Homes open their doors
Some of Whangarei's finest homes will open their doors to raise funds for North Haven Hospice in November. The biennial Whangarei House and Garden Tour - run by The Girls' Club - will be a weekend dedicated to discovering beautiful homes in central Whangarei including villas, new builds, cottages, big and tiny houses. The tour will be held on November 11 and 12, from 9.30am-4pm. Tickets are $50 per person from girlsclub.org.nz.
Chat with the candidates
A meet-the-candidates event in which the public will be encouraged to sit down with individual MPs for one-on-one questioning will be held in Kerikeri tomorrow. So far Maki Herbert (Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis, Tai Tokerau), Matt King (National, Northland), Winston Peters (NZ First, Northland), Willow-Jean Prime (Labour, Northland) and Godfrey Rudolph (Greens, Tai Tokerau) have confirmed for the meeting at Frontline Church on Hone Heke Rd. Pastor Shaun Foster said each candidate would have eight minutes to pitch to the audience before a pastor spoke from a social perspective. The audience would then be split into small groups where people could question the candidates individually. The event is from 4pm to about 6pm but people could come earlier if they wanted to interact with the candidates.
Man on the run arrested
A 29-year-old man wanted by police for six days was arrested by police in Whangarei on Tuesday. An eagle-eyed officer patrolling in the Whau Valley area spotted the man about 3pm. Police got the man as he left a local dairy - after allegedly helping himself to an energy drink. When he was searched police allegedly found a firearm concealed in his clothing.
Quick-thinking driver
A Kaikohe woman wants to say thank you to the man who returned her wallet after she dropped it on her way out of Whangarei Hospital carpark on September 8. The woman said she had put it in the side of her door and when she opened her door to reach the ticket machine, it must have fallen out. She said she was waiting at the lights at the intersection of Maunu Rd and State Highway 1 when a car pulled up in the lane next to her, reversed up, and a man got out and gave her back the wallet she hadn't realised was missing. She said there was about $80 and all of her cards inside. The woman didn't get a chance to thank him at the time but wants to thank him for his honesty, integrity and smart thinking.
Science technicians meet
ConSTANZ17 - the biannual conference for school science technicians - is being held in Whangarei for the first time next month. The ninth biannual conference will be at Kamo High School from October 10-12 and more than 100 delegates/trade displays and key note speakers are expected. The event has never been held in Northland before and school technicians are giving up their free time in the school holidays to attend. They are coming from all across NZ and Australia. For more information visit www.constanz17.weebly.com
Vote on Suffrage Day
Whangarei's YWCA is promoting New Zealand's proud history of women gaining the right to vote, and are asking people to vote early this year, on Suffrage Day, next week. On September 19 the country celebrates the 124th year of women winning the right to vote in New Zealand. To commemorate the women who fought to gain the vote, the YWCA are encouraging women to mobilise that day and early vote for the New Zealand election.