Iconic Russell hotel The Duke of Marlborough closed for renovations on Monday, straight after the Birdman Festival. The restaurant will reopen on August 7 while the hotel will reopen on September 4, in time for the establishment's 190th birthday.
Scooter rider injured
An elderly man was taken to Whangarei Hospital's emergency department after a collision between his mobility scooter and a vehicle.
Two wheels were ripped off the scooter and the man was knocked to the ground as he drove across a pedestrian crossing on Maunu Rd about 11.45am yesterday. He was in a serious condition when he was transported by St John Ambulance.
Prison pilots
Four new services are being piloted by Corrections at 16 prisons around the country, including Ngawha Prison, as part of a $14 million initiative to help offenders and their families cope with mental health challenges.
Under its Mental Health and Reintegration Programme, the pilots aim to better support offenders who have mental health needs in prison and the community.
Under the two-year pilot, mental health clinicians and family support workers have been appointed at 16 prisons, including the Northland Region Corrections Facility at Ngawha.
Police blitz
Kaitaia police executed a series of search warrants across the area yesterday, targeting people with warrants out for their arrest and motoring offences. No details on the number of arrests were available at edition time yesterday.(wed)
Thrown from car
A man suffered moderate injuries when he was thrown from a car in a single-vehicle crash on Oruru Rd, south of Taipa, about 3.30pm yesterday. Police, St John Ambulance and the Mangonui Fire Brigade attended. The driver was taken to Kaitaia Hospital.