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Peter de Graaf
Reporter
Kerikeri

Peter de Graaf is a reporter for the Northern Advocate

We are your advocate, Aotearoa. Uncovering stories that matter, asking hard-hitting questions of those in power, live-blogging sport events, monitoring the highs and lows of the NZX and providing Premium expert opinion and analysis. Bringing you distinctive, quality journalism and breaking news from across New Zealand and around the world. With specialists working together to create indepth reads, engaging video, and unmissable podcasts.

Check out Peter’s latest content
Pothole ends morning school bus run
The Country

Pothole ends morning school bus run

14 Jun 09:31 PM
Premium
‘Transformational’ dam offers hope for Kaikohe’s future
The Country

‘Transformational’ dam offers hope for Kaikohe’s future

25 May 05:00 PM

Backers hope dam will do in the west what Kerikeri’s irrigation system did for the east.

Snapper Bonanza fish auction raises $11k for Kaitaia Fire Brigade
The Country

Snapper Bonanza fish auction raises $11k for Kaitaia Fire Brigade

27 Mar 04:39 AM

Contestants also gave cash and a newly won TV to family whose home was damaged by fire.

Wairarapa fisher wins $30k top prize in Ninety Mile Beach Snapper Bonanza
The Country

Wairarapa fisher wins $30k top prize in Ninety Mile Beach Snapper Bonanza

26 Mar 01:34 AM

Fish landed on final day clinches Northland, and world’s, biggest surfcasting competition.

Rare pāteke/brown teal return to Purerua in the Bay of Islands
The Country

Rare pāteke/brown teal return to Purerua in the Bay of Islands

24 Mar 04:00 PM

Twenty rare ducks released at Purerua after a three-year pest removal campaign.

Premium
Northland fishing club calls for rules NZ-wide to promote marlin tag-and-release
The Country

Northland fishing club calls for rules NZ-wide to promote marlin tag-and-release

24 Mar 04:00 PM

Club says 75% of marlin its members catch are freed; other clubs should follow suit.

‘Mint’ conditions forecast for Ninety Mile Beach as iconic snapper comp returns
The Country

‘Mint’ conditions forecast for Ninety Mile Beach as iconic snapper comp returns

22 Mar 04:00 PM

Massive swells on Wednesday favoured the fish but that's expected to change in final days.

Young muscle needed to aid woodchoppers’ record-breaking fundraising drive
The Country

Young muscle needed to aid woodchoppers’ record-breaking fundraising drive

03 Mar 04:00 PM

Kerikeri Woodchoppers have so far raised $330,000 for eye surgery across the Pacific.

Gabriel's back! Northland’s favourite locomotive set to return this weekend
The Country

Gabriel's back! Northland’s favourite locomotive set to return this weekend

23 Jan 04:00 PM

Huge cost of new boiler meant even Gabriel’s biggest fans feared it would never run again.

Swiss forestry firm pays $7 milion for Paparoa farm
The Country

Swiss forestry firm pays $7 milion for Paparoa farm

23 Jan 04:00 PM

The 450-hectare beef and dairy farm was sold for $7.14 million.

Working with others the key to Kerikeri scientist’s top honour
The Country

Working with others the key to Kerikeri scientist’s top honour

30 Dec 04:00 PM

Researcher Bruce Campbell saved NZ’s kiwifruit industry from the brink of disaster.

‘Absolutely nuts’: Angler lands 464.5kg marlin after 10-hour battle
The Country

‘Absolutely nuts’: Angler lands 464.5kg marlin after 10-hour battle

19 Dec 06:49 PM

Skipper said Tuydor’s monumental effort was the greatest he’d seen in the angler's chair.

Premium
Court ruling paves way for new no-take areas, commercial fishing ban
The Country

Court ruling paves way for new no-take areas, commercial fishing ban

16 Dec 04:00 PM

Landmark court decision effectively creates a new marine reserve in Northland.

Premium
Northland’s worst fire in decades caused by ‘land-clearing burn that got out of control’
The Country

Northland’s worst fire in decades caused by ‘land-clearing burn that got out of control’

05 Dec 04:00 PM

Fire and Emergency report finds Kaimaumau wildfire last summer was accidental.

Construction firm fined for Kerikeri stream pollution
The Country

Construction firm fined for Kerikeri stream pollution

02 Nov 04:00 PM

Members of the public contacted Advocate with concerns about discoloured Wairoa Stream.

New venture brings pride, jobs and strawberries
The Country

New venture brings pride, jobs and strawberries

07 Oct 04:00 PM

Iwi-council venture aims to get strawberries into shops weeks ahead of the competition.

Full steam ahead for ferry project as second engine arrives in NZ
The Country

Full steam ahead for ferry project as second engine arrives in NZ

30 Aug 05:00 PM

'As far as we know there are only five of these left in the world. We've got two of them.'

Russell fishing rāhui already showing results, marae chair says
The Country

Russell fishing rāhui already showing results, marae chair says

29 Aug 05:00 PM

Locals say fish and bird numbers have soared since the breeding-season fishing ban began.

Premium
Self-baiting, self-setting traps a gamechanger for Northland forest
The Country

Self-baiting, self-setting traps a gamechanger for Northland forest

22 Aug 06:47 PM

Year-long trial saw possum and rat numbers plummet while wētā population rebounded.

Homes evacuated, drivers stranded as torrential rain batters Far North
The Country

Homes evacuated, drivers stranded as torrential rain batters Far North

18 Aug 06:47 PM

Four boats came to grief in Bay of Islands with one saved, another sunk and two on rocks.

Premium
Kaikohe trust lauded for saving district's ailing waterways
The Country

Kaikohe trust lauded for saving district's ailing waterways

22 Jul 05:00 PM

A scheme to keep young men off the streets has turned into an environmental mission.

Premium
Subdivision would 'tip the balance' from rural to urban, commissioners say
The Country

Subdivision would 'tip the balance' from rural to urban, commissioners say

21 Jul 05:00 PM

Concerns raised over lot sizes, loss of rural character, and disappearing productive land.

Lobby group says 133-lot subdivision a case of urban sprawl in a rural setting
The Country

Lobby group says 133-lot subdivision a case of urban sprawl in a rural setting

04 Jul 05:00 PM

Developer says subdivision meeting need for high-quality homes in Bay of Islands boomtown.

Premium
Locals begin four-year, $2m mission to clean up Hokianga waterways
The Country

Locals begin four-year, $2m mission to clean up Hokianga waterways

11 May 06:00 PM

The project is creating meaningful jobs while raising water quality in the iconic harbour.

Premium
Northland's Kaimaumau fire bill tops $7m
The Country

Northland's Kaimaumau fire bill tops $7m

09 May 04:37 AM

Cause of 2800ha fire, Northland's biggest in decades, still under investigation.

Premium
New water storage dam at Ngāwhā to start filling this winter
The Country

New water storage dam at Ngāwhā to start filling this winter

21 Apr 05:00 PM

Dam will have a volume equivalent to 300 Olympic swimming pools.

Premium
New dolphin rules 'changing boatie behaviour' - DoC
The Country

New dolphin rules 'changing boatie behaviour' - DoC

19 Apr 05:00 PM

So far 415 boaties spoken to for breaching dolphin rules; 11 potentially facing fines.

'Truly appalling': Attack on town custodian shocks Paihia community
The Country

'Truly appalling': Attack on town custodian shocks Paihia community

08 Apr 12:40 AM

Victim, 70, is employed by Focus Paihia to keep the town spick and span.

Vineyard wins Northland's first double gold medal
The Country

Vineyard wins Northland's first double gold medal

02 Mar 04:00 PM

Dancing Petrel's Viognier Reserve 2020 was also named best of its variety in the show.

Premium
Weed buster urges Northlanders to join battle against tree-killing vine
The Country

Weed buster urges Northlanders to join battle against tree-killing vine

18 Feb 04:00 PM

Fast-growing pest vine smothers mature trees and spread vast distances on the wind.

Premium
Hokianga towns connected to the outside world with new wharves
The Country

Hokianga towns connected to the outside world with new wharves

11 Feb 04:00 PM

The 160m-long wharf at Rangi Pt, North Hokianga, is one of the longest in the Far North.

Premium
$3.7m Kerikeri Inlet reclamation plan on hold
The Country

$3.7m Kerikeri Inlet reclamation plan on hold

25 Jan 04:00 PM

Fast-tracking process suspended while Far North Holdings seeks more information from iwi.

Omicron forces organisers to can Snapper Bonanza
The Country

Omicron forces organisers to can Snapper Bonanza

24 Jan 04:00 PM

Tickets to world's biggest surfcasting comp to be honoured at 2023 event or refunds given.

Evacuees to spend third night out of homes as 2000ha fire rages on
The Country

Evacuees to spend third night out of homes as 2000ha fire rages on

20 Dec 05:38 AM

Northland fire boss says blaze will take a week to put out and a month to mop up.

Live: Far North firefighters battle record 2000ha blaze; 50 homes at risk as wind picks up
The Country

Live: Far North firefighters battle record 2000ha blaze; 50 homes at risk as wind picks up

19 Dec 08:44 PM

Helicopters are trying to bring the fire under control before wind is expected to pick up.

Premium
Contractors recover tonnes of illegal rubbish from bush
The Country

Contractors recover tonnes of illegal rubbish from bush

24 Nov 04:00 PM

At least half the waste dumped into bush, stream could have been recycled free of charge.

Premium
Kerikeri markets cancelled amid concerns protest may have spread virus
The Country

Kerikeri markets cancelled amid concerns protest may have spread virus

28 Oct 04:00 PM

Organiser says cancellation a terrible financial hit for the market and stallholders.

Premium
Controversial kiwifruit spray likely to be banned
The Country

Controversial kiwifruit spray likely to be banned

05 Oct 04:00 PM

Kerikeri's John Levers has been fighting for a Hi-Cane ban for years. He's almost got it.

Mid and the Far North bore brunt of wild weather
The Country

Mid and the Far North bore brunt of wild weather

23 Sep 01:51 AM

Northland escapes the worst of the wild weather, with power disruptions the only hiccup.

Premium
Pristine bush turned into putrid, polluting rubbish tip
The Country

Pristine bush turned into putrid, polluting rubbish tip

19 Sep 06:00 PM

Illegal dumps on Whangae Rd part of bigger problem costing local ratepayers $200K a year.

Fast-tracking set for contentious boat ramp, reclamation
The Country

Fast-tracking set for contentious boat ramp, reclamation

13 Sep 05:00 PM

Rangitane community is split over plans for new boat ramp and reclaimed parking area

Scooby the lamb baasking in attention thanks to lockdown
The Country

Scooby the lamb baasking in attention thanks to lockdown

05 Sep 05:00 PM

Orphaned lamb insists on twice-daily walks with his foster family.

Premium
Tomato crop fed to cows as farmers' markets forced to close
The Country

Tomato crop fed to cows as farmers' markets forced to close

29 Aug 01:00 AM

Other Northland growers have been lucky with the Delta outbreak coming between harvests.

'It was fairly going for it': Bird's nest blaze destroys tractor
The Country

'It was fairly going for it': Bird's nest blaze destroys tractor

23 Aug 05:00 PM

Farmers urged to check their machinery for nests after Takahue blaze.

Russell man caught with 59 crayfish, boat seized
The Country

Russell man caught with 59 crayfish, boat seized

15 Aug 05:00 PM

Of the 59 crayfish allegedly taken at the Black Rocks, 48 were undersized packhorse crays.

Premium
'Fantastic' news - kiwifruit growers welcome Pacific workers
The Country

'Fantastic' news - kiwifruit growers welcome Pacific workers

03 Aug 06:00 PM

Workers from Covid-free Samoa, Tonga and Vanuatu to ease orchard labour shortage.

Far North council shelves controversial SNA plan
The Country

Far North council shelves controversial SNA plan

27 Jul 04:41 AM

Opponents, however, say they won't let down their guard until SNAs are binned for good.

Premium
Farmers under siege by feral dogs pin hopes on public meeting
The Country

Farmers under siege by feral dogs pin hopes on public meeting

22 Jul 05:30 PM

Councils, govt agencies expected at Houhora meeting from 10am on July 28.

Thousands turn out across Northland in 'howl of protest'
The Country

Thousands turn out across Northland in 'howl of protest'

16 Jul 05:00 PM

About 1600 utes, trucks, vans and tractors brought Northland towns to a standstill.

Big crowds expected across Northland for 'howl of a protest'
The Country

Big crowds expected across Northland for 'howl of a protest'

14 Jul 05:00 PM

Utes and tractors will gather from 11am in Whangārei, Dargaville, Kerikeri and Kaitaia.

Premium
Three feral dogs shot at Far North farm; attacks continue
The Country

Three feral dogs shot at Far North farm; attacks continue

13 Jul 05:00 PM

Community effort ends in frustration as dogs lie low.

Far North family buoyed by support after stock killed by feral dogs
The Country

Far North family buoyed by support after stock killed by feral dogs

07 Jul 05:00 PM

Family plans a cull this weekend helped by volunteers from as far away as Waikato.

More feral dogs seen on under-siege Far North farm
The Country

More feral dogs seen on under-siege Far North farm

06 Jul 05:00 PM

Farmer wants a cull of feral dogs before more animals are killed.

Premium
Council's rego, WOF checks 'hit Māori, rural poor hardest'
The Country

Council's rego, WOF checks 'hit Māori, rural poor hardest'

05 Jul 05:00 PM

Rural Māori already face extra barriers to becoming road-legal, driver advocate says.

Premium
Heartbreak as feral dogs slaughter stock in Far North
The Country

Heartbreak as feral dogs slaughter stock in Far North

05 Jul 03:26 AM

Farmer on guard day and night but attacks continue. More than 80 animals killed so far.

PM gets NZ's biggest solar farm under way
The Country

PM gets NZ's biggest solar farm under way

01 Jul 05:14 AM

The first panel of the 16MW solar farm was bolted on by PM Jacinda Ardern today.

Premium
Lives 'may be lost' as Far North road funding fails to keep up with costs, Court says
The Country

Lives 'may be lost' as Far North road funding fails to keep up with costs, Court says

27 Jun 06:00 PM

Waka Kotahi says the $88m allocated is well up on the $73m from the previous three years.

Gentle giant's numbers boosted as more wētāpunga released in Bay
The Country

Gentle giant's numbers boosted as more wētāpunga released in Bay

22 Jun 05:00 PM

'Finally insects are grabbing the limelight. They are the ones that run the planet.'

Premium
Neighbours, firefighters, vets pull together to save Gilbert the horse
The Country

Neighbours, firefighters, vets pull together to save Gilbert the horse

16 Jun 05:30 PM

Gilbert was up to his neck in mud until ''super hero'' neighbour took charge.

'You have sinned against Māori' - SNA hīkoi hits Kaikohe
The Country

'You have sinned against Māori' - SNA hīkoi hits Kaikohe

11 Jun 05:00 PM

'We got it wrong' - the admission that came as 2000 protesters descended on Kaikohe.

Hīkoi organiser urges govt to 'listen to the people', ditch SNAs
The Country

Hīkoi organiser urges govt to 'listen to the people', ditch SNAs

10 Jun 07:00 PM

The hīkoi had over 1000 people and marched on Far North District Council headquarters.

Premium
Kāeo says no to SNA plan in big meeting turnout
The Country

Kāeo says no to SNA plan in big meeting turnout

04 Jun 05:00 PM

Locals say the SNA plan discourages people already striving to protect native habitats.

Premium
Kaipara wind farm could power 25,000 homes
The Country

Kaipara wind farm could power 25,000 homes

20 May 05:00 PM

Wind farm plus Ngāwhā power station would produce more than half Northland's power needs.

Premium
Carter slams banks for 'ignoring' rural NZ
The Country

Carter slams banks for 'ignoring' rural NZ

17 May 06:00 PM

Mayor challenges bank bosses to try doing banking for businesses in, say, Waitiki Landing.

Premium
Govt grants $8m for 1000 water tanks for Far North
The Country

Govt grants $8m for 1000 water tanks for Far North

14 May 05:00 PM

Iwi-led scheme will see tanks allocated to neediest families, facilities in Te Hiku area.

Premium
Dargaville, Kaitaia solar farms 'game-changer' for NZ power generation
The Country

Dargaville, Kaitaia solar farms 'game-changer' for NZ power generation

13 May 10:00 PM

Kaipara 'solar farm' will be biggest in NZ, eclipsing even Kaitaia's planned solar plant.

Premium
More big wins for Northland cheesemakers Mahoe, Grinning Gecko
The Country

More big wins for Northland cheesemakers Mahoe, Grinning Gecko

11 May 05:00 PM

The Rosevear family is rapidly running out of space for their Very Old Edam trophies.

Premium
Northland GP gets rural medicine's top honour
The Country

Northland GP gets rural medicine's top honour

09 May 05:00 PM

Grahame Jelley arrived in NZ 20 years ago with only a job offer and $78 in his pocket.

Premium
NZ's biggest solar power farm planned for Kaitaia
The Country

NZ's biggest solar power farm planned for Kaitaia

22 Apr 05:30 PM

'Solar farm' will pump out 20 times more power than NZ's current biggest solar plant.

Premium
Far North farmers: 'We're being milked'
The Country

Far North farmers: 'We're being milked'

20 Apr 06:00 PM

Farmers say they haven't been properly informed of the 'massive' effect of rating changes.

Kerikeri man lands 'fish of a lifetime'
The Country

Kerikeri man lands 'fish of a lifetime'

18 Apr 05:00 PM

'Locky' Waugh was fishing off North Cape when he hooked the 83.4kg yellowfin tuna.

Northland faces more cuts in highway speed limits
The Country

Northland faces more cuts in highway speed limits

16 Apr 05:00 PM

Northlanders' views wanted about the right speed for each part of the highway network.

Rise in aggression from wild dogs behind Far North track closures
The Country

Rise in aggression from wild dogs behind Far North track closures

15 Apr 05:30 PM

Feral dogs aren't new in Te Paki Reserve - but aggression towards people is.

Feral dog packs keep Te Paki tracks closed at least two more weeks
The Country

Feral dog packs keep Te Paki tracks closed at least two more weeks

08 Apr 05:00 PM

Four tracks and a campground were closed on April 1 amid fears for public safety.

Tracks, campground near Cape Reinga closed amid fears of feral dog attacks
The Country

Tracks, campground near Cape Reinga closed amid fears of feral dog attacks

05 Apr 05:00 PM

Up to four packs of dogs seen in area near Cape Reinga; walkers, wildlife at risk.

Tough conditions no match for $30,000 winner
The Country

Tough conditions no match for $30,000 winner

22 Mar 04:00 PM

Winner Dickson Hohaia says he'll display his fish in his hallway for the rest of his life.

Photos: Promising start to Snapper Bonanza
The Country

Photos: Promising start to Snapper Bonanza

17 Mar 04:00 PM

Richard Tepania of Ahipara top of the day one leaderboard with a 6.555kg snapper.

'The epitome of surfcasting': Good start to Snapper Bonanza
The Country

'The epitome of surfcasting': Good start to Snapper Bonanza

17 Mar 04:00 AM

Ahipara's Richard Tepania bagged day one's $2000 heaviest fish prize with a 6.555kg catch.

Sellout crowd, good forecast and 'rampant' fish promise a bonanza
The Country

Sellout crowd, good forecast and 'rampant' fish promise a bonanza

15 Mar 04:00 PM

NZ's biggest surfcasting contest kicks off today on Ninety Mile Beach with 1000 anglers.

Consent fast-tracked: Work begins at Kaikohe water storage dam
The Country

Consent fast-tracked: Work begins at Kaikohe water storage dam

08 Mar 07:10 PM

18ha Matawii reservoir is the first project in NZ to be a granted fast-tracked consent.

Premium
Berry farm jobs a game-changer for Ngāpuhi and Mid North
The Country

Berry farm jobs a game-changer for Ngāpuhi and Mid North

02 Mar 05:00 PM

The 20 staff hired yesterday to kickstart a berry venture could grow to 200 in a year.

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