Lois Williams
Property market picks up in north as Aucklanders quit the city
The property market in Northland has sprung back to life for the first time since the global financial crisis. Audio
Mangawhai ratepayers pack court for hearing
Mangawhai ratepayers have been packing out the Whangarei District Court today for a test case over their refusal to pay contentious rate bills. Audio
Traditional Māori sports gets a global boost
The traditional Māori ball-game of Ki-O Rahi has had a global boost this week. Audio
Conservationists hope for official investigation on kauri
Far North conservation groups are hoping to hear today the Auditor General will conduct an inquiry into the swamp kauri trade. Audio
Auditor-General asked to investigate kauri exports
A Northland conservation group has asked the Auditor General to carry out a formal inquiry into the way the Ministry for Primary Industries has been regulating the export of swamp kauri. Audio
Maori calling for halt to kauri exports
A Northland Maori leader says he's fed up with the pillaging of what he says is a national treasure. Audio
More pipi deaths under investigation in north
The Northland community of Ngunguru is calling for a moratorium or rahui on local pipi beds after a mass die-off last month. Audio
Northland paediatrician calls for heating grants
A Northland paediatrician is calling for targeted funding for poor families who can't afford to heat their homes. Audio
Whangarei says yes to Hundertwasser
The champagne corks are popping in Whangarei this evening, after a referendum result in favour of a Hundertwasser art centre. Audio
Spending on "ghetto" - like school challenged
The Northland MP Winston Peters has challenged the government to explain why it's spent millions on a new charter school in the north while forcing children in Kaikohe to study in unsafe, derelict… Audio
Maori hit by the shake up in counselling services
The government's move to pull the funding plug on the country's biggest and oldest counselling service is causing confusion for whanau from Kaitaia to Gisborne. Audio
Maori Council to jump into mandate row
The Tai Tokerau Maori Council is set to enter the fray, over the Ngapuhi Treaty settlement. The council's new chair Rihari Dargaville is calling for an urgent meeting with the Deputy Prime Minister… Audio
Voting underway in Hundertwasser referendum
More than 20 percent of Whangarei ratepayers have voted already in a binding public referendum that will decide if the old harbour board building will be transformed into a Hundertwasser Art centre. Audio
Budget changes will barely touch the sides in north
In Northland - where unemployment's running at nearly ten per cent - groups working with the poor say budget measures to help them will be swallowed up and barely touch the sides as they go down. Audio
Northland wants more jobs, better roads out of Budget
In Northland, more jobs and better roads are high on the Budget wish list. Audio
Voters in Northland waiting for change
Lois Williams explores what Northland expects after electing Winston Peters as its MP. Audio
Sabin and mayor reassure re Chinese park purchase
The mayor of the Far North, John Carter, and the region's former National MP, Mike Sabin, are reassuring locals there's no plan to import Chinese labour to the north. Audio
Elders worried protest brewing at Poroti Springs
The Waitangi Tribunal's hearings into Maori water rights three years ago began with a Northland hapu challenging the Prime Minister John Key's claim that no one owns water. Audio
Marae project to teach coding & computer building
A Whangarei marae's launching a two-year project to teach anyone who wants to learn how to build and use computers, apps and software. Audio
A change of heart about donating Paihia land to council
A Bay of Islands philanthropist has changed his mind about donating land to the council, saying it can't be trusted to protect it for the public. Audio
