Most already switched to digital
More than nine out of 10 Northland households have made the switch to digital TV, more than a year before the analogue signal is switched off in the region. New Zealand television is going digital in stages, with Hawke's Bay and the West Coast already there and the upper North Island in December 2013. The move to digital television doesn't require a new TV but some people may need some new equipment such as a set-top box, or television with Freeview built-in and an aerial or satellite dish. When Northland goes digital everyone who wants to watch television will need to have Freeview or Sky TV.
Punters spend up on cup
Northlanders took more punts on the Melbourne Cup than last year, with spending on the Great Race well up in 2012. The New Zealand TAB raked in more than $8.6 million in bets on the race, with turnover of more than $20 million on Tuesday - the first time the TAB had eclipsed that figure in 60 years. Melbourne Cup turnover in Northland was up 16 per cent on last year. TAB spokesman John Mitchell said betting on the Melbourne Cup could signal that New Zealanders saw a brighter future for the country after the difficulties of the global financial crisis.
Expensive street in Northland
The 10th most expensive street in the country is in Northland. Figures from Quotable Value show Breadalbane Pl in Langs Beach has a median price of $2.7 million for each of its six properties. The top eight most expensive streets are in Auckland and 319 of its 863 properties top $1 million. A Queenstown street is in ninth spot. Quotable Value said more than 40,000 houses in New Zealand have a price tag of more than $1 million, almost three-quarters of them in Auckland.