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Imran Ali
Multimedia Journalist
Whangarei

Imran Ali is a Multimedia Journalist for the Northern Advocate

We are your advocate, Aotearoa. Uncovering stories that matter, asking hard-hitting questions of those in power, live-blogging sport events, monitoring the highs and lows of the NZX and providing Premium expert opinion and analysis. Bringing you distinctive, quality journalism and breaking news from across New Zealand and around the world. With specialists working together to create indepth reads, engaging video, and unmissable podcasts.

Check out Imran’s latest content
Rugby: Taniwha roll Magpies in NPC clash
Northern Advocate

Rugby: Taniwha roll Magpies in NPC clash

03 Sep 03:33 AM
Compulsory teaching requirements won't work, educators say
Northern Advocate

Compulsory teaching requirements won't work, educators say

22 Aug 05:00 PM

The one size fits all approach toward students is being labelled 'unrealistic' by some.

Who dunnit: Phone booth gifted by late mother stolen
Northern Advocate

Who dunnit: Phone booth gifted by late mother stolen

22 Aug 03:05 AM

A reward is offered for the return of a stolen phone booth in Northland.

Premium
'Fatal for the sector': Percentage of funding for Northland GPs revealed
Northern Advocate

'Fatal for the sector': Percentage of funding for Northland GPs revealed

21 Aug 05:00 PM

Northland GPs hit out at Te Whatu Ora over funding shortfall.

Northland tame Tasman in torrential conditions
Northern Advocate

Northland tame Tasman in torrential conditions

20 Aug 02:00 AM

The Taniwha blew the Mako away in the wet in Whangārei.

Wildfires too painful to see unfold, says Northland-based Hawaiian
Northern Advocate

Wildfires too painful to see unfold, says Northland-based Hawaiian

17 Aug 05:00 PM

Death toll from Hawaii fires top 100

Premium
How to save on your power bill
Northern Advocate

How to save on your power bill

16 Aug 05:00 PM

More Northlanders need to switch to better power plans, says Powerswitch

Premium
Commonsense approach still vital in Northland despite lifting of Covid protections
Northern Advocate

Commonsense approach still vital in Northland despite lifting of Covid protections

15 Aug 06:00 PM

Community leaders in Northland are generally happy with the lifting of Covid protections.

Ill-discipline and two players in the bin proved costly for the Taniwha
Northern Advocate

Ill-discipline and two players in the bin proved costly for the Taniwha

06 Aug 05:34 AM

The Northland Taniwha were thumped by Canterbury in Whangārei.

Kids go free at rugby's double header in Whangārei
Northern Advocate

Kids go free at rugby's double header in Whangārei

03 Aug 05:00 PM

Double header at Semenoff Stadium in the Bunnings Warehouse NPC

Premium
Melbourne Storm coaches and players may visit Northland later this year
Northern Advocate

Melbourne Storm coaches and players may visit Northland later this year

02 Aug 05:00 PM

Plans afoot for NRL club from Aussie to visit Northland this year.

Warning over lithium-powered batteries after rubbish trucks catch fire
Northern Advocate

Warning over lithium-powered batteries after rubbish trucks catch fire

01 Aug 05:00 PM

Lithium batteries are catching fire on rubbish trucks in Northland.

All sealed up: Sea mammal's surprise morning trip to Bunnings
Northern Advocate

All sealed up: Sea mammal's surprise morning trip to Bunnings

31 Jul 01:01 AM

Staff resorted to using ovens and dishwashers to keep their unusual visitor contained.

Whangārei District Councillor Gavin Benney is NZ First's Whangārei candidate
Northern Advocate

Whangārei District Councillor Gavin Benney is NZ First's Whangārei candidate

30 Jul 03:35 AM

Gavin Benney pledges to wage war on crime in Whangārei.

Premium
'You just can’t survive': GPs under pressure due to underfunding
Northern Advocate

'You just can’t survive': GPs under pressure due to underfunding

25 Jul 05:00 PM

Some GPs are dipping into their mortgages to survive.

Premium
'This time was worth $10,000': Panel beater pays out for car damaged by potholes
Northern Advocate

'This time was worth $10,000': Panel beater pays out for car damaged by potholes

24 Jul 05:00 PM

Motorist slams council and Waka Kotahi NZTA for the state of roads.

Mid Northern still the kings of Northland rugby
Northern Advocate

Mid Northern still the kings of Northland rugby

23 Jul 05:00 PM

Double celebration for Mid Northern Premier and Division 1 teams.

Premium
He bought his ute brand new - but was shocked to discover he didn't own it when it came time to sell
Northern Advocate

He bought his ute brand new - but was shocked to discover he didn't own it when it came time to sell

17 Jul 05:00 PM

Waka Kotahi says registration of vehicle ownership is not the same as ownership.

Northland lab scientist fails in suspension battle
Northern Advocate

Northland lab scientist fails in suspension battle

16 Jul 05:00 PM

Lei Yang took Te Whatu Ora Tai Tokerau to the Employment Relations Authority

Premium
Ram-raid hotspot: Northland in top five regions for insurance claims
Northern Advocate

Ram-raid hotspot: Northland in top five regions for insurance claims

16 Jul 05:00 PM

Commercial insurance claims for theft-related offences soar.

Kamo and Mid Northern square off in Northland prems rugby final
Northern Advocate

Kamo and Mid Northern square off in Northland prems rugby final

16 Jul 05:00 PM

Prems rugby final on this Saturday in Whangārei.

Tamaiti Williams' whānau in Northland pumped up for his All Blacks debut
Northern Advocate

Tamaiti Williams' whānau in Northland pumped up for his All Blacks debut

14 Jul 05:00 PM

Tamaiti Williams reacts to being named in the All Blacks squad.

Police say woman killed in early morning Whangārei crash not wearing a seatbelt
Northern Advocate

Police say woman killed in early morning Whangārei crash not wearing a seatbelt

14 Jul 12:27 AM

A crane was needed to haul the woman's vehicle out of the creek where it landed.

Three yachties en route to Tonga rescued off Poor Knights Islands
Northern Advocate

Three yachties en route to Tonga rescued off Poor Knights Islands

09 Jul 04:18 AM

The yacht is now adrift after the three men on board were rescued this morning.

Knights tame the Bulls in the RLN premier final in Whangārei
Northern Advocate

Knights tame the Bulls in the RLN premier final in Whangārei

09 Jul 12:50 AM

The Knights came out top of the pops over the Bulls in the RLN Premier final.

More than 1000 bed nights during the Black Sticks games in Whangārei
Northern Advocate

More than 1000 bed nights during the Black Sticks games in Whangārei

07 Jul 05:00 PM

Black Sticks men's and women's teams to play Australia next month

Premium
Rugby stoush: Breach of confidentiality and privacy issues behind team’s exclusion
Northern Advocate

Rugby stoush: Breach of confidentiality and privacy issues behind team’s exclusion

07 Jul 05:00 PM

The coach and players were gutted at being unable to finish the season on a high.

Premium
High school students mingling outside preschool has parents worried
Northern Advocate

High school students mingling outside preschool has parents worried

06 Jul 05:00 PM

The behaviour of high school students has twice forced a childcare centre into lockdown.

Bulls to lock horns with Knights in the RLN premier final
Northern Advocate

Bulls to lock horns with Knights in the RLN premier final

04 Jul 05:00 PM

The game is Knights’ skipper Chris Nahi’s last and he’s itching for a win.

Premium
Far North Holdings cops heat over plans for public housing in Hikurangi
Northern Advocate

Far North Holdings cops heat over plans for public housing in Hikurangi

04 Jul 02:40 AM

Hikurangi residents pack hall to hear about community housing plans.

FNDC to adopt tikanga-based approach to move occupiers of land near Te Tii Marae
Northern Advocate

FNDC to adopt tikanga-based approach to move occupiers of land near Te Tii Marae

03 Jul 06:00 AM

FNDC successfully seeks High Court order to move occupiers of reserve and accessway.

SH1 at Dome Valley re-opens to all traffic
Northern Advocate

SH1 at Dome Valley re-opens to all traffic

02 Jul 07:08 PM

NZTA re-opens Dome Valley after slip cleared.

Northland beef farmer fined 15K for NAIT breaches
Northern Advocate

Northland beef farmer fined 15K for NAIT breaches

28 Jun 05:00 PM

Failing to register his animals landed a Northland beef farmer in court.

Premium
’We need a system that treats people with respect’: Calls to wipe welfare debt
Northern Advocate

’We need a system that treats people with respect’: Calls to wipe welfare debt

26 Jun 05:00 PM

Beneficiaries owe the Government $2.4 billion nationally.

Premium
Angry residents start petition against community housing development
Northern Advocate

Angry residents start petition against community housing development

25 Jun 05:00 PM

Far North Holdings wants resource consent to build community houses in Hikurangi.

'He loved his children': Uncle pays tribute to doting father of two
Northern Advocate

'He loved his children': Uncle pays tribute to doting father of two

20 Jun 06:41 AM

The body of a man allegedly stabbed in the neck is to be taken to Te Kao.

Famed Northland horse trainer's future in limbo after Singaporean government decision
Northern Advocate

Famed Northland horse trainer's future in limbo after Singaporean government decision

19 Jun 05:00 PM

Horse racing to stop in Singapore from October next year.

'A bit of a hiccup': DemocracyNZ lose one third of its announced candidates
Northern Advocate

'A bit of a hiccup': DemocracyNZ lose one third of its announced candidates

19 Jun 12:48 AM

Matt King maintains his party is still united despite five candidates leaving.

Rugby: Moerewa keep playoff hopes alive with win over Wellsford
Northern Advocate

Rugby: Moerewa keep playoff hopes alive with win over Wellsford

18 Jun 01:49 AM

Missed opportunities cost Wellsford in Premier rugby.

Seaglider would dash Whangārei to Auckland travel time
Northern Advocate

Seaglider would dash Whangārei to Auckland travel time

15 Jun 07:00 PM

Electric seagliders could operate from Whangārei from 2026.

Latest update on injured Whangārei yachtie in a Panama hospital
Northern Advocate

Latest update on injured Whangārei yachtie in a Panama hospital

15 Jun 05:00 PM

Plans are in progress to fly the seriously-injured sailor back to New Zealand.

Premium
Legal stoush: Women’s premier rugby team kicked out of comp amid conduct breach claims
Northern Advocate

Legal stoush: Women’s premier rugby team kicked out of comp amid conduct breach claims

15 Jun 12:00 AM

Premier women's team booted out of the competition for breaches of the code of conduct

Rob Rush relishing the opportunity at the Blues
Northern Advocate

Rob Rush relishing the opportunity at the Blues

12 Jun 05:00 PM

The son of Eric Rush sees first-hand the speed and skills required in Super Rugby.

Club rugby: Wellsford give Mid Northern a fright before losing
Northern Advocate

Club rugby: Wellsford give Mid Northern a fright before losing

11 Jun 05:00 PM

Mid Northern scramble well in defence to hold out a rampant Wellsford.

Premium
Minister's explanation on higher fuel prices in Whangārei baffles mayor
Northern Advocate

Minister's explanation on higher fuel prices in Whangārei baffles mayor

09 Jun 05:00 PM

Commerce Commission still looking at fuel price disparity in Whangārei and other towns

Rates in Whangārei going up by 7.9pc
Northern Advocate

Rates in Whangārei going up by 7.9pc

08 Jun 10:22 PM

More than half of submitters supported the rise.

Northlander cheats death with a miraculous recovery
Northern Advocate

Northlander cheats death with a miraculous recovery

07 Jun 05:00 PM

A bug paralyses Northlander who collapsed after India trip.

Premium
Northland bucking the slow housing market trend
Northern Advocate

Northland bucking the slow housing market trend

05 Jun 05:00 PM

Te Tai Tokerau is one of three regions that enjoyed a lift in house prices

Ralph Correa recognised for advocating ethnic inclusion in Northland
Northern Advocate

Ralph Correa recognised for advocating ethnic inclusion in Northland

04 Jun 05:00 PM

'Without the community, we are a nobody.'

Premium
Nearly 1900 vehicles stolen in Northland in six months
Northern Advocate

Nearly 1900 vehicles stolen in Northland in six months

01 Jun 05:00 PM

Ten vehicles per day stolen, police data reveals.

From Pipiwai to a world title: Boxer Lani Daniels' historic win
Northern Advocate

From Pipiwai to a world title: Boxer Lani Daniels' historic win

28 May 05:39 AM

The new IBF world heavyweight champion thinks her next big fight will be with the scales.

Sharks climb atop the points ladder in Premier rugby
Northern Advocate

Sharks climb atop the points ladder in Premier rugby

28 May 02:15 AM

Kerikeri turn on the screws to beat Hora Hora at home.

WBHS employment dispute: Order for destruction of key documents wrong, court rules
Northern Advocate

WBHS employment dispute: Order for destruction of key documents wrong, court rules

26 May 02:08 AM

Employment Relations Authority's order against a learning support helper has been quashed.

Critically injured Northland yachtie able to move his fingers
Northern Advocate

Critically injured Northland yachtie able to move his fingers

26 May 12:00 AM

Panama doctors taking Marcel Syron off the ventilator to improve his lung muscles.

Man admits shooting Northland grandmother until he knew she was dead
Northern Advocate

Man admits shooting Northland grandmother until he knew she was dead

25 May 11:40 PM

Northland woman Gaelene Bright shot three to four times

Rugby League Northland helping raise awareness around breast cancer
Northern Advocate

Rugby League Northland helping raise awareness around breast cancer

25 May 03:43 AM

Rugby league players and officials will be wearing pink this weekend.

New coach excited by the depth in the Taniwha squad
Northern Advocate

New coach excited by the depth in the Taniwha squad

24 May 05:00 PM

Former Scottish international John Leslie is the new Taniwha mentor.

Jenny Shipley to speak on critical infrastructure at Northland event
Northern Advocate

Jenny Shipley to speak on critical infrastructure at Northland event

24 May 05:00 PM

Northland's fragile infrastructure in sharp focus

Son of former All Blacks' captain named as new Northland rugby head coach
Northern Advocate

Son of former All Blacks' captain named as new Northland rugby head coach

24 May 01:11 AM

John Leslie has been named as the new Northland rugby head coach.

Rawhiti and Paparoa firefighters off to fight Alberta wildfires
Northern Advocate

Rawhiti and Paparoa firefighters off to fight Alberta wildfires

24 May 12:00 AM

Two Northland firefighters part of NZ crew to Canada

Sick of crime, he closed his dairy and opened a cafe. Thieves struck again
Northern Advocate

Sick of crime, he closed his dairy and opened a cafe. Thieves struck again

22 May 05:00 PM

Cash register ripped out and stolen from cafe in Whangārei.

Company fined $180,000 after worker injured by debarking machine
Northern Advocate

Company fined $180,000 after worker injured by debarking machine

22 May 05:00 PM

Machine operator suffered serious injuries while operating debarking machine in Northland.

Sharks score off a turnover to win in Kaihu
Northern Advocate

Sharks score off a turnover to win in Kaihu

21 May 05:00 PM

The Sharks overpowered Kamo at home in their Premier rugby meeting.

Premium
How safe is your job? Where the economic challenges will bite
Northern Advocate

How safe is your job? Where the economic challenges will bite

19 May 05:00 PM

Employment numbers up in Northland but tough times ahead for some businesses

Budget 2023 report card: Do the Govt's financial commitments meet the grade?
Northern Advocate

Budget 2023 report card: Do the Govt's financial commitments meet the grade?

18 May 06:16 AM

Four themes dominate this year's Budget - the cost of living among them.

Whangarei Boys' High School and LSA in dispute over employment matters
Northern Advocate

Whangarei Boys' High School and LSA in dispute over employment matters

17 May 11:57 PM

Unjustified disadvantage grievance challenged.

Promotion winner happy with $10k win despite missing out on $1m
Northern Advocate

Promotion winner happy with $10k win despite missing out on $1m

16 May 05:00 PM

CrossFit enthusiast picks envelope with $10k rather than $1m.

Woman appears in court after two children found dead in Ruakākā
Northern Advocate

Woman appears in court after two children found dead in Ruakākā

16 May 02:49 AM

Woman appears in court in relation to the death of children in Ruakākā.

Family friend saw 'lovely kids' day before Ruakākā deaths
Northern Advocate

Family friend saw 'lovely kids' day before Ruakākā deaths

15 May 11:12 PM

A friend said nothing appeared out of the ordinary when he saw the kids on Sunday morning.

Police charge woman in connection with double homicide in Ruakākā
Northern Advocate

Police charge woman in connection with double homicide in Ruakākā

15 May 07:29 PM

Police are questioning one person in relation to a double homicide in Ruakākā.

Woman, 25, charged with murder after deaths of two children in Ruakākā
Northern Advocate

Woman, 25, charged with murder after deaths of two children in Ruakākā

15 May 07:24 PM

The woman will be appearing in court today.

Kids' deaths treated as double homicide
Northern Advocate

Kids' deaths treated as double homicide

15 May 03:19 AM

Police are investigating the deaths of two children, believed to be aged 1 and 4.

'Shock to the community': Two children dead at Northland home
Northern Advocate

'Shock to the community': Two children dead at Northland home

14 May 11:31 PM

Double homicide in Ruakākā, Northland, being investigated by police

Ill-discipline cost Moerewa heavily in Northland prems rugby
Northern Advocate

Ill-discipline cost Moerewa heavily in Northland prems rugby

14 May 05:00 PM

Mid Northern chalk up a big score at home in premier rugby

Northland legal fraternity mourns death of respected lawyer Wiremu Puriri
Northern Advocate

Northland legal fraternity mourns death of respected lawyer Wiremu Puriri

14 May 05:00 PM

Northland lawyer Wiremu Puriri dies after a long battle with cancer.

Cleaned out: Couple's van stolen as they worked in central city
Northern Advocate

Cleaned out: Couple's van stolen as they worked in central city

12 May 05:00 PM

Commercial cleaning van stolen while cleaners were at work

New Channel Infrastructure CEO excited about opportunities at Marsden Pt site
Northern Advocate

New Channel Infrastructure CEO excited about opportunities at Marsden Pt site

12 May 05:00 PM

Renewable energy production on Marsden Pt key going forward

WorkSafe has up to a year to complete Abbey Caves' death probe
Northern Advocate

WorkSafe has up to a year to complete Abbey Caves' death probe

12 May 05:00 PM

Whangārei student's body taken to Te Karae Marae near Kohukohu

Abbey Caves tragedy: Student making final journey to the Northland marae
Northern Advocate

Abbey Caves tragedy: Student making final journey to the Northland marae

11 May 10:26 PM

Tangi and other details yet to be announced.

Take it easy on people dealing with Abbey Caves tragedy, psychology lecturer says
Northern Advocate

Take it easy on people dealing with Abbey Caves tragedy, psychology lecturer says

11 May 05:00 PM

Talk about feelings after traumatic events like the Abbey Caves tragedy, expert says.

'I had a feeling': Cave guide tells of search for missing student
Northern Advocate

'I had a feeling': Cave guide tells of search for missing student

10 May 10:35 PM

Just hours before helping emergency services he postponed another school trip.

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