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Thousands of people visited Te Uri o Hina Marae during the hui mate or tangihanga for Sir Hekenukumai Puhipi. Photo / Michael Cunningham

NORTHERN ADVOCATE

Sir Hek's tangi a massive volunteer effort

18 May, 2019 7:00am
2 minutes to read

Wednesday's hāngī alone was big enough to feed 2000 people.

Sir Hekenukumai makes his final journey, to the hilltop Te Rangihaukaha Urupa, to be reunited with his beloved wife Hilda. Photo / Michael Cunningham

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Master waka builder, navigator Sir Hek sent on final voyage

16 May, 2019 5:00am
3 minutes to read

Sir Hekenukumai Busby laid to rest with wife Hilda after thousands attend tangi.

Nine-year-old Skye Stevenson with the remains of her roadside pony poo stand after it was destroyed by vandals. Photo / Peter de Graaf

THE COUNTRY

Vandals wreck girl's 'pony poo' stand

15 May, 2019 10:30am
2 minutes to read

Skye, 9, can understand people taking poo without paying but why smash up her stall?

A Dutch crew paddles Te Hono ki Aotearoa on a canal in Leiden after Sir Hekenukumai Busby handed over the waka to Holland's national ethnology museum in 2010. Photo / Peter Hilz

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Dutch paddlers head to NZ to honour master waka builder

15 May, 2019 7:00am
2 minutes to read

Mourners are expected from around the Pacific and as far away as Holland.

The assault occurred near the stone church on Paihia's Marsden Rd early on Saturday morning. Photo / Peter de Graaf

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Grandfather, 68, assaulted, knocked out in Paihia

14 May, 2019 8:00am
2 minutes to read

Son says 'harmless' man was walking on Marsden Rd when punched and knocked unconscious.

Sir Hekenukumai Busby and Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern exchange smiles when the master waka builder was knighted at Waitangi earlier this year. Photo / Peter de Graaf

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World mourns loss of master waka builder, navigator

13 May, 2019 5:00am
4 minutes to read

Sir Hekenukumai Busby, who revived traditional ocean voyaging, died in Kaitaia aged 86.

Kaitaia College head of guidance Bill Parangi, left, shares a hongi with Northland College sports coordinator James

NORTHERN ADVOCATE

New gym honours Northland College teaching legend

12 May, 2019 2:00pm
3 minutes to read

James ''Jimbob'' Lawrence has taught sports at the Kaikohe school since 1975.

Kerikeri grape grower Jake Dromgool, centre, is hoping 2019 will be the year he takes out the Young Viticulturist of the Year title. With him are past national winner Tim Adams of Waiheke and competition coordinator Nicky Grandorge. Photo / Peter de Graaf

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Top young grape-growers to compete in Kerikeri

11 May, 2019 4:00pm
3 minutes to read

Day-long contest between region's top young viticulturists will be open to the public.

The Toner Sisters, from left, Celine, Adrienne and Lynne, were raised on country music. Photo / supplied

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Country rock festival clocks up 30 years

10 May, 2019 11:00am
2 minutes to read

May 10-12 festival features 43 acts from the US, Australia and New Zealand at 7 venues.

Is is a kiwi, or a feijoa? The freak combination of two great Kiwi icons was found growing in a Kerikeri backyard. Photo / Karli Thomas

THE COUNTRY

Feiwi or kijoa? Freak fruit found growing in Kerikeri garden

10 May, 2019 10:00am
2 minutes to read

Combination of two great Kiwi icons described as the 'perfect freak of nature'.

Feijoa grower Stuart Duff with a few of his surviving fruit. Photo / Peter de Graaf

THE COUNTRY

Feijoa growers devastated by 'double whammy'

9 May, 2019 5:00pm
4 minutes to read

Some growers are losing 95 per cent of their crop and may have to quit their orchards.

A police cordon at the intersection of York and Cass Streets during yesterday's bomb scare in Russell. Photo / Peter de Graaf

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Police investigating Russell bomb threat

8 May, 2019 7:00am
3 minutes to read

Locals described it as biggest thing to hit town since Hone Heke cut down the flagpole.

Pallbearers led by Christopher Foley (Kaikohe brigade, left) and Robert Ball (Ōmapere) carry Dene Preston’s casket past a firefighters’ guard of honour to the gates of Waiotemarama Cemetery. Photo / Peter de Graaf

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Hundreds farewell fire chief, prankster, 'father figure'

6 May, 2019 4:00pm
4 minutes to read

Dene Preston was a volunteer firefighter for 38 years, 10 of those as Ōmapere fire chief

Motuti Marae Trustees chairman Kevin Robinson with Joan Daniels (left) and Sister Magdalen of the Sisters of Compassion at Raiātea Resource Centre, under construction at Motuti Marae.

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New museum in North Hokianga 'will rival any' in Far North

5 May, 2019 9:30am
3 minutes to read

The Raiātea collection comprises more than 10,000 mostly Māori and Polynesian objects.

Paihia couple Neil and Catherine Davidson are the ''mystery couple'' who tried heroically to save a man's life off Paihia beach in March and will be thanked by his friends.

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'Mystery couple' found after heroic rescue attempt

4 May, 2019 5:00pm
3 minutes to read

Swedish tourists thanked everyone who tried to save friend's life - except one couple.

Bill Guest at home with granddaughter Elle May Guest, 19, and two-month-old great-grandson Taupae Karaka Beau Hiakita. ‘Beau’ comes from Bill Guest’s wartime nickname Beau Geste, after the fictional French foreign legionnaire. Photo / Peter de Graaf

PREMIUM

One man's war: A Hokianga soldier remembers

4 May, 2019 3:10pm
13 minutes to read

Bill Guest only left Hokianga once and reckons only luck brought him home alive.

Owners Dimitri Edmonds and Craig Pinkney on board Ranui at Kohukohu wharf. Photo / Peter de Graaf

THE COUNTRY

Historic launch brings back Hokianga's boating days

4 May, 2019 7:30am
4 minutes to read

The 10m, 23-passenger Ranui was originally built in 1945 for returned servicemen.

Long-serving Ōmapere fire chief Dene Preston was also a stalwart of Waimamaku’s Wild West Fest (pictured), held every February in South Hokianga. Photo / Peter de Graaf

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Long-serving Ōmapere fire chief dies

1 May, 2019 6:00pm
Quick Read

Community stalwart Dene Preston, of Waimamaku, was a volunteer firefighter for 38 years.

Rangimārie Mules and Jared Hiakita with their 2-month-old son Taupae and their future tiny home, which is taking shape in North Hokianga. Photo / Peter de Graaf

PREMIUM

Couple think tiny in answer to housing crisis

30 Apr, 2019 6:00am
10 minutes to read

Northland couple's answer to the housing crisis is taking shape in remote North Hokianga.

A public reserve on Motuarohia Island in the Bay of Islands is getting a makeover ahead of the Tuia 250 celebrations later this year. Photo / Peter de Graaf

THE COUNTRY

Motuarohia Island to close for four-month makeover

30 Apr, 2019 5:30am
2 minutes to read

Work will include a track upgrade and felling pines to make the pā visible.

Goran and Lena Bjorkman, now back home in Sweden, want to find a couple who tried to save their Kiwi friend's life. Photo / supplied

NEW ZEALAND

Tourist couple seeks rescuers after tragedy off Paihia beach

29 Apr, 2019 2:30pm
4 minutes to read

Swedish visitors thanked everyone involved in rescue attempt - except one heroic couple.

From left, Judith McCorkindale, Laura Thomson, Vanessa Riley, Carolien Posthuma and Caroleen Jonker at one of the Dutch food stalls. Photo / Peter de Graaf

NORTHERN ADVOCATE

Kerikeri goes Dutch for a day

29 Apr, 2019 1:00pm
3 minutes to read

Dutch festival could return next year after hundreds turn out for inaugural event.

Preparing a tasty range of Indonesian food were, from left, Lestari Loclyer (Kerikeri), Wiwiek Rafferty (Whangarei), Heni Atkins (Whangarei) and Any Barati (Kerikeri). Photo / Peter de Graaf

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Photos: Dutch Festival in Kerikeri

29 Apr, 2019 10:00am
Quick Read

More than 500 people marked Dutch national day in Far North's first Koningsdag Festival.

Little remains of the Ripi St home after a ferocious blaze early on Anzac Day. Photo / Peter de Graaf

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Givealittle page started after family home destroyed by fire

27 Apr, 2019 7:45am
2 minutes to read

A Ripi St family lost almost everything they owned in a huge house fire.

The Ripi St house was burning fiercely when firefighters arrived. Photo / supplied

NEW ZEALAND

Kaikohe family loses home in Anzac Day blaze

26 Apr, 2019 5:30am
3 minutes to read

No one was home at the time because they were preparing for an Anzac Day dawn service.

Vietnam veteran Bill Godfrey, 78, leads the last parade by returned and current Defence Force members to the Kerikeri RSA flagpole. Photo / Peter de Graaf

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Big turnout for Kerikeri RSA's last dawn service

25 Apr, 2019 6:30pm
4 minutes to read

Kerikeri RSA will close down tonight but search for new premises will go on.

The dunes along Tokerau Beach are under threat from motorbikes and four-wheel-drives, a local marae says. Photo / Don Hammond

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Drivers urged to keep off dunes, wāhi tapu

25 Apr, 2019 12:00pm
3 minutes to read

Local hapu have put up signs at Tokerau, Puwheke beaches - more action could follow.

Working the barbecue are, from left, Pukekohe whanau Nortz Astle-Harris, Dallz Martin and T Teava. Photo / Peter de Graaf

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Photos:Hundreds back unwell dad in Kaikohe Easter fundraiser

22 Apr, 2019 8:38pm
Quick Read

'Big Bunny' event raises more than $8000 for Whitinga Harris' cancer battle.

Regional Development Minister Shane Jones (second from right) speaks during the blessing of the Whangaroa Bridge site north of Kaeo. Photo / Peter de Graaf

NEW ZEALAND

MPs gather for blessing of new Kaeo Bridge site

17 Apr, 2019 5:00pm
3 minutes to read

Design work underway for new two-lane bridge but funding not yet allocated.

Eight-year-old Tohe Tatai with his pet chicken, Cheeka. Photo / supplied

NEW ZEALAND

Murder most fowl: Mangonui family devastated over pet's death

17 Apr, 2019 9:00am
2 minutes to read

Cheeka the chicken was a well-loved member of the Tatai family for three years.

Paihia township might look pretty, but its sewage treatment plant is anything but. Photo / Stephen Western

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Northland Regional Council takes court action over Paihia sewage

17 Apr, 2019 5:00am
4 minutes to read

Paihia township might look pretty, but its sewage treatment plant is anything but.

Whitinga Harris, from Ōtaua, near Kaikohe, who is battling stage four-colon cancer, with his sons Waaka, 9, and Heremia Grace-Harris, 12. Photo / Peter de Graaf

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Easter fundraiser for young dad battling cancer

16 Apr, 2019 1:24pm
2 minutes to read

Specialists say 31-year-old's best chance for more time with his kids is a $100,000 drug.

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Poo fairies to the rescue?

16 Apr, 2019 9:00am
2 minutes to read

Similar doggie-do problems in the Bay of Islands have been solved by "poo fairies".

Oruru Hall in its glory days as Swamp Palace, then New Zealand's northernmost movie theatre. Photo / file

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Repairs under way at last at iconic Oruru Swamp Palace

16 Apr, 2019 5:00am
3 minutes to read

The hall which found fame as Swamp Palace movie theatre was in danger of falling down.

A Seasprite helicopter from the RNZAF's No.6 Squadron will fly over Kerikeri's Anzac Day civic service. Photo / file

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Flyover of Kerikeri Anzac service planned

15 Apr, 2019 4:00pm
2 minutes to read

Flyover marks first Anzac Day since Kerikeri named ceremonial base for No.6 Squadron.

A Goodnature employee installs one of the company's A24 self-resetting traps. Photo / Supplied

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Donations flood in for environmental group hit by trap thefts

15 Apr, 2019 2:50pm
Quick Read

The high-tech, self-resetting traps were stolen from two islands near Paihia.

Kerikeri High School’s Archie White makes winning the under-19 boys’ race look easy. Photo / Peter de Graaf

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Photos: National SUP champs make Northland debut

15 Apr, 2019 12:53pm
Quick Read

More than 130 people competed in the 2019 New Zealand SUP Championships at Waitangi.

The Poutu Peninsula during the 2014 drought.

THE COUNTRY

PGF's $18.5m irrigation grant 'could create hundreds of jobs'

15 Apr, 2019 6:00am
3 minutes to read

Irrigation would make 1000s of hectares in Mid North, Kaipara suitable for horticulture.

Bay of Islands College students get airborne during Te Roopu o Peowhairangi’s performance. Photo / Darren Markin

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North secondary schools take to stage in kapa haka

13 Apr, 2019 9:00pm
2 minutes to read

The three top schools will represent Northland in the nationals in 2020.

Kerikeri RSA regulars, from left, Kevin Mangnall, Bob Ball, Les Rockel and Les Franks lament the club's imminent closure. Photo / Peter de Graaf

NORTHERN ADVOCATE

Last drinks loom at the Kerikeri RSA

13 Apr, 2019 10:00am
4 minutes to read

Falling patronage and high overheads force old soldiers' club to close on April 26.

Construction of a new geothermal power station at Ngāwhā, east of Kaikohe, is eight months ahead of schedule. Photo / Top Energy

NORTHERN ADVOCATE

Power station project eight months ahead of schedule

13 Apr, 2019 9:00am
3 minutes to read

Ngāwhā power station now expected to produce 31.8MW instead of the original 25MW.

Seeka's new Kerikeri packing facility, which includes the Compac Sizer seen here, is expected to process two million trays of kiwifruit this season. Photo / Peter de Graaf

BUSINESS

Seeka pumps $18m into fruit packing facility

11 Apr, 2019 11:00am
3 minutes to read

New plant boosts Seeka's Kerikeri capacity from 1.4m to 4m trays of kiwifruit a year.

Building apprentices Michiko Cooper, 19, and Kyle Parsons, 17, at work on Kawakawa's Te Hononga community hub. Photo / Peter de Graaf

NORTHERN ADVOCATE

Building apprentice breaks new ground at Te Hononga project

11 Apr, 2019 7:00am
4 minutes to read

Workers include firm's first female apprentice and 20 previously unemployed trainees.

NEW ZEALAND

Rat trap thefts put island wildlife at risk

10 Apr, 2019 11:00am
2 minutes to read

Rat traps were stolen from Motumaire and Motuarahi islands, just north of Paihia wharf.

Taumeasina Island Resort, in Samoa. Photo / Supplied

TRAVEL

Room Check: Taumeasina Island Resort, Apia

9 Apr, 2019 1:00pm
4 minutes to read

Peter de Graaf stays at Taumeasina Island Resort, Apia, Samoa.

Far North District councillor Dave Hookway says official attendance figures are

NORTHERN ADVOCATE

Councillors' attendance ranges from 100 per cent to just 36 per cent - report

6 Apr, 2019 12:00pm
3 minutes to read

Find out which Far North District councillors are top - and bottom - of the class.

Seven-year-old Page Wihongi-Cross, of Kaikohe East School, performs for her schoolmates. Photo / Peter de Graaf

NORTHERN ADVOCATE

Photos: Kaikohe kids play mass ukulele concert

6 Apr, 2019 8:30am
Quick Read

More than 100 kids took part in ukulele workshops with The Nukes as part of Upsurge fest

The Milky Way photographed from Omapere wharf, Hokianga, by Kerikeri astrophotographer Chris Pegman. Photo / Chris Pegman

BUSINESS

North Hokianga 'a sitter' for dark sky status

5 Apr, 2019 9:00am
3 minutes to read

Official dark sky status could boost boutique tourism in the area, proposal's backers say

Fire and Emergency Muriwhenua area manager Wipari Henwood, left, and Kerikeri station officer Andy Hamberger invite Northlanders to head to their local fire station for an open evening from 5pm today. Photo / Peter de Graaf

NORTHERN ADVOCATE

Northland fire stations open doors for new volunteers

4 Apr, 2019 9:00am
3 minutes to read

Every Northland fire station, from Tinopai up to Pukenui, will be open from 5-7pm tonight.

A double bill by the NZ Dance Company during the Upsurge festival will include a world premiere of The Fibonacci by Victoria Columbus. Photo / John McDermott

NORTHERN ADVOCATE

Arts upsurge in the Bay

3 Apr, 2019 2:00pm
11 minutes to read

A round-up of news snippets, events and oddities from the Bay of Islands and the Mid North

Northland honey producers say they are disadvantaged by a definition of mānuka honey that doesn't take regional differences into account. Photo / John Borren

BUSINESS

Mānuka honey rules 'crippling' Northland industry

3 Apr, 2019 6:00am
5 minutes to read

Some honey can't be sold as mānuka even though the bees are fed exclusively on it.

Project Island Song coordinator Richard Robbins with the supreme trophy in the inaugural Far North Go Green Awards. Photo / Stephen Western

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Island restoration project takes out top green award

2 Apr, 2019 12:00pm
3 minutes to read

Project Island Song won the top award in the inaugural Far North Go Green Awards.

A builder gets to work repairing the damage at Rip Curl after a ram raid in central Paihia early yesterday. Photo / Peter de Graaf

NEW ZEALAND

'Gut-wrenching' ram-raid at Paihia surf store

2 Apr, 2019 7:00am
3 minutes to read

Up to $10,000 worth of watches were stolen in third ram raid in Northland since Friday.

Kerikeri woman Keri Molloy is calling for better access to Taronui Bay, currently accessed only by a 3.7km DoC track across farmland. Photo / Peter de Graaf

NEW ZEALAND

Public 'shut out' of access to Bay of Islands coast

1 Apr, 2019 11:00am
4 minutes to read

More than 2500 signatures back call for road access to Taronui Bay, near Kerikeri.

The Suzuki Swift stolen from an elderly Kerikeri man who was attacked by two men was later stopped by police at Mangamuka.

NORTHERN ADVOCATE

Sentencing of men who attacked Kerikeri 82-year-old deferred again

29 Mar, 2019 6:00pm
2 minutes to read

Victim was beaten by 17yo hitchhikers who dumped him by the roadside and stole his car.

Gigi Sosnoski (centre) listens as the victims' names are read out during a memorial service at Kerikeri's Turner Centre. Photo / Peter de Graaf

NORTHERN ADVOCATE

Memorial services pay tribute to victims

29 Mar, 2019 5:19pm
4 minutes to read

Six out of seven Far North memorial services cancelled amid security concerns.

Soldiers of the 28th Maori Battalion perform a haka at Maadi Camp in Egypt in 1941. Photo / file

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'Show and tell' to pave way for Māori Battalion book

29 Mar, 2019 11:00am
3 minutes to read

Speakers to include whānau of Sir James Henare, Harding Leaf, Kahi Harawira and others

A head-on crash near Kawakawa has left a man with serious head injuries. Photo / file

NEW ZEALAND

Driver critically injured in head-on smash near Kawakawa

28 Mar, 2019 11:48am
Quick Read

Crash occurred at 12.20am just north of Kawakawa's Three Bridges.

Kids at Ohaeawai Primary School form a peace sign. Photo / supplied

LIFESTYLE

Schools join 10-year-old Kaia's Christchurch fundraiser

28 Mar, 2019 8:30am
2 minutes to read

Schoolgirl's initiative joined by hundreds of kids around the Mid North.

A KiwiRail train after its final delivery of logs from Otiria to Portland before the northern part of the line was shut down in 2016. Photo / John Stone

BUSINESS

Govt to weigh up reopening Northland rail line

28 Mar, 2019 6:00am
4 minutes to read

Business case for re-opening Northland rail, plus new spur to Northport, just weeks away

Flames engulf the hillside above historic Rangihoua Bay after what firefighters described as a

NEW ZEALAND

Man pleads not guilty to arson after Purerua explosion

27 Mar, 2019 6:00pm
2 minutes to read

Lawyer says his client set off the explosion but didn't expect it to start a fire.

Up to 5000 people are expected at Saturday's Waterfront Festival in Mangonui. Photo / file

NORTHERN ADVOCATE

It's party time in Mangonui

27 Mar, 2019 2:00pm
9 minutes to read

A round-up of news snippets, events and oddities from the Bay of Islands and the Mid North