Isaac Davison is a senior reporter for the New Zealand Herald writing about Auckland Issues.
Isaac started at the Herald in 2008 on the night shift, before moving to Tauranga to report on the Bay of Plenty. He was later the science and environment reporter, a role in which he covered the Rena oil spill disaster and the Christchurch earthquakes. He spent six years at the Parliamentary Press Gallery in Wellington, where he closely covered two general elections in 2014 and 2017. In that time, Isaac also covered the legalisation of same-sex marriage in New Zealand and reported from trips abroad to Antarctica, Japan, Indonesia, Australia and the Marshall Islands. In 2020, he was awarded runner-up for Feature Writer of the Year (Social Issues) for his reporting on historic sexual abuse at Dilworth School. Before journalism, Isaac studied English and History at the University of Auckland and wrote his Masters thesis on the great New Zealand poet Allen Curnow. You can contact Isaac at isaac.davison@nzme.co.nz.
Awanui Labs scraps plan to send Auckland’s blood tests to Wellington
Company has been sending 250 blood samples daily to Wellington by road and air freight.
Fears for future of youth blood donations after 25% plummet since Covid
The blood service lost access to schools and universities – its key recruitment grounds.
'Your god does not condone this': Witnesses who confronted New Lynn terrorist speak at inquest
Two shoppers speak about coming face-to-face with a knifeman.
Controversial University of Auckland law school merger canned
Vice-Chancellor Dawn Freshwater today told staff the merger had been 'paused'.
Graphic footage of New Lynn terror attack shown in closed court, stabber donned red glove
Samsudeen grabbed a knife from a shelf and began slashing at shoppers.
'Tsunami of threats': Auckland uni ordered to pay Siouxsie Wiles $205k
The final amount was more than Wiles first sought from her employer.
Motorway crash: One dead, four injured after car flips on to roof
It brings the King's Birthday road toll to three.
'Not good enough': Cervical cancer screening tests delayed after problem at private lab
The two-week delay did not place patients at risk, the company says.
New Lynn terror attack: Graphic CCTV footage to be shown to closed court
The inquest comes more than three years after the attack in which six people were stabbed.
Budget 2025: Watch - Finance Minister speaks on Budget, flagship policy
Nicola Willis speaks after a challenging and controversial Budget.
Nearly 9000 teens to lose welfare if parents can support them under new test
A 'parental assistance test' will be introduced for single 18- and 19-year-olds in 2027.
Hospital EDs are sending up to 25 patients a day to private care with vouchers
Some patients said they had used the voucher system to get a free check-up.
Surgeons protest ‘harsh’ assessment process, accuse advocates of intimidation
A mesh harm advocate said she was stunned by the accusations.
High-risk cancer patients affected by halt on some colonoscopies
MidCentral has outsourced up to 200 colonoscopies to the private sector to clear backlog.
Hundreds of blood tests lost in transit between Wellington and Auckland
It comes as Awanui considers processing Auckland tests in Wellington permanently.
Explosions as refugee family 'lose everything' in massive house fire, neighbour entered to find kids
The fire completely gutted the two-storey property in Auckland's Mount Roskill.
Auckland bus stop killing: Mum honours 'brilliant, gentle' son
A memorial service for the student will be held at St Johns Bush, Auckland, on Monday.
'Deep cuts': Hundreds of health IT jobs to be axed
IT workers in healthcare are being told this week if their jobs are being disestablished.
Trade Me auction of prison uniform prompts police probe
Corrections said it was trying to determine who the seller was.
Bus stop death: Teen's murder charge; father mourns 'kind' son; tearful vigil at scene
A 32yo woman has also arrested.
'Immortality': Bus stop memorial for slain student, bugs could be named after him
Police are seeking a black SUV; former professor pays tribute.
'Did nothing wrong': Student's last minutes before bus stop killing
Police are seeking a black SUV; former professor pays tribute.
Watch: Bus stop homicide - police seek black SUV; victim named by colleagues
Fellow students and former colleagues have paid tribute to Kyle Whorrall.
Bus stop homicide: Victim was US entomology student; police to hold stand-up
He may have been out looking for insects on the night he died.
Police searching for two assailants in fatal Auckland bus stop attack
Police are seeking CCTV and dashcam footage from the street on Saturday night.
Manhunt under way after fatal attack at Auckland bus stop
Police said a 33-year-old man was assaulted by more than one person.
'Nonsense' blood service being offered at string of clinics around New Zealand
'There is zero science to it,' says one health leader.
Senior doctors to go on strike for 24 hours on May 1 over pay rates, understaffing
The union said it was the first 24-hour strike in its 35-year history.
'Bad idea': Akl Uni merger up in the air after showdown meeting mysteriously canned
A meeting to vote on the new law and business faculty was cancelled last week.
'Nothing short of a tragedy': Child's death after routine tonsil surgery rare: surgeon
Several investigations are under way after the 6-year-old died in Auckland last week.
University law school merger decision looms amid legal challenge threats
The proposal could go ahead despite overwhelming opposition from the university's senate.
Ex-convict promoted ‘bogus’ blood detox, seen with patients in Auckland clinic
A health expert described the treatments as 'quackery'.
Pharmac’s relationship with patients critiqued during meetings
Pharmac CEO Sarah Fitt resigned last month as two reviews were being completed.
‘Absolutely gutted’: Dramatic overhaul of $155m of Whānau Ora contracts includes John Tamihere-led agency
Four new agencies will be chosen and up to 1000 jobs could be affected.
Destiny and Man Up double down on pride protests
The church group has not been deterred by widespread condemnation of its pride protests.
Surgeon who operates on NZ women with controversial syndrome charged with killing patient
The surgeon is considered a saviour by some NZ patients, who say he changed their lives.
Medical schools boosted by 25 places a year
More graduates will also be trained in general practice clinics rather than hospitals.
Nurses, social workers working as receptionists as ‘back office’ public sector cuts bite
Government assurances cuts would not affect the front line were false, the PSA said.
‘Severe harm’: Doctors blast ‘inhumane’ funding squeeze for disability sector
Jack Murphy, 27, is among those who have missed out on residential care.
Health NZ faces urgent legal action over thousands of proposed job cuts
The Public Service Association says a net 1500 jobs could be cut in some departments.
Assisted dying: Patient’s wish to die in hospice denied by policy
A business in Wellington offered a space for the 44-year-old patient to die.
‘Gay blood ban’ to be removed next year, blood donor service says
The blanket ban on donations by gay and bisexual men is being scrapped.
‘Postcode lottery’: Audit probes surgery access disparities
Health NZ will be audited due to soaring surgery wait lists.
‘Like a turbine’: Mangawhai couple sheltered in wardrobe as tornado hit
A cordon is in place, and people told to treat downed power lines as live.
Woman asleep in bed sucked out of home, thrown by force of Mangawhai tornado
Emergency crews are responding to Mangawhai after tornado-like winds hit the area.
Patient had assisted death in farm paddock after rest home rejection
Rest homes and other facilities may be required to allow assisted dying.
From micro-pumps to ‘Holy Grail’: What is the next breakthrough treatment for diabetics?
After the rollout of continuous blood monitors, what could come next?
Pregnant women forced to travel 87km for emergency C-sections due to maternity care shortage
Some in the community were 'devastated' by the change, which will begin in mid-January.
Auckland hospital staff criticise 'nightmare' new $95m IT system causing treatment delays
'Teething issues' are to be expected with any large-scale IT overhaul, the hospital says.
Health system needs 3450 more doctors and 4100 more nurses in next decade
There has been huge growth in nursing numbers but gaps remain, Health NZ says.
Health Commissioner accused of ‘cooking the books’ in heated meeting
The claims came after Health NZ was forced to change its estimated deficit.
Health NZ to take longer to hit budget targets
The organisation is also expecting a deficit of $1.1 billion in the next year.
Report questions if harm from Covid-19 vaccine mandates outweighed benefits
Government will receive the inquiry's report today but its release date is unknown.
'Remove the gag clause': Doctors should be able to mention assisted dying - ministry
Government says any changes will be left to a member's bill.
'We're surrounded by everything that's bad for us': Being obese in New Zealand
Report calls for levies, limits on ads and fast-food shops, access to weight-loss drugs.
‘Deeply worried’: Nomination of Robert F. Kennedy jnr to health role alarms NZ health experts
RFK's peripheral role in the Samoan measles epidemic has been raised by several experts.
Puberty blockers to be prescribed more cautiously in New Zealand after review
The ministry says a more cautious approach will be taken to prescribing the drugs.
'Matter of time': New measles outbreak would be worse than 2019, with up to 90 cases a week
After a measles scare on Waiheke, briefings show the potential toll of a large outbreak.
Two families who lost premature babies share their second chances at parenthood
Pre-term birth rates are rising, but a new initiative starts today.
Deportee used fake passport to travel between NZ and Australia 24 times
Harvey Cramer-Roberts, from Auckland, was sentenced to nearly four years' jail.
Who is getting into medical school? New study sounds alarm over diversification
Affirmative action policies have had less success in lifting enrolments of poorer students
'Her legacy': Auckland mum dies as cancer drug is funded
Adrienne Smithson spent her last months fighting for wider access to the medication.
'So dire': Hospital staff refuse to care for racially abusive patient
More than 30 staff agreed not to look after the man until his behaviour was addressed.
23andMe in trouble: What does it mean for Kiwis who sent DNA to the company?
Users' genetic information could be sold to third parties if the company goes bankrupt.
No assisted dying oversight for seven months as doctors sound alarm
A newly appointed committee is working double-time to catch up on the reports.
Health NZ chief writes to staff about ‘English-only’ memo, confirms directive also made at second hospital
The language directive was also made at hospitals in Christchurch and Auckland.
Non-English-speaker approved for assisted dying - without translator
One doctor described the oversight process for assisted deaths as a 'tick-box activity'.
Newly-released documents reveal internal conflict before Health NZ board sacked
Health NZ has released a trove of background documents on its finances.
'Loud rumbling, heavy shaking': Strong earthquake hits Wellington
The magnitude-5.7 earthquake struck minutes after 5am.
Clear link between ADHD and harmful drug use, new NZ report confirms
Failures in diagnosing and treating ADHD may be leading to significant drug harm in NZ.
Puberty blocker use in NZ far higher than similar countries, study finds
The safety and reversibility of the medication is being reviewed by the Health Ministry.
‘Need, not race’ directive unscientific and dangerous, researchers say
Health professionals and scientists should reject the Government's directive, they said.
Nang ban: Selling or using nitrous oxide to get high could lead to prison
The Government has announced urgent changes to the recreational use of nitrous oxide.
Wellington mayor backtracks on claim she sold car to pay her bills
Tory Whanau says she sold her car because she no longer needed to drive in Wellington.
Kiwis with rare condition spend up to $200k for surgery overseas. Does it work?
Patients say Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome surgery is life-changing. Experts not so sure.
Family of Ariki Rigby weep in court as man charged with murder appears
Police made a breakthrough two years after the Hawke's Bay killing shocked the nation.
Catheter unchanged for four months: Patient suffers life-threatening complications
The home care company, Nurse Maude, has been told to apologise and make changes.
Parents of disabled kids ‘horrified’ at residential care restrictions after funding freeze
The Government says it's a temporary measure and that there's capacity in the system.
Drug dispute: Killer jailed for a kick the victim never saw coming
Judge halted killer's apology - saying there was no point as no one wanted to hear it.
Blockhouse Bay homicide victim was 'gentle' scientist on daily walk to look for insects
The victim, aged in his early 50s, would have never hurt a fly, a colleague said.