NewsBank (Northland Age, The)

Cancer patients in the Far North will soon be able to access more advanced surgery closer to home, after funding was approved for a Gen 2 Sentimag system for Kaitāia Hospital.

Phone calls from Far North mothers desperate for a place to stay — so they don't have to shelter with their children under bridges overnight — aren't uncommon, a local charity says.

Twenty-one-year-old Emma "Little Miss" Nesbitt has made history since her professional boxing debut in 2023, being the smallest New Zealand boxer in history, the youngest boxer from New Zealand to be world-ranked – and she is now on the brink of a world title shot.

A cutting-edge fire detection system designed to sense fires before smoke is even visible is now operating in the Waitangi Endowment Forest.

Northland's volcanic past is back under the microscope, with the regional council commissioning a fresh review into its little-understood volcanic fields.

Nicole Anderson has been appointed the new chair for Northland Rugby Union's board, taking over from Nikita Tomlinson. Anderson is already a member of the board and chair of the Finance, Audit and Risk Committee. Her wider governance experience includes directorships with organisations such as Te Ohu Kaimoana, Kāinga Ora, Top Energy, NZ Blood & Organ Service and Northland Inc, as well as her role

Water tanks with end-point treatment are set to become the long-term answer to Kāeo's drinking water woes, in a move welcomed by both Far North District Council and the Water Services Authority.

Far North District councillor Davina Smolders says she will now focus on agenda setting after the Government moved to bar unelected people from voting on council committees.

A surge in landslides across Northland is being driven by more frequent extreme weather, with engineers warning the Far North's slopes are increasingly vulnerable as climate change intensifies heavy rain events.

She has tackled specialist trades, been promoted to section commander and was named a junior leader.

Ōpononi Area School students were writing and performing their own music within days, guided by a visiting musician as part of New Zealand Music Month.

Long-serving workers at Kaitāia's Juken mill say they still believe the operation can survive under the right ownership.

The Far North ranks among the worst districts in the country for dog-related ACC claims, recording nearly 500 last year.

Kaitāia Community Voices' story has struck a chord far beyond the Far North; a documentary following their story has won big at one of America's most prestigious television festivals.

The Far North District Council has voted to join a new council-controlled organisation overseeing drinking water and wastewater across the region.

Ngāti Hine Forestry Trust's kiwifruit venture is one of three finalists for the prestigious Ahuwhenua Awards, which this year focuses on horticulture. Since 1933, the awards have encouraged skill in Māori farming, and now alternate each year between dairy, sheep and beef farming, and horticulture. Whangaroa Ngaiotonga Trust in Whangaruru won in 2025 for sheep and beef, meaning Te Tai Tokerau will

Ancient Māori artefacts and traces of early European settlement uncovered during flood protection works in Kaeō have forced delays to the major infrastructure project.

Māori artefacts and traces of early European settlement have been uncovered during flood protection works in Kaeō, where adverse weather has delayed progress on the major infrastructure project.

Kaitāia Airport has reopened after a major runway reseal project was completed.

The future of hundreds of Far North jobs will be the focus of a public community meeting in Kaitāia this weekend as uncertainty continues over whether a buyer can be found for the region's Juken New Zealand mills.

A Kawakawa speed hump criticised by motorists and discussed at a recent Regional Transport Committee meeting has been modified after concerns over its design and impact on vehicles.

A group of aspiring Northland film-makers will see their work on the big screen after shooting a short film inside a cinema.

Just months after the grand opening of its new clubhouse in Ōpua, the Bay of Islands Swordfish Club has secured a major new event expected to bring anglers, visitors and economic benefits to the Far North.

After complaining that reporting issues to council was "not worth it", the Far North District Council says it has made significant changes to how it responds and is urging residents to give the system a chance.

Te Tai Tokerau MP Mariameno Kapa-Kingi says her new political direction is about enduring change – not just for the next election but for the next 30 years.

A talented Far North golfer is helping introduce other students to the sport, while building his own promising golf career.

After years of having to make do with ageing classrooms, Kerikeri High School is in line for a significant rebuild. Twelve new classrooms and major site upgrades have been confirmed under a multi-billion-dollar government schools investment.

Construction is now underway on the Far North's water fluoridation programme, with work set to meet the Ministry of Health's July 31 deadline.

Fuel price increases are continuing to bite rural and isolated communities, with residents cutting back on travel, combining and carefully planning trips as costs climb.

The Far North District Council has thanked those who applied for the mayoral relief fund Te Tahua Toka Tū Moana - emergency financial support for those impacted by major disasters. The council said there were a "very large number" of applications and it would be in touch once processed. Most applications would receive between $500-$1500. Each will be considered alongside others to ensure fairness,