Phil Heatley to retire from politics next year
National MP for Whangarei and former Cabinet Minister Phil Heatley says he will retire from politics at next year's election.
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Latest fromWhangarei
Man found dead at Northland house
A 36-year-old has been found dead at a house in Northland in what police are treating as a homicide enquiry.
Teen girl tied, gagged in Whangarei
A teenage girl appeared to be tied up and gagged in the front passenger seat of a car near Whangarei yesterday.
Police warn retailers about 'highly strung' offender
Police have warned retailers about an "erratic and highly strung" offender who robbed a Whangarei dairy at gunpoint yesterday.
Rugby career in balance over charge
A Whangarei man will have to wait to learn if he can avoid a conviction for drink driving so he can take up a professional contract playing rugby in Scotland.
IPCA apology on way over inaccuracy
The Independent Police Conduct Authority will formally apologise to a Whangarei family after releasing a report with incorrect information relating to drugs found in a car.
Farmer makes agonising 3km ride
A "stoic old boy" who fell from a stack of hay bales on a remote corner of his Northland farm rode 3km in agonising pain on his quad bike to raise the alarm.
Elderly fire victim sent unreleased novel
A random act of kindness brought 92-year-old fire victim Pearl Sanger close to tears after she received a signed novel from writer Lee Child, not yet released in NZ.
Violent offender gets early release from jail
A Whangarei man jailed for two years and two months for violent offending during a gang feud has been released on parole with strict conditions.
Mum-of-four burgled neighbour's home
A mother of four who burgled her neighbour's home has been given community work and a stern telling off for her actions.
Dial-a-driver thrown from vehicle
A female dial-a-driver was thrown from the vehicle she was called to drive home after a drunk driver tried to steal it in Whangarei.
Gang members hinder police after fire
Gang members hindered emergency staff who were searching for a missing person following a house fire in Whangarei overnight.
Health worker savaged by dogs
A mental health worker was savaged about the head and neck during an attack by two dogs while she visited a client in Whangarei.
Body found on beach to be released to family
The body of a man found in the Hokianga Harbour will be released to his family for burial as soon as his identity is confirmed.
Abuse victim raises alarm on Facebook
A domestic violence victim whose partner took her phone so she couldn't call police managed to raise the alarm via Facebook instead.
Illegal seafood sales hunted
The wasabi sauce wasn't the only hot food item at a Whangarei sushi joint - the paua being used was also hot, having been bought illegally.
Cops probe baby's death
Police have officially named one-year-old Atreyu Taylor-Matene, the Whangarei youngster at the centre of a homicide investigation.
Mystery over fatal collision
A man who admitted causing the death of a motorist can't remember what happened in the few seconds his car veered across State Highway 1 last year.
Locals divided on plan to fill in bay for ramp
A small bay in Northland could be filled in to create a boat ramp to accommodate the number of boats launched off the beach over a few weeks in summer.
Giant petrel returns to wild
A giant petrel taken back to sea after being rescued on a west coast beach was in no hurry to test its freedom - the bird hung around the release boat for two hours before finally deciding to fly away.