Raphael Franks is a Multimedia Journalist for the New Zealand Herald, focusing on breaking news, crime, transport and human interest stories.
Raphael hails from Christchurch but made Auckland his home in 2022. While attending Christchurch Boys’ High School from 2014 to 2018, he worked in Coca-Cola Amatil’s bottling plant; and while studying geography at the University of Canterbury, he worked in retail. Marking a total reversal in career ambitions, Raphael was offered the opportunity to join the Te Rito Journalism Cadetship programme in 2022, funded through the Public Interest Journalism Fund. Through this, he got experience working in some of the country’s largest newsrooms and some of the country’s smallest. He began working for the Herald in the same year. During this time, Raphael has covered the Auckland Anniversary Floods, Cyclone Gabrielle, two different shootings on Queen St and another on Ponsonby Rd, the closure of Newshub, the slimming down of TVNZ, and other major news events of the day. You can contact Mr Franks on 027 436 5668 or at raphael.franks@nzme.co.nz.
Boy racers targeted in small town NZ: Cops 'surprised' 33% of cars stopped were not roadworthy
Only 8 of the 161 vehicles police pulled over had zero faults.
Man hands himself into police station after hit-and-run of women and dogs
Mitchell Prouse found his mother lying in a roadside ditch.
Frosts for Auckland? MetService predicts sub-zero temps for next couple of days
Temperatures are set to fall as low as -7C in some parts of the country.
Desert Rd reopens six hours after fatal crash
Police thanked motorists for their patience during the afternoon closure.
Watch: 'It's hectic' - classic Land Rover engulfed in flames on Auckland motorway
The blaze has created huge disruptions around Auckland International Airport this evening.
Swells reach 10m at Wellington Harbour entrance as polar blast hits
There's also been nearly a metre of snow at Mt Hutt, and fire crews rescuing motorists.
Road cone hotline receives 236 reports in four days, Auckland gets the most
WorkSafe dealt with a flurry of reports on the first day before numbers plateaued.
Watchdog assessing complaints after Woolies' false Milkrun ad pricing
Commerce Commission receives multiple inquiries over Facebook ads for delivery service.
It's tax refund season, so how do you know if you're in for a windfall?
The IRD has issued its income tax assessments for the last financial year.
Woolworths apologises for false pricing, blames 'human error' for cheap butter
Butter was being advertised at $5.50 but actually cost $9.55 on the company's app.
Police spend nearly $120k painting Auckland buses like cop cars
The campaign is part of a drive to recruit 500 new officers.
'There's a body in the water': Humble hero recounts saving drowning pensioner
John Schofield, 74, was face down in a 'zombie state' when Ramon Glauser found him.
Is this the solution to Auckland's potentially looming waste crisis?
Neighbours of country's biggest tip fear for their property values and health under plans.
'Seconds to live': Woman flags down kite surfer to save pensioner from drowning
John Schofield, 74, had a coffee date with his sister later. Instead, he was in the ICU.
Watch: Act remains Labour's 'worst nightmare' – new Deputy PM's message
David Seymour held a celebration brunch after being sworn in yesterday.
Watch: Hooded man storms field, punches player in schoolboy rugby game
Police say the behaviour is not acceptable and they are making inquiries.
'Dangerous and stupid': Levin boy racers run over woman’s legs, set diesel alight on street
Police condemn behaviour as 'incredibly reckless' and vow to arrest all those involved.
'Block the pigs': Police brace for boy racer 'invasion' a year on from Levin violence
The Police Minister, despite an event organiser's abuse, says his cops are ready to act.
1.5ha Newmarket site valued at $64m sells to mystery buyer
The huge Auckland site was marketed with potential for a 'landmark project'.
The first image of NZ's new 10c coin featuring King Charles III
Reserve Bank shows off new coin but public faces wait for it to go into circulation.
Banks drop interest rates after Reserve Bank cuts OCR
The Official Cash Rate was dropped from 3.5 to 3.25%. ANZ and BNZ have begun moving.
Who was the Kiwi trader spotted at Trump's controversial crypto dinner?
The dinner held at a US golf club has been labelled an 'orgy of corruption'.
Used car dealer ordered to pay hundreds of thousands after key loan info missing
Wellington firm El Cheapo Cars was sentenced in the Porirua District Court.
Major bank ends Airpoints credit card rewards
State-owned Kiwibank said costs and regulations had increased, making it unviable.
Customs seizes 130kg of cocaine from shipping container at Port of Tauranga
The Class A drug was worth up to $50.44 million.
'Harder on the younger generation': Will Budget changes push Kiwis overseas?
The public share their thoughts on changes to Best Start, KiwiSaver and student loans.
Govt boosts spending on private schools to support ‘diversity, choice’
It is the first increase in private school funding in 15 years, David Seymour said.
Oyster farms to close after sewage overflows, Watercare fix years away
Mahurangi Oysters owner Jim Aitken says 10 operators in the area are affected.
Bus driver charged with manslaughter after bus stop attack
The 34-year-old bus driver has been stood down.
Hundreds of grieving students perform haka for victim of house fire
Navaeh Ngamoki-Porter, 14, was rescued from the burning building, but later died.
Watch: PM tightlipped on borrowing blueprint to fund expenditure days out from Budget
Christopher Luxon unveiled $164m for new 24/7 urgent care clinics.
Man charged with seven counts of arson after Masterton church fires
It comes after a manhunt for 44-year-old Michael Kane McRae.
‘Possible cartel conduct’: Sparky association changes policy after investigation
The NZ Trade Group's conduct 'had the potential to harm competition'.
'See something, report it': New SFO campaign targets foreign bribery
If unchecked, foreign bribery will lower trust in NZ as place to do business, says SFO.
New mobile phone plan for kids: Spark's move a 'great step' but will it protect children?
It comes after PM Luxon said Cabinet would consider banning social media for under-16s.
Patched Mongrel Mobster charged with arson over South Auckland funeral home fire
Four people were reportedly seen running from the area after Just Funerals caught fire.
Wayne's manifesto: Mayor wants bed tax, new China visa, population growth in plan for Auckland
'Auckland knows best what we can and can’t do.'
Watch: Major highway blocked by slip, Auckland flights delayed as intense storm strikes
Motorists are being warned to expect hazardous driving conditions.
'Scene of utter devastation': Shopkeeper had only just moved in when Winz fire destroyed shop
Wendy Li 'was so happy to be starting the store again ... then this happens'.
Major power cables linking North, South Islands near end of life, $1.4b replacement mooted
Transpower is proposing several upgrades to be done at the same time.
Duck hunter allegedly shoots down drone flown by animal rights activist in Canterbury
The pilot has described the incident and defended his flying of the drone.
'Surrounded with love': Family mourn man who died after alleged bus driver assault
Peter Te Kira's grieving daughter describes the moment he took his last breath.
Watch: 'Tree just tried to take me out' - Woman barely escapes being crushed by branch
The branch also brought down a powerline, increasing the danger.
Cook Strait ferry services cancelled as wintry weather brings large swells, snow and storms
Ferry services are cancelled for Cook Strait due to 7m swells.
Severe thunder, rain for top of North Island as winter blast hits south
Temps in parts down to single digits. Auckland is in line for rain tonight.
Tense video shows armed police standoff at Akl supermarket
Police came to arrest a man who allegedly took a fake gun onto a bus.
Funeral home fire linked to family fight over Mongrel Mobster's body
Four people were seen running from the area around the home last night.
Heavy rain, 100km/h winds: Severe storm approaching NZ upgraded to Tropical Cyclone Tam
'It will bring significant weather to the upper North Island late Wednesday to Thursday.'
Warnings upgraded: 140km/h gales, torrential downpours to lash upper North Island for 41hrs
Thunderstorms, 180mm of rain from tonight in upper NI, tree and powerline damage likely.
'Hard to say we're not worried': Kiwi toy billionaire Nick Mowbray faces $3b tariff bill
Zuru co-founder Nick Mowbray is in the US trying to sort out the impact on his business.
'Stabbed so ruthlesslessly in back': Judge blasts ex-funeral director, sentenced to jail
The former employee and star of The Casketeers was found out by chance.
Victim of Manurewa stabbing mourned by family
It's understood the incident occurred during a party at a social housing complex.
‘Unsatisfactory’: Why police did not oppose bail for trio accused of gang raping tourist
The mother of one accused defended her son, saying it was a 'misunderstanding'.
‘Disconcerting, unnerving’: Anger at German backpacker’s alleged gang rapists getting bail
The victim was allegedly bundled into a van on Auckland's K Rd on New Year's Day.
Backpacker allegedly gang-raped by three men in ‘horrific’ Auckland CBD attack
Three men are before the court jointly charged with rape.
‘Flames as big as a house’: Yachtie plucked to safety as inferno engulfs boat
Rescuers came across the stricken man on a liferaft off the Hawke's Bay coast.
‘Go on little boy, your mum will be waiting’: Family’s tribute to 4yo killed in dog attack
A small community is shocked by the death and praying for the surviving child.
Primary school targeted in native tree poisoning attack, principal hits out at police
Principal Deborah Barclay says police and the council seem ambivalent to the offending.
Watch: Anti-vax ex-Māori All Black questions Efeso Collins’ grieving widow
Fia Collins wants a coroner to hold an inquest into her husband's death.
Cemetery squeeze: West Akl runs out of space for dead
Waikumete at capacity; council bid for land near Kumeū goes to court.
Auckland water restrictions by May? Dam levels keep dropping as dry spell persists
The region is already on drought alert, with dam levels 20% lower than average.
‘Burden on ratepayers’: Fewer people go to Western Springs than their corner dairy - Mayor
Save Our Speedway advocate Jason Jones cast doubts on Brown's crowd numbers.
'Tragically taken': Tributes flow for 'beautiful man' killed on hunting trip
Stuart Stobie was 'tragically taken in a hunting accident'.
Watch: Police slate 'appalling' high-speed motorway joyride video
The video shows a boy weaving through traffic, undertaking, covering 3km in a minute.
Jason Gunn’s ‘arse on camera’: TV icon’s heartfelt message to supporters after colonoscopy
'Soon I will go into the hospital. I will be heavily sedated. Wish me luck,' Gunn said.
Ex-funeral director pleads not guilty to charge of interfering with human remains
The man will keep his identity secret for the time being.
Suburbs outside of central Auckland are hit hard by crime, why does CBD get the funding?
South Auckland councillors call for Simeon Brown to remember there's a city outside CBD.
Auckland suburb of 15,000 people to have no supermarket for year
Loss of shop comes as the suburb intensifies, nearest other store over 2.6km away.
Dogs maul woman in Northland: Man comes to rescue, also gets attacked
The woman was painting her house when four dogs broke through her fence and set upon her.
Long delays on motorways in Auckland as storm batters NZ
It comes after flights across the South Island were disrupted this morning.
Storm disrupts flights around NZ: Heavy rain hits, temp plunge
While South Island gets battered, North Island in for a different forecast.
Watch: ‘Extremely dangerous’ drivers cut across medians in 100km/h zone to avoid car fire
'Auckland drivers are the worst in the world' was one assessment of the rule-breaking.
Tipenes say ‘not us’ to news of second arrest in scam, burials-mishandling case
Ex-employee Fiona Bakulich admitted ruse last month. A second person has been arrested.
Cop hits couple after U-turn: Victims slate police response as ‘total bulls***’
Upper Hutt police area commander says their response to the incident 'was proportionate'.
Auckland Transport plans to remove all parking on one of the city’s busiest roads
A clearway will be extended along Onewa Rd, traffic lights will be synchronised.
‘Never had a blind person’: Uproar after small-town museum bans woman's guide dog
The museum near New Plymouth says it was a misunderstanding and apologised.
Unjust desserts: Cheesecake Shop wrecked before man makes off with $52 cake
The stolen cake was worth just $52.90.
‘Miracle she’s alive’: Mum-of-two fighting for life after days trapped in car wreck
The solo mum is in an induced coma, 'fighting to come back' to her boys, says friend.
Auckland gets ‘remarkable’ $10m gift from family of influential nurseryman
The 5.6ha of land has a forest of kauri trees bred from Tāne Mahuta, NZ's largest tree.
Police admit mistake: Road spikes left on patrol vehicle’s roof fall off, puncturing tyres on seven cars
Officers will be retaught how to use spikes after the Southern Motorway incident.