Northland news in brief

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Four people suffered minor injuries after a car they were travelling in hit a tree and overturned. The accident happened about 3.20am on Saturday on State Highway 1 in Umawera, 45km southeast of Kaitaia. Two fire appliances from Kaikohe and Okaihau were dispatched. A Northern fire communications' spokesman said the car came to a rest in a drain. No one was trapped.

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Northland Muslims have joined about 45,000 throughout the country and more than 1.5 billion worldwide to observe Ramadan- the most blessed month in the Islamic calendar.
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and a time of fasting. Fasting started yesterday and will end with the festival of Eid which will be celebrated around June 27.
The Northland Muslim Community Charitable Trust, which caters for the welfare of the region's Muslims, has a centre on Porowini Ave in Whangarei for daily and special prayers. There are more than 100 Muslims in Northland.

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The New Zealand Provincial Barbarians will be officially welcomed to Whangarei with a powhiri at Te Kāpehu Whetū charter school. The Barbarians side, including Northlanders Matt Matich and Josh Goodhue, take on the British and Irish Lions squad in the opening match of their tour. Tickets are still available for the match, which kicks off at 7:35 on Saturday night. The powhiri starts at 11am.

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A special Queen's Birthday Market and Paparoa Pooches Dog Show will be held in the town on Saturday. The Paparoa Farmer's Market will be held at the Village Green, Paparoa, on Saturday with a Parade of Pooches at 10.30. All dogs welcome with free entry, spot prizes, free doggie toe nail clipping. All dogs must be on a lead at all times and under the supervision of an adult. There will also be a children's activity table, all the usual stalls, hot food from the community stall and live music until the market ends at 1pm.

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