News stories

Check out the council priorities for 2026 and upcoming summer events and activities that make our district unique.

A new video series launches this week featuring Far Northerners from Pawarenga, Te Paki and Te Hāpua discussing the importance of mobile sites to rural communities, where connectivity is positively changing lives – and saving them too.

Recent rainfall across the Far North – although welcome – hasn’t been enough to ease pressure on local water supplies this summer.

The Far North’s three community boards wrapped up the year in mid-December, approving funding for a wide range of events and initiatives aimed at strengthening community connection and wellbeing across the district.

A new partnership providing dog desexing and microchipping vouchers to eligible owners in the Far North aims to reduce the number of unwanted animals entering local shelters and support responsible pet ownership.

Water is again flowing to residents and businesses in Kāeo this week after the council completed repairs to a privately-owned supply that was cut off in October.

An emotional hui was held in the Far North District Council Chambers on Tuesday 23 December to mark the return of council’s Te Tohu Tutuki, Lifetime Achievement Awards celebrating residents whose mahi has made a lasting difference across the district.

If you’re planning to build, subdivide, or connect to council services in the Far North, now is a good time to check what changes may affect your project next year.

Level 2 water restrictions, which ban the use of outdoor sprinklers or irrigation systems, are being applied to Ōmanaia-Rāwene and Ōpononi-Ōmāpere from Monday 29 December after a steady decline in river levels.