Northland

The region's Chamber of Commerce is accusing the grid operator of doing a U-turn on compensation.

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

The government fund aims to boost business resilience in case another unexpected event occurs.

The toddler died in 2015 but her death was unexplained.

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 death of Alestra Kepa-Hati, 4, in October 2015 is being treated as unexplained and police are urging anyone with information to come forward.

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

It was a "miracle" the person's drive did not end in tragedy, police say.

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 coffin, the staple, the cheese-cutter and the flying squirrel were just some of the styles on show as keen bombers hit the water.

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

Last week more than 100,000 people were left without power after a Transpower pylon fell over.

It will also be available over the school holidays to help celebrate the reopening of SH1 over the Brynderwyns.

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.

Northland businesses are pushing for compensation from Transpower for last week's blackout across most of the region.

Transpower says all the nuts securing the tower to the base plate on three legs were removed, causing the tower to fall.