Lois Williams
Man dies after being dropped at St John's in Whangarei
Friends and family of a man who was dropped off at the St John Ambulance headquarters in Whangarei and died soon after have gathered outside the building. Lois Williams joins Checkpoint. Audio
Pharmac weighs up free shingles vaccine
Shingles hits about 13 thousand New Zealanders every year; it's a nagging pain and often goes undiagnosed until it's too late, causing weeks of illness. Pharmac wants to make the shingles vaccine free… Audio
Dismay over NRC's slo-mo river protection moves
Northland Regional Council cops flack for moving slowly over river protection requirements. Audio
Local Body Election Special 2016
Philippa Tolley hosts a Local Body Election Special with winning mayors reacting, and RNZ reporters rounding up results from across the country. Audio
Kaiapara returns to self-rule after four years of commissioners
The small Northland District of Kaipara is returning to self-rule again in these elections - after a debt crisis and four years under commissioners. Audio
Views disabled are unfit for council of 'the dark ages'
A Northland man with cerebral palsy who's worked with councils for years says the condition would not get in the way of a Dunedin man standing for public office. Audio
Possible breakthrough in Ngapuhi Treaty settlement stand-off
There's been a possible breakthrough in the long stand-off over who should negotiate the Ngapuhi Treaty settlement. Audio
Ngapuhi treaty negotiations group turmoil worsens
Ngapuhi's attempts to negotiate the iwi's massive Treaty claim appears to have been derailed by a series of dramatic resignations from the board of the who currently hold the negotiating mandate. Audio
D-day for long-running dispute over Ngapuhi mandate
It's high noon for the Ngapuhi mandate today - with opposing factions in the long-running dispute set for a show down. The board that was mandated by the crown to negotiate the iwi's treaty settlement… Audio
Further ructions within Ngapuhi over who holds mandate
The long-running debate over who gets to negotiate Ngapuhi's treaty settlement has reached crisis point. Our Northland reporter Lois Williams explains how there are now calls for the government to… Audio
Whangarei mayoral candidate Sheryl Mai on growth
RNZ Northland Reporter Lois Williams speaks to those standing for mayor about key policy platforms and ideas for the future. Audio
Stuart Bell on Maori representation
RNZ Northland Reporter Lois Williams speaks to those standing for mayor about key policy platforms and ideas for the future. Audio
Whangarei mayoral candidate David Blackley on growth
RNZ Northland Reporter Lois Williams speaks to those standing for mayor about key policy platforms and ideas for the future. Audio
Kaitaia woman says police didn't respond to 111 call
A Kaitaia woman was followed at night by a mystery vehicle, forcing her to rush home, lock herself inside and call 111. She stayed awake all night waiting for police, who never arrived. Audio
Truce called between amusement centre and disabled child
A Whangarei children's amusement centre has offered an olive branch to the community after a row over the use of a bouncy slide by a girl who can't walk. Audio
Mangonui vs council over safety railing
Mangonui locals in Northland are fuming after the Far North District Council announced a $200,000 plan to build a safety rail on their waterfront boardwalk. Audio
MPI defends record over swamp kauri
The Ministry for Primary Industries is defending its track record in regulating the export trade in swamp kauri in the High court in Auckland. Our reporter Lois Williams is covering the case. Audio
MPI itself concerned re kauri exports - evidence
The High Court has heard evidence that the Ministry for Primary Industries had doubts about the legality of many of the swamp kauri exports it was approving from 2011 onwards. Audio
Conservation group takes MPI to court over swamp kauri exports
Arguments over the difference between a kauri stump and a slab of kauri go to the High Court. Environmentalist will argue the Ministry of Primary Industries' definitions have allowed huge quantities… Audio
Veteran rugby ref calls time on sideline abuse
A veteran rugby referee is calling time on spectator abuse at club matches in Northland. Our reporter Lois Williams finds out what's been going on on the sidelines. Audio