Crash driver comes forward
A man who crashed at high speed into an elderly couple's house then ran away has turned himself in. About 7.15am on Wednesday a Holden Commodore travelling at speed on Kaikohe's De Merle St failed to take a corner and bowled a stop sign and a
fence before slamming into the Hongi St home of Kirk and June Bedggood. The impact took out three rows of piles, damaged a wall, lifted the floor and broke a window. Sergeant Kevin Milne, of Mid North police, said a 20-year-old Kaikohe man and his family had come forward and were engaging with police and the owners of the damaged home. ''We're very happy that he's stepped up and taken responsibility for his action,'' Milne said. It is likely the man will go through the Te Pae Oranga alternative justice system, in which low-level offenders are referred to a panel of community members instead of the courts. The panels aim to make offenders accountable and address the reasons for their actions. The out-of-control car hit the Bedggoods' bedroom but, luckily, they got up early that morning and were having breakfast on the other side of the house at the time.
Holiday cut short
A German family's Northland holiday has been cut short after a collision between their borrowed campervan and a car thought to have been on the wrong side of the road. The crash occurred about 5.30pm on Thursday on State Highway 1, next to Waiomio cemetery and just south of Kawakawa. Police, St John Ambulance and the Kawakawa Fire Brigade responded, but the injuries were limited to bruising. It is understood the German family had been visiting their daughter, who is on a study exchange in New Zealand, and borrowed the campervan from her host family. Witnesses said long skid marks left by the other vehicle suggest it was on the wrong side of the road at the time. Police are investigating.
Celebrating families
An estimated 600 to 900 people are expected to attend this year's International Day of Families in Whangarei. The event will be held at the Forum North on May 18 from 11am to d 2pm and has been organised by Multicultural Whangarei. Families are being urged to come along and enjoy the arts, crafts, food and entertainment from a range of different cultures. There is no exhibition fees for stall holders and performers.
Landing station up for award
The Hawaiki Cable Landing Station in Mangawhai Heads is among more than 80 commercial building projects in the running for the Registered Master Builders 2019 Commercial Project Awards. The awards, run by the Registered Master Builders Association, set the benchmark for commercial construction in New Zealand. The 2019 winners will be announced on 17 May. Northland business McKay Ltd won the multimillion-dollar contract with Hawaiki Submarine to construct the station, including civil, building, and electrical works, and building an uninterrupted power supply and heating and ventilation systems. It is described as a dramatic architectural feature, blending seamlessly with its natural surroundings and appearing more like a luxury beach house than a utilitarian building.