Inspirational tales from Māori affairs and education beats

Māori Affairs reporter Michael Neilson

Age: 28

Job: Journalist Location: Auckland Number of years as a journalist: 3

The best story I’ve worked

on, and why: A feature on environmental issues in the Raukumara Forest Park. Not only did I get to fly into the rugged forest on a helicopter, but I got to experience the devastation in the ngā here first hand alongside tāngata whenua, and be there to witness their grief and resolve to do something about it. It was a powerful experience.

The one that got away: Lucky to say I don’t have one yet.

Career highlight: Funnily enough it was at the start of my career when I had the opportunity to intern at the

Sydney Morning Herald’s office in Jakarta, Indonesia. I got to try out being a foreign correspondent for a month, and dive head-on into some big stories including about rainforest destruction and LGBT rights issues. It was a very eye-opening experience.

I love journalism because:

You get to learn about something new and meet some amazing people every day, well, most days at least.

But if I couldn’t be a journalist I’d: Bea professional surfer.

Education reporter Simon Collins

Age: 63

Job: Reporter Location: Auckland Years as a journalist: 42

The best story I’ve worked

on, and why: In the education round I did a short series on “Struggling to learn” which looked at how our schools struggle to cope with kids whose brains are “wired differently”. I found some inspiring educators who have adapted their teaching to suit the way these kids learn; I hope their example will inspire us all to do better.

The one that got

away: I spent months in 2017 looking into alleged bullying at a school that lost more than 80 staff after the principal arrived. I tracked down most who had left. They told terribly sad stories, gave me a lot of time and invested hope in me to achieve change. But I decided in the end not to write a story because some people backed the principal and, not being in the school myself, I was unsure if any story detailing the allegations would be either fair or legally defensible.

Career highlight: Helping to launch and run City Voice, which aimed to give a voice to people in central Wellington in its brief life 1993-2001.

I love journalism because: I

want to empower people to understand the world so that we can change it for the better.

But if I couldn’t be a

journalist, I’d: Do something to contribute more tangibly, rather than just writing of it.