Rescued skipper stable in hospital
The 77-year-old Auckland skipper winched to safety after his yacht was smashed on rocks off Northland remains in a stable condition in Whangarei Hospital. He and his 70-year-old wife were rescued from rocks at Taiharuru about 5.30am on Monday. His wife was released after being checked over.
The couple had been at the centre of a rescue operation for more than 35 hours. Rescuers had guided them into sheltered waters at the Poor Knights Islands but they had not remained there and tried to sail back to Whangarei Harbour in their 12m yacht when they hit rocks. Police are to interview the couple about the incident for which costs will run into the tens of thousands of dollars.
McCully joins board
Former government minister Murray McCully has been appointed to the board of Far North Holdings, the commercial arm of the Far North District Council. Mr McCully, the long-serving Minister of Foreign Affairs under the previous National-led Government, was born in Whangarei, raised in Dargaville, and now spends much of his time in Taiharuru near Whangarei Heads.
He joins other board members Bill Birnie (chairman, an investment banker and former High Court lawyer), Ross Blackman (Russell-based former Team New Zealand business manager for the America's Cup), Ian Walker (Kaitaia farmer and businessman) and Kevin Baxter (Kerikeri farmer and businessman).
Hui on Crown-Maori links
Te Tai Tokerau MP and Minister of Crown/Maori Relations Kelvin Davis will be holding hui across the country as part of rejuvenating the relationship between Government and Maori.
The first public hui will be held in Kaitaia on Saturday, April 7 at 8.30am followed by a hui in Whangarei on Sunday, April 8 at 11am. Initial thoughts on the new Crown/Maori Relations portfolio include improving the way Government departments engage with Maori and respond to Maori issues, ensuring Treaty settlement obligations are honoured, and finding new and different opportunities for more active partnership between the Crown and Maori.
Mr Davis said with the Treaty Settlement process drawing to a close the time was right to rejuvenate the relationship between the Crown and Maori. The hui are a chance for Mr Davis to hear ideas from people across the country about what the relationship should look like. Visit www.justice.govt.nz/crown-maori for more information. An online feedback form is also available for those unable to attend a hui.