Woman's body found
Friends of a Kerikeri woman found her body floating in the Bay of Islands after she apparently fell from a boat without being noticed. The 75-year-old had been sailing with her husband when friends who were anchored nearby discovered her body in Orokawa Bay, midway between Russell and Rawhiti, about 9pm on Monday. She was last seen about 7.30pm. It is understood her husband had gone below deck to rest while she was fishing from the stern. Police are not treating the incident as suspicious. Her death has been referred to the coroner.
Dead man named
A body found in Whangarei's Western Hills on Tuesday has been confirmed as that of missing man Kevin Charles Stewart. The 55-year-old man left his cabin at a Whangarei caravan park on December 7 and hadn't been seen since. His only child, daughter Melody Jain Stewart, who lives in Australia, made a plea in the Northern Advocate this week for any information that would help find him. Whangarei police said Mr Stewart's body was found in Western Hills on January 3. The death was not considered suspicious.
Jumping show
The horse trucks will rumble north to attend the Northland Jumping and Showhunter Grand Prix show at the weekend at Barge showgrounds. About 260 horses are set to compete for points in the National Series in Pony Grand Prix, young and junior rider categories. Local rider Nakeshya Lammers and the Wilson sisters, Vicky, Amanda and Kelly, will also compete. Competitions start at 8.30am on both days.
Fugitive arrested
A Northland man wanted in relation to an incident where a firearm was allegedly presented at officers during a vehicle stop has been arrested in Auckland. Police confirmed officers from Waitakere carried out a search warrant on unrelated matters at a New Lynn address where they arrested the 25-year-old man. The man, who has links to Kaikohe, has been avoiding police since December 9 after an incident on Western Hills Drive in Whangarei.