A new heritage park commemorating the first chapter in New Zealand's history as a nation of Maori and Pakeha was officially opened in the Bay of Islands on Sunday.

An 840ha coastal farm dogged by decades of controversy has been bought by a Far North iwi to ensure the land is never lost again.

Some people scoff at our national anthem.

All has not been well in the paradise that is the beach at Ahipara over recent summers, and the Ahipara Komiti Takutaimoana has responded to those issues by producing and displaying posters.

The man who last week attempted to fell the sole visible sign of the Favourite, which sank at Te Kohanga in 1870, and gives the beach its colloquial name Shipwreck Bay, knows he's made people angry.

Adrenaline junkies are dusting off their cowboy hats with the three Far North legs of the national summer rodeo circuit set to take place over three consecutive days in just over two weeks.

A health programme aimed at encouraging young children to be more active in Kaitaia completed its inaugural year last week and organisers couldn't be happier with how it all went.

Bill Imms was one of those people who, on first meeting, you would judge as a grumpy old bugger. His toothless grin, weather-beaten face and thin, scrawny body all backed up that impression.

Te Tai Tokerau MP Kelvin Davis has washed his hands of the family he wrote about in his Northland Age column last week, who he described as having been failed at every turn.

The discovery of a large quantity of snapper, some reportedly as large as 15 or 20 pounds and the majority of the others of a legal size, on Tokerau Beach on Sunday has sparked outrage.

The summertime sport of tennis is enjoying good numbers in Kaitaia with nearly two dozen turning out every week for a social game of doubles on the town club's tennis courts.

Whatevaz had too much firepower for Touch.O to take out their third consecutive open final title at the Far North Touch Module on Saturday.

I want to pay tribute to the volunteer spirit that is alive and well in the Far North. But first I'd like to outline our story.

TE TAI TOKERAU MP Kelvin Davis should have opened a few eyes with his Northland Age column last week.

This is the time of year when high-achieving children are in the spotlight, but it was two enduring teachers who were feted at Kaitaia's Pompallier Catholic School last week.

Police are beginning to hold concerns for the well-being of a 48-year-old Cable Bay woman who was reported missing late last week.

They won't be home for Christmas, but that will be a very small price to pay for the 22 men and women who packed their bags and headed for Christchurch.

The fluctuating fortunes of basketball in the Far North over the past few years have been well documented.

Four primary schools descended upon Arnold Rae Park in Kaitaia last Wednesday to take part in the final week of the Kaitaia Mini/ Mod After-School competition.

Today's (December 9) editorial is an excellent analysis to a sad aspect of our current societal behaviour, to which I have a cynical response.

A number of Far North organisations were honoured for their contribution to social well-being in Te Hiku at the presentation of the inaugural Social Innovation Awards in Whangarei recently.

Tony Makiha and his family would love to do something with the old Hokianga County road on Waima Hill. It gave way to SH12 long ago, but still offers some glorious views of the river far below.

An Army sergeant has been convicted of failing to comply with written orders, following the September 2012 death of 29-year-old Rifleman Private Michael Ross.

The fire that gutted a home in Matilda Place, Kaitaia last week added to a year that at times has stretched the Kaitaia Fire Brigade to its limits.

Team New Zealand won the Five Nations Championship mounted games teams title in Kaikohe on Sunday while English rider Sarah Farnsworth took out the individual title.

I am not normally one to respond to letters to the editor that throw bricks at people without having the courage of their convictions to publish their name.

KAITAIA librarian John Haines wrote in this newspaper last week about learning from our elders.

"We'll try it for two years," Dave Panckhurst was heard to say as he arrived at Cooper's Beach in 1992, but he brought with him his lifelong commitment to the environment..."