The Northern Advocate
Row over paper road
A paper road in Whangārei Heads is causing a bitter dispute, with police called multiple times, trespass notices issued and complaints laid to council. A hunter wants access to the paper road, as the law allows, to control wild cattle and pigs, but...
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‘One day my man went, and he didn’t come home’
Northlander Kerry McDonald had stood on the deck of his home, beer in hand, admiring the Bay of Islands scenery and appreciating life. He had no idea that less than two weeks later he would be dead. McDonald’s partner of 15 years, Lauren Powell,...
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Giant wind turbine load tips into ditch
Investigations are underway after a transporter carrying a massive wind turbine tower section to the Kaiwaikawe Wind Farm site near Dargaville tipped sideways into a ditch. The turbine section was on a 72-wheel transport unit being towed by a truck...
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Voters back move to poll voting system
Whangā rei voters are welcoming their council’s first-time move to poll its people on what election system they want. Whangārei District Council (WDC) voted at a February 24 meeting to hold a binding poll at the 2028 elections on whether its...
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New owners save remaining Kamo lions
The five remaining lions at Kamo Wildlife Sanctuary have been saved after a group of investors bought the former Northland tourist attraction. Wellington-based animal rescue organisation HUHA brought the buyers together after news broke late last year...
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‘Nowhere for them to go’
Whangārei’s frontline homeless support agencies say a new Government “move on” policy is pointless if there is nowhere for rough sleepers to go. The proposal, announced on Sunday by Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith and Police Minister Mark Mitchell,...
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‘I just couldn’t stop weeping’
Avisit to pick lemons at a family member’s home is believed to have set in motion a dog attack that killed a much-loved Northland grandmother. Mihiata Te Rore, 62, died on February 17 after being fatally injured by three dogs living at the Kaihu...
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‘You look after the people that you love’
AWhangārei man is on a mission to help his dying father facing the “fight of his life”. Devon Hartley, 43, choked up when he re-lived a phone call with his dad Keith Hartley in which his “hero” broke the news he had a stage four blood cancer. “He’s...
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Northland infrastructure investment essential
Te Tai Tokerau must not be taken off the table after the Government’s new national infrastructure plan, a Northland business leader is warning. Group secretary for the Northland Corporate Group, Julian Smith, said the Government must continue to invest...
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Giant step for North
The first of the massive turbine-component convoys for Mercury NZ’s $287 million Kaiwaikawe Wind Farm rolled out of Northport on Sunday night — and some Northlanders stayed up to watch the unusual sight. Whangā rei local Robyn Anderson and her husband...
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Dog attack victim urges PM to act on danger
The traumatised owner of a dog attacked on Northland’s Ruakākā Beach says Prime Minister Christopher Luxon needs to do more than make empathetic comments after a woman was killed by dogs. Ruakākā‘s Lidia Sandoval said Luxon needed to take real action...
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Sailing duo plot new course
Curly-coated retriever Rimu, missing for four days after a catamaran capsize off Whananaki, is back at sea and sailing confidently again – lifejacket on, as ever. Rimu and her owner, Wānaka retiree Mark Ayre, had been living aboard their new $350,000,...
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Fears over ‘nangs’ as problem escalates
Larger nitrous oxide canisters are turning up across Northland, reflecting growing national concern over recreational “nang” use. The canisters, which can be purchased to make whipped cream, have been used recreationally for years by inhaling the gas...
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Heartbreak after mum dies
I don’t want your gifts. I want to spend time with you. Your time is the most valuable thing you can give to anyone.” That is what solo mum Tam would tell her three children — Grady, 22, Hugo, 20, and Lucy, 18 — when they would ask her what she wanted...
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Students’ marks shine worldwide
Two Northland students have been named top in the world for their respective subjects in the rigorous Cambridge examinations. Huanui College head girl Olivia Tremain and student Arlo Jang were named as top in the world for Marine Science Cambridge...
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Whā nau feel pharmacy mistake cost dad’s life
Agrieving Whangārei family say they cannot accept the Health and Disability Commissioner’s recently released findings that their beloved dad died from a heart attack. They say the report overlooks what they believe is the true cause of their father’s...
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‘Not all heroes wear capes’
Parents of children on a school bus that burst into flames are banding together to buy a gift for the “hero” driver, while an investigation into the cause was launched. The driver helped the 19 students escape through a side exit as the bus filled...
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Super City split
Kaipara District Council wants a combined Kaipara– North Rodney Council to be considered in the Government’s local government shake-up. The council is backing North Rodney Action Group’s proposal to form a unitary authority by merging the area it...
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Rebate delays leave residents out of pocket
AFar North pensioner is “frustrated” and out of pocket after council delays processing his rates rebate. Far North District Council (FNDC) said it has “recognised the need to improve turnaround times for processing rates rebate applications”. Kerikeri...
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‘I had to stay alive for 10 days’
Northland midwife Denise McCormack is grateful to be alive after first surviving a heart attack, then being faced with an impossible decision because of the country’s health system. McCormack, who has a family history of cardiac disease, is speaking...
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Lake rescue hero recalls close call
Seconds made all the difference for a family of four who were saved from drowning at Kai Iwi Lakes, their rescuer says. Earlier this month, Haruru local Aaron Stott, his wife Katy and their friend were taking an evening walk along Lake Taharoa on Pine...
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Fine weather and calmer mood expected at Waitangi
Fine weather is expected to match a calmer atmosphere than in the past few years for 2026‘s Waitangi Day commemorations in Northland. Waitangi and the wider Bay of Islands have already been busy in the lead-up to Friday, as the nation turns its focus...
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Private funding sought as Peters pushes back at contractor doubts
Private finance appears crucial to get the Marsden Point rail spur built, as Rail Minister Winston Peters’ ambitions come up against a tight Budget and the 2026 election. KiwiRail has, since December, been seeking expressions of interest from...
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North e-boats boost island life
Afleet of five electric boats made by a Northland company is making a world of difference for isolated Samoan communities. Whangārei-based McKay was chosen to deliver Samoa’s first lowcarbon boats under a United Nations programme, called Climate Action...
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‘This beast will be back’
An invasive seaweed described as the world’s worst marine pest has mysteriously died off on a huge scale in Northland and the Hauraki Gulf. Fast-growing caulerpa blanketed huge areas of seabed around the Bay of Islands and Aotea Great Barrier after it...
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One couple’s decision to become self-employed and why they won’t go back to a 9-to-5 job
Going from the security of being employed to becoming their own boss was “double the risk” for Northland couple France-Inge Muller and Joel Young. But, despite the highs and lows, and sheer hard work, the Whangārei residents are adamant — they...
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Big step forward for Ari
Lucy and Dane Higgison first thought something was wrong when newborn Ari had trouble breastfeeding and was “uncoordinated” when using a bottle. By age 6 months, Ari had not reached the age-appropriate development milestones such as sitting...
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‘Upward bullying’ costs police $15k
Aculture long whispered about as the Northland CIB “boys’ club” has now cost the police $15,000 after an inquiry found a senior female Detective Inspector was bullied and frozen out by her peers. The Employment Relations Authority (ERA) ruled the...
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Coroner: Stretcher fall led to woman’s death
Awoman died after being dropped from a hospital stretcher at Whangārei Hospital, a coroner has found. Margaret Batten, 83, suffered a head injury after falling onto a concrete floor in the ambulance loading bay when a St John officer lost control of...
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State of emergency set to be reviewed today
whangā rei’s mayor would like to see the district’s state of emergency lifted this afternoon. Emergency response leaders are reviewing the state of emergency today as its week-long tenure expires. Ken Couper said his inclination would be to lift it so...
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Eco village aims to generate own power
Acommunity microgrid and onsite wastewater treatment plant are some of the key features of an ecodevelopment under way in Northland. Stage one of the Mangawhai Hills subdivision is progressing, with developer Patrick Fontein hoping the 57 titles will...
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Communities unite
Aand fter days torrential downpours, flooding, evacuations and widespread disruption across the region, forecasters expected the worst of the rain to have eased before most Northlanders were even awake this morning. MetService meteorologist Lewis...
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‘Keep safe and look after your mates’
Northlanders already battered by days of heavy rain are being told to brace for another onslaught of torrential downpours today. The region is under an orange heavy rain warning until 1am tomorrow with MetService saying there is a high chance it will...
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