Stories by Peter de Graaf

A dramatic drop in Northland's drowning toll is due to in part to a new strategy of identifying hotspots and working with locals to come up with solutions, a leading water safety advocate says.

The Bay of Islands will be transformed into a sea of sails this weekend as one of the highlights of Northland's boating calendar returns to the waters off Russell.

Community leaders in the Bay of Islands say they are devastated the new government has cancelled a project designed to improve road safety for children heading to school in Kerikeri.

The cousins, aged 6 and 4, died when a utility terrain vehicle they were on struck a boulder and fell into a waterhole.

The final death of the official holiday period toll - and the first in Northland of 2024 - was a baby boy who had only recently turned six months old.

The Automobile Association is welcoming a drop in the nation's road toll - but says it's still far too high relative to other countries and significantly more than a decade ago.

Bay of Islands tourist towns, such as Paihia and Russell, are filling up with international visitors and New Year's revellers.

State Highway 1 has reopened after being blocked this afternoon north of Kaitāia after a milk delivery truck rolled, while people have died in crashes near Russell, and in Buller District.

Department of Conservation campgrounds around Northland are packed as holidaymakers count down to the New Year in some of the region's most scenic spots.

It's not quite a baby in a manger - but finding a kiwi asleep in her coop was the ultimate Christmas gift for Jane Jackets.

The explosion of colour isn't confined just to the region's most-loved coastal trees, a leading conservationist says.

One of the world's most exclusive superyachts has berthed in a Northland port for a two-week stay.

A man accused of owning the dogs that killed a friend has been granted bail after initially being locked in the cells for refusing to follow court instructions.

The New Zealand home of an acclaimed Austrian artist, architect and environmentalist is due to open to the public for the first time early next year.

They feel they have been fobbed off after a letter to the Health Minister highlighting their concerns about plans to repeal smokefree legislation was passed on to an associate minister instead.

A 48-year-old Remuera man was to have appeared in Auckland District Court on two charges of operating a vessel dangerously.

Petrol prices have plummeted in Whangārei following the arrival of a cut-price outlet in what used to be New Zealand's most expensive city for tanking up.

Dame Whina Cooper's daughter says her mum would have urged Ngāpuhi to never give up the struggle for justice.

A landmark Waitangi Tribunal report into injustices suffered by Ngāpuhi will strengthen the iwi's case as it looks to restart its stalled Treaty settlement negotiations, a hapū leader says.

A historic Waitangi Tribunal report expected to call for the return of all Crown-owned land across much of Northland will be handed over to the country's largest iwi this morning.

Coalition negotiations and damage inflicted by extreme weather have forced a change in National's long-standing roading priorities for Northland.

A controversial climate-change-themed public artwork 13 years in the making is due to be completed in Kerikeri this week.

New Zealand's biggest solar power station to date has started producing electricity in the Far North.

National transport agency Waka Kotahi has deferred a decision about when to close State Highway 1 over the Brynderwyns for urgent repairs.

A precious taonga stolen from a museum dedicated to the memory of the legendary 28th Māori Battalion has been recovered.