Maryana Garcia is a multimedia reporter based in Hamilton, covering Waikato stories of national interest.
Maryana Garcia is a live news reporter working with the Waikato Herald team. She studied a Bachelor of Arts with a major in History at the University of Auckland. Maryana also earned graduate diplomas in English literature from the University of Waikato and communications from Wintec. Maryana has been with NZME since 2021. She started as a regional reporter for the Rotorua Daily Post and Bay of Plenty Times writing about health and crime. During her time in the region, Maryana covered the Covid-19 pandemic, Cyclone Gabrielle and the local effects of the war in Ukraine, troop withdrawals from Afghanistan and protests in Iran. Maryana is also a poet and essayist. Her creative writing has been published in The Spinoff, Turbine, Poetry New Zealand, Takahē, Mayhem and Australia’s Meniscus Literary Journal. Maryana’s poetry has been featured on the walls of Auckland Hospital as part of Ara Manawa’s Poetry in Place exhibition and in the collections A Clear Dawn: New Asian Voices from Aotearoa New Zealand and Ko Aotearoa Tātou | We Are New Zealand.
More than 12 times the police force, 60 arrests: Holiday data from summer hotspot revealed
Charges included assault of police, threatening to kill and dangerous driving.
Police appeal for witnesses after Hamilton, Taupō crashes
Seventeen people have been injured in three crashes across the region over the weekend.
The State Highway where Waikato crashes happen most
From 2021 to 2024 there were over 5000 crashes on Waikato state roads.
'He was a sweet boy': Dume the giraffe dies during routine health check
'He captured the hearts of everyone with his gentle and majestic presence.'
Hundreds turn out for festival despite strong winds grounding balloons
The Balloons over Waikato Festival kicked off today.
Tokoroa receives biggest housing boost since the 1970s
Strathmore Park is expected to deliver 187 homes in stages.
‘I just feel sick’: Woman who rescued kids off Matamata train tracks feared death ‘inevitable’
A local woman said she had pulled five toddlers off the same stretch of train tracks.
Mayor vows action after girl dies in train tragedy near Matamata College
Police and WorkSafe are making inquiries following the incident.
Tragedy: Young female student dies after being hit by train near school
Police said the young female died at the scene despite receiving medical attention.
Pre-planned police operation led to school lockdown
One person was arrested. Police remain at the scene.
Fire ban: All permits revoked for North Waikato and Coromandel
Fire and Emergency New Zealand has declared a prohibited fire season in the area.
One person critical after serious car and motorcycle crash in Pipiroa, Hauraki
Emergency services were alerted to the crash about 2.20pm.
SH25 cleared after after logging truck hit power pole near Whangamatā
Police said contractors were at the scene and there were no reports of injuries.
Police find large knife, $3200 cash and meth at Hamilton CBD arrest
A man was reported for suspicious behaviour on Thursday afternoon.
'I felt like an awful person': Woman's 17-year journey to endo diagnosis
Charlotte, 28, has endometriosis, an inflammatory disease affecting 1 in 10 NZ women.
Number of wildfires on the rise, Fire and Emergency says
In New Zealand, 99% of wildfires are caused by people.
Car and rail maintenance vehicle collide in Matamata
Police say the collision between two vehicles on a railway crossing happened at 8.50am.
MP to meet ministry over 230 job losses at Kinleith Mill
The mill will cease all paper production before July 2025.
Police shoot runaway bull after two people injured in Hamilton
Emergency services were alerted to a 'loose bull running around'.
‘Forever in your debt’: Family speak out after man died saving brother on Lake Taupō
Vincent, 36, died at Acacia Bay while saving his brother’s life in January.
48 firefighters, 1 helicopter battling digger and vegetation fire
The fire was reported after 3pm.
Confirmed: 230 workers to lose jobs as Kinleith Mill shuts paper production
Staff were called to an open-air meeting on the Tokoroa mill’s grounds.
‘Nothing I could have done’: Driver’s plea after fatal crash
In February 2024, the region's road death toll was zero.
Delays on SH25, SH3 closed after separate, serious crashes
SH3 is still closed at Mokau after a truck rolled near Te Mahoe Rd.
Man accused of striking police officer with car appears in court
The incident happened at 8pm on Wednesday in Huntly.
Truck and trailer roll: Person airlifted to hospital in serious condition
The incident happened on a private road off State Highway 3.
Lightning strike at Waikato Hospital affected pagers, internet, fire system
'At no point in time was there any disruption to the delivery of patient care.'
'Long gone': Fugitive escaped locked area outside courthouse, swimming in lake
The man swam through part of Lake Taupō in his attempt to evade police.
Hamilton death referred to the Coroner
The referral comes after a postmortem was carried out today.
‘That was a big one’: More than 50 quakes recorded in Taupō
According to GeoNet the earthquakes recorded peaked at 3.4 in magnitude.
Seeds of hope: Globally rare habitat shows signs of recovery after 1000ha blaze
The October fire released about $9.6m worth of carbon into the atmosphere.
'Round and round': One letter sent six times but never received
Robyn Bronlund-Stads sends mail to the same address monthly. She knows it's correct.
Maritime NZ to investigate fatal jetski incident
It comes as Coastguard NZ and the harbourmaster issued safety reminders to water users.
Watch: Logs fly after trailer dramatically detaches on highway
The video shows cars swerving to avoid flying timber and debris.
One dead after two-vehicle crash outside Putāruru
Emergency services were alerted to the incident at 4.50pm.
Weekend crash increases Waikato’s January road death toll
Ministry of Transport data shows three people have died on Waikato roads this month.
Driver injured in truck rollover
FENZ crews arriving at the scene found the truck in a ditch.
Watch: ’Ultimate playground' - Warnings as extreme kayakers take on Huka Falls
'You get a good second of flying through the air before you hit the bottom.'
Police name New Plymouth cyclist as Matamata fatal crash victim
Inquiries into the circumstances of the crash are ongoing.
'A lot of roadworks and disruption': What you need to know about driving through Waikato this month
Slow road trips will await some this month.
One person in critical condition airlifted to hospital after water incident
One rapid response unit and one helicopter responded to the incident this afternoon.
Police officer nearly hit by truck after driver ignores road closure
One police officer was forced to jump out of the way.
The NZ region with the highest road death toll in 2024
Roads in this region claimed 192 lives from 2022 to 2024.
Boy robbed by 'several people' near police station
The alleged offenders stole the boy's bike, cash and 'other property'.
'All emergency services are en route': Injuries after crash on SH3 in King Country
One person is in moderate condition after the two-vehicle crash.
The city with the lowest home ownership rates in NZ
Housing is relatively inexpensive compared with other cities but ownership rates are low.
'Grateful': Russian adoptee finds brothers living less than two hours away
Valentina Burgess didn't know much about her life before she was adopted at age 4.
Clear run: Waikato Expressway Ngāruawāhia section back to four lanes
Remedial works and safety improvements were finished today.
Watch: Armed robbers threaten bystanders, flee Taupō jewellers in car after aggravated robbery
A member of the public appears to try and slash the car's tyres to prevent escape.
Significant delays on SH1 near Cambridge after truck and car crash
'Delay your journey or expect delays until vehicle recovery can be completed.'
Police National Dive Squad to search Waikato River for missing man
The man was reported to have jumped from Pukete Bridge on Saturday night.
SH1 detour route near Tokoroa blocked after truck crashed and rolled
A police spokesperson said the truck would take some time to remove.
'Chance for a real solution': Winston Peters says he will advocate for Kinleith Mill workers
'Targeted government intervention is sometimes necessary.'
One person in custody after firearm sighting near school
Frankton School was in lockdown due to the police presence.
Less than 18 months to live: How this 26-year-old lives with cancer
Paige Suisted wants to be remembered for something good with the time she has left.
Save our mill: Proposed job cuts threat to entire town, advocates say
“This is going to be the beginning of the end if we don’t do anything about it.”
Three injured, one trapped after boat flips on Raglan bar
Sixty-one lives have been lost in water-related incidents in New Zealand this year.
Three injured in Wairere Drive crash: Heavy traffic building up
One person was trapped and had to be rescued by firefighters.
One person seriously injured after car crashes into fence
One ambulance was sent to the incident on Kura St, Whatawhata.
Two-car crash blocks Hamilton's main street at rush hour
A police spokesperson said the incident was reported just after 8.45am.
Prisoner captured after escape from Waikato Hospital
The incident has prompted a review of Spring Hill Corrections Facility procedure.
'A lot of angry people': Workers at NZ's largest paper mill told of plans to halt production
Many workers chose to walk out of a meeting at Kinleith Mill this morning.
Two people injured in three-vehicle crash
Emergency services called to South Waikato crash.
The NZ health district where there is one GP to 1900 people
And how one practice is 'revitalising' its GPs' passion for the job.
'Genuinely cared for': School family united after lightning strike, hall fire
The school's performing arts centre and new-entrants class were demolished after the fire.
Presentation to offer wastewater discharge solutions for Raglan
Council proposal has been put together after years of community consultation and research.
Ironman World Championships will mean busy roads for Taupō
About 6000 competitors plus their supporters are expected from overseas.
'I was a wreck': Man rescued by helicopter after ridge collapse
Plus: Why the service needs over $460k in 2025 to continue vital work.
How this month's Waikato roadworks could affect you
Full closures on SH1 Ngāruawāhia this month; expect delays and detours.
Wider, longer alcohol bans could be on the way for Raglan
Huntly, Tuakau, Pōkeno, Mercer and Taupiri could be affected by proposed bylaw changes.
Two helicopters dispatched to Buckland after van and motorbike crash
One person in critical condition was transported to Auckland Hospital.
'Highly probable' 16-year-old's wrist broke during unlawful arrest, IPCA finds
Police arrested teen for breaching alcohol ban after he refused to give his details.
Waikato school struck by lightning before hall fire
A man bravely emptied up to five extinguishers on the fire while students were evacuated.
Carbon released from Waikato wetland fire worth up to $9.6m
The fire, which burnt through 1039ha over five days, has now been fully contained.
Crews to monitor Meremere fire over long weekend
“There will still be some fire activity at the site for the foreseeable future."
'Globally rare' habitat could take hundreds of years to recover after massive fire
Since Monday, 1039ha of Whangamarino Wetland has gone up in flames.
Witness describes 'bloody mess' after truck and car crash near Taupō leaves one critical
Emergency services were called to the scene about 1pm.
Watch: Footage shows early stages of Waikato fire getting 'out of control'
Drones will monitor hotspots overnight and firefighting operations will resume tomorrow.
Smoke from Waikato scrub fire moves up and across Coromandel
Public has been asked not to fly drones near where Fenz is fighting fire.