Northland news in brief: Three locals named Kiwibank New Zealander awards semifinalists

Peter-Lucas Jones earns a spot in the Innovator of the Year category.

Three Northlanders have been announced as semifinalists in the 2026 Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year Awards. Lawyer Keegan Jones is recognised for his free, Māori-centric legal clinics breaking barriers to justice. Peter-Lucas Jones earns a spot in the Innovator of the Year category for pioneering digital initiatives that safeguard te reo Māori. Rachel Hill is a Local Hero semifinalist for creating jobs and coaching inclusion in Northland communities.

Free bus rides

Northland Regional Council’s BusLink team are celebrating Christmas with free travel on all BusLink bus services running on Friday. CityLink Whangārei and Far North Link buses will be free all day. BusLink services do not operate on public holidays, so there will be no BusLink or CityLink buses on December 25 and 26, and January 1 and 2.

Grants for hospices

North Haven Hospice in Whangārei and Hospice Mid-Northland in Kerikeri have received funding through the Harcourts Foundation’s 2025 grant round. The support will provide essential equipment, including mattress covers, rescue bags, and alternating pressure mattresses, to enhance comfort and care for patients at the end of life. They are among 11 hospices nationwide sharing more than $31,000 in grants.

Smoke complaints jump

Burning and smoke nuisance complaints dominate calls to the Northland Regional Council. From July 1 until the end of November, 153 burning and smoke nuisance complaints were reported to the council’s 24/7 incident hotline, a 34% jump on the 114 complaints from the same period last year. Offending usually entailed either open burning on trade/industrial sites, which is not allowed, burning of non-permitted materials, or causing a smoke/odour nuisance beyond a property’s boundary.

Win for fitness studio

Paihia-based fitness studio Outfit North was awarded New Zealand’s Studio Facility of the Year at this year’s Exercise New Zealand Awards held at the Hilton Auckland on November 29. Owned by personal trainer Nadine Nel, Outfit North opened in October 2024 and offers group strength and fitness classes, dedicated stretch and mobility spaces, and on-site services such as physiotherapy and massage.

Gas cylinder thefts

Police are investigating incidents of missing 45kg gas cylinders after businesses and charities from central Whangārei to Waipu reported their cylinders being stolen. Police found four 45kg gas cylinders during a search warrant at a Whangārei property last week and inquiries are continuing, police said. Police advise people to keep their cylinders secure, especially as most are kept outside.