Fishing while banned earned a 32-year-old Kaikohe man six months' home detention when he appeared before Judge DA Ongley in the District Court at Kaikohe last week.

It's often referred to in New Zealand as the Forgotten War, but the Korean conflict (1950-53) has never been forgotten by the people of what is now South Korea.

The honours went to Taipa Area School when a very impressive field of five contested the 2015 Lions Young Ambassador speech competition in Okaihau last week.

Another ailing sea turtle has been found on 90 Mile Beach, and is now receiving what is hoped will be life-saving treatment at Auckland Zoo.

Rueben Taipari Porter, one of those who addressed the anti-TPP rally at Kaitaia's Saturday morning market, was surprised by the response, given the frequent squally showers and the fact that he had been asked just the day before to help organise it.

The head boy at Taipa Area School, who has his long-term sights set on a political career, has a much greater understanding of issues facing his community, and Maori youth in particular, than many, but he's just come home from a conference in Washington D

There have been, from time to time, efforts to change our justice system from the adversarial to inquisitional, so all the evidence can be presented that would enable the truth of the matters in question to be resolved beyond all doubt.

Anyone remember cult '70s television series, Kung Fu?

There is still a strong representation from the Far North on grand finals day this coming Sunday with the Pawarenga Broncos and Otaua Valleys facing off for the third time this season in the 2015 RLN Championship (lower-tier) grand final.

Alison Mills and Melissa Peterson were awarded the Strategic Leadership and the Leading Innovations in Population Health awards respectively at the NZ College of Primary Health Care Nurses' conference in Wellington.

The jailing of a 38-year-old Kaikohe community leader on a conviction of possessing cannabis for supply has sparked a petition calling for her release, a Givealittle page raising money for her legal expenses, and even a song.

The contract to build the second stage of the Bay of Islands marina has been awarded to Total Marine Services, a New Zealand company with a branch in Opua. The $10 million project includes land-based civil works, is scheduled to begin early next month.

Taj Broughton will certainly be chalking the 2015 winter up as a particularly memorable one.

IT'S POSSIBLE to feel a smidgen of sympathy for the Far North District Council as it continues to take flak for ending its northern rubbish contract with Clean Stream Northland.

A $14 million rebuild of Northland College will lift the entire Kaikohe community according to principal Jim Luders.

The Local Government Commission's proposal for one unitary authority in Northland is no longer "on the table" but the Commission wants to have new proposals for change in the region ready within 12 months, sooner if possible.

Northland MP Winston Peters has responded to the "crashing" of the benchmark price for whole milk powder by calling on Fonterra to temporarily suspend its participation in the GlobalDairyTrade (GDT) process.

Two men have been arrested after an incident at Mangonui on Wednesday afternoon, which a woman did her best to foil by pushing a shopping trolley into the path of the suspect as he sprinted out of the Four Square.

Taipa Area School will have three netball teams taking the court next season thanks to an ANZ Netball Grant worth more than $3000.

Last Saturday, following the conclusion of the Mangonui senior club rugby finals, Eastern flanker Leon Emery was bestowed with the EJ Thompson Taiaha as the best player over the 2015 domestic season.

Seven Far North primary school students have received Sir Peter Blake Young Leader Awards, in recognition of their outstanding leadership qualities.

I had to write a response to Hone Harawira's letter to Obama (Northland Age, August 4.) I am Native American, from the Rosebud Sioux tribe in South Dakota, Sicangu Lakota Oyate (the Burnt Thigh Nation).

A trio of trainee chefs from Kerikeri took the top prize in one of the country's most prestigious hospitality contests on Sunday.