Derek Cheng is a Multimedia Journalist for New Zealand’s Herald. He values holding those in power to account and shining a light on issues kept in the dark.
Journalism is a powerful tool that has allowed me to cover huge stories, from general elections to the Christchurch earthquake to the March 15 terrorist attack to the Covid-19 response. It gives us access to those who make decisions that affect millions of lives, or to pivotal moments where we are tasked to write the first draft of history. The privilege to do so, sometimes, is a daunting one. It's also multi-pronged, and my stories have covered the whole gamut - from scrutinising the Government's decisions to a first-person account of a climbing accident where I had to have my face reconstructed. I've worked for the NZ Herald on and off since graduating with a journalism diploma the end of 2004, but I've also never lost sight of the pursuit of adventure, and have repeatedly left work for indefinite overseas trips to chase mountains and perfectly steamed dumplings. I had my first taste for political journalism in the Helen Clark years, started properly in the press gallery in the John Key years, and have covered Jacinda Ardern's time at the top, including her historic election victory in 2020. Throughout, I've learned the value of holding those in power to account, and shining light into corners that some would prefer to remain under cover of darkness. Never has that been more important than during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Revealed: Health officials wanted Auckland liberated by now, most of NZ in orange
Health advice said new framework and high vax rates could see end to Auckland boundary.
A new era for the Covid response - The weak points and reasons for optimism and dread
How far the virus will spread this summer may come down to how the unvaccinated behave.
Live: 'Grinch' PM under pressure on summer travel, Covid case dies at home
PM: Auckland's hard boundary will be in place until all regions hit 90 per cent vaxxed.
Chch on edge as PM explains level 2 call; MIQ changes - all you need to know
Christchurch cases have had 'no major exposure events' - Hipkins.
Covid: 74 cases, Waikato alert level eased, Nov 15 school return plan
Tentative plan for Year 1-8 schoolchildren to return to class on November 15.
New traffic light system, 90% vax target, Aucklanders allowed to travel at Xmas
PM says the new framework is about being able to live our lives as safely as possible.
PM to show Auckland the way out of lockdown - but it could be weeks away
Case numbers hit an record high in Auckland yesterday. Is level 2 still weeks away?
Delta outbreak: 102 Covid cases today, new daily record, hospital numbers hit high
So far the health system is coping, but it is making plans in case numbers surge.
Daily record 94 Covid cases - PM blames level 3 rule-breakers
PM says people failing to follow level 3 rules feature in today's record case number.
Live: 55 new Covid cases, Northland and Waikato in level 3 until Monday
Hipkins reveals the latest on alert levels.
Delta outbreak: 43 new cases, PM reveals 'vaxathon' this Saturday
The Northland traveller found last night has tested positive - what is the Northland risk?
Live: Auckland rules to stay; Northland, Waikato to level 2 on Friday; Expert warns of Xmas at home
Cabinet has also decided on who will get mandatory jabs.
Live: 29 new cases, Waikato boundary extended south from tonight
The Government will today outline where rapid antigen testing will be used
29 new Covid cases - eight unlinked; new case at hospital ED
Cabinet meets on alert level, 2 million Kiwis now fully vaccinated.
Auckland Mayor slams 'idiot' Brian Tamaki over lockdown protest plans
Top police bosses meet virtually with Brian Tamaki over plans for anti-lockdown protest.
Live: 20 new cases - Auckland lockdown decision goes to the wire; 500,000 new vaccine doses on way
Cabinet will meet tomorrow to decide the country's alert level fate
Crowne Plaza conundrum and the mystery MIQ leak; 15 new cases today
Case numbers in recent days: 20, 20, 20, 21 - and 15 today.
Govt finalising deal to provide extra vaccines, 21 new cases
Ardern has been reaching out to her global network to secure quick-fire supply of Pfizer.
Watch: Mortgage relief, rent freezes not necessary at the moment - Robertson
Only one firm with more than 100 full time employees had applied for the wage subsidy.
NZ's Covid elimination plan 'let down by allies', says expert
Allies could have pursued an elimination strategy, but they didn't.
Covid: Ship pilot's infection linked to Qld taxi driver, abuse 'not helpful'
Health authorities reveal pilot has same Delta strain as Cairns taxi driver.
Travel bubble closed for eight weeks, Kiwis told 'come home now'
Kiwis in Australia will be able to get home on managed return flights over the next week.
Covid-19: Ship with infected mariners docks in Wellington, 1 new case in MIQ
A ship carrying two Covid-infected mariners has docked in Wellington.
'Dodged a bullet': Wellington safe enough to return to level 1 today
Government has also deemed it safe enough to resume quarantine-free travel.
Wellington returns to level 1 at 11.59pm, transtasman bubble to partly reopen
Bloomfield: Likelihood of people in Wellington still incubating virus "now very low".
Derek Cheng: Why Delta variant makes Sunday's alert level decision more complicated
Delta variant gave compelling reasons to adapt level 2 in Wellington, but nothing happened
Covid case's NZ visit: Why the next 48 hours are critical
'Within the next 48 hours, we'll have a clearer picture of [any] community transmission.'
Covid jabs approved for Kiwi teens aged 12-15
Around 265,000 children are in the 12-15 age group in New Zealand.
Revealed: The regions where police are most likely to charge drug users
Data shows how police use prosecutorial discretion by region for all drugs, cannabis and P
Two acute MIQ Covid cases; Melbourne trio misled officials to enter NZ
The Government is expecting 1 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine to arrive in July.
MIQ review: Weaknesses found in the high-trust border testing model
Covid test data matching system has come under scrutiny after failure.
Ashley Bloomfield says pandemic 'not even halfway through'
More than 235,000 people are now fully vaccinated.
Budget 2021 live: Here are the 10 things you need to know
What you need to know about Budget 2021 at a glance.
Death of NZer after Covid vaccine reported; no link established
Information 'strongly suggestive ... that the death was unrelated to vaccination'.
Perth traveller now in MIQ faces fine or possible jail time
Questions remain over how a Kiwi flew home from Perth when the city was in lockdown.
Covid case: Airport worker cleaned 'green-zone' plane that flew to Aussie
Hipkins: The risk of someone cleaning a plane and passing on Covid was 'minimal'.
Covid-infected MIQ guard lied to boss about regular tests: PM
More than 130,000 Covid vaccine doses have now been administered in NZ.
Covid-infected cleaner visited supermarket, relative's test 'weak positive'
Chris Hipkins and Ashley Bloomfield provide an update about the new MIQ worker case.
Government to let in 2000 fruit pickers from Pacific - but with living wage catch
The new border exceptions mean that few others will be granted before April next year.
Interactive: How did your electorate vote in the referendums?
Referendum results for every electorate.
Four new Covid-19 cases in isolation; casual contact of community case on flight unwell
Person with symptoms in the Waikato who shared flight with a case; test result pending
Covid-19 case flew Auckland to Wellington on Thursday; 1300 Defence staff to work from home
Seventh time in just over three months that virus has been contracted in an MIQ facility.
'Warm relationship': Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta on Joe Biden's win
She expected "continued warm conversations" on the US-NZ relationship.
Watch: Chch community case a health worker looking after foreign fishermen
The latest community case represents the sixth border failure in just over three months
Live: Referendum results - NZ votes yes on euthanasia, no on cannabis legalisation
Green MP Chloe Swarbrick has harsh words for the "no" campaign after referendum loss.
Euthanasia, cannabis results today: Is the Kiwi social fabric about to shift?
Preliminary referendum results on cannabis and euthanasia will be released at 2pm today.
The reeferendum: Preliminary results are out tomorrow - what happens next?
The Electoral Commission is releasing the preliminary result at 2pm Friday.
25 new Covid cases: Two in community, 18 fishermen
How many foreign deep-sea fishing crew in New Zealand have tested positive for Covid-19?
Port worker has new virus strain; likely infected on ship heading for Brisbane
The port worker is the first Covid-19 community case in NZ since September 24.
Ardern says 'mandate exists for Labour'; Govt to form in 3 weeks
Labour leader says she expects to form a Government within three weeks.
One new Covid-19 case in managed isolation
The last community case was reported on September 24.
Cannabis referendum: Everything you need to know including why it has become political
Everything you need to know about the referendum to legalise cannabis for personal use.
Election 2020: What's the plan for law and order? Policies compared
Independent reports call for an overhaul of a system failing victims, criminals and Māori
Three new Covid cases in community and six 'historical' cases
Today's three new cases are not linked to the Auckland cluster.
Watch: No new Covid cases, Bloomfield reveals weak positive thought to be historical
Three people remain in hospital with Covid.
Election 2020: What's the plan to keep NZ safe from Covid? Policies compared
Border containment, testing, contact-tracing and how to handle community transmission.
Three new Covid cases at border; 94 close contacts of infected gym-goer
There are now 94 close contacts of the healthcare worker who went to three gym classes.
Auckland stays at level 2.5, rest of NZ likely move to level 1 next week
The Govt will review the rules again next week, Winston Peters hits out.
One new Covid case in community, linked to Mt Roskill church
The case is associated with Mt Roskill Evangelical Fellowship bereavement events group.
'Deliberate, malicious spread of misinformation': The threat to level 1 move
There is a sub-cluster within the Mt Roskill mini-cluster within the Auckland cluster.
6 new cases: Illegal mini-cluster meeting, bus driver tests positive
New group within Mt Roskill mini-cluster could lengthen the outbreak's tail by weeks.
Wellington has first Covid case in managed isolation, border workers test negative
Ninety-seven per cent of border workers were tested last week - no-one had Covid.
Aussie PM: No one's raised mosque gunman extradition
Winston Peters says 'depraved' terrorist should be sent back to Australia.
Five new virus cases and new 'mini-cluster' - wedding guests on alert
Ashley Bloomfield says a 'mini-cluster' has been identified
Watch: NZ alert levels extended until Sunday
People travelling on public transport at alert level 2 will need a mask.
D-Day live: Cabinet meets on alert levels, will lockdown lurch on?
'It's a really tough call' - Professor Shaun Hendy on moving Auckland to level 2.
Three new Covid-19 cases, 9 in hospital, changes to travel exemptions
Today's new cases are a household contact of a previous case and two imported cases.
Watch: No early lockdown lift for Auckland - PM; 11 new Covid cases
Eight people with Covid are in hospital.
Six new cases - more defence staff called in; Govt to hire own hotel guards
There have been over 100,000 test results so far since the latest outbreak emerged.
Covid-positive hotel worker with cough passed health check; 13 new cases today
A Covid-19 case has emerged that appears to be unconnected to the South Auckland cluster.
Watch: Nine new cases of Covid-19 today; five people in hospital
Jacinda Ardern says it's unfair to assume Ashley Bloomfield misled her on border testing.
Watch: NZ to maintain current alert levels for 12 more days
There were 13 new community transmission cases announced this afternoon.
Full lockdown or freedom in Auckland: PM, Bloomfield and Cabinet to decide
'We round up sheep, we don't round up people,' says health boss Ashley Bloomfield.
Four more 'probables' linked to community Covid cases
All are linked to the community-based cases revealed last night.
Auckland in lockdown, rest of country in level 2 after community transmission
It comes after four cases of community transmission.
Covid 19, 5G and abortion: The Jacinda Ardern show hits Whanganui
Local interactions were aplenty as Ardern and Labour's local candidates toured Whanganui.
PM refuses to say how she'll vote in cannabis referendum
Jacinda Ardern is visiting the Sargeant Gallery and a mask-making factory in Whanganui.
100 days of solitude (and no transmission) - NZ hits historic Covid century mark
The last case of community transmission was recorded on May 1.