Summer in Northland means longer days, warmer temperatures and time to plant out the cannabis plot.

Controversial broadcaster Paul Henry has a new pad in the country and the purchase comes with a little bit of advice.

WARNING: STRONG LANGUAGE. Video shows children laughing hysterically and swearing as they drive on rural road without seatbelts on.

More than 30 beehives have been seized in Northland after an officer noticed suspicious boxes of beehives that were freshly painted at a property in Waiomio.

Local councillor says Chinese company's decision to pull out of a $42m farm purchase because of bureaucratic hurdles is a "slap in the face".

"Meningococcal disease can kill very quickly. In this case, the baby died within 48 hours of becoming unwell."

Northland's porous defence shipped eight more tries against Otago and slumped to a ninth straight defeat.

Going walkabout is a great way to experience the winterless north, says Donna McIntyre.

Elisabeth Easther goes bush in the Far North but finds all the creature comforts she could wish for at the five-star Waipoua Lodge.

Police deployed the Armed Offenders Squad to a Waima address at 3.26pm after reports that the middle-aged man had made threats.

Four fire crews are at the scene of a serious house fire in Maungaturoto.

A power line is lying across a Northland road and traffic is down to one lane after a car smashed into a power pole this morning.

Police carrying out a homicide investigation say a 62-year-old Far North man died of natural causes.

A woman was airlifted to hospital after a serious crash involving a southbound logging truck and a northbound car on State Highway 1.

A homicide inquiry has been launched after the body of a man was found at a Northland beach late last night.

The 2017 election campaign appears to be off to an early start in Kerikeri with the National Party opening an out-of-Parliament office today.

An oil company with an exploration licence off Northland has been accused by Greenpeace of trying to secretly get onside with iwi leaders.

A firearm-wielding robber has stolen cigarettes and cash from a Northland dairy - the fourth robbery in which cigarettes have been targeted in recent days.

Aaron Cossill's dramatic fight with a southern blue tuna is a classic case of being at the right place at the right time.

A home invasion victim found herself at the other end of the law, Jack Tame writes.

A "slick" of snapper found floating off Whangarei may have been dumped for safety reasons after a commercial vessel accidentally netted a log.

A man who escaped custody from Tauranga District Court last month has been arrested in Northland.

Heavy showers and thunderstorms are creeping towards Auckland and are forecast to hit later this afternoon.

A section of State Highway 12 near the Northland settlement of Ruawai is closed this morning after truck struck and killed a cow about 9am.

An investigation is under way after an ambulance taking a critically ill man to hospital crashed into a power pole. Shortly afterwards, the man died at the scene.

More thunderstorms are possible for the Bay of Plenty, Northland and Auckland.

The family of a Northland driver trapped in a car 100m down a ravine believe she might not have been found if a smartphone app had not traced her location.

Injured and dazed after crashing 100m down a bank, a Northland woman battled faltering cell phone reception and beeped her car horn to alert rescuers.