Grassfire contained
A grassfire at Tangowahine Settlement Rd 13km east of Dargaville required one fire appliance, three water tankers and a stand-by helicopter with a monsoon bucket to bring it under control. The alarm was raised at 1.30pm yesterday and firefighters remained at the scene for several hours. The fire was not far from the Northern Wairoa River and there was easy access to the scene as well as a water source.
Drink drive charges
A 37-year-old Pukenui man who allegedly recorded 631 micrograms per litre of breath after he was stopped by police in Kaitaia on Thursday night was charged with driving with excess alcohol and driving while forbidden, as was a 21-year-old Kaitaia man who recorded 652 micrograms. A 25-year-old Kaitaia man was charged with driving with excess alcohol after recording 846 micrograms, and had his licence suspended on the spot.
Cat no curfew excuse
Police were prepared to give a 21-year-old Kaitaia man who they caught breaching his curfew on Wednesday night the benefit of the doubt, until he failed to produce the cat he said had died. He had been seen exiting the rear of the Kaitaia Hospital grounds, saying he had been to tell his mother that the cat had died. He was charged with breaching his bail.
Sicilian artist welcomed
Renowned Sicilian artist and sculptor Alex Caminiti is about to take up a residency at Kaan Zamaan Gallery in Kerikeri and will be welcomed with a powhiri tomorrow. "We should feel very privileged to be hosting this world-class artist in the Far North," gallery owner Julia Reinholt said. Caminiti had exhibited all over the world, including at The Louvre, in Paris. His Kaan Zamaan exhibition, which would include paintings and small sculpture, will open on February (through to March 19), while he would lead a weekend workshop for underprivileged children aged 10 to 15 from around Northland over February 17-19.
Our beaches are tops
Ti Tii Beach at Waitangi and Matapouri Bay on the Tutukaka Coast have made it into AA Traveller magazine's top 10 beaches. AA Traveller marketing manager Rhys James said what made a beach popular with families usually depended on what else was available in the area. While countless beaches qualified, the magazine narrowed down its representative national list to the two Northland beaches, Cheltenham Beach and Long Bay in Auckland, Oriental Bay in Wellington, Kaiteriteri Beach in Nelson/Tasman, Rabbit Island near Nelson, Sumner Beach in Christchurch, Caroline Bay at Timaru/Canterbury and St Clair Beach in Dunedin/Otago.
Give boating a go
Three Northland sailing and boating clubs - Taipa Sailing Club, Whangarei Cruising Club, and Marsden Yacht and Boat Club - are opening their doors and inviting people of all ages and abilities to get a taste of sailing and boating. The events are a part of Volvo Sailing & Boating Week 2017, a nationwide initiative from Yachting New Zealand to celebrate and showcase the sport. Kicking off on January 28, participating clubs are opening their doors and offering activities throughout the week, or on a single day, with the event drawing to a close on February 5. For more information go to www.yachtingnz.org.nz/events/ynz-events/volvo-sailing-boating-week/whats-happening-when-and-where.
Event helpers
Volunteering Northland is looking for people to help out at some major events in the region over the next few months. It wants to create a group of volunteers keen to assist with one-off events. Being an event, project and festival volunteer will give people a chance to be at the heart of what's going on in Northland and meet new people. The events needing volunteers are: Waitangi Day commemorations in the Bay of Islands on February 6 at Waitangi Marae; Whangarei's Pacifika Fusion Festival on February 25; Special Olympics Athletics and Swimming Events on March 12 and 23; CollaboratioNZ Art Conference and Auction on March 14-18 and the Whangarei Fritter Festival on March 25. Either email info@volunteeringnorthland.nz or check out www.volunteeringnorthland.nz.
Performance offerings
Company of Giants, a performance group and venue based at 116 Bank St in Whangarei (ONEONESIX) has a line-up for shows over the next week. "Ze": queer as f*ck! is a dark comedy about sex, gender, and the expanding parade of labels and identities writer and sole performer Michelle/Ryan claims. It is on tomorrow night for one show only, 7:45pm, $10. Kumarani Circus will hold a holiday programme for children from Monday to Thursday. On Friday Northland Youth Theatre performs its Summer Show, Te Wairoa, at ONEONESIX at 7pm, and again on Saturday at Forum North's Capitaine Bougainville, 7pm. Both shows are $12 and $17.