The Valley: Crime and Punishment in a New Zealand City

by Asher Emanuel

There were two days to Christmas and Lewis felt like everything was spinning out of control. He wondered what he would say to the judge this time. His client, Rikihana, was already on multiple shoplifting charges. What's a few more? Lewis thought. These supermarkets were still making a killing.

It's late 2020. Rikihana Wallace, a prolific shoplifter of no fixed abode, is back in prison with little chance of bail. Nathan Morely, unemployed, is facing burglary charges and hoping his other, as yet undetected, offences don't catch up with him. Lewis Skerrett, their overstretched legal aid lawyer, is trying to do right by them both.

The culmination of over two years of field research and hundreds of hours of interviews, The Valley follows these three Hutt Valley men through courtrooms, prison, hospital, rehab, boarding houses and welfare offices. Told largely in verbatim dialogue, this up-close and personal account brings the realities of the New Zealand criminal justice system to life through the voices of those who experience it first-hand.

'This is journalism at its finest - immersive, meticulous, honest and brave. Asher Emanuel brings the criminal justice system into the light.' Rebecca Macfie

Genres: Nonfiction, True Crime, Politics, Crime

522 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 11, 2026

Reviews

[Kait O'Callahan]

I finished this book in the morning, because I knew if I finished it at night I would cry and I would not sleep.

There are a few books I've read that have changed my views on things permanently. None of those have been non-fiction, until now. Asher reports on the stories of Rikihana and Nathan without emotion, judgement, or opinions. Although he clearly cares about the two, he's careful not to make this a saviour story. Even though I figured there would be no redemption arc, I kept reading desperately looking for hope in a rather hopeless story.

Our justice system has been underfunded and undervalued by politicians since the 80s. My only hope is that politicians read this book. You should read it too; this is New Zealand's book of the year.

[Josh Wright]

Finished this in tears. A deeply human and meticulously researched book, written with candour, care, and humour. Among the finest examples of New Zealand Realism you’ll find. Then that Epilogue. Plus that cover from Todd Atticus. Just unreal. Cannot recommend it enough.

[Lena]

After hearing Asher on a panel at Auckland Writers Festival I was keen to read this. It was a heavy read, dealing in some of the grimmest topics and issues facing New Zealand society. I found it exceptionally well written and researched, the legal elements weren't too confusing for this lay person. Overall I finished it feeling very sad about the state of our country. It really humanised the characters without whitewashing their behaviour. I think this is a must read for everyone ahead of the election.

[Rita Shasha]

“… that [the media] held up trauma as a kind of noble suffering, fodder for audiences who see themselves as sensitive and progressive. Those tendencies, I thought, might be a coping mechanism on the part of the writer — and the reader — who bears the knowledge, however inchoate, that they are complicit in it all. Making a person heroic, if tragic, eases the discomfort and provides a kind of absolution.”

[Trudie]

When I started this book, I wasn't sure I could finish it. It's an uncomfortable experience to suddenly find yourself as a fly on the wall in the Hutt Valley District Court, following along with the travails of two not entirely sympathetic characters - Rikihana and Nathan and their public defender, Lewis Skerrett. It's a constant stream of bail hearings, plea deals, case reviews, missed opportunities and woe.
I kept going, and somewhere around Part II it became harder to put down. I began to root for these two to get their shit together and resist the urge to steal the beer mats while on bail, and turn up to the hard-won place in rehab. One of the many lessons of this book is that there are no easy solutions here, and that this isn't a story with an obvious, neat redemption arc. It's a documentary in book form, often bang-your-head-against-the-wall frustrating. And yet it has such heart and humour that it sometimes reads like a novel.
Impossible not to admire the 8 years of work that went into this book and the dedication of Asher Emanuel to faithfully report what he witnessed without any authorial judgements. Impossible also not to conclude that our criminal justice system is failing us all, under-resourced and suffering from chasms so deep people disappear down, never to surface.

[Samuel]

Really really good. Shout out to my main man Mr Bun

[Isabella Barber]

Easily the best book I have read this year. Meticulously researched, incredibly thorough, and honestly just really sad. New Zealand’s criminal justice system is broken in ways I can’t even begin to comprehend, and this book does such an excellent job of demonstrating that without losing its humanity. So so well done. I get to meet the author in a few weeks am I am vvv excited - maybe I’ll tell him I gave it a five star review on Goodreads for my 6 friends

[Rachel]

I don’t often give 5 stars to a book but this is genuinely the most compelling thing I can remember reading in a long time.

The way the book is written makes the non fiction genre and the at times disturbing content incredibly accessible.

The humanity present in the three central characters is a large part of the appeal. The way the topics are explored is “no frills” and somewhat bleak yet somehow so nuanced.

It doesn’t matter which side of the political spectrum you inhabit, nor if you are pro the prison system or anti it, there will be something in this book that has you shaking your head or challenging your own beliefs.

It was so good that I was struggling to put it down to go to sleep! Run, don’t walk, to grab a copy.

[Jessie]

Such an impressive book!!! Can’t wait to discuss at book club 🤓

[Georgia Copeman]

This should be mandatory reading. It is truly a remarkable piece of work. In a media landscape increasingly driven by sensationalism, this is exactly the kind of journalism we need more of. It humanises the defendants we are so often encouraged to fear.

[Florence worence]

Wish I could force certain people in power to read this. Although I have a cynical feeling most people with political power over the criminal justice system know “deterrence” and a punitive approach doesn’t solve any problems and they just don’t care

[Jade]

Very well written and unbiased.
Feel for those who have to engage with these underfunded and under resourced services either in their work, or to try to enact change for themselves - it has to be endlessly frustrating.

[Umbar]

Tough read

[Toni Wharehoka]

This is quite possibly one of the most important books I have read. Whether you are “tough on crime” (or more ‘lenient’, like I think I am) or whether you work in the law or not, you should read this book. It gives a real story to a theory I have always known—crime is a collective responsibility. Whether that’s through mahi inside the system (which includes mahi inside of our broader framework; health, education, housing, social services etc.), your voice outside the system, or your attitudes, opinions and values (and importantly now I guess, what you engage with on your algorithm?!), we all have a role to play!

This book made me laugh, cry and want to scream at points (screaming because the solution is right there but no one wants to commit to it because it would require undoing significant political decisions from about 60 years ago). Once you pick it up, very difficult to put down. You are immersed from page one.

It took Asher 8 years to finish this book. Wanting his mahi to pay off is an understatement. I hope this is the catalyst.

[Ainslie Easton]

Eye opening and at times despairing. Essential reading to gain an unbiased insight into the NZ criminal justice system, which all just seems so broken and helpless. Having grown up in the hutt myself this book read especially close to home. So much respect to all those trying to make a positive difference in disadvantaged people’s lives; WINZ, Public defenders, bail support, rehabilitation centers, mental health professionals, Salvation Army.. the list goes on

[Jonathan Shephard]

Incredible insight into a world I am lucky enough to not know much about.

Truly thought provoking and real, it’s rare to hear the human side of the story, outside of the headlines and media spin about what the criminal justice system is like on a day by day basis for both lawyer and client.

More powerful perhaps as I also live in the valley so knowing the local landmarks puts it in perspective and I have probably been around all the people mentioned.

Asher, keep up the good work, can’t wait to read what’s next!

[Ruby]

Very accurate!

[Briana Valgre]

The Valley is beautifully written and a powerful read. Asher captures the injustices within our criminal justice system in a really raw and honest way. I felt so connected to Nathan and Rikihana throughout the book and kept wanting the outcome to be different for them. But I think that’s the point. It paints an accurate picture of the reality of what goes on within our justice system, without trying to soften it. Definitely a book that stays with you after finishing it.

[Emma]

I first heard of The Valley, Asher Emanuel’s brilliant work of narrative non-fiction at the Auckland Writers Festival. Despite appearing on a panel alongside legends of this form Patrick Radden Keefe and Barbara Demick (I’d be intimidated), Emanuel confidently and competently spoke about his time spent following harried legal aid lawyer Lewis and his clients, Rikihana and Nathan as they navigated the (in)justice system. Others must have similarly been captured as Emanuel’s book sold out of the festival bookshop including two boxes of extra copies Emanuel wheeled in himself.

The Valley offers a unique insight into the people behind the headlines about growing crime rates and shoplifting. It reveals that shoplifting and other related crimes are often the result of broader, systemic social issues that the justice system is not designed to address. Emanuel writes about Lewis, Rikihana and Nathan with tonnes of empathy and heart to show us that these are real humans not headlines or statistics. Anyone who has ever had to deal with WINZ can appreciate the frustration of trying to access much needed social support. While I would have liked to learn more of Lewis’ background, I appreciate that this is not the tale Emanuel wanted to tell.

This is a must read. I am always hesitant to rate books featuring real lives but this one is clearly five stars.

[Lauren Campbell]

I was very skeptical about this book. This was selected for Book Club and reading the description, I thought I would hate it, not my kind of book at all. How wrong I was!

This book is expertly written, I thought I would get lost in jargon but everything was explained well and easy to understand. The amount of work that must have gone into this book is quite incredible. It was quite strange for me reading this as someone who is actually from the Hutt Valley, reading about my local Warehouse and Countdown being robbed!

I found myself really sympathising with the two offenders, Nathan and Rikihana. I am not much of a political person but this book made it quite clear to me that there are some major failings by the New Zealand government in how the justice system operates.

Surprised to say this is one of my favourite books I’ve read this year!

[Emmy]

Good, humanising non-fiction novel about the people stuck in the justice system. Emanuel says in the prologue that, essentially, his goal is to tell the story of the justice system through the people that make it up. This is the opposite of my approach (I am an Althusserian structural Marxist) but he achieves this goal well. My fear was that this approach would humanise the cops in a way that gilds the inhumanity and ugliness of the justice system, but actually the cops come across accurately as repugnant irredeemable pigs. I did prisoner advocacy for many years and found the lawyer's struggles to help his clients really accurate, and often quite funny. A helpful "It's really this bad" introduction for people who need to hear that.

[Jordan Dawson]

The Valley is a simply sensational piece of journalism. Emanuel masterfully crafted the narrative around three men in a way that clearly elucidated the realities of the criminal justice system. The decision to remove Emanuel from the book read more like a novel at times. Certainly a piece that hits close to home and would benefit all who read it.

[Sophie Rattanong]

A really excellent piece of narrative non- fiction about a young public defender and two of his clients in Wellington, New Zealand. I found it eye- opening and completely demoralising - I lead a very middle class and privileged life, far removed from the judicial system - so The Valley was an education.

[Lucy]

I'll be thinking about this for a long time

[Momo]

This book hits hard - recommend everyone living in Aotearoa read this one.

[Torz E]

Everyone in NZ needs to read this book. Think you're woke af and don't need to? Still read it. It's important.

[Laura Giddey]

So readable and accessible for the layperson that I am when it comes to the justice system, but also hard to read because of how sad and complex the issues raised are.

[talia]

incredible. i can not stop thinking about it; it is permeating every aspect of the work i do in the court. emanuel's account of the truth leaves me feeling nihilistic and tired in the face of my own criminal law career that has barely begun; yet, on the converse, has inspired such determination in me because i care so deeply (as do my colleagues). rikihana and nathan's stories are not unusual and that is what makes them important. what an immense privilege to share in their experiences through emanuel's writing. what an immense privilege it is to be a small part of a defendant's life in any circumstance, where their rights and liberties and dreams hang in the balance, often strung against a background of suffering and victimhood of their own. an important reminder of how there is always more work to be done.

[Kent Fox]

Fantastic insight into how the defendant/defence counsel experiences the NZ criminal justice system. Not anti-Police in its entirety but definitely not a nuanced holistic view of the system.

[Michael Gannaway]

This one really got under my skin, and I think it will stay with me for a while. Very human, frustrating, empathetic, real, thoughtful, sad, but not without humour along the way. I really came to care for Lewis, Nathan, and Rikihana (although frustrated at them at times too!) I look forward to anything Asher writes next.

I’ve also never read a book so set in my hood before!