Stories by Susan Botting

Pakiri sea floor sand has played a major role in Auckland's construction scene.

The mixed housing and light industrial development will see housing, light industry and a retirement village on the 46.7-hectare racecourse, two kilometres northeast of Dargaville.

Northland councils will today be among two dozen nationally fighting the government's Three Waters mandating with the launch of a major new campaign.

Unvaccinated Whangārei ratepayers barred from council facilities under New Zealand's new traffic light Covid-19 Protection Framework should not be expecting their rates to be reduced as a result.

Increases of up to 85 per cent in Whangārei district residential land values are 'mind boggling', a Morningside resident says.

Angry residents of a Whangārei coastal community are stepping up their fight against the Northland emergency rescue helicopter base shifting to Onerahi Airport.

Whangārei District Council has today abandoned proceeding with the $136 million Oruku Landing conference and event centre.

Gavin Benney denies his press release indicating support for a proposed conference and event centre breached the council's elected members' code of conduct.

At stake is the future of the three council's combined $1.76 billion of ratepayer-funded three waters infrastructure servicing 200,000 people. It will have ramifications for all councils.

Whangārei ratepayers against the $136 million Oruku Landing conference and events centre left a public meeting at Forum North last night angry about not feeling heard.

The controversial centre will now cost $136 million - up from $123 million when first announced at the start of public consultation on 18 October.

The battle over Whangārei's proposed new Oruku Landing conference and events centre is intensifying as opposing groups run major advertising campaigns.

Whangārei District Council has formally adopted its new growth strategy with the district's population forecast to grow to 145,000 people by 2051 - a 45 percent increase.

The Department of Conservation is appealing to the Environment Court against controversial Far North Aupōuri Peninsula water consents for avocado growing.

Community leaders are calling for new Auckland Covid-19 bypass flights from Whangārei.

Sea-level rise predictions are increasing the urgency of Northland's first regional climate change strategy.

Under reviews being considered, 20 percent of the region's proposed 44 councillors would come from new designated Māori wards.

The Department of Conservation is today considering an appeal against controversial Far North Aupōuri Peninsula water consents.

A Northland iwi leader is calling for Covid-19 wastewater testing to happen immediately in future lockdowns as regional investigations ramp up.

Northland Māori Covid-19 vaccination rates are almost four times lower than those for Pākehā.

Whangārei Mayor Sheryl Mai has hit out at Aucklanders pouring into Northland in the face of strict level 4 Covid-19 lockdowns.

The Far North District Council is rejecting the government's three waters restructuring plan, with the council last week voting to provisionally opt out.

The design of Paihia's controversial new $13.45 million foreshore storm protection breakwater system has been changed after strong public opposition.

The government has acknowledged wrongdoings in the implementation of the controversial Significant Natural Areas land classifications that were the focus of an impassioned hīkoi in Tai Tokerau.

More than 50,000 hectares of privately owned land around Whangārei district now has controversial new significant natural area zonings to protect natural biodiversity.