Northland stories
Boaties launching at Lake Taharoa must use a new automated gate and PIN system as Northland steps up action against the invasive freshwater clam.
Households could face higher bills as Northland's councils push the new water provider to prioritise affordability over investment pressures.
Council staff have proposed a smaller Uretiti South exclusion zone after public backlash, preserving more vehicle access on Whangārei's beaches.
The latest disruption left 750 homes and businesses unable to take electronic payments, deepening pain for Bay of Islands operators after a slow winter.
Motorists face fines and higher sign-changing costs as NZTA resets five Northland stretches after repeated reversals on safety grounds.
The rise has pushed cocaine to its highest share of workplace drug positives in a year, with Auckland's North Shore hit hardest.
Farmers are being urged to plan early as the predicted El Niño threatens drought, lower pasture growth and milk output across the Waikato.
Fears over noise, dust and air quality have prompted calls to shift the fast-tracked project away from homes in Marsden Bay.
Waiting times remain starkly uneven, with Northland and Southern lagging on planned care while other regions meet health targets.
Households could get better solar export prices under ACT's plan to widen electricity competition and let private firms build grid links.
Drier spring weather is now the most likely outcome for Northland as a strengthening El Niño starts to bite, the regional council says.
Councillors face a petition-backed push to spend GBP £100,000 on design for a safety fix at Waipu's busiest junction.
Noise complaints and lease talks are mounting as a Whangārei intensive care specialist says the airport base adds delays without improving transfers.
Approval of the assay could speed kauri disease monitoring and help land managers catch the soil pathogen earlier, researchers say.
Nearly 30 older residents learnt simple preparedness steps as Northland councils and emergency services urged stronger community links before disasters.
Council enforcement against unregistered owners drove infringements up more than threefold, as dog control complaints and call-outs nearly doubled.
Community reports from Golden Bay suggest backup towers alone may not guarantee reliable 111 access when a fibre route fails.
The review could identify quick wins for Northland residents, while weighing privacy, security and ethical risks before any rollout.
Heavy falls may trigger warnings as a warm, moisture-laden front sweeps across the upper North Island and Westland.
Ratepayers face sweeping council restructures as ministers weigh rival merger bids, with some regions set for government-imposed changes.
