Body found in Tarewa Park
A body was found in Tarewa Park in Whangārei just after 7am on Saturday by a member of the public. Police said there were no suspicious circumstances relating to the death, which had been referred to the coroner.
No new marine pests found
No new-to-New Zealand marine biosecurity pests were detected during a winter survey of Ōpua Marina and Waikare Inlet. The three-day July survey by the Ministry for Primary Industries was part of a national programme that searches for non-native marine organisms. Previously found marine species found in the surveys included two species of tunicate, a parchment tubeworm, a sea squirt, a pear crab and the tiny bivalve Theora lubrica. Mediterranean fanworm (Sabella spallanzanii) were also found in the Ōpua Marina vicinity last month.
Rescue chopper saves burn victim
A rescue chopper was called to fly a suspected burns victim to hospital after an incident in a Kerkikeri home on Saturday. Emergency services were called at 5.39pm after the incident at a private house in Kerikeri. A St John spokeswoman said a helicopter landed at Waipapa Sports Ground to pick up the patient, who was described as being in a moderate condition. It's not clear how the burns occurred.
Aucklander takes Powerball
Powerball's winning streak continues with a lucky Powerball player from Auckland taking home $6.3 million with Powerball First Division on Saturday night. The winning ticket was sold at on MyLotto to a player from Auckland. The total prize is made up of $6 million from Powerball First Division and $333,333 from Lotto First Division. It is the second Powerball win on MyLotto in just over a week, after young man from Central Otago won $22.3 million last Wednesday – the largest Powerball prize ever won in the South Island. Saturday's winning numbers were 3, 4, 8, 9, 13, 15 and 11, Strike 13, 4, 9, and 15.
Te Kakano wins award
The team behind Te Kakano in Whangārei's Town Basin has collected an award at the New Zealand Building Industry Auckland. The award was given posthumously to Greg Guy, who was the project manager on Te Kakano. Guy died in July. Friday night's award was received on his behalf by members of the HAC team. The category was open to individuals or teams who have led the delivery of a commercial, industrial, or residential construction project, with a construction cost of less than $5 million. Te Kakano was built in 2016 as the test bed for tradesman and artists who will work on the larger Hundertwasser Art Centre with Wairau Māori Art Gallery project.
Peaceful protest in Ahipara
No arrests were made in relation to a protest at Ahipara on Saturday over plans to fence off the sand dunes. A protest was sparked by Te Rarawa's plan to fence motorbikes and off-road vehicles off sand dunes. An increased police presence was planned to meet any protesters, who were expected to travel from outside the Far North.