James Baker

Print and television journalist.

Te Ao with Moana

Protest, Racism, Sovereignty - What's happening on Auckland's Maunga?

30/3/2021

What’s the latest in the stand-off between the Tūpuna Maunga Authority and disgruntled residents on the slopes of Ōwairaka (Mt Albert)? James Baker investigates.

Te Ao with Moana

Little known hearing loss leaving Pasifika and Māori voices silenced

15/5/2021

Across Aotearoa, possibly thousands of tamariki with Auditory Processing Disorder, a hearing condition that often goes undetected, are struggling in the classroom. James Baker talks to the whanau affected and a man trying to build awareness and bring treatment to those left behind.

Te Ao with Moana

Boys getting the male role models needed in their lives

4/3/2021

Big Buddy is making a big difference for young males in Aotearoa. A kaupapa that matches kind-hearted men to boys without fathers. 

Te Ao with Moana

Artist on a mission to change street art culture in Tāmaki Makaurau

16/5/2021

Does a great work of art always sit in a gallery? Laken Whitecliffe is a man on a mission to change attitudes on street art in our biggest city.

A Darker Truth: The anti-Semitism behind Billy Te Kahika's conspiracy theories

He’s declared 5G a bio-engineered virus and that the United Nations is inspired by Satanic teachings. But as Billy Te Kahika’s wilder conspiracies grabbed headlines, his rhetoric touched on a darker subject.

On June 4, Billy Te Kahika took to Facebook live, as he regularly does, to deliver a sermon to his devotees.

By now these “prayer studies” are nothing new. In May, Te Kahika went viral with videos that weave scripture, 5G, Covid-19, Harry Potter, vaccines, the Labour government, Bill Gates
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Burn survivors embrace their scars

Heather Stewart is grateful for her burns.

Surrounded by 20 ladies at the Fourth Annual Women's Burn Survivor Retreat along Karioitahi Beach, Waiuku, the giggling gals receive facials while exchanging dirty jokes, punctuated by roaring laughter.

It’s not the solemn picture you might expect at the three-day event devoted to the mental healing of severe trauma.

Their stories are as different as their skin, some women have spent decades hiding scars from glaring eyes. For them, this weekend is a
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Questions raised after charity's property gamble leaves holes in services

In June, the Cerebral Palsy Society cut services and staff, surprising members. The society threatened members and removed staff that spoke out.

The former board of one of the country’s richest charities, tasked with helping those with cerebral palsy, loaned millions to property companies that have failed to provide a return for the charity despite using the money to invest in Auckland’s red-hot housing market.

Questions are being raised by charity members and experts over the deals, which saw
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Thief in disguise stole jewellery, purses, wallets and credit cards from unwitting elderly

Brian Te Huia's appeal was dismissed at the High Court in Hamilton.

A career thief who preyed on the elderly, withdrawing thousands of dollars from stolen credit cards, has been denied his bid for a lighter sentence despite his traumatic upbringing.

At the High Court in Hamilton, Judge Brown dismissed Brian Te Huia's appeal against a sentence of five years and nine months’ imprisonment for eight representative charges related to burglary, dishonestly using a document, assault, and other drivin
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Coronavirus: South Auckland community leaders critical of checkpoint locations

Community leaders at Auckland's southern border say police and locals are frustrated by the Government’s choice of alert level 3 checkpoint locations.

Franklin Local Board chairman Andy Baker said the roadblocks, preventing all but people on essential journeys from entering and leaving Auckland, should be placed 15 kilometres south to make the lives of police, and locals, a lot easier.

“From an emergency management planning perspective, it’s an abject failure,” he said.

When Auckland went int
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Coronavirus: Essential workers being turned back at Auckland-Waikato border

Police check where motorists are going as they pass through checkpoints at Bombay, south of Auckland.

Essential workers, including healthcare workers, are being turned away or are facing waits of up to five hours at the Auckland-Waikato border.

Huakina community homecare manager Danielle Oaks said the only reason clients haven’t experienced long waits for care is because of stringent measures put in place during the last lockdown.

Police are operating checkpoints at the border, and that betwe
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Sparks fly as man evades police during 25 minute car chase

Footage of a police chase through Hamilton City overnight. Ended with the arrest of a 22 year old man.

Tyre rims sparked, and a passenger jumped from the vehicle, as a driver led police on a 25-minute chase.

Details of the Hamilton chase were revealed when Winston Treanor, 22, appeared in Pukekohe District Court for sentencing after previously pleading guilty to a charge of reckless driving, failing to stop for police, driving while disqualified and driving with excess blood alcohol.

Informat
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The SH22 commute that costs more than time

Cheryl Mitchell, 46, at the blind dip of her accident.

Over a year ago the 46-year-old was rear-ended while waiting in a queue of cars along New Zealand's most dangerous highway, State Highway 22 (SH22).

"This car came over a blind hill, and slammed straight into the back of me."

"It was a nice clear day but when you have a situation like that nobody expects traffic to be stopped."

READ MORE:

*Hunua's election candidates weigh in on NZ's most dangerous highway, SH22

*Drivers blamed for S
NZ Herald •

Neighbour saw fatal attack on gang leader

From her kitchen window, a witness at the High Court in Whanganui told the jury yesterday she saw Craig Rippon attacked "with rage, with anger, with force".

Tyrone Peter Madams, Matthew Thomas Madams, Kevin Roy Madams and two youths are charged with the murder of Mr Rippon, 57, in Whanganui on November 8, 2015.

They are also charged with participating in a criminal organisation. They have denied the charges.

Margaret Payton, a neighbour of Mr Rippon, told the Crown she saw a scuffle on the la
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Senior's lovelorn online plea ends in wedding bells

Valerie Montram didn't think she would find love in her twilight years.

But on Saturday, the 73-year-old bride said her wedding vows to the man she describes as the love of her life.

"I've come to love him so much it's not funny. I've never ever felt love like this before."

Valerie's path down the aisle began when her groom, 76-year-old Jerald Montillier, placed a touchingly honest social media post on the Waiuku Grapevine Facebook page on December 23 last year.

READ MORE:

*Sleepless in Wa