Emergency services were called to Otaika Rd on State Highway 1 in Whangārei just before 7am following reports a person had been struck by a vehicle A person has been seriously hurt after being hit by a vehicle in Whangārei Emergency services responded to reports of a pedestrian struck by a vehicle on Otaika Rd at 6.53am today A police spokeswoman said the person was taken to Whangārei Hospital with serious injuries Brodie Stone covers crime and emergency for the Northern Advocate She has spent most of her life in Whangārei and is passionate about delving into issues that matter to Northlanders and beyond Visitors are encouraged to help identify people in the photographs A person has died after being hit by a truck in Whangārei State Highway 1 was closed in the suburb of Raumanga following the crash about 9.30am on Thursday Police said the pedestrian died at the scene The highway had been closed in both directions with traffic diverted via Tauroa Street and South End Avenue Emergency services remained at the scene and the police Serious Crash Unit had been notified The incident was causing major delays in Whangārei with northbound traffic backed up beyond the city's southern limit and southbound traffic queued almost as far north as the intersection with State Highway 14 a Google live traffic update showed on Thursday morning State Highway 1 north of Tokoroa has re-opened following a crash that left one person critically injured The two-vehicle collision happened near the intersection with Tamatea Road at 9.50am on Thursday Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday New Zealand RSS Follow RNZ News At about 11.20pm, police received a report of a group of people arguing and gun shots being heard at a Hedley Place property. Police attended and spoke to a number of people at the property. A short time later where a vehicle was located with "significant damage, consistent with a firearm being discharged", police said. "Thankfully no one was injured during the incident. "There will be a police presence in the area throughout the day as we continue to make enquiries." Police encourage those with information to get in touch via 105 or anonymously via CrimeStoppers. Police are investigating reports of gunshots in Raumanga, Whangārei last night. Crooks culture first order of business for Mike Bush in Victoria Bush picked to take over as Victoria's chief commissioner after months of top-level staffing woes Crime and Justice Police experts warn 'emerging risk' of 3D-printed firearms rising Technology has outpaced a currently underway review of the Arms Act and criminals are already taking advantage US prisons bureau has challenges — reopening Alcatraz is now another Juliana Herrera's family tell inquest: 'Stop repeating avoidable mistakes' was murdered in January 2022 by her neighbour Health Arrest after person assaulted A nurse leaving her shift last month was held up at gunpoint outside the grounds of the hospital More than 25kg cocaine seizure leads to four arrests across NZ Tauranga and Auckland as a result of the six-week investigation Film industry anxiously awaits details on Trump's 100% movie tariff 7:17pm Search underway for Masterton man, 74, missing since Sunday 7:07pm Crooks, culture first order of business for Mike Bush in Victoria 7:05pm Charges filed against Woolworths over pricing, misleading specials 6:45pm Police, experts warn 'emerging risk' of 3D-printed firearms rising 6:33pm Trade war: Sir John Key's 'optimism' on Trump's next tariff moves 7:28pm 1Charges filed against Woolworths over pricing, misleading specials US woman who disappeared for more than six decades found safe Two men's shared name brings years of trouble and a hefty bill to one US prisons bureau has challenges — reopening Alcatraz is now another Auditor-General launches probe into school lunches Photos: Lorde among stars at 2025 Met Gala A$AP Rocky and Rihanna also revealed they are expecting their third child. Two arrested over alleged plot targeting Lady Gaga concert in RioBrazilian police said they thwarted an alleged bomb attack planned for Lady Gaga's concert on Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro. Lady Gaga rocks Copacabana Beach with free concert for over 2 million fansSun, May 4 Lorde announces new album name, dateThu, May 1 Kim Kardashian to testify in Paris trial over 2016 armed robberyMon, Apr 28 Chubby Checker, Outkast, Cyndi Lauper join Rock & Roll Hall of FameMon, Apr 28 Kim Kardashian to testify in Paris trial over 2016 armed robberyMon Police are investigating reports of gunshots in Raumanga police received a report of a group of people arguing and gun shots being heard at a Hedley Place property Police attended and spoke to a number of people at the property A short time later where a vehicle was located with "significant damage consistent with a firearm being discharged" "Thankfully no one was injured during the incident Police encourage those with information to get in touch via 105 or anonymously via CrimeStoppers The next top cop of the troubled Victoria police force embraces his "outsider" status to curb its leadership malaise and has a stern warning for crooks Former New Zealand Police commissioner Mike Bush won the race to become Victoria's chief commissioner after months of top-level staffing woes The 40-year police veteran steps into the role on June 27 with a five-year contract The Kiwi conceded the job will be no picnic with Victoria's crime rate hitting an almost decade-high in 2024 everyone knows that," he told reporters today "These crime issues are actually global they are quite similar wherever you go but it's not good enough just to turn up after the act Rising youth crime and high-profile cases of alleged offenders committing crimes while on bail spurred the Victorian government to strengthen laws in March Bush said he was familiar with the crackdown but bail laws were just one part of the solution to tackling youth crime along with a "prevention mindset" He retired from the NZ police force in 2020 after joining in 1978 and spending his final six years in the top job Whakaari/White Island volcano eruption and Covid-19 pandemic were among the biggest crises Bush confronted during his tenure Bush also made headlines in 2022 after it emerged he had a past drink-driving conviction when unsuccessfully applying to become head of the UK's Metropolitan Police Former New Zealand police minister Stuart Nash describedr Bush as hard but fair He said Bush regularly met with police forces across the Tasman in his previous role and recalled travelling with him to every district across New Zealand once a year to chew the fat with communities and then we all had biscuits and a cup of tea," Nash told AAP "Mike is someone who had deep credibility in policing." The state government has not handed the reins of Victoria Police to an outsider since former NSW Police assistant commissioner Christine Nixon in 2001 The Kiwi was happy to wear the "outsider" tag and is already hatching plans to hit the ground running "I've got a lot to do to come up to speed," Bush said "Culture is a consequence of leadership." establishing relationships with community groups amid rising tensions and increasing police visibility on the beat were among his other top initial priorities Victoria Police was thrust into leadership turmoil in February with a no-confidence vote from officers costing chief commissioner Shane Patton his job Emergency Management Commissioner Rick Nugent became acting chief and expressed an interest in making the move permanent before throwing in the towel in April Deputy Commissioner Robert Hill will serve in an acting capacity until Bush takes over Bush intends to speak with Patton before starting and said he wouldn't shy away from pushing back if he disagreed with the government Premier Jacinta Allan said a recruitment agency was hired and instructed to find a leader capable of addressing the "challenges" plaguing the force "Mike Bush is the best person for the job," she said whose union led the no-confidence vote against Patton following a bitter pay dispute admitted there was a disconnect between members and leaders The state police union secretary welcomed Mr Bush's appointment and pledge to listen to the mounting workforce concerns "We have a police force that is currently under-resourced that needs fresh officers," he said Eleven inmate deaths in less than two months A US$3 billion (NZ$5 billion) repair backlog a stunning directive from President Donald Trump for the crisis-plagued federal Bureau of Prisons to “REBUILD AND OPEN ALCATRAZ!” — the notorious penitentiary on an island in San Francisco Bay that last held inmates more than 60 years ago Even as the Bureau of Prisons struggles with short staffing chronic violence and crumbling infrastructure at its current facilities Trump is counting on the agency to fulfill his vision of rebooting the infamously inescapable prison known in movies and pop culture as The Rock Trump declared in a social media post that a “substantially enlarged and rebuilt” Alcatraz will house the nation’s “most ruthless and violent Offenders” Newly appointed Bureau of Prisons Director William K Marshall III said that the agency “will vigorously pursue all avenues to support and implement the President’s agenda” and that he has ordered “an immediate assessment to determine our needs and the next steps” We look forward to restoring this powerful symbol of law and justice,” Marshall said in a statement “We will be actively working with our law enforcement and other federal partners to reinstate this very important mission.” an 8.9-hectare spit of land with views of the Golden Gate Bridge and the San Francisco skyline was once the crown jewel of the federal prison system and home to some of the nation’s most notorious criminals including gangsters Al Capone and George Machine Gun Kelly But skyrocketing repair and supply costs compelled the Justice Department to close the prison in 1963 and the Bureau of Prisons has long since replaced Alcatraz with modern penitentiaries including a maximum-security prison in Florence The former and perhaps future penitentiary is now a popular tourist attraction and a national historic landmark It’s controlled by the National Park Service as part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area meaning the Bureau of Prisons could be in for an interagency tug of war if it tries to wrest away control of the island Trump’s Alcatraz directive is yet another challenge for the Bureau of Prisons as it struggles to fix lingering problems while responding to the president’s priorities on incarceration and immigrant detention includes taking in thousands of immigration detainees under an agreement with the Department of Homeland Security The problems at the Bureau of Prisons transcend administrations and facilities An ongoing Associated Press investigation has uncovered deep previously unreported flaws within the Bureau of Prisons over the last few years including widespread criminal activity by employees and severe understaffing that has hampered responses to emergencies then-President Joe Biden signed a law strengthening oversight of the agency It remains the Justice Department’s largest agency 155,000 inmates and an annual budget of about US$8 billion (NZ$13.4 billion) but the Trump administration’s cost-cutting measures have eliminated some pay bonuses that were credited with retaining and attracting new staff That has resulted in long overtime shifts for some workers and the continued use of a policy known as augmentation teachers and other workers are pressed into duty to guard inmates A Bureau of Prisons official told Congress at a hearing in February that more than 4000 beds within the system — the equivalent of at least two full prisons — are unusable because of dangerous conditions like leaking or failing roofs a 37-year-old Florida businessman who was found dead April 28 in a suspected suicide at a federal jail in Miami He was awaiting trial on charges that he kidnapped and killed his estranged wife in Spain inmate Ramadhan Jaabir Justice was killed in a fight at the federal penitentiary in Pollock where he was serving a nearly 11-year sentence for a conviction related to an armed robbery As Trump was ordering Alcatraz’s reopening correctional officers at the same Miami jail were fighting to curb the spread of tuberculosis and Covid-19 isolating inmates after they tested positive for the diseases immigration detainees at the facility ripped out a fire sprinkler and flooded a holding cell during a lengthy intake process the Federal Correctional Institution in Dublin has sat idle for more than a year after the Bureau of Prisons cleared it of inmates in the wake of rampant sexual abuse by employees the agency made the closure permanent and idled six prison camps across the country to address “significant challenges crumbling infrastructure and limited budgetary resources” While Trump hails Alcatraz as a paragon of the federal prison system’s cherished past other facilities stand as reminders of its recent troubles They include the federal jail in Manhattan which remains idle after Jeffrey Epstein’s suicide there in 2019 exposed deep flaws in its operations where 23 inmates have been charged in recent months with crimes ranging from smuggling weapons in a Doritos bag to the stabbing last month of a man convicted in the killing of hip-hop legend Jam Master Jay A person is in custody after an alleged theft which left a person injured on the grounds of Palmerston North Hospital Police said officers were called to a Ruahine St carpark about 1.30pm on Tuesday Police said the alleged offender left the scene and was found a short time later "Police would like to thank the members of the public who witnessed the incident and intervened to assist the victim," a police spokesperson said That same night a staff member was knocked unconscious Staff have been calling for security improvements Health NZ MidCentral operations group director Sarah Fenwick previously told RNZ it was committed to making staff feel safer She said these included a security escort to vehicles increasing security services on hospital grounds and "opening up" access to the staff carpark for people working afternoon and night shifts "Lighting has been audited in all outside carparking areas to ensure it is well maintained," she said "Interim access to well-lit parking onsite with dedicated security for staff working afternoon and night shifts while a more permanent solution for out-of-hours carparking is developed." rnz.co.nz More than 25kg of cocaine has been seized and four men arrested following an joint investigation into the importation of the drug into Christchurch Police and Customs received information about a "significant importation" of cocaine that had come through Lyttelton Port on March 29 Search warrants were then executed across the country by specialist teams to support investigators with evidence gathering including possession of cocaine for supply and burglary and will appear in various district courts across a range of dates Detective Senior Sergeant Phil Sparks said the seizure equated to more than 250,000 doses of cocaine and $9 million of harm "That is an enormous amount of damage and misery that had been heading into our communities that has now been halted through this investigation." Sparks said the success of the investigation was partly down to the "excellent partnership" between Customs and the police "We continue to have a focus on engaging with businesses and supporting their legitimate services by keeping them safe with prevention advice to deter drug trafficking organisations’ attempts to exploit their people and premises." Customs acting investigations manager Rachael Manning said the investigation resulted from quick action and close collaboration between the agencies as well as industry partners "We know that transnational and serious organised crime groups are actively targeting New Zealand to drive up both demand and supply of illegal drugs such as cocaine for maximum profit They’re using every method possible to exploit any vulnerabilities within international supply chains in secure areas or on vessels themselves." A search and rescue operation is underway for a Masterton man in his 70s missing since Sunday John Rafferty was last seen at Masterton Railway Station about midday on May 4 The 74-year-old did not board a train and left on foot about 20 minutes later Matheson said it was possible Rafferty was staying with a friend but police and loved ones "want to know he’s safe" and John doesn’t have his cell phone or wallet," he said A search team and a helicopter has been out looking for the missing man "We are really keen to know that he’s safe." Police have released an image from CCTV showing Rafferty on a station platform on the day of his disappearance He was wearing a blue jacket with 'NASA' written on the back Anyone who saw him was asked to contact police on 111 or online at 105 if there was Information after the fact The Commerce Commission has filed criminal charges against Woolworths NZ for alleged inaccurate pricing and misleading specials that may have breached the Fair Trading Act The commission filed the charges against Woolworths in the Auckland District Court It indicated in December last year that it would be filing separate criminal charges against Woolworths and two Pak'nSave supermarkets the commission said there were ongoing issues with pricing in the supermarket sector and the operators may have breached the Fair Trading Act deputy chair Anne Callinan said operators should know what the expectations were "Supermarkets have long been on notice about the importance of accurate and clear pricing and specials and we're not satisfied with the continuing issues we're seeing across the industry "Pricing accuracy is a consumer right and an expectation of a competitive market well-resourced businesses that should invest the time and effort to get pricing and promotions right." She said the charges were filed to remind all supermarkets that they are expected to fix the pricing accuracy issues and implement better processes In a statement when the charges were announced Woolworths managing director Spencer Sonn said it was important customers could trust prices advertised at their supermarkets Woolworths said it has cooperated with the Commerce Commission's pricing investigation for some time rnz.co.nz Former prime minister Sir John Key says he remains optimistic about Donald Trump's domestic economic policy despite opposing the tariff strategy that has sent global markets into turmoil in recent months who served as prime minister for eight years was the keynote speaker at an Auckland business summit earlier today Sir John told 1News he believed Trump would ultimately take a more moderate approach to tariffs than initially proposed "I'm not a fan of tariff policies I don't think they really work," he said as I think the stock market is telling you at the moment that actually there will be a more sensible landing place for the tariffs that he's wanting to impose." Sir John said he "wasn't entirely surprised" at Trump's call to go ahead with the policy "They're just a negotiating point I think he simply put on widespread and high rates of tariffs on every country to give himself a leverage point and a negotiating point "What I think he actually grossly underestimated was the stock market reaction You can actually make the case that his own strategy hasn't worked The reason the markets have recovered is because he's taken those tariffs off the most part 'I'm going to negotiate case by case'." Sir John suggested Trump's economic policies could still generally be positive for the US but the tariffs could be trickier for the global economy Asked whether he stood by his October comments that Trump would be good for the economy he said: "Do I think he's going to reduce regulatory burden in the United States It depends on where things shake down in terms of tariffs." Sir John acknowledged that for certain industries Trump's policies could be "a really negative thing" particularly if the president's proposed 100% tariff on the film industry were to be implemented "I can't see how it would be cost-competitive to make a movie in New Zealand with a 100% tariff on it," he said noting that films such as The Hobbit would not have been made in New Zealand without government subsidies who now served as a director of US tech company Palo Alto Networks said he had "always been opposed" to Trump's tariff policies but believes they won't be the "dominant part of his economic solutions" "I don't think it's perfect from New Zealand's point of view but I don't think we should panic either and America will still be a very big market for us to sell things to," he said "There are growing markets around the world It's not a great thing from New Zealand's point of view We've got a very sound economy with lots of options in front of us." Sir John suggested a belief that the Republican Trump was was better "on balance" for the US economy than Democratic opponent Kamala Harris he expressed concerns about Trump's tariff approach: "China doesn't pay those tariffs middle-income consumers or consumers in America do because when a tariff goes on a good that you bring into a country He added: "I don't agree with the massive tariffs and I don't think you'll follow through with all of that and I certainly don't agree with this view on trade." Audrey Backeberg disappeared from a small city in south-central Wisconsin after reportedly hitchhiking with her family’s babysitter and catching a bus to Indianapolis Nobody ever knew where she went or what happened to her All that changed last week when she was found alive and safe in another state thanks to the fresh eyes from a deputy who took over the case in February Detective Isaac Hanson discovered an out-of-state arrest record that matched Backeberg which triggered a series of investigative moves that led to finding her alive and safe in another state Turns out Backeberg chose to leave the town of Reedsburg on her own accord – likely due to an abusive husband safe and secure; And just kind of lived under the radar for that long,” he said Hanson was assigned the case in late February and he and other officials met with Backeberg’s family to see if they had a connection with that region They also started digging through Backeberg's sister's Ancestry.com account obituaries and marriage licenses from that region they found an address where a woman was living that Hanson said shared a lot of similarities with Backeberg including date of birth and social security number Hanson was able to get a deputy from that jurisdiction to go to the address "I was expecting the deputy to call me back and say ‘Oh nobody answered the door.’ And I thought it was the deputy calling me I could sense that she obviously had her reasons for leaving.” Most of the information he learned during that call he declined to share saying that it was still important to Backeberg that she not be found “I think it overwhelmed her of course with the emotions that she had having a deputy show up at her house and then kind of call her out and talk with her about what happened and kind of relive 62 years in 45 minutes,” he said Hanson described discovering her safe after more than six decades practically unheard of And while he doesn't know what will happen next in terms of her family reconnecting he said he was happy that she can reach out if she wants to so she has my contact number if she ever wants to reach out or needs anything any phone numbers of family members back here," he said "Ultimately she kind of holds the cards for that.” Shane William Pritchard has been charged with crimes he didn’t commit and chased for debts he doesn’t owe That’s because the Dunedin man is not the only Shane William Pritchard in town While the duo’s shared name and age has sometimes been a handy loophole for one Shane for the other it has caused problems for 36 years It’s been years of fearing every knock on the door Years of wondering if he’ll be hand-cuffed and taken to jail to be honest,” says Shane William Pritchard a scout and a member of the Air Training Corp remembers getting quite a shock when her friend called one evening She'd been acting as a referee for a gun licence for Shane whose friend informed her that the police had a long list of offences against Shane’s name Not long after that the police turned up to where Shane was working at the local tannery to arrest him “You're scrambling in your head to think of ways that you can prove it's not you.” Another Shane William Pritchard had been born in Otago They were separated by just two weeks and about 50 miles – one growing up in Mosgiel the other in Milton – but also by the lives they’d been leading To watch the full video story go to TVNZ+ Shane from Milton had huge problems focusing at school He was raised in foster care and then boys’ homes I just wanted to look cool and get in trouble,” he tells Fair Go Milton Shane was used to run-ins with police he got pulled over in his car and asked about his driving licence one’s got a licence and the other hasn’t.’ And I’m like ‘obviously it must be the one with a licence’.” he went to his bank to draw out an ACC payment and was asked which bank account was his He says that at that point he was trying to figure out what was going on “I thought it was just an error.” But he took advantage of the situation and withdrew a large sum of cash Mosgiel Shane became aware of the withdrawal when a scheduled car payment was declined and when Milton Shane turned up at the bank to withdraw more money Identity fraud was considered but Milton Shane was legitimately expecting an ACC payment so the withdrawal appeared to be a genuine mistake and the police couldn’t take any action 'Anything I could get away with Mosgiel Shane thought the bank incident would have alerted police to the problem But his nemesis had cottoned on to the advantages of having a second identity to use Milton Shane acquired a suite of furniture on hire-purchase Milton-Shane clocked up more driving offences Mosgiel Shane thought about changing his name but realised he’d have to provide his previous name in the process the courts and debt collectors such as Baycorp should be able to distinguish between himself and Milton Shane The police first addressed the issue in the 1990s after Mosgiel Shane went to the media He was given a letter to carry with him should he be apprehended He and his parents felt his situation wasn’t being taken seriously Mosgiel Shane went to the media a second time in the mid-2000s the police gave their word that a record in their system would stop the misidentification from happening again This does appear to have worked as far as police action goes But while Mosgiel Shane was given the same reassurance by the Ministry of Justice he continued to receive demands from the courts for unpaid fines He’d also get stopped and questioned whenever he left the country for work trips or holidays It took a huge toll on Mosgiel Shane’s mental health not realising the constant stress it placed on his life John Pritchard says that at times his son felt his life wasn’t worth living worrying about what he was going to do to himself and that really ate me up.” he and his son were in tears as Shane admitted he was at breaking point He described going for days at a time unable to eat or sleep wondering what might happen next "Am I going to be in a position where they've got me in handcuffs or I've got debt collectors coming to the door?" ...You're spiralling into this black hole." He started taking anti-anxiety medication which helped And events regarding Milton Shane seemed to settle Milton Shane was charged for fishing without a licence in Twizel and failing to comply with fisheries officers But a court registrar incorrectly entered the birth date of Mosgiel Shane in the system both Shanes were being chased to pay the $1530 fine It was Mosgiel Shane who spotted the error and rang the court He also sent a statement from his manager saying he’d not been fishing in Twizel that day The reply he got was to say he’d been given the wrong form and that they wouldn’t accept his proof They just wanted to know how I was going to pay the fine.” The first Milton Shane knew about this was when Fair Go told him Mosgiel Shane had been chased for the fine He was told to pay up or face the consequences feeling he shouldn’t have to pay good money to correct someone else’s mistake But it cost Mosgiel Shane over $5000 in legal fees and took months of back and forth between him “Why should anybody have to pay their own money to right somebody else's wrongs and prove who they are I’m sick and tired of proving who I am all the time.” He wanted the Ministry of Justice to take responsibility and reimburse him for his legal costs saying court staff such as the registrar in this case have immunity if they make mistakes such as the one made here and if I make a mistake and it's affecting my client that it's going to cost them money to rectify a mistake that I've made.” he deserves a million apologies from those guys,” she says Milton Shane told Fair Go he still gets in trouble but wants the other Shane to know he doesn’t use his birth date anymore And he had a message for him: “We’ve got to get it sorted for you so you can have a good life with you and your family because I’m trying to get my life together with my son and my grandson” He offers to meet to see if they can sort it out together but I’m not interested in meeting him,.” says Mosgiel Shane He says he doesn’t hold any grudges and accepts Milton Shane’s apology And he believes the only way for that to happen is for the courts and the Ministry of Justice to give him a guarantee that mix-ups won’t occur in the future Fair Go asked the Ministry of Justice to appear in person to apologise and provide reassurance to Shane of its plans to guard against these mistakes The Ministry declined our request to be on camera saying any comment on an individual case would compromise the independence of the courts as the Ministry operates separately But it did send a written apology directly to Mosgiel Shane It also admitted mistakes can occur in clerical records but said instructions were clear and the importance of getting things right had been emphasised to staff Mosgiel Shane isn’t totally convinced that’s the end of it “All I want is for the Ministry of Justice and the courts to do their job I'd like to live without this hanging over me all the time his criminal check has come back showing a clean slate The Auditor-General's office has announced plans for an inquiry into the school lunch programme that has drawn criticism since a revamp It will cover Ministry of Education planning procurement and contract implementation under David Seymour's alternative model Terms of reference for the inquiry set out its scope: The Auditor-General's office said it decided to investigate because of concerns raised about aspects of the revised lunch programme and what the Ministry communicated with previous providers," it said "Because of the importance of these services we have decided to carry out an inquiry." the Office noted the ministry had in October last year awarded a two-year contract to the School Lunch Collective under which lunches would be provided for $3 each The ministry was also reported to have paid a further $8.9m to the collective for Year 9 and older students which had been part of the School Lunch Collective A further $4m grant was provided to KidsCan for a food programme in Early Childhood Education services rnz.co.nz Lady Gaga gave a free concert Saturday night in front of 2 million fans who poured onto Copacabana Beach for the biggest show of her career (...) Thank you for making history with me,” Lady Gaga told a screaming crowd kicked off the show at around 22.10pm local time with her 2011 song Bloody Mary Cries of joy rose from the tightly-packed fans who sang and danced shoulder-to-shoulder on the vast stretch of sand Concert organisers said 2.1 million people attended the show switching between an array of dresses including one with the colours of the Brazilian flag Some fans – many of them young – arrived on the beach at the crack of dawn to secure a good spot “Today is the best day of my life,” said Manoela Dobes a 27-year-old designer who was wearing a dress plastered with a photograph from when she met Lady Gaga in the United States in 2019 Madonna also turned Copacabana Beach into a massive dance floor last year The large-scale performances are part of an effort led by City Hall to boost economic activity after Carnival and New Years’ Eve festivities and the upcoming month-long Saint John’s Day celebrations in June “It brings activity to the city during what was previously considered the low season – filling hotels and increasing spending in bars generating jobs and income for the population,” said Osmar Lima the city’s secretary of economic development in a statement released by Rio City Hall’s tourism department last month Rio’s City Hall said in a recent report that around 1.6 million people were expected to attend Lady Gaga's concert and that the show should inject at least 600 million reais (NZ$178.3 million) into Rio’s economy Similar concerts are scheduled to take place every year in May at least until 2028 Lady Gaga arrived in Rio in the early hours of Tuesday The city has been alive with Gaga-mania since as it geared up to welcome the pop star for her first show in the country since 2012 Rio’s metro employees danced to Lady Gaga’s 2008 hit song LoveGame and gave instructions for today in a video A free exhibition celebrating her career sold out While the vast majority of attendees were from Rio the event also attracted Brazilians from across the country and international visitors More than 500,000 tourists poured into the city in the days leading up to the show according to data from the local bus station and Tom Jobim airport Rio’s City Hall said in a statement yesterday made a cross-continent trip from Colombia to Brazil to attend the show “I’ve been a 100% fan of Lady Gaga my whole life,” said Serrano who was wearing a T-shirt featuring Lady Gaga’s outlandish costumes over the years the mega-star represents “total freedom of expression – being who one wants without shame” Rio officials have a history of organising huge concerts on Copacabana Beach Madonna’s show drew an estimated 1.6 million fans last year while 4 million people flooded onto the beach for a 1994 New Year’s Eve show by Rod Stewart in 1994 that was the biggest free rock concert in history sixteen sound towers were spread along the beach Rio state’s security plan included the presence of 3300 military and 1500 police officers Among those present were Lady Gaga admirers who remember their disappointment in 2017 when the artist cancelled a performance scheduled in Rio at the last minute due to health issues “She's the best artist in the world,” the 25-year-old said I love you” in Portuguese rose from the crowd behind him whose real name is Ella Yelich O'Connor which also displayed what appears to be the album cover art — an X-ray of a pelvis "100% written in blood," the website read The new album's announcement came a week after she released her latest single What Was That The song's music video was filmed at a mysterious pop-up event in New York City's Washington Square Park that was initially shut down by police. The event ended up going ahead after all, and fans who stayed got to hear the new song for the first time. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Lorde (@lorde) It was the first sign of a follow-up to Lorde's previous album Her other albums were 2013's Pure Heroine and 2017's Melodrama she collaborated with British singer Charli XCX on a remix of Girl so confusing — on a re-release of the Grammy award-winning Brat Kim Kardashian thought she was going to be raped and killed when criminals broke into her bedroom in central Paris tied her up and stole more than US$6 million in jewellery 10 people will go on trial in Paris over the robbery abduction and kidnapping of the media personality and the concierge of the residence where she was staying during Paris Fashion Week the night of October 2 Kardashian’s lawyers said she will testify in person at the trial starting Monday and scheduled to run through May 23 "Ms Kardashian is reserving her testimony for the court and jury and does not wish to elaborate further at this time," they said "She has great respect and admiration for the French justice system and has been treated with great respect by the French authorities "She wishes the trial to proceed in an orderly fashion in accordance with French law and with respect for all parties to the case." In interviews and on her family’s reality TV show Kardashian has described being terrified as robbers pointed a gun at her In a 2020 appearance on David Letterman’s Netflix show she tearfully recalled thinking: "This is the time I’m going to get raped Twelve people were originally expected in the defendants’ box and another is seriously ill and can't be tried five of the 10 defendants were present at the scene of the robbery The French press has dubbed them The Granddad Robbers because the main defendants are elderly and have careers as bank robbers with long criminal records Kardashian told investigators she was taken to a bathroom next to her bedroom and placed in the bathtub Her attackers fled on bicycles or on foot and she managed to free herself by removing the tape from her hands and mouth She had also removed the tape from her feet and rushed to her stylist’s room She called her sister Kourtney to tell her about the theft Kardashian told investigators that she had not been injured adding that she wanted to leave France as soon as possible to be reunited with her children According to her testimony and that of the concierge at least one of the suspects had a handgun The gangsters stole many pieces of jewellery estimated to be worth more than US$6 million (NZ$10 million) Only one piece of jewellery — a diamond cross on platinum that was lost during the suspects' escape — has been recovered Two of the accused have partially confessed to the crime is one of two suspected robbers who allegedly entered the apartment his genetic profile was found on the tape used to gag Kardashian who was waiting for him in a parked car at a nearby train station The second robber said he tied up the concierge with cables but did not go up to Kardashian’s apartment said he acted as a lookout in the ground-floor reception area He said he was unarmed and did not personally threaten Kardashian but admitted he shared responsibility for the crime Abbas was arrested in January 2017 and spent 21 months in prison before being released under judicial supervision he co-authored a French-language book titled I Sequestered Kim Kardashian is the second alleged robber suspected of entering the flat although he was filmed by CCTV cameras and numerous telephone contacts with the other co-defendants show his involvement The other defendants are suspected of providing information about Kardashian’s presence in the apartment Others are accused of playing a role in the resale of the jewellery in Antwerp Joe Cocker and Bad Company will be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame — in a class that also includes pop star Cyndi Lauper the rock duo the White Stripes and grunge masters Soundgarden the first female rap act to achieve gold and platinum status and the late singer-songwriter Warren Zevon will get the Musical Influence Award pianist Nicky Hopkins and bassist Carol Kaye will each get the Musical Excellence Award who sang at Woodstock and was best known for his cover of The Beatles’ With a Little Help From My Friends a member of Elvis Costello & The Attractions who argued that Cocker is "about as rock and roll as it gets" Soundgarden — with the late Chris Cornell as singer — get into the Hall on their third nomination They follow two other grunge acts in the Hall — Nirvana and Pearl Jam Bad Company get in having become radio fixtures with such arena-rock staples as Feel Like Makin’ Love Can’t Get Enough and Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy The Ahmet Ertegun Award — given to nonperforming industry professionals who had a major influence on music — will go to Lenny Waronker Some nominees that didn't get in this year included Mariah Carey and subsequent Let’s Twist Again are considered among the most popular songs in the history of rock 'n' roll The 83-year-old has expressed frustration that he hadn't been granted entry before including telling the AP in 2014: "I don’t want to get in there when I’m 85 years old so you better do it quick while I’m still smiling." Lauper rose to fame in the 1980s with hits such as Time After Time and Girls Just Want To Have Fun and went on to win a Tony Award for Kinky Boots have six Grammys and a reputation for pushing the boundaries of hip-hop The White Stripes — made up of Jack White and Meg White — were indie darlings in the early 2000s with such songs as Seven Nation Army Artists must have released their first commercial recording at least 25 years before they’re eligible for induction The induction ceremony will take place in Los Angeles this fall Nominees were voted on by more than 1200 artists historians and music industry professionals The selection criteria include "an artist’s impact on other musicians the scope and longevity of their career and body of work as well as their innovation and excellence in style and technique" Dave Matthews Band and singer-guitarist Peter Frampton were inducted Police can confirm one person has died following a crash on State Highway 1 Fire crews begin the process of packing up their equipment after extinguishing a large house fire in Warwick Place A person was treated for smoke inhalation after a two-storey house caught fire in Whangārei was well involved when three fire crews - two from Whangārei and one from Portland - arrived on Tuesday afternoon The 10m x 12m fire spread across the two levels of the house after starting about 1.30pm Occupants of the house were reportedly alerted to the blaze and managed to get out of the building Fire and Emergency New Zealand was unable to comment about the dog’s welfare By 2.30pm firefighters were dampening down remaining hot spots A fire investigator was on site to try to determine the cause of the fire Hato Hone St John confirmed it had responded to the incident but said its services weren’t required Sarah Curtis is a news reporter for the Northern Advocate She has nearly 20 years’ experience in journalism She is passionate about covering stories that make a difference Thirteen-year-old Alex Ostermann tries out the new accessible see-saw at Raumanga Scenic Reserve A new wheelchair-friendly see-saw in Whangārei allows children with disabilities to join in the fun rather than just having to watch from the sidelines The see-saw is part of a new playground on Raumanga Scenic Reserve thanks to a partnership between Whangārei District Council and local charity Children with Disabilities NZ It was officially opened on Thursday with fanfare, including members of the disabled community showing their support Children with Disabilities NZ founder Kylee Ostermann said the see-saw is designed to be used by all so able-bodied children can interact with children in wheelchairs and playful adults can also have a go “We didn’t want something that was just for wheelchair users, we wanted something for everyone.” uses a wheelchair and has restricted communication “Why shouldn’t everyone get a chance to play and feel like they belong somewhere “We want them to feel like they’ve got a space to have fun and a sense of belonging in the community because it can be very isolating when you feel like you’ve got restrictions.” Ostermann helped form Children with Disabilities NZ in 2021 when she noticed Whangārei’s upgraded Town Basin playground no longer had a wheelchair swing Teaming up with Whangārei resident Glen McMillan the charity formed and started fundraising for more accessible playground equipment A wheelchair swing was put in at Waipu in April 2023 and parts of Pohe Island Adventure Playground were made wheelchair accessible thanks to feedback from the charity Children with Disabilities funded $10,000 toward the Raumanga see-saw support from Northland Horror and sponsorship from Playco Playgrounds The remaining approximately $30,000 cost was funded by the council as part of the new playground McMillan said as it is hard to get donations the aim of the charity now is to lobby councils across the country to include accessible playground equipment when they build new playgrounds Also in its sights is more accessible equipment at Pohe Island The new Raumanga Scenic Reserve playground also includes slides exercise equipment and a half basketball court Denise Piper is a news reporter for the Northern Advocate She has more than 20 years in journalism and is passionate about covering stories that make a difference A serious crash is causing delays just south of Whangārei near Raumanga State Highway 1 is closed south of Whangārei between Rewa Rewa Rd and Tauroa St following a serious crash this afternoon Hato Hone St John was notified at 2.50pm and transported two patients to Whangārei Hospital One person was in a serious condition and another in a moderate condition New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi advised the road would remain closed for some time while the Serious Crash Unit investigates Motorists are advised to delay their journeys or allow for extra time to follow the detours Emergency services attended a fatal two-vehicle crash on Thursday afternoon One person has died after a two-vehicle crash in Whangārei Emergency services were called about 4.50pm yesterday after a two-vehicle crash on Rewa Rewa Road The road was closed between State Highway One and Port Road A police spokesperson said the Serious Crash Unit had attended and a local kaumatua blessed the scene Brodie Stone is an education and general news reporter at the Advocate Brodie has spent most of her life in Whangārei and is passionate about delving into issues that matter to Northlanders and beyond Police investigating the scene of Saturday night's homicide at Gull service station in Raumanga has sparked an outcry from Whangārei residents fearful for their safety The 25-year-old died outside the doors to the Gull service station in Raumanga after being reportedly stabbed during an altercation on Saturday night Early the next morning, police announced they were launching a homicide investigation into the man’s death Whānau posted a moving tribute online to the man - the eldest of five siblings and whose mother passed away in 2015 They said it was with a “great deep sadness” that they had to announce his ‘tragic’ passing They expressed the depths of their love and how much he will be missed Police have not formally released any details surrounding the incident but a source alleged the man had stepped in to help a woman confronted by two alleged thieves A local shop worker told 1News he called the police after seeing “someone with a knife” as well as people running around acting “fishy” Officers were called to the service station on Tauroa St and State Highway 1 at 9.40pm after police received reports of an incident involving a group of people A source told the Advocate he had pulled into Gull shortly before 10.30pm as he had planned to meet a friend there He noticed six police cars and that officers were beginning to block the entry points to the station He parked his vehicle and went to look for his friend He noticed a man’s body lying motionless near the station’s shop entrance he went over to a group of men nearby to find out what had happened One of the men told him the man lying on the ground was dead He claimed the man had intervened in an alleged robbery A 26-year-old woman had reportedly been at the Westpac ATM located on the outside wall of Gull when a pair of men were alleged to have confronted her the 25-year-old is claimed to have gone to the aid of his friend a decision that ended with him being fatally wounded People attending a late-night car meet in the neighbouring Bunnings’ car park which looks down onto the station forecourt One of whom disputed the alleged version of events but did not want to comment further A video of the violent clash was believed to have been shared on social media by someone from the car meet but was soon removed News of the homicide quickly sparked an outcry from residents fearful violence was becoming a concern for the city said they never used to feel scared but now refuse to go out at night alone Whangārei mayor Vince Cocurullo noted issues of crime affected the entire country He said police were hindered from doing their job as the courts don’t back them up “We need to accept that these issues are here and do what we can to fix what we can...we need to take personal responsibility for our actions.” the Government needed to step up and take responsibility “The council is really trying to do the best to make the district as safe as we can.” Whangārei District Council had increased the number of City Safe officers as well as improved their pay Cocurullo believed issues of crime and violence had been intensified by the stress people had found themselves under because of the pandemic Whangārei District councillor Carol Peters who has been active in responding to issues in the Raumanga community Peters said she and Whangārei MP Emily Henderson were in regular contact with police regarding issues in the area statistically it’s not an unsafe town - we are just very aware of the incidents especially if it’s you and your relatives that have experienced the shock and trauma.” Police said they were working to establish what exactly happened and to identify and locate the people who left the scene before officers arrived They issued a fresh appeal for any images or videos that could help with enquiries after first asking for anyone with information or witnesses not yet contacted to come forward Anyone with information can contact police on 105 or online. Footage can be submitted via https://rusty-red.nc3.govt.nz/ A window in Raumanga had been damaged by what was believed to be pellets from a fired shotgun A Whangārei councillor believes in the last decade gang activity has been increasing in Raumanga where a brazen daylight shooting took place earlier this week Police were called to Ashley Ave shortly after 1pm on Tuesday after reports of gunshots in the area They later revealed a person had been shot and had received minor injuries A woman who had been watching television inside her home later discovered her window had been damaged by what was believed to be shotgun pellets Another neighbour told the Advocate she heard three gunshots and saw a silver car with four people fleeing the scene police arrested four men with gang connections in relation to the shooting and an aggravated robbery Police later said in a statement that the men had gone to a house on the street “intending to deprive the occupant of a substantial cannabis cultivation” of the Northland Criminal Investigation Branch said whilst forcing entry to the house the occupier shot one of the intruders Whangārei area prevention manager Senior Sergeant Aaron Crawford reassured the community that it was an isolated incident said several residents have shared their worries over the increasing gang and related activities in the area in the 30 years since I have come home from overseas I believe there has been a rise in such activities over the last decade.” she felt poverty created a “feeling of exclusion” that made affected people gravitate towards a life of crime by joining gang groups and in the process “alienating” themselves from authorities “When you have trouble putting food on the table or even getting the basic things for your family While Peters acknowledged the good work the police do she felt the presence of permanent police personnel in Raumanga could deter crime levels All the men who appeared at the Whangārei District Court on Wednesday were given interim name suppression A fifth man also appeared before the court charged with the cultivation of cannabis unlawfully possessing a firearm and reckless discharge of a firearm The man was alleged to have discharged an Akkar 12-gauge shotgun inside a residential dwelling The hearings had to be conducted in a closed court due to gang members being present within the court building and wanting to enter the court hearing Judge Greg Davis directed no members of the public be permitted to enter The men were remanded in custody and will reappear later in September and October via audio-visual link Peters said despite her ward having a history of gang activities there was also an increase in neighbours supporting each other and doing good community-related work knowing your neighbours doesn’t necessarily reduce anything But it makes a human connection that helps in the longer term.” Crawford said police were committed to holding people who choose to partake in such types of “brazen and illegal activity” to account He said police were available round the clock to respond to “incidents” which placed public safety at risk “We encourage those who witness concerning behaviour to contact us on 111 immediately if it is happening now.” To report an incident after it has occurred Information can also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111 Avneesh Vincent is the crime and emergency services reporter at the Advocate He was previously at the Gisborne Herald as the arts and environment reporter and is passionate about covering stories that can make a difference A water rescue underway at Raumanga Falls near central Whangārei Man airlifted to hospital after rescue at popular Whangārei swim spot A helicopter was used to rescue an injured man from the waters of a popular swimming hole near central Whangārei Emergency services were called to Raumanga Falls in the Raumanga Scenic Reserve around 5.15pm where they located the injured man in the water The Advocate understands a Northland Rescue Helicopter was called in to help pull him to safety He was then airlifted to hospital with moderate to serious injuries A teen originally jointly charged with the murder of Michael John Biggins has pleaded guilty to a downgraded charge of manslaughter in the High Court at Whangārei The 16-year-old boy - who cannot be named due to his age - was 15 when he was arrested with a 12-year-old for the murder of Biggins The 62-year-old Biggins was discovered injured in a car crash in a paddock on Imms Rd south of Ōkaihau in Northland on September 27 and after determining that his injuries were suspicious The boy was ordered back into Oranga Tamariki custody and will appear for sentencing on May 23 His alleged co-offender is scheduled to appear for trial on March 8 Renowned Tūhoe activist and artist Tāme Iti will be painting live in a Kaikohe gallery this week to raise funds for an exhibition addressing drug problems in the Far North is described as “a creative response to methamphetamine” and will be launched at Te Pū O Te Wheke Community Gallery Iti will be painting in the gallery to raise money for the kaupapa A man received moderate injuries after he was reportedly assaulted by three men in Whangārei on Sunday night A police spokesperson said they received reports about the alleged assault on Wallace St in Regent at 11.38pm Police inquiries into the incident were ongoing A verbal fight between a pair of men in Kāeo reportedly led to a gun being fired Police are making inquiries into the incident which took place outside a business along State Highway 10 around 8pm on Sunday A police spokesperson said one of the men allegedly discharged a firearm before fleeing the scene in a black car Two Whangārei people have appeared in court accused of possessing cocaine A 34-year-old man and 38-year-old woman appeared in the Whangārei District Court on charges relating to possession of cocaine unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition and assault on a person with a firearm The assault relates to an incident that occurred at the Oakleigh Caltex in December 2022 They were remanded on bail to reappear on March 13 The rider came off his bike at the intersection of State Highway 1 and Raumanga Valley Rd last night A young dirt bike rider without a helmet died after crashing into a vehicle in Raumanga late last night The 25-year-old man died shortly after arriving at Whangārei Hospital following a serious crash at the intersection of State Highway 1 and Raumanga Valley Rd around 9.40pm The Advocate previously reported information provided by police at the early stages of the investigation that stated no other vehicles were involved Northland Road Policing Manager Senior Sergeant Anne-Marie Fitchett has since issued a statement clarifying there was a second vehicle She said the Serious Crash Unit was investigating last night's fatal crash during which "a motorcyclist crashed into a vehicle" on SH1 in Raumanga "While an investigation is underway police are limited in what we can say early indications are that the driver of the motorcycle was not wearing a helmet and had no lights on their bike "Any death on our roads is a tragedy and our thoughts and sympathies are with the deceased's family at this difficult time," Fitchett said The Advocate understands passersby and nearby residents raced to the man's side as he lay on the road and immediately began CPR while waiting for emergency services to arrive at the scene Three ambulances were dispatched to the crash Paramedics treated and transported the man in a critical condition to Whangārei Hospital A police spokesman said the road was closed He also said police had received reports about erratic driving A window in Raumanga damaged by what was believed to be shell casings from a fired shotgun Police have arrested four gang-connected men in relation to an aggravated robbery in Raumanga A woman was watching television inside her home when she heard multiple gunshots outside She later discovered that the window on her Ashley Ave house had been damaged by what was believed to be shell casings from a shotgun said the four men - whom he said had gang connections - went to a house on the street “intending to deprive the occupant of a substantial cannabis cultivation” “Whilst forcing entry to the house the occupier has shot one of the intruders,” Symonds said “This person received a minor injury and was treated at the scene,” he said “We have no tolerance for this sort of behaviour and we hope these quick arrests bring some reassurance to our wider community.” The Advocate understands that one of the occupiers’s ex-partners had allegedly alerted the police yesterday afternoon about multiple people believed to be Tribesmen gang members had made their way into the occupier’s house with firearms who was calling from a different location was reportedly being informed by the occupier who at one point allegedly screamed “Get Out” to the intruders Later shots were fired and the perpetrators fled northbound from the address in a car will appear in the Whangārei District Court tomorrow on aggravated robbery charges A neighbour told the Advocate she heard three gunshots and saw a silver car with three people fleeing the scene Six vehicles with about a dozen officers responded with some armed Police investigating the scene of last night's homicide at Gull service station in Raumanga A young man killed on a service station forecourt in Whangārei had reportedly stepped in to help a woman being robbed at an ATM The 25-year-old’s final heroic act has been revealed as police launch a homicide investigation into the man’s death outside the doorway of Gull petrol station in Raumanga last night reports of an incident involving a group of people led police to the service station on Tauroa St and State Highway 1 near two busy food chain outlets - McDonald’s and KFC Police said the man died at the scene due to the injuries he suffered during the incident Gull remained cordoned off on Sunday morning with police stationed around the edges of the forecourt A blue tent has been erected close to the service station entrance Family members could be seen gathering close to the tent whānau posted a moving tribute online to the man - the eldest of five siblings and whose mother passed away in 2015 who arrived at Gull to meet a friend just before 10.30pm has described the alleged events in the lead-up to the man’s death he noticed six police cars and that officers had begun to block the multiple entry points to the station He noticed a man’s body lying motionless near the entrance to Gull’s shop A 26-year-old woman had reportedly been at the Westpac ATM on the outside wall of the Gull service station when a pair of men were alleged to have confronted her the 25-year-old is claimed to have noticed the woman’s plight and gone to her aid a decision that ended with him becoming fatally injured driving by a few hours later where they saw more police and a full cordon in place those at the service station were not the only ones to witness the fatal events unfold The Advocate understands a late-night car meet had taken place in the neighbouring Bunnings’ car park which looks down on to the station forecourt The source said he saw “heaps of cars” there saying they had seen the entire incident take place One person even reportedly posted a video of the violent clash on social media before swiftly removing it manager of McDonald’s restaurant directly across the road from Gull said last night’s staff saw nothing except for a large number of police cars But a local shop worker told 1News he called the police after seeing “someone with a knife” as well as people running around acting “fishy” police said they were working to establish what exactly happened and to identify and locate the people who left the scene before officers arrived “We would like to hear from anyone who has information which could assist our enquiries including any witnesses who have not yet spoken to us.” They later launched a fresh appeal for images or videos that may assist their enquiries “If you were in the area of the Gull service station at around 9.30pm last night and have photos or videos which may be relevant, please upload them here: https://rusty-red.nc3.govt.nz/” Anyone with information can contact police on 105 or online Whangārei businessman Zee Tana has stepped into the leadership role of Whangārei Stand Up A peaceful Whangārei demonstration aims to speak volumes about concerns regarding crime as well as honour Raumanga stabbing victim Shayden Perkinson Perkinson died on April 15 outside the doors of the Gull service station in Raumanga after being stabbed. Two men, aged 24 and 29, have since been charged with his murder His death prompted the creation of Whangārei Stand Up a group focused on pursuing solutions to crime in the district Their first major call to action is Sunday’s hīkoi which at noon will wind its way from the Hihiaua Cultural Centre to Pūtahi Park at the end of the marina in downtown Whangārei Whangārei Stand Up secured the blessing of Perkinson’s family to walk in his honour The group previously encouraged hundreds of people to stand roadside for Perkinson’s funeral procession A change of leadership within Whangārei Stand Up has taken place ahead of the march Former police officer and current Whangārei district councillor Gavin Benney has stepped away from fronting the group well-known grassroots businessman Zee Tana has filled the role The Advocate approached Tana for comment about Sunday’s hīkoi but had not heard back at publication time the demonstration organiser said online the hīkoi was about giving people the “chance to be heard” and to “show solidarity with our community against the increase in crime” “We want to create a space for everyone to come together and share their experiences “We believe that a safer and more positive future for our community is possible six speakers will address participants and share their action plans as well as ideas for solutions some members of the public will read aloud concerns shared and gathered online Tana told Stuff that envisaged solutions would include the formation of community networks or strengthened neighbourhood support groups advice on how to de-escalate violent situations But also that he was realistic in knowing the event would not be able to prevent all crime in Whangārei Tana hoped it would start to make a difference at a neighbourhood level A police spokesperson said staff would be present at the demonstration to monitor and respond to any issues that may arise “Police recognise the public’s right to protest peacefully and lawfully Tana clearly asked those taking part to follow rules and expectations that will be outlined during a briefing before the hīkoi starts and Raumanga resident John Lister harvesting kumara at the Raumanga Community Garden A Matariki celebration at Raumanga Community Garden on Saturday attracted young and old alike as people harvested kumara and shared kai Between 50 and 100 people attended the event where they also planted more seedlings to be harvested later said it was great to see the excitement of the children who helped with the harvest was still keen to get stuck in and help with the digging "He as well felt really stoked to actually get something out of the ground and take it home." Another 93-year-old local donated the seedlings to plant at the event There was a nice atmosphere at the celebration and a local musicians turn up to play some songs "The best thing was the sun was shining and the community came down and there were children as well as adults." Some of the people harvesting kumara on Saturday had also helped to plant it at an earlier event held at the garden Locke said about eight volunteers were involved in organising the celebration and there were regular volunteers who help out on Saturday mornings "The whole focus of everything we do is to engage the community We really want the community to feel ownership of this garden "In all community gardens you always struggle to get that involvement." have also been helping to dig up kumara for the last few weeks Helpers at Saturday's event were able to take home some of the kumara for themselves and their families and Manaia View School students would use it in their own Matariki celebration More information for people wanting to volunteer is available on the Raumanga Community Garden Facebook page Raumanga residents were already concerned about their neighbourhood before gang tensions boiled over The comment from Okara ward councillor Carol Peters was in the wake of two shootings carried out in broad daylight in the Whangārei suburb last week Northland police are now investigating simmering tensions in the area between the Head Hunters and Black Power gangs The first shooting was believed to have been a drive-by targeting a house in Mahana Place Reports of gunshots had about 20 armed police – including a canine unit – rush to the address and cordon off the street separated from Mahana Place by the park and several houses was placed into a brief lockdown as a precaution said their investigations had confirmed several shots appeared to have been fired at the property no one was injured in this incident," he said The Advocate understands the property may have links to a high-profile Head Hunters gang member who was spotted at the address alongside responding police A car belonging to an "innocent" member of the public was caught up in Raumanga's gun violence during a second shooting last Sunday about 12.30pm Police quickly responded to reports shots had been fired in Smeatons Drive about 3km south of Mahana Place they discovered the vehicle with a single bullet hole in it no one had been in the vehicle at the time the shot was fired Police said there were no injuries as a result of the shooting Verry said police were "extremely concerned" by the events and had "zero tolerance" for armed gangs whose behaviour put community members "at risk" "Both of these incidents were carried out in broad daylight in residential areas with children and bystanders in the vicinity." reckless and shows the lack of respect gang members can have for our communities," he said Stuff reported the shootings were the result of gang taxing – "a form of extortion retribution or punishment" – started by a Black Power member who "taxed" a car from a prominent Head Hunter's family member Their article stated a "person linked to the Head Hunters" then attacked and kidnapped a Black Power member the police word is that is all still speculation Verry said the cause of the shootings was something police were yet to ascertain as they simultaneously focused on "de-escalating the situation" He said gang influence was Whangārei-wide rather than isolated to Raumanga which some patched members have called home for a long time police planned to "actively target" the gangs involved and had bolstered their presence in the suburb Okara ward councillor Carol Peters said a sense of concern had already been brewing in the Raumanga community before the gun violence unfolded It had become evident at a neighbourhood meeting where people had expressed their worries about their neighbours Peters said the community held certain fears about gang activity because some residents were the families of patched Black Power and Head Hunter members "But that has always come and gone," she said Peters felt it would be a disservice for the entire Raumanga community to be cast into disdain by the shootings because there are "lots of wonderful" locals who "cared about each other" Pockets of the neighbourhood had been making an effort to get to know one another better in a bid to "overcome" issues that troubled the community Police Association president Chris Cahill told RNZ's Morning Report that gun violence was growing in prevalence in New Zealand streets He said gangs were now "happy to arm up" and "happy to pull the trigger" And the lack of a firearms register meant the country's underworld could have "hundreds and thousands" of weapons and "we'd never know" Cahill thought the return of the 501s – patched Australian gang members deported to New Zealand their country of birth – had contributed to the escalation in gun violence nationwide "New Zealand gang members have just followed along that course," he said Cahill said it was important to keep shootings in context because most were gang versus gang members of the public are getting caught in the middle of it" Anyone with information about last week's shooting is encouraged to phone police on 105 and quote file number 211207/6584 or anonymously contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 Police at the scene of the first shooting in Mahana Pl The crackdown on escalating gang tensions in Whangārei has led to the arrests of several patched Black Power and Head Hunters by Northland police The arrests follow two shootings carried out in broad daylight in the Raumanga last week While a car belonging to an "innocent" member of the public was caught up in the second shooting last Sunday about 12.30pm Police carried out six search warrants in Whangārei that resulted in the arrests of four Black Power gang members and two associates of the Head Hunters Five people are expected to appear in the Whangārei District Court to face multiple firearm and drug-related charges A sixth person has been issued with a pre-charge warning Detective Senior Sergeant Kevan Verry said their investigations into the two firearm incidents were ongoing people spoken to by police had "not been forthcoming with information" "We understand tensions remain high between these gangs and we have tried to engage with senior gang leaders we have been very disappointed by their lack of engagement and unwillingness to take responsibility for deescalating the tensions between these gangs which is putting the wider public at risk," Verry said He said they were aware more people harboured information about the incidents and urged them to "do the right thing" and come forward to police Whangārei/Kaipara police area commander Inspector Marty Ruth told a Whangarei District Council meeting yesterday a "minor incident" had triggered the events He did not go into further detail about that specific incident was Verry emphasised the zero-tolerance police had for "gun violence and gang tensions" within Northland communities "These offenders have shown they have no regard for the safety of their community by their willingness to use firearms in public." He said police had engaged with community leaders and remained "committed to keeping our community safe" "Police will continue to investigate these serious firearms incidents and we will not hesitate to arrest any gang members responsible for these tensions or anyone involved in illicit drugs and firearms offences." Two men have been charged with murder and another as an accessory following the death of a man in Raumanga Shayden Perkinson, 25, was the victim of what police said was a serious assault last weekend, dying of his injuries Detective Inspector Dene Begbie said police arrested four men in South Auckland that afternoon "Investigation staff have been working hard to piece together the events of the night so it is pleasing that arrests have now been made." A 25-year-old man was charged with accessory after the fact to murder and unlawful possession of a pistol was charged jointly with the 25-year-old for unlawful possession of a pistol Police said Perkinson's death touched many "Our thoughts are with his whānau who are still coming to terms with the devastating events of Saturday night," Begbie said "I would also like to acknowledge those in the community who have assisted in our investigation so far." Police said they might have more arrests to make The four men already charged will appear in Manukau District Court on Friday A 25-year-old man was seriously assaulted before he died from his injuries in Whangārei on Saturday night The man died after an incident involving a group of people in Raumanga The victim of a Whangārei homicide has been named as police warn about speculation on social media over the case Raumanga stabbing victim Shayden Perkinson’s loved ones marched through the rain side by side with a band of Whangārei residents concerned about crime Around 150 people took part in Sunday’s peaceful hīkoi organised by Whangārei Stand Up in the wake of Perkinson’s death on April 15 at the Gull service station in Raumanga Among the crowd were notable leaders Whangārei Mayor Vince Cocurullo and New Zealand First candidate for Northland Shane Jones While Henderson and Jones have both previously spoken out about remedies to crime they and Cocurullo maintained a low profile throughout the march Cocurullo said local leaders were to listen rather than to speak Unmissable was the poignant catalyst for the day - Perkinson His whānau and friends wore remembrance t-shirts in his honour that matched large flags adorned with his photo and waved in the air One of the demonstration’s four organisers Zee Tana of Whangārei Stand Up said the peaceful protest was not only a moment to stand in solidarity but to honour Perkinson’s whānau and to make community concerns heard “This an opportunity for us to not only speak about what we are experiencing but to set a wero to hold accountable those that will allow us the opportunities to be able to influence at the big table - the central government table “But also for us to start talking about this because we can’t do this at home because then nothing happens Not another son needs to pass here in Whangārei because of that.” Whangārei Stand Up co-founder and demonstration organiser Raquel was moved by the number of people of all ages and backgrounds who marched from the Hihiaua Cultural Centre to Pūtahi Park in the town basin For the community to come together and try and make change and support our youth is really quite emotional,” she said said the community needed to act now to ensure the safety of future generations “When I was growing up we could walk the streets we could do what we could but we don’t have that freedom now make it easy for everyone to be able to go to the supermarket A safer community for Whangārei’s youngsters is what drove long-time resident Denyze Bignell to march on Sunday she pointed to her two nieces - 5-year-old Zaiyah and 7-year-old Raquel We need to be able to walk to the shops and be safe to go there and get home there is a bit of fear around now and living in fear is not how anyone should be living,” Bignell said She had noticed a lot of changes within the community - a shift from greeting familiar faces to more often encountering strangers Once marchers reached Pūtahi Park they listened as Perkinson’s whānau shared their experience and the grief-stricken road ahead. Speaking also were several community figures, such as Phil Paikea, who shared their viewpoints on crime and its solutions. Former MP Jones was the final speaker, however, organisers asked him to come without a prepared speech. Instead, Jones was instructed to listen to the messages shared, publicly summarise the key points raised, and deliver a rough action plan and timeline. Visitors are encouraged to help identify people in the photographs. Police gathered at the entrance to Mahana Pl in Raumanga. Photo / NZME Reports people heard gunshots fired in Raumanga sparked a large scale police callout to the Whangārei suburb. Police believe shots may have been fired at a house on Mahana Pl, a cul-de-sac off Raumanga Valley Rd, in a gang-related incident around 12.30pm on Tuesday. However, the police spokesman clearly stated that information was yet to be confirmed as officers were still in the early stages of their investigation. No one was reportedly hurt in the potential shooting. A witness described seeing two police vehicles block the entrance to the road with around 15 to 20 armed officers in the area - including members of the Armed Offenders Squad (AOS). He said a dog handler and police canine were also at the scene. Police confirmed a cordon was put in place around the Mahana Pl address and the property was cleared by AOS staff. Hora Hora Primary School on Te Mai Rd, separated from Mahana Pl by Tarewa Park and a number of houses, was briefly placed into lockdown which has since been lifted. Police contacted the school and gave them the all-clear to lift the lockdown around 1.45pm. Members of the Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga in Raumanga are saddened by the fire's damage but buoyed by the community's response. Photo / Adam Pearse A Northland fire investigator says Monday's church fire in Raumanga is a strong reminder to update fire alarms systems in community buildings. Fire crews from Onerahi, Portland, Kamo and Whangārei city responded to the fire at the Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga on Murdoch Cres, which was discovered around 9pm on Monday. Specialist fire investigator Craig Bain was at the site yesterday and determined the fire started in the roof of the church. The church building sits next to a hall, which was also heavily damaged. It is also near a playcentre and the church house, but both were unaffected. Given the condition of the building, Bain said the cause of the fire would remain a mystery. However, he speculated it could be due to moisture in the wiring or rodents chewing the wiring. "We really won't ever know, it's a bit too dangerous to get up there ... the wall is starting to part from the building," he said. Bain confirmed there was no indication the fire was intentionally lit. He said discussions would be had with Whangārei District Council to determine how the building would be demolished. The church had a manual alarm system, in that someone has to see the fire first before activating the alarm. Bain said this was a good example why automatic fire alarm systems - ones which could immediately notify fire services or security companies - were necessary. "With buildings like this, people need to make sure that they've got a monitored fire alarm system to give extra early warning. "[The fire] is something that's devastated a section of the community, so it's going to be quite some time before people are back worshipping again." The fire was discovered by Siulolo Ahio, who lives at the house just metres from the church with her two children and husband, who is the church's minister. After hearing unusual rattling sounds about 9pm, Ahio went to investigate and saw the blaze. "We heard rattles and we thought it was something from the downstairs storage room and I just wanted to check it out because the rattle was quite loud," she said. "I pulled the sliding door from our house and there I saw the flames, it was already engulfed." When the glass windows in the church exploded from the heat, Ahio immediately woke her mokopuna and evacuated the house. Ahio said fire crews responded very quickly and ensured no one was harmed. The church, which normally had about seven families at its weekly service, had not been in use since lockdown in March apart from some regular cleaning. Despite the distressing incident, Ahio and her whānau had been buoyed by the reaction from the local community. Community groups including The Fono, Whānau Ora, Fale Pasifika, Te Ora Hou and the local Raumanga kindergarten had all offered meat and other food for Ahio's family and the wider church whānau. Ahio said she was blown away by the generosity of her community. "We appreciate all the phone calls and all the text messages we've been receiving, all the Facebook messages, we really appreciated that but we are safe. "It's been a overwhelming day but the amazing support from the community has been wonderful." The scene in Tauroa Street, Raumanga, after a crash caused by drink-driver Peter Stringfellow. Photo / supplied A child remains in a concerning medical condition after being critically injured in a head-on collision in Raumanga, the Whangārei District Court has heard. Police prosecutor Sergeant Chris Goodall told the court an eight-year-old boy was in a coma for about three weeks as a result of the December 28 crash, which happened about 3.45pm on Tauroa St, Raumanga. Nearly a month later, the boy is still unable to walk or talk properly, Goodall said. The boy was a passenger in a vehicle when it was struck by Peter Stringfellow, 53, who was driving. Stringfellow has numerous prior convictions for driving offences - 10 for drink-driving and nine for driving while disqualified. His blood-alcohol reading after this crash was 217mg - the equivalent of a breath-alcohol reading of 1085mcg. Appearing briefly in court yesterday, he pleaded guilty to drink-driving causing injury, driving while disqualified for a third or subsequent time, and a breach of intensive supervision. Judge Gene Tomlinson further remanded Stringfellow in custody for sentencing on April 6. A pre-sentence report was ordered and the case referred to the restorative justice process. The sentence of intensive supervision, which Stringfellow breached by consuming alcohol, was imposed on him earlier last year for another drink-drive offence. A 25-year-old man was killed outside a Gull in Raumanga. (Source: 1News) Confronting video has emerged showing the chaotic aftermath of a fatal Whangārei petrol station stabbing on Saturday night. A 25-year-old man was killed outside a Gull service station on Tauroa St, Raumanga about 9.40pm. Video supplied to 1News shows what appears to be two people attacking someone before one of the attackers is struck by a vehicle racing through the service station, sending them flying into the air. Due to the graphic nature of the video 1News has decided to show only a small portion of the footage. This afternoon police released a statement confirming what was captured in the video. "We have established the deceased has been seriously assaulted and that the people involved in the assault have also been struck with a vehicle," police said. Police did not believe the incident was gang-related. "We are following positive lines of enquiry and are committed to holding those responsible to account," Northland District Crime Manager Detective Inspector Dene Begbie said. Crime scene at Gull service station. (Source: 1News) He added the dead man's family was, "understandably devastated by what has occurred". Yesterday, a local shop worker told 1News he called the police after seeing "someone with a knife" and people running round acting "fishy". One dead in Whangārei after shop worker spots person 'with a knife'A local business owner told 1News he saw a group of people acting "fishy" so called police Anyone in the area of the Gull service station at around 9.30pm last night and have photos or videos which may be relevant can upload them here. People can also call 105 or call Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111. A homicide investigation has been launched after a man died during an incident involving a group of people in Whangārei last night Police were called to reports of someone being injured at the Gull service station on Tauroa St died at the scene as a result of injuries from the incident Police have confirmed the incident was gang-related and are now trying to locate a group of people who scattered from the scene A local shop worker told 1News he called the police after seeing "someone with a knife" and people running round acting "fishy" He confirmed he was aware someone had died The man said his shop wasn't robbed but indicated it had been recently Officers are now attempting to establish the events that took place in the lead up to the death and identify others who were there Police would like to hear from anyone who has information which could assist with its inquiries and are appealing for any images or videos taken at the scene Anyone in the area of the Gull service station at around 9.30pm last night and have photos or videos which may be relevant can upload them here. People can also call 105 and quote event number P054324036 this is a Premium article and requires a subscription to read Unstable ground conditions due to slumping land have forced the closure of a children's play area and could shift high voltage power lines the Northland Regional Council issued Semenoff consent to undertake about 152,000cu m of cut and fill earthworks including within the bed of an unnamed tributary of Limeburners' Creek Semenoff said he was unable to comment while he was awaiting technical reports from surveyors and civil and geotech engineers and monitoring the land area in question Manuka Pl resident Anthony Stringer and his wife are living in temporary accommodation after a Whangārei District Council engineer found extensive cracks in their house in late August Asphalt was put on a slumped roundabout directly across their property appeared to have sagged further while parts of land being developed appeared to have slumped more than when the Stringers home was condemned Northpower spokesman Steve MacMillan said power poles and high voltage lines in the area were affected. "The land movement has caused one of the poles to shift. On August 30, we strengthened one power pole near the affected area and are monitoring it regularly and continuing to work on a permanent solution." He said the final solution would depend on expert geotech advice which Northpower was currently working through. "The nearby substation has an alternative electricity supply if we need it and if an outage occurred we have contingency plans in place to minimise the impact of an outage." MacMillan said Northpower was working closely with the Whangārei District Council and other stakeholders and would continue to do so as public safety was its priority. A digger was yesterday working closer to power lines on land being developed and a truck was parked not far away. Both would have had access from the end of Lancaster Pl which is off Mt Pleasant Rd where the Northpower head office is located. WDC general manager infrastructure Simon Weston said the decision was made to close the children's playground due to repairs needed to powerlines and would remain closed until it was safe to re-open. "Like others, we are concerned the ground is still moving. We are monitoring the progression of the slip and the state of the road on Manuka Place. We will continue make repairs to the road as needed to ensure its safety. "We are awaiting a report from the developer's engineers on what they are doing to stabilise this area, and we will review the report as soon as it is submitted to us as part of our standard subdivision consent process." NRC water and waste monitoring manager Alison McHugh said since no work was happening on site, there was no need to put a stop-work order. She said heavy machines were not having any impact on ground conditions as they were operating further down from the slumped areas. McHugh said works outlined in the resource consent finished last year while remedial work Semenoff undertook after the Stringers' house was condemned finished last week. An Earthquake Commission report last month found a combination of rain and earthworks led to structural damage the Stringer's property and slumped land around it. However, the report was based on a visual assessment of the site only and pointed out that subsurface conditions may vary. Reminder, this is a Premium article and requires a subscription to read. Police in Raumanga, Whangarei, after being called to a sudden death incident. Photo / Northern Advocate Police are at the scene of a sudden death in the Whangārei suburb of Raumanga. Emergency services were called to the address just after 11am. "We are responding to a report of a sudden death at a Raumanga property," said a spokesperson. "It is too soon to provide further details or confirm the age of the person." Further information about the death is expected later today. Rawiri Sergeant gives a haircut to his brother in the shed which he turned into a hair cutting place in his home. Photo / Supplied. A young barber was robbed of his barbering gear after his car was broken into on Saturday night. Professional barbering equipment worth $2000, including a barber's briefcase, new pair of scissors, and new clippers and groomers were stolen from Rawiri Sergeant's car when it was parked outside his house in Raumanga. Sergeant found his car in place the next morning, but the back window was broken and the ignition was damaged. He had purchased the car a few months back and it took him a year to save up for his professional set of barber gear. "The robbery is definitely a setback as I now have to find a ride to work each day and I am unable to cut hair without my gear." The young man and his girlfriend have a baby on the way and he is struggling to get her to her scans and midwife appointments without a car. "I did not have insurance so I am unsure how long it will take to recover from the break-in and theft." His mother, Diana Sergeant, said he worked for two years in different barbershops in Whangārei to save up for the barbering gear and his car. "He did a lot of work during the weekends and provided service to people who were not able to make it to the shop, often without a fee. "He's very passionate about the art and has been cutting hair since he was 8 years old. "He would cut his schoolmates' and his little brother's hair when he was just a little kid." Sergeant has filed a police complaint against the robbery but is very unhappy with their response. "Unfortunately, the police have not been around to even take the fingerprints. "There have been car break-ins in the area before, but police have never done anything about it," he claims. Shayden Perkinson was fatally stabbed outside a Gull service station on Tauroa St, Raumanga, on April 15. Today the 25-year-old's family joined Whangārei residents to attend a demonstration against escalating crime in their town. Dylan told 1News Shayden was at the gas station to get some food when he stepped in to help. "He gave his life for someone else to have theirs," he said. The loss has been immeasurable for the family - but he hopes change can come from Shayden's death amid a rise in local robberies, ram-raids, drugs violence and poverty. He said: "We went through the rage, grief stage and anger, and now we're sort of moving through that and coming together with the community to get our forgiveness so our family can get the healing and moving on. "We're here today so that his life is not forgotten and we're not letting him go straight away and that his voice can be heard to make a difference." Dylan King says he is still coming to terms with Shayden's loss, but he's determined to be heard. He said: "We're here sending out a message that what happened in Raumanga Gull gas station is that we don't want that to be happening to other families And that we want to bring solutions to prevent what happened to our brother Shayden." King said he feels that it could have been anyone going to someone else's aid. "We want anyone and everyone to feel safe and that you can go to the shop and do what you need to do and not have this happen, and if our brother can be a voice out there that we can make change and deliver change, that's what we're here for. "I speak on behalf of our whole family as you can see everyone behind us supporting us today." Several hundred people took part in the hikoi to the town basin - all wanting an end to crime in the community. The same week Shayden was killed another petrol station was targeted for the seventh time in eight months. Businessman Zhare Tana told 1News: "We've been in there eight months and the space has been robbed for the last seven times." The last time they were robbed was with machetes. He says blades were held to the necks of managers as well as some of the general public that rushed to help the managers. Some Northlanders are calling for a tougher stance on crime. Shane Jones said: "That will not change until we have a change in tone in the message coming from Wellington in both the top of the police and a revamping of how sentencing works in New Zealand. "We've got to swing back to deterrents. We've gone too far towards an approach that is too much cuddle and not enough kick in the rear end." Two men have been arrested and charged over Shayden's killing. Dylan says he wants the chance to meet the person who took his brother's life so he can get closure. "I want to be able to see the guy that did this to my brother and to be able to stand and look him in the face and you know get forgiveness and to forgive him." Forgiveness, he says, will help the whānau be free. The joined Whangārei residents at a demonstration against crime in their town (Source: 1News) The brother of the young man killed going to the aid of his cousin at a Whangārei petrol station wants to forgive the killer. Police name man who died in Whangārei Gull stabbingThe man was reportedly killed while trying to protect a woman who was being robbed at an ATM Four men arrested after fatal Whangārei Gull stabbingDetective Inspector Dene Begbie said police located the men in South Auckland this afternoon The brother of the young man killed going to the aid of his cousin at a Whangārei petrol station wants to forgive the killer Shayden Perkinson was fatally stabbed outside a Gull service station on Tauroa St Today the 25-year-old's family joined Whangārei residents to attend a demonstration against escalating crime in their town Dylan told 1News Shayden was at the gas station to get some food when he stepped in to help "He gave his life for someone else to have theirs," he said The loss has been immeasurable for the family - but he hopes change can come from Shayden's death amid a rise in local robberies and now we're sort of moving through that and coming together with the community to get our forgiveness so our family can get the healing and moving on Dylan King says he is still coming to terms with Shayden's loss King said he feels that it could have been anyone going to someone else's aid "We want anyone and everyone to feel safe and that you can go to the shop and do what you need to do and not have this happen and if our brother can be a voice out there that we can make change and deliver change Several hundred people took part in the hikoi to the town basin - all wanting an end to crime in the community The same week Shayden was killed another petrol station was targeted for the seventh time in eight months The last time they were robbed was with machetes He says blades were held to the necks of managers as well as some of the general public that rushed to help the managers Some Northlanders are calling for a tougher stance on crime Shane Jones said: "That will not change until we have a change in tone in the message coming from Wellington in both the top of the police and a revamping of how sentencing works in New Zealand "We've got to swing back to deterrents We've gone too far towards an approach that is too much cuddle and not enough kick in the rear end." Two men have been arrested and charged over Shayden's killing Dylan says he wants the chance to meet the person who took his brother's life so he can get closure Four men have been arrested after 25-year-old Shayden Perkinson's death at a Whangārei Gull station on Saturday night The fatal stabbing happened around 9.40pm outside a Gull service station on Tauroa St Detective Inspector Dene Begbie said police located the men in South Auckland this afternoon "Investigation staff have been working hard to piece together the events of the night so it is pleasing that arrests have now been made." A 25-year-old man has been charged with accessory after the fact to murder and unlawful possession of a pistol and a 54-year-old man has been charged jointly with the 25-year-old for unlawful possession of a pistol Begbie said police's thoughts were with Perkinson's family "Our thoughts are with his whānau who are still coming to terms with the devastating events of Saturday night," he said "I would also like to acknowledge those in the community who have assisted in our investigation so far." The investigation is ongoing and further arrests and charges could be made Lifestyle blocks & dry stock among targets of new water quality project The tide is turning on attitudes to water quality and the people of Whangārei are set to see improvements to the state of some of their streams The Ministry for the Environment and Northland Regional Council are combining to help improve water quality in the streams flowing around urban areas of Whangārei With support from the Government’s Jobs for Nature fund the council launched a $500,000 campaign before Christmas focusing on landowners bordering city fringes The catchments of four waterways in particular have been targeted: The Waiarohia Kirikiri and Raumanga  - all of which run through or around Whangārei City before eventually flowing into the harbour coli counts for all of these rivers is regularly high and swimming is not recommended 50 landowners have shown interest in the Whangārei  Urban Awa project and project lead Andy McCall expects more to take part because of a shift in attitudes over the last few years “A lot more people are enthusiastic and aware about water quality and looking after the environment we are seeing a lot more farmers keen to change their systems and more aware of how important it is to be sustainable,” he says Lifestyle blocks running dry stock are a focus of the campaign: “The biggest problem is stock having access to the water so fencing these streams and rivers is essential Sediment run-off when it rains is a big water quality issue in Northland as it flows downstream into our harbours and coastal areas smothering native flora and fauna habitat.” Fencing livestock out of the waterways is the first step to reducing bank erosion as well as reducing  bacteria and nutrients from animal manure Planting river banks is another step as it will help keep the water temperature down which means water will be better oxygenated plant and animal life will improve and the water will get clearer over time,” he says What does this mean for the people living in and around Whangārei “When the project has finished we hope to see a gradual improvement in the levels of E coli and sediment we measure,” says McCall this and other projects will contribute to greater swim-ability in our local rivers and streams and improved biodiversity Improving water quality is a long-term goal though and we aren’t likely to see improvements really quickly.” A similar project to improve water quality in the upper Hātea catchment at Whangārei Falls has finished; the Whangārei Urban Awa project is the final leg before these waterways reach the harbour it will only be good news for the health of the harbour Everything that comes down the fresh water network ends up in the harbour and that isn’t good for the health of the harbour in general according to Northland Regional Council’s Resource Scientist If you are reducing the total sediment load as well as reducing pollutants this will positively affect the general health of the harbour – including improving shellfish the ability of plants and animals to access light and generally improving the amenity value of the harbour and estuaries “I would like to think there would be an improvement in the water quality of the harbour in a few years as a result of the work that has been done along these rivers in particular the Hātea arm of the harbour which is particularly bad at the moment,” he says While farmers are more aware of the need for good water quality the urban project in Whangārei shows everyone has a part to play to clean up waterways There are a lot of contributing factors to water pollution – litter is another big problem for water quality as rivers get closer to cities The Northland Regional Council has noticed a big problem in the Lower Hātea River and to front-foot the issue it has started research on trapping litter before it reaches the water: “We are trying to quantify how much litter is reaching the harbour and identify hotspots so we can target our education and mitigation accordingly,” says Griffiths McCall believes we all can play a part in improving water quality Whether you are washing your car on the driveway at home a farmer or lifestyle block owner up the river - “we can all do our bit to improve water quality in our area.”   A big reason attitudes and behaviours are changing is because of people power People used their voice and have taken environmental concerns to their local and national elected representatives: “That is why things have changed towards a new direction in looking after the environment There is stronger legislation and society’s attitudes have had a big role in leading that.” Privacy Policy | Terms of Use © Copyright 2018 NZ Herald The man's body was spotted in Raumanga Stream, near Herekino St, by a member of the public just before 2pm. Photo / Michael Cunningham A body has been found in a stream in central Whangārei. A member of the public called police just before 2pm today to report a body floating face-down in Raumanga Stream, close to the point where it flows into the Hātea River. Police and St John Ambulance were at the scene within minutes. With low tide at 4.20pm it is believed the body, which was near a vessel and mooring poles at the rear of Hihiaua Cultural Centre on Herekino St, became visible as the water dropped. Acting Senior Sergeant Shane Turner, of Whangārei police, said the body had been removed and the site had been blessed by kaumatua. There was nothing to indicate any suspicious circumstances. A police investigation into the cause of death was continuing, he said. The man's death had also been referred to the coroner. NorthTec has been ordered to pay a former employee more than $45,000 after she was unjustifiably dismissed during a round of redundancies at the tertiary education provider. Vania Hamlin's employment by NorthTec ended on February 18, 2018. She was dismissed on the grounds of redundancy. In an organisational review carried out in the later months of 2017 NorthTec disestablished around 90 roles and created around 45 roles. Two of the disestablished roles were held by Hamlin – her substantive position as a personal assistant and a position of programme leader in which she had worked, on a seconded basis, since 2015. Hamlin sought redeployment to other roles created in the review, but she not successful. She took her case to the Employment Relations Authority claiming NorthTec had not acted fairly in deciding to end her employment rather than to redeploy her into one of those roles. She said the decisions were contrary to assurances given to her earlier by NorthTec's former chief executive Mark Ewen. She sought orders for lost wages for the period from February 18 to July 18, 2018 and for compensation for distress resulting from unfair treatment. In response NorthTec said it had acted appropriately and in compliance with its good faith obligations. It said this included fairly considering Hamlin's redeployment to two roles for which she applied and reasonably deciding she was either not qualified or not suitable for those roles. In his decision ERA member Robin Arthur found in Hamlin's favour, saying her dismissal for redundancy, and how it decided, were not what a fair and reasonable employer could have done in all the circumstances at the time. Accordingly she had established a personal grievance for unjustified dismissal. Arthur ordered NorthTec to pay Hamlin, within 28 days, $30,455 (less applicable income tax) in reimbursement of lost remuneration; and $15,000 (without deduction) as compensation for humiliation, loss of dignity and injury to her feelings caused by its unjustified actions; and $71.56 in reimbursement of the fee paid to lodge her application in the ERA. NorthTec argued that alternative positions it interviewed Hamlin for were substantially different from her previous roles, but the ERA ruled that was not correct. "As a result NorthTec failed to establish that it acted justifiably in how it carried and concluded its process of considering redeployment of Ms Hamlin. The defects in what it did were more than minor and resulted in her being treated unfairly,'' Arthur said in the ruling. ''Her resulting dismissal for redundancy, and how it decided, were not what a fair and reasonable employer could have done in all the circumstances at the time. Accordingly she had established a personal grievance for unjustified dismissal.'' NorthTec has been approached for comment on the case, including asking if it plans to appeal the decision and if there were any other cases pending as a result of the mass redundancy round. However, it had not responded by edition time. Pak’n Save and other brands — is on the market JLL agents are marketing 27 Te Waiiti Place by deadline private treaty closing Wednesday 16 November unless sold prior It is a passive freehold investment opportunity with a 15-year lease to Foodstuffs North Island Ltd The company operates brands such as New World This newly developed warehouse will utilise the site as its Northern Distribution Facility servicing over 34 grocery locations across the Northland region The property features temperature-controlled cool store and freezer areas as well as modern warehousing and office spaces Access is via five docking stations with two-storey full height roller doors under a generous canopy The large yard provides ample space for freight vehicle access The building has a floor area of 2318sq m site coverage of approximately 23 per cent The size of the property combined with the purpose-built warehousing facility makes for a strategic addition to any growing commercial property portfolio The industrial area of Raumanga is close to SH1 and the city centre JLL senior broker Chris Wakim says sound investment opportunities like this do not come around every day “Having a tenant covenant as strong as Foodstuffs’ 15-year lease with fixed annual growth is rare especially in a brand-new build,” says Wakim “Strategically positioned industrial options are sought-after opportunities and 27 Te Waiiti Place has that in droves.” JLL executive director Jolyon Thomson highlights this passive secure investment as a major drawcard to investors seeking consistent annual returns “Foodstuffs North Island is not only an essential service business it’s an extremely strong option for the forward-thinking investor,” says Thomson “Annual returns of $350,000 + GST on 10,018sq m of land is an attractive proposition with the business planning a further 750sq m expansion is a win-win for both tenant and the astute investor who acts first to secure this property.” Council officials have investigated a Manuka Place resident’s claims of land subsidence caused by recent earthworks at developer Stan Semenoff’s adjoining land and found no wrongdoing by him Daniel Watts - a teacher and former One Party candidate for Whangārei - told the Northern Advocate last week his house in the cul-de-sac end of Manuka Place was starting to show signs of subsidence Watts pointed to recent earthworks by Semenoff on his adjoining development land which had included the removal of some drainage there Watts said he’d alerted the district and regional councils and his insurance company to his concerns but “hadn’t got anywhere” so he went to media in the hope a lawyer might take up a civil case against Semenoff pro-bono (for free) He didn’t want to end up like a homeowner opposite him whose house was condemned in August, 2019, after a landslip for which Semenoff was later found partly responsible Northland Regional Council and WDC each said they had followed up Watts’ complaints but found no wrongdoing by Semenoff The complaints were the first either council had received about the Semenoff development land since several relating to subsidence there back in 2019 The regional council’s compliance monitoring manager Tess Dacre said site visits on March 7 and 12 this year established Semenoff “has not breached any regional rules resource consent conditions nor any other legislation We have advised the complainant that it is a civil matter between themselves and Mr Semenoff.” District council general manager infrastructure Jim Sephton said WDC engineers and compliance staff visited the site on March 5 and 6 “There was evidence that an industrial mower was being used to clear vegetation There was also evidence that the existing drainage had been cleared There was no evidence of material earthworks.” Sephton said WDC had discussions with Semenoff around requirements for stormwater maintenance on the site and was working with him to ensure the missing drainage identified by Watts was reinstated That mechanism - a drainage “sock” combined with special sheeting to prevent water absorption along the drainage pathway - was one WDC had directed Semenoff to install after the 2019 landslide It was intended as a temporary measure until a permanent solution was found The WDC had no record of when it disappeared. Seminoff claimed it was during Cyclone Gabrielle. Sephton said the only active consent currently associated with the Semenoff land was one issued in 2022 for industrial lots. A consent had been issued in July 2019 for an industrial and residential development but that was surrendered as part of the grounds for a consent for industrial lots that was lodged in November 2020 and issued in 2022. Another consent for a 13-lot residential development was applied for in February 2021 but withdrawn in March last year. Criteria for land developments are specified in the District Plan. Sephton said that in the case of the Raumanga development, “The subdivision consent required that the geotechnical experts demonstrate that no adverse effects from instability would occur either on neighbouring properties or building platforms within the development prior to consent issue. “An engineer’s completion report to confirm works have been undertaken in accordance with the approved reports and plans was part of the consent conditions.” Semenoff told the Northern Advocate last week he currently had no particular plan for the land, especially given the current downturn in the housing market. However, he didn’t rule out perhaps one day applying to build “10 to 17 houses” on it. He believed Watts’ claim of recent subsidence was unfounded and based on a personal vendetta sparked by a previous dispute between Watts and another neighbour. Semenoff also claimed stormwater wrongly being directed on to his land from Watts’ and other neighbouring properties had added to any land stability concerns. Sarah Curtis is a news reporter for the Northern Advocate, focusing on a wide range of issues. She has nearly 20 years’ experience in journalism, much of which she spent court reporting. She is passionate about covering stories that make a difference. Police are appealing for sightings of a 2003 Mazda Atenza (pictured) on Tuesday, November 30 in the Maunu and Raumanga areas. Photo / NZ Police Staff at a Whangārei dairy were forced to flee their store after being confronted by a trio of young men armed with what appeared to be a shotgun. The three youths approached staff at the Maunu Superette, on the corner of Maunu Rd and Porowini Ave, on Tuesday around 6.20pm. A police spokesperson said the workers were able to flee to safety and successfully triggered the store's fog cannon as they escaped. The trio made off with a stash of cigarettes taken from the superette's supply before making a getaway in a stolen Mazda Atenza parked nearby. The car was dumped shortly afterwards less than 4km away in Hedley Pl in Raumanga "Staff at the superette were uninjured but highly traumatised," the spokesperson said. Police are appealing to the public for sightings of the silver 2003 Mazda Atenza on the day of the robbery. "Police are keen to speak to anyone who may have seen this silver Mazda Atenza in the Maunu area during the day of the robbery or anywhere between the Maunu Superette and Hedley Place after the robbery." Anyone with information can anonymously phone Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or call 105 and quote file number 211130/3798. Police at Raumanga's Gull Service Station where Whangārei man Shayden Perkinson was allegedly stabbed to death on April 15. A second man charged with the murder of Whangārei man Shayden Perkinson outside the Otaika Gull service station can now be named after losing his interim name suppression. Bronson Manuel, 29, appeared in the High Court at Whangārei on Monday charged with the murder of Shayden Kenana Rua Trevor Perkinson, 25, outside the service station on April 15. Justice Neil Campbell declined Manuel’s application for continued name suppression. Last month, Samson Thomas Manuel, 24, of Raumanga, pleaded not guilty to murdering Perkinson when he appeared in the High Court at Whangārei. However, on Monday Justice Campbell continued interim name suppression for another man charged in connection with the death. The 25-year-old charged with being an accessory after the fact to murder, will reappear in the court on Friday for a date to be set to hear an application for continued name suppression. All three will appear for a case review hearing in the court on July 21, with a back-up trial date set down for October 2024, and three-week trial has been scheduled for February 2025. Several members of Perkinson’s whanau were in the court for Monday’s hearing. Perkinson was allegedly stabbed to death outside Raumanga’s Gull Service Station when he stepped in to help a woman. Armed police at a firearms incident in Mahana Place, Raumanga, Whangārei, that was caused by gang tensions between the Head Hunters and Black Power. Northland Police are investigating gang tensions between the Head Hunters and Black Power gangs following two incidents over the last week. Detective Senior Sergeant Kevan Verry, of the Northland Organised Crime Unit, said the first incident occurred around 12.30pm on December 7 where Police received reports of a number of gunshots being fired in Mahana Place, Raumanga, in Whangārei. ''Thankfully, no one was injured in this incident and our enquiries have established that number of shots appear to have been fired at an address,'' Verry said. The second incident occurred on Sunday, December 12, also around 12.30pm, when police received reports of a number of gunshots being fired on Smeaton Drive, Raumanga.Police quickly responded and located a vehicle which belongs to an innocent member of the public which had been hit with one bullet. Luckily no one was in the vehicle at the time and no one was injured in this incident, he said. ''Police is extremely concerned by this behaviour and will have zero tolerance for organised crime groups using firearms in this manner where innocent members of our community get put at risk. ''Both of these incidents were carried out in broad daylight in residential areas with children and bystanders in the vicinity. The behaviour is completely brazen, reckless and shows the lack of respect gang members can have for our communities,'' Verry said. He said police will have an increased presence in Raumanga and we will be actively targeting the gangs involved. ''We appreciate these incidents will be concerning to our community and Police are treating these matters extremely seriously and with urgency. ''Police are working with various members of our community to de-escalate tensions. We encourage our community to report any information they think might be relevant to Police by contacting 105 quoting file number 211207/6584.'' The public can speak to Police in confidence but there is also the option to contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. The van crashed into petrol pump at Gull petrol station in Raumanga, Whangārei. Image / Carl Newman Customers at Whangarei's busy Gull petrol station alongside SH1 in Raumanga, feared the place would go up in flames when a drink-driver deliberately sped into a petrol pump. Police were called to the popular pitstop at the southern end of the city about 8pm on April 12. Theo Aria, 41, had been on his way to park and sleep at nearby Bunnings, when he instead drove into the station and rammed the pump. The forecourt was full of vehicles and pedestrians, who fled as they feared a possible explosion. Breath-tested at the scene, Aria returned a reading of 995 micrograms. The pump was damaged beyond repair and forced from its fixtures, denting a car it fell on. A customer standing nearby jumped out of the way. Concerned about Aria's mental state, police took him to Whangārei Hospital where he discharged himself just before 4am on April 14. He called a taxi and left the building with a pair of paper scissors. Aria's erratic behaviour in the taxi concerned the driver who stopped in the roadway on Nixon St, Kensington, and told him to get out. But Aria climbed into the front seat and tried to push the driver out, threatening him with the scissors. The driver grabbed the point of them and the pair struggled until Aria pushed the man onto the roadway. The driver suffered a deep laceration to his left hand. Aria locked himself in the cab intending to drive away but was unable to find the keys, which the driver had in his pocket. Aria was jailed for two years and three months at his sentencing todayin Whangārei District Court after pleading guilty to dangerous driving at the service station forecourt, drink-driving for a third or subsequent time – his third - assault with a sharp weapon, and attempting to unlawfully take a vehicle. Judge Deirdre Orchard set a sentence starting point of nine months for the driving offences noting aggravating features as the high alcohol reading and the deliberate way in which Aria drove into the petrol pump. It "caused a great deal of alarm" and was "a very dangerous thing to do", she said. But were it not for the April 14 offending Aria could have expected a non-custodial sentence, she said. The later offending came close to an aggravated robbery and Aria had previous relevant convictions including for a stabbing in 2015, and a robbery in 1999. Other features escalating that offending included the vulnerability of taxi drivers generally, the weapon used and the wounds caused, and Aria's admission he took the scissors to potentially use as a weapon. Counsel Adam Pell, appearing for assigned counsel Dave Sayes, sought an overall sentence of two years' imprisonment pointing to Aria's mental health concerns at the time of the offending. Leave would not be sought for home detention, Pell said. But Orchard said there were two distinct sets of offending. She added the nine-month starting point for the driving offending to a separate starting point of 30 months for the offences involving the taxi driver. A reduction for totality was not necessary, the judge said. There was three months' uplift for Aria's previous relevant convictions. Aria got a full 25 per cent discount for his early guilty pleas and 10 per cent discount for matters raised in a cultural report, albeit the judge noticed what Aria told the writer of that report about his upbringing conflicted with some of the things he told the author of a specialist mental health report. The judge said it was clear from all information before the court Aria had a longstanding history of serious alcohol abuse and that he also suffered from psychosis. "The doctor's report says it difficult to tell where one [of those problems] starts and the other finishes but your abuse [of] alcohol has played a large part in your offending and it's clear you have not taken opportunities in the past to really deal with the matter," the judge said. Speaking with Open Justice later, the Blue Bubble A1 Cabs driver did not want to be named out of concern for his safety and that of the business's 24 other Whangārei drivers. While taxi drivers had always been at risk from crimes – he had experienced "quite a few" incidents in his 25 years in the industry – drivers were much more vulnerable now, he said. Offending against them had escalated and crimes were becoming more serious. Young people seemed to be quite aggressive and rowdy and not very respectful of anyone or other people's property. He had previously driven a taxi in Auckland where he had been bashed by a man high on P in Karangahape Rd. Whangarei drivers were generally scared of working at nights and especially fearful of particular suburbs. A male driver was recently attacked by a woman who had no money for her fare. Aria's attack had been "a bit of a shock", the driver said. It began with Aria leaning over from the backseat and drinking the driver's coffee. "I said 'eh, you don't take somebody else's drink'. He apologised, but then he jumped in the front," the driver said. As Aria began threatening him, the driver tried to think about what he could do to protect himself, including by taking the keys from the vehicle before he was pushed out of it. It was fortunate Aria was only armed with paper scissors, not surgical ones as the wounds he inflicted would have been worse, the driver said. Even so, he needed nine stitches to close the worst wound and had several other cuts on both hands. His knees were badly bruised when he was forced out of the taxi. Luckily no other traffic was about at that early hour as he was lying on the line between two lanes. His decision to stop in the middle of the road was deliberate as he knew he would be noticed by any other motorist who came along. The driver praised the "brilliant" response of Whangārei police who he said arrived within two minutes. He did not hold any grudge against Aria, the driver said. His religious beliefs were that everyone was ultimately answerable to God. Despite the attack, he was pleased to be living and working in Whangarei and did not want to return to Auckland. He said he valued the support and sympathy he had received from his regular customers. ACTION NEEDED: Dr Glenys Currie from Raumanga Medical Centre. PHOTO/JOHN STONE A Whangarei GP says she sees at least one person a day who has a quite a significant issue with alcohol. Dr Glenys Currie from Raumanga Medical Centre said alcohol harm is extensive in Whangarei. "It's really common that people don't know what's healthy," Dr Currie said. "I think Northland and Whangarei have some of the biggest alcohol problems in New Zealand." That was because there was often a correlation between alcohol harm and deprivation, she said. A lot of people were surprised when she told them what the recommended drinking guidelines were, Dr Currie said. For women it was two standard drinks a day and for men it was three. Some of the issues she saw were directly related to alcohol like injuries, domestic violence, unplanned pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections. Other issues were not directly related but often caused or exacerbated by alcohol including cancer, diabetes and mental illness. Issues with alcohol were often difficult for people to talk about, Dr Currie said. "It can completely take over people's lives to the point that they aren't able to carry out normal responsibilities." As a result, Dr Currie often sawchildren who did not get the appropriate food or medical care because their parents were reliant on alcohol. "If we want change then we actually need to do something about it," she said. Dr Currie supported the stance of Northland medical officer of health Clair Mills who said supermarkets should not be able to sell alcohol before 9am. "Most of the people who want alcohol at 8am in the morning are, in my experience, alcoholics," she said. "By restricting that access to alcohol it doesn't really affect people that are drinking alcohol in moderation." Like when the new give way laws came into effect, people will change if they are given warning in advance, Dr Currie said. -This story is part of a series running while bylaws around alcohol in Whangarei are up for debate. Public submissions are open for the Whangarei District Council draft local alcohol policy until July 10. Many homes and business along Otaika Rd in Whangārei are on the chopping block as Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency plans to expand SH1 to four lanes up to the Ruakākā roundabout. Plans to four-lane State Highway 1 south of Whangārei could impact on more than 330 properties, and people can find out more at the first community information days planned for the project. Up to 336 landowners could be impacted by the impending $692 million four-lane highway into Whangārei from the SH1 roundabout near Ruakākā. Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency revealed that 336 landowners along the highway's potential route, dubbed an emerging preferred corridor, had been sent letters by the agency, detailing how their property was inside the corridor. The number was released to the Northern Advocate after an Official Information Act request. Also requested was the total number of properties that would be directly and indirectly impacted, but this was refused given the total number could not be determined until the highway's route was confirmed. Eleven aerial maps were published in December which outlined the suggested route from Port Marsden Highway near Ruakākā to Raumanga. The suggested route would go through large areas of farmland as it approached Whangārei, but would also require the acquisition of houses and businesses at Otaika and Raumanga. Waka Kotahi had been meeting home and business owners directly affected by the suggested route for months and had asked locals to have their say via their website www.nzta.govt.nz The organisation is hosting two public events next week where people will be able to learn more about and give feedback on the project, which is part of the NZ Upgrade Programme. The drop-in sessions, planned for venues in Mata and the Whangārei Town Basin, will provide an opportunity for the public to see the emerging preferred corridor which was announced late last year, meet the project team and get an overview of what's planned at this early stage in the process. The events are on February 24, from 4pm-7pm at Mata Hall, Salmon Rd, Mata and on February 27, from 10am-1pm at The Hub Information Centre, Whangārei Town Basin. Information will also be available at the Waka Kotahi site at Northland Field Days from March 4-6. Waka Kotahi national manager infrastructure delivery, Andrew Thackwray, says that while the project is still in its very early stages of design, it's important to keep the Northland community informed as it evolves. "We've been in touch with property owners within the emerging preferred corridor and have met with many of them to discuss what this might mean for their property and to seek their feedback. We'd now like to share this work with the wider community and hear their thoughts on the current plans." The emerging preferred corridor includes upgrading SH1 to four lanes (with some sections built on a new alignment to straighten out curves), with a shared walking and cycling path between Whangārei and Port Marsden Highway (SH15). The next steps include further technical and design work to assess where the new highway could be placed within the preferred corridor, as well as looking at where and how it could join with local roads. Confirmation of the preferred corridor and a draft plan for the road layout for the upgraded highway is expected around mid-late 2021, with a plan to lodge for consents in early 2022. Construction is due to begin late-2023/early-2024. Meanwhile, further safety improvements – including widened centrelines and road shoulders, rumble strips and safety barriers – are also planned on the existing busy stretch of state highway. Work is planned to start in April and will take about 12 months to complete. There will be more information about this project at the community information days. Raumanga Royals basketballer Klay Rouse looking for a way past in their clash with Portland. Photo/John Stone. Portland Blazers took on Raumanga Royals in their third round Super Basketball League clash, knowing they would have to be at their best to subdue their old rivals. True to form, the Blazers were out of the blocks quickly at the Kamo High School Gym on Saturday, and played well enough to open up an 18-point lead by halftime. But tight second half defence from the Royals led to some ill discipline from the Blazers, allowing Raumanga to claw their way back into the game. The Royals continued to close the gap in the second spell until a concerted effort from the Portland side in the final five minutes took the game away from them. The Blazers tightened up their defence and ran the lanes well to ease away to an 89-78 win. Ethan Penney top-scored for the Blazers with 31 points, while Kane Rudolph scored 16. Liam Wilson and Klay Rouse both scored 17 points for the Royals, with Scott McDonald scoring 15. The second match at Kamo was a memorable, closely fought game between Phoenix Takahiwai and Portland Flames, with the two teams neck in neck during the entire match. Portland posted the narrowest of leads at halftime, ahead by just 24-23. But the Flames' hearts were broken in the second spell with Takahiwai's captain Sue Reed-Thomas, with 14 points backed up by Kaylah Chapman, instrumental in their comeback which resulted in a two point turnaround by full-time and a 46-45 win to Phoenix Takahiwai. Sophy Tua was top scorer for the Flames with 20 points while Keani Shelford scored 12 points. The third and final game at Kamo High School was another thriller with City Hawks just too strong for Maunu Lights beating them eventually 69-64. Both teams had evenly matched squads with good numbers so a close game always looked likely but the Hawks had the better of the first spell to take a 34-24 lead. The Lights were better in the second spell and great shooting from Joshua Martinac with 25 points and Justin Friedrich with 24 saw them narrow the Hawks advantage. The Hawks hung on for their five point win with Henare Paenga top-scoring with 22, Jarom Henare 13 and Kurtis Tito 12. A wedding thinned the ranks of Bloodlines Whangaruru as they travelled to Kaitaia to take on the Far North Thunder. Even with only six players the visitors displayed too much skill and structure to keep the Thunder under control for most of the game, eventually running out 73-56 winners. Keeghan Sadler and Imrahn Henare once again ran the game for Whangaruru with Zander Semenoff another standout. Rihia Parangi was the player to impress for the Thunder. The young high school student scored 20 points for the Far North side. His performance and the chance to see a top quality basketball match was enjoyed by Kaitaia basketball administrator Manuera Riwai. "It was great to see such a quality side up here and they gave our guys a good hard game of basketball and the spectators a good spectacle to watch ... the game was played in good spirit but in the end Whangaruru had too much skill," he said. Whangaruru Tukaiaia forfeited to the Muriwhenua women's team in the other scheduled TTT Classic match. The Fijian winger who had the world at his feet and the potential to surpass Jonah Lomu. A Whangārei man facing a charge in relation to the death of a 5-month-old baby boy has been remanded in custody. The 28-year-old, from Raumanga, yesterday appeared before a Justice of the Peace in the Whangārei District Court where he was granted interim name suppression. He is charged with assault on a child and was remanded back into custody. The charge carries a maximum penalty of two years in jail. Police launched a homicide investigation after officers were called to a Raumanga house by ambulance staff about 8.30pm on Thursday. The baby died at the scene. "Our investigation remains ongoing and we cannot rule out the possibility of further charges being laid," Detective Inspector Dene Begbie said. The 28-year-old bearded man was dressed in a white prison boiler suit and kept his head bowed while he was in the dock for the brief appearance yesterday. There were no people in the back of the courtroom to support him at the time. Duty solicitor Wiremu Puriri said no application for bail would be made and requested the man be granted interim name suppression as police investigations were ongoing. It was the third death of a child in Northland within the past 12 months. Two were due to non-accidental injuries,. In August last year, a 2-year-old died at a property in Mangawhai, resulting in a homicide investigation and charges being laid against a 30-year-old man. A Kaitaia man was charged with the murder of 4-week-old Kaitaia baby Maree Takuira Mita Ngahere in February. The man, 22, was granted interim name suppression when he appeared in the Kaitaia District Court. The man also faced a charge of assault on a child in relation to a separate matter and is charged with assaulting a 1-year-old in Manurewa between December 1 and January 16. On average, a child in New Zealand is killed every five weeks, putting the country high on list of world's worst offenders, according to 2016 report. Sixty-one children died as a result of non-accidental injuries in New Zealand between 2006 and 2016. The New Zealand Police Homicide Victims Report 2017, released late last year, showed 686 people were killed by homicide in New Zealand over that period, with children under the age of 5 making up 12 per cent. Police have named the man who died in a Whangārei Gull stabbing on Saturday night. He was 25-year-old Shayden Perkinson of Raumanga. The fatal stabbing happened around 9.40pm outside a Gull service station on Tauroa St, Raumanga. Police did not believe the incident was gang-related but haven't released more details of the incident while the investigation is ongoing. "At this stage, no arrests have been made, however a further update will be provided when we are in a position to do so," Northland District Crime Manager Detective Inspector Dene Begbie said in a statement this afternoon. Confronting video shows aftermath of Whangārei Gull stabbingA 25-year-old man was killed outside the service station in Raumanga Stuff today reported that Perkinson's cousin said he was killed while trying to protect a woman who was being robbed at an ATM. The tide is turning on attitudes to water quality and the people of Whangārei are set to see improvements to the state of some of their streams The Ministry for the Environment and Northland Regional Council are combining to help improve water quality in the streams flowing around urban areas of Whangārei With support from the Government's Jobs for Nature fund Kirikiri and Raumanga - all of which run through or around Whangārei City 50 landowners have shown interest in the Whangārei Urban Awa project and project lead Andy McCall expects more to take part because of a shift in attitudes over the last few years "A lot more people are enthusiastic and aware about water quality and looking after the environment we are seeing a lot more farmers keen to change their systems and more aware of how important it is to be sustainable," he says Lifestyle blocks running dry stock are a focus of the campaign: "The biggest problem is stock having access to the water smothering native flora and fauna habitat." Fencing livestock out of the waterways is the first step to reducing bank erosion as well as reducing bacteria and nutrients from animal manure plant and animal life will improve and the water will get clearer over time," he says What does this mean for the people living in and around Whangārei "When the project has finished we hope to see a gradual improvement in the levels of E coli and sediment we measure," says McCall Improving water quality is a long-term goal though and we aren't likely to see improvements really quickly." A similar project to improve water quality in the upper Hātea catchment at Whangārei Falls has finished; the Whangārei Urban Awa project is the final leg before these waterways reach the harbour that isn't good for the health of the harbour in general according to Northland Regional Council's Resource Scientist this will positively affect the general health of the harbour – including improving shellfish "I would like to think there would be an improvement in the water quality of the harbour in a few years as a result of the work that has been done along these rivers in particular the Hātea arm of the harbour which is particularly bad at the moment," he says the urban project in Whangārei shows everyone has a part to play to clean up waterways There are a lot of contributing factors to water pollution – litter is another big problem for water quality as rivers get closer to cities The Northland Regional Council has noticed a big problem in the Lower Hātea River and to front-foot the issue it has started research on trapping litter before it reaches the water: "We are trying to quantify how much litter is reaching the harbour and identify hotspots so we can target our education and mitigation accordingly," says Griffiths a farmer or lifestyle block owner up the river - "we can all do our bit to improve water quality in our area." People used their voice and have taken environmental concerns to their local and national elected representatives: "That is why things have changed towards a new direction in looking after the environment There is stronger legislation and society's attitudes have had a big role in leading that." a council & hi-tech analysis are aiming to improve catchment water quality.