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Northland

Power restored north of Whangarei

LATEST: Northpower crews have repaired an electricity fault affecting almost 700 customers in the Helena Bay, Oakura and Bland Bay areas since 4.30am today.

Falls water leaves rash

It's unsafe. That's the word from mother of three Kristi Henare who got a rash after swimming at the Whangarei Falls.

Thundercats silenced by calm seas

Calm seas made for fast Thundercat racing at Waipu Cove but meant the action failed to live up to the spectacle of past years.

Field days organisers expect record turnout

Head to Northland Field Days and you could be in for a nice surprise.

Old bones take shape

An Antarctic leopard seal skeleton will go on display after being discovered in the cliffs of Baylys Beach nearly 20 years ago.

The accolades just keep coming for Oturu Primary School in Kaitaia with 13-year-old Te Amohaere Rudolph winning the national anti-bullying poetry competition, You've got the Power, at the end of last year.

Shirley takes home trophy

Eager to hit the track after the Christmas break, 39 competitors met at Kaikohe Speedway on January 15 for some high speed action.

Weather sees farmers holding stock

Unseasonably wet weather has led to the temporary closure of night shifts at Silver Fern Farms meatworks.

Cameras capture garden vandals at work

Security cameras have proven their worth in the Riverside Taha Awa gardens.

Angel Flight heaven-sent

Lance Weller is single-handedly setting up a charity to fly patients to far-away hospitals for non-emergency appointments.

Athletes draw eyes

Some of New Zealand's up and coming swimming stars are training at the Dargaville pool in the hopes of making it to the London Olympics.

Zion cats safe for now, court hears

Zion Wildlife Garden's lawyer will fight an application by receivers to have 36 big cats put down or removed.

Arrest after Northland man hospitalised

A man has been charged with assault after another man suffered life threatening head injuries.

Beach users urged to watch out for others

Fly a flag if you fish and plan to use a torpedo or kontiki at the beach this summer. And if you're a kite surfer, put plenty of space between you and swimmers.

New rules for contaminated land

The government has tightened rules regulating the use of land that may have been subject to specifically identified hazardous activities and industries.

Fence up the farms

Effluent from farms in Whangarei District is suffocating the Northern Wairoa River and depleting fish stocks in the Kaipara Harbour, pollution campaigner Millan Ruka says.

Pondweed choking our waterways

An aquatic weed that could choke and poison key waterways has been dumped in the Whangarei Quarry Gardens lake.

Focus Paihia unveils vision for town's future

After two and a half years of consultation, Focus Paihia showed off its concept for Paihia of the future on Sunday night.

Focus Paihia unveils vision for town's future

After two and a half years of consultation, Focus Paihia showed off its concept for Paihia of the future on Sunday night.

Rave reviews for kids' art

A multi-media art exhibition by students of Totara North Primary School has drawn rave reviews from members of the community.

Ride drives anti-violence message home

The war on domestic violence is being won thanks to the white ribbon day campaign, police say.

Living roof concept `great branding'

Whangarei could give itself a point of difference if more buildings had living roofs, according to an international expert.

Jandal day for lifeguards

Kick off the high heels, smart work shoes and strappy sandals and throw on a pair of jandals.

Music legend dies

Musical legend Russ Garcia died peacefully at his Kerikeri home on Sunday.

Call for year-round booze ban

A wide-ranging, 24 hours a day, seven days a week liquor ban in key Far North public spaces will concentrate the minds of councillors when they debate the issue at their monthly meeting tomorrow.

Brain food needed

Teachers at Dargaville High School are dipping into their back pockets to feed hungry students.

Kiwi has a remarkable birthday

One of the country's newest kiwi hatched at 1pm last Friday, 11.11.11 – in an incubator at the Whangarei Native Bird Recovery Centre.

Island's new arrival

Meet three-month-old Penny Kohe Barr – the first baby on Matakohe Limestone Island for about 100 years.

Arty weekend for an election

Sword swallowing, stencil art and other superb entertainment will all be part of Art Beat's Big Picnic this weekend.

Northland riders shine in Rotorua

At the Bay of Plenty horse trials in Rotorua on November 5 and 6, Northland horse riders took a whole bag of prizes, snatching them away from the locals.

Hope for the kokako's return

The total number of rats removed from Puketi Forest has crept up to nearly 20,000.

Probe into lake water

The health of Kai Iwi Lake is deteriorating.

Re-think on Opo statue

Opo the friendly dolphin has remained a New Zealand icon for more than 50 years.

Kiwifruit disease scare

Kiwifruit growers in Kerikeri have some tough decisions.

Call out for bras

Calling all women – Girl Guides only needs another 10,000 bras to beat the Guinness world record for the longest bra chain.

Opo's stone statue and its young boy rider vandalised

The stone statue of Opo the Friendly Dolphin had its young boy rider decapitated some time late on Wednesday.

ABs visit after video

Students at a Whangarei school have shown they can do anything by winning a nationwide All Blacks support competition.

Vintner's luck

Northland wineries have scooped lots of medals in recent competitions such as The NZ International Wine Show and Romeo Bragato awards.

Local expo a winner

Keeping it local was the key to success for the Bay of Islands Wedding and Fashion Expo in Kerikeri.

Planting for the future

Pupils at Oturu Primary School love bees.

Pool due to open soon

One week delay caused by cracks

Hopes are high Dargaville's pool will open on Saturday, one week later than originally planned.

We don't rate in guide

A travel guide rates the supermarket as Dargaville's fifth attraction out of six.

Young girl has meningitis

Medical officials have confirmed a two-year-old Kaipara girl has meningococcal disease.

New bridge step closer

A lifting bridge across the lower Hatea River is just one step away from reality.

Northlanders head to BOP

Oil clean-up experts and beach lovers from Northland are lending a hand in the oil-covered Bay of Plenty coastline.

Dargaville pool 'seriously damaged'

Northland's only 50 metre swimming pool is seriously damaged and won't be opening anytime soon.

10th meningitis case in the North

LATEST: A five-year-old is in Whangarei Hospital with meningococcal disease.
The Whangarei child was admitted on Friday - October 7 - and is in a stable condition.

Reject pokie funds, Sallies say

Community groups are being urged to turn down potentially millions of dollars worth of funding because it comes from the proceeds of gambling.

Police need our help

The police need our help to catch those responsible for an aggravated robbery at the Onerahi Tavern last night and a hit and run in the city late yesterday afternoon.