Kelly Makiha, a Multimedia Journalist at the Rotorua Daily Post, specialises in court and police reporting.
I started work as a Multimedia Journalist at the Rotorua Daily Post as an 18 year-old in 1996 and I am still here, loving every single day. I wanted to be a journalist since I was a child and remember making my mum follow the flashing lights of emergency services so I could see what was happening. I started writing for my local newspaper in Timaru when I was a young teen and knew then that this was the job for me. I made the move to the Rotorua Daily Post and it was meant to be a stepping stone but I fell in love with this city, got married and we are now raising our three children here. I have covered all rounds but specialise in court and police reporting and have been chief reporter or assistant editor for most of my career. I am now back doing what I love – writing stories that matter, holding people and organisations to account, celebrating heroes, paying tribute to amazing lost loved ones and using my role to highlight issues to make a difference. Each day I’m honoured to be surrounded by a group of professionals who work hard and believe in what we do.
!['Dramatic' collision: Driver sentenced after farmer killed](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=796)
'Dramatic' collision: Driver sentenced after farmer killed
Tamihana Curtis says he blacked out. A judge rejected the claim.
!['Emaciated and at the point of death': Crown opens case in animal cruelty trial](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=796)
'Emaciated and at the point of death': Crown opens case in animal cruelty trial
Farmer Warren Koberstein is on trial facing animal cruelty charges.
![Rotorua business stalwart's gruelling achievement after diagnosis](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=796)
Rotorua business stalwart's gruelling achievement after diagnosis
Former legendary Rotorua butcher Ross Dittmer has just overcome a massive hurdle.
![Farmer's mystery: Neighbour concocts device to illegally take $9000 of water](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=796)
Farmer's mystery: Neighbour concocts device to illegally take $9000 of water
He built a device to take his neighbour's water supply.
![McClay: Work starts now to restore Rotorua's reputation](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=796)
McClay: Work starts now to restore Rotorua's reputation
Rotorua MP Todd McClay says he will work hard to get back the Rotorua that once was.
![Kirkpatrick says local roots crucial in win over Coffey](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=796)
Kirkpatrick says local roots crucial in win over Coffey
East Coast electorate reverts back to blue with Dana Kirkpatrick's election win.
![Flooding, road closures and rescues: Thunderstorms lash Rotorua](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=796)
Flooding, road closures and rescues: Thunderstorms lash Rotorua
'Quite a bit of water in a short period of time.'
![Attention truck drivers: Stop using our street as a short cut](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=796)
Attention truck drivers: Stop using our street as a short cut
Tarewa Rd residents are sick of their houses shaking when heavy trucks take short cuts.
![Dramatic ute theft: 'I'm lucky he didn't run my legs over'](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=796)
Dramatic ute theft: 'I'm lucky he didn't run my legs over'
An offender who stole a ute in broad daylight, and the vehicle are both still missing.
![Lake Rotorua wastewater spill: Health warning stays for now](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=796)
Lake Rotorua wastewater spill: Health warning stays for now
The latest on the Lake Rotorua wastewater spill has been released.
![Lake Rotorua pollution: Brown water 'sprayed like a fountain' in wastewater spill](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=796)
Lake Rotorua pollution: Brown water 'sprayed like a fountain' in wastewater spill
Mystery surrounds bacteria levels in Lake Rotorua have not reduced as expected.
!['Little remorse': Judge says council tried to minimise dump offending](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=796)
'Little remorse': Judge says council tried to minimise dump offending
Rotorua District Council is before the court for discharging leachate from the landfill.
![Council pleads guilty to discharging harmful substance](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=796)
Council pleads guilty to discharging harmful substance
The district council pleaded guilty and faces a maximum fine of $600,000.
![Hero wedding guests save men from crashed and sinking boat](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=796)
Hero wedding guests save men from crashed and sinking boat
Rotorua man Jason McMillan recounts how he and two others rescued men from a crashed boat.
![Farm bike crash survivor applauds National's pledge to bring back rescue helicopter](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=796)
Farm bike crash survivor applauds National's pledge to bring back rescue helicopter
Why John Bellerby says National's rescue helicopter pledge has won his vote.
![Electric shock leaves worker with long-term injuries](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=796)
Electric shock leaves worker with long-term injuries
A company has been fined after a mishap left a worker with long-term injuries.
![New rules: How will alert level 3 impact hunters?](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=796)
New rules: How will alert level 3 impact hunters?
Tauranga hunters are being urged to be patient.
!['Imagine how big the deer and pigs are going to be': Howie Morrison Junior](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=796)
'Imagine how big the deer and pigs are going to be': Howie Morrison Junior
Rotorua hunters are being urged to be patient.
![Guns seized: Police catch early morning hunters breaching lockdown](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=796)
Guns seized: Police catch early morning hunters breaching lockdown
Incidents revealed as one iwi bans hunting and camping - even at alert level 3.
![Red Stag Timber: Secret to 80 years of success](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=796)
Red Stag Timber: Secret to 80 years of success
Red Stag Timber, formerly Waipā Sawmill, has survived 80 years and is still going strong.
![Why an iconic Rotorua retail store is closing](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=796)
Why an iconic Rotorua retail store is closing
Bryan and Lya French have no regrets about their time owning Outdoorsman Headquarters.
![Why bar locals are sad about an $80m hotel development](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=796)
Why bar locals are sad about an $80m hotel development
They drink at the bar every day but find out why their days are numbered
![Fishing season opens: Where are the best trout?](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=796)
Fishing season opens: Where are the best trout?
Rotorua's lakes are full of happy anglers catching fat trout.
![Rotorua drive-through medical clinic to open by November](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=796)
Rotorua drive-through medical clinic to open by November
A new drive-through health clinic in Rotorua will be open until midnight.
![Farm bikes hot property for thieves](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=796)
Farm bikes hot property for thieves
Thieves are targeting farm bikes in the Bay of Plenty.
![Kaituna River: 'Louise wouldn't want it closed'](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=796)
Kaituna River: 'Louise wouldn't want it closed'
The father of a kayaker killed on the Kaituna River is fighting to keep the river open.
![River lovers say Kaituna River should stay open](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=796)
River lovers say Kaituna River should stay open
The regional harbourmaster plans to close part of the Kaituna River for safety reasons.
![Rotorua man dies in motorcycle crash with tractor](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=796)
Rotorua man dies in motorcycle crash with tractor
The death has prompted calls for a straight piece of road to be monitored.
![Former noisy Lumbercube site being dismantled after sale](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=796)
Former noisy Lumbercube site being dismantled after sale
Lumbercube site has been sold to a local firm and the mill equipment is being removed.
!['Got the heart rate going': Swimmer makes way back to beach after shark sighting](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=796)
'Got the heart rate going': Swimmer makes way back to beach after shark sighting
A Rotorua man tells of having to swim past sharks to reach the shore.
![Rotorua floods: Residents react to independent flood review report](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=796)
Rotorua floods: Residents react to independent flood review report
Locals have varying opinions on what the review panel's report on the floods means.
![Damning report on Rotorua floods: 'Could have reduced known flood risk'](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=796)
Damning report on Rotorua floods: 'Could have reduced known flood risk'
An independent review panel into the April floods has released its report.
![Housing planned for farmland bordering Rotorua](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=796)
Housing planned for farmland bordering Rotorua
A zone change of Pukehangi land is needed to speed up development, the council says.
![Lake is a 'taonga not a toilet', iwi group says](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=796)
Lake is a 'taonga not a toilet', iwi group says
Te Arawa Lakes Trust has announced it will not support the council's wastewater plan.
![Bouma killing: 20 years of twists and turns](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=796)
Bouma killing: 20 years of twists and turns
It's 20 years since Beverly Bouma was murdered in Reporoa in a chilling home invasion.
![Man charged with Ngakuru murder linked to truck crash](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=796)
Man charged with Ngakuru murder linked to truck crash
Police say a truck crash is linked to the homicide investigation at Ngakuru.
![Ngakuru homicide victim 'loved her animals'](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=796)
Ngakuru homicide victim 'loved her animals'
A man is charged with murder following an incident in Ngakuru, south of Rotorua today.
!['I'm too scared to live here', says man after tree falls on his house](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=796)
'I'm too scared to live here', says man after tree falls on his house
A Rotorua man says he's too scared to live in his house after a rotten tree fell on it.
![I'm sorry, burglar tells court - hours before he's back stealing again](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=796)
I'm sorry, burglar tells court - hours before he's back stealing again
Raniera Kiriwera has been sentenced after being caught on CCTV breaking into a home stay.
![Ohinemutu residents clean up village rubbish](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=796)
Ohinemutu residents clean up village rubbish
Ohinemutu residents have done their bit to clean up rubbish.
![Firm pleads guilty after worker loses parts of fingers](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=796)
Firm pleads guilty after worker loses parts of fingers
Glove containing the amputated parts of his fingers were found a day later.
![Rotorua flood: 'Everyday we find new bits of damage'](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=796)
Rotorua flood: 'Everyday we find new bits of damage'
Frustrated residents are being assured by the council they will get help.
![Teen fined over trout-hatchery poaching](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=796)
Teen fined over trout-hatchery poaching
A teen trout poacher has been fined $700 for stealing fish from the trout hatchery.
![Family unhappy with death inquiry](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=796)
Family unhappy with death inquiry
A Rotorua woman faces a second Christmas still not knowing how the love of her life died.
![Forestry and regional focus welcomed](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=796)
Forestry and regional focus welcomed
Rotorua has put up its hand to be the home of a new New Zealand Forestry Service.
![Police Notebook: 4WD vehicles eyed by thieves](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=796)
Police Notebook: 4WD vehicles eyed by thieves
Police warn about stolen 4WD vehicles and bikes as well as celebrate a good catch.
![Men admit taking wood from DoC reserves](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=796)
Men admit taking wood from DoC reserves
Four men who took wood from reserves have been sentenced in the Rotorua District Court.
![Cost of new Korean mud festival agreement not yet known](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=796)
Cost of new Korean mud festival agreement not yet known
The Rotorua Lakes Council responds to questions about the $90,000 spent on Korean mud.
![That's rubbish! Says resident to dumpers](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=796)
That's rubbish! Says resident to dumpers
Dumped rubbish is getting on the wick of a local resident.
![Farm subdivision opens up 89 sections](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=796)
Farm subdivision opens up 89 sections
Nearly 90 high-end residential and lifestyle sections are to go on the market next year.
![Hunting comp honours Sir Howard](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=796)
Hunting comp honours Sir Howard
Whenever Sir Howard Morrison wasn't off singing around the world, he'd be out hunting and fishing with his family. So he'd be pretty