A new policing team, charged with nipping crime in the bud, has scored some impressive results.

Police are once again urging motorists to be particularly vigilant over the dark, wet winter months, and calling on farmers to ensure their fences are secure after three crashes in the Far North in 24 hours.

HELL FOR LEATHER

The Mangonui Netball Centre took five age-grade teams to the first representative tournament of the winter season at Northcote earlier this month.

Matariki, which signals the Maori new year, has traditionally been a time to reflect on those who have passed and celebrate life, culture, language and the forthcoming year.

One wolf too many

Leave them alone

Two key hapu have come out against a proposal for a marine reserve in the Bay of Islands.

Police and the Fire Service agreed on Sunday that the fire that destroyed a residential garage in Bonnett Road, Kaitaia bore all the hallmarks of arson.

RUGBY LEAGUE

Twenty-six schools were represented at Te Tai Tokerau regional Nga Manu Korero speech competition, hosted by Te Rangi Aniwaniwa Kura last week, and as always the standard was impressive.

Smoke and mirrors

Laurie Austen is not your average conservationist, but he is passionate about saving one of the Far North's most prized delicacies from extinction.

One of the less surprising results of this year's Reader's Digest list of most trusted professions was that doctors ranked highly once again.

A Doubtless Bay man who was already in custody over alleged sex offences against young girls has denied 17 new charges.

Every Queen's Birthday weekend, members of the North Shore Surfcasting Club make the long drive from Auckland to Doubtless Bay to carry on the tradition of fishing against their Doubtless Bay Line and Rod Fishing Club counterparts...

Young local netball enthusiasts have been spoiled for choice during the opening weeks of winter with two junior tournaments taking place on the Kaitaia netball courts over consecutive weeks.

Spare us the claptrap

Anyone who thinks police officers spend their days walking around with their hands behind their backs saying 'ello 'ello 'ello would have abandoned that image if they were amongst the scores who toured their local Far North police station on Saturday.

An adult female Northland brown kiwi that was caught in a leghold trap near Waipapa four weeks ago has been released back into its home territory...

Few artists/craftsmen can say the first commission was ordered on behalf of their country's leader, but 17-year-old Dylan Hall can.

SO there he was, The Offsider, feeling a little out of sorts as he wandered aimlessly through winter's opening salvo wondering if the west coast was ever going to fire again.

Mangonui seniors

A happy patient

Healthy recreation is in Manuera's Rewai's blood.

At the age of 87 Alice Ratu (Ngati Kuri, Te Aupouri) would seem entitled to put her feet up and let others do the running around.

Doubtless Bay butcher Abigail Lane has been selected for New Zealand's national butchery team, the Pure South Sharp Blacks.

Owner - 'These little ... have just about finished me'

Lawn bowling

One notable aspect during last week's games in the Far North domestic darts competition was the rise and rise of Mussel Rock, this time around recording a 16-nil whitewash over the Kauri Arms Nuggets.