Musician Mark Williams is returning home to Northland with a headline performance at the Waitangi Vibes Twilight Concert in Whangārei on February 7.
Hit musician returns
International musician Mark Williams is returning home to Northland with a headline performance at the Waitangi Vibes Twilight Concert in Whangārei on February 7. Williams is best known for the solo hit Show No Mercy, as well as touring with Kiwi legends Dragon for nearly two decades. His musical career began in Dargaville with award-winning school band Face in 1970. Williams’ performance will showcase his unique blend of pop and soul over five decades. The concert at Semenoff Stadium will also feature performances by Che Fu and Annie Crummer. Go to eventfinda.co.nz for tickets.
Retirement village appointments
Jillian Iti and Steve Soufflot have been appointed independent directors of Kerikeri Retirement Village.
Both bring significant healthcare expertise to the board and Iti’s background strengthens its position in relation to te ao Māori.
Iti has more than 30 years of experience as a registered nurse and has spent the past decade in senior roles in the corporate and not-for-profit spaces. Soufflot is the chief executive of Kensington Hospital in Whangārei and worked for Medlab Hamilton between 2001 and 2008 as human resources manager and general manager.
Kerikeri Retirement Village is a charitable company jointly owned by the Kerikeri Village Community Trust and Presbyterian Support North. The board comprises a mix of shareholder representatives and independent directors.
New loos open
A new toilet block opened at Windsor Landing in Kerikeri last week, offering a modern and accessible facility for locals and visitors. The block, near the boat ramp, opened on January 6, just in time for the busy summer season.
It features a Permaloo DryVault system, includes disability access and is open 24 hours a day. Users are asked to take their rubbish with them after using the facilities.
The new block was made possible by funding from the Tourism Infrastructure Fund, which has supported several similar community projects across the region.
Bridge upgrade
Work has begun on a $1.1 million upgrade to the Quarry Rd bridge near Awanui. The work will take place in two phases. The first $500,000 phase will allow for earthworks underneath a proposed 15-metre bridge extension – which will open an additional span – and support the wider Awanui River Flood Protection Scheme. The $600,000 second phase will involve building the bridge extension and associated works.
During the first phase, one lane will be closed, with traffic management and reduced speed limits. Motorists should allow extra time if heading to Kaitāia Airport.
Whangārei Lotto winner
A Whangārei Lotto player is more than $30,000 better off after winning a second-division prize in Wednesday night’s draw.
The ticket, sold on MyLotto in Whangārei, was one of seven nationally that each won $30,181.
The winning numbers were 3, 9, 20, 34, 37 and 40 with the bonus number 19 and Powerball number 8.
Powerball was not struck on Wednesday and will be worth $6m on Saturday.
Early morning burglary
Police are investigating a burglary at a commercial address in Whangārei early on Thursday. About 3.30am, police responded to reports of the incident on Kioreroa Rd, where it is believed a vehicle was used to gain entry. An investigation is underway to determine what was taken and who was involved. No arrests had been made by yesterday morning. Police ask anyone with information or footage to call 105 or online at https://www.police.govt.nz/use-105, using Update My Report and job number P061297960. Information can also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.
Fruit fly progress
No new oriental fruit flies have been found in any traps or waste from special collection bins in the affected Auckland area, the Ministry for Primary Industries says. “Our specialists in the mobile lab have so far cut up and examined more than 200kg of fruit and vegetables, and found no trace of larvae or eggs.”
Footpath ready
A new footpath set to give Far North pedestrians access from residential areas in Haruru to Waitangi and Paihia has been completed.
The 580m-long footpath stretches from Nautical Drive in Watea to Haruru Falls Rd, where it connects with an existing path that continues alongside State Highway 11 to Waitangi and Paihia. The new section includes a 15m-long timber boardwalk bridge, a 125m kerb and channel, 45m of long-pipe culverts and is 1.8m wide for most of its length.
Pharmac wants feedback
Pharmac wants feedback on a plan to make three medicines more accessible for people with any of five health conditions from May 1 this year: venetoclax (brand name Venclexta) in combination with azacitidine or cytarabine for a type of blood cancer called acute myeloid leukaemia; azacitidine to be used with venetoclax for acute myeloid leukaemia; and upadacitinib (brand name Rinvoq) for atopic dermatitis (also known as eczema), ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease and rheumatoid arthritis.
Pharmac pharmaceuticals director Geraldine MacGibbon said more than 1100 New Zealanders would likely benefit from the increased access to the medicines. Anyone can provide feedback on the proposal through the Pharmac website before February 10.
Food prices still rising
Food prices rose 1.5% in the 12 months to December 2024, after a 1.3 % increase in the year to November, according to Stats NZ figures.
Higher prices for groceries, restaurant meals and ready-to-eat food drove the annual increase, up 2.7% and 3.1% respectively.
The rise in groceries was due to higher prices for butter, milk and olive oil.
“The price for a 500g block of butter has increased by about 50% since this time last year, with an average price of $6.66,” prices and deflators spokesperson Nicola Growden said. “The same-size block of butter had an average price of $4.48 in December 2023.”