ONCE again a child has committed a very adult crime - the aggravated robbery of a Kaitaia dairy, armed with a thankfully unloaded rifle - and once again we hear the excuses.

There's nothing like a birthday party to bring a family together, and when it's a 100th birthday family can be expected to come from near and far.

"It's going to be tight," Pare Nathan said on Saturday as final preparations were made for Te Whare Whiri Toi's hosting of the 2015 national weavers' hui at Ahipara.

Barrier Air has told Far North Holdings and the Far North District Council that it intends to withdraw its daily service between Kaitaia and Auckland at the end of January, unless it can boost passenger numbers.

Saturday's inaugural Mardi Bra best decorated bra competition in Kaitaia went off without a hitch according to the organisers.

Forty-two descendants of Joseph and Margaret Neill, who left their home just out of Belfast, in County Down, Ireland, gathered in Kawakawa recently to celebrate 150 years since their arrival.

Former Black Fern Cheryl Smith - "a woman in a man's world" - is the toast of the Kaikohe Rugby Club after receiving $2000 in sports merchandising vouchers through the "Thank a Sport Maker" programme.

In similar fashion to their rugby cousins in the Taniwha, the Northern Swords concluded their NZRL National Premier Competition campaign without a win or a draw to their name after going down to the Bulls at Toll Stadium in the final round in Whangarei on

Far North Area Commander Inspector Wendy Robilliard is reminding residents to make every effort to keep their property safe as the light-fingered brigade prepares for its busy season.

THERE is no doubting the sincerity of the people who marched in Kaikohe last week, in response to a spate of suicides in the community. The message was that they cared, but the tragedy of suicide, in Kaikohe and throughout this country, needs a much more

A Northland baby has died in Whangarei Hospital of "probable" meningococcal disease, just 48 hours after falling ill.

Top Energy electrical engineers believe they have found the fault that caused Friday's district-wide power outage. The chief suspect is a broken insulator in the Kaikohe sub-station, with repairs scheduled to start yesterday afternoon.

A 12-year-old boy who attempted to rob a Kaitaia dairy at gunpoint on Sunday night was chased off by the dairy owner armed with a broom.

Kaitaia woman Jessica Neho has beaten considerable odds to qualify for a job with demands that few can meet.

Northern Principal Rural Fire Officer Myles Taylor could just about recite his standard warning that extreme care must be taken when the Far North's fire risk begins to rise, but he might be giving that a rest this coming season.

After hearing eight weeks of evidence, a jury took just 4 hours to find a Northland man guilty of murdering his partner in Kaitaia more than two years ago by running her down in his car.

History was about to go by the board, spokesman Kevin Briscoe said last week after the Kaitaia Combined Bowling Club's property in Matthews' Avenue Kaitaia was advertised for sale by tender.

At just 30 years of age Boris Jurlina has achieved a rugby refereeing milestone few other Northland Rugby Referees' Association members have equalled - he's refereed his 100th premier game.

Sixty years of kindergarten in Kaitaia (and at Doubtless Bay) was celebrated last month, many teachers past and present, committee/association and kindy kids of years ago reacquainting themselves with their kindergartens...

A formidable team of conservation dogs, fondly known as the Rat Pack, has spent four days scouring the seven islands of Ipipiri for rodents.

Tony walked into the Switzer Home on his weekly visit to help in whatever way was needed. Meeting Sarah to discuss the welfare of the residents, he was told of a new resident, Jack, an 80-year-old from the Kaitaia district.

AUSTRALIA can hardly be criticised for deporting convicted criminals, New Zealanders included. For all that we claim to have a special relationship with Australia, we can hardly claim the right to go over there, beat people up and rob them and expect to b

Northland MP Winston Peters delivered a broadside against the government in a speech in Tauranga on Saturday, but saved some of his ire for Maoridom.

Police seized everything, down to his gumboots, when they arrested a 45-year-old man from Te Wahapu Peninsula, near Russell, for allegedly stealing from a Russell oyster farm late on Saturday afternoon.

The 2015 PIC Coastal Classic race from Devonport in Auckland to Russell in the Bay of Islands on October 23 will be streamed live online at www.coastalclassic.co.nz