Luke Kirkness
Sport Planning Editor
Luke Kirkness has worked for NZME since 2017, operating in Auckland and the Bay of Plenty.
I love sports and telling stories so you could say being a sports journalist is living the dream for me. Growing up in Otago, I thought I'd end up farming but instead found my way to journalism and haven't looked back. I started working for the Herald in 2017 casually on weekends before taking on a full-time role as the evening breaking news reporter. I moved on to the consumer affairs round in 2019, spending two years on that desk before moving from Auckland to Tauranga to become an assistant news director in the Bay of Plenty. In 2019, I was named the New Zealand Student Journalist of the Year. I love getting out of the office and spending time reporting on the ground. Since I started, I've covered every major story, including the Nelson fires, the Christchurch massacre, the Whakaari/White Island eruption, general elections, the Covid-19 pandemic, and Cyclone Gabrielle. I’m currently an online sport editor at NZ Herald, based in Auckland and covering all sports. I'm working towards becoming a newsroom editor. I like having a good laugh, meeting new people and telling stories in non-traditional ways.
Check out Luke’s latest content
Johnathan Thurston's cricket threat and thoughts on Warriors 2024
The rugby league all-time great didn't hold back in his typical, gritty fashion.
Beauden Parrot's bold prediction for All Blacks v Italy
Watch: Our mascot for the Rugby World Cup makes his prediction.
All Blacks v Namibia: Beauden Parrot pecks the winner
Watch: Our mascot for the Rugby World Cup makes his prediction.
All Blacks v France: Beauden Parrot, our psychic bird, pecks a winner
Watch: Meet our new team member with one sole purpose.
How to solve our road circus: Kick these dangerous habits
Opinion: It’s not just about getting there; it’s about getting there safely.
From tailgating to using mobile phones: Uncovering the worst driving habits
'It only takes a second or two of inattention to kill a pedestrian.'
Crane company boss slams state of NZ roads
'The roads are the worst I've seen them,' says McLeod Cranes’ Scott McLeod.
Beyond Border Patrol: A shoutout to those in these vital and often thankless jobs
OPINION: Biosecurity NZ officers battle invasive species to preserve New Zealand's beauty.
Pineapple on pizza? Christopher Luxon shows his lighter side - and a hidden talent
The National Party leader has some fun before getting down to serious business.
DNA testing reveals human remains found by hunters are missing Murupara man
Lofty Maki was last seen at a Rotorua supermarket on December 6.
Preserving paradise: The hidden battle at our borders
Guardians of the border: Unveiling the unsung heroes of Biosecurity New Zealand.
Taking matters into his own feet: Why Cane's kick is justified
OPINION: If you play with fire, you're going to get burned.
Luke Kirkness: Engineer's compensation triumph offers hope to motorists
Frustration on the roads: Getting compensation for pothole damage shouldn't be so hard.
Hold up: National calls on Waka Kotahi to answer their 0800 number faster
National's call for a timely service as taxpayers complain about phone wait times.
Searcher recalls 'horrific' crash: 60 years since the Kaimai tragedy
A tramper recalls the search for the wreckage of New Zealand's deadliest air disaster.
Pothole plague: Motorist's 'winning formula' for tyre damage compensation
Man takes on Waka Kotahi - and wins.
State highway pothole plague - the regions with the most revealed
Pothole plague: The quality of roading is 'leaving a lot to be desired'.
Are boring rugby matches driving fans away? Ian Foster doesn't think so
Former All Blacks coaches have spoken out about what they believe is dull rugby.
What Ian Foster is looking out for during Super Rugby Pacific final
The coach talks about the big final and bolter Emoni Narawa's World Cup chances.
Opinion: Police allowing gang mayhem is a national disgrace
Opinion: The law-abiding citizens caught up in the disruption deserve better.
From tailgating to trailblazing: The ultimate traffic hack for commuters
Opinion: Say goodbye to congestion - a solution to New Zealand's traffic woes.
'We were not out-manned': District Commander defends police in Ōpōtiki
Hundreds of motorbikes, cars, utes and vans descended on Whakatāne and Ōpōtiki.
PM says ‘gangs contribute nothing to society', gunshots reported in Whakatāne
Mongrel Mob Barbarians president Steven Taiatini was killed on Friday in Ōpōtiki.
Ōpōtiki Mongrel Mob procession: Police vow to impound vehicles, issue fines, charge drivers
Mongrel Mob Barbarians president Steven Taiatini was killed on Friday in Ōpōtiki.
Simple steps to make winter healthier and avoid system overload
Opinion: What Kiwis need to know to stay healthy with winter illnesses on the rise.
Luke Kirkness: From tragedy to triumph: How we can reshape water safety in New Zealand
Surfers making a splash in water safety show giving power to the people is key.
Cloud nine or clouded minds? Why we need to take a harder line on vaping
Opinion: We need to follow Australia's hardline measures.
From peaceful to perilous: Innovations needed to combat crime
Opinion: Supermarkets resorting to bodycams in a desperate bid for safety is a smart move.
Beating traffic and saving money: How e-bikes changed one man's commute
One question has led to a transportation revolution for a Tauranga construction worker.
100 years in the making: Rugby clubs face-off in historic double-header
Rotoiti and Mount Maunganui rugby clubs unit to celebrate a century of rugby.
Deadly waters: Urgent call for new lifejacket laws after 'staggering' stats
Coastguard boss says too many volunteers have had to "pull dead bodies from the sea".
Luke Kirkness: Beating the winter blackouts
Opinion: It's time to shine a brighter light on power solutions after an outage warning.
Luke Kirkness: Thinking beyond roadworks to fix pothole crisis
Opinion: Roads of despair - will drivers ever be safe from NZ's pothole epidemic?
How you can transform food waste into sustainable savings
Opinion: Expert tips on saying goodbye to food waste and hello to savings.
Revealed: City homes wasting 84 tonnes of food a week - and what you can do about it
An expert shares how people can make the most of their groceries as living costs rise.
Your ultimate guide to using ChatGPT
Plus 10 ways to use it to better yourself professionally.
Crackdown on dangerous drivers: Fleeing drivers could lose cars for good
More fleeing drivers prompts tough legislation: cars seized and stronger penalties.
'Little passion bug': Distillery wins big after only six weeks in existence
'Winning any award is amazing, but double gold is truly phenomenal.'
One Love 2024 line-up, date and when tickets go on sale revealed
Some of the world's biggest reggae and dancehall acts are set to return to Tauranga.
Disaster-fatigued? How to manage the mental impacts of storms
An expert explains the signs of disaster fatigue to watch out for after the latest storm.
What you need to know about Anzac Day in Rotorua
A guide to local road closures, commemoration timings and locations on Tuesday.
Veterans talk about their service and why Anzac Day is celebrated
ANZAC Day is a national day of remembrance in Australia and New Zealand.
'It's gotten worse': Stories of human struggle behind the cost of living crisis
Herald interactive and Kiwi accounts show the impact of rising costs, inflation.
Luke Kirkness: Hard lessons learned gardening to avoid
OPINION: I'm no master but there are a couple of lessons people can avoid learning.
Why a former Olympian is riding the Tour of New Zealand
In five days, competitors ride 517 kilometres from Arthurs Pass to Crown Range.
Cutting the grocery bill: The 'biggest mistake' you can make revealed
Meet people growing their own food - and learn how you can too.
Opinion: It's time to stop pussyfooting with Covid rules
Other countries have moved on, and so should we, writes Luke Kirkness.
Opinion: The key to plugging New Zealand's brain drain
OPINION: There's no quick fix to get people to stay in New Zealand.
How to keep your house warm without driving your power bill up
The call is going out for curtain donations to help hundreds of households in need.
Basketball: Rising star and the unclear pathway to going pro
Rotorua Boys' High School student Elijah Fonotia dreams of making it big in the NBA.
The billion-dollar problem: NZ's most common injury
The Bay of Plenty was among the top five for most fall-related injury claims in 2022.
'Reducing their food budgets': Rising costs turn some to food parcels, Salvation Army
Worries about food are outstripping worries about housing, Consumer NZ says.
Thrifty tip: What this mum does at the supermarket to save money on food
Their families still eat well, despite being strict on the budget.
Number of banned guns seized after mosque shooting revealed
Local deerstalkers take aim at the Govt for how hunters were treated after March 15.
'One-stop hub': Green light for Plunket's new build
Plunket has been working in two buildings but the new build would bring it under one roof.
'Best time ever': Expert on why house prices falling is a good thing
Demand is expected to drain from the housing market in the coming months.
Cocaine use soars, beyond 'small pockets' of NZ society
It comes as methamphetamine and MDMA consumption nationwide has been on a downward trend.
Extensive algal bloom: Health warning issued for Lake Rotoiti bay
Contact with the affected water could cause asthma and hay fever attacks for some people.
Mystery of the missing doctor: New CCTV footage released over vanishing
David Holland was last seen at his Pāpāmoa Beach home on March 11 last year.
Opinion: Two things especially clear after Cyclone Gabrielle
OPINION: We all have a part to play in the response to Cyclone Gabrielle.
Cyclone Gabrielle: Napier records second-wettest day ever
'Gabrielle is one of the worst storms to hit Aotearoa New Zealand in living history.'
Opinion: Community effort needed in cyclone response
OPINION: Emotions are going to be running high after a wet summer and recent flooding.
All you need to know about the BOP state of emergency
Bay of Plenty Civil Defence announced a region-wide state of emergency on Monday.
Imported measles case visited Tauranga
The case is isolated at home and contact tracing under way.
Cyclone Gabrielle: All you need to know for Bay of Plenty
Severe weather is widespread across the North Island.
How to make your money work for you in a recession
With a recession looming and the cost of living increasing, experts share some tips.
Appeal for sightings of Bay of Plenty man missing for two months
Despite 'extensive searches' across the region, the Murupara man cannot be found.
Mike Dawson on the 'massive undertaking' skiing 1000km across Antarctica
The coldest day nearly got to -40 but Mike Dawson says the trip was 'very incredible'.
'Big, significant change': Multi-unit consents on the rise
The region's number of consents for multi-unit dwellings has climbed 196% in one year.
'Err on the side of caution': Mayor urging residents to be on high alert
MetService says the rainfall expected tomorrow has the potential to bring 'severe impact'.
Rotorua receives 10% of yearly rainfall overnight
Torrential rain lashed parts of the North Island over the weekend.
Cash, alcohol, chocolate and cruises: The gifts offered to police
Most gifts were accepted and either donated to a charity or shared among staff.
The job market: What to look out for and put your best foot foward
Here's how to make the most of the candidate-driven job market in 2023.
The job market: What to look out for, and how to put your best foot forward
Here's how to make the most of the candidate-driven job market in 2023.
The 1063km relay to change how young people see mental health
The challenge aims to raise awareness of the struggles young people face accessing help.
'Be a good human': Women's refuge manager's plea to public
The refuge is continuing to struggle with the impacts of domestic violence.
Photojournalist helping bridge the gap between farm and plate
The book tells the stories of the people who are the backbone of farming in New Zealand.
Rotorua most-issued library book in 2022 revealed
These are the books Rotorua readers were most enamoured by last year.
'Good on her': Rotorua politicians, residents react to PM's resignation
One MP said what Ardern had given to New Zealand would go down in history.
'The most incredible boss': 'Stunned' Bay politicians react to PM's resignation
One MP said he was 'as stunned as the rest of the country'.