Latest fromBay of Islands

Packed Northland coastal communities are overwhelming locals
Overcrowded Northland coastal communities feeling the pinch of sharing with holidaymakers

The year that was 2020 in photos: Lockdown, election and a tornado
Northern Advocate photographer Michael Cunningham's favourite images of 2020

Gibbs reaps rewards at 2021's first Ruakākā races
Macs, ridden by Craig Grylls and trained by Gibbs, crossed the line first comfortably.

Kensington's Patricia Murray makes national singles quarter-finals
Entries for the Northland Centre Open Fours close at 5pm today.

Alleged police shooter appears in court
The 38-year-old faces seven serious charges including kidnapping and shooting at police.

Central Whangārei cordoned off after suspected gas leak
Emergency services called to suspected gas leak in central Whangārei

Tiny agents on a mission to control weeds
Biocontrol agents are replacing the need for farmers to spray to control weeds.

Identity of Waipū's adored local celebrity revealed
Four Square Waipū worker Heather Wells has been adopted by the township as the local Nana.

Two house fires in two days at Mangamuka
Mangamuka house fire comes just over 24 hours after home destroyed at nearby Umawera.

Girl power rules: Women dominate BOI Music Festival on and off stage
All key roles at Friday's festival are held by women, who dominate the musical line-up

Saturday night's Mangapai heist hits multiple homes
"I feel like even with the cameras, it's still not really going to stop them."

Historic Northland: the cradle of New Zealand's nationhood
A weekly round-up of news, events and oddities from the Bay of Islands and Mid North.

Five families left homeless by fire in one month
Firefighters say the blazes are a reminder that every home needs working smoke alarms.

People can still visit Northland's historic Māngungu Mission during work
Northland's historic Māngungu Mission won't close during vital conservation work

News snippets from Northland
Bay of Islands Music Festival lineup, and scholarships for Ngāpuhi students.

Watch: Shark surprise in Northland rockpool
"We didn't believe them until they started screaming."

Last round? Bay of Islands hospitality businesses' desperate plea for staff
Bay of Islands hospo operators say it will take more than visa extensions to save them.

Holiday-makers arrive to and farewell Northland
It's hello and so long to Northland for holiday-makers.

Locals with garden hoses join firefighters in battling blaze
Thirty firefighters and two choppers battled blaze in 1.5ha of scrub and pine forest.

Northlanders and visitors chew up mobile data on New Year's Eve
Mobile data use in Northland soared on New Year's Eve

Covid job scheme helps almost 270 Northlanders into work
Workers hired under Covid scheme picked up 20 tonnes of rubbish from Northland highways.

Police warning to holiday-makers after young boy killed in crash
The head-on crash occurred about 400m north of the turnoff to Hikurangi town.

'Horror' as island fire threatens world's rarest tree
Bought by the Crown from Māori in 1908, the island became a nature reserve in 1956.

Community kindness helps flood-hit Skip back on his feet
Skip Kidwell, owner of worst-hit house in Moerewa, was the face of the July flood.

Six-year-old boy killed in New Year's Day crash named by police
The little boy who died in a crash on January 1 was Myka Tuala of Wellington

Best sports photos of 2020
In Northland, codes scrambled to implement safety procedures due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

'I'm feeling homeless': Four-lane highway plan causing anxiety
Dirk Boesser is worried he might have to leave the home he hoped to retire in.

Top tips to keep your New Year's resolutions on track
New Year's resolutions often fail, but Essence has some tips to help you stay on track.

Patu Sigley is Ministry of Health's Volunteer of the Year
The award recognises her outstanding achievements within the community over 50 years.