Peter de Graaf is a reporter for the Northern Advocate
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‘Transformational’ dam offers hope for Kaikohe’s future
Backers hope dam will do in the west what Kerikeri’s irrigation system did for the east.
Snapper Bonanza fish auction raises $11k for Kaitaia Fire Brigade
Contestants also gave cash and a newly won TV to family whose home was damaged by fire.
Wairarapa fisher wins $30k top prize in Ninety Mile Beach Snapper Bonanza
Fish landed on final day clinches Northland, and world’s, biggest surfcasting competition.
Rare pāteke/brown teal return to Purerua in the Bay of Islands
Twenty rare ducks released at Purerua after a three-year pest removal campaign.
Northland fishing club calls for rules NZ-wide to promote marlin tag-and-release
Club says 75% of marlin its members catch are freed; other clubs should follow suit.
‘Mint’ conditions forecast for Ninety Mile Beach as iconic snapper comp returns
Massive swells on Wednesday favoured the fish but that's expected to change in final days.
Young muscle needed to aid woodchoppers’ record-breaking fundraising drive
Kerikeri Woodchoppers have so far raised $330,000 for eye surgery across the Pacific.
Gabriel's back! Northland’s favourite locomotive set to return this weekend
Huge cost of new boiler meant even Gabriel’s biggest fans feared it would never run again.
Swiss forestry firm pays $7 milion for Paparoa farm
The 450-hectare beef and dairy farm was sold for $7.14 million.
Working with others the key to Kerikeri scientist’s top honour
Researcher Bruce Campbell saved NZ’s kiwifruit industry from the brink of disaster.
‘Absolutely nuts’: Angler lands 464.5kg marlin after 10-hour battle
Skipper said Tuydor’s monumental effort was the greatest he’d seen in the angler's chair.
Court ruling paves way for new no-take areas, commercial fishing ban
Landmark court decision effectively creates a new marine reserve in Northland.
Northland’s worst fire in decades caused by ‘land-clearing burn that got out of control’
Fire and Emergency report finds Kaimaumau wildfire last summer was accidental.
Construction firm fined for Kerikeri stream pollution
Members of the public contacted Advocate with concerns about discoloured Wairoa Stream.
New venture brings pride, jobs and strawberries
Iwi-council venture aims to get strawberries into shops weeks ahead of the competition.
Full steam ahead for ferry project as second engine arrives in NZ
'As far as we know there are only five of these left in the world. We've got two of them.'
Russell fishing rāhui already showing results, marae chair says
Locals say fish and bird numbers have soared since the breeding-season fishing ban began.
Self-baiting, self-setting traps a gamechanger for Northland forest
Year-long trial saw possum and rat numbers plummet while wētā population rebounded.
Homes evacuated, drivers stranded as torrential rain batters Far North
Four boats came to grief in Bay of Islands with one saved, another sunk and two on rocks.
Kaikohe trust lauded for saving district's ailing waterways
A scheme to keep young men off the streets has turned into an environmental mission.
Subdivision would 'tip the balance' from rural to urban, commissioners say
Concerns raised over lot sizes, loss of rural character, and disappearing productive land.
Lobby group says 133-lot subdivision a case of urban sprawl in a rural setting
Developer says subdivision meeting need for high-quality homes in Bay of Islands boomtown.
Locals begin four-year, $2m mission to clean up Hokianga waterways
The project is creating meaningful jobs while raising water quality in the iconic harbour.
Northland's Kaimaumau fire bill tops $7m
Cause of 2800ha fire, Northland's biggest in decades, still under investigation.
New water storage dam at Ngāwhā to start filling this winter
Dam will have a volume equivalent to 300 Olympic swimming pools.
New dolphin rules 'changing boatie behaviour' - DoC
So far 415 boaties spoken to for breaching dolphin rules; 11 potentially facing fines.
'Truly appalling': Attack on town custodian shocks Paihia community
Victim, 70, is employed by Focus Paihia to keep the town spick and span.
Vineyard wins Northland's first double gold medal
Dancing Petrel's Viognier Reserve 2020 was also named best of its variety in the show.
Weed buster urges Northlanders to join battle against tree-killing vine
Fast-growing pest vine smothers mature trees and spread vast distances on the wind.
Hokianga towns connected to the outside world with new wharves
The 160m-long wharf at Rangi Pt, North Hokianga, is one of the longest in the Far North.
$3.7m Kerikeri Inlet reclamation plan on hold
Fast-tracking process suspended while Far North Holdings seeks more information from iwi.
Omicron forces organisers to can Snapper Bonanza
Tickets to world's biggest surfcasting comp to be honoured at 2023 event or refunds given.
Evacuees to spend third night out of homes as 2000ha fire rages on
Northland fire boss says blaze will take a week to put out and a month to mop up.
Live: Far North firefighters battle record 2000ha blaze; 50 homes at risk as wind picks up
Helicopters are trying to bring the fire under control before wind is expected to pick up.
Contractors recover tonnes of illegal rubbish from bush
At least half the waste dumped into bush, stream could have been recycled free of charge.
Kerikeri markets cancelled amid concerns protest may have spread virus
Organiser says cancellation a terrible financial hit for the market and stallholders.
Controversial kiwifruit spray likely to be banned
Kerikeri's John Levers has been fighting for a Hi-Cane ban for years. He's almost got it.
Mid and the Far North bore brunt of wild weather
Northland escapes the worst of the wild weather, with power disruptions the only hiccup.
Pristine bush turned into putrid, polluting rubbish tip
Illegal dumps on Whangae Rd part of bigger problem costing local ratepayers $200K a year.
Fast-tracking set for contentious boat ramp, reclamation
Rangitane community is split over plans for new boat ramp and reclaimed parking area
Scooby the lamb baasking in attention thanks to lockdown
Orphaned lamb insists on twice-daily walks with his foster family.
Tomato crop fed to cows as farmers' markets forced to close
Other Northland growers have been lucky with the Delta outbreak coming between harvests.
'It was fairly going for it': Bird's nest blaze destroys tractor
Farmers urged to check their machinery for nests after Takahue blaze.
Russell man caught with 59 crayfish, boat seized
Of the 59 crayfish allegedly taken at the Black Rocks, 48 were undersized packhorse crays.
'Fantastic' news - kiwifruit growers welcome Pacific workers
Workers from Covid-free Samoa, Tonga and Vanuatu to ease orchard labour shortage.
Far North council shelves controversial SNA plan
Opponents, however, say they won't let down their guard until SNAs are binned for good.
Farmers under siege by feral dogs pin hopes on public meeting
Councils, govt agencies expected at Houhora meeting from 10am on July 28.
Thousands turn out across Northland in 'howl of protest'
About 1600 utes, trucks, vans and tractors brought Northland towns to a standstill.
Big crowds expected across Northland for 'howl of a protest'
Utes and tractors will gather from 11am in Whangārei, Dargaville, Kerikeri and Kaitaia.
Three feral dogs shot at Far North farm; attacks continue
Community effort ends in frustration as dogs lie low.
Far North family buoyed by support after stock killed by feral dogs
Family plans a cull this weekend helped by volunteers from as far away as Waikato.
More feral dogs seen on under-siege Far North farm
Farmer wants a cull of feral dogs before more animals are killed.
Council's rego, WOF checks 'hit Māori, rural poor hardest'
Rural Māori already face extra barriers to becoming road-legal, driver advocate says.
Heartbreak as feral dogs slaughter stock in Far North
Farmer on guard day and night but attacks continue. More than 80 animals killed so far.
PM gets NZ's biggest solar farm under way
The first panel of the 16MW solar farm was bolted on by PM Jacinda Ardern today.
Lives 'may be lost' as Far North road funding fails to keep up with costs, Court says
Waka Kotahi says the $88m allocated is well up on the $73m from the previous three years.
Gentle giant's numbers boosted as more wētāpunga released in Bay
'Finally insects are grabbing the limelight. They are the ones that run the planet.'
Neighbours, firefighters, vets pull together to save Gilbert the horse
Gilbert was up to his neck in mud until ''super hero'' neighbour took charge.
'You have sinned against Māori' - SNA hīkoi hits Kaikohe
'We got it wrong' - the admission that came as 2000 protesters descended on Kaikohe.
Hīkoi organiser urges govt to 'listen to the people', ditch SNAs
The hīkoi had over 1000 people and marched on Far North District Council headquarters.
Kāeo says no to SNA plan in big meeting turnout
Locals say the SNA plan discourages people already striving to protect native habitats.
Kaipara wind farm could power 25,000 homes
Wind farm plus Ngāwhā power station would produce more than half Northland's power needs.
Carter slams banks for 'ignoring' rural NZ
Mayor challenges bank bosses to try doing banking for businesses in, say, Waitiki Landing.
Govt grants $8m for 1000 water tanks for Far North
Iwi-led scheme will see tanks allocated to neediest families, facilities in Te Hiku area.
Dargaville, Kaitaia solar farms 'game-changer' for NZ power generation
Kaipara 'solar farm' will be biggest in NZ, eclipsing even Kaitaia's planned solar plant.
More big wins for Northland cheesemakers Mahoe, Grinning Gecko
The Rosevear family is rapidly running out of space for their Very Old Edam trophies.
Northland GP gets rural medicine's top honour
Grahame Jelley arrived in NZ 20 years ago with only a job offer and $78 in his pocket.
NZ's biggest solar power farm planned for Kaitaia
'Solar farm' will pump out 20 times more power than NZ's current biggest solar plant.
Far North farmers: 'We're being milked'
Farmers say they haven't been properly informed of the 'massive' effect of rating changes.
Kerikeri man lands 'fish of a lifetime'
'Locky' Waugh was fishing off North Cape when he hooked the 83.4kg yellowfin tuna.
Northland faces more cuts in highway speed limits
Northlanders' views wanted about the right speed for each part of the highway network.
Rise in aggression from wild dogs behind Far North track closures
Feral dogs aren't new in Te Paki Reserve - but aggression towards people is.
Feral dog packs keep Te Paki tracks closed at least two more weeks
Four tracks and a campground were closed on April 1 amid fears for public safety.
Tracks, campground near Cape Reinga closed amid fears of feral dog attacks
Up to four packs of dogs seen in area near Cape Reinga; walkers, wildlife at risk.
Tough conditions no match for $30,000 winner
Winner Dickson Hohaia says he'll display his fish in his hallway for the rest of his life.
Photos: Promising start to Snapper Bonanza
Richard Tepania of Ahipara top of the day one leaderboard with a 6.555kg snapper.
'The epitome of surfcasting': Good start to Snapper Bonanza
Ahipara's Richard Tepania bagged day one's $2000 heaviest fish prize with a 6.555kg catch.
Sellout crowd, good forecast and 'rampant' fish promise a bonanza
NZ's biggest surfcasting contest kicks off today on Ninety Mile Beach with 1000 anglers.
Consent fast-tracked: Work begins at Kaikohe water storage dam
18ha Matawii reservoir is the first project in NZ to be a granted fast-tracked consent.
Berry farm jobs a game-changer for Ngāpuhi and Mid North
The 20 staff hired yesterday to kickstart a berry venture could grow to 200 in a year.