First division winner
A ticket sold in Whangarei was one of two that each won $500,000 in Lotto First Division on Wednesday. The winning ticket was sold at Countdown Whangarei and, as of edition time yesterday, had not been claimed. It was the second First Division winner for the city in
eight days after an on-line ticket buyer won $1 million in the previous Wednesday's draw, although that prize has been claimed. Powerball was not struck on Wednesday and will be worth an estimated $25 million tonight.
Deputy mayor re-appointed
Recently re-elected Whangarei Mayor Sheryl Mai says she has cemented "stable leadership" by re-appointing Sharon Morgan as her deputy mayor. The mayor can choose the deputy from any of the elected councillors. She chose Ms Morgan last term and announced her decision to re-appoint her yesterday. She said the pair shared similar values and principles. "Combined, our interests cover the spectrum of council business, and our networks and affiliations reach into a wide range of Whangarei communities,"
Ms Mai said.
Monitoring harbour health
A new year-round water quality sampling programme at Mangawhai Harbour will help officials better understand the health of the harbour and track any changes.
The Northland Regional Council said the monthly testing programme will provide more information than its current ''recreational bathing'' regime in the busier summer months. Samples from six sites from the estuary, two causeways and the harbour mouth will be analysed for salinity, temperature, sediment levels, nutrients and bacteria every month. The results will be reported back to the public and councillors through meeting agendas and other methods.
Grant for short films
The Northland Youth Theatre Trust has received a $5000 grant for a Civil Defence Emergency Preparedness Video Project. The project will involve young people working alongside performing arts mentors to create two short films with a focus on emergency preparedness. The project was one of seven initiatives that will each receive $5000 of funding under the inaugural Youth in Civil Defence Fund, announced yesterday. .
7 marathons in 7 days
Te Tai Tokerau MP Kelvin Davis has committed to walking seven marathons in seven days to raise awareness about sexual violence and tomorrow he will begin that hikoi.
Mr Davis has never walked a full marathon before but he will be walking 40km for seven consecutive days in the hopes it will encourage people to talk about sexual violence. He will leave from Awanui School at 8am and head to Kaitaia. From there he will do a figure 8 around the Kaitaia area and back to Awanui. Pastor Mike Shaw will be supporting Mr Davis from Kaikohe. The crew there will be starting where the old pub stood. Members of the public are encouraged to join Mr Davis whether it's for five minutes or an hour.
Sentencing for RMA breaches
Two logging companies and an individual in Northland who pleaded guilty to carrying out illegal earthworks in and adjacent to significant wetlands will be sentenced on Tuesday.
Sunnex Harvesting, Woodbank Trading, and Michael Lance Bartlett, will appear for sentencing in the Environment Court in Whangarei after earlier admitting breaches of the Resource Management Act. The offending occurred between August and November 2014, and related to earthworks and forestry harvesting that took place in and adjacent to significant indigenous wetlands in the vicinity of Kaikohe's Taikawhena Stream.