Karina Cooper is news director for the Northern Advocate
Karina Cooper is news director at the Northern Advocate based in Whangārei. Inspired by a lifetime of growing up in Northland, she ventured off to the Waikato Institute of Technology to gain a Bachelor of Media Arts majoring in communication and a post-graduate diploma in journalism which gave her the tools to tell the region’s stories. Karina’s career began at the community newspaper, The Whangārei Report, back in 2010. In her first year as a professional journalist, she won APN’s best junior reporter. She continues to uphold those high standards as she has moved into the more fast-paced world of news and as she leads a team of reporters. She has an interest in an array of topics but at the end of the day her favourite stories are always the ones with people at the heart of them. You can contact Karina at karina.cooper@nzme.co.nz.
Wild deer illegally released or farm escapees in firing line as part of Northland crackdown
Sika deer illegally released in the Russell 35 years ago are the first to go.
'Rare' heart-shaped feijoa up for sale fetches $100 offer online
Is this Northland's most expensive feijoa?
Kawakawa speed camera country's first to have warning signage - where's the rest, says AA
Transport Minister calls out signage delay as "bureaucratic nonsense" he vowed to fix.
The biggest and best Northland Field Days yet, organiser says
More than 300 exhibitors will be showcasing the latest in farming and lifestyle.
'Hell of a splash': Great white shark spotted near Whangārei Heads
The white pointer, believed to be 3m long, was spotted leaping out of the water.
'My heart was pounding, I was shaking': Fears women are being targeted on rural roads
More women have come forward to share their alarming encounters with a lone motorist.
Flood resilience in remote communities boosted with $8.9m in Govt funding
The Govt acknowledged the time its taken to assist Northland's remote communities.
Council navigates uncharted waters as Bay of Islands fishing ban formally adopted
There are some exceptions to the rules, which include kina harvesting and tikanga.
Hopes high for peanut trials after weather wiped out crops
The trials yielded promising results in its first year.
Rare example of pre-World War I water infrastructure located in heart of Hikurangi
The rediscovered dams still function, and many of the original features are visible.
Lawyer plans to challenge scallop ban in the High Court
Michael Badham claims many flaws are in the advice used to inform the closure decision.
Poisoned port: Reward turns up new clues in hunt for Dave Davan's killer
Family and friends pooled together a $42,000 reward to help find Dave Davan's killer.
70 years of being head over heels: Couple celebrates long-lasting love
The lovebirds say they met the old-fashioned way, "at a dance of course".
More than 100 local roads still damaged: How do councils choose which to fix first?
While repairs to our roads are now under way, which ones will happen first?
The long road ahead: Cyclone leaves Northland with 'huge' clean-up
Destroyed roads, power outages, communities cut off - the list of repairs is long.
MetService braced for extreme weather event as Northland rain warning upgraded
The region is being hit by another lashing of heavy rain as holidaymakers head home.
Kerikeri BBQ BOI team goes the whole hog to win spot in barbecue world champs
The team received two perfect scores in the hotly contested two-day competition.
Person dead after car and tractor go up in flames at rural section
A car and tractor were fully ablaze when multiple fire crews arrived to the scene.
Primary care headache: Around 11,000 Northlanders without a GP
Enrolling with a GP continues to be an uphill battle for many Northlanders.
Killed by poisoned wine: 'Dave knew straight away' - hunt for a killer
Loved ones are offering a $42,000 reward for information that leads to a conviction.
The country comes to town: Whangārei A&P Show is back
Saturday promises to be a day packed to the brim with fun for all ages.
Only 'patches' are left: A deep dive into the state of our scallops
The Advocate investigates the situation we are facing and the chances things will improve.
'It was crazy': Jogger reportedly encounters wallabies in Whangārei forest
Angus Blacklaws says he saw two adult wallabies and two joeys while out in the forest.
A beast of a business: Vets will disappear if status quo continues
Northland vets urge the public to lead with kindness as their profession struggles.
NZ's first e-ute trips north: Your EV questions answered
We ask an EV expert about how well an e-ute will perform compared with current utes
Butcher carves his way into Sharp Blacks and world stage
Dan Klink is one of 15 Hellers Sharp Blacks headed to the Olympics of butchery this year.
'Smells like death': Thousands of pipi wash up dead
Samples of the dead pipi are being collected to determine what caused the mass deaths.
Farmer furious after wandering dogs attack more than 100 sheep
The death of sheep has cost farmer Rex Roadley up to $25,000.
More Northlanders may able to enrol in GPs with arrival of international doctors
A move by the Government may add thousands of GPs to Northland's struggling workforce.
Scallop closures among sustainability measures in Northland
The closure was part of a twice-yearly review of fish stocks to support sustainability.
Ruawai fire chief Kevin Evans: The keen duck hunter who saved NZ's brown teal from extinction
Kevin Evans became enamoured with brown teal conservation as a 12yo on a family trip.
Covid and carelessness create dire fire season for exhausted firefighters
"It's tough, it's really tough right now": Northland firefighters endure a brutal summer.
Over and above: Ruakākā volunteer firefighter Brian Weir celebrates 25-year milestone
Brian Weir will receive his gold star to commemorate 25 years of service later this year.
Dargaville farmer sentenced over injured, under-fed, untreated cattle and sheep
The farmer's mistreatment of animals on his farm was discovered after complaints were made
Birds of a feather: Ōkaihau couple busy raising 50 kiwi on farm
The couple's farm is full of celebrity kiwi such as Jacinda and Ashley, Harry and Meghan.
Ruawai farmer rescues Dargaville man six weeks after his own life is saved
The Northland Rescue Helicopter annual appeal has taken off and will last until December.
'Everybody is just grateful to be alive': fishermen pulled from sea by container ship
The fishermen were taken to Auckland after being rescued off Northland's coast.
Scallop season and sunshine cause enforcement headache for police
Police are urging rule breaking Northlanders to think of the region's first responders.
Night rescue saves hurt fisherman stranded on rocks
High tide and large swells stopped rescuers on the ground from being able to help the man.
Thousands turn out across Northland in 'howl of protest'
About 1600 utes, trucks, vans and tractors brought Northland towns to a standstill.
Twelve fires in seven months: Far North town fed up with firebug
An arsonist in Ahipara is putting pressure on already busy volunteer firefighters.
Northland dairy farm scene of double tragedy in Awarua shooting
A police investigation to the shooting was well under way with more details expected soon.
Cancer-hit Paihia couple's kindness returned
Robyn Schrafft's best advice is to get out and do what you want so it's not too late.
Mangawhai locals marvel at magnificent mako cruising the waters
To spot a short-finned mako in shallow water is unusual but not unheard of.
Lawnmower sparks large blaze in Tutukaka
Church Bay residents praise the firefighters and helicopter pilots who tackled the fire.
Rocked: Kiwi suffers case of mistaken identity in first nesting attempt
When Backyard Kiwi's Todd Hamilton reached into Teina's nest he found the unexpected.
Wet weather welcome boost to parched Northland
A Far North town's drinking supply received a boost from yesterday's heavy downpours.
NZ's first rodeo related prosecution: Farmer fined for animal cruelty
Northland farmer Derek Robinson avoided a court imposed ban related to rodeo activities.
An afternoon of blazes a sign of the busy season Northland firefighters are battling
Northland firefighters are reminding to be vigilant as the region's fire risks.
'He would've died that day': Woman recalls partner's near-death experience
A Whangārei man pulled lifeless from Ocean Beach's surf has encouraged better beach safety
Violence at sea - anglers threaten commercial fishing boat
Northland commercial fishermen threatened with violence from recreational anglers.
Illegal Ruakākā dumping a major fire risk
No one is prepared to claim ownership of land on which an illegal dump sits in Ruakākā.
Being well equipped is key to safety for Northland boaties
Being well equipped is key to safety for Northland boaties.
Ruakākā family demands return of stolen piglets sick with virus
Six piglets sick with rotavirus were swiped from a Ruakākā farm.
Volunteer Northland firefighter's tools taken after vehicle raid while he helped the community
Volunteer Northland firefighter vehicle raided while helping Hikurangi community.