Latest from Photos

Spiders spin wicked web

Untold millions of the arachnids are swarming over the webs and road, with others on bits of web floating away in the wind on Jordan Valley Road.

Teens put emergency skills to test

A dozen Kaikohe teenagers put new skills to the test in a major emergency services exercise at Ngawha Springs on Saturday. The Civil Defence-led exercise was based around a mock plane crash in which the stricken aircraft had clipped a car, trapping and injuring its occupants, before smashing into a field and sparking a scrub fire. One of the plane’s passengers had parachuted to safety but had to be found after landing injured in a creek. The Youth in Emergency Services trainees have spent the past five Saturdays with each of Northland’s emergency services, so the simulation was a chance to put everything they had learnt so far into practice. Services taking part in the Far North’s biggest joint exercise in at least a decade included Civil Defence, Red Cross, Fire Service, Rural Fire, St John Ambulance, Coastguard and police. Photos by <strong>Peter de Graaf</strong>.

Plenty of smiles at Story Time

Hundreds of people showed up to the grand opening of children’s shop Storytime’s new premises in Porowini Ave on Saturday. ‘‘It was amazing, we had such a good turnout — so many kids were doing activities,’’ said store manager Alicia Languasco. The business, which has been in Whangarei for 30 years, moved from the Strand Arcade. ‘‘It’s a nice, new fresh start in a vibrant part of the city,’’she said. Northern Advocate photographer Michael Cunningham was there.

Frosty Northland

Our photographers and readers captured the frost that was across most of Northland in sub-zero temperatures.

U-20 World Cup trophy welcomed

The Under-20 Football World Cup trophy was brought ashore at Waitangi at dawn today for a formal welcome marking its arrival in New Zealand ahead of next year's tournament. A mostly teenage waka crew brought the cup, and Kiwi footballing great Wynton Rufer, safely to land for a series of challenges and a powhiri at the Treaty Grounds' carved meeting house. The cup later travelled to Ohaeawai School, Kerikeri and Waipapa where members of the U-20 squad led hundreds of kids in football skills games. The tour continues in Whangarei on Tuesday. Photos by Peter de Graaf.

Waipu Easter Carnival

Hundreds of people enjoyed the Waipu Easter Carnival which raised funds for the local primary school. Photographer John Stone was there to capture the fun times.

Paihia storm photos

It looked spectacular with waves crashing over the waterfront, but today's storm turned out to be far less damaging - for Paihia anyway - than last month's Cyclone Lusi. Photos by Peter de Graaf.

Northern Advocate summer photo competition

Here are a selection of entries in the Northern Advocate Summer - Love it Here photo competition. Readers sent in some fantastic shots that reflected the wonderful summer Northland has experienced. The winner will be announced on Saturday April 19.

Wild West Festival

The Wild West met the wild Far North in the South Hokianga town of Waimamaku on Saturday. The 12th annual Wild West Festival featured cowboys, horses, cheese-rolling contests, wearable arts, fire demonstrations, and a shoot-out in which the town’s bad guys tried to free a prisoner and put the judge in the stocks – all of it on SH12 while the road was still open. Highway robbers extracted tolls from passing motorists with the proceeds going to Hokianga Health and other worthy causes. Photos by Peter de Graaf.

Hikoi against Treaty mandate decision

More than 200 people marched through Kaikohe today to protest the government’s decision to start fast-tracked Treaty settlement negotiations with Ngapuhi, New Zealand’s biggest iwi. The government says Tuhoronuku, a committee set up by the Ngapuhi runanga, has a mandate to negotiate on the tribe’s behalf – but many hapu are opposed to Tuhoronuku and believe they have not been listened to. Groups like Te Kotahitanga o Nga Hapu Ngapuhi want the Crown and iwi to go through the full Waitangi Tribunal process before talking about money, and question the hurry to settle.

Hokianga's Treaty celebrations

In contrast to the pomp and politics of Waitangi Day, the people of the Hokianga marked the 174th anniversary of their signing of the Treaty with a low-key ceremony in the grounds of Mangungu Mission Station, near Horeke, yesterday. About 120 people, including kuia and kaumatua, children from Horeke and Rawene schools, and church representatives, turned out for a formal welcome and a salute from the crew of the waka Kaitoki as they paddled a mirror-calm Hokianga Harbour. Tau Kopa, a Ngai Tu elder and kaitiaki (guardian) of the great waka Ngatokimatawhaorua, said the Hokianga signing on February 12, 1840, was significant because many more chiefs signed than at Waitangi six days earlier. Mr Kopa put that down to strong support for the Treaty from west coast hapu and the area's large population at the time. About 70 signed at Mangungu compared to just over 40 at Waitangi. This year's commemorations are also significant because the Waitangi Tribunal will travel to Hokianga in April to hear local grievances in its ongoing Northland Inquiry. Photos by Peter de Graaf.

Kaikohe Show

As well as the customary livestock, equestrian and indoor competitions, highlights of Saturday's 82nd Kaikohe Agricultural, Pastoral and Horticultural Show included a working display of vintage tractors, free tours of the nearby Ngawha geothermal power plant and the biggest harness section north of Auckland. Photos by <strong>Peter de Graaf</strong>.

Paihia kids' fishing competition

Sixty-five kids took to Paihia wharf today to see who could catch the biggest, smallest and strangest fish as part of the town's Summer Festival. Pippiana Voakes, 9, of Paihia, landed the biggest, a 31cm mullet. All the fish were returned to swim another day.

Paihia sandcastle competition

Thirty teams of sand-sculptors of all ages braved fierce winds on Paihia Beach to take part in the annual sandcastle competition on Sunday. Entries ranged from traditional castles to giant jandals, pyramids, sharks, an octopus, the whale-rider Paikea, a crocodile and even a toilet. It was won by Paihia sisters Ruby and Riley McMurtry and Lily and Teah Hagen for a magic fairy based on a sketch by Lily, with brothers Cedric and Roland Vallet from Paris the runners-up for their sand spiral. The contest launched Paihia's eight-day Summer Festival featuring free daily activities for families. Tuesday's [January 7] events are traditional games on the Village Green from 10am and pavement drawing in the post office mall from 12.30pm; Wednesday features wearable arts at Paihia School's marae from 10am and an ''amazing race'' from 4pm at Horotutu Park. Photos by Peter de Graaf.

Russell Christmas parade 2013

Russell marked the festive season with a Santa parade – featuring princesses, pirates, Noddy, a dog impersonating a reindeer and the big man himself riding in a vintage fire engine – followed by a Christmas festival at the Duke of Marlborough Tavern on Saturday afternoon. Photos by <strong>Peter de Graaf</strong>.

Community's own park opens in Paihia

Up to 500 people turned out for the opening on Saturday night of a public park created by volunteers on the Paihia waterfront where there was once only an asphalt parking lot. A project by community group Focus Paihia, the new park is called Horotutu/Our Place. Photos by Peter de Graaf.