Peter de Graaf is a reporter for the Northern Advocate
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Taumatamakuku strikes back: How one small Far North community made its roads safer
Locals fought for generations for footpaths and lower speeds without success. Until now.
Ōkaihau mums on a mission to reopen abandoned playcentre
Playcentre closed when the town had few kids. Now there are lots with nowhere to go.
Man facing more than 100 sex charges
Charges relate to two complainants, one of whom was underage.
Time traveller from the age of dinosaurs returns to Bay of Islands
Wētāpunga, the world’s second-biggest insect species, can weigh as much as a small bird.
Pedestrian critical after incident on SH12, Kaikohe
Driver swerved and crashed in attempt to avoid pedestrian, police say.
Homes left in the dark as ute demolishes power pole
Driver allegedly left Puketona crash scene before emergency services arrived.
Rugby legend shares tips with Northland club Whangaruru
The once-struggling club is now booming with new facilities and 'huge' player growth.
Seatbelt could have saved Takahue crash driver — police
Passer-by, St John medics and firefighters all attempted CPR but driver died at the scene.
Let there be light: Matariki festival returns to Oromahoe
Lantern trail, music, costumes, kai and crafts showcased at school fundraiser.
Matariki goes global: Northlanders join celebrations in Europe
Two days of festivities, activities planned as Dutch museum marks Matariki.
Pothole ends morning school bus run
Giant potholes highlight maintenance backlog caused by wet weather, deputy mayor says
‘Transformational’ business park opens, hundreds of jobs beckon Kaikohe
So far the park includes 10ha berry farm, two training institutes, and an ‘innovation hub’
Northland kids brave mud, hills in cross-country champs
More than 200 students aged 8-12 competed in the annual Far North event.
‘So much to be hopeful for’: Why Kaikohe’s future looks better now than for decades past
Social housing, indoor sports centre, hundreds of jobs on the horizon for struggling town.
‘It was time to show it a bit of love’: Mystery donor’s $100,000 gift for Paihia
New park features slide, waterfall, bbqs, gardens, upgraded loos and disabled beach access
Man, 52, in court charged with killing dialysis patient Linda Woods
Judge refused name suppression but accused can't be identified while decision is appealed.
Kaikohe firefighter Geoff Mayall honoured for lifetime's service
The life member has held almost every role in the brigade since signing up in 1972.
Community group ‘surprised’ by consent for controversial Kerikeri social housing block
But Kāinga Ora seems to have taken some community concerns on board, group says.
Iwi, education leader Toa Faneva recognised for services to Māori
He credits his grandparents with instilling values of manaakitanga, tautoko and service.
Humble kaumātua's lifelong work for the environment, Māori and health honoured
The plight of the kukupa, or native pigeon, sparked Prime's life's work.
Police release photos of shorts, shoes in hunt for dialysis patient's killer
The killer is believed to have fled barefoot and left his shoes at the scene.
Hunt for killer: Kaikohe dialysis patient attacked in home she shared with whānau
The killer is believed to have fled barefoot and left his shoes at the scene.
'Fighting for their lives': Killer ripped out dialysis patient's breathing tubes
“My daughters were there. They were the ones trying to fight him off.”
‘So proud’: Hokianga’s stand against harbour sewage praised
Commissioners to return for extra day of hearings before deciding on wastewater consent.
Manhunt: Police seek intruder who fled barefoot after elderly woman's death
Far North Mayor Moko Tepania, who lives nearby, describes incident as "incredibly tragic".
Kāinga Ora shrinks plans for controversial Kerikeri social housing
New plan will see 3-storey block reduced to 2 storeys with 8, not 12, apartments.
'It rips my heart out': Northland boarding house closure leaves 11 people homeless
Housing trust says it had no warning of closure; FNDC says it gave six days’ notice.
Arson suspected as home destroyed near Kaikohe
Owners about to start renovations with building materials, appliances already on site.
Rāwene man in court after alleged assaults at hospital
Rāwene Hospital patient described it as “like a scene out of a horror movie”.
Two dead after truck crash that closed SH10
Motorists urged to avoid the area; diversions are long and on rough roads.
Kerikeri social housing plans on hold, community group says
A redesign could be on the way for a controversial high-density social housing complex.
World-leading robot plane venture takes off in Kerikeri
Venture fulfils a dream of bringing tech opportunities home for Northland youth.
‘Here I can be myself’: Language Days a boost for deaf and hard-of-hearing children
Deaf get-togethers held fortnightly at Moerewa Scool for kids all over Northland.
Tenants check out, tourists check in
Concerns remain for Northland families left at mercy of tight rental market.
‘Transformational’ dam offers hope for Kaikohe’s future
Backers hope dam will do in the west what Kerikeri’s irrigation system did for the east.
'Ludicrous and unsafe': Gym owner says cops could have stopped arsonist
Kaikohe gym badly damaged in a suspected arson attack
Motorcyclist, motorist killed in grim weekend on Northland roads
State Highways 1, 11 closed for several hours while crashes investigated.
‘Right place, right time’ as yachtie rescued in Whangārei Harbour
Solo sailor got into difficulties off McLeod Bay around noon on Saturday.
‘They’re good fellas’: Boaties at centre of life-saving rescue drama thank Northland helicopter crew
Skipper urges other boaties to be prepared with the right gear, training and communication
Funding to tackle family, sexual violence “brilliant” but system needs to change
Initiatives aim to support kids and ease victims’ trauma from going through court system.
More funding for frontline cops, but programme to tackle repeat child offenders bypassed
Budget commits an extra $50.8m to maintain frontline police numbers.
Pro wrestler-turned-comic artist Michel Mulipola heading to Northland
Michel Mulipola is known for his graphic novel Samoan Heroes and work for Marvel, Disney.
‘It’s heartbreaking’: Ōtiria’s close call highlights spillway urgency
$7m project aims to restore streams' natural paths instead of flooding Ōtiria, Moerewa.
Sea rescue: Skipper operates on crewmate, guided by surgeon via FaceTime
Northland rescue chopper crew praised for skill, professionalism.
Hokianga residents take a stand against sewage plant plans saying they want their harbour water to be clean
Hearings into renewal of Kohukohu, Ōpononi treatment plant consents to last all this week.
Country rock fest returns to Bay of Islands
Last weekend’s festival was the 33rd organised by country music veteran Shirley May.
Dramatic rescue as chopper plucks elderly patient from boat 240km out at sea
Northland’s Sikorsky choppers are the only ones with a big enough range for ocean rescues.
Candles blamed for blaze that destroyed Far North home
Fire chief's warning: Make sure candles are secure and far from anything combustible.
Category 1 Historic Place status wanted for Kawakawa’s Hundertwasser toilet block
Iconic toilet block has contributed to transformation of Kawakawa since opening in 1999.
Motorcyclist critically hurt in Whangārei crash
Western Hills accident just one of three around Northland in a half-hour spate of crashes.
Kaipara towns lead the charge in property resale gain
Despite a slowdown, most Northlanders who sold their homes in 2022 still made a gain.
Ōpononi, Ōmāpere residents urged to keep conserving water
Flooding from Tuesday’s deluge has hampered efforts to find the pipe break.
Empty dinghy with outboard running in Bay of Islands sees search operation
Boatie considered himself 'very lucky to be alive', police officer says.
Floods, closed roads a stark reminder of Northland’s vulnerability
Officials feared for Moerewa and Ōtiria but flooding subsided in time.
Far North residents urged to cut water use after flood damages treatment plants
Towns affected by water woes include Paihia, Waitangi, Ōpua, Kaitāia, Ōpononi and Ōmāpere.
Northlanders advised focus on the things they can control as rain pours down
SH1, 10 closed yet again; expert describes rainfall in Mid North as “astounding”.
Rain will ease but muggy weather to stay a bit longer
Relief on way from rain for Northlanders, but humid nights to stick around
Sign reveals Kāinga Ora’s plans for six-storey building in Kerikeri — except it’s a hoax
Resource consent sign added fuel to fire of social housing debate until truth came out.
Kerikeri residents urged to cut water use after pipe break
Pipes fixed but silt in town's water source means treatment plant struggling to keep up.
Social housing concerns spark record public meeting in Kerikeri
Kāinga Ora a no-show as almost 800 people crowd into venue and another 375 follow online.
Northland business making emergency homes for cyclone-hit families in Tairāwhiti
Site Scope has delivered four transportable homes so far with eight more to come.
Awards celebrate the best of region's hospitality
Awards night an outstanding success for Russell with the town claiming 8 out of 15 titles.
‘Seatbelts save lives’: Crash victim may have survived if she’d buckled up, coroner says
The single-vehicle crash on SH1 killed a 26-year-old mum and injured her relative.
Kāinga Ora won't come to public meeting about Kerikeri social housing plans
The housing agency says it has to be neutral so can’t take part in the 'political' event.
Double-fatal crash driver had meth, cannabis in his system
The judge acknowledged the sentence would not be enough to satisfy the victims' whānau.
‘Don’t be an idiot’: Man’s plea after losing mum, little brother in head-on crash
Grieving family wants tougher penalties for fatal crash drivers under influence of drugs.
Northlanders bracing for more rain this week
Another northerly flow with several fronts is set to bring more rain to Northland.
Northland mum and three kids suffer burns as homestead razed by fire
'Devastating' fire sparks urgent reminder of need for working smoke alarms in every home.
Showers and cloudy periods in store for Northland after storm eases
A catamaran broke free of its mooring and thousands were without power in Northland.
Classic car lovers descend on Bay of Islands for three-day auto event
Big crowds turn out to experience petrolhead heaven in Kaikohe, Kerikeri and Waitangi.
Kerikeri road closure plan tweaked after outcry over GP access
Road closure would have also stopped some Kerikeri residents driving home.
Far North’s only indoor pool closes after part of roof falls off, hits staff member
Swimmers look forward to re-opening after training in chilly outdoor pools.
‘Let us have peace’: Last survivor of 28th Māori Battalion appeals for end to wars
Sir 'Bom' Gillies wraps up Anzac Day by gifting a battle memorial flag to Treaty Grounds.
'Let us never forget their sacrifice': Thousands brave cold-snap to commemorate Anzac Day
As dawn breaks Northlanders commemorates the country's fallen soldiers.
Social housing plans spark town meeting in Kerikeri
Organisers say they support more social housing but it needs to be part of a broader plan.
Russell ferry collision sparks calls for mandatory boatie training
Opponents of boating licences view the sea as ‘the last bastion of freedom’.
Ferry crash investigators ‘very pleased’ with response to call for witnesses, photos
One of NZ’s top marine accident experts brought in to aid investigation.
Win tickets: Big Bike Film Night’s celebration of cycling returns to Northland
One-night festival features 10 bike-themed short films from NZ and around the world.