Northland news in brief: airfares slashed and honey history commemorated

Air NZ has slashed its airfares from Northland, including Whangārei, above.

Air NZ drops fare prices

Air New Zealand has slashed its lowest domestic airfares, saying the move will make it easier for Northland travellers to connect with and explore the rest of the country. The airline will shrink its lowest fares on 41 domestic routes as part of the biggest overhaul of its domestic pricing structure in more than a decade. Fares from Whangārei and Kerikeri to Auckland now start from $39. Air New Zealand head of regional affairs Reuben Levermore says lead-in fares to and from Whangārei and Kerikeri are dropping by an average of $26. The new fares are available at www.airnz.co.nz for travel from March 25.

Beekeeping pioneer to be honoured

Mary Bumby, who brought the first honey bees to New Zealand 180 years ago, will be remembered by the Ngahere Bee Club at Mangungu Mission, Horeke, where she delivered the bees in 1839. The commemoration, on Sunday, March 17, will include a guided tour and demonstrations, and story-telling by Tanya Batt. The day will start at 10am, with honey products and seedling trees for sale.

Drink drivers nabbed

Kaitaia's senior police officer was bemused last week, and frustrated, to learn that two Ahipara residents had been charged with driving with excess alcohol after leaving the golf club. Senior Sergeant Russell Richards said he knew the two people charged, and knew where they lived, just a few hundred metres from the clubrooms (where they had attended the Best of the West game fishing tournament prize-giving). One had recorded 588 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath, the other 441 micrograms. The legal limit for drivers aged 20 years and over is 250 micrograms. "It is frustrating that people in this community continue to drink and drive, but even more frustrating when they plan to drive no more than a couple of hundred metres," Richards said. "There is never a good reason to drink and drive, but it makes no sense at all when you are so close to home. These two could easily have walked but opted to drive, and now they are about to find themselves in court."

"Tree trimmers" overcharging

Northland Police are warning members of the public after reports that a group of out of town "tree trimmers" are in Whangārei looking for business and allegedly charging excessive amounts for the work done. Police said they had been operating in Kamo West on Monday. The warning urged people who were in doubt to seek a second opinion and to talk to friends, neighbours or whanau to make sure they are getting a fair deal. Those will elderly family members should check in with them and just make sure they aren't being ripped off. If in doubt, give police a call.