News stories

Whangārei, Kaipara and Far North district councils have adopted a joint Water Services Delivery Plan (WSDP), marking a significant step toward establishing a regionally controlled water services entity under the government’s Local Water Done Well programme.

Repairs to a complex slip on West Coast Road at Motutī are nearing completion and will improve the safety and resilience of this key Hokianga route.

Book clubbers and fans of poetry, true crime, romcom and many more genres will be sharpening their pencils to choose from a range of events at the Northland Writers, Readers and Poets Festival running for three days from Friday 29 August.

Weather warnings and emergency alerts are now being displayed in real-time and automatically for anyone visiting the council’s website.

A blessing of the site of the new Kaikohe Library and Civic Hub building was held on Tuesday 26 August 2025. Hapū, locals, and council representatives gathered for a earth turning ceremony to mark the beginning of construction.

The significance of a formal agreement between Te Rūnanga ā-Iwi o Ngāpuhi and the council celebrated this month, cannot be overstated. The Mana Whakahono ā Rohe creates a framework for future cooperation and engagement and is a legislative agreement under the RMA.

Far North District Council is asking people across the Far North to share their thoughts on how dogs and other animals are managed in our communities.

An upgrade of Kaikohe’s water treatment plant is underway to strengthen the town’s water resilience through improved reliability of supply. Work at the Taraire Hills Water Treatment Plant started at the end of July and will take a year to complete.

Two significant celebrations of local heritage got the nod from the Far North community boards at their meetings in August. The Ōkaihau College and district schools’ 150^th reunion three-day event and the Broadwood Mosaic Project. Read more here.