's horror at neglected pet dog's suffering
Young dog Grimlock had to be euthanised.
Son revealed as murder-accused of woman found dead in her home
Jennifer Sheehan's family were left 'shocked and utterly lost for words' after her death.
'Imperative to survival': Lifejacket call after kayaker's death during fishing trip
His body was found a week later, 60km from where he left in his kayak.
'I’ve never seen one that big': Judge shocked at cow's untreated cancer
Judge criticises owner for not seeking vet help; 'The cow suffered significant pain.'
Family hide camera in elderly man's room, see rest home carers abusing him
Hidden camera footage exposes abuse at Ōamaru care facility.
Luxury estate couple taken to court for refusing to pay levies over unmowed lawn, weeds
The judge likened it to not paying rates because the potholes had not been fixed.
'Horrid rotten egg smell:' Authorities followed their noses to find black gunk seeping into streams
Three people complained of the black substance that smelled like rotten egg.
Massage therapist tells woman to lose weight, surgically alter her height
Other women complained he was sexist and racist and wouldn't stop when asked.
‘She wants them back’: Cannabis grower pleads for police to return mum's pots
'My mother asked me to ask if I could get them back. She will get upset otherwise'.
'Easy money': Woman stole $7k from grandmother, then used pushchair in shoplifting spree
Grandmother is said to be 'very cross' about what happened.
Sue Grey guilty of unsatisfactory conduct for 'sloppy' use of a suppressed child's name
The baby was at the centre of a stand-off over the use of vaccinated people’s blood.
‘Demonic acts’: Family's torment revealed as victims face their abusive father
'Only a person who has sold their soul could commit such heinous crimes' - victim.
Tourists traumatised as angry driver chases 50-seater bus believing it damaged his parked car
Bus driven in loops through suburban streets to try to shake Ryan Mills off the chase.
Terror lingers in couple threatened with machete during burglary
The attack in an isolated area has affected their sense of safety at home.
Missed scan signs lead to death of newborn, lung removal for another baby
Missed diagnoses involving two babies had 'profound impact' on the families involved.
Online predator's 'sustained campaign of terror' ended by one small mistake, police say
Police: 'It took nearly two years to charge Cottam and get justice for his victims.'
Shattered: Victim's intimate images shared on social media
Tamara Mati's lawyer argued she covered the most explicit parts with pumpkin emojis.
Coroner finds ‘warning systems did not work’ after driver killed by runaway truck
He was crushed between his truck and another as the vehicle rolled down a hill.
'Deeply unwell': Inpatient threw boiling water in mental health worker's face
Derive McNeill has since thanked the man for working in the mental health sector.
'Sustained campaign of terror': Man created 'graphic and repulsive' porn to blackmail women
One victim says finding her images on 'disgusting' websites will haunt her forever.
Sparky's apology after tradie electrocuted 'too little, too late' for grieving partner
Builder Craig Johnston died after being electrocuted in 2020.
Judge criticises woman for doctoring bank statements used as evidence
The woman was trying to hide her true financial position during Family Court proceedings.
Nelson woman fined for taking more than 1000 cockles from traditional fishery reserve
Judge: 'If everyone did that, we would not have any cockles left in our country'.
Aggressive driver who caused serious crash told police to 'f*** off' when asked for blood sample
The 'horrendously bad driver' later assaulted his partner and bit a police officer.
Man died within two days of being sent home from hospital without oxygen
The much-loved husband and father was rushed back to hospital but died there.
Sister's heartbreak: Woman pleads for leniency after brother abused her children
Man's lawyer: “He is a victim himself and is now an abuser,”
From riches to rags: Man who banished wife from home ends up with a fraction of their fortune
She left the upmarket family home with little more than a bag of clothes and some cash.
‘It’s my fault’: Father’s anguish at son’s role in fatal Mongrel Mob intra-gang attack
Arana Huriwaka stabbed James Barton in the neck after a dispute over gang rules.
'Lecherous behaviour': Porn addiction leads to jail for farmer with child sex abuse videos
Matthew Harry Drummond is now behind bars for more than two years.
'It was the wind': Drunk truck driver's excuse for swerving all over the road
The driver, who stopped twice to urinate on the road, was nearly four times the limit.
Gym coach jailed for sexually abusing children admits he's 'now in the right place'
But, a judge says his refusal to identify some victims is relevant to gauging his remorse.
Disqualified driver stole disabled woman's car after she dropped keys during bank appointment
On another occasion Rory Herk was clocked doing 173 km/h on a motorbike.
Driver not at fault for crash caused by seizure – so who pays for man's damaged car?
The driver had insurance but they wouldn't pay up. Now it's gone to the Disputes Tribunal.
The nickname that enraged a gang member and left a man with a bullet in his chest
A chance meeting at a store led to a shooting, police hunt and three people being charged.
Lawyer decries Oranga Tamariki for children's lack of contact with parents
The children have barely had contact with their parents in six months.
'Go, go, go!' Mates film brutal slaying of wild stag after driver runs it down
The deer then had its throat cut in a 'gratuitous and violent act' that was posted online.
Fatherhood not enough to stop fisherman drink driving, despite final warning
Judge: 'You have recently served a sentence of home detention and it did not deter you.'
Woman banned from gas station sends young person in to buy goods with stolen card
Judge warns Jayme Lee Washbourne: 'Your fate is in your hands; prison is close'.
Justice Minister open to proposals as court delays impact families
One barrister says the court delays are hurting people.
Lawyer Sue Grey tearful at tribunal: 'I didn’t mean to breach name suppression'
It is alleged lawyer revealed the name of a child who had suppression in two interviews.
Tourist attacked by naked nihilist in 'ferocious' campground rampage
The victim was dragged from her bike and suffered severe injuries.
Air NZ worker on holiday sacked after using security card, bypassing Customs area
The woman argued it was a 'one-off mistake' and she should not have been fired.
Drunk driver walked away from crash scene while cousin lay trapped under van
The judge dealt with the RSE worker 'expediently' to avoid any burden on the NZ taxpayer.
Women's secret marriage ends with a court battle over $1m house and luxury car
The court found a 50/50 spilt of their property would be 'repugnant to justice'.
Couple buy first home together at mortgagee sale – but the old owner wouldn't leave
They spent $16,000 and four months evicting the previous owner who became a 'squatter'.
Screwed up notes and shredded paper: The clues that lead a counterfeit cash op being busted
Now a judge has described one of the women involved as a menace to the community.
Woman attacked sleeping friend for allegedly flirting with her boyfriend
Natasha Birchfield dragged the victim out of bed by the hair, then bit her arm and eyelid.
Woman who thought she was cancer-free now terminal after radiologist missed clues on scan
The error came to light when she questioned how her cancer could have spread so quickly.
Woman's knife attack on ex-husband's new lover leads to prison and fight to stay in NZ
Donglan Wu is serving five years but has avoided deportation on humanitarian grounds.
I bargained with God to save my daughter after sexual assault
Victim's mum told judge who was sentencing Kurt Balemi that he was a 'danger to society'.
Preventable death: Day on Wellington Harbour ended in tragedy for mates in new boat
Inexperienced skipper Kevin Hislop drowned after the runabout sank 400m from the shore.
'That was your undoing': How DNA from a Coke bottle led police to a violent offender
Nathan Lewis sent to jail for 10 years for man's assault, violent pub and KFC robberies.
'It won’t happen again': Fishermen caught breaking dolphin-friendly rules
The judge noted their money struggles but stressed the seriousness of fishing offences.
'I don't like it at all': Prison wake-up call for teen who stabbed woman outside pub
'I want you to reach 21 and live a good, pro-social life,' the judge told him.
Cannabis grower told police it was a shame he was caught as plants were "nearly ready"
Police found the plants after seeing light coming from an area with no obvious entrance.
A life shaped by crime: Desensitised burglar back behind bars
Judge says Edward Davis' remorse and regret 'may be aligned with apprehension'.
War between landlord and tenant escalates to power, water being cut
The dispute began over a sign the tenant had posted on her fence.
Family trust not enough to protect man from losing 'life's work' to ex
He was wrong to think his actions would safeguard home from any claim by a future partner.
'Suspension would devastate me': Teacher fights to keep job after criminal charges
The woman was discharged without conviction for serious misconduct.
'Gratuitous, excessive ... unjustified': Officers stomped on detainee lying face down
Two of the custody officers have since left and one pleaded guilty to common assault.
Teacher to 501 deportee: Man to be sent back to NZ after sexually molesting 10yo at campsite
Michael Hughes maintains he's innocent - despite Aussie court ruling.
Load of bull: Woman buys 'desexed' cattle beast which went on to impregnate cows
Tribunal says photos of 'MN' and his testicle were evidence he was not fully castrated.
'I’m not paying him an absolute penny': The dispute over an unpaid $14k bill
Raine Selles continues to baulk at money owed for her horse arena, despite a court order.
Busted: Inquisitive cleaner finds fake money operation in motel room
'It's offending that undermines our currency and this is a serious example of it.'
Suki's legacy: The dog attack that went all the way to the Court of Appeal
A new ruling has clarified the hazy laws around destruction orders for dogs that attack.
'Calculated torture': Mother forced to watch as son bashed with hammer
Torture ringleader Dylan Hemana says he had a 'Once Were Warriors' upbringing.
Retired woman left with one leg shorter after hip surgery, takes on ACC alone
'Her everyday life has been hard: physically, emotionally, psychologically, financially.'
Drunken sailor crashed car while drinking '8 or 9' beers on drive home from sea
He understood the seriousness of what he’d done and how he’d placed other drivers at risk.
Pharmac asked to consider stopping long-term subsidy of antibiotics after man’s death
No one warned the man of the risk of taking nitrofurontoin for more than six months.
Villagers win fight against prominent wine grower over controversial alpine subdivision
'We would have been looking at Coronation Street which is not why we chose to be here.'
'She had just turned 12': Victim sobs as offender avoids being tagged as child sex offender
Peter Currie claimed an indecent assault at a wedding dance 'happened accidentally'.
Backpacker manager posing as physio indecently assaulted tourists during ‘massages’
Fred Pino-Bustos told one of his victims he learned a new technique on YouTube.
'You are a monster:' Dad confronts man who sexually abused his daughter
"Hate is a strong word...but Patrick Hart, I hate you for everything you did".
Woman duped into handing over $7k after being told she'd won a prize on Facebook
The victim was told she had to pay $5000 into a bank account in order to claim her prize.
Surgery denied: Mum with painful endometriosis told she's too young for hysterectomy
The HDC has found the doctor was 'unduly influenced by his own views' regarding her care.