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.
Northland's public services disrupted during Covid lockdown
Council services in Northland reduced during lockdown
Short-term rates gain could cause long-term pain
Councils across the region are looking for solutions.
Northland's tsunami siren testing stopped on orders of CD head
Northland's tsunami siren testing stopped on orders of Civil Defence head.
Northland pest control continues during Covid 19 lockdown
Northland pest control continues during Covid 19 lockdown
New Civil Defence number for Northlanders needing help during lockdown
New Civil Defence number for Northlanders needing help during lockdown
Councils making decisions despite lockdown
Northland's district councils still making decisions despite lockdown.