Award-winning actor Pete Smith has a great deal of sympathy for Pineaha Murray, the 73-year-old Te Hapua man who said he and his wife were being driven from their home

What is the media trying to tell us on Waitangi Day?

When Tane sought to make peace with his brother Tangaroa he plucked off his eyebrows and threw them to his brother who didn't accept the offer but threw them back. They landed on the shore and to this day still protect the sand dunes from the sea.

I can probably only blame bad planning for the fact our garden is bereft of flowers to pick at this time of year. There are a few flowering grevilleas, some hibiscus and one perfect canna lily, but nothing that'd look any good stuffed in a vase.

One of the country's most recognised infantry units will be commemorated in the Far North in March as part of the 70th anniversary celebrations.

If looking at the cob-web covered golf bag lying forlornly in a corner of the garage induces a touch of the guilts, there's an enticing opportunity to shake off the inertia.

If you want to have a look at the new Audi A3 you’ll have to go to Auckland. The company doesn’t have a franchised dealership any further north which is a pity because they might sell a few over the Brynderwyns.

A Far North ex-pat who returned home last year has secured the role of Far North development officer for Rugby League Northland (RLN).

The Muriwhenua Women's basketball team ended up with the bridesmaid tag for the second year in a row after losing the final of the Te Tai Tokerau Classic tournament to the defending champions.

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.

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.

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.

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.

A local teenager has been invited to join the Warriors Development Squad.

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.

Easy options

The government has abandoned its attempts to sue a penniless Hokianga farmer and two fellow peace activists for $1.2 million.

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.

A large crowd turned out to watch a rare and thrilling display of freestyle motocross riding at the Kaitaia A&P Show on Saturday.

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.

Spare the rivers

A lack of respect

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.

"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.

The Northland DHB has defended its decision to start charging those who park at Whangarei Hospital, with a range of exemptions.

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.

Broadwood-raised Selwyn Semenoff had his impressive woodchopping career recognised at the North Hokianga A&P show at Broadwood.

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.

No reason for haste

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.