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

We are writing to you regarding Sativex (cannabis oil, or medicinal marijuana) for the treatment of refractory epilepsy for our daughter, who used to have hundreds of prolonged, severe seizures every day.

Just over 50 years ago I attended a 'Get the North Moving' hui in the Kaikohe Hall. There was a good mixture of people who were very concerned about unemployment, roading problems, lack of government ideas and action, crime figures and education etc.

Over the past months the Labour caucus have been travelling the country and doing a series of regional visits.

Twenty-four hours into RWC 2015 (at the time of writing) and the signs aren't good.

I feel reassured by the Hon Tim Groser's short epistle on TPP (The best deal, August 25) despite its weight of rhetoric and lightness on detail.

I have recently received this year's rates demands from the Far North District Council, and am shocked at the massive increase. I believe, talking to other farmers, that the increases are substantial across the farming sector.

To admit to leaving New Zealand with preconceived ideas and changing his mind when faced with some facts shows real maturity, and no small amount of courage.

I really felt sorry for the French girl backpacker that Anne and I helped the other day in Kerikeri.

YOU KNOW your taxes are being spent wisely when the police in Timaru prohibit an apparently community spirited man from getting mates home from the pub in one piece...

IT WOULD be too much to expect that every employee of every government department is totally committed to upholding whatever standards of behaviour those departments demand of us ordinary people, but revelations...

There have been, from time to time, efforts to change our justice system from the adversarial to inquisitional, so all the evidence can be presented that would enable the truth of the matters in question to be resolved beyond all doubt.

IT'S POSSIBLE to feel a smidgen of sympathy for the Far North District Council as it continues to take flak for ending its northern rubbish contract with Clean Stream Northland.

I had to write a response to Hone Harawira's letter to Obama (Northland Age, August 4.) I am Native American, from the Rosebud Sioux tribe in South Dakota, Sicangu Lakota Oyate (the Burnt Thigh Nation).

IT MIGHT be too late to save some endangered species, but the uproar that has followed the shooting of a reportedly iconic lion in Zimbabwe could well make a major contribution to putting an end to trophy hunting.

Hey hey, mah bruddah!! Heard you were able to get back to your dad's turangawaewae last week. Mean ... hope you had a good catch-up with the whanau.

Having just read "An end to those 'dark az' nights" (Northland Age, July 16) I write in an emotional state bordering on apoplexy.

All of my life I have eagerly waited for the 'potential' of this region to blossom, unfortunately in economic terms the word potential is a meaningless gesture.

The very sad and unexpected passing of Jannye Freeman has caused me to reflect on the immense amount of voluntary service Jannye has rendered to the Whangaroa community.

ONE OF the less endearing traits that has developed in this country over recent years is that of shutting down a conversation by labelling one of the parties racist. Or sexist. Or homophobic.

Re your front page article (July 14), about the South Kerikeri Inlet Landcare Kiwi Conservation Group reporting the death of seven kiwi in the last two months to dogs.