Gunshots fired
Police on the way to Raumanga following reports of gunshots in a residential area heard a shot themselves. Whangarei police Sergeant Craig Burrows said concerned residents of Ashley Ave phoned police about 1.30am yesterday. Officers on the way to the street stopped a car, searched and a .303
rifle was discovered. Two men, aged 18 and 24, were both charged with unlawful possession of a firearm and the younger man faces a charge of discharging a firearm. They were to appear in Whangarei District Court this week. No one was injured by the random shots.
Pair on robbery charge
Whangarei Police yesterday arrested and charged a 19-year-old male and a 20-year-old female for an aggravated robbery at Countdown Supermarket, Tikipunga on October 17. Both were to appear in the Whangarei District Court charged jointly with burglary and the female is facing a further charge of attempting to wilfully obstruct the course of justice. Detective Pete Hayes thanked the members of the community who helped with the investigation. Mr Hayes said traditionally at this time of year there was an increase in this type of crime. "This maybe a good opportunity for managers of retail establishments to remind their staff members of procedures needed should this type of event occur," Mr Hayes said. "This includes ensuring CCTV footage is operating as it should be, that staff take steps to preserve the scene prior to police attendance, and if they see any person acting in a suspicious manner around their business, to note down the description of the people and any vehicle they maybe with and call police."
Suspicious fires
Three small fires beside State Highway 10 are the latest in a series of suspicious roadside blazes around Northland. The Kerikeri Fire Brigade was called out to Oromahoe about 2pm yesterday and while the fires were small - at most 4x2m - they follow a trend which started on Saturday night next to SH12 north of Dargaville, then saw the Okaihau volunteers called out to three fires along the cycle trail on Sunday afternoon and Kaikohe firefighters to SH12 in South Hokianga that night.
District's future mapped
Individuals or community groups wondering where Whangarei District is headed can get the council's perspective straight from the horse's mouth. Well, the mayor's mouth. Morris Cutforth, Deputy Mayor Phil Halse and the council's chief executive Mark Simpson are offering to front up to meetings to present Whangarei at the Crossroads - an examination of the issues facing the district over the next three to five decades. This vision for the future is a brief of the Sustainable Futures 30/50 Growth Strategy completed last year. That strategy threw sharply into focus that the district had important decisions to make on the social and economic direction it took, Mr Simpson said. The Whangarei at the Crossroads presentation offers some options for the investment decisions the council must make, he said. Community groups wishing to arrange meetings can call co-ordinator Jan Walters, ph 09 430 4254.
Book fair back in town
One of the Far North's biggest second-hand book fairs is back this weekend. The Waipapa Rotary Club book fair kicks off at 4pm on Friday at Bay Sports stadium on Harmony Lane, off Waipapa Rd near the SH10 intersection. Selling continues until 8pm and resumes again on Saturday from 8am to 3pm. All proceeds go to youth projects in the Bay of Islands area.