Nickie Muir: Too often the media miss the real news

Northern Advocate columnist Nicky Muir

I waited for it in the same way I waited for the live coverage of Hector Busby's end to his team's amazing navigational feats. I switched channels. Looked up websites. Tried to remember which channel Maori TV was again. No luck. Surely someone was going to cover this. The guy had run a crew that had covered the Pacific Ocean using traditional navigational techniques and no one was watching?

I felt sure I'd endure endless coverage of the top of Dean Barker's cap not saying very much by the time the America's Cup came round. To be honest I was even more interested in Mr Busby's team not only because I hadn't paid for them, but neither had any airlines or soft drinks.

His was a genuine navigational odyssey driven by a passion for the traditions of the sea. I was looking forward to interviews.

How had those young guys on the team been inspired by an older statesman of the sea? What did the wakas look like on the inside?

How the hell had they done it? Was it really like the Te Papa exhibition? Maybe the TV crews had got lost and the coverage would be on the late news. I waited.

Nothing. Nada. Zippo. If it weren't for Northern Advocate reporter Peter de Graff - one of Northland's biggest stories of resilience and success might have sunk under the waves of NZ's Got Talent gossip and extended coverage of Judith Collins' arched brows or Hekia's hairdos. I had time to compare the difference in coverage later in the year in the America's Cup during the extended weeks of watching yachts not race.

Next to Waitangi Day, the Ngapuhi Festival must be one of Northland's biggest days out. Over the weekend 45,000 people came through the gates.

A biannual affair - it was the only festival I've seen where kids played all weekend for free. Free entry and kids painted rocks and had fun with water slides, face-painting and mini jeeps. All free. Elders seemed well catered for in shady tents amid a constant beat of great sounds.

Where else would you get to watch 1814, Maisey Rika, Whirimako Black, Sons of Zion all for free? Beyondsemble was the best acoustic I've heard in years.

The mad Latin dubbed it a whole new genre; "Maori Tango". There's hardly anyone left in Argentina who knows how to play that old-school stuff anymore - who knew we'd hear it kicking in Kaikohe?

A series of lectures organised by Hone Sadler tackled everything from art to research aimed at tackling some of the problems of Northland's youth. Again, all free. The art exhibition was world class. Art lovers picked up bargains because although the work was the hard candy of the local and international art scenes the prices were incredibly good value. The warrior guard dog sculpture at the entrance "For everyday battles" I coveted.

New products like Taha Beverages made from local kawakawa leaves - could be our answer to Bundaberg ginger beer.

Tents, people, good vibes and food. The two-day festival lacked nothing - a gift of generous hospitality and everything good about the North by the Ngapuhi runanga and the sponsors who support them.

The only thing missing? Mainstream media.