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.
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.
Watch: Aerial footage shows extent of growing Waikato wetland fire
Firefighters were alerted to the blaze off Island Block Rd about 1.15pm on Monday.
20-hectare scrub fire burning swampland in North Waikato
Firefighters were alerted to the blaze off Island Block Rd about 1.15pm.
'Complacency can cause accidents': NZTA’s advice for SH1 detours
NZTA is warning people to take care on detours as SH1 works ramp up.
Taupō school in lockdown after threatening email
Police at the school as a precautionary measure.
Two men injured after boat capsizes off Taharoa
Coastguard launched rescue after 7 boaties were reported to be in the water.
Police release two people arrested after Te Awamutu homicide
A post-mortem examination of the victim will take place on Friday.
Police seeking dashcam footage in relation to Hampton Downs incident
A man was found fighting for his life on Hampton Downs Rd early on Monday morning.
'Fighting spirit': Waikato mourns loss of activist Michael 'Malibu' Hamilton
An environmentalist, conservationist and surfer, Hamilton passed away on September 24.
Man found fighting for his life on rural Waikato road
The man was found with critical injuries on Hampton Downs Rd early this morning.
Seven arrested after Greenpeace activists scale dairy factory
The protesters unfurled a 160sq m banner and abseiled down the building.
NZTA advises Auckland to Wellington motorists to avoid SH1
A detour of 23km or about 16mins will be in place.
The city with the lowest home ownership rates in NZ
Housing is relatively inexpensive compared with other cities but ownership rates are low.
'Made me feel like I was 90 years old': Trish Mitchell shares her breast cancer journey
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Three people injured after truck and car crash on SH3
One man was seriously injured and was transported to hospital by helicopter.
Fixed-wing aircraft used in continued search for Luke Berwick in Waikato
Berwick, 31, was last seen in Raglan and has not had contact with family since Tuesday.
Man pulls body from the water near Raglan Holiday Park
The man spotted the body from the footbridge and went in the water to pull it out.
Police charge 22yo man after fatal vehicle incident in Taupō
The man is due to appear in the Taupō District Court next week.
One dead after crash in Hamilton East
The crash was reported to emergency services at 12.09pm.
What you need to know about road closures on SH1
NZTA says motorists can expect 'roadworks galore' on SH1 due to major projects.
Two utes crash at Tīrau intersection, causing one to tip over
Emergency services were called to the crash about 3.04pm.
'Hefty amount of smoke': Garage fire spreads to house adjacent to school
Firefighter crews from Thames, Tapu, Pururi and Ngatea attended. No one was injured.
Cultural bail check approach may have avoided fatal shooting - psychiatrist
'He was pushed beyond his tolerance.'
'Troubles me': Shooting inquest probes police lethal force 'threshold'
'Is incapacitation a nicer way of saying lethal force or killing?'
'One shot would have been plenty': Inquest into death of man shot by police resumes
'It's not a given that the first shot will do the job.'
Person dies on Mt Ruapehu, rāhui in place
Local iwi has placed a rāhui over the ski area of the mountain.
Electric wheelchair fire leaves one person critically injured
The man was transported to Waikato Hospital in a critical condition by helicopter.
Witnesses sought in fatal accident of Steven Cranston on State Highway 23
Police enquiries into the death are ongoing.
Police searching for white T-shirt, track pants in child homicide investigation
This is the second appeal police have made to residents of the neighbourhood.
Child dies in Waikato driveway incident
Emergency services were not able to revive the child.
WorkSafe opens investigation into child's death after quad bike accident
WorkSafe were advised and inquiries into the circumstances of the crash are ongoing.
'Would be playing with his cousins': Family files complaint against police after alleged murder of 8-year-old
Police also notified the IPCA the alleged killer was trespassed on the day of the murder.
Person injured after being trapped in machinery at Waikato animal feed plant
One ambulance crew responded and treated a patient with minor injuries at the scene.
Hamilton child homicide: Residents urged to keep an eye out for ‘white clothing’
Police are continuing their inquiries in the area, after the boy was killed on Sunday,
Watch: How the NZDF is helping feed mourners at Tūrangawaewae Marae
NZDF has mobilised 28 personnel to support the tangi of Kīngi Tūheitia.
Alleged child murderer was trespassed from Hamilton motel before death of 8yo
Police have notified the IPCA of these events 'in the interests of transparency'.
'Show them heart': How Turangawaewae Marae feeds thousands
'All of it’s enjoyable. The people here are all working for the same cause.'