Stories by Peter de Graaf
News
Formal complaint lodged against Transpower over tower collapse
The collapse of the national grid operator's tower in Northland cut electricity to 88,000 customers.
Researcher's dream of creating marine education centre goes up in smoke
Work was just about to start on repurposing the historic ship Tui when it was destroyed in a fire on Wednesday.
Paihia ship fire: 'We've lost a significant bit of history'
The cause of a fire that destroyed a historic ship at the Paihia waterfront may never be known, a fire investigator says.
Water restored in Dargaville after massive three-day outage
Dargaville suffered after a massive outage caused by four separate pipeline ruptures last week.
Hundreds hīkoi to honour toddler killed in Northland
Kaikohe sought to remember Catalya Remana Tangimetua-Pepene whose death has rocked the small town.
Northland crayfish harvest ban on the cards
Fisheries Minister Shane Jones said consultation on the proposal would start soon, and would be controversial.
Neighbours mourn death of 'beautiful' toddler
Neighbours of a girl, 3, who died at her Northland home last week say her smile was so bright it 'lit up the whole world'.
Historic three-masted sailing ship to begin new chapter in Northland
A derelict old ship with a vivid history is about to get a new life, recommissioned as a marine education centre.
Giant battery: first stage of Ruakākā Energy Park switched on
The country's first super-sized grid-connected battery will help improve Northland's energy resilience in future power outages, Meridian Energy says.
Giant grid-connected battery site set to open at Marsden Point, Northland
The site covers an area the size of two rugby fields and consists of 80 shipping-container-sized batteries.
Warning ratepayers could face hefty bill to save Waitangi's waterfront
Part of it is disappearing into the sea - a problem that could have been avoided with a few hours' work, a resident says.
Northland lawyer named in Forbes magazine's 30 under 30 list
Keegan Jones, 26, has been named as one of the world's most influential young people.
'Hīkoi for Health': Public worried about creeping privatisation
Two doctors travelled the length of the North Island to see how people felt about the state of the health system.
Paihia's main road to be closed to fix storm damage
Cyclone Tam took a large chunk out of Marsden Road/State Highway 11 near the town centre.
Mayor supports hapū in fight against fast-tracked marina proposal
There are plans for a 250-berth marina, including a boat ramp and shops, at isolated Waipiro Bay.
Hundreds gather in Kaikohe to welcome home mixed-martial arts champ
The town was not just celebrating Dhcamad Armstrong's fighting achievements, but also his use of martial arts to help young men back onto the straight and narrow.
Erosion threatens to wash away waterfront of historic NZ town
If nothing was done, the beachfront road and buildings would eventually be threatened.
Hundreds to gather to remember Battle of Te Kahika
Organisers say the event is as pertinent today as it was 180 years ago.
Problem-plagued Far North water scheme to be reviewed
Far North District councillors have ordered an independent review of a Kaitāia water project dogged by delays and cost overruns.
Speeding car smashes through elderly man's roof
The Whangārei man in his 80s was not at home when the crash happened.
Who are the people in Ans Westra's photos?
That's the question organisers of Ans Westra: Kerikeri 2025, an exhibition by the acclaimed photographer, are hoping visitors will be able to answer.
'We see it in our town every day' - inside the ongoing battle against meth use in Northland
The meth crisis is nothing new in Northland, but people are now openly using the drug on the streets.
Northland's meth crisis: 'There's no magic wand'
With use tripling last year, groups trying to help people in the "meth capital" say they're totally overwhelmed. Audio
Kerikeri and Whangārei set new records for wettest April ever recorded
Both centres weresoaked by about four times their average rainfall for the month.
Flooding closes SH1 in two places in Far North
NZTA is warning motorists there are no alternative routes for the two road closures, as surface flooding hits Dargaville.