Busy New Year's Eve
Emergency services across the North were kept busy with dozens of other incidents on New Year's Eve. Apart from the two pedestrian deaths and major blazes at Karikari Peninsula, Peria and Pataua, other callouts for volunteer firefighters included a scrub fire in Haruru Falls, a car crashed into a bank at Maromaku, a fire in the ceiling cavity of a bach at Opononi, and a suspected stolen car set alight at Karikari Peninsula.
Choppers return to fire
Two helicopters were called back to the Far North after a scrub fire flared up again yesterday. Fire crews were already at the Matai Bay site watching for flare-ups. The initial fire that started on 10pm on Saturday was contained by crews and three helicopters after burning through 10 hectares of scrub. Two crews would remain at the scene overnight.
Dive victim named
The man who died after diving near Te Pahi Island in the Bay of Islands on Friday was Andrew (Anaru) Thomas Wanihi. The 46-year-old Auckland man had been with family members who found him face down and unresponsive during a dive on Friday afternoon. They rushed to nearby Doves Bay where members of the public and emergency services were also unable to revive him.