Megan Wilson is a Multimedia Journalist for the Bay of Plenty Times and Rotorua Daily Post.
Megan Wilson started working as a journalist for NZME based in Tauranga in 2021. She writes for the Bay of Plenty Times and Rotorua Daily Post. She graduated from Victoria University of Wellington in 2015 with a Bachelor of Arts and from the London School of Journalism in 2021 with a post-graduate diploma in journalism. Since starting as a journalist, she has primarily covered health and general news, writing about COVID-19, staff and resourcing issues in the public health system, and the battle Kiwis face for unfunded, life-saving drugs, treatments and health screening in New Zealand.

‘A new frontier’: How supercritical geothermal could change NZ energy
About $12m to $15m has already been spent on investigative work.

'The only one that’s ever worked': Pill funding welcomed by endometriosis patient
'This will really help, especially young women who are learning to manage the disease.'

Revealed: Hundreds of children escaped from early childhood centres in NZ in five years
Four children were found 'running around on the road'; another was found near a highway.

Doctor shortage: How long could it take to recruit for Whakatāne’s maternity ward?
Plus, how many overseas doctors are being considered for the positions.

'Didn’t get what we wanted': Pathlab workers strike for second time in two months
Members didn't like striking 'but it's ... our only means to enact any sort of change'.

'It’s a perfect area': 89 new homes to be built in Tauranga
Construction will begin on the two-storey development at the end of 2025.

The ‘amazing’ highs and ‘huge toll’ of 38 years in real estate
'I remember going home and saying to the kids ... ‘We’re going to Disneyland'.'

‘We’ve had no one apply’: Teacher shortage hits region
The Bay could be short of 180 primary school teachers in 2025, according to projections.

‘Creating capacity’: New private surgical facility anchors $80m development
Pioneering surgeon-led facility will create 100 jobs and is part of a $80m development.

‘Undervalued’ social workers strike: ‘Who’s going to look after the kids?’
Seven week-strike planned after union says Oranga Tamariki offered members 0% pay rise.

‘A full and very positive life’: Funding to begin for life-extending cancer drugs
Rhys Drayson passed his given life expectancy after taking the drugs in a clinical trial.

'Attacked' with rocks: Man spends $5k on lights, cameras after council 'inaction'
The damage has been so severe that the resident received a $28K insurance payout.

‘Hell of a fight’: Retiree battles ACC after delayed terminal cancer diagnosis
He was turned down, then offered $19,732, which he said was an 'insult'.

A ‘war cry’ for sexual assault survivors: One-woman play comes to Bay
High school and tertiary students are being offered free tickets.

'Deeply disappointing': Proposed job cuts will worsen access to palliative care - doctor
Public money would be spent on hospital admissions for people with 'nowhere else to go'.

Mum's drug funding hope for 3yo son with cystic fibrosis
'The earlier children receive Trikafta, the better their long-term health outcomes.'

'Critical decisions need to be made quickly': Iwi concerned about maternity service change
Bay of Plenty iwi met with Health NZ to discuss 'urgent challenges' for Māori.

Second BoP daycare has child escape, found by member of public
The incident sparked a risk assessment and supervision review.

Why fast-growing schools are having to say 'No' to new students
'The ministry won’t give you more buildings if you have too many out-of-zone enrolments.'

'I was in shock': Grandad finds four preschoolers on road after escaping from daycare
'I would be asking a lot of questions ... cars don’t go slow around there.'

'I heard all my bones break': Runner loses leg in farming accident
The 'shattered' bones in his leg were 'like Weet-Bix', he said.

'Not sustainable': Tauranga worker would earn extra $30k for same job in Hamilton
'We do the same job as the Te Whatu Ora labs, but we’re paid significantly less.'

'This is going to kill someone': Midwife's fear after maternity service 'downgrading'
Higher-risk births were sent to a hospital more than an hour away after specialists quit.

‘Started from nothing’: From cleaning flats to running a holiday home business
The 'boutique' business manages holiday homes in Mount Maunganui and Pāpāmoa.

'Deeply distressing': Daycare apologises after four children escape
They left through a gate that 'unexpectedly malfunctioned' and were quickly returned.

How surfer Ollie Dobbin bought three Ōhope businesses before the age of 24
His first business was a surf school which he bought when he was still in high school.

New year, new job? Farmer switched to stacking shelves - and aims to own a supermarket
He started again at the bottom, and is working his way up.

Body found, believed to be missing Tauranga man
Jarrad Ormsby was last seen in Hamilton on December 19.

ADHD: The regions where assessments are 'a lot faster' than in other places
A support organisation says it's important to diagnose and treat ADHD 'before it spirals'.

'So grateful': Student receives scholarships to go to India and Japan
'I never ever thought I would get anything like this before.'

'Super dangerous': Former MP witnesses truck overtaking in wrong lane
'I would've thought the driver’s best option was to have braked.'

'I want to know he’s okay': Sister of man missing three weeks speaks out
His sister said the last contact was Jarrad calling their father on December 18.

Watch: Truck’s 'shocking' overtaking on Kaimāī Range prompts investigations
'Pretty bloody scary,' said one comment.

'Rollercoaster year': Entrepreneurs share their highs and lows
New products and international expansion are on the cards for the two businesses.

Health NZ redundancies: More than $251k paid out in Bay of Plenty, Lakes
'We’ve lost people ... all vital to making sure a hospital functions accordingly.'

Abuse survivors' group backs man’s move to reject King’s Service Medal
Fears survivors of abuse in faith-based institutions will be 'ghosted' in redress system.

The four summer activities that racked up $16.5m in ACC payouts in one region
'You don’t want to spend your summer holiday in A and E.'

Fights, fireworks, family fun and almost 4500 breath tests: Tauranga rings in 2025
Police were 'pleased' overall but not everyone in the city was on their best behaviour.

New Year Honours: Bay of Plenty, Coromandel, Taupō recipients named
Plus - we ask why one city, unusually, has no honourees on this year's list.

'Volunteering certainly helps': How widower copes after losing wife of 44 years
'There’s a whole lot of people out there who you can help and talk to.'

'A sanctuary for so many children': Dancing school closes after decades of teaching
'The contribution they’ve made to ballet in this country ... has been immense.'

'Blessing in disguise': How failing an eye test saved a man from vision loss
He says there 'isn’t enough knowledge' about the disease. A surgeon hopes to change that.

'Devastated': Seven staff laid off as 'busiest cafe in Tauranga' closes
'It was one of the hardest decisions we’ve ever had to do in our lives.'

'My heart just broke': Witness' grief comes 'flooding back' after swimming hole tragedy
'You just feel so wholeheartedly for these people that are going through this tragedy ...'

'Emotional rollercoaster': Teen beats cancer twice in three years
'The true meaning of Christmas has become more profound for us – cancer has changed us.'

'Unusual circumstances': Remains identified as Tokoroa man missing for two years
Police are appealing for information - 'even the smallest detail could be crucial'.

Students 'in tears': Proposal to axe 'invaluable' apprenticeship
The Waipā campus in Rotorua is 'the only facility of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere'.

'Tragic that it’s still needed': How demand for this service has changed in 33 years
'It used to be very much income-based ... that's changed.'

'We absolutely love it': The couple taking drivers on the 'ultimate' US road trip
The couple spend five months a year in America running their business.

How a 'horrific' hunting accident in 1982 led to a terminal cancer diagnosis
A patient is 'disgusted' National didn't fund 13 cancer drugs it promised.

'Would not have made it to hospital': Tauranga after-hours clinic’s sudden closure upsets parents
Mum who rushed son to the clinic after he 'split his head open' shocked by closure.

'Speed up access' to health services: New child wellness centre opens
It is a 'significant milestone' in Health NZ's commitment to improving children's health.

'One big family': How two teens went from having trouble at school to new career dreams
'It gets me out of the house, it gives me something to do all day ... '

'Bombshell': Prostate cancer survivor speaks out on 'stigmatised' side effects
"Before, you had no limitations ... and all of a sudden there’s a handbrake on."

'Invaluable aid' for buyers: Three BoP suburbs make OneRoof’s ‘Hot 100′ list
'We all want to buy at an affordable price and to live in a suburb that’s on the rise.'

'Life-changing': Mum can eat for first time in years after $250k surgery trip
'There was a time when I didn’t think I’d see my kids become teenagers.'

'Interest is high': Luxury Mount retirement village apartment prices revealed
Five apartments have sold off the plans as construction ramps up.

Call for council to drop $147m hotel, convention centre idea 'altogether'
'If it was financially viable, we would have it up and built by big corporates... '

'Not going to let the old man in yet': Neville Bowen, Chris Burr win photo competition
'Once the sawdust gets in your veins, it stays in your veins,' the wood chopper said.

Visitors eye Rotorua and Bay for school holidays
Plus, top things to do in the Bay this school holidays.

'They kept that a secret': Man finds out at age 48 he was adopted
‘You didn’t fit into my plans’: Mum's reason for giving him up.

'It’s supported me in so much': Nursing student wins scholarship
She wants to make it 'easier' for people living in rural communities to get healthcare.

'How can this be real?' Two sisters diagnosed with breast cancer two years apart
'I just want to do everything I can to obviously prolong time and quality of life.'

Continuing the 'legacy': Students taking on 40-hour physical activity challenge
The challenge is about raising awareness for mental health and removing the stigma.

'Lost everything that mattered': How he went from prison to fulltime work
'This service is truly one in a million ... I have never known or seen anything like it.'

Retiree, 87, enjoys ‘very active’ life 20 years after cancer diagnosis
'I just carried on as life was normal.'

'Mighty dream': Bid to build cancer lodge near hospital hits hurdles
Some people 'compromising' on cancer fight due to costs, logistics of getting to Tauranga.

'Boost of confidence': Ex-Ōtūmoetai College student named finalist in fashion competition
After graduating, he would like to work overseas and 'gain some industry experience'.

'Affable, wonderful man': Tauranga iwi pay tribute to Kiingi Tūheitia
Local iwi will be sending delegations to the tangi of the Māori monarch.

Pāpāmoa start-up launches in the US - including the 'celebrity supermarket of LA'
'The US is just a beast and has the potential to really catapult our brand.'

'Challenging': 4000-patient clinic has no permanent GP
Sometimes locums cannot be found so practices are running with 'insufficient GPs'.

'Really sad': Mount market ending on Sunday after 15 years
The market is 'no longer viable' in its current form, but there are hopes for a new one.

'Crippling costs': Iwi spends almost $100k in legal 'fight' to protect te reo
Iwi says its 'money is urgently needed elsewhere' but it will fight for te reo Māori.

'Much needed' new radiology clinic opens in Tauranga
Bay cancer patients will be able to get scans locally.

'Broke every bone in his body': Teen survives being hit by two cars
The teen was walking home sober on a rural road at night when he was hit.

'Double-whammy': Downsized bin business says $10k rates hike is 'obscene'
'There’s no excuse for rates going up that fast. It’s just completely unnecessary.'

Photo competition launched to show people aged 65-plus 'living their best life'
The winning photos will feature in an outdoor exhibition in Tauranga.

Artist's 'never-before-seen' painting displayed at major art gallery in London
The collection where her portrait is displayed is seen by 'millions' of visitors a year.