News briefs from Northland: Treaty Grounds rescue and steam celebration success

The Northland Rescue Helicopter at the Treaty Grounds on Saturday. Photo / NEST

Treaty grounds rescue

Visitors to the Treaty Grounds on Saturday were treated to the unusual juxtaposition of one of New Zealand's most historic buildings — the Treaty House, built in 1833-34 for British Resident James Busby — and a Sikorsky helicopter owned by the Northland Emergency Services Trust. The chopper landed next to the flagpole about 2.10pm on Saturday to airlift an elderly Australian tourist to Whangārei Hospital after he was injured in a fall. He was thought to have suffered a broken hip and wrist. With no ambulance available volunteer firefighters provided first aid until the helicopter arrived.

Woman suffers serious burns

A Kaikohe woman has been airlifted to hospital with serious burns to her legs after a fire in a garage on Wihongi St about 1am on Sunday. The fire was out when the Kaikohe Fire Brigade arrived so the volunteers focused on offering first aid instead. She was flown to Whangārei Hospital by the Northland Rescue Helicopter, and from there to the burns unit at Middlemore Hospital. Police and a fire safety expert are investigating how the fire started.

Steam weekend success

A steam weekend celebrating 150 years of rail in Kawakawa was a success despite almost being derailed by paperwork last Friday. An NZ Transport Agency spokesman said a change was required to the safety case for the operation before steam trains could be approved to run. The case was approved on Friday afternoon, allowing steam trains to be operated from that point on. Steam rides resumed on Saturday and Sunday with a wood-fired locomotive loaned by the Whangārei Steam and Model Railway Club pulling a replica of the first carriage used in Kawakawa. The Bay of Islands Vintage Railway Trust reported strong interest and plenty of passengers on the remaining two days of the event.

Car hits home

Emergency services were called to the corner of Tawanui Rd and Broadway in Kaikohe about 3pm on Monday after a car crashed into a pensioner unit. Kaikohe deputy fire chief Wiremu Matene said the accident was most likely caused by a medical event. The driver was taken to Bay of Islands Hospital for observation. Damage to a corner of the solidly-built unit was minor.

Band battle entries closing

Time is running out to enter a ''battle of the bands'' for musicians aged 18 and under from Whangārei to Cape Reinga. The event, at Kerikeri's Turner Centre on November 10, is organised by the Be Free Youth instead of the music mentoring group's usual spring concert. Go to befreeplaymusic.wordpress.com/battle-of-the-bands to register. Entries close on October 31.