Northland news in brief: Poppy Appeal launched and packhouse opens

The RSA's annual Poppy Appeal has been launched.

This year's RSA Poppy Appeal has been launched with a focus on the support needed for families of service men and women, calling for New Zealanders to be understanding and show their care not only for veterans and those currently or previously in service but the families who share the impact of that service. The appeal, which will benefit 41,000 veterans, current service men and women and their families, will culminate in an earlier than usual Poppy Day on Friday.

Packhouse to open

Seeka opens its new fruit packhouse in Waipapa Rd, Kerikeri today. The new packhouse building and grading machinery completion is part of the $18.6m facility upgrade and investment in Northland.
Seeka's chief executive, Michael Franks, said: "This is a world class post-harvest facility. The investment will significantly lift the capacity of the business and give growers better harvest timing across all varieties handled – kiwifruit, avocados and citrus. While there is a little way to go to complete the upgrade to the site, final machine shifts, coolstore builds and construction, this is an important waypoint achieved."

Jury trial elected

A man accused of attacking two police officers in Whangārei has pleaded not guilty to all charges and elected a jury trial.
August Lemon, 43, appeared in Whangārei District Court yesterday on charges of causing grievous bodily harm to a male officer on March 19 and assaulting a female officer the same day.
The charges relate to a callout at Otaika Shops in which a policeman was allegedly knocked unconscious. Lemon was remanded in custody and a trial date is yet to be set.

Ram raid charges
A Northlander charged over the ram raid of a Whangārei jewellery business has been granted electronic bail.
Hayden Jones, 21, of Kamo appeared in the Whangārei District Court yesterday via audio visual link and was remanded back in custody to re-appear tomorrow when he'll be released on bail. He is facing charges of unlawfully entering Global Diamonds and unlawfully taking a vehicle.
Three others — Luke Gurnick, 17, of Otaika, Keeley Scott, 26, of Mangonui, and Jake Gent, 28, of Nukutawhiti— are also facing charges in relation to the ram raid that happened in January.