"I'm p***ed off". Tau Henare is furious at being bumped off the speaking list at last week's Waitangi Tribunal hearing.

A father who died after falling from a flying fox at his Christmas party should not have been using the equipment, the company which operates the ride says.

Police top brass have admitted mistakes were made when the detective who blew the whistle on his drug-dealing boss was investigated himself after he raised concerns.

A former senior police officer who admitted to supplying drugs has suffered the humiliation of a significant "fall from grace", a judge has found.

A former police detective who admitted to supplying drugs has been sentenced to almost five years in prison.

The family of slain up-and-coming rugby league star Luke Tipene are gathering for another farewell after his second cousin was killed in a car crash.

Auckland is in for a wet and windy start to the week, with heavy rain, gales and possible thunderstorms forecast for today.

This isolated Northland community is an ideal spot for a weekend break, writes Holly Jean Brooker.

A 6-year-old boy died during a horror day on North Island roads yesterday.

Deep within the Hokianga is a quiet settlement adrift from the rat race, writes Hannah Sperber.

Be sure to check out these terrific spots next time you're up north.

A crime partnership run by Northland's top drug cop dealt in hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of methamphetamine and cannabis, a court heard today.

The driver of a speeding car which caught fire at the end of a bizarre police chase had to turn himself in after dense bush and gorse proved too rough, a witness says.

A driver speeding at 150km/h dropped a hitch-hiker off on the side of the road before continuing to flee police until his car caught fire.

A coastal Northland property purchased for just $9000 in 1974 is commanding a price tag around $1.6 million.

One person has died after a a car and truck collided north of Auckland. It is the first road death of the long weekend.

An 85-year-old great-grandmother will lose part of her property to make way for a road extension - all because the council can't cut down a protected tree.

A 16-year-old has been charged with the murder of a Whangarei man who was assaulted at his home on Sunday morning.

A father of three who died after an apparently unprovoked attack at his Whangarei property has been named by police.

A ban on fizzy drinks in Northland hospitals has won the support of staff and the public, the Northland District Health Board says.

A great boys' trip up north is about golf and sleep not babes and beach for family man Rob Cox.

Ferries were cancelled, roads were closed and thousands were without power in Auckland as a wintry blast blew through yesterday.

Thousands of Aucklanders are still without power and motorists are being warned to take care in the windy conditions.

The blue tide that has ruled over Northland for the past 40 years swept over the region again with National Party retaining the Whangarei and Northland seats.

Fears about weather chaos over the North Island have eased this afternoon with the Metservice lifting a dozen severe weather warnings.

Elisabeth Easther visited Russell for a sneak preview of the Bay of Islands Walking Weekend and found a wealth of wanders on offer.

Heavy rain over the top of the country during the weekend could cause high river levels, flooding and slips, forecasters warn.