FROM THE FIELD TO THE SCREEN - BOWHUNTER DOCUMENTARY
A Kaipara Hills farmer, a record-breaking achievement sixty years in the making, and two filmmakers compelled to share it with the world – Bowhunter is a documentary about what happens when someone refuses to accept limits.
SOUND ADVICE - MARK MCLEOD
With a career in sound that spans decades, continents, and some genuinely unforgettable moments, Mark McLeod is also the man behind the music at some of the region's most beloved venues.
INSPIRING MINDS – FRANCES VALINTINE CNZM
From her home on the Tawharanui Peninsula, Frances Valintine CNZM (Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for her lifetime contribution to education and technology) looks out at a landscape that inspires her – and inspiring others has been at the heart of her life’s work.
ROOTS RUN DEEP – THE KAURI MUSEUM
Few museums can claim to have grown from the ground up quite like The Kauri Museum in Matakohe – built by the hands, hearts, and determination of the pioneering families who first called this corner of Northland home.
A RETURN TO RYTHM - YVY MARAEY
A RETURN TO RYTHM - YVY MARAEY
After years spent performing across Europe and Brazil, Yvy Maraey and Simon Abela return to Matakana, drawn by a shared desire to put down roots, raise a family, and continue their creative journey.
WORLD-CLASS TOURS, SNELLS BEACH ROOTS – AUCKLAND SCENIC TOURS
WORLD-CLASS TOURS, SNELLS BEACH ROOTS – AUCKLAND SCENIC TOURS
Nestled in the heart of Snells Beach is the hub of one of New Zealand's most decorated tourism businesses – and the story behind it is as compelling as the tours themselves.
WEARING THE FERN– MONIQUE HATFULL
Matakana physiotherapist and lifelong hockey player Monique Hatfull is living proof that it's never too late to chase a childhood dream
REWRITING WOMEN’S WELLNESS– AGGIE
Matakana-based start-up Aggie is quietly disrupting one of healthcare’s most overlooked categories, with a level of clinical rigour rarely seen in the women’s supplement market.
ADVANCED CARE, NEARBY– EQUISTRIDE VETERINARY
Equistride Veterinary is the vision of Victoria Beck, a specialist in equine orthopaedics bringing advanced lameness care closer to horse owners in the region.
A BLUEGRASS LIFE –NAT TORKINGTON
Ti Point local Nat Torkington has spent decades championing bluegrass music in New Zealand, both on stage and behind the scenes, fostering a community of players and fans that spans generations.
FINDING HER STRIDE – DENIKA CLOONEY
Waipu-based distance runner Denika Clooney has transformed the challenges of training in a small Northland town into a pathway toward international competition and world-stage ambition.
THEIR BOLDEST CAMPAIGN YET– LIVE OCEAN
Jono Ridler’s 1,350km swim down the east coast of the North Island is putting ocean protection firmly in the national spotlight.
A LIFELONG CONNECTION TO THE MOANA – RILEY HATHAWAY
Recently recognised with the prestigious Blake Award, Riley’s work continues to inspire the next generation to care for Aotearoa’s marine environment.
A CENTURY STRONG – WELLSFORD RUGBY FOOTBALL CLUB
For 100 years, Wellsford Rugby Football Club has stood at the heart of its community, shaping generations through sport, service, and unwavering local pride.
RINGING IN HERITAGE – DAVE PARKER
With a bell in hand and a booming voice, Warkworth’s Town Crier keeps a centuries-old tradition alive.
CRAFT, CURIOSITY, AND EXPLORATION – DAEDALIC LIGHTWORKS
Just outside Matakana, where farmland folds into a canopy of bush and birdsong, sits a workshop that feels more like a creative observatory than a studio. This is Daedalic Lightworks – and at the heart of it is local maker Mark Lever.
BREAKING BOUNDARIES – MOANA COURTENAY
Rugby league wasn’t always part of her plan, but for Moana Courtenay, determination, talent, and hard work have turned opportunity into achievement – and she’s only just getting started.
GROWING PLAY, GROWING COMMUNITY– MAZ CHARITABLE TRUST
Turning a community’s dream into reality, the Mangawhai Activity Zone (MAZ) has become the gem of the township – a project guided by a dedicated group of trustees.
DRIVEN BY MOVEMENT – GEORGIA BRIERLY
Georgia Brierly’s life has always revolved around movement – on the track, the rugby field, and in the gym she calls her second home.
TIME HONOURED CRAFT –DRAKEN WATCHES
What began as a side project in 2016 has grown into Draken Watches, a highly respected brand founded by Waipu local Michael Blythe.