KFC temporarily off menu and more Northland news

KFC lovers in Whangarei will have to dine somewhere else for a few more weeks.

KFC lovers in Whangārei will have to dine somewhere else for a few more weeks after the building was closed off for renovation. The operators are renovating to a new design and have submitted a building consent to the Whangarei District Council to upgrade the kitchen as well as the rest of the premises. KFC currently holds an A grade for the premises. The exact reopening date is unknown at this stage.

Last viewings
Audiences have a last chance tonight to see two plays offered as a double billing or single show at Oneonesix. One is Giddy, described as a contemporary riff on heartbreak, living and getting back on your feet. The reviews said: "Giddy is cool, like falling down the stairs, but sexy. I loved every stupid second." Watching Paint Dry is also highly recommended: "Utterly absurd, at times deeply moving, about how much is happening when nothing seems to be happening at all." Each show is an hour long, 6.30pm, 9pm.

Tribute to Dixon
An emotional Whangārei mayor Sheryl Mai paid tribute to Archie Dixon at the beginning of the full council meeting on Thursday. Mai described Dixon as a "precious man in our community" and said his death would be a huge loss. The former Whangārei RSA president died on Tuesday night after a short illness, aged 81. Mai said Dixon was awarded a civic honour in 2010 and was instrumental in moving the city's war memorial from Rose St to Laurie Hall Park, among various other involvements. Councillors, council staff and members of the public then stood for a moment's silence before the meeting got under way.

Boundary changes
Proposed minor changes to two ward boundaries in Whangārei have become official. Whangārei District Council approved the changes on Thursday which will see the boundaries between Bream Bay and Okara and Hikurangi-Coastal and Denby altered slightly to better reflect communities of interest. A small southern area - Dip Rd, Georgia Lane, Waipanga Rd, Springs Flat Rd - has moved from Hikurangi-Coastal to Denby ward while a northern area including Smeaton Drive, Acacia Drive, Wattle Lane has been moved from Bream Bay into Okara ward. No other changes to the representation system have been made.

Police hunt man

Northland Police are currently looking for Tako Wihongi.

Northland Police are looking for Tako Wihongi who has two warrants for his arrest. He has been on the run from police since March and has a number of contacts in the Kaikohe and Opononi area. Police warn he is dangerous and should not be approached. He has a number of tattoos including Māoridesign tattoos on his neck and right forearm area, he also has a picture of a dragon on his left forearm. Anyone with any information on where Wihongi is can contact Detective Ryan Cooper on 09 430 4500 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111

Farm under quarantine
A Northland property infected with Mycoplasma bovis is still under quarantine lockdown to prevent the disease from spreading to neighbouring farms. The 50 beef herd on the Kaipara farm is yet to be culled and the Ministry of Primary Industries said they would be killed at a time best suited to the farm owner. No additional properties in Northland have tested positive for M. bovis. M. bovis was discovered on the beef cattle farm early this month.

Bridge jumping banned
The NZTA understands that jumping into the river from the Taipa Bridge is part of summer at Doubtless Bay, but it's about to be taken off the agenda. 'No Jumping' signs would be erected, a spokesman said, and would remain in place for most of next year as work on building the new two-lane bridge and dismantling the existing structure continued. "These signs will be installed for people's own safety, so please don't jump," the spokesman said. "It will be unsafe to jump for most of 2019, but when the project is finished you will have a fabulous new viewing platform. Please start talking about this with whānau, family and friends, and in particular children. Please help us to keep everyone safe."