Some say Peter Bourke of Hauraki Express has saltwater flowing through his veins – a fitting inheritance for a man who sailed solo around New Zealand, then across the Tasman and back, for fun.

What started as a two-year pilot to give Rodney's young people somewhere to belong has grown into a lasting fixture of community life across the region.

One major life pivot and decades of dedicated service to Mahurangi's young people have culminated in a well-earned honour for Gary Diprose, recently named a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM).

Good ideas often start small – for Athena Girls Magazine, it began with a single text message between three Mangawhai mums.

At fourteen, most people are still figuring out high school – local student Anika Sinclair was figuring out a gap in the market.

Warkworth chiropractor Alana Watts has been playing cricket her whole life – but her most significant chapter is only just beginning.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

Matakana physiotherapist and lifelong hockey player Monique Hatfull is living proof that it's never too late to chase a childhood dream

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.

Equistride Veterinary is the vision of Victoria Beck, a specialist in equine orthopaedics bringing advanced lameness care closer to horse owners in the region.

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.

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.

Jono Ridler’s 1,350km swim down the east coast of the North Island is putting ocean protection firmly in the national spotlight.

Recently recognised with the prestigious Blake Award, Riley’s work continues to inspire the next generation to care for Aotearoa’s marine environment.

For 100 years, Wellsford Rugby Football Club has stood at the heart of its community, shaping generations through sport, service, and unwavering local pride.