Julia Gabel, part of the Investigations team for New Zealand’s Herald, has gained invaluable experience in reporting on the important issues, including health and housing.

I’m Julia Gabel – I started at the Herald in 2020. Since I was a child, I’ve always loved writing. I studied a Bachelor of Arts and after living in Beijing for two years, I found my way into the field when I did the Journalism Post-Graduate Degree at AUT. My first role at the Herald was the 3-11pm shift, where I covered the wide range of stories that come across the newsdesk. I shifted to the investigations team and it’s been an invaluable opportunity, allowing me to dive deep into some pressing and important issues – including health and housing – and see how the world of investigative reporting works. Another exciting change I've seen while I've been at the Herald is the development of Kahu, our Maori news platform, which I sometimes write stories for alongside my live and investigative mahi. Whether it’s live shifts, investigative or any other reporting at the Herald that I get to do, the most important facet of reporting to me is people – getting to meet people as part of our mahi, hearing their stories, sharing them. It’s a privilege to be able to do that.