Susan Botting is the Local Democracy Reporter for Northland.
Susan has been working at the Northern Advocate as Local Democracy Reporter since November 2019. She is part of the national Local Democracy Reporting (LDR) project and her work focusses on Northland democracy. Susan has been a journalist for 20 years in a career that has mixed communication and education. That time includes working at the Northern Advocate agricultural editor. She has a Bachelor of Education and a Diploma in Journalism. Susan is a registered teacher and worked at Northland Regional Council for more than 15 years as a kaiako taio encouraging teachers and students around Te Tai Tokerau how to get involved in looking after the world around them. Susan was also part of Northland Civil Defence for several years while at the council, working in communication and education. She was also council volunteer co-ordinator. Susan has a passion for storytelling and loves photography. She loves Northland and enjoys sailing plus anything to do with the ocean and is a former Tūtūkākā South Pacific Yacht Club commodore.
Kaipara council keeps political review despite pending Māori ward ruling
Judge yet to rule on legal challenge on whether Māori ward remains in place for election.
Far North council sticks with Māori ward, but challenges polling requirement
The Far North District Council is the last of 45 to decide on its Māori ward.
Northland Regional Council keeps Māori seats but pushes back against polling
Northland Regional Council pushes back against polling
'Do the right thing': Northland Māori leader calls on PM to ‘sack’ Act from coalition
Pita Tipene said the Kaipara meeting felt unsafe at times.
Kaipara ratepayers face $25k bill after Māori ward abolished
The review is required under new government legislation.
Kaipara District Council votes to disestablish Māori ward
Mayor Craig Jepson said he was elated at the decision.
Māori leader calls for Kaipara mayor’s resignation over Māori ward move
Dame Naida Glavish says push to scrap Māori ward is unacceptable.
Kaipara council poised to become first to can Māori ward
Mayor Craig Jepson said he would be voting to remove the ward.
Māori wards’ future uncertain as new law kicks in
Simeon Brown confirmed the new Māori ward legislation is due to become law.
Te Tai Tokerau tertiary scholarship winners named
The 2024 winners will each get $4000 and paid NRC work experience..
Kaipara waste to energy plant investigation ends with no report
The council’s role in any future local WtE plant will be purely regulatory.
Former councillor calls for early Māori ward polls in Te Tai Tokerau
Councils that want to keep their Māori wards should have to poll communities
Northland councils stick with Māori wards despite Government push
Two of the four councils will retain Māori wards, while the other two are tight-lipped.
Full investigation launched after major power outage in Northland
Parts of Northland were without power after a pylon toppled near Wellsford.
Doctors warn: Human health risks from proposed $730m Kaipara waste-to-energy plant
Health concerns included toxins such as dioxins, heavy metals and gases.
Northland policewoman Gail Shepherd remembered for ‘amazing’ emergency mahi
'She was a passionate daughter, mother and grandmother.'
Former Northland councillor says Māori wards fine - if polls held
Former councillor John Bain says the Govt had made the 'right move' regarding Māori wards.
Govt changes risk demise of Māori wards, prominent leader warns
Government changes are rolling back rights, a Northland leader says.
Far North council set to oppose Government's Māori wards changes
Far North Mayor Moko Tepania has hit out at the Government’s proposed Māori wards changes.
Kaipara Mayor wants Māori ward gone before next local elections
The Govt changes signalled this month allow council to reverse Māori ward decisions.
Northlanders asked to take photos of super-high king tides
'Your photo may help us identify areas that are already at risk from higher water levels.'
Cyclone Gabrielle one year on: How Northland is picking up the pieces
Even though a year has passed, remnants of the storm's destruction remain.
Why the Kaipara Mayor dressed in an English Victorian costume on Waitangi Day
The mayor says the costumes were well received by many - Māori included.
Far North council changes Māori name ahead of Waitangi Day
The refresh did not alter the council’s legal name.
Far North Mayor hosts first-time Waitangi local government sector presence
'It’s taken a lot of work to get as far as this.'
How a youngster is calling on politicians for safer weed-spraying on school grounds
Not only did Henry Bedell present to council, he also wrote to the Minister of Health.
New council leader wants Govt to scrap Te Mana o te Wai freshwater principles
'You can’t be green if you’re not in the black,' says Geoff Crawford.
Compulsory checks for Kai Iwi Lakes boaties amid clam threat
The possibility of a gold clam invasion from the Waikato River has kaitiaki worried.
New bans in place for vehicles on some Northland beaches
The change is something many coastal communities have been waiting for, councillors say.
Tears and tension as councillors voted out at explosive meeting
A group of five councillors dominated the voting as major changes took place.
NZ’s first wāhine Māori chairwoman resigns Northland Regional Council role
Tui Shortland's resignation effective from Tuesday's meeting; she stays on the council.
Kaipara councillor opens meeting with karakia despite mayor's ban
The meeting opened with the words: “Kia hora te marino”.
Rates due on Monday, but Northlanders are struggling
Northland council rates are due on Monday, but many are struggling to pay.
'You’ve come too far not to go further': The young mayor sparking change in the Far North
Moko Tepania said it has been a "hell of a year" but there's plenty more to do.
Four outstanding women receive Whangārei civic honours
Four influential women have been honoured for their services to the community.
Govt unveils new measures to protect native biodiversity
The associate minister chose Kerikeri for the announcement after a 2021 hīkoi in Kaikohe.
Fears Northland will become voiceless as first Three Waters entity announced
Northland and Auckland will form the country's first Three Waters inter-regional entity.
Caulerpa eradication in Bay of Islands could take decade, regional council says
The NRC push comes despite the lack of international success in caulerpa eradication.
NRC divers get to work in a bid to control caulerpa
A Caulerpa trial treatment tool has been put in place in the Bay of Islands.
Anchoring ban, rāhui now in place on caulerpa-infested areas in BOI
Mana whenua and the Government move to fight invasive seaweed.
Work on $20m marina set to start
Preparations are under way for start of work on Whangārei’s Ōkara Marina.
Ex-Māori Affairs Minister Dover Samuels praises impact of North's Māori wards
Māori ward representation is 'shaping up positively,' Samuels says.
Council: Whangārei Civic Centre safe for staff to move in
The WDC says the discovery of toxic black mould has not delayed about 500 staff moving in.
'Forever chemicals': Kaipara waste-to-energy plant plans slated as bad for environment
Kaipara's plans for waste-to-energy plant a bad idea, say environmentalists.
Last two meetings about extending Kensington rescue heli base lease coming up
Whangārei council to hold last two meetings over rescue chopper base in Kensington.
Kaipara's waste to energy push backed by other Mayors
The major new infrastructure would incinerate Northland and Auckland councils’ waste.
Whangārei Civic Centre update: Lab results show toxic black mould no longer present
Toxic black mould in Whangārei Civic Centre no danger to workers, the council says.
Council slams Govt for lack of action on invasive marine pest
There are fears not enough's being done to prevent invasive seaweed arriving in Northland.
More injuries feared as wait for removal of trees drags on
The saga over the trees went public last year after fed-up residents hit the headlines.
Whangārei District Councillor Jayne Golightly apologises for breaching council confidentiality
Jayne Golightly apologises to fellow Whangārei councillors, public over conduct breach
Public to have say as rescue chopper shift delayed
Series of meetings to discuss Northland Rescue Helicopter base lease extension.
Northland Rescue helicopter base shift could take 'another year or two'
Some residents are unhappy with news the lease has been extended.
Whangārei councillor to apologise for breaching code of conduct
Whangārei councillor to make public apology for revealing confidential information.
$10m of Kaipra works cut to help pay for cyclone, storm damage
Cyclone Gabrielle damage to Kaipara leads to $10m of works being deferred.
Tūtūkākā Marina repair job started after devastating tsunami surge
Tūtūkākā Marina getting $2.5m repair job after tsunami surge damage.
Kaipara council defers more than $10m worth of projects to pay for cyclone repairs
Kaipara District Council (KDC) ratepayers would otherwise be facing a 10.14 per cent rate.
KDC spearheads $68m upgrade for troubled Mangawhai wastewater scheme
$68m upgrade planned for Mangawhai's sewerage scheme
Thursday meeting to hear FNDC submission on water rating equalisation scheme
FNDC wants all ratepayers to pay a fair share of water rates.
Ratepayers across Northland face big rates rises
Inflation and a tight labour market among reasons given for big jumps.
Open roads: Brynderwyns given the green light; Mangamuka timeline to be revealed
Easter travellers will be able to travel with greater ease over the Brynderwyn Hills.
Whangārei ratepayers to contribute up to $11.4m to Oruku conference centre at Town Basin
Whangārei's Oruku Conference And Events Centre to get more ratepayer funding.
Council to partly bailout Hundertwasser Arts Centre to stave off insolvency
Without the money the centre faced insolvency before the end of the financial year.
'It will take years to fully build back': Northland facing $70 million-plus Cyclone Gabrielle bill
Repairs to State Highway 1 over the Brynderwyns have so far taken 12,000 hours.
Northland views wanted on plan to stop spread of invasive seaweeds and pests
Views sought on plan to stop invasive seaweeds devastating Northland's eastern harbours,
Three candidates in line for National ticket in Northland
The decision will be made on Sunday.
Whangārei Harbour - and others on Northland’s east coast - at risk from new, invasive pest seaweeds
Highly invasive seaweed major threat to Northland's east coast harbours.
Fish of the Year: Ocean giant takes over from petite seaweed-living rarity
The manta ray is making its move to overtake smaller competitors in Fish of the Year.
Northland councils speak out in New Zealand’s local government review
“We need to give councils the power to make the right decisions for our mokopuna.”
The new $59 million civic centre a former mayoral candidate labels a 'leaking monstrosity'
Former mayoral candidate Alex Wright is concerned the centre will be a leaky building.
Luxon promises Northland councils will control Three Waters infrastructure
Luxon's comments came after National launched its Three Waters policy on Saturday.
Marae keeps remote Northland community safe during Cyclone Gabrielle response
Far North marae keeps community connected, fed and entertained during Cyclone Gabrielle.
'Northland is absolutely not forgotten': PM Hipkins on cyclone rebuild
Prime Minister Chris Hipkins met with Northland mayors and leaders over roading.
Councillor vows to fight Kaipara mayor's ban on karakia
Kaipara mayor attempts to stop a member of public saying a karakia.
Pasifika Fusion festival to provide hope for Cyclone Gabrielle-hit community
Pasifika people experience many cyclones in their home countries.
Whangārei mayor vows to push the case on Three Waters, despite court ruling
Whangārei mayor reacts to High Cout judgment on Three Waters'
Far North council CEO resigns after less than a year in the job
The council wouldn't say why the CEO resigned so early in his tenure.
Don’t expect gold-plated roading fixes after cyclone, Kelvin Davis says
PM Chris Hipkins has promised repairs for Tairawhiti, so what about Te Tai Tokerau?
'My wife was praying': Six people cling to fire engine in daring Northland rescue
After being rescued, Kaipara councillor Ash Nayyar jumped into action to help others.