The Big Dry Bites in Northland and Whangarei

Meteor lights up night sky

A meteor lit up the night sky across Northland, fascinating residents far and wide. Video / President Tauranga Astronomical Society David Greig, Kaitaia resident, Jaz Payne

Whangārei's friendly Barbary (collared) doves

Their tameness, boldness, and sheer numbers got us wondering: what’s the story behind these birds? Are they escapees, descendants of someone’s backyard flock?

The Tiny Surveyor in action on the Brynderwyns, November 2025

This tiny robotic device, the brainchild of a Danish company, makes road-marking faster and safer. Video / New Zealand Land Transport Agency (NZLTA) Waka Kotahi

New Kaipara Mayor takes oath of office in English and Te Reo

New Kaipara Mayor Jonathan Larsen read his oath of office in English and Te Reo at the council's swearing in ceremony. Video / Susan Botting

Dargaville Intemedidate and High Schools' kapa haka at Kaipara council inauguration

Māori tikanga was an integral part of Kaipara District Council's first 2025 council meeting in Matakohe on Wednesday. Video / Susan Botting

Newly-released video shows Whangārei Hospital carpark fire

Fire investigators found the blaze started from a hot exhaust, spreading down rows of cars. Video / Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora

Lightning brightens Northland's night skies in stunning display

Lightning captured at Morningside in Whangārei about 1am on Tuesday. Video / Sarah Curtis

Kawakawa church fundraising to restore St Paul’s bell after 2004 fire

Nearly two decades after a fire destroyed St Paul’s Church and silenced its bell, the Kawakawa parish is working to bring back the familiar chime. Video / Yolisa Tswanya

Kawakawa Tennis Club revival aims to bring community back to the courts

The Kawakawa Tennis Club hopes to revive the site that has been unused for over 20 years. Video / Yolisa Tswanya

Video shows aftermath of hospital car blaze

Aftermath after 30 vehicles were damaged by fire in a Whangārei Hospital carpark. Video / Ruth Ngaropo

Te Amo Pūtoro playground opens in Kerikeri

Te Amo Pūtoro is the first council owned māra hūpara in the Far North – a traditional Māori play and learning environment. Video / Yolisa Tswanya

Invasive wasps attacking a live weta in Northland

A live weta in Northland being devoured by invasive wasps. Video / Brad Windust

New Ōpononi Area School building opens

Ōpononi Area School's new primary school building was welcomed with joy by staff, students, whānau and the wider community. Video / Yolisa Tswanya

The Mangōnui Hotel has much to offer its new owner

The Mangōnui Hotel, one of Northland’s few remaining and best-preserved early 20th-century waterfront pubs, is up for sale for the first time in 30 years. Video /Barfoot & Thompson

Hundreds gather in Whangārei to celebrate Māori Language Week

Hundreds of students gathered in Whangārei to celebrate Māori Language Week and the legacy of Māori leader Dame Whina Cooper. Video / Sarah Curtis

50th Memorial service for the 1975 Northland sea tragedy involving freighter Capitaine Bougainville

Frenchman Jean-Raymond Thomas reads the names of those who perished, including his wife, baby daughter and two stepchildren, at the 50th memorial for Capitaine Bougainville.

Humpback whale encounter in Northland

Some Northland mates are in awe of a curious humpback whale who hung out with them during a diving trip. Video / Matt Alpin, Ocean Hunter Whangārei

Injured kiwi filmed tucking into bowl of worms

A female North Island brown kiwi hit by a car is recovering well - and a bowl of worms gave her a boost. Video / Whangārei Native Bird Recovery Centre

Whangārei family woken to home of 19 years ablaze

Fire and Emergency crews were called to the home in Maunu, southwest of central Whangārei at 3.18am on Tuesday. Video / Brodie Stone

Hikurangi Home Cookery features on Al Brown's new video series

Revered chef Al Brown has started a video series trying - and reviewing - Hikurangi Home Cookery's goods. Video / Brodie Stone

On The Up: The Hunger Monster short film shows students' perspective on hunger

Tikipunga Primary School students were asked - if hunger was a monster, what would it look like, and how would it be defeated? Video / I Have a Dream Charitable Trust

Kawakawa Bowling Club under water in latest deluge

Facilities inundated by floodwaters in last week's deluge - the heaviest rain Pihema. Video / Moerewa Taumatamakuku Community Civil Defence

Northland special economic zone

Regional Development Minister Shane Jones explains how a special economic zone could help Northland, and New Zealand, grow economically. Video / Denise Piper

A life well lived: Celebrating Neil and Zoe Olsen of Peria

Cherished members of the Peria community, Neil and Zoe Olsen, have earned deep respect and affection from generations of locals. Video / Yolisa Tswanya

'Legends armed with shovels' clear SH1 slip

A group of motorists left their vehicles, spades in hand, to clear a slip on SH1 on the Brynderwyn Hills. Video / Nicola Morrison

Specialist education staff booting out Govt's pay offer to tune of Elvis' Return to Sender

Specialist education staff congregate in Whangārei with placards and Elvis Presley as they join their peers nationwide in booting out and returning to sender the Govt's pay offer.

Kaikohe hīkoi

A hīkoi in Kaikohe paid tribute to 3-year-old Catalya Remana Tangimetua-Pepene. Video / Jenny Ling

2025 King's Birthday Honours List

Celebrating the Knights and Dames appointed in this year's King's Birthday Honours list. Video / NZ Herald

Kaipara water break

Dargaville is desperately short of water thanks to significant main breaks in the raw water line, such as this one on Kaihu Woods Rd. Video / Supplied

On The Up: Wedding bells ring at Whangārei rest home

Romance is in the air for 99-year-old Felicia and 88-year-old Dennam Dette. Video / Brodie Stone

On The Up: Bocky Boo Gelato's sweet success

Bocky Boo Gelato stores have popped up in Rangiora and Blenheim since the first store opened in Whangārei over five years ago. Video / Brodie Stone

Whangārei North Tech' evacuated as fire breaks out at Otaika Accommodation Park next door

North Tech' students were evacuated after a fire broke out at the Otaika Accommodation Park this afternoon, Monday April 28, 2025. Video / Chelsea Peek

Rare kiwi fight in daylight captured in Northland garden

Two kiwi birds engaged in a fight during daylight hours, offering a rare glimpse into the territorial behaviour of the elusive, nocturnal birds. Video / Karin Matthews

Bream Bay sand mining boat protest

More than 50 vessels took to the water south of Whangārei to oppose McCallum Brothers' Bream Bay sand mining proposal. Video / Geoff Reid

Fire burning near Brynderwyns, State Highway 1

The blaze is beside the northbound lane on the Brynderwyns. Video / Patrick Klijn

Fiona Heenan reaches her Guinness World record sailing goal

Fiona Heenan announcing she's just sailed the 600km needed to claim a Guinness World record for the longest distance sailed by a woman in a sailing dinghy. Video / Fiona Heenan

Lucky escape as 400kg dolphin lands in boat

A group of fishermen got the shock of a lifetime when a 400kg dolphin landed in their boat off the coast of Northland. Videos / Dean Harrison

Protesters stand against charges faced by Northland green fairy 'Gandalf'

Peaceful protesters gathered outside the court in Whangārei on Monday to support well-known green fairy Paul 'Gandalf' Smith. Video / Brodie Stone

Fiona Heenan on her record setting sailing attempt in Northland, February 2025

Fiona Heenan on her quest to set a world record for longest distance sailed single-handedly in a dinghy. Video / Fiona Heenan

Department of Conservation team responds to stranded whale entaglement

A Department of Conservation team responded to a report of an entangled Arnoux’s beaked whale in oyster farm infrastructure in Whangaroa Harbour. Video / Department of Conservation