Blog - Local News
Starlight Experience at Te Hana
Tonight sees the first Starlight evening experience at Te Hana Te Ao Marama Maori Cultural Centre. Located at Te Hana, just
north of Wellsford on SH1, this replica 17th Century fortified pa and Maori village is now offering an evening Concert, Village Tour & Buffet Feast on Friday nights.
Whangarei Town basin gets more boat berths
Whangarei's Town Basin marina is undergoing a major upgrade. Work done at the marina over the past month has seen 25 old pile berths removed and replaced by a new pontoon that can hold 22 boats. Marina manager Brian Caulton said the new berths were extra wide. "We lose three berths but we gain a lot bigger and better boats." With only electrical work remaining to be done on the project, the new pontoon will receive its first boat today.
Read the full postTutukaka among top-rated coastlines
The Tutukaka Coast is one of the top three coastlines in the world, according to the prestigious National Geographic Traveler. The coastline was named equal second best with the Pembrokeshire coast in Wales and pipped for the top spot by the remote, austere Avalon coast on Canada's Newfoundland. Local tourism operators say money could not buy the kudos given Tutukaka Coast by the magazine's finding.
Read the full postBrave Blossoms' Night Visit to Tane Mahuta
While it didn’t deliver the desired result for the Japanese Rugby World Cup squad in Whangarei, their “spiritual training” session in the Hokianga last Sunday night may get to be seen by up to five million television viewers in Japan. Destination Northland boss Brian Roberts told the Northern Advocate that their nighttime visit to Waipoua Forest had been a long time in the making. Japan coach John Kirwan first approached tourism authorities 18 months ago about a “special spiritual event” at the giant kauri tree Tane Mahuta as part of the team’s mental preparations. He wanted it held at night to accentuate its spirituality. Mr Roberts said Northland promotion in Japan was built around Tane Mahuta and a “sister trees” relationship linking the Waipoua giant with a Japanese cedar, Jomon Sugi. The 50-strong team was welcomed at dusk on
the lawn of the Copthorne Hotel at Omapere, with speeches from Hokianga elders, a chance to mingle with locals, and a meal. They were then taken into the forest by a guide from Maori tourism company, Footprints Waipoua, accompanied by 20 members of the Japanese media - including a crew from Nippon TV, which holds the rights to Rugby World Cup coverage in Japan. The Advocate was the only New Zealand media present.
Morath's extra practice seals Tonga win
WHANGAREI, 21 Sept. - Kurt Morath revealed his diligence on the training pitch was the key to Tonga’s first win of Rugby World Cup 2011 in a fast-paced Pool A clash with Japan on Wednesday. The fly half collected a personal tally of 16 points, missing just one of his seven kicks in the 31-18 victory, as the teams scored three tries apiece at Northland Events Centre.
Read the full postCanada's self-belief sees off Tonga
WHANGAREI, 14 Sept. - Canadian coach Kieran Crowley says his team's tenacious Rugby World Cup 2011 opening win will give them valuable confidence for the rest of the campaign. The Canucks came back from seven points down with 16 minutes to go to beat Tonga 25-20 in front of a capacity crowd of 17,174 at the Northland Events Centre.
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