Far North news in brief: public invited to Tui clean-up, Donate this Blood Donor Week

The wreckage of the Tui on June 4 shows just how much needed to be cleared. Photo / TriOceans

The public has been invited to attend a clean-up at the site of the Tui fire on Sunday, June 15, from 9am. Attendees will be removing nails from the sand where the vessel burned down and also tidying up the surrounding area. Metal detectors are also welcome.

Roadworks

Maintenance to strengthen a failing retaining wall in the off-street carparking area on Homestead Road in Kerikeri, has begun. The work is expected to take a week. Parking will be limited and signage will be in place. Kerikeri drivers are advised to consider alternative car parking options.

Blood Donor Week

This National Blood Donor Week, New Zealand Blood Service is revealing new figures that show a significant drop in the number of youth donors. The service is encouraging eligible people of all ages to ‘find their superpower’ by becoming a blood or plasma donor. However, chief executive Sam Cliffe says the decline in youth donors is a worrying trend. Since 2020, there has been a 25% decrease in the number of 16 to 25-year-olds who have donated at least once in a two-year period. For more information on donating blood or plasma and to book an appointment, either download the NZ Blood App, visit nzblood.co.nz or call 0800 448 325.

Solar installation

Chorus is installing solar panels at six exchange sites, including in Northland, as part of a trial to understand how solar can support local infrastructure as climate change causes more frequent and extreme weather events. New Zealand’s largest telecommunications infrastructure company is installing solar panels at Paihia, Red Beach, St Heliers, Haumoana, Motueka and Wanaka by the end of June. A spokeswoman said the trial would help ascertain how much power can be generated in different conditions and the role solar could play in the network in coming years.