Open fire season for some areas
The fire season is now open for some of the Far North, but if you live at the top of the country you still need a permit to light a fire. Myles Taylor, principal rural fire officer for the Northern Rural Fire Authority, said
while Zone 1 still had a restricted fire season, Zone 2 was now open. The southern boundary of Zone 1 is the area north of State Highway 10 from Taipa to Awanui, west of SH10 between Awanui and Kaitaia, the north and west side of Kaitaia-Awaroa Rd and north of the Uwhiroa Stream and the Herekino Harbour. Zone 2 extends south from Zone 1 to the Far North District Council boundary at Towai. Permits are not required in Whangarei and Kaipara.
Fruit programme backed
Northland's National Party candidate said he was delighted to hear the Fruit in Schools programme would continue at 60, mainly low-decile, schools in his electorate. Matt King said healthy eating options plated a vital role in helping kids grow. About 104,000 children at 543 schools would benefit this year. The Government invests about $8 million in the Fruit in Schools programme each year, supported by the extra $568m going into health for 2016/17, taking the total health budget to a record $16.1 billion.
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