Stories by Peter de Graaf

Nearly three years after a marae applied to restore Russell's original name, residents are still waiting. Audio

Grant McCallum wants the region-wide discount in compensation for June's blackout.

A petition of more than 1100 signatures will be presented to Parliament urging St John not to replace its Rāwene-based ambulance with a smaller first response vehicle.

Russell residents are banding together in the hope of rescuing one of New Zealand's most historic buildings before it deteriorates so badly it can't be saved. Audio

It faces two charges of exposing people to risk of serious injury or death.

Residents felt like they were "running the gauntlet every day" due to crashes. Now they can breathe a little easier.

The project would have severed the iwi's connection to a beach and a reserve considered their traditional whenua and moana.

Some businesses lost tens of thousands in income - but there's also "ongoing brand damage to Northland", Chamber of Commerce says. Audio

A squad captained by the legendary Taine Randell will go head-to-head with MPs like Peeni Henare, Mark Mitchell and Simon Watts.

A headland in the Bay of Islands was earlier occupied by hapū to stop homes being built. Now, a digger has arrived to start clearing vegetation.

The ferry's skipper was left with critical head and spinal injuries while a passenger was thrown into the water before the vessel sank.

A life-sized elephant statue - familiar to generations of Aucklanders - has traded its home of more than 30 years next to a traffic-clogged central city road for a quiet life.

"The sun's shining. We're open in Northland. Come on up," locals say as SH1 reopens after four-month closure.

The Northern News and The Whangārei Leader will cease publication this week, along with a weekly property lift-out.

Northland's Chamber of Commerce says the Consumer Guarantees Act only applies to retail customers, not businesses.

New Zealand's only high school steel band is winning fans with a genre-defying repertoire, ranging from pure 1970s pop to hard rock. Audio

"Incredibly relieved" - that's the reaction of a Northland business leader to news that State Highway 1 over the Brynderwyn Hills will reopen in just under a week's time.

What was meant to be a gathering Wednesday to support struggling Northland business owners is set to become a celebration instead.

The council now has just two weeks to start adding fluoride to its Kaitāia and Kerikeri water supplies after the Ministry of Health's refusal.

The patch of caulerpa was found north of Auckland during routine surveillance.

Vomiting in public, snoozing on busy roads, hanging out in KFC car parks, and waking up on strangers' couches - just some of the antics seals could get up to.

The damage is disappointing because the camera was installed at the behest of the community, a spokesperson says.

More than $30 million was spent fixing a railway line before the partly-completed project was put on hold.

A new service is offering Far Northerners free legal clinics - alongside mental health support - in a tikanga Māori setting.

Caulerpa has been found at Leigh, north of Auckland, just a short distance from the famous Goat Island Marine Reserve.