Shannon Pitman is an Open Justice court reporter based in Whangārei covering the Northland Courts.
With a keen interest in unravelling the intricacies of legal proceedings, Shannon is committed to ensuring transparency and accessibility in the justice system. Shannon holds whakapapa to Ngāpuhi, Ngātiwai, and Ngāti Pūkenga, grounding her work in a deep understanding of the local community and its values. This connection to her roots fosters a sense of responsibility in her reporting, ensuring that stories are told with cultural sensitivity and respect. Her focus on crime and justice reporting stems from a genuine belief in the importance of holding institutions accountable and giving a voice to those affected by legal processes. Through her work, Shannon strives to bridge the gap between the legal system and the public, demystifying complex legal proceedings and fostering a greater understanding of the issues at hand. As an Open Justice court reporter, her commitment to excellence in reporting, coupled with her cultural awareness and digital media expertise, sets her apart as a valuable contributor to the field of crime and justice journalism in Te Tai Tokerau. You can contact Shannon at shannon.pitman@nzme.co.nz.
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Brothers admit role in fatal attack that claimed young man’s life at service station
Shayden Perkinson died trying to protect his cousin at an ATM in 2023.
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Pesticides and illegal drains: Wetland suffers damage to an area the size of 54 rugby fields
Pesticides were sprayed, and 600m of drains illegally installed.
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‘Stop, you’re gonna kill him’: Assault leaves man with skull fracture, brain bleed
Judge Tomlinson said the assault had 'homicide written all over it'.
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Man plied his daughter's 13-year-old friend with alcohol then sexually preyed on her
The girl had been seeking refuge at her friend's house amid troubles in her home.
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'I see potential': One man's plea for gang member who was on meth by age of 9
Harley Hauraki resisted arrest, swinging a patu at officers during a police stop.
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'I will never see him again': Mum's grief after son killed in hit-and-run
Damon Clark died while visiting a waterfall. The man who hit him has now been sentenced.
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Road to justice: High-profile trials set for 2025 at Whangārei courts
Three high-profile murder trials set for 2025 in Whangārei, starting with Perkinson case.
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Couple assaulted while getting petrol by Head Hunter miffed at friendly nod
The man was king hit and then repeatedly punched and kicked as he lay on the ground.
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'He knew I was scared': Man allegedly raped teen after locking her in car
Tairone Walker denies being with the girl, saying he instead spent the night at home.
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Black Power member jailed after birthday celebration erupted into pub brawl
Four people were injured at The Butter Factory in Whangārei last year.
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Man, 28, charged with murder of Thames victim, appears in court
Maxwell Connor died earlier this week following an alleged altercation.
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Teen apprentice told there's no more work, then finds firm advertising similar role
Now he's taken Jayu Developments to the ERA and won a $30,000 payout.
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Verbal abuse, intimidation and brawls: Courtroom chaos as violence escalates
Court violence surges with 450 assaults in five years; security breaches under scrutiny.
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'It just kept dragging on': Frustrations with growing backlog of judge-alone trials
Lawyers fear some people are pleading guilty because their cases keep being adjourned.
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Former iwi leader behind bars for Christmas after jury finds him guilty of indecency
Raniera Tau offered his victim $20,000 to settle the matter outside of court.
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'Naughty judge': Chaos erupts in court as violent offender jailed
Judge addresses supporters: 'How am I the only one who’s angry about this?'
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'Not one bit of respect': Killer's antics torment victim’s family
Lance Hall fatally stabbed father-of-two Jason McNae at an apartment complex.
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'What does the word yes mean?' Young woman questioned during indecent assault trial
The then 16-year-old claims she consented out of fear. Sonny Tau was 63 at the time.
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'No remorse at all': Son speaks out against fraudster mother's schemes
Tre Araia claims he's also been a victim of his mother Gina Potae's dishonesty offending.
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Leading meth cook in country's largest haul asks to move prisons
Brownie Harding is now eligible for parole but is refusing to take part in a rehab course.
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'Why is he doing this?' Former Ngāpuhi leader accused of assaulting teen on fishing trip
Raniera Tau, also also known as Sonny Tau, was 63 at the time. The girl was 16.
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'Best estimate': Company told to put $4.5m on hold as redundancy payout dispute continues
Channel Infrastructure laid off 121 workers - and it's turned into a lengthy legal battle.
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'The abuse of that monster': Court hears rage as paedophile's victims demand justice
Hunt faces preventative detention; court hears of decades-long pattern of abuse.
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Fake landlord with 180 convictions left young, pregnant couple homeless before Christmas
After losing $3600 to the rental scam, the couple had to live in emergency accommodation.
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'Highly careless': Unconsented earthworks damaged 'vulnerable' wetland
The experienced civil worker was fined $4000.
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'The risk of explosion is high': Fake gasfitter put lives at risk
John Arthur used fake ID to pose as a gasfitter for people with boats and motorhomes.
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'Disease of the mind:' Mother who killed two preschoolers gripped by delusional fears
The woman has been acquitted of murder after being deemed insane at the time.
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Man beat stepchildren with poles, cords, broomsticks and kitchenware when in bad mood
Child's bruise at school leads to Kaikohe man's arrest for serious family violence.
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Postvention as prevention: A Māori approach to suicide support
The team supports whānau post-suicide, focusing on trust and community needs.
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Seventy-hour weeks and no pay: Worker's nightmare in NZ superette
The worker logged 437 hours in five weeks - all of which was unpaid.
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Man burst into home, pulled gun on woman and her son while demanding drugs
He fired a shot which flew past the son's head and through the TV.
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'Medication wasn't working': Mum fears anti-depressant contributed to 14yo's death
Summer Mills-Metcalf took her own life in 2018 while taking fluoxetine.
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'This is a woman who lies:' Fake landlord scams desperate family before Christmas
Judge: 'How can you take that money and deceive people who are so desperate?'
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Youth suicide inquest: Teen’s cryptic message to his mum
'Losing my son has broken me, I died with him,' says a Northland teen's mum.
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Cold blooded murder: The chilling discovery of a body and the plan to cover it up
Three friends claimed it was an accident, but a jury found otherwise.
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'He was made to feel like a nobody': Troubled life of 12-year-old who took his own life
Boy's death is one of six suspected youth suicides the coroner is examining in Whangārei.
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'The end result is out of all magnitude': Driver's carelessness claims motorcyclist's life
Christopher Haverkort, 65, was out riding with his brother when he was hit and killed.
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'Should have known': 14yo dies in suspected suicide after Oranga Tamariki closes her file
Maaia Marshall was assessed three times as being a suicide risk before her death.
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Teen who OD'd was sent home, parents told to 'keep an eye on her' as crisis team unavailable
Ataria Heta later died of a suspected suicide. Her family want more help for teens.
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'I panicked ... I knew couldn't help him': Was man's death an accident or murder?
Bob Kleiman's body was found the day after he was shot in the head.
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Northland youth deaths inquest: Teen called two helplines before suspected suicide
Mum: 'Summer should still be here, I don’t want this to happen to other families.'
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Inquest into spate of suspected youth suicides in Northland
Hamuera Ellis-Erihe is one of six young people aged 12-16 who took their own lives.
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'You preyed on them': Man jailed for 20 years for raping girls in his care
Victim: 'Every man I looked at was a monster, every boy was a demon'.
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Man unable to escape ex's violent rampage as he was on EM bail and couldn't leave the house
Judge queries how victim ended up being bailed to her home in the first place.
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'Tragic events': Man at risk of self harm taken home by social workers, then took his own life
Social workers overlooked critical information after getting limited handover from police.
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'I looked back and he was gone': Harrowing moments of school caving tragedy revealed
'This is hard stuff for any person to hear,' Judge Greg Davis on the events at Abbey Caves
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Killer convicted of murder in emotional Whangārei court case
The jury also found Hall guilty of two other charges related to two other victims.
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Fate of man who claims fatal stabbing was in self-defence rests with jury
CCTV blind spot crucial in Whangārei trial; jury to decide between self-defence or murder.
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Defence probes heart disease's role in death of alleged murder victim
A pathologist confirmed Jason McNae's heart disease sped up his death.
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'Stolen our legacy': Teen killed by drunk driver doing 165km/h
Mafi's family devastated: "He was taken from us, our son was robbed."
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'You've got two options': Did letter demanding $1500 cross the line into blackmail?
Suzanne Petitt's lawyer says it was just a request for compo for a stolen car.
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Council CEO resigns amid claims of a toxic environment; ERA finds both sides at fault
Far North Council CEO Blair King said he felt 'isolated' and lodged a PG in 2022.
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'Convict me': Cannabis advocate asks for jail time
Brian Borland told a jury they should find him guilty...so they did.
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‘I’ll stab you up:' Murder accused allegedly threatened flatmate a week earlier
Lance Hall allegedly stabbed father-of-two Jason McNae in the neck with some scissors.
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'Do you want to die today?': CCTV shows moment of fatal Whangārei stabbing
Jason McNae died in the hospital. The defence claims it was self-defence.
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Tragedy at Abbey Caves: 'We haven't been able to find your son'
Court hears from grief-stricken parents as school board are sentenced for student's death.
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Children's abuse claims fail to convince jury in foster care case
It was alleged the kids were slapped, spat at, hit with a pipe and one was run over.
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'I still hate you:' Dad jailed for subjecting sons to years of sadistic abuse
Judge Bayley: 'No one is able to erase the ongoing harm you have caused your sons.'
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'Two by Twos': Elderly NZ man admits abusing children after FBI probe into cult
William Easton was one of 140 perpetrators identified in the international investigation.
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Oranga Tamariki flagged mother twice before serious abuse allegations
Daughter reports mother: The trial reveals years of alleged violence against children.
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'I wish I’d never gone to work': Man's remorse after killing mate in workplace accident
Fulton Hogan worker Tane Maihi drove a roller machine into his mate.
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'Who do you believe?' Defence claims children colluded against Oranga Tamariki caregivers
Four children say they were hit, spat on, slapped and one was even allegedly run over.
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'We've been here a long time': Patuharakeke gives evidence for Bream Bay customary title
The second phase will hear from applicants interests in the Whangārei coastline.
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Men who allegedly kidnapped a person who escaped during a police checkpoint named
The men were caught after being pulled over for a routine breath test.
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'It ruined my childhood': Paedophile gets two more years in jail as more abuse revealed
Clyde Rymer's abuse had been haunting the latest victim for 50 years.
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Anti-mandate campaigner in prison hunger strike
Brad Flutey's court proceedings continue to stall after numerous delays.
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Judge rules against Lena Duncan in ongoing animal welfare case
Lena Duncan claims that search warrants were illegal and the SPCA violated her rights.
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'He ran me over': Three caregivers on trial for alleged abuse of foster children
Three foster parents are on trial facing dozens of charges of ill-treatment and neglect.
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'Deadlocked': Trial of police officer accused of assault ends with a hung jury
Taylor Morgan was accused of striking a man he arrested with his fist and a weapon.
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Son's harrowing call to mum after logging accident: 'I think dad’s dead'
The logging firm was ordered to pay $70,000 for failing to maintain equipment.
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Name suppression lifted: man pleads not guilty to Northland murder
The man appeared via audio-visual link from a prison.
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Stunned suspect: 'Why did that police officer hit me?'
Whangārei officer testifies against colleague accused of assaulting man during an arrest.
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Crown alleges officer struck man in head twice during arrest
The tactical unit officer allegedly struck the man twice, once with a weapon.
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Steering toward change: Whangārei launches first young adult drivers court
The court is a first for New Zealand and will assist people to obtain their licence.
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How an $8m meth empire was busted as final four sentences handed down
Operation Freya netted about 17kg of meth in the large-scale Northland bust.
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'When he was in a bad mood, the family suffered:' Dad allegedly hit kids regularly
The man allegedly smashed one child's head into a wall so many times, it broke.
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Baby with broken bones and a brain bleed didn't get medical help for two weeks
His father has now been jailed for failing to seek medical care for the then 7-week-old.
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'Paedophile at heart': 58yo's self-description after being caught abusing child
Victim's mother told Anthony Smith 'you destroyed my girl, you’re disgusting'.