The Northern Advocate
‘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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