Whangarei, New Zealand News

The hub of a small Northland community and its sole source of groceries has been destroyed in a ferocious blaze.

A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck south of the Kermadec Islands at 11:21 last night.

Live-aboards used to fall into two broad categories - those who were frequent ocean travellers and those who tended to stay put.

Phillip Andre Mahanga, 33, entered his plea in the High Court at Whangarei today and was remanded in custody until July 26 for sentencing.

Speech and Drama student, Claudia Cooke, and 20 other students from Making A Scene - Speech and Drama Academy, will be performing in Whangarei Central Library and The Strand Arcade as part of The New Zealand Post Children's Book Award's Festival.

The Royal Australasian College of Physicians urges the Hamilton City Council to seriously reconsider the decision to remove fluoride from their region's water supply as there is evidence to support the health benefits of water fluoridation.

The youngest competitor at this year's Fieldays innovation centre is hoping investors will get on board with his invention that stops birds contaminating water supplies in tanks.

A provocative art project creates "'facial reconstruction' sculptures based on the analysis of DNA on cigarette butts, chewing gum and other detritus collected from the streets of New York City," says the New Scientist.

The historic Whare Karakia on the Urupa at Pehiaweri Marae in Glenbervie, Whangarei, is being given a new lease of life thanks to the new NorthTec Certificate in Painting course.

The president of a principals' association said he was not surprised by new National Standards data that shows Maori, Pasifika and male pupils are performing worse than others.

After a massive "Bring Stan to the Boom" campaign on facebook, Stan Walker is thrilled to announce he will play Blenheim's Stadium 2000 on Saturday 28 September.

Whangarei District Council and Refining NZ are once again givA ing away 1,400 young Pohutukawa and 400 Kauri trees, free to keen growers.

Kaitaia, Kerikeri and Whangarei are to host free workshops offering Northlanders tips on how to tackle some of the worst weeds - both land and freshwater-based - threatening our region.

Some of the most expensive places in which to build in New Zealand are not the big cities with highest demand and dearest house prices.

A major forestry report says promising downstream industries such as biofuels and biochemicals are unlikely to flourish if sawmillers don't on-sell their waste.

If you asked 100 people whether they'd rather be in jail or on house arrest, there's a strong possibility that all 100 would prefer the confines of their own home over the Big House.

Four of New Zealand's leading musical divas are touring the North Island this July to honour and celebrate Matariki.

Is this newly discovered skink species a long way from home or a special character of Whangarei Heads? Photo / Bream Head Conservation Trust A Northland community has rocked the international lizard world with the possible discovery of a new species of skink at Bream Head.

Patients throughout Northland and Auckland who transfer between residential aged care and hospital can expect it to be safer following the introduction of a standardised transfer of care yellow envelope.

A 19-year-old from the Northland region of New Zealand who has been on house arrest for past 10 months says he grown "sick of playing Xbox" and prefers to be in prison.