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.
New Zealand’s only convicted saboteur released from prison but will still be monitored
Taupō man served full prison sentence of three years and one month.
Overseas holidays, sunglasses, botox, cake: How a drug-dealer's wife laundered the cash
Court rejects appeal: "Ample evidence" Paula Toleafoa knew about husband's drug dealing.
The trail of clues that led police to $400k meth stash in wardrobe
Damien Porter was on parole for earlier drug-dealing when 1kg of meth was found in motel.
‘National disgrace’: NZ’s landmark Abuse in Care inquiry finds 200,000 harmed
The 3000-page report calls for apologies, redress and police investigations.
Phone data, text message seal meth-making man's fate
Cellphone data put accused man at property where methamphetamine was being made.
Murderers who stabbed man who ‘narked’ on Mongrel Mob boss get extra jail time
The men murdered Eli Johnson in 2022 for 'narking' on a gang boss.
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
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
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
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'
John Nohotima falsely applied for customary permits to take thousands of koura from sea.
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
The man will now be held in hospital as a special patient.
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
Nine RSE workers forgive driver of van and refuse reparation money following fatal crash.