Governor-General Sir Jerry Mateparae made history by being the first representative of the Queen to visit Mangungu - scene of the third and biggest signing of the Treaty of Waitangi - since Governor Hobson in 1840. He arrived in style and in the middle of a downpour, first by helicopter to Horeke, then by waka to Mangungu.
A sailing race for anything with a sail proved to be a hit on Saturday afternoon with most of the proceeds going to a good cause. The inaugural Snake Bank Classic race started from Marsden Yacht and Boat Club and raced around Snake Bank in Whangarei Harbour. Proceeds went to the Coastguard, St John Ambulance, Ruakaka Skate Park, and Marsden Yacht and Boat Club’s Learn to Sail initiative. Northern Advocate photographer Tania Whyte went along and captured some of the action.
Whangarei police officer Constable Anton Kuraia was joined by about 300 walkers on the first stage of his 809km journey to raise awareness about alternative cancer treatments. Reporter Kristin Edge was there.
Bruce Sanderson, born and raised in the Whangaroa harbourside settlement, is self-funding a museum showcasing some of the local history. In an old joinery factory in Totara North Rd is a collection of artefacts Sanderson has been working on his whole life. Reporter and photographer Francesca Jago took a look.
The sun has been shining. The water is clear, blue and warm — just another gorgeous Northland summer. We’ve had so many fantastic photos sent to us from readers, we decided they deserved a whole page. We hope you enjoy this slice of life through the lens from some of our Northern Advocate readers.
About 1300 spectators gathered to watch broncs bucking, barrel-racing and bovine mustered on both days of this year’s Mid Northern Rodeo at Maungatapere. Mid Northern Rodeo Association secretary Dianna Bradshaw said it was a great event with about 220 cowboys competing in 300 contests, including steer-wrestling, bareback bronc, saddle bronc, rope and tie and bull ride. Northern Advocate photographer Tania Whyte was there.
More than 100 sailing boats of all shape and sizes - from the 109-foot Spirit of New Zealand to the eight-foot-long, junk-rigged Captain Pugwash - took part in a spectacular day of racing off Russell on Saturday. Crews competed in tall ships, classic invitational and all-comers divisions, ending the day with what is thought to be New Zealand's biggest hangi and a night of dancing at the club's Matauwhi Bay headquarters. Photos by Peter de Graaf.
It’s dubbed “Where the Surf Meets The Turf” and yesterday plenty of sun was added to the mix at the Ruakaka racetrack for the InterIslander Summer Festival. There was trotting and gallops racing at the Whangarei Racing Club’s track and a large crowd of punters enjoyed the day. Northern Advocate photographer John Stone went along to capture the action — on and off the track.
Today we continue our series of the best photographs from the Northern Advocate published in 2014. Photographers John Stone and Michael Cunningham and Far North reporter Peter de Graaf have chosen their top news and sports images of the year as well as a few personal favourites. Today it’s Peter de Graaf’s turn to share his favourite photos of 2014.
Sand was transformed into a snowman, mermaids, waka, a firebreathing dragon and even a pool table in Saturday’s sandcastle competition on Paihia Beach. One of the most ingenious creations was a castle in which a ball inserted into a tube at the top travelled down a spiral path and popped out at the bottom after rolling across a drawbridge. Other entries included a shark bursting through a footpath, a steam train and a Kraken dragging down a ship. This year’s contest had an extra edge due to a slight miscalculation by the organisers — sandcastle builders had to defend their work against the incoming tide to stop their creations being washed away before the judges made their rounds. The sandcastle challenge marked the beginning of Paihia’s annual Summer Festival, which runs until January 11. Photos by Peter de Graaf.
Northern Advocate photographer John Stone went to the popular Otamure campground and found campers enjoying their summer holiday.
More than 3000 people saw out 2014 with a day of sporting challenges and family get-togethers at Pawarenga, an isolated settlement on the edge of the Whangape Harbour in the Far North. Events included woodchopping, horse races on the beach, a volleyball tournament, tugs of war, the gruelling Iron Man and Woman, and the hotly contested cross country horse race. Photos by Peter de Graaf.
Community input saw the refurbishment of a 126-year-old church and an adjacent building at the Pehiaweri Marae at Ngunguru. A rededication ceremony on Saturday attracted about 200 people.The refurbishment started two years ago with input from NorthTec, Tikipunga High School, Regent Training Centre and the Department of Corrections. The church has now become interdenominational from Anglican. Northern Advocate’s John Stone took photos.
New Zealand celebrated its 200th anniversary as a bicultural nation this week with the opening of Rangihoua Heritage Park in the Bay of Islands. The new park includes the site of the country’s first European settlement, founded by the missionary Rev Samuel Marsden on December 22, 1814, and the pa of its protector, Chief Ruatara. Rangihoua Bay was also the site of New Zealand’s first school and first recorded Christian service on Christmas Day 1814. Photos by Peter de Graaf.
Snow in Northland in summer? Yes you might wonder, but it really did happen at the weekend at the Artisans Christmas Market on the canopy bridge. The snow (a truckload of ice) delighted and entertained children for a few hours before the snowfall melted away. Photographer Tania Newman found herself in the middle of the snowy celebrations.
The tale of the talking cat Puss ‘n Boots and his master’s quest for love and fortune has been brought to life by the Kerikeri Theatre Company in a Christmas pantomime at the Turner Centre. The cast of 32 — as young as seven and from as far away as Kaitaia and Kaikohe — wrapped up their fourth and final performance on Saturday night. Photos by Peter de Graaf.
Weeks of work by Northland youth taking part in a performing arts programme has culminated in a professionally-recorded single aiming to raise awareness of youth suicide. The reggae-style song, I’ll be here for you, was launched at a free music festival at Kaikohe’s Memorial Hall on Thursday. Other performers at Raumati Fest included top reggae acts Majic, One Tribe and House of Shem. The single was written by children and young people in the Tu Ake Performing Arts school holiday programme, recorded at Kaikohe’s Kohewhata Marae, and produced by Majic and House of Shem. Organiser Te Whenua Harawira said 60 children and youth, aged 8-24, had taken part in the recording project. The programme was open to all Northland youth, who spent a week at a time at various marae around the region. The only criteria was that they had to have an interest in performing arts and ‘‘be willing to give it a go’’. Several hundred people attended the Raumati Fest, which was held in conjunction with the RAID suicide awareness movement. As well as a fun day out it aimed to spread messages about safe driving, water safety, alcohol and especially youth suicide.
Saturday's Stopstatoil Festival at Ahipara's Kohanga/Shipwreck Bay aimed to raise awareness of the oil exploration now underway off Northland's west coast. The line-up of guest speakers and bands included Herbs, the reggae pioneers who first made their name with songs protesting against French nuclear testing in the Pacific. A group from Oil-Free Auckland smeared themselves in fake oil to illustrate the effects of a spill. Photos by Peter de Graaf.
Paihia was taken over by aliens on Friday night as gleaming space ships rumbled through town and hundreds of little green (and orange and pink and blue) men marched down Marsden Rd. It was not a real extra-terrestrial invasion but the town’s highly competitive Christmas parade, which was this year themed ‘out of this world’. Paihia School organised an intergalactic convention for their winning float, with every class representing a different planet and principal Jane Lindsay captaining a life-size space ship; others came as the Starship Enterprise, Daleks, the crew of a crashed spaceship, and Avatar-inspired blue-skinned beings. The winners were... Business category: 1 Crafty Creations, 2 Kebabulous, 3 Fullers GreatSights, highly commended Paihia Early Education. Community category: 1 Paihia-Waitangi Kindergarten, 2 Bay of Islands Rotary Club, 3 Paihia Cubs, highly commended Opua School. Overall winner: Paihia School. Photos by Peter de Graaf.
Thousands of spectators lined Kerikeri's streets on November 29 for the annual Lions Club Christmas Parade. This year's winner was Ohaeawai Community Preschool's Frozen float; second place went to Nurture by Nature; and third to the cast of the upcoming panto Puss in Boots.
A float based on the Disney animated movie Frozen by first-time entrants Ohaeawai Community Preschool and Early Learning Centre won the Kaikohe Christmas parade held over the weekend. The Winter Wonderland theme swept through Kaikohe on Friday evening, led by riders in the upcoming Five Nations Mounted Games and followed by a festival in Memorial Park. Thousands of spectators lined the main street for the event. Kaikohe’s theme was inspired by a TV show which last year granted local woman Alex Baker’s wish to see snow in the Mid North town. Photos by Peter de Graaf.
Saint Nick made his first appearance in Whangarei streets in the annual Kamo Christmas Parade. Thirty-three floats and groups made their way down Kamo Rd on Saturday, before meeting at Kamo High School for the Kommunity Karnival. Event spokesman Colin Twyman said it was the biggest parade the Kamo community had seen in the past four years. Photographer Tania Newman went along to capture the festive cheer.
There was more than clothes for families offered by Pepi Pride at the Whangarei Youth Space on Saturday, there was aroha in abundance as sisters Latoya and Kasey Hood and friend Quinn Moffat held the first Baby Festival. The free event featured a sausage sizzle, family fun and helpful information on issues such as breast feeding and parenting tips for teen mums. Bags of clothes were dropped off by families, who stayed to help out, delivering clothes for children aged 1 to 5. Northern Advocate photographer John Stone went along to capture the event.
New Zealand's oldest country show is still going strong with thousands of people heading to Waimate North on Saturday for the 172nd Bay of Islands Pastoral and Industrial Show. Photos by Peter de Graaf.
Totara Grove School held its annual Food and Entertainment Festival last Friday, treating the crowd to a line-up of international and local stars.
It may not have been beautiful, but the Kiwis survived a big scare with a late try to defeat Samoa 14-12 in a Four Nations test at Toll Stadium in Whangarei on Saturday. Toa Samoa led up until the last two minutes of the game, before the Kiwis dotted down to take the lead and the victory. The weather was near perfect and a crowd close to 17,000 packed into Toll Stadium to watch the international game. Northern Advocate photographer John Stone was sideline and took these great shots.
Up to 900 kids dressed as everything from Frankenstein to zombies, wolves and Minecraft characters in Kerikeri's ‘‘Monster Mash’’ on Friday night. The event was organised by Kerikeri Primary School’s PTA as a fundraiser and a chance for kids to go on a Halloween trail in safety. Photos by Peter de Graaf.
Kawakawa was invaded by witches, vampires, ghosts and other frightening creatures celebrating Halloween on Friday with a trick-or-treat trail around the town centre. Just under 50 businesses and organisations took part and locals pulled out the stops making costumes. Even Kawakawa's steam train was decorated for the occasion. Photos by Peter de Graaf.
Ex-pupils, teachers and staff from across the country descended on Kamo Intermediate School over the weekend as it celebrated its 50th jubilee. A full programme of events was on offer to those who attended on Friday and Saturday with many former students, staff and teachers revisiting the school. Northern Advocate photographer Michael Cunningham popped in on Saturday to join in the fun.
It’s a small school a bit away from the main centres, but it’s been going a while and over the long weekend hundreds of people descended on Hukerenui Primary School for its 125th anniversary reunion. The school combined the big event, from Friday to Sunday, with its annual agriculture day on Saturday and the sun shone on all those who attended. Northern Advocate photographer Michael Cunningham went along for the celebrations.
The best of the business crop were celebrated on Friday night at the 2014 Westpac Northland Business Excellence Awards at Forum North in Whangarei. From inspiring speeches, creative business and successful companies — the night was jam-packed with pride in Northland and business leadership bursting with ideas and hope for the economy. Northern Advocate photographer John Stone went along to capture the atmosphere.
More than 2000 people packed Paihia’s Village Green in blazing sunshine for the It! Bay of Islands Food and Wine Festival on Saturday, headlined this year by Supergroove. The legendary 1990s funk rockers put on a high-energy, crowd-pleasing show and gave three young Far North musicians a thrill by inviting them on stage as guest musicians. Also performing were the Kerikeri High School Jazz Band, Penny Royalty, The Funky North and Scarlet Fever. Festival-goers who weren’t full after competing in the pie-eating, kina-sucking and oyster-shucking contests could choose from dozens of stands offering Northland food and wine. Photos by Peter de Graaf.
The Kawakawa RSA marked the 100th anniversary of World War I by planting 57 crosses — one for each soldier from the Kawakawa District who served in what was then known as the Great War — in a Lawn of Remembrance outside the Albert St clubrooms. Among those attending Saturday’s ceremony were two World War II veterans and four people whose fathers had fought in World War I. Photos by Peter de Graaf.
Hundreds of people poured through the doors of the Old Library in Whangarei over the weekend for the Northern Advocate’s Weddings in Northland 2014 Expo. The two-day expo had everything the budding bride and groom could need for their big day with plenty of exhibitors, live entertainment and even two couples — Caroline and Andrew Davis and John and Claire Lynch — renewing their vows. Northern Advocate photographer John Stone went along too.