A Whangarei man facing cannabis charges and stealing $19,000 worth of electricity has chosen to have his case heard by a jury.
A Whangarei industry has literally been set in concrete for 100 years and will celebrate that milestone today. Golden Bay Cement's Portland plant's support of New Zealand's infrastructure growth as well as the local economy will be marked with an official welcome and blessing, speeches and the unveiling
of a commemorative sculpture.
Guests will also be offered a tour of the site and to view the MV Aotearoa Chief, the ship which carries cement and product to and from Portland.
Accused pleads not guilty
A Whangarei man facing cannabis charges and stealing $19,000 worth of electricity has chosen to have his case heard by a jury. Brian Thomas Borland, 60, engineer, entered not guilty pleas and instructed the court he would represent himself at a jury trial. He was supposed to appear via a video link at the Whangarei District Court on Monday but due to a technical hitch was unable to. But he managed to pass on instructions through a lawyer to Judge Greg Davis. Borland will remain in custody and will reappear on January 31. He is charged with stealing electricity valued at $19,000 and between December 24, 2016, and January 11, 2017, sold cannabis oil at the Daktory Social Club, a charge that carries a maximum penalty of 14 years in jail. He also faces charges of allowing premises to be used for growing cannabis, and selling cannabis at the Daktory.
Car keys theft alert
