Sentencing in delivery driver's death
A Northlander who caused the death of a young pizza delivery driver will be sentenced on Tuesday.
Patrick Latimer, 54, has pleaded guilty to one charge of excess breath alcohol causing death and another of failing to stop to ascertain injury or death.
His car collided with a scooter driven by Hunter Mackenzie, 22, at the intersection of Dent St and Norfolk St, Whangarei, on September 20 last year.
Mr Mackenzie fell on to the road and died in Whangarei Hospital a short time later.
Business grants open
Lines' company Top Energy is encouraging businesses in the Far North district to apply for the next round of its biannual $30,000 Business Development Grant.
Applications will be accepted until May 4 and winners announced in July.
The win includes six months of business mentoring.
Selection is a competitive process and applications will be judged against the potential the business has to grow or diversity the Far North.
More information on the fund can be found at www.topenergy.co.nz/sponsorship/business-development-fund.
Challenge goes to Supreme Court
A legal challenge to the validity of the Northland Regional Council rates in Kaipara is going to the Supreme Court.
The Court of Appeal earlier this month overturned a lower-court ruling that invalidated five years of NRC rates in Kaipara worth more than $14 million.
In August last year, the High Court at Whangarei ruled in a judicial review proceeding that the council's rates collected in Kaipara between 2011 and 2016 were invalid but did not order a refund.
The application for judicial review was filed by the Mangawhai Ratepayers and Residents' Association, its chairman, Bruce Rogan, and his wife, Heather. The are now appealing the Court of Appeal's decision to the country's highest court.
Carpentry competition
Northland carpentry apprentices can show off their skills and compete against their counterparts across the country for the coveted title of Registered Master Builders Carters 2018 Apprentice of the Year.
The competition comes at a crucial time as New Zealand's building boom continues. With the carpentry workforce expected to grow by more than 17,000 workers by 2020 (21 per cent), there has never been a better time to build a career in the trades.
Registered Master Builders CEO David Kelly said Apprentice of the Year supports the industry by showcasing the skills of its future leaders.
Carpentry apprentices can enter the competition online at http://www.apprenticeoftheyear.co.nz/. Entries close on June 4.
'Use your mouth' campaign
WorkSafe New Zealand has launched its new Use your mouth campaign and is encouraging Northland workers to use it to speak up about health and safety.
WorkSafe strategy and performance general manager Jude Urlich says: "Creating working environments where workers feel safe and are encouraged to speak up about risks is critical to improving health and safety outcomes in New Zealand."
The Use your mouth campaign will appear across digital channels, radio, social media and outdoor advertising.
For information and to view the Use your mouth commentator videos visit www.worksafe.govt.nz/useyourmouth.
