Beaches in top 10
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.
Big dig continues
A story in Saturday's paper said an archaeological dig on Moturua Island, investigating what could be one of New Zealand's earliest human settlements, ended on Sunday. In fact, it runs until this coming Friday, with a day off for the volunteers today.
Suspicious fire
Possibly a boy stood on the burning deck, but that is what fire investigators will try to establish after a suspicious fire at a Tikipunga house last week.
Whangarei Fire Brigade was called to the fire on the deck of a vacant house in Kiripaka Rd at about 7.40am on Thursday. No other damage was caused to the house.
Festival turns 21
The Whangarei arts festival ArtBeat celebrates its 21st birthday next Saturday with a range of activities and more than 50 stalls selling food, art, craft and clothing.
Entertainment on the Palmer Canvas Main Stage will feature acts like Hip Hop group OBC, Nathan Calver, Otium Miss Diamond and Thelonious Punk, the last mentioned promoting their new EP. Luke Bird will be master of ceremonies. Dance acts include Hardcore Dance and Mana O te Hula, and Northland Youth Theatre gives a preview of Te Waiora - From the Mountains to the Sea. Playtime at the Cafler Park event will include the Plus Chartered Accountants' Fairy Grotto and the Resene Interactive Zone.
Artist in Kerikeri
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.
Powerball jackpots
Northland's run of luck has slowed with the two big prize tickets in Saturday's Lotto draw being sold in Auckland. Two players celebrate a $500,000 windfall each, from the $1 million kitty in Lotto First Division. Powerball was not struck and has rolled over to Wednesday night, when the jackpot will be $13 million. Strike Four was also not struck and will be $200,000 on Wednesday. Saturday's lucky numbers were 3, 7, 13, 20, 30, 34, with bonus number 19 and Powerball number 3.