Doug Laing, Multimedia Journalist at Hawke’s Bay Today, covers all aspects of provincial journalism including local government, sports, major events, social and justice issues.
I’m Doug Laing – Multimedia Journalist at Hawke’s Bay Today. You could say journalism ran in my blood - my father, Les Laing, was a journalist who while working for the NZBC and then Radio New Zealand mentored and helped train broadcasters on-station throughout New Zealand. Journalism is a life-long 24/7 calling for me. I followed in Dad’s footsteps from a young age, writing stories for the local weekly rugby programme while at primary school in the 1960s, and Junior Kiwi - a newspaper for schools. As a 14 year old, I worked as a reporter at the Wairarapa Times-Age during school holidays and began my fulltime career at the Central Hawke’s Bay Press, Waipukurau, in July 1973. I’ve also worked at the Daily Telegraph, had a short stint in public relations in Auckland, worked at The Dominion/Sunday and New Zealand Times, before returning to the Daily Telegraph in May 1987 as Chief Reporter. In 1999 the Daily Telegraph merged with the Hawke’s Bay Herald Tribune to create Hawke’s Bay Today, and I’ve been here ever since. I continue covering all aspects of provincial journalism, including local government, sports, major events, social and justice matters. I've been involved in two books, "Cavaliers in South Africa 1986" (rebel rugby tour) and "Shear History" (Golden Shears 50 years). Finalist Qantas Awards breaking news category (Flaxmere police shooting 1996), Napier Pilot City Trust Awards for "Outstanding Contribution to the Quality of Life for all Napier Citizens" and 2020 NZ Rural Sports Award for Outstanding Contribution to Rural Sports
Hastings turns on the rain for Magpies and Rams history-maker
Rain is set to dominate the first Ranfurly Shield match in Hastings for 97 years.
Line up. Line up. Join the brigade.
All volunteer fire brigades need more members - it's no different in the Wairoa district.
Building skills for a housing future after Cyclone Gabrielle in Wairoa
'There’s such a huge age range of learners - from school students to grandmothers.'
'We're aiming to medal': Hawke's Bay Black Stick Sean Findlay
Men's hockey side continuously improving in past 18 months.
Wairoa mayor calls for community solutions as 19.5% rate rise proposed
Costs for councils are 'not good news', but ratepayers might have some solutions.
Leaky pipes mended, ending weeks of water restrictions for Napier
City council announced the calamity on April 23. Water use has been restricted since then.
Underdogs or medal hopes? Black Sticks dare to dream
Dominic Dixon and Sean Findlay are in, with Greg Nicol as the coach.
'Technically a write off': Renowned late artist's flood-hit home to become a creative project
The cyclone-ravaged building has been trucked out of the Waiohiki Creative Arts Village.
Battle of Hastings looms in historic Ranfurly Shield match
General admission for the June 26 Shield match is free. It costs to sit in the grandstand.
Wairoa Athletic's club day promises a community weekend
It's boom times for the club, which hosts rugby, squash, netball and football too.
Hawks roster boosted by US-based pair
Kahuranaki Treacher, all 2.06 metres, home from the US to play for the Hawks.
Who's doing the dishes? Flatmates set to clash on the rugby field, at the U20 world cup
They're clubmates and they're flatmates - now they're World Cup rivals.
The Road to Paris, via Hawke's Bay, for hockey stars
The team is fresh from New Zealand's biggest men's hockey win in nine years.
Liquidation for Napier education provider Workforce Development
Unsecured assets will be sold to pay debt.
Hawke’s Bay A&P Show loses a day, new features to be added
A&P shows throughout the country are facing hard times.
What’s cooking in Wairoa? The classes that Gabrielle created
A new cooking class aims to teach affordability and nutrition of home meals.
A sporting revival in Raupunga
YMP has usually not had the numbers to have a club day. That all changed on Saturday.
Bragging rights on the line
Bragging rights are on the line as the Hastings and Napier first fifteen teams meet.
Bound for Paris? Hawke's Bay produces the goods in Olympics hockey prelude
Four Hawke's Bay players were in the squad for the Black Sticks' pre-Olympics campaign.
A season-defining moment as Hawks win again in the south
NBL playoff hopes get a big boost with a dramatic come-from-behind one-point win.
Here’s looking at you: What the Eagle helped with during its stint in Hawke’s Bay
The Eagle helicopter monitored fleeing drivers, and went visiting as well.
Kings of McLean Park - Freestyle Kings heading to Napier for motocross stunts
The peace and quiet of a Sunday evening will give way to the blast of bikes and music.
They had to abandon their home of 53 years — now a trust has handed the keys back to them
Lavinia Waihape welled with emotion as she thanked all those who had made it happen.
Model train weekend in Hawke's Bay: It was a real toot
The third annual Hastings Model Railway Club's exhibition was on Saturday and Sunday.
The busiest man in the game has a lucky Bounce
Ned George got a push into sheepdog trialling from his grandad and hasn't looked back.
A bit unseasonal - a warm week for Hawke’s Bay
Napier was the warmest in the country at 10am on Monday.
Head of MSD in Hawke's Bay says King's Birthday honour is recognition for her team
Karen Bartlett has spent more than 40 years working for the public.
Floating 'apartment building' of millionaires to visit Napier
Yacht, launch, floating apartment building? This year it'll be in port for two nights.
Hastings Boys’ High nails Super 8 rugby win over New Plymouth
Super 8 first fifteens rugby started on Saturday.
First council in NZ to introduce Māori ward readies for representation review
All councils have to review representation every six years. Now it's Wairoa's turn.
Welcome home as new CEO starts taiwhenua in Napier
Mat Mullany has been working in Wellington for 20 years.
Pharmacy safety concerns as pseudoephedrine makes comeback
Pseudoephedrine hasn't been available on prescription for 12 years, until this week.
It's game-on in the Hawks battle for a place in the top-six playoffs.
The Hawks are eighth on the table, and now face four games in the South Island in 10 days.
Napier crash: Motorist leaves hospital
St John reported at the time they had taken the man to hospital in a critical condition.
Rugby boom in northern Hawke’s Bay: Could a Wairoa side win a premier club title?
Early days yet, but Wairoa could have its first Poverty Bay premier rugby champions.
Taradale make it 10 in a row
Taradale have scored four tries or more in all 10 games this season.
Clear winners emerge in Hastings byelections
Hana Montaperto-Hendry and Heather Te Au-Skipworth dominate voting.
Shield fever starts to build - but it's almost five weeks away
South Canterbury withdrawal from Ranfurly Shield match came despite NZR contribution.
Hawke’s Bay schools set for big season in First XV rugby
Hawke's Bay high schools' real rugby goal is making the national Top 4 playoffs.
Road reopens after rescue as storm hits Hawke’s Bay
Flooding crossed two sections of SH2 north of Wairoa.
Team decide not to challenge for Ranfurly Shield, citing cost
Attempting to win the Log 'o Wood is usually a dream come true for rugby players.
Fire destroyed it, then it was sold for $1, now it could transform a town
The building was gutted, leaving concrete columns and beams. They've been kept.
Sweating through school: Welcome to shearing class at Wairoa College
'It keeps the kids in school, and it’s definitely keeping the kids in tow.'
'A privilege': New principal for Napier Boys’ High School
Napier Boys' High has new principal.
Former school site returned to iwi set to become village for cyclone rebuilders
Turiroa School closed 20 years ago. Now the site will help house the cyclone rebuilders.
New Ranfurly Shield makes surprise public appearance in Hawke’s Bay
The new version is made of English oak, which New Zealand Rugby says is even stronger.
The growth of Hawke's Bay's fast food alley
There's no opening date yet, but drive-thru sushi's coming to long-vacant site.
The Don of mowing on his 50 years in a proper growth industry
One man's half a century repairing and selling lawnmowers - all 20,000 of them.
The chief executive of a rugby union who's never played a game in her life
A former Central Hawke's Bay woman beat 40 applicants for the role.
Trust banks faith in Hawke's Bay Foundation
Proceeds of a Napier Academy Trust property sale vested in Hawke's Bay Foundation.
Golf on the go: 71 off the stick, without stopping for the scenery
A round at Cape Kidnappers in 42m 47s and a par 71 has proved a winning effort.
'I want to wrap a plane next': Napier artist's ute camo design is a one-over on the Aussies
Boyd-Dunlop is more than happy to stretch his artistic wings. Could Rocket Lab be next?
Rehoming Napier: It's taken a few years, but one resident's 'childhood dreams' are coming true
More than 300 homes are under construction or in advanced planning.
Ball by name and ball's his game: The 16-year-old turning heads in the NBL
Jackson Ball has just the name for the game that is his life.
Turkeys from Hawke’s Bay place third in World Series in Sri Lanka
The national men's indoor cricket champions are now third in the world series.
Napier could get its first community board as part of council’s local elections shake up
Five options, all with Māori ward councillors, are also up for debate.
Chris Pollock helps combat Hawke's Bay refs shortage
The high-performance referee manager gets in a club footy game.
Havelock North's own 'Captain Tom' takes first steps for charity
Hammie calls for walkers to join his 100km of walks before his 100th birthday.
Fiery social media - What will it be like at the table ?
The Napier council's draft three-year plan proposes an average 23.7 per cent rates rise
Tributes for former Napier city councillor Mark Herbert
Mark Herbert was a Napier city councillor from 1998 to 2016.
'It hurts the people who are already grieving': Thousands worth of rebuild material stolen from Hawke's Bay school and pre-school
Nuhaka School and a pre-school on-site have suffered a series of break-ins and thefts.
Unity Day: Napier as a Pilot City for positive alternatives to violence
It was the first awards without veteran stalwart Pat Magill.
More than 30 Anzac Day services in Hawke's Bay
The day starts with dawn parades and continues with civic and church services.
Rainy day at Ōtātara but Joe Walsh ain't going nowhere else - he loves it here
Eagles musician Joe Walsh returned to Ōtātara where an epiphany change his life.
Hawks stumble against Rams in NBL - next up are the Saints
The Hawks taking lessons from a 20-point defeat.
Three teams remain unbeaten in HB premier club rugby
Havelock North is making its way back after a few tough years.
Hawks up for it in NBL Ram-raid
Beaten in triple overtime a year ago, robbed in the play-offs — Hawks tackle the Rams.
Ōtātara Pā - such a lovely place, such a lovely place
Joe Walsh sat atop Ōtātara Pā in 1989. What he saw calls him back again, again, and again.
'Leave it to the track': Police curb Supercar fans' need for speed
Motor racing may be like a red rag to a bull - but not on the highway.
How many family can one fit in one race at the speedway?
Three generations of one family were in the same superstocks race at Meeanee Speedway.
Joseph Ahuriri mystery: ‘Disappointing’ end to HB beach search
'I want to acknowledge the resilience of his family,'
Hawke’s Bay rugby: Ranfurly Shield defence could go out of town
The home of Magpies rugby is closed for four months for turf refurbishment.
Supermarkets tight-lipped on plans in Napier and Havelock North
The Woolworths chain is not revealing its 'store network strategy'.
Two of Hawke's Bay biggest schools without permanent principals
New appointments at the large Napier and Hastings schools are expected in the near future.
Swimmer Emma Godwin off the pace in Olympic dream bid
Godwin finished third in her women's national 200m backstroke final.
Former quarry now a playground
Dozens of children put the Gleeson Park playground to good use as soon as it was opened
Greenmeadows School’s Ukettes strum-up for Joe Walsh gig in Napier
Joe Walsh back in Napier - and Greenmeadows School's Ukettes are ready.
Club of the Year: Hawke’s Bay water polo gets back among the honours
Water polo is back on the go in Hawke's Bay, with 700 enrolled in little more than a year.