Northland briefs: Firearm and hammer used in one robbery, knife in another

Weapons were used in two separate robberies over the weekend in Northland. Photo/ File

Weapons used in robberies

A firearm and a hammer were weapons used during the robbery of a Northland dairy in which tobacco products and money were stolen. The Waipapa Superette near Kerikeri was temporarily shut while police investigated the robbery at 4.30pm on Saturday. Police say one person armed with a firearm and another with a hammer robbed the dairy then left in a car. Officers continue to investigate. Meanwhile in Kaikohe yesterday a man wearing a dark jacket with a hood, a mask and carrying a robbed a Kaikohe business of cash. He went into the Kaikohe Foodmart on Broadway about 12.30pm and demanded cash from the till.

Tree likely cause of cut

A tree touching a power line is thought to have caused an outage to more than 900 homes and businesses in the northern Bay of Islands as well as a roadside fire yesterday. Kerikeri Fire Brigade was called to a grass fire under powerlines next to State Highway 1, about 1km north of Waipapa, at noon yesterday after residents reported a loud bang from a power pole. Around the same time Top Energy reported a tree contacting its Purerua feeder had cut power to 959 customers from north of Waipapa to the Purerua Peninsula, including the northern side of Kerikeri Inlet and the settlement of Te Tii. Power was expected to be restored to all customers by 4pm.

Members' arts show opens

The Quarry Arts Centre's Annual Members' Show has opened at the Yvonne Rust Gallery.
The eclectic exhibition showcases paintings, prints, ceramics, weaving, sculpture and more from the Northland arts community. It opened last night Friday and runs until November 19.

Day centre opens Thursday

The day centre for Whangārei's homeless community, called Open Arms, will officially open on Thursday. The centre is in the back of the old Army Hall on the corner of Walton and Robert St. For the best part of the past four months the building has undergone renovations to get it ready to open. Work has included painting, cleaning, installing shelves, fixing the plumbing and much more. The ceremony to mark the opening will have a blessing, a welcome, special guests and performances.

Powerball worth $12.5m struck

It will be a night to remember for a lucky Powerball player after winning $12.5 million with Powerball First Division on Saturday.The winning ticket was sold at Fitzroy Lotto & Mags in New Plymouth. The prize is made up of $12m from Powerball First Division and $500,000 from Lotto First Division. Another Lotto player will also be celebrating after winning $500,000 with Lotto First Division. That ticket was sold at Paper Plus Whakatane. The winning numbers were 4, 9, 10, 20, 27, 30 and bonus ball 8.