Isaac Davison is a health reporter for the New Zealand Herald and has a special interest in inequality, public housing, alcohol and drug reform, and euthanasia.
Isaac Davison started at the Herald in 2008 on the night shift, before moving to Tauranga to report on the Bay of Plenty. He was later the science and environment reporter, a role in which he covered the Rena oil spill disaster and the Christchurch earthquakes. He spent six years at the Parliamentary Press Gallery in Wellington, where he closely covered two general elections in 2014 and 2017. In that time, Isaac also covered the legalisation of same-sex marriage in New Zealand and reported from trips abroad to Antarctica, Japan, Indonesia, Australia and the Marshall Islands. In 2020, he was awarded runner-up for Feature Writer of the Year (Social Issues) for his reporting on historic sexual abuse at Dilworth School. Before journalism, Isaac studied English and History at the University of Auckland and wrote his Masters thesis on the great New Zealand poet Allen Curnow. You can contact Isaac at isaac.davison@nzme.co.nz.
Polar blast: Freezing conditions, heavy snowfall in South Island
An estimated 20cm to 40cm has fallen in some areas
NZ brand Allbirds to cover costs of US staff seeking abortions
The company said the Roe v Wade ruling would directly affect the rights of its staff.
Public servant's $300k payout after bullying investigation
The findings or even the existence of a bullying report have never been made public.
Former CEO was investigated for bullying, report kept secret
High-powered lawyer Maria Dew QC was brought in by the board to investigate.
Nelson firefight costing $1 million a day
The cost of the wildfires in Nelson could yet exceed the Port Hills fires in 2017.
Night sweats? 20C overnight, could surpass 35C today
Further temperature records could tumble in the South Island this week, say forecasters.
Where is the most remote spot in NZ?
The furthest point from civilisation in NZ is 30km from the nearest building.
Country of origin rules for food watered down
Country of origin labelling in NZ is back on track, but with a few changes.
Gluckman: Time to restart GE debate in NZ
Sir Peter Gluckman says "the science is as settled as it will be" on genetic modification.
AUT and start-up want to make local, cheaper weed
AUT has signed a deal with a medical cannabis start-up ahead of a law change.
M. Bovis costs likely to rise beyond $85m
Government won't reveal how much of the M. bovis costs farmers will cover.
Govt sticks with M. Bovis eradication, for now
The Govt has not yet given up hope of eradicating M. Bovis from farms.
Govt considers fund for biosecurity threats
Farmers could be asked to contribute to a new fund for biosecurity threats.
Govt has 'pulled anchor' on economy - National
The Govt spent, taxed and borrowed more in the Budget for little gain, National says.
Greens happy with smaller share of cash
Greens counted around $610m in Budget wins, compared to $2.8b for NZ First.
Budget 2018: Govt plans to build 6400 state houses
The Government says it will build 6400 new state houses by 2022.
Black market helps spread cattle disease
Number of farms under control for Mycoplasma bovis jumps from 130 to 290.
Farmers doing a 'great job' - Shaw
James Shaw says this Govt's approach to climate change is not just about farming.
Farm limits an 'assault on the regions': Bridges
The Government wants to limit farming run-off and intensification.
National will scrap regional fuel tax - Bridges
National leader Simon Bridges gave his first speech on the economy this morning.
Farmers in sights of new climate committee
The Government has announced the leadership of a powerful new committee on climate change.
National will reverse oil ban - Bridges
Govt's ban on new oil exploration is a "wrecking ball" for regional NZ, National says.
PM defends oil exploration ban, despite critics' outcry
Labour's immediate ban on new oil exploration has been met with a strong reaction.
Ardern rejects urban-rural divide claims
Jacinda Ardern says just 3 per cent of farms in NZ will be affected by water tax.
PM sees fear of Government change in rural NZ
National leader Bill English sees fear during visit to rural mid-Canterbury.
Farmers' water tax challenge to English
Bill English faced questions over how he was going to stop Labour's proposed water tax.
English offers $13m green farming boost
National offers farmers another $13m a year to boost environmentally friendly farming.
Labour's plan to tackle climate change
The public sector can only buy electric cars unless there's "exceptional reasons" not to.
National's $70m pest control plan announced
PM says it would allow the Govt to upgrade its efforts to make NZ predator-free by 2050.
Heartbeat: Te Horo's hopes and fears
Te Horo residents talk about their hopes and fears in election year.
Heartbeat: Eketahuna shakes off its joke tag
Eketahuna - a joke town to much of New Zealand - is making an unlikely recovery.
Majority of Kiwis back Labour's water tax
Labour's royalty on freshwater is backed by 70 per cent of Kiwis in a new poll.
Fact or Fiction: Labour's water tax
How much will farmers really pay if Labour brings in a water tax?
Ardern reassures farmers on water pricing
Claims that water levies will cost farmers billions are ludicrous, Jacinda Ardern says.
Ardern to PM - 'Don't be complacent'
Jacinda Ardern is promising that Labour will run the "campaign of our lives".
PM signals law change on land swaps
Conservationists have won a major victory in the Supreme Court. But Govt isn't happy.
NZ's native birds 'in trouble'
A third of NZ's native birds could soon go the way of the moa, a damning report reveals.
Water quality worse in cities than farms - Smith
Water quality in cities was twice as bad as on farmland, Nick Smith said today.
Folic acid could be added to bread
A return to the mandatory addition of folic acid to bread could be on the cards.
Palm oil labelling vote long way off
Palm oil labelling is on the agenda at a high-level ministerial meeting tomorrow.
Just 466 failed drug tests since 2013
How do Prime Minister Bill English's comments about drug tests stack up with official data?
DOC rangers coming up against violent gangs
Conservation officials working in remote parts of New Zealand are increasingly reporting dangerous encounters with gangs involved in poaching, illegal fishing or timber theft, a new report says.
English defends net migration levels
Prime Minister Bill English is defending the latest increase in net migration and says he is not looking at curbing demand.
Swimmers risk sickness in 'excellent' quality rivers - Greens
Environment groups are upset that rivers deemed to be "excellent for swimming" under new water quality standards could still make
Govt sets 2040 'swimmable' rivers target
New target would require cleaning up 10,000km of waterways at a cost of $2 billion.
Who is next in line for faster internet?
More communities will get fibre faster as the government speeds up its rollout programme.
John Key cites family reasons for leaving
John Key is resigning as PM saying it's time to "take a step back in my career and spend more time at home".
Big delays ahead on South Island roads
Landslips will increase travel between Picton and Christchurch by two hours this summer.
Govt to announce relief for Kaikoura
As Govt announces its relief package, Kaikoura businesses spell out what they need to survive.
Govt weighs option of GE pest control
Killing off all rats, stoats and possums in New Zealand will require novel methods including genetic engineering, Govt has been told.
Govt wants iwi fishing ban set in stone
The Government says it is open to a deal with iwi on the proposed Kermadec Islands marine sanctuary.
Key hopes to resolve export dispute
NZ and Indonesia have taken an important step forward, the PM says, after the two countries agreed to put a multi-million-dollar export dispute behind them.
Key dismisses talk of 'trade war'
John Key says China has given no sign that it has concerns with New Zealand, let alone threatened to retaliate against Kiwi exporters.
Govt won't relieve pressure on farmers
Finance Minister Bill English says dairy prices will never reach $8 a kilogram again, but he is confident farmers will get through a drop in payouts and rising debt levels.
Emissions tax touted for farmers
Farmers might have to pay for their emissions like everyone else under a revision of the Government's main climate change policy.
Spotlight on how dairy farming fell off risk-list
Dairy farming was initially rated as one of the highest-risk industries during health and safety reforms before the Labour Minister, Michael Woodhouse, intervened and changed the criteria, documents show.
TPP: Key lobbying for dairy concessions
As the 12-nation trade deal negotiations enter the final stretch, Mr Key said New Zealand was gaining some support on its demands for the dairy industry.
New term for undiplomatic behaviour
Trade Minister Tim Groser said he was not aware his last name had been turned into a verb: "Grossing".
Impact of dairy farming a key election issue
New Zealanders are evenly divided about whether farmers are moving quickly enough to reduce their impact on the environment, a Herald DigiPoll survey shows.
Crafar buyers' new $70m farm deal
Chinese company Shanghai Pengxin confirmed it is aiming to buy a $70 million North Island farm, which would be second-largest foreign purchase of New Zealand land.
Greenpeace moves palm kernel protest to port
Greenpeace is trying to keep up pressure on Fonterra to limit its use of palm kernel feed with a public rally outside the Ports of Tauranga.