Tourists will soon be landing on the top of Motukokako Island (also known as Hole in the Rock or Piercy Island) in a brave new business venture launched on Sunday by the Motukokako Ahu Whenua Trust and Paihia helicopter firm Salt Air. The trust's roughly 600 shareholders hope the venture, which will see choppers landing on a helipad built by volunteer labour next to a 500-foot (150m) cliff with stunning views of Cape Brett and the Bay of Islands, will bring much needed income and eventually also jobs.

Swimming Northland 2013 Age Group Champs, Dargaville, Images Michael Cunningham

Anti-Violence March, Whangarei City, Images Michael Cunningham

Ocean Beach Boardriders Club Surf Champs, Ocean Beach, Images Michael Cunningham.

Waipu's Grand Pageant, Images by Peter Davies

Paihia's week-long Summer Festival wound up on Saturday with the popular sandcastle competition, which saw more than 40 teams compete for creativity and prizes such as helicopter rides and boat trips. This year's entries ranged from Matauri Bay's Rainbow Warrior Monument replicated in sand, marking the first visit to Northland of the new Greenpeace flagship, to a giant weta and native centipede, the sea god Tangaroa, sharks, marlins and turtles. One group even made a scaled-up version in sand of a German backpacker's new silver fern tattoo.

A slice of the action from the Mid Northern Rodeo, Maungatapere.

Visitors to the 81st Kaikohe Agricultural, Pastoral and Horticultural Show on Saturday were treated to blazing sunshine and everything from vintage machinery to sheep in fancy dress. Other attractions included a rare breeds section, a scarecrow competition, equestrian competitions, shearing, dog trials, miniature horses and Northland's biggest harness section with horses, ponies and the odd donkey pulling historic carts and buggies. Among the new events this year were cheese-making demonstrations and a rural-themed wearable arts contest run by the Kaikohe Community Arts Council in which contestants could use only feed bags and baling twine to make a costume. Secretary Margaret Osborne said gate numbers had yet to be tallied but the crowd appeared to be up on last year, although it was more spread out because new areas had been opened up so show-goers could relax in the shade. The association's aim was to keep it a “real rural show”, she said. Saturday marked the show's 50th year on its own site at the corner of State Highway 12 and Ngawha Springs Rd.

Whangarei SPCA has been crowded with cats and kittens after the very warm start to summer points to an extended kitten season. All animals are desexed, vaccinated, given a vet check and worm treatment. The adoption process can be quick and easy, and SPCA staff said all these cute kittens and cats need is a home where they will be loved, fed, given water and shelter. If you think you have found the latest addition to your family, phone 09 438 9161 or pop into Whangarei SPCA, 143 Kioreoroa Road.

The new Greenpeace flagship Rainbow Warrior made its first public appearance in New Zealand on January 9 when its crew visited Matauri Bay, described by captain Joel Stewart as "the spiritual home'' of the environmental organisation's ships. There the crew paid tribute to the original Rainbow Warrior, bombed by French agents in 1985, and to Ngati Kura, the guardians of the old ship's grave site on the seabed amid the Cavalli Islands.

Fee Fall, Bad Bruce, Dislocater and Shocktreatment will be doing their bucking best to catapult cowboys into the dust at the Mid Northern rodeo after running wild for a year. A keen group of riders teamed up and herded the horses out of the bush on Mangakahi Rd. Krisitn Edge was there to capture the action.

The roar of the twin Rolls-Royce engines powering the only flying de Havilland Mosquito fighter bomber in the world was heard over Onerahi before landing. Hundreds turned up to see the aircraft along with photographer John Stone..

The Bay of Islands hosted a spectacle of sail on Saturday with the 38th annual Tall Ships and Classic Invitational Race contested by everything from Auckland Maritime Museum's brigantine to century-old mullet boats. Early forecasts of a cyclone kept some of the bigger ships away but conditions were near perfect with clear skies and a steady southerly drawing a huge fleet of spectator boats. Racing was followed by Russell Boating Club's famous hangi and a night of dancing and trading sea stories.

Scottish heritage was on display in the hot sunshine during the 142nd annual Waipu Highland Games on New Years Day. Photographer John Stone was there to catch the tartan action.

What better way to say goodbye to 2012 than joining the fun at the Pawarenga United Marae Sports Day, on the edge of Whangape Harbour in North Hokianga? The event offers an Iron Man and Iron Woman race, tugs-of-war, a volleyball tournament, wood chopping and kids' races - but it's best known for its horse races on the beach.

For Northland sportspeople and sports fans, 2012 has been a year with many highlights. We had strong representation at the Olympics and Paralympics, Tim Southee has had a breakthrough year with the Black Caps, and the mighty Taniwha knocked over Waikato in an ITM Cup thriller. Cute, happy, funny, sad and tragic - it's all in a day's work for the Northern Advocate's team of photographers. Here's a small selection of what Northern Advocate photographer Ron Burgin saw through the lens in 2012.

A selection of images from around Northland by Northern Advocate Staff photographer Michael Cunningham

Years of planning and fundraising, followed by four months of building, paid off for Moerewa's Otiria Marae on Saturday with the opening of a transformed wharekai, Te Puna i Keteriki. Trustee Mike Butler said it was a great milestone for the marae, a day his tupuna had been waiting decades for.

'Christmas Star' A Nativity Play, St. Francis Xavier School

For the 38th year running the kids (and a few teachers) of Kerikeri High built rafts of dubious seaworthiness and raced around Kerikeri Basin to mark the end of the school year. This year's winners were the Admineez (school administrators).

Kamo Intermediate Triathlon, Kamo High grounds

D1NZ Drifting Championship, Rewarewa Rd, Whangarei.

The Whangarei District Council hosted Hundertwasser cocktail evening promoted their vision for the art centre and attracted a large number of the district's business and arts community

Crowds flocked to the first Artisasn fair for the summer on the Canopy Bridge in the Whangarei Town Basin on Saturday morning

Sporting action in Northland this weekend included representitive womens cricket, basketball and club cricket

Crowds flocked to Kamo for the annual Christmas Parade featuring gymnasts, cheerleaders, hot rods and of course, Santa, on a sunny afternoon

More than 100 people from every corner of the planet are at Matauri Bay this weekend upgrading the track up to the monument commemorating the 1985 bombing of the Greenpeace flagship Rainbow Warrior. In early January the ship's brand-new successor, Rainbow Warrior III, will visit the Far North bay to pay its respects. The first Rainbow Warrior lies in a watery grave just off Matauri Bay, where it was scuttled 25 years ago next week.

Kerikeri Half Marathon

Glenbervie School Fun Run

The Christmas Wizard of OZ by Rising Stars