Podcasts about Northland

Kerikeri kids have a new place to play -- but this playground in Northland has some special extra features. It's a māra hūpara, which is a playground designed in accordance with Māori principles - and it's also set to teach grown-ups a thing or two about the place they live in. Northland reporter Peter de Graaf has more. 

Northland's community is grappling with the imminent closure of its leading hospitality training provider. The shutting of the QRC Te Tai Tokerau will force school leavers to travel large distances to seek qualifications, and leave hotels and restaurants scrambling for staff. With the region's polytechnic also facing an uncertain future, it couldn't have come at a worse time. Peter de Graaf reports.

There are currently 11 cases of measles nationally, with a new case in Northland over the weekend, and an unrelated case in Queenstown. Kerikeri High School principal Mike Clent spoke to Corin Dann.

In today's episode, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has described protesters outside his Auckland home as 'truly gutless' after one smashed a window, which left glass on his dog; The government has announced 18-and-19-year-olds whose parents earn more than $65,000 a year will be ineligible for jobseeker benefit, There are currently 11 cases of measles nationally, with a new case in Northland over the weekend, and an unrelated case in Queenstown, and new research has found Kiwi kids are at risk of leaving home without the life skills like cooking needed to thrive.

Health New Zealand has confirmed another case of measles in Northland, increasing the national count to 11. This virus, which was once thought of as a thing of the past, is very much rearing its ugly head again. As of September 30, there was over 1500 confirmed cases in the United States, and three confirmed deaths. So what can we do to stop any further spread? Dr Nikki Turner, principal medical advisor for the Immunisation Advisory Centre, she chats to Jesse.

Health New Zealand is asking the parents of Northland students to ensure their children have had their MMR vaccines, amidst a measles outbreak in the region. Dr Sharon Sime from the National Public Health Service spoke with Corin Dann.

The town of Rawene has dealt with the discharge of a failing sewage plant into their harbour for 40 years, but a new system is only weeks away. Peter de Graaf reports.

In today's episode, the Government is tightening access to jobseeker benefits for teens. From November next year, 18 and 19-year-olds won't get it if their parents earn over $65,000 per year. A new survey found almost three-quarters of Kiwis back banning social media for under-14s. Health New Zealand is asking the parents of Northland students to ensure their children have had their MMR vaccines as the region battles a measles outbreak. And researchers found a day spent fishing is good for your mental health.

When it comes to cancer more patients are starting treatment within the government's 31 day target time according to new figures. Nationally 86.3 per cent of patients started treatment within that time frame up from 83.5 percent last year. The government's gunning for 90 percent by 2030. A breakdown of districts though shows wait times have acutally got worse in eight areas in the past three months. Head of Cancer Services at the Cancer Society Southern, Craig Watson speaks to Lisa Owen.

The Health Minister is celebrating shorter wait-times, faster treatment and more timely access to care for patients. New figures from April to June this year, show the government's progress towards its five key health targets for 2030 with shorter stays in emergency departments just shy of its milestone. But there are some targets falling well short of where the government hoped they would be. Child immunisation rates are among them with Northland significantly lower than other regions and the opposition says it highlights why adopting targets when it comes to healthcare is problematic. Political reporter Tu Whenuaroa Natanahira has this report.

The region at the heart of a current measles outbreak has seen the biggest slide in child vaccination rates in in the country. The number of Northland children fully immunised at 24 months of age has dropped about four percent to just 62.3 percent in the past three months with the region lagging way behind other areas. That's despite an overall improvement nationwide. Health target data released today shows 82 percent of two-year-olds have had all their vaccinations up from 76.5 percent last year. There's currently four confirmed measles cases in Northland and one unrelated case in Queenstown. Health Minister Simeon Brown says there's a pop up vaccination clinic operating in Northland and the government's partnered with Hauora Maori organisations to raise immunisation rates. Childhood vacinations also dropped in Whanganui, Nelson Marlborough and Canterbury. Maori paediatrician and chairperson of the National Immunisation Taskforce Dr Owen Sinclair spoke to Lisa Owen.

The Government's revealed progress is being made towards their mental health and addiction targets. The latest data shows 80.3% of New Zealanders are accessing specialist mental health and addiction support within three weeks. However, that percentage is carried by eight of the 20 regions, leaving behind Northland, Gisborne, and Canterbury. Clinical Psychologist Dr Dougal Sutherland told Mike Hosking the access to specialist services was a positive surprise, as it's not necessarily what he'd heard. He says he's cautiously optimistic about the progress, but there is still room for improvement. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Faster access to primary and specialist mental health and addiction care is having a flow-on effect. The latest data shows nearly 84% of people are accessing primary care within a week, surpassing the government's target, while 80.3% are accessing specialist support within three weeks. Some regions, including Northland, Gisborne and Nelson Marlborough don't meet either of the targets. Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey told Ryan Bridge the work continues, but it's good to see some signs of improvement. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Auckland, Northland and the Chatham Islands will be exempt from earthquake prone building rules because of the areas' low seismic risk, under changes announced by the Government yesterday. Auckland mayor Wayne Brown spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

The Building and Construction Minister says new earthquake building rules are more nuanced. Changes to the rules will remove Auckland, Northland, and the Chatham Islands from the regime. Coastal Otago, including Dunedin, will be classified as a medium seismic hazard area, and will remain within the earthquake-prone building system Building Minister Chris Penk says the rules are ultimately designed to protect life. He told Mike Hosking under the current system some owners were unable to afford the upgrades. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Some building owners may decide it's better to be safe than sorry when it comes to new earthquake standards. The Government's eased regulations which will see Auckland, Northland, and the Chatham Islands removed from the regime. Institute of Building Surveyors President Darryl August says while an earthquake isn't likely in Auckland, it could cause a lot of damage if it did happen. He told Ryan Bridge even people in low-risk areas like Auckland should still have a look at their building. August says there's nothing to stop people doing the repairs even if they aren't legally required. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At last, a triumph of common sense over well-meaning legislation designed to protect every life, everywhere, no matter how much the cost. The “every sperm is sacred” approach to lawmaking has been in place for about eight years, where every life matters, no matter the cost to business, to taxpayers, to everybody else. The Government announced yesterday that earthquake strengthening legislation will only capture buildings deemed to pose a genuine risk to human life in medium and high seismic zones. The Building and Construction Minister, Chris Penk, said the current new building standard used by engineers was too broad, too inconsistent, and will be scrapped. The rules were brought in under 2017 changes following the Canterbury earthquakes and the subsequent Royal Commission of Inquiry. Penk said the current system is well-intentioned, but had led to an overwhelming financial burden on building owners. He said the price of strengthening buildings often ran from hundreds of thousands of dollars to well into the millions. He said, as a result, these buildings are often left empty and become derelict, making them even more dangerous to bystanders in an earthquake. Buildings need to be lived in. You have to have people in homes and commercial buildings, otherwise they become derelict very, very quickly. Cities and regions, he says, are losing the businesses, churches, town halls, and classrooms that are essential to their local economies and community spirit. And you'll have seen it everywhere and every town, no matter how big or small. Beautiful buildings that have been left abandoned, for all intents and purposes, because their owners cannot afford to modernise them to the level that has been required under legislation, without any kind of purpose, to what point? It has to be at this level. Why? Because we say so. Is it because it's especially risky? No, these are the rules. So what they've done now is say, okay, well, let's look at where there is danger, and buildings must be fortified there. Where there is a limited risk —you can never rule out risk altogether, otherwise you might as well stop living— the changes don't have to be made to such an extent. Auckland, Northland, and the Chatham Islands will be made exempt from earthquake rules due to low seismic risk. And that makes sense. Auckland is at risk of a volcanic eruption, not earthquakes. That's not the main risk. It's not to say they won't happen – we're not called the Shaky Isles for nothing. But the risk isn't considered as high as that of a volcanic eruption. The response to the overhaul has been positive. Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau says the news was a huge win for her city. She said the number of earthquake-prone buildings in Wellington will roughly halve, saving building owners a billion dollars. Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown also welcomed the changes. He too points out the risk of an earthquake for Auckland and Northland is less than that of a volcanic eruption. He said we can't expect Aucklanders to be lumped with unnecessary costs, especially now. The previous requirements were expensive and unnecessary. He said it's been a very stressful time, and these changes will be a game changer for example, for apartment owners who will now be spared the cost and financial pain of making upgrades that didn't make sense. And I get it. After you've had a tragic loss of life, and a loss of life that could have been prevented had proper building standards been followed, had more been done —it's a crisis in the country— the pain is very, very real. You see the numbers of grieving families in a country as small as ours, you don't want that to happen again. But what we've seen is Governments overreact. We saw that with the health and safety legislation as well after Cave Creek. There is always going to be a certain amount of risk in life, but you can't legislate away all of that risk. There have to be sensible protocols in place, really sensible. Is have to be dotted, Ts crossed. You have to make sure that the job is done properly. But a massive overreaction to a country's heartfelt pain causes more pain in the long term. Where there is risk, try and mitigate it. Where there are buildings that are deemed to be dangerous, retrofit them, fix them, or tear them down. But in areas of the country where there is minimal risk —still risk, nobody's ruling it out— then you don't have to conform to the most strict legislation. If you take all risk out of life, then you're not really living. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A significant slash to the number of quake-prone buildings. The Government's introducing an Amendment Bill to scrap and replace the New Building Standard – estimated to save building owners more than eight billion dollars. It'll see Auckland, Northland, and the Chatham Islands removed from the regime. Mt Hobson Group Director Hamish Firth told Kerre Woodham the review has come up with a system that is better balanced, more nuanced, and more proportionate to the risk. He says the kneejerk reaction in the wake of the Christchurch earthquake was perhaps right for the time, but it's probably taken too long to do a review and ensure the system is working. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Health officials are working to prevent a widespread measles outbreak in Northland - after four confirmed cases in the region. Ngati Hine Health Trust CEO Tamati Shepherd-Wipiiti spoke to Corin Dann.

An extra half hour of The Panel with Emile Donovan, where to begin, he's joined by Nights host Mark Leishman. Then: why is Northland such a hub for banana growers? Emile talks to a boutique banana grower to learn the secrets of growing commercial bananas.

The Big Idea for this week was: IF you are saved, THEN value others more than yourself, just like CHRIST.-The Bridge is a weekly gathering of students in the Northland of Kansas City who want to see Kansas City changed by Jesus, one student at a time. For more information visit our website at https://discoverchurchkc.com/thebridge/ or follow us on social media at https://www.instagram.com/bridge_kc/ and https://www.facebook.com/BridgeDCKC

The Big Idea for this week was: To Live is Christ-The Bridge is a weekly gathering of students in the Northland of Kansas City who want to see Kansas City changed by Jesus, one student at a time. For more information visit our website at https://discoverchurchkc.com/thebridge/ or follow us on social media at https://www.instagram.com/bridge_kc/ and https://www.facebook.com/BridgeDCKC

A new deal has been struck to boost Northland's berry production. Ngapuhi Asset Holding Company Chair Nick Wells spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Thrill seekers have a new place to play in the Bay of Islands. It's hoped the mountain bike jump park, which opened at Waitangi on Sunday, will also attract more visitors to Northland when they're needed, outside the busy summer season. Peter de Graaf reports.

In this episode:Market Insights | Lamb season ends on a high1:25 – AgriHQ senior analyst Suz Bremner joins Bryan to wrap up the season, as the last of the lambs hit the market. Farmgate returns are still sky-high and are looking good as new season lambs start to emerge. Some dry weather, particularly in eastern parts of the North Island, appear to be the only challenge at the moment.Feature | Economic trends impacting NZ farmers7:14 – ASB chief economist Nick Tuffley outlines how the changing global economic and political landscape is influencing our food and fibre sector. Exchange rates, trade wars and the continued focus on accounting for climate change are all exerting pressure. But, with farmgate returns strong, now's the time to ensure farm businesses have the resilience to withstand future shocks.Feds Focus | Farmers push back on grazing charges25:14 – Southland president Jason Herrick says farmers are annoyed at being charged for winter grazing monitoring, despite not actually being found at fault. He questions whether the approach by Environment Southland is an effective way to move the dial on improving practices.The Final Word30:41 – A report on the viability of new crop varieties for Northland food production highlights the challenges and the opportunities many regions face as the climate and consumer preferences change. How can we explore new ways to produce food while still ensuring each link in the value chain can thrive?

In this episode of The ROCC Pod, we sit down with Shawn Thornton, founder of Smart Biz IT and former tech leader at Amazon and Ford, to unpack the growing importance of cybersecurity and compliance for small and mid-sized businesses. We open with a real-world horror story—Shawn walks us through how one of his Michigan-based clients was completely taken out by ransomware. Two facilities, thousands of hacked printers, a wiped customer database, destroyed emails, inaccessible websites—no backups, no recovery, over a million dollars in losses. It's a sobering introduction to the stakes of not being prepared.After the wake-up call, we shift to get to know Shawn a bit more personally—his passion for barbecuing, cold smoking cheeses, and his undying loyalty to the Detroit Lions. The conversation is easygoing, but the subject matter stays serious as we transition back to the business of IT and compliance.Shawn breaks compliance down in simple terms—it's about proving that you're protecting your customer and business data. Whether it's strong passwords, verified backups, multi-factor authentication, or employee training, these small habits can be the difference between continuity and catastrophe. He emphasizes that compliance isn't just about avoiding trouble; it can actually become a revenue driver. Companies looking to secure government contracts, enterprise partnerships, or venture funding all need to demonstrate cybersecurity maturity. Compliance is no longer optional—it's a credential.We talk about what Smart Biz IT offers: full-service IT support with a lens focused on compliance. From help desk and cloud backups to risk assessments and documentation, Shawn's firm is helping businesses not only stay safe but grow. He shares another example of a client with a seven-figure deal on the table—except they couldn't move forward without a SOC 2 attestation. Now, with Shawn's help, they're on track to be ready in time.The episode closes with Shawn reflecting on his move into entrepreneurship, the unique value Smart Biz iT brings to the market, and his great experience since joining the Royal Oak Chamber. We also get to learn that his favorite day of the year is NFL's opening Sunday, and fall—complete with smoked meats and fantasy football—is his favorite season.Contact Shawn: https://smartbizit.com/Or call: (248) 206-910000:00 – Ransomware Nightmare: A $1M Recovery00:53 – Introduction to the ROCC Pod01:12 – Meet Shawn Thornton: Tech Pro & BBQ King03:19 – What Is Compliance, Really?04:33 – Why Compliance Matters to Small Businesses06:04 – Common Cybersecurity Mistakes07:49 – Ransomware Case Study: Lessons Learned10:48 – Full-Service IT With a Compliance Focus12:53 – Turning Compliance Into Revenue13:46 – Shawn's Background: From Amazon to Smart Biz iT14:03 – Experience Joining the Chamber15:00 – Favorite Day of the Year: NFL Kickoff Sunday17:10 – Contact Info and Final Thoughts Learn more about the Royal Oak Chamber of Commerce: https://www.royaloakchamber.com/Connect with our hosts:Jon Gay from JAG in Detroit Podcasts - http://www.jagindetroit.com/Lisa Bibbee from Century 21 Northland - http://soldbylisab.com/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Peter reports on the sentencing of a man convicted of manslaughter after his dogs killed his friend, mayoral races in Northland and the return of a much loved woodchopping tropy. 

The Children's Minister is attributing a reduction in youth reoffending to boot camps, even though they haven't started yet. The Government says serious and persistent young offending has dropped by more than 14% since June 2023. Northland experienced the greatest decrease at 40%. Minister Karen Chhour told Mike Hosking there have been significant developments. She says they've learnt a lot from the military-style academy pilot, which has informed other programmes. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With Northland's COO Asantewa Holley. Listen to A New Morning with Susan & Brian live weekdays 5a - 9a on WBEN.

My uplifting story of the week involves charter schools. Charter schools are the little idea that could. Or maybe they are the big game-changing idea that could. We heard this week of the first public school wanting to explore the charter route. It's in Northland and it's being driven by the realisation that what they currently do doesn't work for their kids. And that is the genesis of the charter school thinking. Remember, charter schools go back to a previous Government, before Labour took to them in 2017. So this isn't new. But the basic premise was one size does not fit all and a lot of kids may well benefit from different styles and approaches to learning. I have been a fan from day one. Not because charter schools are magic bullets, but rather the simple premise that what we have demonstrably doesn't work for everyone. You can't hide from the facts and the truth and our pass rates, our success rates, are shocking. The unions simply bleat for more resource. Even if it is a partial answer, it isn't close to being the whole answer and their myopic view that there can only be one way is a very large part of the overall handbrake that has prevented real change and advancement. The Northland school, I thought, gave excellent insight. They have good people, they work hard, but they are simply not getting the cut through, so they need to try something different. They didn't used to be “for” charter schools, but just their ability to accept change needs to be admired and encouraged. Chris Hipkins as Education Minister in 2017 killed them. Not because they weren't working, but because he is beholden to the unions and there was no way they were ever going to get a chance to prove them wrong. So what we have seen this time round is no shortage of demand for schools. In fact, more schools are demanding it than there is money allocated. We see the first public school, or at least the first public school prepared to admit they want to look at change, which leads surely to a growing sense charter schools might at last have their time. Some may well turn out to be brilliant, lives may well get changed and the recognition of a decent idea may well be widely accepted. It seems the momentum is on. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week's critter is small but very fierce! The Northland Tusked Weta is around 2 cm in size, they are a beautiful orange-brown colour with bands along the back. These little critters live in small tunnels of trees during the day, plugging up the entryway with their own special mix of saliva and wood dust. This can make them incredibly hard to find, if they are not out and about munching on other small creatures during the night. Forest and Bird Chief Executive Nicola Toki talks to Jesse about the endangered critter.

In this episode of The ROCC Pod, we dive deep into the world of emotionally intelligent AI with Christine Chubenko of CodeBaby. Jon hosts solo while Lisais away, and together with Christine, we explore how AI is reshaping business efficiency, customer interaction, and our daily digital experience.We begin by learning about CodeBaby, a platform that powers emotionally intelligent avatars capable of handling repetitive customer service tasks on behalf of businesses. These avatars go far beyond the likes of "Clippy" — they can smile, laugh, and emulate human responses, allowing businesses to provide 24/7 assistance that reflects their brand tone and values. Christine emphasizes that users maintain full control over their data and avatar behavior, which can evolve over time as the business grows or shifts.Christine shares examples from retail and healthcare. In stores, avatars answer common customer questions, freeing up human staff to focus on higher-priority tasks. In medical practices, avatars or even holograms can offer patients a safe space to ask questions — particularly beneficial for older patients who may hesitate to speak directly to doctors. ("But they're so busy!")As we discuss the broader AI landscape, Christine explains her career roots in computer science and AI, dating back to the 1990s. While the foundation of AI has remained rooted in pattern recognition and statistical models like k-nearest neighbor, the scale and sophistication of modern AI have exploded. She debunks the myth that AI is sentient — emphasizing that despite the human-like responses, these systems are still just machines built by humans with clear limitations and no true consciousness.We explore how AI is already part of our everyday lives through Siri, Alexa, social media algorithms, smart appliances, and personalized streaming suggestions. Christine argues that AI's role is to reduce tedious tasks — not replace humans entirely. Jobs that require emotional nuance, tactile presence, or creativity (like nurses or preschool teachers) remain well out of AI's reach. Meanwhile, automation can fill gaps where businesses struggle to hire, like in food service or basic admin roles.Christine also breaks down what makes AI emotionally intelligent: prompt engineering. It's not just about asking a question; it's about asking it the right way, setting the tone, and defining the persona you want the AI to emulate. For instance, telling ChatGPT to answer as a cardiovascular surgeon or in a humorous tone drastically alters the output.To close, Christine encourages listeners who are curious about AI to simply sign up for a tool like ChatGPT and ask, “Where do I start?” That simple first step leads to powerful learning. She reminds us that while AI may seem intimidating, it's just another tool — and it's one we can all learn to wield effectively.More:Email Christine: cchubenko@codebaby.comCodeBaby Website: https://www.codebaby.com/ Learn more about the Royal Oak Chamber of Commerce: https://www.royaloakchamber.com/Connect with our hosts:Jon Gay from JAG in Detroit Podcasts - http://www.jagindetroit.com/Lisa Bibbee from Century 21 Northland - http://soldbylisab.com/

There's something going on in a once sleepy town just north of Whangarei, it involves cream buns, meat pies and a celebrity chef. Peter de Graaf reports.

Friday will be the main day we see chances for rain this weekend, but cooler temperatures will be moving in for a breezy weekend around the Northland.

When it comes to famous restaurants in Duluth, the most instantly recognizable and iconic is without a doubt Grandma's Saloon & Grill in Canal Park. (And yes, it IS the namesake of that that very famous marathon.) Love it? You're in luck, as it is one of several restaurants under the Grandma's Restaurant Company, which is made up of a handful of other incredibly popular places to eat in the Zenith City. Throw in a shiny new event venue and the Northland's largest family attraction, and you have an unbelievable, unbeatable roster of businesses for both locals and tourists to enjoy no matter the season. Tony Bronson, the Director of Business Development for the company, joins us in this fun season six finale to talk all about these ventures that make Duluth one of the most well fed and most entertaining cities in the midwest.

Northland fisherman Cliff Barnes has had more brushes with death than most of us have had hot fish dinners. His stories have been told in a new book by retired journalist David Hastings.

Asantewa Holley on Northland Workforce Training Center graduating third class of Tesla Gigafactory workers full 326 Tue, 19 Aug 2025 07:20:00 +0000 rBoKQeUOCdEmWvdwLruQ7Le6lFt2kvD5 news & politics,news WBEN Extras news & politics,news Asantewa Holley on Northland Workforce Training Center graduating third class of Tesla Gigafactory workers Archive of various reports and news events 2024 © 2021 Audacy, Inc. News & Politics News False

A business spokesperson is encouraging Northland retailers to keep contacting police over smaller crimes. The Northland Chamber of Commerce says business owners across the region aren't calling in shoplifting because they don't think police will turn up. But CEO Leah McKerrow explained that even if officers can't respond - the data still goes into the system. "And while each incidence in its own right feels small, collectively we're starting to get a pattern." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Beautiful Northland should be New Zealand's paradise but a surge in violent crime, drugs and poverty is even putting off police from moving up thereNine homicides in just four months have stretched Northland police, who have had to turn their back on other crimes, triggering an "unprecedented" mayday call for out-of-town helpFind The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

With its sunshine and mild, mostly frost-free winters, Northland is often regarded as the weed capital of New Zealand. Peter de Graaf finds out more.

In this episode of The ROCC Pod, we welcome Kizzy Parks, Executive Director, and Kai Anne Radcliffe, Senior Leasing Specialist with The James Ferndale, a boutique-style living community for adults 55+. We explore how The James blends luxury, independence, and community in the heart of Ferndale, Michigan.Kai Anne shares her music-filled background, from interning at BET to meeting Beyoncé during the Destiny's Child era. Kizzy talks about her creative path in art, marketing, and real estate. Together, they describe The James as an “all-inclusive” experience—offering chef-prepared meals, bi-monthly cleaning, covered utilities, and local transportation—all under one monthly payment.The James occupies a historic building dating back to the 1920s, originally St. James Catholic School. Now fully renovated, it features 104 apartments ranging from studios to spacious two-bedrooms. Residents enjoy daily activities such as bingo, chair yoga, arts and crafts, walking clubs, outings to restaurants and shows, and access to a salon, gym, theater, and healthcare services.Unlike traditional “senior housing” stereotypes, The James fosters a vibrant, independent community. Residents come and go freely, gather for meals and games, and form lasting friendships. With its intimate size and boutique feel, staff know each resident personally. The community also offers “age in place” support through an on-site medical partner, providing help with daily living activities as needed.Located near downtown Ferndale, The James is steps away from shopping, dining, and entertainment. The team encourages prospective residents to tour the property, join a meal, and meet the community before making a decision. They're proud of their 2024 GLAStar Award for Best Living Experience in senior housing and aim to win again.Contact The James Ferndale at 248-554-3600 or Website: — https://thejamesferndale.comThe James Ferndale Facebook — https://facebook.com/thejamesferndale Learn more about the Royal Oak Chamber of Commerce: https://www.royaloakchamber.com/Connect with our hosts:Jon Gay from JAG in Detroit Podcasts - http://www.jagindetroit.com/Lisa Bibbee from Century 21 Northland - http://soldbylisab.com/

An "unprecedented" spate of violent crimes coupled with a significant police shortage in Northland means dozens of officers are being sent to the region on rotations to help out. The special staff operation has been running for three months, with about 30 police from other districts being re-deployed to Northland for five weeks at a time to plug the gaps, with no end date in sight. District Commander for Northland, Superintendent Matt Srjoj spoke to Lisa Owen.

Extra police officers are being called to Northland to contend with a squeeze on resources from rising violent crime. In the past three months, 90 officers from across the country have been brought in to work five-week shifts. Northland District Commander Superintendent Matt Shroj says the region saw four homicides in quick succession, which was the tipping point. He told Mike Hosking that the district's been in a much better place with this extra support - but these are busy people, and they have their own areas to get back to. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Just over two weeks ago, the He Piropiro Waiu Human Milk Bank opened in Northland. It is the first for the region and will provide valuable donated breast milk for sick babies particularly those born prematurely. Previously these babies would mainly have received infant formula but when their mother's milk isn't available, experts say donated breast milk is the next best thing. Sue Bree is the director of midwifery for Northland.

Peter canvasses a new twist in Kaeo's 10 year boil water notice saga, worries over the future of Northland's polytechnic, NorthTec and Kerikeri's performing arts centre turns 20.

Could a triangle of land at the entrance to Whangārei Harbour hold the key to Northland's future prosperity? Peter de Graaf reports.

Matakohe is a village in the Kaipara district, about 45 kilometres south of Dargaville. It's famous for the Kauri Museum so we decided to give the museum a cold call to find out what visitors can expect to find.

A woman's been arrested after a toddler was found in a suitcase on an Intercity bus. The two year old was found when the Intercity bus made a planned stop in the Northland town of Kaiwaka, and a passenger asked to access the luggage compartment.

Kennedy joins Nine to Noon from the windswept Northland coast. He's been exploring the Whananaki Track, which runs between Whananaki (a coastal settlement opposite the Poor Knights Islands) and Sandy Bay, part of the Tutukaka Coast.

   We begin with our Song of the Year today and you may remember this version from the Chiefs Super Bowl pregame when KC beat the Eagles.    Wednesday I was given a private tour of the location, amenities and plans for a new Royals ballpark in the Northland.  Much of it is off the record still... but I've got plenty of details for you about the best place for the Royals to play.    A Shawnee man, with the help of his parents coaching him, has qualified for the 4th of July Hot Dog eating contest on ESPN2 against Joey Chestnut.    A stunning CNN poll shows that young Democrats hate Jews and love Palestine.  Columbia University is hacked in the funniest way possible and it involves President Trump.    And Ted Lasso is setting up shop in KC for the new season everyone said would never happen.... except for one humble podcast host who guaranteed it two years ago.