Rachel Maher is a Multimedia Journalist for the New Zealand Herald, focusing on crime and breaking news.
Rachel specialises in reporting on crime issues in Auckland, extensively covering the issues of retail ram raids and youth crime. She has also reported on many other topics including social justice issues, politics and entertainment. Rachel grew up in Whangārei before moving to Tāmaki Makaurau in 2018. After a lifelong passion for writing and story-telling, Rachel studied at AUT and graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Communication, majoring in journalism, in 2022. She achieved her dream of becoming a journalist when she joined the Herald in June of the same year as a breaking news reporter. Rachel has quickly established herself as a passionate and well-rounded reporter, covering everything from the 2023 Cyclone Gabrielle destruction to the death of Queen Elizabeth II. You can contact Rachel at rachel.maher@nzme.co.nz.
![Te Pāti Māori protest: What you need to know about tomorrow's carkoi protests](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=792)
Te Pāti Māori protest: What you need to know about tomorrow's carkoi protests
Police are urging people in metropolitan areas to allow extra time for their morning trips
![PM calls Te Pāti Māori planned Budget day protest ‘illegal’](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=792)
PM calls Te Pāti Māori planned Budget day protest ‘illegal’
Te Pāti Māori shared on social media that this is a 'rangatira revolution'.
![Police confirm number of fatalities in fiery Taranaki crash](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=792)
Police confirm number of fatalities in fiery Taranaki crash
Firefighters say one of the vehicles was engulfed in flames.
!['Tragedy': Unclear how many victims in Taranaki crash](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=792)
'Tragedy': Unclear how many victims in Taranaki crash
Firefighters say one of the vehicles was engulfed in flames after the crash.
![Fruit shortage: Supply issues in lead-up to Christmas](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=792)
Fruit shortage: Supply issues in lead-up to Christmas
Cyclone Gabrielle decimated crops in Hawke’s Bay and Gisborne.
!['Aunty came back to help out': Jacinda Ardern lends helping hand at Hastings marae](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=792)
'Aunty came back to help out': Jacinda Ardern lends helping hand at Hastings marae
'It was like an Aunty coming home,' a volunteer at the Waipatu Marae said.
!['Bright shining light': Mum who lost 2yo in flood - this tragedy has 'cost us everything'](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=792)
'Bright shining light': Mum who lost 2yo in flood - this tragedy has 'cost us everything'
"Our children are our life. We take pride in our complete devotion to our babies."
![Police scouring CCTV footage for clues in burnt-out car mystery body](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=792)
Police scouring CCTV footage for clues in burnt-out car mystery body
Police say too early to speculate on victim's identity. Post-mortem results days away.