Northland news in brief: Kaipara water restrictions, drop-in recovery clinic and sculpture symposium returns

Kaipara District Council has put Level 4 water restrictions for the entire district into place. Photo / File

Kaipara District Council has put Level 4 water restrictions for the entire district into place.

This decision comes after a period of dry weatherand no forecasted rain for the next four weeks.

Water levels and numbers of people connected vary across Kaipara, but the decision brings the whole district into alignment. Level 4 restrictions mean water is for essential use only and can only be used for drinking, cooking and washing.

Although there have been periods of rain, district council-controlled water supplies in some areas are under considerable pressure.

Lifeguards assist
Two people got stuck in a rip straight out from the Ruakākāracecourse on Saturday afternoon. Two Ruakākā Surfclub lifeguards responded in an IRB but were stood down as the patients had made it back to the beach. Police were already on scene and an ambulance was on the way.

And on Sunday lifeguards assisted a woman with a dislocated knee at Waipū Cove. The woman was aided off the beach buther knee relocated itself.

Recovery clinic launched
He Waka Eke Noa Te Tai Tokerau, the new recovery hub and support clinic in Kaikohe for recovering alcoholics and addicts, will open on March 9.

The community-based recovery hub is off Broadway, down the lane opposite Clifford St.

The public are welcome to attend the launch and find out more about what's on offer from 10am.

The drop-in centre has been opened by Jane Beamsley with help from friends Deeann Herkt-Kopa and Rhonda Zielinski who saw the need for the service in Kaikohe.

It will be manned by volunteers from Monday to Friday, 10am-3pm.

Sculpture symposium returns
The Whangārei Sculpture Symposium is back for the sixth year next week in a new location.

At the event, which runs from March 9 to 19, sculptors provide a live exhibition for the viewing pleasure of the general public, art lovers and art collectors; as they work away on blocks of limestone, hard stone and/or wood to transform them to art pieces in front of your eyes.

This year the event is at the Hihiaua Cultural Centre and the theme is "Regeneration - renew, restore and reclaim", which focuses on the natural environment in Northland and the preservation of natural resources.

The event is free and open to the public daily from 9am to 5pm.

From 10am to 2pm on the Saturday there will be a whānau focus, with many interactive activities provided by Whangārei Libraries and Creative Northland.

The symposium culminates in a Live Auction on March 19, 2020.