Wet weekend weather
It's a wet start to the weekend with rain forecast for much of today. But the good news is there will be long fine periods tomorrow with some opportunities to get outside and make up for being stuck inside. MetService forecaster Tom Adams said there was a low over the Tasman Sea forecast to track past the Far North today , but the risk of it bringing severe weather to New Zealand was minimal. However, the fallout of that weather pattern was rain for Northland. Temperatures through the region will remain high during the day with the maximum temperature forecast to be 18C today and tomorrow. Winds will whip up sea conditions today, reaching 35 knots, but ease tomorrow.
Free CityLink bus today
Ditch your car and ride on any Whangarei CityLink bus for free today. The Northland Regional Council is encouraging people to jump on board the buses and see if the public transport system works for them.Kaipara closed for scallops
Minister of Fisheries Stuart Nash has announced his decision to close the Kaipara Harbour scallop fishery for recreational fishers. The most recent scientific information is showing scallop numbers in the harbour are the lowest on record, and the distribution of scallops is increasingly limited. It's been closed for commercial fishing since 1986, and that's now being extended to recreational fishers to help the stock rebuild. The closure comes into effect on October 23, 2018.
Kaitaia Daffodil Day tally
Kaitaia's contribution to last month's Daffodil Day has come in at $31,026. Co-ordinated by Far North REAP, the money was raised via a baby photo competition, a trivia and auction night, a Te Hiku Hauora sausage sizzle, cupcakes and guess the staff baby photo, a street collection, donation boxes and fresh daffodil sales in Awanui.
New pet regulations
The new animal welfare requirements for the management of companion animals in temporary housing facilities, which will come into effect on October 1, cover almost every conceivable species, from cats to rats and fish. National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee (NAWAC) chairwoman Dr Gwyneth Verkerk said the new code set out minimum standards and best practice guidelines, for the first time, for animals in temporary housing facilities such as boarding facilities and kennels, pet shops, animal welfare centres and pounds, animal day-care centres, grooming establishments and quarantine or isolation facilities. The code would apply to companion cats and dogs, as well as companion animals that were not covered by an existing species-specific code of welfare, such as guinea pigs, rabbits, mice, rats, fish and turtles. Minimum standards and recommendations for best practice included the provision of food and water, temperature and lighting, air and water quality, behaviour, health and disease, sale or rehoming.
Dog bylaw comments wanted
Far North residents have only a few days left to have a say on the council's controversial dog bylaw review. Consultation on the Far North District Council's Dog Management Policy and Bylaw 2018 ends at 4.30pm on Monday with more than 800 submissions so far, well above the 337 received during a previous attempt in 2016. Go to www.fndc.govt.nz/dogs2018 to make an online submission or for more information. Submissions can also be emailed to dogs@fndc.govt.nz.