Lois Williams
Polytech cuts courses as it faces $4.5m loss
Northland's only polytech plans to cut courses and close campuses so that it can focus on teaching skills that lead to well-paid jobs. Audio
Northland has just one Maori face at the council table
Two Northland councils, which are 100 per cent pakeha, have voted once again against creating Maori seats. Audio
New Treaty Minister prepares to tackle Ngapuhi stand-off
Ngapuhi believe the changing of the guard at the Beehive will end what they see as stubborn government support of the Ngapuhi mandated authority Tuhoronuku. Audio
A request from Northland - Don't scrap everything
There's relief in some circles at the change to a Labour/NZ First coalition, especially among those most deprived, but there's also caution not to throw the baby out with the bathwater. Audio
Ngapuhi's final day at Waitangi Tribunal
Ngapuhi and other northern iwi are now looking to the future after nine years of research and hearings on their Treaty claims. Te Paparahi of Te Raki - the largest inquiry ever undertaken by the… Audio
Oratory, anger, laughter and tears at Ngapuhi closings
After nine years of work, and 31 weeks of hearings, there was anger, laughter and tears on the last day of the massive Waitangi Tribunal inquiry into the grievances of northern Maori. Audio
Final Waitangi Tribunal hearings for Northland claim underway
The claim by Te Paparahi O Te Raki cover a range of issues from tino rangatiratanga, to te reo Maori, to socio-economic issues. Audio
Landowner of site where pipeline was ruptured cannot be contacted
The investigation into the rupture of the Marsden pipeline has stalled because the local regional council has been unable to get in touch with the landowner where the pipe burst. Audio
Small Northland Maori forestry company hailed as model
Taitokerau Forests Limited started with a government loan 30 years ago. Now, according to economists, it's a regional development success story. Audio
Last-ditch bid to save kauri spreads to Northland
Scientists are urging Northland landowners with kauri trees on their land to join a growing community action project to save them. Hundreds of kauri are dead or dying from Waikato to the Far North, as… Audio
Kauri dieback treatment 'not a long-term solution'
Scientists are urging Northland landowners with kauri trees on their land to join a growing community action project to save them. Hundreds of Kauri are dead or dying from Waikato to the Far North, as… Audio
Makeover underway for Moerewa homes
Moerewa, near Kaikohe, has embarked on a makeover. Its housing stock is largely desolate - rusting roofs, broken windows, peeling weatherboards. And now there's a new project in the town bringing new… Audio
Forestry's future crucial in coaltion talks - Peters
New Zealand First leader Winston Peters says the future of forestry, and timber supplies for local mills, is one of the issues important to him as he enters talks to form a new government. Mr Peters… Audio
Maori, conservationists hikoi to river
Local hapu and the Walking Access Commission staked a claim today to access the Wairua River by driving though the middle of a dairy farm owned by the chairman of the Northland Regional Council. Audio
Allegations fuel crisis caused by unlicenced kauri digger
A conservation group says MPI cannot know for sure when the site of the Marsden pipeline break was last dug over for swamp kauri, but MPI insists no one has dug there since 2011. Audio
Pipeline area mined for swamp kauri, farmers say
Farmers living near the site of the Marsden to Auckland pipeline break say the surrounding land has been mined for swamp kauri. Not last week, as one industry insider has speculated, but two to three… Audio
Northland candidates blessed as punters weigh up Winston
Anglicans have their annual blessing of the animals, but in Northland at the weekend it was the politicians' turn. Election candidates were not only blessed, but also had pastoral hands laid upon them… Audio
Electoral Services: Double check if candidate's citzenship in doubt
Whangarei District councillor Jane Golightly has been forced to resign after discovering that she's not a New Zealand citizen. Audio
Hundreds protest water bottling proposal in Whangarei
Traffic was stopped in Whangarei today during the march against plans for a water-bottling operation at Poroti Springs, which have been owned by Maori since the 1890's. Lois Williams reports. Video, Audio
Farmers, schools, hapū join forces to save Kaipara
A massive tree-planting exercise is underway in Northland to keep silt out of rivers - and save the Kaipara harbour. The harbour and the west coast snapper fishery are under threat from sediment… Audio