Far North news in brief: 38 new Kiwis; storm relief and highway repairs

Northern Advocate

30 Mar, 2026 03:00 PM2 mins to read

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Some of the 38 new NZ citizens sworn in at the Far North District Council chambers last week.

Earlier this month 38 new New Zealand citizens from 19 countries were officially sworn in at the Far North District Council Chambers in Kaikohe. Mayor Moko Tepania and Deputy Mayor Chicky Rudkin welcomed the new citizens, their friends, and whānau. The event began with
a karakia by the council’s Te Hono Team before Tepania commenced the swearing-in process. New citizens were offered the opportunity to pledge their oath or affirmation in English or te reo Māori, completing their journey to becoming New Zealand citizens.

Highway repairs

Drainage work and asphalt repairs are coming up on State Highway 11 (SH11) at Pahia, from next week. Work will take place between MacMurray Rd and Kings Rd, between 7am and 6pm, and is expected to take around 3.5 weeks to complete, from April 7 to 30. SH11 will be closed northbound at all times through the work area. The southbound lane will remain open. Northbound traffic will be detoured via MacMurray Rd and Kings Rd, rejoining SH11 at Marsden Rd. In the last few days of the project, stop/go traffic management with a single-lane closure will be in place at the SH11/MacMurray Rd intersection. Travel delays are expected to be less than a few minutes.

Serious crash