Mike Dinsdale is the editor of the Northland Age
Mike Dinsdale is the Editor of the Northland Age and also writes for the Northern Advocate. He has been a journalist in Northland for almost 35 years, working mostly at the Advocate, where he was News Director before moving to the Age. In that time he has covered most general news topics and has managed to cover virtually all of the region and visit almost all of its communities. He has interviewed thousands of Northlanders to tell their stories and is always eager to hold those in power to account. Mike has a passion for Northland and loves living in the region, after arriving from the UK in the 1980s. He enjoys the North’s stunning scenery and amazing people, and its world-class beaches. He loves music, football - and sport in general - and his family and friends. If you have a story to tell or something that needs investigating contact Mike at mike.dinsdale@nzme.co.nz OR editor@northlandage.co.nz
'The world is starting to take notice': Māori sporting champs inspiring next generation
Kaitāia boxing world champ Mea Motu part of nine-strong Māori sports stars panel M9
Two Northland vets part of Voluntary Bonding Scheme to work in rural practices
The scheme supports graduate vets working in rural practices.
Kerikeri Street Party set to finish half-marathon event in style
Thousands expected to let their hair down post-race.
Spring spruce-up for Kaitāia to welcome summer visitors after Mangamuka reopens
Kaitāia gearing up for big town spring clean for state highway reopening.
Bowel cancers detected at early stage in successful Te Tai Tokerau Bowel Screening Programme
Te Tai Tokerau Bowel Screening Programme saving lives with 89 cancer cases detected
Kiwi Christmas Books wants Northlanders to donate new books for region's kids
The charity has three Northland stores collecting books this festive season.
Beautiful Bay of Islands backdrop for Graeme Dingle Foundation's Drop For Youth skydive
The Far North's Courtney Keenan does a skydive for the Graeme Dingle Foundation.
Big turnout to Far North historic site Edmonds Ruins on open day
400 at Edmonds Ruins open day show interest in historic sites still there
Far North pensioner's 'anxious' after council suspends upgrade work, considers selling up
Far North council puts pensioner flat upgrades on hold, considers selling them.
Bay of Islands P&I Show is the oldest in NZ and back on Saturday
Bay of Islands Pastoral & Industrial Show on this Saturday.
National hīkoi opposed to Government bill to start in Far North
Anti-Treaty Principles Bill hīkoi starts at Cape Reinga/Te Rerenga Wairua on Monday.
Revealed: True value of cruise ship visits to Northland economy
Full value of cruise ship industry to Northland revealed.
In national first, Far North hosting te reo Māori Inspiring the Future course
Te reo Māori Inspiring the Future course held in Kaikohe for first time.
Massive Far North wetlands fire produced 515,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions
The 2022 Kaimaumau wetlands fire released a huge amount of carbon into the air.
Awanui shines on annual Awanui Day celebrations at new venue
Annual Awanui Day celebrated as thousands flock to Far North town.
Obit: Kerikeri's Doug Turner remembered as man behind town's performing arts centre
Huge efforts of Kerikeri performing arts legend Doug Turner recalled
Far North woman plunging 3.6km for Drop for Youth charity event
Graeme Dingle Foundation Far North staffer jumping from plane for youth charity.
Awanui Day on Saturday to celebrate tiny Far North town
The event sees the population of the Far North town swell from 600 to 6000.
New plan to get most of Northland's land use and manufacturing sector
Northland’s land use and manufacturing potential under spotlight in new initiative.
Great news for Far North: Date confirmed for Mangamuka Gorge highway reopening
An event of some sort will be held to coincide with the reopening.
Top Australian medical exam result award for former Kaitāia College old boy John Ward
Kaitāia-born Dr John Ward gets top Australasian award for top exam results
Far North iwi Ngāti Kuri's indigenous knowledge on kuaka/godwit heard at world-first Chinese forum
Ngāti Kuri at groundbreaking indigenous godwit - kuaka - conference in China
Northland historic site investigation into DoC's alleged role in destruction
Northland coach road allegedly destroyed after consent from DoC.
Kerikeri's Edmonds Ruins planted with historic fruit trees ahead of open day
Orchard at Kerikeri's Edmonds Ruins propagated from near 200-year-old trees.
Campgrounds getting ready for busy summer, some nearly booked out
DoC campgrounds in Northland are open for bookings, but some have no space left.
Trouble in paradise: Beach's disintegrating cliff highlights region's coastal erosion issues
Crumbling cliff threatens luxury properties
Far North's Ahipara surf break draws competitors for Aotearoa Māori Surfing Titles
The comp brings hundreds to Ahipara over Labour Weekend.
Far North, the drama on 90 Mile Beach meth bust, up for 7 NZ Television Awards
Drama series on massive Ninety Mile drug up for seven NZ TV awards
Highest ever ranking for Kaitāia boxing world champion Mea Motu
Number two world ranking for Far North boxing world champion Mea Motu
Care of woman by Kaitaia Hospital and others inadequate, breached rights
The type 2 diabetes sufferer underwent two amputations but died from bacterial infection.
Northland oysters feature in Bay of Islands' Oktoberfest X Oysterfest event
German-style Oktoberfest and Oysterfest for Bay of Islands this month
Big celebration for Awanui Day in Far North town
Far North town celebrates big time at annual Awanui Day.
Community pride: Working bee to clean up town for summer visitors
Kaitāia in line for big spring clean to welcome reopening of SH1 over Mangamukas.
Proposed cat control bylaw backed by national pet advocacy group
Companion Animals New Zealand backs Far North cat bylaw.
Eight new Kerikeri social houses open to help meet demand
New Kerikeri Kāinga Ora homes to ease housing crisis
'Link to the world' Iwi leaders want airport's future finalised and land returned
An MP says a solution can be found ‘that makes everybody happy'.
Whangārei, Kaitāia and Kaikohe first stops in Mike King's I Am Climate Hope Tour
The tour aims to help youth mental health around climate anxiety.
Locals watch from the beach while NZ/US navies hunt for mines in Tauranga Bay
Far North bay the scene of a joint mine-clearing exercise.
Mangamuka repairs: Major piling work ends and pre-Christmas reopening planned
SH1 over the Mangamukas in the Far North is on track for a pre-Christmas opening.
Mea Motu's world boxing title unification bout off but Aussie opponent lined up instead
Champ stays active after boxing world title unification bout postponed.
Far North pensioner delighted after 32 feral cats removed from around her flat
32 feral cats removed from Far North pensioner flats
Far North barn find motor auction attracts hundreds to Pakaraka
Everything goes at a Far North barn-find auction of classic cars and machinery.
Plenty of experience behind new operators of Far North holiday parks at Ahipara and Hihi
Far North's Hihi and Ahipara holiday parks have new operators with big plans.
Te Papa hosting exhibition with Far North students' work included
Artwork from Far North students part of Ringa Toi exhibit in Wellington
Far North man wants views on local body issues from public
Views wanted from Far North folk ahead of 2025 local body elections
Te Ahu Library at Kaitāia has packed Māori Language Week programme
Māori Language Week celebrated in the Far Far North.
Action plan to save Northland's iconic kauri Tāne Mahuta and transform Waipoua Forest
Far North’s Waipoua Forest and iconic tree Tāne Mahuta need saving, with new action plan.
Far North cats must be microchipped and desexed under proposed new council bylaw
Far North District Council has first ever bylaw for cats.
1 in 10 Far North children could be affected by fetal alcohol spectrum disorder
Far North has big issues from debilitating fetal alcohol spectrum disorder.
Obituary: Mayor leads tributes to council watchdog Des Mahoney, who saved ratepayers milions
Far North council critic Des Mahoney's lasting legacy saved ratepayers millions
At 82, Ray Broad still inspiring Whangārei footballers as he hangs up his boots
At 82, Whangārei football ‘legend’ Ray Broad bows out with a win.
Far North getting free breast health advice from Breast Cancer Foundation’s Pink Campervan
North folk to get free breast cancer advice from Pink Caravan.
Pickers' paradise: Treasure of classic cars under the hammer from Northland barn find
Barn find uncovers 120 classic cars, planes and machinery.
Kaitāia paedophile teacher James Parker back before the Parole Board
Kaitāia teacher James Parker is seeking parole after sexually abusing 20 boys.
Beam e-scooters still in Whangārei despite Auckland ban
District council's agreement with company different to those in Auckland and Wellington.
Boxing: Northland world champ Lani Daniels beats self-doubt to prepare for title defence
Northland world champion Lani Daniels contemplated giving boxing away
Te Hiku Media CEO Peter-Lucas Jones on Time Magazine list with Mark Zukerberg and other tech leaders
Te Hiku Media’s AI work was outperforming the world’s leading tech companies.
Northland's warm winter delivers record or near-record temperatures across the region
Overall, the nationwide average temperature for winter was 9.6C.
Kaitāia boxer Mea Motu in historic double world title fight in England
The Far North world champ has title unification bout in UK.
Far North drains causing farm flooding can't be cleaned until summer
Summer earliest Far North council can clean blocked drains that flood farms
$150,000 raised to send Far North rugby team to play in ancestors' homeland of Croatia
Far North Croatian descendants flying out for rugby tour of forefathers' homeland.
Far North flooding risk to reduce with $1 million Quarry Rd bridge upgrade
Kaitāia's Quarry Rd bridge gets government funding for upgrade to prevent floods.
Kaitāia couple's secret to 70 years of married bliss
Kathy and Ian Macnee celebrate a milestone anniversary with family and friends.
Far North musicians raise funds for Jayson Norris' cancer battle
‘’It’s just one way to help a fellow Far North musician.’’
Far North renewable energy resources soar with third solar farm starting
Far North's third big solar farm to be built at Pamapuria
Young Kaitāia boxers hoping to follow in world champ Mea Motu's footsteps to glory
Kaitāia Boxing Club young trio ready to take on opponents in Auckland comp.
Love Tennis? Free events in Northland could find next tennis stars
Love Tennis free events in Northland could uncover next generation of stars
Hope popular Mangonui Waterfront Festival can be revived
What's behind the festival's cancellation is revealed but there's hope for the future.
Northland Taniwha's Ranfurly Shield hopes on the line in Napier
It's been nearly 46 years since Northland last won the Shield.
Fundraiser to get Kaitāia darts player to youth world event in England
Kaitāia darts player Jaymie Hilton-Jones needs help to get to World Youth contest.
Flooded Far North farms caused by council inaction - farmers
Flooding from blocked council drains cause consternation for Far North farmers
Eleventh hour intervention sees Far North Artisans Fair return
Far North Artisans Fair back with something for everybody.
Kanak independence campaigner seeks support from Harawira whanau
More violence predicted: 'Things could get really bad'.
Far North's Taipā Beach Resort has new management company in charge with big plans
Taipā Beach Resort has new managers ahead of busy summer season.
Far North’s $50 million 10-year rubbish contract won by Northland Waste
Northland Waste is excited to provide additional local job opportunities.
Mangamuka highway job forced to go at snail’s pace for urgent repairs
An urgent repair job doesn't hold up Mangamuka repair work.
Life as a mixed-race New Zealander explored in Kaitāia man Mike Bentley's poetry
The new book focuses on life as a Palagi-Samoan Kiwi.
Far North Cook Islanders mark language week in Kaitāia
Homeland's culture and identity are celebrated in style.
Kawakawa, Moerewa and Ōtiria get multi-million dollar schemes to prevent devastating floods
The Kawakawa Deflection Bank and Ōtiria-Moerewa Spillway formally open to prevent floods.
Hard to get to, but Cape Brett Hut open for stays with stunning Bay of Islands views
The Cape Brett Hut in the Bay of Islands reopens for public bookings after major repairs.