Far North news in brief: Dog registration winners get the treats, new cemetery guidelines

Ten Far North dog owners won prize packs for registering their pet when the best rates were available (in July and August).

The Mangonui Lions club is looking for wanted saleable goods to auction off to raise funds for the community. The auction will take place on January 11 and the club is willing to collect any goods, except electronics. To donate email lionsmangonui@gmail.com or call

Additional ED funding

Health Minister Dr Shane Reti announced that 21 hospitals will receive additional funding this summer, which will include more security for Emergency Departments. Budget 2024 committed $31 million over four years for: increased security for eight high-priority EDs; surge capacity in busy periods for all EDs; and additional training for Health New Zealand’s security team of more than 1000 frontline staff.

Free photos

Archibald Cars will be offering free Santa photos for the community between 2.30pm and 4.30pm today. So bring your family down and get a picture with Santa.

Cemetery guidelines

As part of ongoing efforts to manage cemetery space across the district, Far North District Council has introduced new guidelines for plot reservations in its public cemeteries which aim to address population growth and reducing ‘plot hoarding’ which can see plots reserved but unused for many years. They are: One application per burial will be allowed; family members of the deceased may reserve up to two additional plots adjacent to the burial plot, subject to availability; the Certificate of Title for each reserved plot must be registered to a single individual. If a second plot is reserved, the certificate must be registered to a different person and special consideration may be given for plot reservations from terminally ill individuals, on a case-by-case basis. The guidelines will be reviewed in December 2025.

Dog registration

If you do the mahi, you can get the treats - as 10 responsible dog owners across the district can verify, after winning prize packs for registering their dogs between July 1 and August 31 this year. The ‘mahi’ for dog owners in this case was registering their pet when the best rates were available (in July and August), which put them into a draw to win one of 10 prize packs. The prize pack included a ‘treat’ for the owner – a refund on next year’s dog registration fees – and two enormous bags of dog biscuits to treat their pet. Dog owners are legally required to register their dogs annually. Paying between July 1 and August 31 is the best option because it’s penalty-free. Dogs must be registered from 3 months of age, or as soon as they come into the owner’s possession.