Highly regarded Northland art teacher Roger Stanley Chignell, who inspired generations of students and teachers, has died aged 70. The former Kerikeri High School teacher died peacefully at home on Sunday morning after a long illness.
A memorial service will be held at the Cornerstone church next to Kerikeri Heritage Bypass at 2pm tomorrow. Chris Wilkie, until recently the head of art at Northland College, described ''Chiggy'' as a ''kaumatua of the arts in Northland'' who was a mentor and inspiration to many teachers new to the profession, and probably had the highest rate of students going on to tertiary art studies of any high school teacher in the country.
He was also a keen aviator, a long-time member of Northland Districts Aeroclub, and an accomplished and fearless freediver.
Get better work stories
A police recruiting seminar will be held in Dargaville tonight for those wanting to find out how to join. Meet members of the community who have already taken the plunge and are enjoying a career with the New Zealand Police. They will share stories of their journey to date. The seminar will cover what is required for the application process. If you are interested go to Dargaville Dalmatian Hall, Normanby St, 6pm until 8pm.
Towels blamed for fire
Tea towels left on a pizza oven are thought to have started a fire at a popular Bay of Islands restaurant. The Paihia Fire Brigade was called to Charlotte's Kitchen, on Paihia wharf, when smoke alarms were triggered about 3.30am on Saturday.
Firefighters found the building full of smoke but otherwise undamaged. The tea towels burst into flames as soon as they were taken outside into a ready supply of oxygen.
