Northland news briefs

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern will be in the Bay of Islands today to start her five-day visit.

PM at Waitangi

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern begins her five-day visit to Waitangi today. Ms Adern is spending an unprecedented five days in the Bay of Islands for an extended Waitangi Day commemoration.

Today she'll visit the Iwi Leaders Forum at Copthorne Hotel then with Maori Wardens. At 1pm she will meet with Northland's mayors then the Maori Women's Welfare League. Ms Ardern will also tour the Treaty Grounds today before opening the Concerning Nurture Exhibition at Te Kongahu Museum at the Treaty Grounds.

Mangamuka Gorge repairs

State Highway 1 through the Mangamuka Gorge will be closed for resurfacing starting next week.The works will involve full-width resurfacing of a number of separate areas through the gorge. To do the work safely and to the highest standard, road crews will close the state highway between Mangamuka and Kaitaia.

The work, which is dependent on dry weather, will be from 7am to 6pm daily on February 10, 11, and 12. Then on February 17, 18 and 19. The final closures will be on February 24, 25 and 26. There will be a detour via SH10 between Awanui and Pakaraka, which will add about 10 kilometres to a one-way journey.

Wanted man caught

A 21-year-old Takahue man who eluded police for more than a week was arrested on Monday and appeared in the Kaitaia District Court on Tuesday. Rore White was remanded in custody to appear again on February 22.

He is facing two counts of burglary and one apiece of using threatening language, reckless driving, driving while disqualified for the third or subsequent time, failing to stop, failing to ascertain injury, escaping lawful custody and wilful damage.

Video screening

A piece of video art made by four Kerikeri friends will be shown at the Scout Den on Landing Rd, Kerikeri, from noon to 1pm on Sunday. Where the Sun goes Down was made by artist Scott McFarlane along with Hamish MacLean, Kelly Michael and Jason Taylor.