Latest fromNorthland Age
Whangaroa rallies to keep its nuns
Whangaroa's Catholic community is rallying to keep its convent, which has been part of the community for more than 80 years, but which the Marist order has decided to move to Kaikohe.
Water restrictions hit Kaikohe and Kaitaia
The Far North District Council imposed commercial and residential water restrictions at Opononi-Omapere last month, and now it's the turn of Kaikohe, Kaitaia and Rawene.
Nuptials history at Opononi
Vanessa Arsen and Donna Allpress' wedding on the beachfront at Opononi on Saturday was memorable for more than the usual of reasons. It was Northland's first marriage of two women, and the first time a same-sex couple from Kaikohe had exchanged vows.
Couple a shining example to all our whanau and tamariki
Kaitaia GP Dr Lance O'Sullivan, New Zealander of the Year 2014, was characteristically quick to share the honour bestowed upon him when he was feted by friends and medical colleagues at Kaitaia Hospital last week.
Halkyard picked for Warriors
A local teenager has been invited to join the Warriors Development Squad.
Boom times for snapper fishing folk
With the snapper being particularly prolific off the Far North west coast over the past few weeks, one local commentator believed this boded well for those anglers competing in next month's Captain Morgan Snapper Bonanza.
Waihopai damages claim dropped
The government has abandoned its attempts to sue a penniless Hokianga farmer and two fellow peace activists for $1.2 million.
Rabbit cage did the trick
Kaitaia tobacconist Raymond Jujnovich didn't have much to defend himself with when he was confronted by a knife-wielding robber early yesterday morning, so he made do with what was at hand - an unoccupied rabbit cage.
Ribbon Riders shine a light on suicide
The weather didn't provide much of a welcome but that didn't worry the 30 Riders Against Teen Suicide who rolled into Kaikohe on Saturday as part of the Green Ribbon campaign.
We have a fire ban -- comprende?
A close call at Whangape has prompted another warning that the Far North remains tinder dry, and a fire ban, imposed in October, has yet to be lifted.
It's life Jim, but not as A&P knows it
A large crowd turned out to watch a rare and thrilling display of freestyle motocross riding at the Kaitaia A&P Show on Saturday.
Huge tuna is a pending world record
On February 19, while fishing north off the Three Kings Islands, Donna Pascoe spent just over four hours fighting to bring a monster 411.6 kg Pacific bluefin tuna on board Gladiator in weather not for the faint-hearted.
Ngapuhi rift will not be healed
More than 200 people marched through Kaikohe on Thursday in a show of opposition to the government recognising Tuhoronuku as the mandated authority to negotiate settlement of Ngapuhi's Treaty claims.
FNDC tightens its purse strings
"This is a year to refocus and reassess," Mayor John Carter said last week in announcing the Far North District Council's adoption of its 2014-15 draft annual plan.
Exemptions for hospital parking charge
The Northland DHB has defended its decision to start charging those who park at Whangarei Hospital, with a range of exemptions.
Skate bowl on borrowed time
Kaitaia's police are not enamoured of the town's skate bowl, in Jaycee Park. Senior Sergeant Geoff Ryan said last week that it had been a problem area ever since he had arrived in Kaitaia more than four years ago.
Mastery of woodchopping recognised
Broadwood-raised Selwyn Semenoff had his impressive woodchopping career recognised at the North Hokianga A&P show at Broadwood.
Thai challenge for fighter mum
A local wahine is gearing up to return to the ring where she'll represent the Far North in a Muay Thai kickboxing fight in Thailand in April.
Hope and Faith have a big role to play
Two very small birds, known to their human protectors as Hope and Faith, have a big role to play in the future of their species at Ahipara.
It really is cheaper at the tip
Northland Regional Council area manager Peter Wiessing took little time to identify the owner of bags of rubbish dumped into the Awanui River from Kaitaia's Allen Bell Drive bridge.
Omapere Fire Brigade needs you - now
The Omapere Fire Brigade will be at Saturday's Wild West Festival at Waimamaku and will be actively hunting recruits.
A tino rangatiratanga initiative in kura
The long-term focus of an innovative programme launched by a Kaitaia kura earlier this month is to provide students with healthy eating and lifestyle choices.
Club marks Colgate success
The Kaitaia Athletics Club recommenced for the final term of the 2013 summer last Tuesday evening on the Kaitaia College bottom fields....
Youth is a one-boy crime wave
A 15-year-old boy who sparked a violent incident at Kaitaia's skatebowl on Sunday evening was to appear before the Youth Court in Kaitaia yesterday, where police intended to oppose bail.
'One of the neatest little shows'
Saturday's North Hokianga A&P show attracted the biggest crowd in years to the grounds at Broadwood, a fitting response to the effort that had gone into staging the 100th annual event.
NRC - Let's do it right
The Northland Regional Council has no doubt that the local government restructuring process that is now under way represents a great opportunity for Northland to establish a new regime that will benefit the entire region...