Ric Stevens is a Multimedia Journalist specialising in Open Justice reporting at Hawke's Bay Today.
I have worked in journalism for about 40 years, including as a political reporter at Parliament and in senior roles at a number of daily newspapers. In the course of my career I have met 10 prime ministers and covered topics as diverse as riots, earthquakes and murder trials, among many other things. I stepped aside from daily journalism for a while in 2016 to complete a master's degree and then found myself working for four years on the front line of the criminal justice system, as a probation officer. This has helped inform my current reporting on crime and justice. I was delighted to be able to come back to journalism as a member of NZME's Open Justice team in 2022.
![Truck driver who refused Covid jab gets $29k for wrongful dismissal](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=794)
Truck driver who refused Covid jab gets $29k for wrongful dismissal
Wayne Basher spent most of his working time alone in his cab.
![‘No vax, no job’ - Respected worker gets $33K after being sacked during Covid](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=794)
‘No vax, no job’ - Respected worker gets $33K after being sacked during Covid
Health and safety rep reluctantly got a first vaccination but still lost his job.
![Man who poached 4600 crayfish for ‘sprawling’ black market ring jailed](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=794)
Man who poached 4600 crayfish for ‘sprawling’ black market ring jailed
Crayfish poacher apologised after abusing customary permit system.
!['Dad didn't make it': Family tragedy caused by meth-using driver who had been awake for four days](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=794)
'Dad didn't make it': Family tragedy caused by meth-using driver who had been awake for four days
Son should have been celebrating his birthday. Instead, his father died.
![Man's $68k black market crayfish rort: 'I'd like to apologise to all my people'](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=794)
Man's $68k black market crayfish rort: 'I'd like to apologise to all my people'
John Nohotima falsely applied for customary permits to take thousands of koura from sea.
![Meth-using killer fails in appeal against murder conviction](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=794)
Meth-using killer fails in appeal against murder conviction
Moetū Kaitai appealed on three grounds, all relating to the trial judge's summing-up.
![Man who ‘received messages’ from Peaky Blinders stabbed woman to death, found insane](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=794)
Man who ‘received messages’ from Peaky Blinders stabbed woman to death, found insane
The man will now be held in hospital as a special patient.
![Appeal reduces sentence for five-hour night-time crime spree](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=794)
Appeal reduces sentence for five-hour night-time crime spree
Three separate incidents involved three victims.
![Fatal crash: The rising sports star who pulled into the path of a wine tanker - and the nine victims who forgive him](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=794)
Fatal crash: The rising sports star who pulled into the path of a wine tanker - and the nine victims who forgive him
Nine RSE workers forgive driver of van and refuse reparation money following fatal crash.