Burst main cuts water
Some properties on Whangarei's Herekino St were without water for two to three hours yesterday after a water main burst on the city centre street. The water main in Herekino St burst about 12.30pm and drained water from surrounding mains, causing a lack of water for properties in the Town Basin, Reyburn St and Lower Dent St.
The break was isolated and valves were closed, which put most properties back on about an hour later. Whangarei District Council water asset engineer Diana Staveley said the repair crew would report on the cause of the main failure, which is likely to be an issue with the pipe or a fitting.
Lucky Lotto winner
A ticket sold in Whangarei was among nine nationally that each won more than $18,000 on Lotto Second Division on Wednesday. The ticket, sold at Whau Valley Dairy, won $18,832.
Third ship cancels
A third cruise ship has cancelled its visit to the Bay of Islands in two days due to the wild weather affecting Northland. Radiance of the Seas, with 2064 passengers on board, had been due to spend Thursday in the Bay but would instead proceed directly to its next port, Tauranga. On Wednesday Noordam and the Norwegian Jewel, with more than 4000 passengers between them, also cancelled visits.
Wearable art entries
Entries are wanted for the 2018 Waipu Museum Art'n'Tartan Wearable Art Awards to be held in July. The annual, highly acclaimed competition is a chance for artists and designers of wearable art to showcase their work. Anyone keen to enter the competition or be part of the event in any way is invited to Waipu's Celtic Barn on Thursday, February 15, at 7pm for the annual Expressions of Interest meeting.
This will be an information evening for entrants and backstage volunteers, a chance to chat to the show's artistic director and production manager and hear more about the 2018 show. Further information www.waipumuseum.com or the Art'n'Tartan Facebook page.
Free festival shuttle buses
NorthTec is supporting the upcoming Ngapuhi Festival, with a free shuttle minibus service between some Whangarei suburbs and Toll Stadium. With parking around the festival site likely to be at a premium, NorthTec will operate six minibuses on Saturday, January 27, on routes from Tikipunga, Otangarei, Raumanga, Otaika, Kamo and Onerahi. Starting at 8am from each pick-up site, they will run throughout the morning to drop off at or near Toll Stadium, until noon.
They will resume travelling from the stadium from 5pm until 8pm, dropping passengers back at the original pick-up areas. The service will run at hourly intervals, with timings subject to demand and traffic.