Melissa Nightingale is a Senior Reporter for the Herald, based in the Wellington region.
Melissa began working for NZME in 2013 as a journalist at the Whanganui Chronicle, after completing a Diploma in Journalism and a Bachelor of Communications degree at the Waikato Institute of Technology (Wintec). Melissa started on the crime, emergency and health rounds and now specialises in court reporting in her role in the capital - though continues to cover all things Wellington and beyond. She is also the host of the NZ Herald podcast The Fifty Year Secret, which uncovered shocking new evidence in one of New Zealand's oldest cold case murders. Melissa is always on the lookout for great news tips and welcomes the occasional cute animal story to break up the flood of crime. She can be emailed at melissa.nightingale@nzme.co.nz or messaged on X (formerly Twitter) @mel_nightingale.
Kiri Allan to go on trial this week for crash incident, refusing to accompany police
Allan says she is testing a grey area in the law.
Girl needing machine to slow lung damage 'shocked' as donations pour in
Victoria Wilson said she burst into tears after one family donated $7000.
'She deserves a good life': Girl needs $20k machine to slow lung damage
Maddi Wilson ends up on antibiotics or in hospital for even mild viruses.
Missing boat of man who fell overboard, spent day floating in ocean, found 170km away
Will Fransen, 61, fell off the boat and spent 24 hours floating alone on January 2.
'Strange bond': Two men's near-identical ordeals surviving alone in the ocean
Rob Hewitt has reflected on his own ordeal of floating alone at sea for 72 hours.
'I just kept staying alive': Man's 24-hour ordeal after falling overboard without life jacket
Will Fransen spent nearly 24 hours drifting in the ocean without even a life jacket.
'Glad to see you': First words of man rescued after almost 24 hours in the sea
The man used the reflection of the sun on his watch to catch his rescuers' attention.
'Chaos-tamer' Kiri Allan launches new business
Allan is still going through the court process for Wellington car crash.
Final results? Recounts? Overhangs? What you need to know about the election from here
The Herald answers your questions on what happens now.
Kiri Allan pleads not guilty to refusing to accompany police after crash
The former Justice Minister's court hearing has been delayed until after the election.
Your child's abuser could still have a say: What you need to know
Even exes who committed serious assaults and had been absent for years still have a say.
Mum 'disgusted' abusive ex gets say over brain-damaged son's name
The boy has the developmental age of a toddler after being shaken as a baby by his father.
Watch: 'Not in a good head space' - PM's 'difficult' phone call with Kiri Allan
The crash happened on Evans Bay Parade in Roseneath about 9pm last night.
Police name man who died in Ōpōtiki
CPR was performed but the man died of his injuries.
Cop who tasered unarmed man three times in cells no longer with NZ Police
'He shoots me three times', says the complainant.
Cop found not guilty for tasering man three times in cells
Video of the incident shows the officer tasering the man as he lay face-down on the floor.
Where you can pay tribute to Queen Elizabeth II
Here's where you can go to pay tribute to the late Queen.
'It's a talking point': Tauranga man gets tattoo of Queen's face
Declan Jones wanted a tattoo to represent his home back in England.
Police name victim of fatal skydiving accident in Tauranga
The dead man was an experienced skydiver on a solo jump.
Family relieved son's body will be returned from Australia
Titan McCall died in a car crash on January 8 in Western Australia.
Herald journalist's book banned from prisons
Inmate gearing up to fight Corrections over the decision.
Child who died on dairy farm: 'God needed him back'
Rozayah Hudson died in an incident on a dairy farm last week.
Firefighter broke ribs, punctured lung in lockdown rescue
Bruce was helping in a lockdown rescue when helicopter basket swung towards his head.
Notorious criminal Dean Wickliffe to be freed on parole
Dean Wickliffe has spent most of his life in prison.
'Desperate' Te Puke woman stuck in Peru amid pandemic
Her next flight is in May, but her husband suspects that too could be cancelled.
Matamata virus cluster linked to St Patrick's Day event
There are nine cases linked to the event at a local business
Two appear in court over Taita homicide
Women in the public gallery cried during the brief appearances.
Early childcare teacher censured for bruising child in 'rugby-style' pick up
The Tauranga teacher said she never intended to hurt the boy when she moved him.
Strikes loom again as primary school teachers reject latest pay offer
Primary school teachers are revealing their decision over the latest pay offer.
'Rotten care': Elderly rest home residents dying due to low level of help - union
Reports of man dying after being too scared to report infected wound due to low staffing.
Quarter of teens watch porn before age 12, report reveals
Almost a quarter of teenagers think nobody should view porn.
More NCEA exams to go digital in 2019
Students will be able to choose to take their exams digitally in 14 subjects.
As it happened: Harry and Meghan's first day in NZ
Prince Harry and Meghan have wrapped up their public meet and greet.
Revealed: Reggae star charged with assaulting partner
The singer has been fighting to keep his name secret since April.
Breast cancer funding: 'More important than prolonging an erection'
The women are presenting a petition with at least 32,000 signatures to Parliament.
Teachers advised to reject pay offer
The Post Primary Teachers Association has called for a 15 per cent pay rise.
Live: Dawn service marks start of disaster commemorations
People will gather in Eastbourne this morning for a dawn service.
Relief after 'disgusting' pension deduction reversed
The money Jack Pere's stepchildren received was being deducted from his pension.
Stop-go killer appeals conviction
Some evidence should never have gone before the jury, Quinton Winders' lawyer says.
'Dad don't drown': Boy's heartbreaking plea as strangers save him and sister
A father and his two children nearly drowned. Now he's asking for action.
Builders suffering in 'brutal' heat wave
Workers in heavy gear or who are often in the sun may be struggling this summer.