Whangarei District councillor Gavin Benney has been appointed to the community funding committee and as the council representative on the Youth Advisory Panel, Citizens Advice Bureau, Kamo Community Inc and Tikipride Community House. They were all positions held by former councillor Jayne Golightly. Mr Benney was also appointed to the walking and cycling reference group to replace councillor Anna Murphy who has other commitments.
Kaumatua laid to rest
Northland kaumatua Te Raumoa Kawiti has been laid to rest after passing away last week.
Mr Kawiti died on Sunday, February 18 and was taken to his final resting place at Wairere Urupa in Waiomio yesterday. Just three weeks earlier, on January 29, Mr Kawiti took part in a historic ceremony at the flagpole atop Russell's Maiki Hill attended by Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy.
Cancer appeal
The Child Cancer Foundation is calling for Northland volunteers to lend a hand for its annual street collection. There will be street collection sites in Whangarei, Ruakaka, Waipu and Kaitaia on Friday, March 16 and Saturday, March 17. People interested in volunteering as collectors can register at www.childcancer.org.nz or call 0800 424 453 to be connected with the local organiser.
Paint region beautiful
Northland is one of five regions where Keep New Zealand Beautiful (KNZB) is looking to merge nature with art as part of its 2018 Nature Murals competition. The Nature Murals competition calls Northland artists to help beautify spaces in the community that people occupy every day. From today, artists will be able to submit their proposals on the Keep New Zealand Beautiful website.
Governor-General visits
The Governor-General will be travelling to Northland next week for a three-day visit starting in Kaitaia. Dame Patsy Reddy and her husband Sir David Gascoigne will be welcomed to Kaitaia on Monday with a powhiri and will host a citizenship ceremony before visiting Kai Ora Honey, Kaitaia Primary School, He Korowai Trust, and the Moko Foundation.
On Tuesday they visit Otehei Bay and Pompallier House in Russell and meet Tai Tokerau Resort College students in Paihia and host a community reception in the Treaty Grounds in the evening.
Correction
A Northern Advocate editorial yesterday incorrectly referenced "victims" of convicted sex offender Arthur Parkin. Parkin faced multiple accusations but was only convicted this week of offences relating to one victim aged 12-16.
