Simon Wilson is a senior writer for the New Zealand Herald.
Simon has been with the Herald since the start of 2018. He writes mainly about Auckland with a focus on politics, the climate crisis, transport, housing, urban design and social issues, and sometimes the arts, books and sport. His work includes weekly columns, features and news reporting and he has also written a well-known series about prostate cancer. Wilson started in journalism in the mid-1980s, as a subeditor at the Listener, and has spent most of his career in magazines, as an editor and writer. He’s won many awards, including Qantas/Canon/Voyager Media Awards: twice as editor of the magazine of the year (Cuisine and Metro), twice as feature writer of the year, and for first-person essay of the year, opinion writer of the year, reviewer of the year, and in several categories including politics, the arts and the environment. He was the first non-fiction writer to win the Nigel Cox Unity Books Award for “exceptional writing” and he has also been awarded the Auckland Cup and a President’s Award by the Institute of Architects. Wilson provides frequent commentary in other media, especially RNZ National and Newstalk ZB. He has written two books: Homeground: The story of a building that changes lives, about the new home of the Auckland City Mission (2022), and The Age of Light, a novel (1994). He was also the editor of The Journal of Urgent Writing (2017). You can contact Simon at simon.wilson@nzme.co.nz.
Port move: 'The worst report I've seen in 40 years of politics'
It's time to move the port, but why is Auckland mayor Phil Goff so angry about it?
Simon Wilson: The Auckland port and the pole-dancing hippo
With all those billions being spent on infrastructure, why aren't we moving the port?
Simon Wilson: Finally, a Budget for a 'green and pleasant land'
The Budget is far more transformational than it would have been without the crisis.
Simon Wilson: The passions of Waitangi
The Waitangi challenge: can we be the best we can be?
Simon Wilson at Waitangi: Love in a place of war
Waitangi has a beautiful new museum to commemorate Māori at war. It's fuelled by love.
Simon Wilson: Andrew Little steals the show at Waitangi
As Waitangi celebrations begin, Treaty Minister Andrew Little reveals a talent for te reo.
Port storm: The region and town set to be at the heart of a new goldrush
Is Northland ready for a big new port handling containers and cars?
Port in a storm: Leaked report reveals details of moving Auckland's port and when to do it
Move the Auckland port? Part 1 in a series on the biggest issue to face the city in years.
Simon Wilson: Why National is our biggest climate change threat
Comment: I believe National's plan to make climate change an election issue will hurt NZ.
'Rail is back on track': Winston Peters to front big new funding announcement for KiwiRail
The Budget has moved rail back to a more central role in the economy.
Remembering the Christchurch terror: Borne on wings of hope
Simon Wilson reflects on what Christchurch tragedy means for NZ and where we go from here.
Simon Wilson: Blues are back, baby, and I'm hopeful
COMMENT: The return of the hopeful to Eden Park, for game 1 of the Blues' season.
The Sallies have spoken: Welfare reform is urgent
The Salvation Army has told us we're doing welfare wrong. How are we going to fix that?
Monday Blues: Kaikohe got the Blues and it was sweet
The Blues' season has begun, and fanboy Simon Wilson will follow the teams ups and downs.
Whangārei's big chance: Hundertwasser Art Centre
Will Whangārei's Hundertwasser Art Centre be sabotaged by council indifference?
Simon Wilson: The National crime crisis
We have a crime crisis in this country, so why is National making it so hard to address?