Northland news in brief

A Givealittle appeal has been set up help Kerikeri business owner and community man Tony Harrison after a massive fire destroyed his music equipment and possessions. PHOTO/Peter de Graaf

Appeal after blaze

A Givealittle appeal has been set up help Kerikeri business owner and community man Tony Harrison after fire destroyed his music equipment and possessions.

Mr Harrison runs the Music Workshop, one of Northland's biggest sound, lighting and stage production companies, and is known for his community work and the Be Free trust he founded to steer young people away from drugs. Tuesday afternoon's fire destroyed the building which held all his equipment and possessions.

Two of his children, Beau Harrison of Kerikeri and Jessica Dromgool of Auckland, have started a Givealittle page to help him rebuild the Music Workshop. "Any funds raised will go directly to Tony and Lena Harrison to support them during this time of need. He did have some insurance, however it won't cover everything lost in the fire," Ms Dromgool said.

As of 4pm yesterday just over $1400 had been donated. Go to givealittle.co.nz/cause/themusicworkshop to donate. Meanwhile, fire investigator Gary Beer spent Tuesday afternoon and all day Wednesday on site. He has yet to determine the cause.

Enrol for Fijian elections

Fijians living in Northland can register to vote in next year's general election in Fiji. A team from the Fijian Elections Office will start registering eligible voters between 10am and 6pm on Saturday at the St John Hall on 155 Kamo Rd. Those wishing to register must be over 18 and have a valid Fiji passport. Elections in Fiji are every four years.

Wanted man tracked down

A man who allegedly stole a till from a Dargaville dairy was found three hours later hiding in bush.

Police said the 21-year-old man entered a dairy on River Rd, Dargaville about 11am yesterday, ripped a till from an unattended counter, ran off and jumped into a waiting vehicle.

He was seen by a member of the public heading north on State Highway 12 and road workers were able to point police in the direction of Kai Iwi Lakes Rd. Police searched the area and located the vehicle at the end of the road.

The man was located at a house but decamped and as a result roads were cordoned off and a police dog handler from Whangarei called. The man, who has warrants for his arrest, was found hiding in bush about 2pm.