Reporting on Operation Hark

That was the nicest version of our anthem I’ve heard. ❤️Auckland Secondary Schools Pasifika Choir.

In the New Zealand Medical Journal today

Support services brace themselves for impact of 54 reopened cases

Mānawatia a Matariki e te whānau. Kia rangimārie te rā 💛

Look at that face 🤍

Police are re-investigating 54 sexual assault and child abuse cases after concerns about one case triggered a review of almost 1,000 files. The senior officer who managed those files told me the scale of it was “news to me”. He remains under an employment investigation.

This is an interesting one to watch as cases work through review, challenging ACC’s interpretation and application of a landmark Court of Appeal ruling.

I made a really terrible documentary in journalism school …

In Hong Kong last night we won a SOPA for our China Targets investigation with the ICIJ 🥇 @whljustin.bsky.social @scillaa.bsky.social

I spent some time looking at stopping-violence programmes and concerns within the sector about what’s working v what’s not, and whose voice is missing.

“The question has always been what will replace the 1989-vintage standards regime. We don’t think “nothing” is the right answer.”

Who exactly ..

Equippers Church launched a review after our reporting of complaints about how it had dealt with sexual assault and abuse allegations. That review into “survivor-centred processes” has been completed. It did not speak to the survivors.

I was on the phone this morning with one of the women who has told her story for the Sir Rod Drury/Xero investigation when a media release arrived in my inbox, taking me straight back to 1986..

In a draft report sent to Rod Drury Xero replaced Ally Naylor’s name with “the complainant”. But missed one.

LOVED taking to Lyse Doucet at Auckland Writers Festival. She was an absolute treat. Warm, hilarious, and driven by centring people in conflict. #AWF26

Let’s just say there was a lot going on ..

Sir Rod Drury forfeits NZer of the Year award

Drury employee breaks NDA to tell her story. He says her claims are unfounded. My latest story in this investigation:

A lot of my journalism relies on sources who deserve protection. When a source is anonymous, it is beholden on me to corroborate their story and verify it. Big tech guys with money have reckons on this. Spot the NZ connection.

A second woman alleges unwanted sexual contact by New Zealander of the Year Sir Rod Drury

Just in

A former junior Xero employee speaks out following the New Zealander of the Year awards

Such a great word, such a persistent problem.

Equippers Church launches a review into how it handled sexual assault and abuse cases. The women are not convinced.

Here’s part one of Rabea Santjer’a story. Massive respect to her for being willing to have her name suppression lifted so she could speak publicly.

Wondering why* a Minister’s office would send 120-odd pages of OIA docs at 6.13pm on a Friday? *not wondering why

You’re welcome. There’s also a tool in here so you can search the files yourself .. easier than the DOJ site which is clunky as, and I’ve stripped out the duplicates/irrelevancies

Seems less than ideal

Why apologies don’t bring closure

Thanks @sanjanah.bsky.social If you didn’t catch it the first time, here’s some uplifting summer viewing

The cat sitting on the dog sitting on me sitting on the window seat trying to read the paper

A useful thread for holiday conversations with *that family member*

Trump Is Getting Weaker, and the Resistance Is Getting Stronger www.nytimes.com/2025/12/26/o...

Where did caperberries go?

Has anyone ever tried to (repeatedly) cancel an account with One NZ (for a service that wasn’t delivered) and then got stuck in a vortex where they tell you it’s cancelled and fees are waived then bill you again so you cancel again by email, online, messenger, phone then they bill you again and😬

Ok bye I’m going on holiday now 👋🏼

This probity review was ordered after Stuff’s questions about a conflict of interest concern. It would have been a short report if they’d written what checks were done instead of weren’t.

Home detection for McSkimming

How could I not love this 🤭

The Minister says it would have been inappropriate to ask the IPCA about a McSkimming complaint he was alerted to three weeks before the date he publicly stated he knew of concerns. IPCA says yeah.. nah.

Dates now on the record: Police Minister Mark Mitchell was told of a McSkimming complaint on Oct 14 - three weeks before the date he’s given publicly as when he first heard of concerns.

Deputy Public Service Commissioner pulls no punches (in public service language)

Interested in the opinion of those of you are are ex army

Trickery and fuckery.

Here’s a Saturday long read for you 🌸

Everything ok at the Covid Inquiry?

Too soon.

Auē