April 28 2026
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Sporting brilliance Knightly festival confirmed The Dargaville Mediaeval Combat Club has taken charge of plans to host a renaissance faire in west Kaipara …
P3 p With more than 360 participants, including over 150 children, the Fireco Kai Iwi Lakes Triathlon was a day to celebrate athletics in the region. With triathletes of all ages showcasing their skill, Whangārei Tri Club president Lee Greer says it was brilliant to see such enthusiasm and talent on display. The much sought-after Battle of the North Kauri Shield was won by North Harbour. “While it wasn’t the result we hoped for, North Harbour claimed the Battle of the North Kauri Shield for the second year running, something we’ll certainly be looking to take back next year,” Lee said.
Freshwater key in landfill fight u by Paul Campbell
Abundant with eggs and honey
Freshwater concerns have taken centre stage in ongoing court challenges to the siting of a 60-hectare landfill for Auckland’s rubbish in the Dome Valley overlooking the Kaipara Harbour.
Tangowahine School has had six new avian additions to its grounds and a brand new Henpire set up …
At the centre of concern is that the approved dump site sits above a series of interconnected aquifers across an area approximately 130km long by 60km wide, stretching from Whangārei Harbour in the north to Raglan Harbour in the south. “The Puatahi Marae has taken water since 2011 from the aquifer sitting underneath,” says secretary Jane Sherard. The marae is adjacent to the tip site and the Hōteo River. “The bore water was pristine up to 2015 and began to deteriorate for unknown reasons. In 2025, it did not meet the new water quality for drinking standards. Puatahi was funded for a new roof collection water supply and treatment system.” The marae has now taken the tip concerns to the Māori Land Court,
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Upgrading the top of the town P7
would permanently destroy around 12km of streams. That level of loss is simply too great. We sought leave to appeal on two key questions of law: How protections for rivers under the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management should be interpreted; Whether riparian planting elsewhere can “avoid” the loss of rivers destroyed by a landfill. ‘Importantly, the court recognised this issue as one of general and public importance. Rivers provide habitat for threatened species, support recreation, help manage natural hazards, and sustain healthy ecosystems. We should not be risking further river loss. Our freshwater species deserve protection, not to have their remaining habitats turned into dumps.’ ¢
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Two big projects have wrapped up in Dargaville, with safety upgrades and a new road layout in Selwyn Park …
and cites water concerns in affidavits it has provided. Land use has also been blamed. Executive member of the long-running Fight the Tip Movement, Mikaera Miru says “we have obligations to ensure the mauri of freshwater is passed down to our grandchildren for their wellbeing. “The Environment Court decision includes 400 conditions that Waste Management must comply with to address the impacts of the landfill on an essential freshwater resource for future generations. That is hideous and highlights neglect to protect our future needs,” Mikaera said. Together with the marae court move, Forest and Bird awaits an Appeal Court date for its case. It stated ‘the landfill
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