Scrap GST This week's Sunday programme (TV1) featured the demise of rural towns. While internet purchases are affecting smaller retailers, large New Zealand-owned and overseas-owned retail chains.

Maureen Allan, who lives at Houhora and works as the clinical manager for Whakawhiti Ora Pai, has been recognised for her years of dedication to nursing with Te Akenehi Hei Memorial Award.

The Waitangi National Trust will re-introduce an entry fee ($15) for New Zealanders who visit the Waitangi Treaty Grounds as of this Saturday.

Fears that the 90 Mile Beach Snapper Bonanza staged earlier this year could be the last thanks to a loss of sponsorship have been laid to rest by the competition organisers.

If Hockey New Zealand ever needed proof their investment in the six-a-side version of the game was paying off, Kaitaia's Pamapuria School eagerly provided it.

It's hard to imagine things going much worse for the Swords - and representative league as a whole for the province

Speak up now

Harsh lesson for Hone

A complaint will be lodged with the Far North District Council over the dumping of spoil at the junction of State Highway 10 and Kohumaru Road.

Former Kaitaia Intermediate School principal Kelvin Davis beat Mana founder Hone Harawira to win Te Tai Tokerau in Saturday's general election.

It's already been another full-on year of football for Cameron Hansford and it's far from over yet.

The 90 Mile Beach Surfcasting Club's summer season got off to a good start after a recess over the winter period.

Jaysha was born a healthy baby, but at four weeks old she was shaken by her father, and from that moment her life changed forever.

Quilting, embroidery and jail are words not usually found in the same sentence, but Ngawha prison inmates are learning to sew and making quilts for charity.

Fanatics and exiles

A classic, out-of-print photograph taken of an anti-war protest more than 40 years ago is being sold to raise money for the victims of a much more recent conflict.

A police Facebook page is nabbing up to five Northland criminals a week, and notching up a success rate of about 95 per cent, according to a senior Far North officer.

New Zealand's top darts competitors, Brian and Jo Steed dominated their divisions at the Far North Darts Association's annual men's and ladies' singles championships.

Two months after a falling tree crushed her house and left her pinned to a chair, Kaitaia woman Ivy Cramond is enjoying her new home.

Kaitaia Work and Income staff held a service at Te Ahu on Friday for two Ashburton colleagues killed by a gunman on September 1.

Far North police have been contacted by at least 35 people following last week's arrest of Main Street Lodge owner Michael Harris.

A major community project is underway to save one of Northland's most precious forests before it's too late.

Lousia Cooper And Hinerangi Whakaora prepared this report as "passionate parents".

Even the heavy rain wasn't enough to prevent the large turnout at the Doubtless Bay Croquet Club's opening tournament.

In defence of truckies

Demolition workers at the old Kaikohe Hotel have discovered a long-forgotten cellar under the floorboards - but hopes of finding a stash of vintage whiskey have been dashed.

A Kaikohe teenager has proven that being a young mum is no barrier to academic success by winning a prestigious speech contest.

Two Northland environmental groups say swamp kauri mining in the Far North is pushing a rare native orchid toward extinction.

A Mana organiser says he wants to shake the hand of the vandal who bowled a row of billboards for the extra publicity the attack has given his party.

A Kaitaia backpackers' lodge owner has been accused of stupefying young travellers with prescription drugs before indecently assaulting them and making intimate videos.