Peter de Graaf is a reporter for the Northern Advocate
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Artist on a mission to save Northland's starry skies
Once painting complete artist will cover it in streetlights to illustrate light pollution.

Bank says sorry to ex-MP ordered to take off hat
Kaumātua says the way no-hat rule was applied during a bank visit was discriminatory

Emotional Kerikeri premiere of Dame Whina movie sees stars come out
Lead actor, co-director and Dame Whina's moko turn out for children's charity fundraiser.

'Hard-out' fans descend on Kerikeri to watch ABs train
More than 1500 people turned out for a glimpse - and an autograph - of their rugby heroes.

Young Northlander Cameron Wright savouring time with NZ Navy
Ex-Bream Bay College student inspired by cousin's tales about his navy deployments.

'Warmest welcome ever': All Blacks arrive in Northland
Local hapū's gift of a carved taiaha 'hugely humbling', All Black captain Sam Cane says.

'It just proves what a little community can do': Kaikohe, Taitokerau health volunteers honoured in national awards
Win is all the sweeter for Taitokerau Border Control given the controversy at the time.

Northland embraces Matariki as new holiday nears
A guide to just some of the many events marking Matariki this weekend and beyond.

'All that I imagined': Joy as Tokyo teen starts school in Northland after two-year wait
After two years of online lessons Yuki can finally meet her teachers and classmates.

'Protesters' target Navy ship in Ōpua
Convincing-looking riot an exercise in protecting the ship from protests and civil unrest.

Oromahoe's Matariki Light Festival postponed
Popular event will now be held from 4-8pm on Sunday.

'We just want answers': Friends, family appeal for info about woman's death
Police are treating 36-year-old's death, at Waipapa Landing last month, as "unexplained".

Paihia waterfront development canned - again - as $14m cost blows out
It's the second time the project has been scrapped in its convoluted two-decade history.

Gang tensions may be behind early morning drive-by shooting in Kaikohe
Police say shots were fired at a vehicle parked outside a Kaikohe address early today.

Te Hiku Pātaka aims to feed whanau while preserving choice, dignity
Iwi/Foodstuffs 'social supermarket' formally opened on Kaitaia's Commerce St yesterday.

Scholarships honour Māori Battalion, support future leaders
Victoria Cross recipient Willie Apiata hoped awards would let winners follow their dreams.

Sound Loungers' show a tribute to stalwart of Kerikeri music scene
Band takes its name from Friday night jam sessions at the Sound Lounge in Kerikeri.

MSD arsonist may have burns on face: police
Arsonist smashed window and threw molotov cocktail inside; damaged office remains closed

Rainbow benches a first step in celebrating Far North's rainbow youth
A group aims to allow rangatahi to be themselves in a safe and supportive environment.

Body found in water after woman reported missing near Haruru Falls
Death of 72-year-old who had gone for a walk earlier that day not suspicious, police say.

'Senseless' arson attack closes MSD office
Fire damage to office may mean MSD clients will have to travel long distances to get help.

Far North election explainer the first made in all three official languages
Other firsts in 2022 include a four-seat Māori ward and STV voting system instead of FPP.

New sports hub to relieve squeeze in Far North boom town
Light at the end of the tunnel for Kerikeri sports codes struggling for space, facilities.

'We changed the stars for our Māori students': Elizabeth Forgie MNZM
Support from late husband and school kuia behind 'out of the blue' award.

Ken Rintoul MNZM: Lifetime of service to Northland noted
Ōkaihau businessman honoured for multitude of business, governance and community roles.

Iwi brings Matariki merriment
More than 2500 people packed the Canopy Bridge and Pūtahi Park for Friday's festivities

Housing project in Kerikeri could create new link road
The 3.3ha Hall Rd site is owned by multi-millionaire businessman Sir Owen Glenn.

Ngātiwai marks Matariki with free family concert, twilight market
Friday's free family celebration will be Northland's first big Matariki event of 2022.

Quick-thinking neighbours help save Kāeo home
Cemetery Rd home badly damaged after wood burner starts fire.

Brawl on Paihia's main shopping street shocks business owner
Umbrella poles, outdoor chairs used as weapons as dozens brawl on Williams Rd.

'A crushing loss': Man who brought Kerikeri's music community together dies
Noel Redmond turned a music shop into a hub where creativity and friendship flourished.

Police investigating after woman's body found in a Kerikeri river
Body found in Waipapa River by a member of the public on May 22.

Work to resume on vandalised sculpture
Attack on iwi-commissioned art led ex-MP to hit out at 'dorks' and 'Facebook scribblers'.

Hapū take a stand against gang violence in Kaikohe
Five hapū have joined forces to impose a rāhui, or cultural ban, on gang violence.

Sad find on Far North beach a climate warning
Saving ailing penguins is hard but long term there are two things you can do, expert says.

Russell man, 28, looking to beat multinationals for marine contracts
Andrew Johnson saw no reason why multinationals should snaffle big construction contracts.

Govt hints firefighter mandate rules could ease — but no date given
Brigades under pressure due to high number of callouts combined with volunteer exodus.

Good start but more needed: Northland's take on Budget climate change measures
$2.9b has been set aside from the Emissions Trading Scheme to fight climate change.

Rāwene calls for urgent improvements to dangerous footpath
Footpath along increasingly busy Parnell St is in disrepair and in places non-existent.

Northland Latin dancers move their butts for a good cause - fighting bowel cancer
Fundraiser aims to boost physical activity and support Kiwis with bowel cancer.

Inmate climbs onto roof at Ngāwhā Prison; comes down 18 hours later
Prisoner climbed onto roof at 11pm on Sunday and descended voluntarily at 5pm on Monday.

Kerikeri to get homegrown version of Antiques Roadshow
All proceeds from weekend-long collectables fair destined for Hospice Mid Northland.

Kaikohe's historic pūriri safe - but it may be in for a pruning
The giant pūriri is listed as a wahi tapu but is missing from NZ's Notable Trees register.

Photos: Governor-General Dame Cindy Kiro welcomed at Waitangi
A daughter of Te Taitokerau is welcomed home as NZ's first wahine Māori Governor-General.

Pride, celebration as new Governor-General welcomed at Waitangi
Northland's Dame Cindy embodies both sides of the Treaty in one person, iwi leader says.

DoC says sorry after bridges removed from track
Harrison's Track officially closed in 2007 but locals have kept using and maintaining it.

Locals begin four-year, $2m mission to clean up Hokianga waterways
The project is creating meaningful jobs while raising water quality in the iconic harbour.

Volunteer exodus due to vax mandate leaves stretched firefighters 'in despair'
FENZ says 10 Northland volunteers have quit. Firefighters say the number is much higher.

'I'm just rapt': Years-long Waitangi River sewage spill fixed
Sewage was flowing from a private drain and couldn't be fixed - until we reported on it.

UK travel mag rates region's attractions NZ's best for 2022
Manea Footprints of Kupe and Wairau Māori Art Gallery singled out by top-selling magazine

Northland's Kaimaumau fire bill tops $7m
Cause of 2800ha fire, Northland's biggest in decades, still under investigation.

No seatbelt = another needless Northland death
Latest fatal continues a trend of men not wearing seatbelts — and paying with their lives.

Long-serving Kawakawa fire chief, Te Roroa artist and negotiator recognised by new Governor-General
Wayne Martin QSM introduced tikanga Māori into firefighters' everyday work.

Mother's Day planting lends a hand to Mother Earth
Planting day part of bigger project to restore Wairoa Stream and create wildlife corridor

'I just want it to stop': Human waste entering Waitangi River
The outflow is about 1km upstream of the intake for Paihia's water treatment plant.

Country rock stars descend on Bay as live music returns
Organiser says Northlanders are hungry for live music after two years of Covid disruption.

Kerikeri Business Association back after Covid recess
Better CCTV and a street party the first priorities for reborn association.

Minister on plans to reroute cycle trail: 'Don't bite the hand that feeds'
Making popular bike trail more difficult could reduce user numbers, spending, Nash says.

New 300-home development could change the face of Kerikeri
Development could help meet demand for new homes - but town's gum tree backdrop would go.

Giant visitor due at Onerahi this weekend
C-130J is the same type ordered by the NZ Government to replace its ageing Hercules fleet.

Suspicious fire damages Kerikeri takeaways, knocks out power
Passer-by tried to douse flames with bucket of water borrowed from McDonald's.

Upgraded Upper Kerikeri River Track a boon for locals
The 3km section of Te Araroa trail from SH10 to Rainbow Falls is already proving popular.

Intrepid volunteers rescue seagull in distress
They've saved dogs, cats, horses, cows and a possum. Now they can add seagull to the list.

Two hurt in head-on smash south of Kaitaia
Collision blocked SH1 near Pamapuria; motorists advised to avoid the area.

Waiting game for Ahipara occupiers as eviction looms
Group occupying Moringai site says next step will involve 'tactical manoeuvres'.

The big spend: Stuart Nash's take on the PGF legacy in Northland
An $800m Northland election bribe? Or a long overdue catch-up for a neglected region?

Iwi-commissioned sculpture on Kerikeri roundabout vandalised before completion
Shane Jones hits out at 'dorks', 'scribblers' and Kerikeri's 'insidious criminality'.

New water storage dam at Ngāwhā to start filling this winter
Dam will have a volume equivalent to 300 Olympic swimming pools.

Brigade's first ladder returns to Kerikeri fire station
The ladder languished in a garage for decades before Men's Shed took on the restoration.

Breakaway competition rules the roost
Rebel league comp started in 2016 with six teams. Now it's the only comp in Northland

Air NZ 'agnostic' about Northland airport location; future needs of electric planes unknown
Northlanders tell Air NZ board they'd love to see return of direct Wellington flights.

New dolphin rules 'changing boatie behaviour' - DoC
So far 415 boaties spoken to for breaching dolphin rules; 11 potentially facing fines.

Trail detour cash better spent on Russell bike path, says operator
Riders may have to 'suck up' partial closure but FNDC could fund trail to Russell instead

No seat belt in fatal Paparore crash, police confirm
Paparore fatal continues a trend of Northland crashes where deceased was not buckled in.

The watchful eye of Paihia: Town's state-of-the-art CCTV system paying off
CCTV paid for by seized criminal assets used to nab suspect in attack on town custodian.

Capsized fishing boat Enchanter recovered in 'tricky' salvage operation
Divers and flotation bags raised the charter boat's wreckage from 26m of water.

Mud, mangroves and a suspect in a car boot: How police got their man in Paihia
The Eagle helicopter and a tracking dog aided police carrying out the four-hour search.

School bids farewell to 'Northland legend'
Opua icon Myra Larcombe, swimming teacher to generations of children, died aged 94