Northland news in brief: two Lotto wins and six new police officers

The Lotto balls lined up well on Wednesday for two tickets sold in Northland that won their holders $17,204 each.

Northland Lotto winners

Two tickets sold in Northland were among 10 nationally that each won more than $17,000 with Lotto Second Division on Wednesday night. The tickets, sold at New World Kerikeri and Patels Foodmarket, Whangārei, each won their holder $17,204.

Six new officers

Northland will get six new police officers from the latest wing to graduate from the Royal New Zealand Police College. Weeks of hard work came to fruition for 79 new constables yesterday as Wing 316 graduated from the college. The wing is made up of 23 women and 56 men, the oldest graduate is 50-years-old and the youngest 19. Six of the new graduates will be stationed in Northland.

Pattison to judge

While Northland's not as well-known a wine region as the Hawkes Bay or Marlborough, it's still getting some great representation at one of the country's largest wine shows. Kaikohe man Terry Pattison is joining the New World Wine Awards judging panel this year as an associate judge. This means he'll judge his share of the 1400+ entries alongside 17 experts from around New Zealand and the world. While Pattison's entirely new to wine judging and, as such, his scores won't count, he will get to learn alongside the best of the best and take his newfound wine expertise back to his team and the shop floor with customers. Judging takes place at the Westpac Stadium in Wellington from July 31 to August 2.

Beach Boys tribute show

Beach Boys tribute The Bootleg Beach Boys, a tribute to legendary US band The Beach Boys, will perform two shows in Northland next month. The shows will feature classic hits and cult favourites from California's most famous band, who stormed charts around the world in the 1960s with hits such as Surfin' Safari, In My Room, God Only Knows, Good Vibrations, California Girls, Little Deuce Coupe and Help Me Rhonda. The Bootleg Beach Boys will be at The Turner Centre, in Kerikeri on August 14 and Forum North, Whangārei, the following night.