Cyber bullying meeting

Whangārei MP Dr Shane Reti is holding a public meeting today about cyber bullying. The meeting is at his office in Lower Cameron St, Whangārei for an hour from 10am. Reti is the cybersecurity spokesman for the National Party and wants to hear from the public about ways to create safe online environments.

Olympian wins appeal

A Northland Olympian who was convicted on two charges of indecent assault against a young girl has successfully appealed to have his prison sentence cancelled. Instead, former hockey player Arthur Parkin will serve his time for the historic offending on home detention. In February, after a trial in the Auckland District Court where he was found guilty on two of five indecent assault charges, he was sentenced to 20 months in prison. Parkin challenged the sentence and took his case to the Court of Appeal. His jail time was quashed and replaced with four months' home detention. He has also been ordered to complete 400 hours of community work.

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Pedestrian injured

A pedestrian was taken to hospital with moderate injuries after being struck by a car in Whangārei. The crash happened about 10.15am yesterday in the i-SITE carpark on Tarewa Rd. Police said the car didn't have anyone in it at the time and had rolled and struck the person.

Stem-cell quest

Ruakākā woman Amanda Berry, who suffers multiple sclerosis, has flown to Russia to undergo radical stem cell transplant treatment at the National Pirogove Medical Surgical Centre in Moscow. In this type of transplant the patient's stem cells are collected, stored in sub-zero temperatures then replanted after high doses of chemotherapy.The immune system begins to rebuild itself, theoretically with no memory of the MS. The 38-year-old was diagnosed last November and has been fundraising since early this year to cover the costs of the treatment, which is not available in New Zealand.

Soldier farewelled

Whangārei veteran and RSA stalwart Archie Dixon was farewelled with a fully military funeral on Saturday. After the funeral at the Whangārei Anglican Church, military pallbearers loaded him into a unimog, before he was escorted to Maunu cemetery. Dixon died on September 25, aged 81, after a short illness. Born in Te Kopuru, Dixon was an SAS-trained soldier whose overseas duty included the New Zealand peacekeeping and observer forces with the United Nations at Golan Heights, between Israel and Syria. His military career lasted more than 28 years, from 1955 to 1985, and he rose in rank from corporal to major.

$1m Lotto win

A Lotto player from Auckland has won $1 million with Lotto First Division in Saturday night's draw. The winning ticket was sold at New World Birkenhead. Powerball was not struck and has rolled over to Wednesday night where the jackpot will be $9m. Strike Four was won by a Palmerston North player, who takes home $400,000. The winning ticket was sold at Melody's New World. Saturday's lotto numbers were: 08, 13, 24, 26, 29, 39. The bonus ball was 19 and powerball was 02.