David Fisher
Senior writer
David Fisher is a senior journalist for the New Zealand Herald who has twice been named New Zealand’s Reporter of the Year.
David is based in Northland and has worked as a journalist for more than 30 years, winning multiple journalism awards and being selected as one of a small number of Wolfson Press Fellows to Wolfson College, Cambridge. He joined the Herald in 2004. You can contact David at david.fisher@nzme.co.nz
Check out David’s latest content
Police Commissioner responds to criticisms over investigations into Aussie Malcolm's alleged abuse
The Police Commissioner says there was insufficient evidence to charge after initial probe
They lost their land over $221 of unpaid rates – then the new owners gave it back
Documents show a historic pā was taken from Māori in the 1970s for 'European hands'.
High-tech Halo camera coming to a road near you
The first of new high-tech cameras has been rolled out with a community's blessing.
Blaze at tyre shop destroys business - but quick work saves customers’ cars
A last-second dash through thick smoke saves classic ute.
Police called as desperate Waitangi drivers bust through farm gate
Police are now on Wakelin Rd, south of Kerikeri, turning motorists around.
‘We thought they were growing tomatoes’: Inside NZ's biggest cannabis bust
Police uncovered a large cannabis growing operation linked to Vietnamese organised crime.
'Tooth fairy' fined $7k for making dentures for desperate locals
Tooth fairy Claire Wihongi-Matene was fined for low-cost unlicensed denture service.
Fatal dog attack: Family of elderly Moerewa woman 'devastated' by 'tragic loss'
The woman had reportedly spent her entire life in the Far North community.
The switch in mood in Northland’s final election debate that got candidates talking
Debates in Northland have been called 'feral', 'misogynist' and 'racist'.
Fatal crash probe slammed after police case against tourist driver collapses
New inquiry into police investigation highlights slew of failures in double-fatal crash.
Hipkins tells Northland - your roads aren’t up to scratch (and neither were schools or hospitals)
Prime Minister Chris Hipkins says North has been underfunded for years.
Northland, the politics of belief and ‘Nimby’, ‘misogynist’ and ‘racist' voters
Can Labour's Willow-Jean Prime hold onto a seat her party has won only once since 1938?
Locals free injured men after chopper rolls during take-off
Two people were in the aircraft when the incident happened at Whangaroa about 3.20pm.
Red tide that swept Northland could be swallowed by blue wave this election
A new poll puts National's Grant McCallum well ahead in Northland.
Clairvoyant who 'conned' $19m Lotto winner: Claims of debts emerge
Kim Helmbright created an aura of trust among those who befriended her.
David Fisher: Luxon hits the pre-campaign trail to build political muscle
OPINION: The smell of the election is in the air as National's leader meets the people.
Town square plan boost after artist moots a shift of mosaic mural wall
Kaitaia's mosaic wall could be moved, says artist.
Council says sorry for error showing massive rates hikes
'They couldn't run a bath': A ratepayer's blast at the Far North District Council.
Fixing main street - move to legally force owners of shabby buildings to sharpen up
The owner of an earmarked building told the Age he will bring his building up to standard.
Tension in relationship between Far North mayor and council chief
Praise for departing chief executive - mayor won't discuss relationship.
‘Sting’ in the tail sees PGF projects needing ratepayer cash
Shade sails at Kaitāia park reveal hidden cost behind North's $800m cash grab.
Sheer grit in the gorge
An exclusive tour of the SH1 repair works at Mangamuka reveals the extent of the damage.
Far North mum keeps the whānau fed, despite financial constraints
Shantelle Puru's careful budget faced ruin when $50 was lost in the supermarket carpark.
The man behind NZ's 'stop co-governance’ rallies and his property dispute with Māori
Evangelist Julian Batchelor's latest meeting to be targeted by anti-racism protesters.
Thieves pinch street artist’s collection of crochet creations
Leo Stirling's crochet collection of woolen artworks were stolen while he slept.
10 days with no power, seven days trapped - life inside an isolated Northland valley
David Fisher walked into the isolated valley cut off from the world by Cyclone Gabrielle.
Dargaville evacuation call: Rural chaos with crops ruined and dairy farms dumping milk
Dargaville reeling amid new evacuations as farmers count the cost.
Digger driver owed $6m tells court to sell council's offices to pay debt
Northland's Jimmy Daisley signed a deal with council and says it reneged.
Cyclone Gabrielle: The town isolated by slips, wild weather
Mangamuka is cut off from its closest centre and residents are counting the cost.
Festival atmosphere as 15,000 turn up for Waitangi Day amid warnings of racial division
Waitangi Day began will calls for unity, ended with a big party.
Waitangi Day 2023: Political leaders call for a united front at this year's dawn ceremony
Thousands at Waitangi dawn powhiri as country welcomes national day.
Watch: 'Hands off' - kaumātua removed after interrupting Waitangi service
An elderly man interrupted official proceedings at Waitangi this morning.
Politicians at Waitangi wrestle with the rules of not talking politics - then mostly do so anyway
Requests to skirt politics brought awkwardness and eloquence.
Waitangi 2023: Hipkins urges Kiwis to not be afraid to discuss Maori-Crown relations; Luxon labels Treaty 'a little experiment'
Parliamentarians have formally been welcomed to Waitangi.
‘We thought they were growing tomatoes’: Inside NZ's biggest cannabis bust
Police uncovered a large cannabis growing operation linked to Vietnamese organised crime.
Skeletons removed from quirky shop display after ghost rumour surfaces
Melanie Kinghan finally found a way to express her creativity - and then came the rumours.
‘I feel ripped off’ - the life insurance story that could save you thousands
Veteran's life insurance premium was $5800 on $15,000 policy.
Surveillance audit: Cops will investigate use of CCTV network
Privacy Commissioner questions police access of surveillance network.
Exclusive: Police faked car crimes in hunt for women who sparked Covid lockdown
A powerful network of CCTV cameras was accessed after police made up a crime.
Inside the police file: Documents detail hunt for Covid-positive women
Determined efforts to find women offer insights into a police 'manhunt'.
Exclusive: Women's trip north - the 'sex workers' who weren't; Govt blunder sent region into lockdown
Covid-positive women had valid business, were not prostitutes or linked to gangs - police.
'Miracle' no one killed in crash which struck tangi convoy
Fire crews thought 'carnage' when turning up at SH10 crash scene.
Intense day of judging ahead of Whangārei Orchid Society show
A broad range of the exotic flowers are on display at Forum North.
The End: Covid killed one of NZ's last video stores
Video stores edged out as Covid and streaming brings end to an era.
Exotic Orchids show an early bloomer
The flowers grow around the world, with the number of species exceeded only by grasses.
'Low-life mongrels': Council appeals $5.7m payout to wrongly closed quarry owner
A 17-year fight over a wrongly-filed resource consent is heading back to court.
Rural non-delivery: 'Overwhelmed' postie hoards 15 months of mail
Missing mail included specialist appointments, car registrations and jury duty summons.
Island paradise's new owner speaks after $22m price dropped
Hapu with 900 years link to island hoped Crown would landbank it.
Poison alcohol in the letterbox: Man's attempt to solve his own murder
Dave Davan died after drinking port spiked with weedkiller. Who wanted him dead?
Enchanter tragedy: The ill-fated 'trip of a lifetime' that claimed five lives
NZ Herald reporter David Fisher plots the journey of the Enchanter's fatal voyage.
Sinking of the Enchanter: A community in shock after ill-fated trip to the 'Everest of fishing'
The sinking of the Enchanter tore through its home port of Mangonui.
Behind the protest: Organiser's unsuccessful political career and failed gold mining scheme
A rallying voice at Parliament's protest is linked to a global network of misinformation.
'We do not want to stand by': PM's Waitangi speech, Covid response for Māori
At Waitangi, there's an eerie absence of people.
Ex-MP and Covid theories: The cost of a 'treacherous political rabbit hole'
Former National MP Matt King on why he won't 'sell my soul to the devil'.
Kaimaumau wetlands: Sacred sites, rare flora and fauna complicate fire fight
Burning for 22 days, the fire has covered an area the size of 2400 football fields.
Fatal car crash mystery: Who killed Cheryl Te Maro?
Victim's sister apologises to driver charged - 'I don't believe she did it'.
How one summer hotspot feels about Auckland's upcoming holidays
The Herald on Sunday spoke to dozens of Northlanders about Auckland coming on holiday.
Crown pays $1.5m for waterfront property occupied by iwi
It took five weeks - how a Northland iwi is set to regain privately-owned ancestral land.
Tinfoil-wrapped phones, laptops in freezer: Meet the man who heckled PM
His confrontation with the Prime Minister went around the world. So who is Shane Chafin?
Far North resort blockaded after rumour of Covid case visit
A concerned crowd gathered at Carrington Estate on the Karikari Peninsula yesterday.
Far North town's Covid case - and anger at Ministry's 'secrecy'
Community leaders voice frustration over 'privacy' claims for not revealing town names.
Horror in the sand dunes as foot severed - 'like a guillotine'
Frantic dash for hospital
A tourist driver was charged over two deaths - then a tragic theory emerged over other motorist
A tourist driver was charged with causing two deaths - then another story emerged.
Trevor Mallard and the day Parliament acted like a bunch of kids
Parliament's Speaker Trevor Mallard is taking democracy and debate to schools.
Big Read: Mortal fear for remote arson-plagued community
There's one name that keeps cropping up - is he the mystery arsonist?
David Fisher: Judith Collins, streaking Queen Street and bugbears
Judith Collins on media bias, law and order, hate speech and other bugbears.
Evicted - then Betty Hooper, 99, took her landlord to court
Frustration with her eviction led to judicial showdown.
Mayor Mai: 'Disappointing' time taken on SH1 roundabout
Roundabout project meant to finish late 2020 now stretching to late 2022.
'Uncomfortable': Top cop has fishing boat called 'Dawn Raid'
For Superintendent Tony Hill, naming his boat 'Dawn Raid' took on a new significance.
Whangārei out of water reform, CEO cites trust issue with govt
Mayor Sheryl Mai angles for compensation over water reform.
Tale of SH1 roundabout works: 'This has been too long'
Two years of irritation - Brent George on being neighbour to SH1 roundabout works.
Northport urged to develop wharf to meet rail link
The port is spending $8m as the upgraded rail line is tipped to spur a boom in the region.
Meat works losing 'millions' through staff shortages
Meat works stretched - and a national campaign planned to match workers with employers.
'White privilege' - the truth behind Act's classroom claim
David Seymour says 'white privilege' classroom incident probably 'enthusiastic graduate'.
'Unacceptable' - Robertson taken to task over dumped highway plan
Grant Robertson confronted over government dropping Northland's four-lane highway.
Strike: No news, good news for those going to hospital today
Who will be - and won't be - affected by today's nursing strike.
'All offers considered': $22m island owner's cut-price sale
"Ignore previous price tags," says owner of Far North island and luxury home.
How the fight against Covid-19 conspiracies is changing
The rise of conspiracy has led to shift from the 'single source of truth'.
Abandoned island mansion plagued by invaders for two years
New buyers emerge for $22m island as inquiries reveal two years of abandonment.
Trucks to clog SH1: More than 1000 containers Auckland-bound
From 6am Friday, a dozen trucks an hour will head from Northport to Auckland.