Case by Case
Case by Case is a New Zealand podcast that delves into the stories behind court cases, tribunal hearings, and disciplinary proceedings. Hosted by Jane Yee alongside a rotating cast of NZ Herald Open Justice reporters, it examines the disputes and decisions making headlines across New Zealand. The podcast aims to provide insight into the legal process and the implications of verdicts and findings. New episodes are released every Tuesday at 5.30 PM NZT.
Episodes
The music lesson that ended a teacher’s career
A music teacher lost his registration after kissing a student and attempting to kiss her on the lips. The contact continued through messages and another meeting — before the student confided in a friend. Open Justice reporter Brianna McIlraith joins Jane Yee to explain the case of Sungjun Cho, the tribunal’s findings, and how the Teachers Disciplinary Tribunal holds teachers accountabl
A campervan booking, two suitcases and $619,000 of cocaine
A campervan booking and return flights made it look like an ordinary New Zealand holiday. But hidden in a visitor’s suitcase lining was around $619,000 worth of cocaine — and Customs stopped him before he left the airport. On Case by Case, Jane Yee speaks with Open Justice reporter Ric Stevens about the smuggling attempt that led to a four-year, two-month prison sentence. They also exp
Maggots and missed cancer revealed in damning rest home investigation
A woman was found with maggots in a wound and another's breast cancer went undiagnosed until it was too late. These are just two of four complaints made against a Dannevirke rest home in a major Health and Disability Commissioner investigation. In this episode of Case by Case, Jane Yee speaks with Open Justice reporter Brianna McIlraith about the failures uncovered at the facility, the recommendat
Why a Dilworth abuser is walking free after being denied parole seven times
Former Dilworth School teacher and housemaster Ian Wilson has been released from prison after serving his full sentence for sexually abusing former students. Wilson was denied parole seven times, with the Parole Board repeatedly finding he continued to pose an undue risk to the community. But reaching his statutory release date means he must now be freed. Open Justice reporter Tara Shaskey joins J
Why a repeat offender got a 55% sentencing discount
A young offender involved in a violent home invasion received sentencing discounts totalling 55%. Hannah Bartlett from NZ Herald's Open Justice team joins Jane Yee to explain what happened on the night in question and how the court reached a sentence with a 55% discount applied. The pair then unpack how sentencing works more broadly, including starting points, uplifts and discounts, the role of vi
Six young lives lost - Inside a Northland coronial inquest
This episode contains discussion of suicide. A coronial inquest into the deaths of six young people in Northland identified significant gaps in the support available to rangatahi and their whānau, including poor communication between government agencies and under-resourced mental health services. Open Justice reporter Shannon Pitman joins Jane Yee to discuss what the inquest found, the changes alr
Why do so many 501 deportees reoffend?
A New Zealand-born grandmother who spent 13 years living in Australia has had her visa cancelled and is being deported after serving time for family violence. She is one of thousands of people sent to New Zealand under Section 501 of Australia’s Migration Act. So what happens when someone is deported to a country they may barely know, separated from their family, work and support networks? A
Could your social media posts land you in court?
A man said his livestream behaviour was just an online persona designed to attract viewers. A Family Court judge found it amounted to psychological abuse. On Case by Case, Jane Yee and Open Justice reporter Shannon Pitman look at the case behind the protection order, and explain when posts, comments, DMs and other online behaviour can cross the line under the Harmful Digital Communications Act. Ca
The kidnapping case that could keep an offender behind bars for life
A Christchurch kidnapping and sexual assault has resulted in one of New Zealand’s harshest sentences: preventive detention. The offender had close to 60 previous convictions and had spent decades behind bars. But what makes a judge decide an ordinary prison sentence is no longer enough? On Case by Case, Jane Yee speaks with Open Justice reporters Al Williams and Ric Stevens about the case, h
What happens when you take your boss to the ERA?
A Queenstown worker took his employer to the Employment Relations Authority after his work ute was replaced with a smaller vehicle he said didn’t meet the terms of his employment deal. Open Justice reporter Brianna McIlraith joins Jane Yee to unpack the unusual dispute, before explaining how the ERA works, what kinds of cases it hears, how long the process can take and what happens when an e
How shoplifting became bigger, bolder and more dangerous
A Hamilton mother stole nearly $14,000 worth of vacuum cleaners, perfume, tools and other goods—sometimes simply filling a trolley and walking out. Jane Yee and Open Justice reporter Belinda Feek examine the case, the unusual refund trick she used, and why the judge gave her one final chance. Then, they look at the changing face of shoplifting in New Zealand: increasingly brazen bulk theft,
Gift or investment? Parents take daughter to court over two homes
A sizeable contribution towards a house deposit led to one crucial question: was the money a gift or an investment? When parents took their daughter to court over ownership of two properties, judges were left to untangle years of family finances, conflicting memories and messages buried in the family group chat. NZ Herald Open Justice reporter Hannah Bartlett explains how the dispute reached the C
Police go after gang member’s KiwiSaver
Cash in a laundry basket, luxury vehicles and ... a $43,000 KiwiSaver account. Police are pursuing the assets of a Comancheros member jailed for his involvement in a drug network busted by Operation Avon, they've already seized cash and cars, and now they're after his retirement savings. NZ Herald Open Justice reporter Ric Stevens explains how proceeds of crime laws work, what happens to ass
Tasered with his arms out: Who investigates the police?
When Hamilton scaffolder Caleb Turner was tasered outside a police station, CCTV raised serious questions about what happened next. Open Justice reporter Belinda Feek joins host Jane Yee to examine the complaint and explain how the Independent Police Conduct Authority investigates alleged police misconduct. Click here to read Belinda's story and watch the CCTV footage detailed in this episode.Case
Introducing Case by Case - an Open Justice podcast from NZ Herald
Every case tells a story. But understanding what happens in court, a tribunal or disciplinary hearing, and why, can be just as important as the verdict or finding itself. Hosted by Jane Yee alongside a rotating cast of NZ Herald Open Justice reporters, Case by Case examines the cases, disputes and decisions making headlines across New Zealand. New episodes every Tuesday at 5.30PM NZTSee omnystudio
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