Northland news in brief:

Sir Hec Busby, seen here with Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern when he was knighted at Waitangi earlier this year, will have a special kapa haka performance in his honour by three roopu on Saturday.

Tā Hekenukumai Busby, who was knighted at Waitangi this year, will be recognised with a special performance by three senior kapa haka teams. All are welcome to the event at Te Rangi Āniwaniwa, in Awanui, on Saturday. The performers, Hātea, Te Pūao and Muriwhenua, represented Tai Tokerau at the recent Te Matatini in Wellington - the national tribal kapa haka "Olympics". The event recognises Sir Hekenukumai's service in building waka taua and his leadership in developing the foundations of waka hourua. He is also a patron of Te Matatini Society. Entry to the event is by koha, with guests to be seated by 5.45pm.

Child injured in crash

An 11-year-old child was taken to hospital with moderate injuries after a crash involving a car and a pedestrian yesterday afternoon. Police were called to the crash on Maunu Rd in Whangārei at 3.42pm.

Rahui after body found

A rahui has been put in place in Whangārei Harbour after the body of an elderly male was located yesterday . The site has been blessed by Kaumatua Fred Tito and Paddy Walker and the rahui is in place from the Onerahi boat ramp to Waimahanga until 2pm tomorrow .

International food to unite North

A Kaikohe business is marking today's International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination by putting on an international menu and donating all profits to a fund for victims of the Christchurch terror attack. A remembrance book will also be available for anyone who wants to sign it at The Mint, a cafe in Left Bank hotel on upper Broadway. A local supermarket has donated much of the food for the day. The event will run from 7.30am to 9pm. International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination marks the anniversary of a 1960 massacre at Sharpeville, South Africa, when police opened fire on a peaceful demonstration, killing 69.

Water use on agenda

Friday, March 22, is World Water Day which every year focuses attention on the importance of sustainably managing freshwater resources. Northland's dry summer has the Northland Regional Council (NRC) urging people to think about water use, including the need to plan for future climatic changes and to use water efficiently year-round. NRC chairman Bill Shepherd said water resources should be used as efficiently as possible year-round, especially given likely changes in climate in the years to come. The National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (Niwa) has released a climate change summary report which reinforces this point, he said.

Boat biosecurity measure

New Zealand's four northernmost regions are considering having shared boat cleaning rules which are more effective and easier to understand. Northland, Auckland, Waikato and Bay of Plenty Toi Moana Regional councils are exploring whether having hull-fouling rules applied consistently across several regions is a better way forward. Those regions are home to the biggest boating population in the country. National rules are managed by the Ministry for Primary Industries for vessels coming from overseas to minimise the risk of new species arriving but rules for coastal waters vary from region to region. The feedback period is open until 24 May 2019: www.bionet.nz

Mental health awareness

A Fluro Wave event to raise awareness about mental health will be held at Sandy Bay tomorrow at 5.30pm. The event celebrates the sixth birthday of OneWave, a non-profit surfing community tackling mental health which started at Australia's Bondi Beach. As part of the celebrations, 100 beaches in 25 countries are hosting an event. People are invited to wear fluro clothes. At the event, organisers will hold a conversation about mental health before the group will join arms at the waters edge and hold a moment of silence followed by a Mexican wave. Attendees can then go for a surf or do yoga on the beach.