Dial up new frequency
Kaitaia radio stations Sunshine FM and Tai FM will switch frequencies on Monday; Sunshine moving to 98.7 and Tai to 104.3. General manager Peter-Lucas Jones said the change was designed to provide classic hits music to a wider audience which would now extend as far south as Kawakawa, Kaikohe and the South Hokianga. See Tuesday's Age for more.
Would-be doctors wanted
An information evening for young Northlanders considering a career in medicine is being held at Ahipara's Korou Kore Marae from 7pm on Thursday. It will feature presentations by medical students. The seminar is part of the annual conference of Te Ohu Rata o Aotearoa, the Maori Medical Practitioners Association, which will be opened on September 1 by Associate Health Minister Tariana Turia.
Rapt over top rapper
How many big-time rappers visit Kaikohe? Not many, if any. So Scribe's visit this coming Friday will be a big deal in the Mid-North town, with the Christchurch rapper due to put in an appearance at a Gamblefree Ngapuhi event in Kaikohe's Memorial Hall. The event will run from 10am-2pm on August 31 and feature a performance by Kerikeri's Troy Kingi - a finalist in a national songwriting competition about gambling harm - as well as Kaikohe bands, dance, three-on-three basketball, mirimiri and hauora stands. Scribe is due in the house from 11am-1pm.
Flushed with success ...
You can now watch the transformation of Paihia's once infamous Marsden Rd toilets online, with the 10-day project condensed into five minutes thanks to time-lapse photography. To see the video go to YouTube (www.youtube.com) and search for "Maiki Hill public toilets project". A volunteer group called the Paihia Phantom Placemakers was responsible for the makeover.
Fire closes playground
The children's playground at McDonald's in Kaikohe is off limits after a fire on Friday. The Kaikohe fire brigade was called to the Station Rd fast-food outlet about 10.30am after what was thought to be children playing with matches and lighting paper in the playground's plastic tubing. Firefighters said the damage was not serious but enough to close the playground until repairs could be made.
Highly invasive vine
A new site of the nationally-rare but highly invasive balloon vine (Cardiospermum grandiflorum) has been found at Onerahi in Whangarei. The Northland Regional Council has forwarded a specimen to the Auckland Herbarium. Landowners will be contacted and control measures begun if Herbarium confirms the identification.