Far North news briefs: Tucker garage sale; Rural women wanted; New judge

The R. Tucker Thompson trust will host a big garage sale this weekend.

Tucker garage sale

The R. Tucker Thompson trust, which runs the training sailing vessel of the same name, is holding big garage sale to help fund its programmes for Northland youth. The trust is opening its garage doors for three hours on Sunday from 10am-1pm. The garage sale is coinciding with the Ōpua Market Day the same day, to clear the decks of its Ōpua workshop. All proceeds will go towards a youth placement in our 2026 season. For more info go to tucker.co.nz

New judge

The Far North has a new district court judge who will be based at Kaikohe District Court. Attorney-General Judith Collins has announced the appointment of three new district court judges, including Derek Whithead, who will be sworn in on March 18. Whitehead was admitted in 1995 and started practice in Morrinsville. He then worked in Taupō, where he was head of a family law team, before returning north to Henderson Reeves, Whangārei, where he has been based. Since 2001 he has run his own practice, focusing on all aspects of family law. He has been Senior Lawyer for Children, Lawyer to Assist, Lawyer for the Subject Person as well as a member of the appointment and review panels for those roles. He has been a Youth Advocate since 2002, regularly appearing in Cross Over Court and Koti Tai Tamariki. He has been a member of the Te Hau Awhiowhio Ōtangarei Trust Board since 2005, which provides social services to Māori communities in Te Tai Tokerau.

Tennis tour

A small Far North tennis club is not far away from completing its new clubhouse and has organised a fundraising tour of Bay of Islands’ homes to help get the project over the line. The Russell Tennis Club House Tour 2026 takes place on April 18, giving people a rare chance to see inside some of the Bay of Islands’ most outstanding homes. For more info email ajknowles@xtra.co.nz or check out its website at www.russelltennis.nz or social media pages.

Rural Woman of the Year award

Federated Farmers, Rural Women New Zealand and Brightstar have launched the Rural Woman of the Year award, sponsored by Farmers Weekly. Nominations are open until April 1, with the inaugural winner to be announced at the Primary Industries New Zealand awards at the Cordis Hotel in Auckland on June 23. To nominate Far North women you think will shine or for more info, go to awards.judgify.me/PINZAwards2026.

Honey talks

Storytellers, tale spinners and weavers of yarns will have another chance to practise their art at Let’s Talk – Kōrero Mai – the monthly community chatfest at the Honey House, Kerikeri, from 6pm on March 23. Inspired by storytelling events all over the world, Let’s Talk – Kōrero Mai provides a platform and an audience for people wanting to share a yarn with others for the sheer pleasure of storytelling. The rules for participants are simple – prepare a short story connected to the chosen theme, and if your name gets drawn the floor is yours. This month’s theme is Thin Ice.