Latest from Whangarei

Five families left homeless by fire in one month

Firefighters say the blazes are a reminder that every home needs working smoke alarms.

'Absolutely devastated': Celebrity medium Kelvin Cruickshank's pet dog shot

Kelvin Cruickshank has 'no enemies' but worries 'kill-shot' could have hit his kids.

Watch: Shark surprise in Northland rockpool

"We didn't believe them until they started screaming."

Locals with garden hoses join firefighters in battling blaze

Thirty firefighters and two choppers battled blaze in 1.5ha of scrub and pine forest.

'The news no parent should receive': Father's heartbreak after son, 6, dies in crash

Six-year-old Myka Tuala was a 'happy, kind and gentle' young boy.

Police warning to holiday-makers after young boy killed in crash

The head-on crash occurred about 400m north of the turnoff to Hikurangi town.

'Horror' as island fire threatens world's rarest tree

Bought by the Crown from Māori in 1908, the island became a nature reserve in 1956.

Six-year-old boy killed in New Year's Day crash named by police

The little boy who died in a crash on January 1 was Myka Tuala of Wellington

Patu Sigley is Ministry of Health's Volunteer of the Year

The award recognises her outstanding achievements within the community over 50 years.

KiwiRail's muscle limited in easing freight logjam

KiwiRail is struggling to be the answer to freight logjam woes.

'It's too risky': Fires banned in Whangārei and Kaipara from Christmas Eve

Total fire ban is in place in Whangārei and Kaipara from Christmas Eve

High Court reduces sentence of five years for aggravated robbery

Whangārei District Court didn't give enough discount for robber's guilty plea.

September police shooting: man who tried to take officers lives sentenced

September police shooting: man who tried to take officers lives sentenced

Toxic cocktail of speed and too many vehicles threatening lives on Northland beach

Fears that it will only be a matter of time before another person is killed.

Turbulent childhood no barrier for Whangārei scholar

Skyla Anderson-Wynn will study law as well as arts and commerce at university next year.

Fire restrictions across NZ: Northland 'near extreme' danger

Dry conditions and forecast strong winds have fire authorities on high alert.

Hundreds of pro-Māori wards signatures for new campaign

A new campaign has been set up to support Māori seats on councils.

'Wandering with Ancestors' road tour relaunched

Visitors to Northland and locals can do a renewed self-drive tour of interesting sites.