Northland news in brief

Car in ditch

A car was towed away after it went into a ditch along State Highway 1 in Ruakaka yesterday. Police said the car, above, which was heading north, travelled about 45m offroad and into the ditch about 12pm. Police said no one was injured in the crash which happened near Ruakaka School.

Twyford talks housing

Labour's housing spokesman Phil Twyford will be in Whangarei tonight to talk on the party's plans to overcome the housing crisis gripping the country. Mr Twyford said that in the past year average house prices in Whangarei rose 18.2 per cent from $349,000 to $412,000 - one of the largest in the country. Average rents rose by 4.6 per cent to $309 over the same period with 58 per cent of homes in central Whangarei rented. Mr Twyford said Labour had a comprehensive plan to deal with the problem and it would be outlined tonight at St Andrew's Church, Hunt St, Whangarei, from 5.30pm.

Business insights

A free event hosted by Callaghan Innovation looking at how businesses can thrive through innovation will be held in Whangarei next week. Dr Chris Hartshorn, Callaghan Innovation's new chief technology officer, will share his insights and what it means for regional businesses at the Succeed in a Changing World event. Dr Hartshorn and Callaghan CEO Hemi Rolleston will discuss how businesses can thrive through innovation. Local businesses will also be talking about how they have used innovation to succeed. The event is at The Orchard Collaborative Workspace, Level 1, corner of Walton and Cameron Sts, 4pm-6pm on Tuesday.

Truck blocks road

A fully-laden logging truck trailer that rolled into a ditch blocked one lane of a Far North road on Tuesday. Whangarei police Senior Sergeant Cliff Metcalfe said the trailer rolled about 1km from Wainui junction near Kaitaia as the driver slowed down to pull over on a side road. The trailer slipped off the road and rolled into a ditch. The north-bound lane was blocked for a few hours. No one was injured.