Scores brawl in suburban street
A street brawl involving up to 70 people and a report of a person stabbed saw police converge on the Whangarei suburb of Otangarei over the long weekend.
Sergeant Neil Pennington said officers were called to McKinnon Cr about 1.35am on Sunday after neighbours raised the alarm
and reported a "big gang brawl".
There were suggestions of weapons being used and that someone had been stabbed.
Mr Pennington said when police arrived they were confronted by up to 70 people in two groups, smashed bottles and lots of intoxicated people.
Police formed a skirmish line and managed to get the groups back to two properties, one of which was staging a party.
All police working and available were sent to the street where scuffles continued even though the two groups had been separated.
Four men were arrested including a 17-year-old who had to be pepper sprayed before being arrested for disorderly behaviour.
Mower not so cheap
A Dargaville teenager who paid $600 for a ride-on mower, then later found out it was stolen, has been sentenced to 50 hours' community work.
Appearing on a charge of receiving stolen property, Dallas Charles Harris, 18, told the Dargaville District Court he didn't suspect the mower had been stolen when he borrowed $600 from his father to pay for the machine.
Harris said he believed the youth who had sold it to him had lost his farm job and needed the money. He admitted through his lawyer, Cor Eckard, when he was later told by the "supplier" the mower was "hot" he hid it, because he wanted to have his money returned before he made any decision on what to do.
Judge John McDonald said he accepted Harris had not known about the mower when he paid for it, but by hiding it and not reporting it he had committed a criminal offence.
Harris was convicted and sentenced to community work. The mower, valued at $2500, has been returned to police.
Car drives through fence
Whangarei police are speaking to a man after a Ford drove through a fence in Keyte St yesterday. Police said witnesses reported that the car was trying to "drift" along the road, but lost control and ploughed through the fence about 1.20pm. The man left the scene in another car and was found by police on King St a short time later. Charges are expected.
Houdini still free
A fugitive dubbed Houdini for his numerous escape acts continues to give police the slip after escaping from Whangarei Courthouse. Aaron Stephen Forden, 29, fled after talking with his lawyer at Whangarei District Court, where he was due to appear on violence and dishonesty charges, on Friday. Late yesterday Forden was still on the run with police urging anybody who saw him to contact them.
Clarification
A headline in Friday's Northern Advocate stated a P lab had been found at a Paparoa house. To clarify, chemicals suspected of being used to manufacture P were found at the address, not a laboratory. The chemicals were found by police searching for cannabis.
Help needed to plant
The winter planting season is about to get under way again in the Bay of Islands, with 70 volunteers needed for a planting day on Waewaetorea Island on June 19. If bad weather forces a postponement, planting will be rescheduled for the first fine day afterwards, with the following Tuesday or Wednesday as the most likely options.
Waewaetorea is a 47ha island next to Urupukapuka Island.
Fullers catamaran leaves Paihia wharf at 9.30am, returning at 3pm.
Volunteers should be at the wharf by 9.10am with lunch, water, towel, waterproof jacket and a sharp spade, covered with a plastic bag to avoid muddying the boat. A reasonable level of fitness is required.
To volunteer email Mr Brown at summerhouse@xtra.co.nz or call (09) 407 4294.