The kūaka (bar-tailed godwit) are back. They have flown 12,000 kilometres from Alaska without stopping to spend the summer in Te Tai Tokerau. The birds can be seen at estuaries, harbours and beaches throughout Northland from September through to March. They are classed as native New Zealand birds, and their threat status is ‘At Risk Declining’. Kūaka feature prominently in Māori mythology and are thought to pass through the ancestral home Hawaiki to accompany the spirits of the departed. Help them stay safe by using designated entry points on to beaches, avoiding any marked shorebird nesting areas and ensuring dogs are on leashes.
Lotto luck
It will be a night to remember for four lucky Lotto players from Whangārei who won $250,000 with Lotto First Division in Wednesday night’s draw. The winning ticket was sold at Sunnyside Foodmarket in Whangārei. They shared the million-dollar prize pool with players from Auckland and Porirua. Powerball was not struck and has rolled over to Saturday night, where the jackpot will be $12 million. A lucky Strike player from Canterbury won $400,000 with Strike Four.
Saves in waves
A passenger had to be winched from a cruise ship 120km offshore northeast of the Bay of Islands after becoming unwell on Thursday. The Northland Rescue Helicopter airlifted the passenger, who was said to be suffering from a medical condition, to Whangārei Hospital.
