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.
Canterbury farm workers turn out to be Colombia-linked cocaine smugglers
Criminal group imported, or tried to import, $100m of drugs.
Some weeks their pay packets were empty - now they've triggered a court case over low pay
RSE pay deduction issues are likely to 'resonate' throughout NZ, lawyer tells court.
Teen sportsman's 'horrific' accident: Meat works fails to overturn $280k fine and conviction
Workplace accident ended young man's dream of playing sport overseas.
Real estate agent wins court dispute over commission on $6.6m sale
Station was sold between brothers' trusts in a "family arrangement".
Five-year-old boy in hospital for a month after being struck by forklift in orchard
The company was fined $7000 over the incident, in which a 14-year-old was driving.
Bereaved father fails in private prosecution of forestry company over son's death
Richard Brooking is fighting for justice after his son was killed on the job.
'Cavalier': Company fined $52k for quarrying in wine-growing area
Gimblett Gravels is a designated wine-growing area west of Hastings.
Man who poached 4600 crayfish for ‘sprawling’ black market ring jailed
Crayfish poacher apologised after abusing customary permit system.
Grieving father takes private prosecution against forestry company after son's death
The man, 24, was hit by a nine-kilogram D-shackle which came towards him "like a missile".
RSE workers sue employer over 'unlawful' deductions
Case could set precedent for minimum wage earners.
No job, no insurance - burglar learns hard way about consequences of crime
Man who stole from orchard tries and fails to get discharge without conviction.
'Unsubstantiated cultural beliefs': Christian couple fights declaration of sacred Māori land
Landowner says Māori traditions run contrary to 'divinely inspired' Bible.
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.
‘Very dark place’: Worker's struggle after losing hand in meatworks accident
Employer Silver Fern Farms has been fined $283,500 for the workplace accident.
MPI officers spent $10k trying to save farmer’s starving calves, but 35 still died
The man was feeding the animals eggs and water.
Damaged wetlands and an unusual jail sentence: Appeal court sees risk of a miscarriage of justice
Couple found guilty of 35 charges related to wetlands given leave to bring a new appeal.
Pigs found drinking water contaminated with their own filth
Mark Norrish failed to provide clean water and adequate shelter, court told.
Company fined $13,000 for stinky discharge after spending $1 million trying to fix problem
Hawke's Bay Protein spent more than $1 million trying to stop foul smells
Company ordered to pay more than $500,000 for worker’s death in Wairoa forest
Training and supervision was 'inadequate' in lead-up to death of much-loved father.
‘Conveyor-belt care’: Widow decries ‘horrifying’ patches of health system
Widow: Health system focused on efficiencies, prepared to forget about the people.
'Yay': Woman who stole seasonal workers' food seemed happy to get home detention
Woman "callously" took food out of the mouths of foreign workers, judge says.
Shearer told to pay back $3715 fleeced in Facebook scams
Facebook traders paid money for TVs, cars or caravans, then seller's profile disappeared.
Foresters mull appeal against Wairoa rates decision
"We believe we have good grounds for an appeal," NZ Forest Owners Association says.
Mayor 'delighted' at court win over foresters
Council in disadvantaged district fends off High Court action from forestry companies
Elusive mariner in court: 'I haven't been hiding'
Mariner appears in court, says he was not hiding over Maritime NZ charges.
Farmer gets home detention for domestic violence
Methamphetamine derailed the life of a deer velvet farmer who beat and stomped on a woman.
Spat over kiwifruit growers' rates valuations headed for High Court
Valuer General Neill Sullivan is allowed to present evidence in the case.
Singh denies fabricating invoice and agreements presented in court
Counsel accuses defendant of fabricating evidence in Immigration Act trial.