Northland news in brief: two men charged over riot and murder accused in custody

Two men have been charged with taking part in an alleged riot in Ōtangarei, on March 9.

Two Ōtangarei men have been charged with taking part in a riot in their neighbourhood.
Dominique Ormsby, 23, and Shaquille Ormsby, 21, who both lived near where the riot happened on March 9, appeared in the Whangārei District Court yesterday on a charge of taking part in a riot. Dominique Ormsby faces an additional charge of injuring with intent to injure which relates to a police officer who was called to the incident. Both are to appear again on April 10, however the older of the duo has been remanded in custody.
James Hemi Blyth, 23, also from Ōtangarei, previously appeared in court on a charge of taking part in the riot, unlawfully damaging a police patrol vehicle and house windows, being a member of an unlawful assembly with intent to cause violence, resisting police, sustained loss of traction and failing to stop, all on March 9.

Murder accused appears

A man accused of the murder of a 4-week-old girl in Kaitaia has been remanded in custody and had his interim name suppression continued.
The man, aged 23, appeared in the High Court at Whangārei via Audio Visual Link yesterday charged with murder of the baby girl at a home in Kaitaia on February 19. He is also charged with assaulting a 1-year-old child in Manurewa between December 1 and January 16. Justice Kit Toogood made an order suppressing the names of the children involved at least until the man's next appearance on May 30.

Vigils today

Vigils are being held in Kawakawa and Kāeo today in memory of the Christchurch terror attack victims. The Kāeo event will take place in the Whangaroa Memorial Hall in Kāeo at 1.20pm, while Kawakawa's will be held in Johnson Park at 5pm. The Kaipara community will also be standing in solidarity today with a Dargaville and Northern Wairoa Community Vigil for Christchurch organised for 4pm to 5pm at the Taha Awa Riverside Gardens.

Biker killed

An Auckland motorcyclist was killed when he collided with the side of a bridge on Tangowahine Valley Rd about 4pm last Saturday, March 16.
He was Peter Stanley Covich, 63, of Henderson. Initial police investigations showed the northbound motorcyclist failed to take a moderate bend going over the bridge.

Focus on water

Today is World Water Day which every year focuses attention on the importance of sustainably managing freshwater resources. Northland's dry summer has the Northland Regional Council (NRC) urging people to think about water use, including the need to plan for future climatic changes and to use water efficiently year-round. NRC chairman Bill Shepherd said water resources should be carefully managed year-round, especially given likely changes in climate in the years to come. The National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (Niwa) has released a climate change summary report which reinforces this point, he said.

Mower victim named

Police have named the 50-year-old man who died after being trapped under a ride-on lawn mower at Waipū.
He was Waipū resident Craig William Landon. Emergency services were called to the incident at a private residence in Waipū about 8pm on March 9. He died at the scene.