Articles by Kelly Makiha
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National
'Red flags': Family confronts key figure in missing teacher mystery
Friday, 20 March 2026, 9:39amIt’s been nearly six months since Tokoroa teacher Jayleb-Che Dean was last seen. His brother, Aaron Dean, reveals what happened...
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National
Notorious Nia Glassie murderer fronts Parole Board
Wednesday, 25 February 2026, 7:15amOne of two brothers jailed for murdering Rotorua toddler Nia Glassie will remain behind bars for at least another year. Wiremu...
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National
'Appalling waste': Transitional housing complex to be torn down after $11m spend
Thursday, 12 February 2026, 10:24amAfter pouring more than $11 million into a Rotorua motel complex for the homeless, Kāinga Ora has decided to tear it down...
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National
'Monstrous': Judge jails child sex offender for 18 years
Wednesday, 11 February 2026, 9:31amWarning: This story contains details of sexual offending against children and may be upsetting. “Monstrous” and “abhorrent”...
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National
Motels used as taxpayer-funded emergency housing don't have resource consent
Saturday, 7 February 2026, 9:50amTwo Rotorua motels have been operating as Ministry of Social Development emergency housing without proper resource consent,...
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National
From catwalk to court: Designer pleads guilty to burglary
Thursday, 5 February 2026, 10:57amA Rotorua fashion designer and former beauty pageant reality show star has pleaded guilty to two charges in court. Kharl...
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National
'Every parent's worst nightmare': High-risk daycare child snatcher to be freed in weeks
Saturday, 24 January 2026, 9:53amWarning: This story mentions intended sexual offending against a child and readers may find some details distressing A man...
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National
'Born to guide': Tributes flow for Te Puia guide who died at geothermal pool
Wednesday, 21 January 2026, 4:24pmThe man who died at a geothermal pool in Rotorua’s famed Whakarewarewa Geothermal Valley was Te Puia duty manager and guide...
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National
Baby left alone in hot car prompts emergency services callout
Tuesday, 30 December 2025, 3:35pmEmergency services were called after a baby was left in a car on Rotorua’s Eruera St unattended. A woman, who didn’t want...
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National
Gold clam clampdown at Lake Ōkāreka sparks concern for Lake Tarawera anglers
Tuesday, 30 December 2025, 12:37pmStricter controls on out-of-town boaties on Lake Ōkāreka has prompted concern from Fish & Game New Zealand over what it might...
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Crime
Croc attack: Dad bashed at playground over kid's shoes
Monday, 29 December 2025, 6:50pmA violent and unprovoked attack at a Rotorua playground over a pair of pink Crocs left a father with a broken jaw and concussion,...
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National
Police dog Teo - burned in Rotorua geothermal water - on road to recovery
Wednesday, 24 December 2025, 10:52amWorking on the frontline of the New Zealand Police can lead to life or death situations. No one knows that more than specialist...
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National
Woman charged with helping murder-accused avoid arrest
Wednesday, 24 December 2025, 10:44amA woman has been accused of helping to hide a man now charged with the murder of Nicholas Mitchell in Fordlands, Rotorua. The...
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National
Guns, tasers, meth, machete and a can of beer: What people tried to take into court
Tuesday, 23 December 2025, 12:41pmKeys, wallet, phone ... a gun, a taser, some methamphetamine, cannabis and a bong, a round of ammunition and a can of beer. Sadly...
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National
Calculated gang hit: Judge condemns 'waste' as killer gets life in jail
Friday, 12 December 2025, 6:34pmShot in the heart at point-blank range by a rival gang boss, a Black Power member uttered “f**k babe the dog s**ts got me”...
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National
Kmart Rotorua shoppers now paying bond for trolleys
Thursday, 30 October 2025, 2:17pmShoppers at Rotorua’s Kmart are among the first in the country to be charged a 50c bond to use trolleys. The move, which...
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National
'Money talks': Family posts $8000 reward in search for missing teacher
Saturday, 25 October 2025, 8:21amA Tokoroa family desperate to find missing teacher Jayleb-Che Dean have pulled together an $8000 reward in the hope that...
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National
Watch: 'Unreal' rugby club blaze caught on video
Wednesday, 22 October 2025, 1:51pmA night shift worker who caught the Whakarewarewa Rugby Community Sports Club blaze on video says it was “horrible to see”. Security...
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National
Playground pooper chased off after foul act shocks locals
Tuesday, 21 October 2025, 8:59pmA playground pooper who wiped his hands on children’s play equipment after defecating nearby was chased off by hearty Koutu...
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National
Decades of trophies and taonga lost as fire guts rugby clubrooms
Tuesday, 21 October 2025, 12:05pmRotorua’s oldest rugby club lost its clubrooms and memorabilia in a devastating fire. Club president Marty Hatu said the...
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Sport
'Kids are still dying': Joint inquest considered into four motocross crash deaths
Friday, 17 October 2025, 10:13amThe spotlight will go on children’s motocross riding in New Zealand as a coroner considers whether four similar deaths will...
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National
Teen fighting aggressive cancer finds new hope after given weeks to live
Friday, 10 October 2025, 7:11amA Rotorua teenager battling aggressive cancer was given two weeks to live nearly three weeks ago. But her mother is not...
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Crime
Man with 5000 child abuse images avoids prison term
Friday, 19 September 2025, 2:32pmWarning: Readers may find the offending described in this story distressing. James Chas Henry Ware was found in possession...
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National
How a cop beat a $70 parking ticket in court after app wouldn't let him pay
Saturday, 6 September 2025, 8:20amA Rotorua police sergeant has won a court battle over a disputed $70 parking ticket, following frustrations with a parking...
