Melanie Reid is a legend in New Zealand current affairs journalism. Many television viewers will remember her, dressed in a 19th century smock, infiltrating the bizarre Cooperite sect on the West Coast of the South Island. Many others will know her as the reporter who broke the the first stories on the Christchurch Civic Creech case, The Bain case or her investigation into the Chinese "buy your drivers license" scam.

Melanie began her career in Televison Journalism when TV3 first started back in 1989 and has been a mainstay of the channel ever since - reporting for 20/20 and 60 Minutes and playing an important role in the development of the channel's News and Current Affairs. In 1998 she became the 2nd in charge of News and Current Affairs at the 3 Network and was a big advocate for a more multi cultural look across the news and current affairs presetning team.

Returning to journalism in 2004 she has specialised in Investigative Journalism. Lately, she has made two ground-breaking documentaries - one about securing the release of her father-in-law from a Thai jail and the other on the lack of accountability by the establishment surrounding the manufacture and use of 245t in New Zealand.