Sarah Curtis is a Multimedia Journalist for The Northern Advocate.
Sarah Curtis is a Multimedia Journalist with the Northern Advocate, based in Whangārei, where she focuses on a range of issues. She has been a journalist for about 20 years and is passionate about covering stories that make a difference to everyday people - helping to give them a voice, highlight inequities and hold authorities to account. Much of Sarah's career has been in covering the courts - mainly in Gisborne and on the East Coast. She is especially passionate about Environmental issues. Sarah is qualified with a Certificate in Journalism, from Aoraki Polytechnic in Timaru, and also has a degree in Fine Arts from the Dunedin School of Art and a post-graduate diploma in secondary teaching from Waikato University. In her spare time, Sarah likes to spend time exploring New Zealand's natural spaces, particularly Northland’s beaches. She is also a keen photographer. You can contact Sarah at Sarah.Curtis@nzme.co.nz.
NRC cracks down on defiant firelighter
A Northland council has been granted a court order to stop a resident lighting fires.
Garden bird survey: How you can take part
Pull up a chair and spend an hour in your backyard counting birds.
Toppled pylon: More power supply restored, further outages not ruled out
Northland is expected to get full power again today following Friday's pylon collapse.
Abrupt halt to High Court murder trial in Whangārei
Abrupt halt to High Court murder trial at Whangārei.
Roaming wild cattle: Fears someone will die
Up to 100 wild cattle are damaging bush around Waikaraka and endangering drivers.
The shooting of Bob Kleiman could only have been murder: Crown
Murder accused and two alleged accomplices on trial in High Court at Whangarei
Unlicensed, speeding and high: Young driver kills two, gets home detention
Victim's family question sentence imposed by court.
Three Northland projects in line for new regional funding
All three projects have resource consent, are construction ready.
Pensioner living in car waiting for state house
Increasing numbers of Northlanders sleeping rough in tents and cars
King’s Birthday Honours 2024: Seven Northlanders recognised for their work
Our reporters caught up with the recipients.
Owner of exclusive Northland home ordered to remove illegal 52m seawall
Northland Regional Council has prosecuted...
Northlanders react with mixed feelings on 2024 Budget
Mixed feelings on Budget even though some say Willis delivered what she promised.
Council pulls stumps on tsunami siren installation after locals complain
Residents appalled at NRC's failure to consult them about tsunami siren locales.
Busy nesting: Kākāriki now raising chicks
Both parents had been doing 'absolutely brilliantly' in taking care of their brood.
Dog walkers hot under the collar about proposed changes
Dog owners are hot under the collar about proposed changes to off leash areas at beach.
Kennel cough in Northland: Rise in cases causing concern
Northland vets urge dog owners to be vigilant as kennel cough cases rise around the region
Will Three Strikes be any different a second time around?
"There’s a high risk ... people will come out of prison more dangerous."
Rugby great Sid Going farewelled in Northland rain
About 1000 people turned out in the rain for the funeral of NZ legend 'Super Sid' Going.
Final farewell for Northland rugby legend 'Super Sid' Going
One of New Zealand's greatest ever rugby players, Sid Going, has died aged 80.
Paint attacks hit Stop Co-Governance signs in Whangārei
How do you explain anti-co-governance signs to a Māori child?
Guilty verdict: Fall from grace for talented local sportswoman and former physio
The former Whangārei physiotherapist stood trial for theft and defrauding a sports store.
'A really big deal' Rare birds make their home in Whangārei bush
Kakariki have returned to a patch of bush where war has been declared on predators.
Driver pleads not guilty to causing fatal collision
The incident between a car and a motorcycle happened on November 7 last year.
A growing concern: experts plan new strategy to eradicate moth plant
Conservation group's aim to up community efforts in the ongoing war against moth plant.
Gisborne cockroach and corpse loving ‘coffin fly’ identified in Whangārei man’s supermarket cheese
MPI is still investigating a pensioner's 1kg block of cheese.
Victim of freak bridge incident says council, contractor, haven't apologised
The wife of a man injured on a council bridge says their lives have been dreadful since.
Should ratepayers foot the bill to ensure freedom campers stick to the rules?
Whangarei District Council reviews need for monitoring of freedom camping.
Irate residents sound off about new tsunami sirens
Coastal views from a couple's Parua Bay home ruined by new tsunami siren.
Council silent since cemetery dispute with grieving families
Families were previously told they needed to clear tributes from the cemetery's lawns.
Fast track approvals bill a 'beast that needs to be slowed down': conservation board chair
Northland's Conservation Board is concerned about proposed fast track legislation
MPI take cockroach contaminated cheese from shopper
MPI officers have taken away a cockroach-infested block of cheese from a shopper.
Man's bug horror find in late night snack
Whangārei man finds cockroach in a block of Woolworth's supermarket brand cheese.
'Pretty remarkable': 600 native frogs rehomed during Brynderwyns roading project
There are strict protocols for construction in the environmentally sensitive Brynderwyns.
Govt’s cellphone ban in schools: What Northland principals think
Schools say ban has had a positive effect but question whether it needed to be imposed.
Motorheads revved up to see downtown street sprints in action
Thousands line streets in Whangārei's CBD for Northland Street Sprints.
Court only option after councils clear Semenoff of subsidence concerns
Developer Stan Semenoff has been cleared of a nearby resident's concerns
Odd visitor to supermarket carpark keeps shoppers guessing
An odd-looking gull is causing bird-watchers to do a double take.
Brynderwyns to be retired, replaced by new highway within 10 years: Brown
Roading work is expected to last up to 10 years, Transport Minister says.
Injured man's wife says council, contractors need health and safety 'shake-up'
The wife of a badly injured man says an unsafe footbridge should have simply been closed.
'Heartless': Grieving families upset over request to remove graveside tributes
A grieving Whangarei family have been told to clear tributes from a gravesite lawn.
Resident despairs over former Whangārei mayor’s earthmoving activities
A Manuka Place resident fears his property might be the next to be condemned.
Northlanders watching their pennies as retail spending tanks nationally
Retail spending continues to fall in the region, shop owners and economists confirm.
Brynderwyn road closure: nearly 100,000 tonnes of soil cut so far
Kiwi sniffer dog among the 520 workers on massive SH1 project.
Man's anguish after dogs go missing from backyard
A dog owner fears the worse after his mastiffs went missing from their fenced yard.
Trucking company chasing former mayor Stan Semenoff for unpaid debt
The Multispares claim was advertised last week in the NZ Gazette.
Third person arrested in Mangamuka homicide investigation
Police have made another arrest in relation to the death of a man in Mangamuka
Cyclone Gabrielle: Relocating Te Karaka needs 50 per cent support of the community - Willie Te Aho
Marae to be moved to higher ground but still on Rangatira land title.
Does a criminal's 'appalling upbringing' require softer punishment?
Some judges question whether commissioned written cultural reports are really necessary.
Lawyer ordered to apologise to ex-wife over relationship with client during divorce case
Committee finds lawyer's actions 'risked damaging the reputation of the legal profession'.
Cafe conversation with juror's colleague lands lawyer in hot water
A lawyer's conversation with a juror's colleague breached conduct and client care rules.
Trial date set for two men accused of central city murder
Two men will stand trial in November for the murder of Haze Peihopa in Whangārei in 2021.
Harassment case: The tourist obsessed with her ex-boss - judge overturns conviction
Sand-duning accident led to mental ill-health and obsession, says appeal judge.
'You used your daughter as a sex toy': Man jailed for 10 years, judge expresses shock
Man who sexually abused his primary-school-aged daughter, jailed for more than 10 years.
Frustrated dad repeatedly pounded daughter's head into cupboard door
A judge says the man "simply lost it" when the 11-year-old wouldn't go to bed.
Convicted teen rapist wins sentence discount
Denial does not necessarily preclude the possibility of rehabilitation, Appeal Court says.
Wealthy Northland property owner admits his dog killed a kiwi
Brian Angliss will oppose the mandatory destruction of his dog.
Ex-Whangārei mayor fined $15,500 for air pollution, refused discharge without conviction
The judge said Stan Semenoff took two years to finally school his staff on handling fires.
Decision soon on whether teens accused of Northland man's murder are fit to stand trial
Youths charged with murder of Northland man await decision on fitness to stand trial
'Incredibly scary and disturbing': Advertising watchdog bans ad for Hollywood film
The TV ad for the film The Black Phone depicted realistic images of kids covered in blood.
Starving animals suffer for months on Tangowahine farm
A Dargaville lifestyle farmer has been fined for failing to care for several animals.
Drug dealer says rehab changed his life as he escapes jail term
Court says addict drug-dealer, facing 77 charges, genuinely realised harm meth causes.
Man jailed for 30-years of 'monstrous and ongoing' sexual offending
Man's sexual abuse of relatives continued even after he was given a chance to stop.
Bucket of toheroa proves expensive takeaway for man
People caught unlawfully in possession of toheroa can face fines of up to $20,000.
Youth walks on 10 charges, judge criticises tardy health service
Youth walks free from another 10 charges due to delayed psychological report.
Man stomped on his partner's ankle, then beat her the next day with the crutch she was using
Sentence a 'reward' for man with 100-plus convictions who joined rehab programme.
Crashed driver accidentally poisoned himself by drinking radiator water
Pryor Lee survived the crash and a night outdoors but died in hospital the next day.
Children's life in squalor
A jury has accepted children's claims of years of abuse by their meth-using mum
Watch: Mask refuser tasered, arrest captured on CCTV
Store's mask policy negated Health Ministry's guidelines, Northland man Brad Flutey says.
Illegal supply of two-way radios a serious problem, authorities say
A man caught illegally importing and selling two way radios faces fine of up to $30,000.
Inmate lights fire in cell, disabling prison block's sprinklers
When asked why he destroyed his cell, Fraser said he was 'sick of being dicked around'.
Judge says drink-driver's case a rare exception to those normally resulting in prison
Judge accepts drink driver a good person who made a "terrible, terrible" decision to drive
Girl says abuse accusations against mum all lies
Asked by a prosecutor why she previously lied, the girl said, 'dunno - can't remember'.
'I got kicked three times': Mother on trial for ill-treatment of her nine children
Mother on trial accused of assaulting, neglecting, and ill-treating her children.
Access to ancestral land essential to cultural identity: Māori Land Court judge
Judge says Far North case highlights land as an important ancestral treasure for Māori.
Kiwi with two decades of offending in Australia escapes 501 deportation
Kiwi dad just out of jail, allowed to stay in Australia for the sake of his kids.
Teen roped into knifepoint dairy robbery by his older brother
Younger of two brothers sentenced for his part in aggravated robbery of Whangārei dairy.
Driver's plan to evade checkpoint backfires when police tow his van
Driver who fled checkpoint tried to collect his van the next day but police had towed it.
Two nights of 'bizarre' driving ends in 12 months jail
Driver who evaded police checkpoint one night, led police on high-speed chase the next.