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Mike Barrington
Reporter
Whangarei

Mike Barrington is a reporter 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 Mike’s latest content
Far North District Council denied access to dam
Northern Advocate

Far North District Council denied access to dam

01 May 11:02 PM
Demand leaps for Northland lifestyle blocks
Northern Advocate

Demand leaps for Northland lifestyle blocks

25 Apr 11:18 PM

Northland lifestyle block sale prices have increased 27 per cent in the past year.

Prices of Northland lifestyle blocks ease as market 'in transition'
Northern Advocate

Prices of Northland lifestyle blocks ease as market 'in transition'

07 Mar 01:00 AM

Median price of Northland lifestyle blocks still much stronger than a year ago

Stalwart of the Northland shearing circuit makes final cut for Norwood awards
Northern Advocate

Stalwart of the Northland shearing circuit makes final cut for Norwood awards

28 Feb 01:00 AM

Neil Sidwell, of Waiwera is a finalist in the 2019 Norwood NZ Rural Sports Awards.

Funding to stave off feijoa crash
Northern Advocate

Funding to stave off feijoa crash

14 Feb 03:58 AM

A fungus disease attacking feijoa trees is at risk of spreading.

Fun guaranteed at the Wairoa A&P Show
Northern Advocate

Fun guaranteed at the Wairoa A&P Show

06 Feb 04:00 PM

127th annual Northern Wairoa A&P Show has something for everyone.

Northland's rural production sector bucks trends
Northern Advocate

Northland's rural production sector bucks trends

31 Jan 05:00 AM

Lack of labour major constraint in a generally optimistic rural sector, says REINZ

Rural city-fringe values soar in Northland
Northern Advocate

Rural city-fringe values soar in Northland

17 Jan 03:00 AM

Auckland buyers drive up lifestyle prices in Northland but dairy has lost ground.

Orchard sales in Northland hint at land-use trend
Northern Advocate

Orchard sales in Northland hint at land-use trend

10 Jan 04:00 AM

The Bay of Islands is showing strong growth in orchard land sales.

Funds for mānuka plantings
Northern Advocate

Funds for mānuka plantings

06 Dec 04:00 AM

Funding for manuka plants will help beekeeping cultivars progress.

Northland vendors hope mild spring will help with farm sale
Northern Advocate

Northland vendors hope mild spring will help with farm sale

05 Dec 04:00 PM

At least 34 farms have sold in Northland in three months ending in October.

Cocavo spreads the good oil further
Northern Advocate

Cocavo spreads the good oil further

29 Nov 05:00 AM

Entrepreneur hopes his blend of coconut and avocado oil will boost the Pacific Islands.

Fonterra: Collaboration key to clean-up NZ waterways
Northern Advocate

Fonterra: Collaboration key to clean-up NZ waterways

21 Nov 04:00 PM

Fonterra counts the milestones a year after the launch of an ambitious river programme.

Northern finalists line up for FMG Young Farmer of the Year
Northern Advocate

Northern finalists line up for FMG Young Farmer of the Year

07 Nov 03:00 PM

Four farming hopefuls qualify for Northern Regional Final of Young Farmer of the Year.

Farmer-led project Extension 350 wins award
Northern Advocate

Farmer-led project Extension 350 wins award

01 Nov 03:30 AM

A farmer-led project has received top honour at the 2018 Economic Development NZ Awards.

Farm sales ease in Northland
Northern Advocate

Farm sales ease in Northland

01 Nov 02:30 AM

Farm sale volumes in Northland in the period ending September 2018 continue to ease.

Finance hurdle stalls conversion of Northland abattoir
Northern Advocate

Finance hurdle stalls conversion of Northland abattoir

24 Oct 04:00 PM

US rules hold up ambitious Hikurangi abattoir conversion project.

Lifestyle blocks leap in price
Northern Advocate

Lifestyle blocks leap in price

26 Sep 11:00 PM

Median prices have risen nearly $150,000 in two years.

Robin Grieve dismisses Upton report on Greenhouse emissions
Northern Advocate

Robin Grieve dismisses Upton report on Greenhouse emissions

05 Sep 06:00 PM

New calls for politicians to rethink how methane is treated

Loathed manuka now loved in Waipoua Forest
Northern Advocate

Loathed manuka now loved in Waipoua Forest

05 Sep 05:00 PM

Where once it was despised, manuka is now being planted with a golden future

Spring brings glimmer of hope for Northland property vendors
Northern Advocate

Spring brings glimmer of hope for Northland property vendors

29 Aug 11:28 PM

Farm sales are down but the Real Estate Institute senses an air of cautious optimism

Mycoplasma bovis cattle cull hits 32,000 mark
Northern Advocate

Mycoplasma bovis cattle cull hits 32,000 mark

01 Aug 05:00 PM

We look at progress a year after the response to Mycoplasma bovis began in earnest.

Northland rural resilience in face of M. bovis
Northern Advocate

Northland rural resilience in face of M. bovis

25 Jul 07:00 PM

Sales figures in Northland are encouraging for winter, says Real Estate Institute

Pipiwai beef farmer has high hopes for new gate spring
Northern Advocate

Pipiwai beef farmer has high hopes for new gate spring

18 Jul 08:00 PM

Innovations: Metal spring invention hopes to replace plastic one in farm fences.

Mycoplasma bovis blamed for falling farm sales
Northern Advocate

Mycoplasma bovis blamed for falling farm sales

05 Jul 01:14 AM

Northland farm sale decline most severe of sales slumps throughout NZ.

Northland water storage plans back on boil
Northern Advocate

Northland water storage plans back on boil

27 Jun 09:00 PM

Council exploring possibility of Provincial Growth Fund financing for water project.

M. bovis concerns over origin of calves
Northern Advocate

M. bovis concerns over origin of calves

20 Jun 07:00 PM

Hundreds of farmers attend MPI/DairyNZ Mycoplasma bovis update meetings.

REINZ: Solid upturn in Northland farm property
Northern Advocate

REINZ: Solid upturn in Northland farm property

10 May 05:30 AM

Despite fewer farms selling this year, the institute detects a rise in confidence.

Horticulture NZ candidate hopes to amplify North voice
Northern Advocate

Horticulture NZ candidate hopes to amplify North voice

03 May 03:00 AM

A Dargaville farmer seeks election on to the Horticulture NZ national board.

Farmers put heft behind billion trees policy
Northern Advocate

Farmers put heft behind billion trees policy

02 May 10:29 PM

Northland farmers are involved in planting for the billion-tree planting programme.

Ashgrove Coopworth Field Day draws big crowds
Northern Advocate

Ashgrove Coopworth Field Day draws big crowds

26 Apr 03:30 AM

James Parsons drew big crowds to a field day on his Ashgrove Coopworth stud.

Crowds come out to toast Young Paraders
Northern Advocate

Crowds come out to toast Young Paraders

18 Apr 06:30 PM

Prizegiving ceremony celebrates northern winners of Young Paraders competition.

Forestry provides financial freedom for immobilised farmer
Northern Advocate

Forestry provides financial freedom for immobilised farmer

05 Apr 05:30 AM

The long-term benefits of growing pines give Murdoch Ross some financial freedom.

Farm built on vision and hard work
Northern Advocate

Farm built on vision and hard work

05 Apr 02:30 AM

Couple introduce blueberries grown in tunnel houses to make old avocado venture profitable

Dairy farm sales in Northland edge up
Northern Advocate

Dairy farm sales in Northland edge up

28 Mar 08:27 PM

Farm sales in Northland are edging up slowly.

Northland farm sales drop over summer
Northern Advocate

Northland farm sales drop over summer

15 Mar 02:00 AM

Fewer farms are selling in the Northland region.

Wet season leaves Northland farmers smiling
Northern Advocate

Wet season leaves Northland farmers smiling

01 Mar 03:00 AM

The weather over summer brought favourable conditions for most Northland farms.

Second wettest January on record for Northland
Northern Advocate

Second wettest January on record for Northland

01 Mar 02:00 AM

January rainfall has been way above normal this year in Northland.

Eight vie for coveted Northern regional final of Young Farmer of the Year title
Northern Advocate

Eight vie for coveted Northern regional final of Young Farmer of the Year title

22 Feb 01:00 AM

Eight contestants will vie for Northern regional final of the FMG Young Farmer of the Year

Copper spray key to high quality avocados
Northern Advocate

Copper spray key to high quality avocados

15 Feb 03:00 AM

A trip to Australia persuades grower of benefits of using copper spray on avocados.

Northland farm sales down
Northern Advocate

Northland farm sales down

07 Feb 11:30 PM

Northland is down 25 on its sales tally for the same time a year earlier.

There is such a thing as farmer's intuition
Northern Advocate

There is such a thing as farmer's intuition

01 Feb 06:52 AM

Two Lincoln University researchers have been examining how Kiwi farmers make decisions.

Tropical Fruit Growers NZ membership soars
Northern Advocate

Tropical Fruit Growers NZ membership soars

25 Jan 04:00 AM

Tropical Fruit Growers of New Zealand membership has soared over the last year.

Concern over leptospirosis spike in Northland
Northern Advocate

Concern over leptospirosis spike in Northland

18 Jan 04:30 AM

Northland cases of leptospirosis jump to highest number in 20 years.

Northland farm gates open to good vibes
Northern Advocate

Northland farm gates open to good vibes

13 Dec 11:00 PM

Fonterra Open Gates events in Northland receive perceptive questions and positive feedback

Northland farms to open gates for water inspection
Northern Advocate

Northland farms to open gates for water inspection

30 Nov 02:30 AM

Two Northland dairy farms will open their gates on December 10 to show water protection.

Chairman steps down from the Beef + Lamb board
Northern Advocate

Chairman steps down from the Beef + Lamb board

23 Nov 05:00 AM

Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) chairman James Parsons will not seek re-election

Milk price volatility spurs flexibility
Northern Advocate

Milk price volatility spurs flexibility

16 Nov 03:30 AM

Traditions are changing for dairy farmers wanting to slow down

Awards for dairy industry on offer
Northern Advocate

Awards for dairy industry on offer

19 Oct 04:00 AM

Entries in Share Farmer of the Year, Dairy Manager, Dairy Tranee of the Year now open

Study: Small streams have huge impact
Northern Advocate

Study: Small streams have huge impact

12 Oct 02:00 AM

Rethink on rules over smaller streams needed says research

Future Farm may be set up in North
Northern Advocate

Future Farm may be set up in North

12 Oct 01:00 AM

Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) is to establish a "Future Farm" in Northland

TV show loses funding at bad time, says Milne
Northern Advocate

TV show loses funding at bad time, says Milne

12 Oct 12:00 AM

A call has gone out to get Rural Delivery back on our screens next year.

New pathway to dairy industry
Northern Advocate

New pathway to dairy industry

04 Oct 11:30 PM

Dairy apprenticeships launched to get more workers on farms

River log jams prompt rethink
Northern Advocate

River log jams prompt rethink

28 Sep 04:00 AM

Hapu fear proposed crossing will damage a shared resource and scuttle their own plans

Top farm to open its gates
Northern Advocate

Top farm to open its gates

14 Sep 04:30 AM

Farm managers win Best Northland Farm Performance Award for the second year running

McKerrow passes on show baton
Northern Advocate

McKerrow passes on show baton

10 Aug 05:00 AM

Committee had 'compelling' reasons to select new chief executive

Northern region's farmers surveyed
Northern Advocate

Northern region's farmers surveyed

26 Jul 06:00 PM

Questions intended to make once-a-day milking switch easier

Winner of Northland forestry prize leads by example
Northern Advocate

Winner of Northland forestry prize leads by example

13 Jul 04:00 AM

Top forestry industry prize winner can truly walk in the shoes of others he works with

Consultants talk, money sings
Northern Advocate

Consultants talk, money sings

06 Jul 05:30 AM

Rural consultants help boost farm incomes through improved farm management

Quality lifestyle lots in demand in Northland
Northern Advocate

Quality lifestyle lots in demand in Northland

28 Jun 10:41 PM

Forestry block sales show good returns in Northland

Study pits grass against PKE
Northern Advocate

Study pits grass against PKE

22 Jun 01:48 AM

Project at Dargaville may spur many farmers into re-evaluating their feed systems.

Hui at Kaitaia to discuss Maori land reform bill
Northern Advocate

Hui at Kaitaia to discuss Maori land reform bill

10 Mar 02:00 AM
Maori raise road issue
Northern Advocate

Maori raise road issue

21 Jan 01:30 AM
Most milkers vote for trim
Northern Advocate

Most milkers vote for trim

10 Dec 06:00 AM
Fighting for fencing
Northern Advocate

Fighting for fencing

25 Nov 11:30 PM
Day in court approaches at last
Northern Advocate

Day in court approaches at last

12 Nov 04:00 AM
Human cost of log trucks
Northern Advocate

Human cost of log trucks

29 Oct 03:30 AM
Focus firmly on the farming
Northern Advocate

Focus firmly on the farming

29 Oct 03:00 AM
Farmers hold tight to capital
Northern Advocate

Farmers hold tight to capital

22 Oct 04:00 AM
Riding atop the avocado wave
Northern Advocate

Riding atop the avocado wave

22 Oct 02:00 AM
China head start for SFF
Northern Advocate

China head start for SFF

17 Sep 02:30 AM
Topiary guru hedges bets for next time
Northern Advocate

Topiary guru hedges bets for next time

16 Jul 05:00 AM
D-Day looms for owners of 'abandoned' land
Northern Advocate

D-Day looms for owners of 'abandoned' land

16 Jul 04:00 AM
Northland trio miss making top cut at finals
Northern Advocate

Northland trio miss making top cut at finals

09 Jul 04:00 AM
Low median dairy price
Northern Advocate

Low median dairy price

02 Jul 05:00 AM
Farmers' leader warns dairying's in dire straits
Northern Advocate

Farmers' leader warns dairying's in dire straits

18 Jun 03:00 AM
Hemoata pipped at the post
Northern Advocate

Hemoata pipped at the post

04 Jun 05:00 AM
Chinese buy-up of Northland farms
Northern Advocate

Chinese buy-up of Northland farms

04 May 10:00 PM
Strong market for farm sales
Northern Advocate

Strong market for farm sales

19 Mar 02:00 AM
Omens good for field days
Northern Advocate

Omens good for field days

26 Feb 06:20 AM
Plan open for comment
Northern Advocate

Plan open for comment

30 Oct 02:30 AM

People have until Dec 19 to comment on proposed Whangarei District Council changes that will control the district's future rural development.

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