Shags dry their wings at at the northern end of Ripiro Beach photo - LDR / Susan Botting Photo:
Susan Botting is in Northland, where Ripirō Beach locals are worried about hordes of off-roaders, four-wheel drives and motorbikes pouring onto their west coast beach over Labour weekend. And a project is underway to turn huge Cyclone Gabrielle-downed trees into firewood for needy families. In Dargaville, residents are hitting out at the local council's $8m plans to improve bike and walking in the town.
