Northland news in brief: Slip risk shuts Ōakura toilets; measles outbreak officially over

Access to the public toilets at Ōakura was cut off on February 3 after Whangārei District Council became aware the site could be impacted by another slip. Photo / Denise Piper

Access to the public toilets at Ōakura was closed on Tuesday, February 3, because of slip fears. Local recovery manager Tony Phipps says building inspectors continue to check buildings in the area for safety after heavy rain, and people should stay alert for signs of land continuing to slip. The public toilets have been replaced by temporary portaloos across the road.

Measles halted

The measles outbreak that started in Northland in September is officially over, according to Health NZ’s National Public Health Service. Twelve Northlanders and a total of 48 people in New Zealand caught the disease, and 13 were hospitalised. The last confirmed measles case connected to the outbreak was on December 21 but New Zealand remains at continued risk of further cases related to travel, Health NZ says.

Money for fruit

The Regional Infrastructure Fund is investing in the Mid-North Kiwifruit Project – a $20.7 million development by Oromahoe and Rangihamama Omapere trusts. A $4m loan and $200,000 grant will be used on irrigation, drainage, access tracks, orchard structures, shelter belts and orchard preparation. Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka says it will transform underutilised land into high-value horticulture, delivering long-term economic benefits for whānau in Te Tai Tokerau.

Can campaign returns

The Hunger for Colour campaign is back this month, inviting Kiwis to give two cans of food to the Salvation Army, in exchange for a Resene testpot. Now in its 12th year, the partnership has added more than 300,000 cans to Salvation Army foodbank shelves, while customers have received over $1.5 million worth of free paint. Hunger for Colour runs from February 7 to 28 at Resene ColourShops nationwide.

Inhaler helps asthma sufferers

A trial of a new 2‑in‑1 budesonide–formoterol asthma reliever by the Medical Research Institute of New Zealand (MRINZ) has shown improved results in adults with mild to moderate asthma. Participants using the combination reliever alongside maintenance corticosteroids recorded a 20% reduction in airway inflammation within 13 weeks, lasting for six months. The new treatment means patients will be able to better manage asthma on a day to day basis, lead researcher Dr Jonathan Noble says.