Far North news briefs: Park feedback wanted; book launch and strike action

Far North District Council wants feedback on its plans for Moerewa’s Simson Park.

Park feedback

Moerewa’s Simson Park has long been a place where locals and visitors come together for sports, recreation, and community connection and after months of kōrero and collaboration, the final draft of the Simson Park Reserve Management Plan is ready for community feedback. FNDC is also proposing to formally classify a small area of reserve land on Leaity St, next to Simson Park Hall, as a Recreation Reserve. This change would officially recognise how the space is already used by the community and allow greater flexibility for future use. Submissions on the final draft plan and the reserve classification proposal close on December 17 and people can have their say at www.fndc.govt.nz/Whats-new/Have-your-say/does-the-future-for-simson-park-feel-right

Strike action

The nationwide industrial strike for nurses, doctors, teachers, and support staff will include a march through Kaitāia this morning. Tens of thousands of workers from the health and education sector will walk off the job today in protest over stalled pay talks with the Government. Protesters and strikers will assemble at Te Ahu Centre at 10.45am and march from 11am from the Town Square Park on Commerce St.

Book launch

Far North author Patrick Coogan is launching his latest book next month in Tāipa. Coogan moved to the Far North in 1977 with his wife Margaret and they purchased a 75-acre (30ha) bush block backing onto the Maungataniwha state forest. They began in a small hut, constructed from mānuka and roofing iron, living without electricity and cooking on an open fire. Those experiences provide the backbone for his new novel, The Floods of 2030. The novel projects into the near future and examines the way in which the threatened reset, utilising personal surveillance, digital currency, and a social credit system will all enable greater political authoritarianism and control of our lives. The Floods of 2030 - Coogan’s third book - will be launched at the Barn, Tāipa on November 3 at 3.30pm. It can also be bought online at Amazon.co.au.

Vouchers honoured

An accommodation provider in Northland’s Cable Bay will honour any unused GrabOne vouchers to ensure visitors can benefit from the area’s manaakitanga. GrabOne recently went into liquidation, leaving both customers and businesses potentially out of pocket. But Villa 10 owner Dara Walsh said she didn’t want people to miss out on their planned break and will honour the vouchers. Villa 10 is one of the apartments in the holiday letting pool at Doubtless Bay Villas.

More measles

A new case of measles identified in Auckland shows the importance of pre-travel vaccinations, according to the National Public Health Service. The case confirmed on Monday is separate to the 12 cases previously identified in Northland and one in Queenstown. However, all of the cases were linked to overseas travel, underscoring the importance of anyone travelling overseas to make sure they’re up to date with two doses of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine, the service says.