Kaipara District Council offices were closed yesterday after a threat was made to its staff working out of the Dargaville office, above. Photo / John Stone
A threat forced the closure of the Kaipara District Council offices yesterday afternoon.
Mayor Jason Smith said he was alerted that a threat was made to the council staff but did not have the details.
He said as per the council's human resources safety policy, staff at all KDC offices
throughout the district were sent home for the rest of the day.
Smith said a good thing was some staff, including him, still worked from home so they were not affected by the threat.
He apologised to members of the public for the inconvenience.
Search to resume
A search for a man from Dargaville missing since last week will resume today.
Adrian Berkhout, 61, was last seen around 4.30pm on Wednesday and reported missing on Thursday after family members found his vehicle in a gravel pit next to Tangiteroria Bridge, on State Highway 14 midway between Whangārei and Dargaville.
Police officers and Northland Land Search and Rescue volunteers covered 15km of Northern Wairoa River banks south of the bridge and were joined on the water by a Te Kopuru-based surf life saving crew using an inflatable rescue boat on Friday. A drone was also used.
A police spokeswoman said another search was conducted over the weekend, and another – involving Northland Police Search and Rescue – was expected to be carried out today.
Anyone with information about Berkhout's whereabouts can call 105 quoting file number 200709/9372. If anyone sees him, call 111 immediately.
Hitchhiker robbed
Whangārei police are investigating a robbery where a hitchhiker handed over his bag to a driver who allegedly pointed a firearm at him while both were travelling.
The incident happened on Kiripaka Rd about 12.30pm on Sunday.
Detective Inspector Rhys Johnston said the hitchhiker was riding in a vehicle with an unknown male driver and a female passenger when the man pointed a firearm and demanded he hand over his bag containing personal belongings.
