Helicopter flies injured motorist to hospital, pink breakfast and more

A person with suspected spinal injuries was to be airlifted to hospital after being freed from a crashed vehicle near Kerikeri. Photo / File

Crash victim airlifted to hospital

A person with suspected spinal injuries was to be airlifted to hospital after being freed from a crashed vehicle on Pungaere Rd, Waipapa.

The incident shortly before 4pm yesterday was attended by Kerikeri St John Ambulance and firefighters. Initially it was reported two people were trapped in the vehicle but when the fire crew arrived one person was already out, a Fire and Emergency spokesman said. St John called for the rescue helicopter which was expected to arrive after 5pm. It was not known at edition time when the patient was airlifted.

Cancer fundraiser at college

Okaihau College will host its fifth breast cancer research fundraising pink breakfast on Tuesday May 22, and once again the wider community is invited. The students will be tucking into smoothies, cupcakes or muffins (which need to be ordered and pre-paid) over their morning interval, while members of the wider community will be welcome to join the staff in the food tech room for a hot drink, muffin or cupcake in exchange for $5.

Student support leaders Emmanuel Taliauli and Kieran-Jade Nelson are making their contribution by organising pamper/care packs to raffle, one for women and one for men, who can also contract breast cancer. Any contributions will be gratefully accepted by Jenny Griffin at the Student Centre.

Thief strikes three times

A brazen thief who stole items from the Northern Advocate building on Robert St returned twice to steal more. The thefts, yesterday afternoon, was caught on camera. A man wearing a hat and carrying a satchel first entered an area at the back of the building at 2.58pm and left with what looked like a puffer jacket.

Three minutes later he returned and stole what was clearly a puffer jacket. At 3.20pm he returned for a third time and stole five bottles of drink from a sealed box which was to be used for promotions. The footage of the incident has been given to police.

Machete threat

Police who went to arrest a Moerewa man breaching his bail were allegedly threatened with a machete. Senior Sergeant Cliff Metcalfe said officers went to a house about 8pm on Friday and when the man was told he was under arrest he refused to accept it.

It's alleged he threatened police with a machete before he was pepper-sprayed and hand-cuffed. The 46-year-old faces fresh charges of resisting police and assaulting police and has been remanded in custody to appear again in the Kaikohe District Court today. Chased man falls off motorbike

A man who allegedly fled from police on a motorcycle in Kaitaia last week fell off in the bus bay at Kaitaia College. He wasn't hurt but was charged with driving with excess alcohol and whilst disqualified, both for the third or subsequent time, dangerous driving and failing to stop.