Peter de Graaf

1 week ago | teaonews.co.nz | Peter de Graaf

This article was first published on RNZ. A kapa group with a difference is practising furiously for its first-ever public performance in Kerikeri this Matariki weekend. Ngāti Rēhia Community Kapa Haka is unusual in that most of its 40-odd members have never done kapa haka before - or if they did, it was decades ago in primary school. The group’s a mix of Māori and Pākehā of all ages, with a sprinkling of other nationalities such as Sri Lankan, Irish and German.

1 week ago | nzherald.co.nz | Peter de Graaf

A tornado, drought, and Cyclone Tam have caused significant damage and challenges in Northland. Photo / RNZBy Peter de Graaf of RNZFirst came the tornado that struck Mangawhai on January 26, tearing off roofs and leaving two people badly injured. Then came the big dry, with some areas recording just 10% of their normal rainfall. Drought was declared on March 7. Next, the heavens opened and Northland switched almost overnight from drought to flood.

1 week ago | radionz.co.nz | Peter de Graaf

Northland's seen it all so far this year - drought, record-breaking rainfall, a cyclone and even a tornado. Is this part of a new normal? Or just par for the course in a region that's always had more than its share of extremes? Today we look at the threat of flooding and what's being done to protect Northland's most flood-prone town. There's no such thing as sleep for Roddy Hapati-Pihema when it rains.

3 weeks ago | radionz.co.nz | Peter de Graaf

The fire that destroyed a historic ship in the Bay of Islands was most likely caused by an electrical fault, not by arson, a fire investigator says. The Tui, a century-old sugar barge converted into a replica sailing ship by the late underwater explorer Kelly Tarlton, was severely damaged by fire early on Wednesday morning. Police initially treated the blaze as suspicious and, given how little remained, Northland fire investigator Craig Bain was not hopeful of being able to establish the cause.

3 weeks ago | radionz.co.nz | Peter de Graaf

A Northland marine researcher's dream of creating a free community education centre has literally gone up in smoke in a devastating ship fire. Cat Peters, chairwoman of the TriOceans Education Trust, said her plans had been 10 years in the making. Last year the trust had been able to buy the Tui - a derelict ship next to Waitangi Bridge in Paihia - and at the end of April it received a substantial grant from Foundation North to restore the vessel and turn it into a community classroom.