One of Northland’s largest social housing developments, on the former Tikipunga Tavern site has attracted plenty of interest during a community open day The 55-home Kāinga Ora development on Wānaka St was open for community viewing on Thursday, before the two-storey homes or three-storey apartment blocks are occupied Hundreds of people attended the event, which included a performance by pupils from Tikipunga Primary School and a chance to look around some of the homes Kāinga Ora Northland regional director Jeff Murray said while many in Whangārei were not used to multi-storey development “I think many people are impressed with the size of the homes “There’s a strong sense of community and a strong sense of space between the buildings; they’re not peering into other windows A lot of thought went into that and the design side.” Murray said the homes are well located within walking distance to shops schools and on one of the best bus routes in the town The homes meet 6 Homestar rating for insulation Six of the ground-floor homes are also fully accessible for those with disabilities The development also includes a small community room There are 600 whānau waiting for a state home in Whangārei according to the Ministry of Social Development’s latest housing register and people are placed in the new homes according to existing ties to the area One resident from the Summerset retirement village across the road said she was “pleasantly surprised” by how nice the homes were inside after thinking the red brick exterior looked too drab “I think this is lovely,” said the resident “I understand it’s affordable for all families The resident said she was especially impressed by the way the windows on the three-storey buildings were designed to capture the sun but still provide privacy Whangārei mayor Vince Cocurullo said the homes appeared to be well built and provided a need for housing particularly for the likes of single mums and the elderly Although some residents have previously raised concerns about the development Cocurullo said he understood Kāinga Ora now has to provide wrap-around services it’s just about getting a new start in life,” he said “I think the days of old where people are just placed in homes are gone - there are now requirements for them to be looked after.” 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 Haydn Christy was jailed in 2016 for 12 years with an 8-year minimum non-parole period A Whangārei man has been arrested over a house fire that killed 61-year-old John Reuben Since then police have been trawling through evidence gathered from the scene and CCTV footage captured in surrounding streets around that time Court documents show a 48-year-old Ōtangārei man was arrested this week and appeared in the Whangārei District Court on Tuesday morning charged with knowingly endangering life by setting fire to property The maximum penalty is 14 years' imprisonment When firefighters arrived at Thomas Street both the car and Kāinga Ora home were "well involved" in fire They found a critically injured man inside the house who died at the scene despite the efforts of first responders About 20 police officers along with fire investigators and ESR scientists were involved in the initial investigation Lemon was remanded in custody and is next due in Whangārei District Court by audio-visual link on 16 September The Whangārei man 61-year-old Hoani Reupena-Tuoro Police say they took a firearm capable of firing .22 rounds off the streets after locating it down the side of a couch The man was arrested in relation to failing to stop Detective Senior Sergeant Aaron Crawford of Northland Criminal Investigation Branch said about 1pm on Wednesday officers executed a search warrant at an address on Papa Totara Loop “During a search officers have located an operational magazine with live .22 rounds allegedly in the man’s pocket “A further search of the address has then also located a pistol capable of firing .22 rounds which was found down the side of the couch where the man was sitting upon police arrival.” Crawford said it was a “great result” that another firearm was out of the community “Police work hard to hold offenders to account especially those with the potential to cause serious harm in our communities such as those unlawfully in the possession of firearms.” 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 Police are urging early risers in the Whangārei suburb of Tikipunga to be extra vigilant after two more arson attacks on parked cars this week Whangārei police are now investigating five car fires this month alone with one on Monday and another on Wednesday morning Monday's fire started about 5.30am on Meadow Park Crescent while Wednesday's was on Paramount Parade about 5am Detective Sergeant Pieter Serfontein said all the fires had started before dawn to be extra vigilant around this time period," he said "We need to hear straight away if you see suspicious activity taking place going for a walk or heading off to work - we need to hear from you." Any people or vehicles acting suspiciously should be reported by calling 111 Serfontein said a second vehicle was targeted on the Paramount Parade property on Wednesday morning but that arson attempt was unsuccessful Information can also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111 Another car fire on a driveway in Tikipunga earlier this year spread to a house and caused the death of 61-year-old John Reuben was arrested last month in relation to that fire and charged with knowingly endangering life by setting fire to property He has denied the charge and is in custody awaiting his next court appearance Police say three cars have been set on fire in the suburb of Tikipunga this month all of them on people's driveways in the early hours of the morning Police say the fires were started in the early hours of the morning in cars parked in people's driveways in the suburb of Tikipunga August Lemon was arrested this week and appeared in Whangārei District Court charged with knowingly endangering life by setting fire to property Police at the Thomas St address where John Reuben was killed in a house fire A man has been charged with murder in connection to a house fire that killed 61-year-old Whangārei man spread to his Thomas St home in Tikipunga shortly before 3am on April 29 A 48-year-old has been charged with his murder and will appear in the Whangārei District Court tomorrow The man was already facing a charge of arson and now also faces an additional charge of murder in relation to the fire Detective Inspector Al Symonds said the murder charge followed months of investigation work About 20 officers as well as fire investigators and ESR scientists carried out the initial investigation police charged a Whangārei man with knowingly endangering life by setting fire to property When firefighters arrived at Reuben’s home both the car and the Kāinga Ora house were ablaze He was found critically injured inside the house and died at the scene despite the efforts of first responders Police were not seeking anyone else in connection with the homicide Symonds said police were limited in what more they could say as the case is now before the court Kāinga Ora has ended the tenancy of another tenant in Whangārei's Tikipunga this time over allegations cats were being shot and neigbours threatened It comes after, in a unrelated case, Danielle Leaf-Marsh was evicted after what neighbours said was "psychological torture" from her parties and loud music had his Kainga Ora tenancy of a Tikipunga property terminated at the end of January The Tenancy Tribunal was told he was the sole resident of a two-bedroom property But Kāinga Ora said he had assaulted or threatened to assault neighbours and had breached their peace he had shot his cat in the head and killed it given the absence of any evidence to the contrary it was more likely that not that Woodgate did threaten his neighbour She was not satisfied that it is unlikely that he would commit another act of this kind Kainga Ora said Woodgate had breached his obligation not to interfere with other tenants' peace comfort or privacy in several ways One neighbour said he had been shooting a BB gun and there were three dead cats outside their property "The caller also stated that Mr Woodgate had threatened to kill their dog when they were out walking," Robson noted "The caller was very concerned as they had only been in the neighbourhood for two weeks and had young children No further details were provided regarding dates or times of this incident It is understood this caller was not a tenant of KO." Other neighbours said he could be seen yelling and throwing things in his backyard neighbours said he stopped traffic at 8.30am and threw small items at children walking to school Another neighbour said he had come to her property the day before demanding sugar She thought he might be diabetic so she let him in the gate and made him a cup of tea "She started to feel uncomfortable shortly after when he started describing what he does to women sexually with the stumps of his legs," Robson said he then threatened to have items stolen from her house and would arrange to have this done "He then began to wheel up and down the road throwing the items she had given him blocking the road and being abusive to people driving past." Robson said the incidents were not breaches that were capable of remedy He had also returned to his former residence and made tenants there feel so unsafe they ended their tenancy after two-and-a-half weeks having waited seven years for a Kāinga Ora property "During the short period of the current tenancy it is clear there have been numerous breaches that have escalated in nature There has been involvement with the tenant by KO and it employees and the Police but it appears unlikely the tenant will comply with his obligations in the future," Robson said "The behaviours are causing considerable distress and worry to the neighbours and I find that termination of the tenancy is an appropriate response to this application." The tenant was incarcerated at the time of the hearing Frustrated residents complained to Kāinga Ora 13 times about a noise coming from the property About 2000 tenants owe more than 12-weeks' rent as the agency looks to crack down The agency is setting a 12-week limit on how much rent debt a tenant can accumulate as part of a change in approach that will also see almost half of the outstanding dept wiped away Housing Minister Chris Bishop says more notices and shorter complaint wait times show its crackdown on Kāinga Ora tenants is working The housing department has been taking significant numbers of tenants to the Tenancy Tribunal in recent months over rent arrears The burned-out remains of yet another car in Tikipunga set alight by a suspected arsonist last week Two cars set alight in Whangārei are the latest in a series of similar attacks this month in the same suburb Police are investigating the connection to the other four arson attacks Police are urging residents to “be on the lookout” for suspicious behaviour A Fire and Emergency spokesman said a vehicle was on fire when they arrived at the scene on Paramount Parade He said fires had been extinguished by the two firetrucks sent to the home “We are now liaising with police who will be supported by a fire investigator.” Detective Sergeant Pieter Serfontein said another vehicle was also targeted on the same property but the offenders were unsuccessful in setting it alight It comes after a spate of suspected arson attacks on cars in driveways in the same suburb that led to pleas from the police Serfontein said residents need to be “extra vigilant” “We need to hear straight away if you see suspicious activity taking place going for a walk or heading off to work – we need to hear from you.” Serfontein said another attack occurred on Meadow Park Cres on Monday at 5.30am Another fire was started in a car on Thomas St about 6.30am on September 12 and another the day before at about 4.15am on Heretaunga St The first was on Thompson Pl about 6.15am on September 2 “Our inquiries are still in the very early stages and we are keeping an open mind that these incidents are linked and involve the same offenders,” Whangārei CIB’s Detective Sergeant Pieter Serfontein said “It’s fortunate though that no one has sustained any injuries “Police are working to understand the circumstances and why these vehicles would be targeted “Losing a mode of transportation will impact those families affected by these arson events,” Serfontein said The owner of one damaged vehicle had started a Givealittle page on which she said: “I am left without a vehicle for my son and myself and am very distraught by losing my car to someone who had nothing better to do than ruin my possessions” is ruined – scorched by someone who didn’t care who they hurt She was alerted to the fire after waking to the constant blaring of her vehicle’s horn careless act that was unprompted and uncalled for I still can’t come to terms with the fact that this actually happened to me My son and I depend on a car to get around [and] to get to visitations with his father I have no savings for facing something this catastrophic,“ she said Serfontein said if anyone knows anything about these car fires Police were advising the Tikipunga community to remain vigilant Anyone with information, could update police online or call 105 using the reference number 240912/0211 Information could also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111 Northland police are urging Whangārei residents to be vigilant after a spate of suspicious car fires in the suburb of Tikipunga All fires started in the early hours of the morning in cars parked in people's driveways with the most recent blaze on Thomas Street just before 6.30am Thursday It was the third such fire in the area this month Detective Sergeant Pieter Serfontein urged Tikipunga residents to report any suspicious activity by calling 111 immediately Serfontein also wanted to hear from anyone with information about the fires The other blazes were at 6.15am on 2 September in the driveway of a Heretaunga Street property Serfontein said their enquiry was still in its early stages and police were "keeping an open mind" as to whether all three fires were linked or involved the same offenders There was no known connection with a fire that took the life of Thomas Street resident John Reuben The 61-year-old died after a car fire spread to his Kāinga Ora home just before 3am on 29 April Lemon was denied bail and remains in custody Serfontein said it was fortunate no one had been injured in the latest fires The fires had a serious effect on families who had lost their means of transportation Police were called to a vehicle on fire at Ripiro Beach Police are investigating the cause of the person's death and the fire and say it will take some time and scientists investigated the scene after a fire spread through a Thomas Street Police have arrested a man after a Tikipunga house fire in which the home’s sole occupant Hoani Reuben died Ōtangārei man August Lemon is charged with knowingly endangering life by setting fire to property (arson) - an offence carrying a maximum sentence of up to 14 years imprisonment was 61 when the fire broke out at the Kainga Ora-owned house about 3am on April 29 It was thought to have started in a car and then spread throughout the house in Thomas Street Police treated the fire and death as suspicious with officers trawling through CCTV footage from nearby streets Lemon appeared briefly in Whangārei District Court after his arrest this week and was remanded into custody to appear by AV-link on September 16 Detective Senior Sergeant John Clayton said police had not ruled out further charges relating to Reuben’s death “We can reassure the community that we are not seeking anyone else in connection with Mr Reuben’s death,” Clayton says “We would like to thank every person who called us or came into a station to provide information in relation to this homicide who have worked tirelessly throughout this investigation,” Clayton said Firefighters found Reuben critically injured inside the house He died at the scene despite the efforts of first responders to revive him Peter Garelja says the worst symptom of Parkinson's disease is loss of mobility Former Tikipunga High School principal Peter Garelja made a huge impact on many during his 16 years in Northland as he returns south to further wind down his journey the Parkinson’s disease sufferer renowned for his sage words leaves some parting pearls of wisdom “It’s better to burn out than to fade away” was the mantra from a Neil Young song Peter Garelja always lived by Then Parkinson’s disease put paid to that theory His 2008 diagnosis at age 54 slowed life down considerably over the following years for the former Tikipunga High School principal Garelja was at the height of his 37-year teaching career when he was diagnosed just months into his role as principal He continued for another six years before bringing his retirement forward and moving to Glinks Gully on the West Coast where he’s lived with wife Raewyn for the last 10 years It’s a place he cites as pivotal in his therapy Though when the Northern Advocate last caught up with Garelja pre-retirement The thing with Parkinson’s is everything is slow - you can’t do things quickly anymore Parkinson’s is a progressive neurodegenerative condition caused by insufficient quantities of dopamine in the brain over 12,000 New Zealanders have Parkinson’s and numbers are expected to increase significantly over the coming years Parkinson’s has both motor and non-motor symptoms and while it cannot be cured Garelja’s attitude toward life has put him in good stead regarding treatment The much-loved principal’s office walls were once adorned with quotes “His thinking is no matter how bad things are in life you just find a way to play your cards well.” A “fence at the top of the cliff” attitude has helped his 16-year Parkinson’s journey go more smoothly setting his watch five minutes in advance to avoid rushing avoiding lace-up shoes and buttons and having an afternoon nap “I try to avoid stress as that is a major issue for people with Parkinson’s Garelja grew up working-class in West Auckland and was flagged as a bright up-and-coming teacher from an early stage in his career He took his first position as a principal at Kaipara College when he was 39 Later he was principal at Waitākere College where they were really keen to meet the new principal,” he says who he raised on his own after his first marriage ended was receiving an award at her own prizegiving at Kaipara College ‘It is so great to see all these parents here You have a powerful influence on your children’s education and that is why I hope you understand what I have to say next I have to go now - it is my own daughter’s prizegiving at Kaipara College I hope you have a good night’.” Everyone applauded and told him it was the best speech they’d heard It was assumed he would be there until he retired Taking the position at Tikipunga High School in 2007 felt His mother was born in Aratapu; his father was from the gum fields in the Far North He recalls how people would draw their breath in when he told them he had taken a role as principal of Tikipunga High School He just couldn’t have predicted his own personal challenges waiting around the corner The first sign anything was amiss was when he collapsed at a fancy restaurant An ambulance was called and he was taken to the stroke ward while a process of elimination was carried out before Parkinson’s was diagnosed “I was still playing a fairly high level of tennis before [being] diagnosed I told my family and we sat on that for a few months and then I told my whole school because I figured that’s an educated thing I could do and I felt liberated by that as there are quite a few misconceptions about Parkinson’s.” The developing symptoms of Parkinson’s have been a slow burn for Garelja over the years “Medical people are pleased my deterioration has been really slow You get inside trading on the ageing process There’s a misunderstanding - most people associate it with a tremor I only developed a tremor in the last year or two I think I’ve learned a lot about myself through Parkinson’s and it’s about accepting it and not sweating the small stuff because he starting carrying out charitable work as part of the Rotary Club and became chairman of Parkinson’s Northland where he has been a resource person for those newly diagnosed because “when you’re newly diagnosed “Helping others is one of the main things you can do for your health What I did find is it’s good to mix with other people who have got Parkinson’s so I went in walking groups where we could walk at our own pace and talk about things he is taking it a step further and returning back to West Auckland in a full-circle move “It’s part of that planning and we don’t want to do things reactive so we’re going into a retirement village which is completely independent but will also have assistance on hand,” he explains “We’ve spent the last 10 years living up here in Glinks Gully and it’s been really important to get that Northland identity and I’ve celebrated that I’d sit there on the log eating my apple and watch the waves going in and out I’d contemplate the world and then we’d go home I’ve used the beach and Northland as my saviour so it’s been learning to live life in the slow lane.” life in the slow lane has included writing (though he says his hand-writing is now non-existent) - both short stories and family history - reading photography and making music playlists for people The worst symptom for Garelja is loss of mobility “I’ve always been active and taken that for granted and now getting out of your seat is like an Olympic sport I had a couple of bad falls last year which knocked my confidence but I dislocated my shoulder and ended up in hospital Part of Parkinson’s is you can get this freezing “I’m of Dalmatian stock and we’re pretty stoic we’re pretty stubborn and we hang in there You’ll never hear me say I’m fighting - I don’t fight Parkinson’s I actually accept Parkinson’s as part of me.” he travelled to Croatia alone a couple of years ago to meet family “I always felt I had a trip in me and it’s part of my identity.” “I’ve had a great team around me - my wife and doctors but Northland’s also been part of my reason for why I’ve done really well and slowness forces you to reflect and to take time and smell the roses “I used to live by this Neil Young song [featuring the lyric] ‘It’s better to burn out than to fade away’ It’s been therapeutic - slowing down in life.” The 10 new affordable rental homes are receiving finishing touches in Wanaka St With some of the most unaffordable rental properties in New Zealand, Whangārei will be welcoming a new low-cost rental programme offered by housing charity Habitat for Humanity Applications have opened for the charity’s affordable rental programme with 10 new homes on Wanaka St in Tikipunga ready to welcome whānau from February The two and three-bedroom homes are on top of the 24 new rent-to-own homes Habitat for Humanity is having built in Tikipunga and Kensington It had 700 expressions of interest for this programme The charity also recently opened a 22-home community housing development in Maunu which provides homes for whānau living in emergency and transitional housing The affordable rentals are a new type of housing solution offering a middle ground between public housing and market rental or progressive home ownership said Habitat for Humanity northern chief executive Conrad LaPointe Rents are set at a maximum of 80% of market rate so tenants can save the remaining amount for their future housing goals “The affordability allows tenants to consolidate debt start accumulating a deposit for a new home,” LaPointe said “The tenure security provides tenants with the knowledge that this is a place they can call home.” Infometrics’ rent-to-income data shows Northland has some of the most unaffordable rent rates in the country with tenants needing to spend an average of 25.4% of the average income to get the average rent This is far higher than the national average of 22% and even more expensive than Auckland at 20.1% LaPointe said many people in Whangārei can barely afford to live in rental accommodation and “With a very low rental supply in Whangārei – we see this problem only increasing Being able to offer affordable rental [properties] is a start to addressing this problem Habitat for Humanity will manage the homes and provide support to help tenants reach future home ownership goals which means it invests in projects with a social environmental or cultural benefit but also a financial return Soul Capital’s fund Te Pae ki te Rangi is focused on projects in Northland and Auckland and backed by cornerstone investor Foundation North Soul Capital chief executive Jamie Newth said there is “a compelling need” to provide healthy and affordable homes in Whangārei with an increasing population and a notable housing shortage Applications for the affordable rental programme can be made on Habitat for Humanity’s website, www.habitat.org.nz She has more than 20 years’ experience in journalism and is passionate about covering stories that make a difference Police want to speak to this man in relation to a fatal fire in Tikipunga Police are renewing appeals for an ongoing homicide investigation into a fatal house fire in Tikipunga in late April Today, police released new CCTV images of a person they would like to speak with as part of their investigation Whangārei CIB have been investigating since the fire occurred in Thomas St just after 3am on Monday April 29 The sole occupant of the address, 61-year-old, Hoani Reupena-Tuoro, also known as John Reuben Detective Senior Sergeant John Clayton says Police are still asking for the public’s assistance in the case “Police have obtained CCTV footage of a person riding a bicycle in the Thomas St area at the time of the fire “We believe this person may be able to assist us with our inquires.” Police have called for anyone who saw or recognises the person on the bicycle on the night of April 29 to contact police “We would also like to hear from anyone who might know who owns the bicycle,” Detective Senior Sergeant Clayton said You can also contact Police online at https://www.police.govt.nz/use-105 and reference the file number above Police have requested that anyone who may have seen this missing teen Police have ended the search for missing 14-year-old Hayden who went missing from her Tikipunga home yesterday A police spokesperson said “the 14-year-old is safe We thank the community for their assistance in sharing our appeal today.” Earlier today police appealed to the public to report any sightings of Hayden was last seen at her home in Tikipunga last night Northland teenager Awatea Poutai has made history for his whānau by becoming the first in his family to attend university. The story of his can-do attitude and determination helps kick off On The Up - NZME’s editorial campaign that showcases uplifting stories of New Zealand success Tikipunga High School head boy Awatea Poutai still cannot believe he was awarded a First Foundation Scholarship and is now headed to Otago University to study Product Design “It feels like I don’t deserve it sometimes,” Poutai said “I was just so used to not getting stuff because we were kind of a poor family growing up so we didn’t get a lot.” said he was so used to going without that when he was given something it was out of the ordinary and often came as a shock He was even stunned to be picked as head boy this year despite many people telling the teen he would be Poutai said his family - none of whom had gone to university - were extremely proud when they learned of his scholarship “My parents said most of our family had dropped out of school to do other things Poutai was almost the eldest of seven children - pipped in age by two half-sisters His little sisters looked up to him and were now thinking about their futures Poutai’s scholarship acknowledged the teen’s academic success at high school His mum’s love of learning was passed down to him So combine the two and Poutai said that’s him He added in his own belief to always do what he can and make it the best he can do Poutai’s unwavering dedication to school was rocked when his dad Wayne suffered a major seizure two years ago and was in a coma for months “I didn’t go to school the entire time he was in hospital because I was afraid something might happen while I was there,” he said “I try to think about the positives of the situation and the future,” he said “It may be terrible now but maybe later it will be better.” Poutai plans to carry his resilience through with him on his pursuit of a life-long creative career His future leans more toward design than traditional painting but Poutai loves all of it “I just love making things with my own hands.” Poutai attended an awards ceremony on March 18 to officially receive his certificate for the scholarship which provides financial support towards university costs over three years as he had not fronted a crowd as big as the one attending the awards One of the big moments of the night was when his dad Wayne Poutai stood up in the crowd and surprised his son with a haka Poutai said he had been supported by Tikipunga High School and I Have a Dream - a charity focused on inspiring dreams and enabling futures for children and youth Tikipunga High School principal Emma Leyland said they were immensely proud of Poutai’s journey and growth over the past seven years integrity and leadership have made a lasting impact on our school community “His success is not only a reflection of his hard work kaiako and community who have supported him every step of the way Poutai said I Have A Dream provided opportunities like the First Foundation Scholarship for him to pursue matches students with dedicated mentors who help them overcome challenges and transition from school to university are supported and mentored by navigators who help them access education and employment opportunities Poutai was assigned a community-based mentor Now Poutai works with navigator Lucia Kotze Poutai said support systems like I Have A Dream and schools were crucial to help young people focus on their futures He believed teens were so busy worrying about now that they were too time poor to think years down the line “I think that’s why they drop out because they are thinking school will get me nowhere and I need a job that will help now.” He was looking forward to an “exciting” new year in 2026 and he wanted the same for others too His message for other youngsters reaching for dreams: “Just try A forecast 140 jobs are to be created over 30 years if plans are allowed to proceed A Tikipunga woman's car containing essential personal belongings was set alight by a suspected arsonist Police are calling for information from the public after a series of suspicious car fires in Tikipunga The spate of fires were all in vehicles on people’s driveways One was started in a car on Thomas St on Thursday about 6.30am and another on Wednesday about 4.15am on Heretaunga St is ruined - scorched by someone who didn’t care who they hurt My son and I depend on a car to get around (and) to get to visitations with his father I have no savings for facing something this catastrophic In April, this year 61-year-old Hoani Reuben (also known as John Reupena-Tuoro) died in a house fire thought to have started about 3am in a car on the driveway beside his Kainga Ora house in Thomas St About 6.15am the next day, a fire broke out at a house immediately next door to the one in which Reuben died which took six fire trucks to bring under control Fire investigator Craig Bain said it appeared the house had been empty for about 18 months and it had no power “We have no idea how it [the fire] started but it was definitely deliberately lit,” he said Police today did not comment as to whether these latest vehicle fires could be linked to earlier arsons a man was arrested and charged with arson in relation to the fatal house fire Homeowners in the Tiaki Rise subdivision say they face anti-social behaviour and were threatened by a gang associate after the final stage was sold to Kāinga Ora for social housing Homeowners who bought in a Whangārei housing development say their dreams have been shattered by anti-social behaviour after a whole stage of the subdivision was sold to Kāinga Ora for social housing But builder Barrett Homes says the project provides much-needed homes in the area and people are still keen to buy in the development Tiaki Rise in Tikipunga is a 122-house development led by EB Developments a company owned by Tauranga-based building company Barrett Group The majority of the houses are being built by Barrett Homes In March 2023, Kāinga Ora announced it was spending just over $26 million to buy 35 new homes in stage four of the Tiaki Rise development Twenty-four of the new homes have now been built and tenanted whose Tiaki Rise home is on the edge of stage four the social housing cluster has left them feeling locked in their home One neighbour with gang affiliations constantly wore a balaclava and threatened Tina he would burn their house down That neighbour has since been moved on by Kāinga Ora but the fear remains for the couple in their 50s loud vehicles and cars parked all over the street The situation is amplified because Adam suffers from a rare disorder a neurological condition called baroreceptor reflex failure which means he has such extremes in blood pressure he can barely stand without fainting got pretty defensive and nearly passed out,” he said The incurable condition developed when Adam underwent treatment for throat cancer The new home was meant to be a quiet neighbourhood for their early retirement, but all of that was “destroyed” with the Kāinga Ora development “We didn’t see ourselves out on the street battling gang members,” he said Tina and Adam said before they signed an agreement to buy in October 2021 they asked about the future of the subdivision and any potential social housing They were told there could be a few Kāinga Ora houses dotted around the neighbourhood It was not until a week before they moved into their house they were told about stage four being sold to Kāinga Ora Adam said he has no problem with most social housing tenants but he disagrees with the way the Kāinga Ora houses are clustered together rather than being spread throughout the development “I grew up in poverty - I’ve been homeless and desperate and I would never stop someone having a home but it’s nonsensical to choose to group all these houses together because you’re increasing the chance of there being problems.” Tina said had the couple known about the Kāinga Ora development after being told by a real estate agent their home is worth $100,000 less than what they paid Adam and Tina allege changes to the covenants between the early stages and their own stage meant Barrett Homes had been planning to sell to Kāinga Ora earlier than it let on also felt Barrett Homes went back on its assurances it would not sell out to Kāinga Ora The homeowner signed up in 2022 and was told homes would not be social housing She believed that changed when the housing market slowed and the developer had to consider all options The woman said crime has increased in the area including a flatmate’s car being stolen outside their house with real estate agents admitting buyers are concerned about the social housing Barrett Homes said it did not know Kāinga Ora would buy the homes until the deal was done which is providing good-quality homes in an area where there is a shortage Maree Melton, Barrett Homes national hub general manager, said Whangārei needs an extra 20,100 homes by 2051, according to Te Rautaki Whare o Whangārei, Whangārei District Housing Strategy “Our communities face a shortage of housing both to buy and to rent We are proud to be building good quality homes as one small part of solving that very large problem.” Melton said there is still demand for Tiaki Rise with sites moving quickly and just two lots remaining in the 122-lot development “Kāinga Ora buying stage four was not planned But we understand the huge need for social housing and we are proud of the outcome,” she said “Barrett Homes would definitely work with Kāinga Ora again We have a good working relationship with Kāinga Ora and they have been professional to deal with.” Melton said the value of individual houses across the country has fallen since 2021 related to economic factors that is part of the cyclic nature of house prices “It appears a causal link is being made that cannot be substantiated.” Her sentiments are reflected by Jeff Murray who said there are 642 whānau waiting for social housing in Whangārei alone Kāinga Ora already owned 240 homes in Tikipunga when it signed the agreement with Barrett Homes in November 2022 The Tiaki Rise subdivision was chosen not only to increase social housing but because it allowed existing tenants to remain in the suburb while older houses were upgraded Murray said there are many reasons behind the decreased property values school zoning and property condition have the most influence on values Kāinga Ora had unfortunately received complaints about disruptive behaviour from a couple of tenants One has been relocated and other noise-related complaints are being investigated our job is to provide our customers with a stable home for as long as they need it we expect them to be good tenants and neighbours “For the most part our customers in Tiaki Rise have settled in well to their new homes.” Murray said if people are experiencing any issues with their Kāinga Ora neighbours they should get in contact immediately and provide as much detail as possible Alec Solomon has been named principal of Whangārei Boys' High School Alec Solomon has been appointed the new principal for Whangārei Boys High School after serving Tikipunga High School for 11 years He is due to take over from the current principal with plans to pick up a directorship at the Education Group Tikipunga High School and Whangārei Boys’ High announced the change on social media yesterday in a move that has Solomon “genuinely excited” he said despite being a small part of the schools’ history he was looking forward to being part of a “very bright future” The Tikipunga High School board remains on the lookout for someone to replace him but he felt the school was in a strong position with quality staff and leadership He was also proud of the collective culture that has been created at Tikipunga High School which has led to Māori educational achievement exceeding national numbers he stated that he was confident in its ability to continue going from strength to strength Tikipunga High School will always hold a special place in my heart “I look forward to staying connected and supporting the ongoing success of this school in every way I can.” When asked about the shift to a larger school he told the Advocate the fundamentals would remain the same “It’s about being very clear about your values and working in partnership with the students and whanāu to deliver quality teaching and learning.” Solomon has a master’s degree in educational leadership from the University of Auckland a diploma in teaching and a bachelor’s degree in physical education He brings with him 20 years in educational leadership overall with other roles at Rangitoto College and Albany Senior High School Solomon also serves on the executive board of the Secondary Principals Association of New Zealand Whangārei Boys’ High School Board presiding member Andrew Carvell said there was a rigorous selection process that led to Solomon’s appointment That included consultation with the school community to develop criteria referees’ reports and checks and interviews.” Carvell said a pōwhiri for Solomon would be organised and announced in the New Year Smith’s resignation was announced to the school community in August after serving as principal for nine years “Our students and staff have been very fortunate to have Karen as our tumuaki during some of the most challenging times for our school and community,” Carvell said “We wish her all the very best in the new chapter of her career and look forward to formally acknowledging her contributions to Whangārei Boys’ High School later in term four.” 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 Glenice Hall lights up her Hilltop Avenue home on November 25 each year to mark the passing of her grandson It’s been 26 years of Glenice Hall decorating her Hilltop Avenue house to bring festive cheer to her community – and she’s showing no signs of slowing down Hall’s home is illuminated in a dazzling display in memory of her and her husband Lloyd’s grandson His legacy has brought endless joy to the bright-eyed children who have grown up visiting Hall’s home-turned-Christmas wonderland Hall has not once missed a Christmas display “I’m just a big kid when it comes to Christmas and I love sharing it.” One of the highlights for Hall has been seeing people who were once children bringing their own Her annual effort requires a lot of mahi which she does mostly on her own It takes six weeks to put together if she dedicates three to four hours a day some of them require replacing if the weather doesn’t play ball She also tries to keep the lawns regularly mowed which requires pulling up some stakes from lights and moving lights away to prune her many flower beds While an array of colours illuminate her garden and home at night A new nativity scene has this year been added and the iconic Santa sitting on a long drop remains a staple Children visiting can also post their letters to Santa through a mailbox straight to the North Pole The wishing well in her garden is a major part of her display and has collected money for many charities over the years Hato Hone St John and Starship and this year the Northland Rescue Helicopter It’s something close to her heart after the team transported both her husband and sister on separate occasions She said the effort is only for those who have the means to donate For those wondering whether she is out of pocket thanks to the hundreds of lights there isn’t much more than $10-15 added to her electricity bill Hall said she’s enjoyed seeing other homes getting into the Christmas spirit this year it’s the Christmas spirit and doing something that’s not going to cost the earth.” She encouraged more people to get started by slowly building up their collection “Just get a couple at a time each year and slowly expand it If you’re wondering where to get your Christmas lights fix we’ve compiled a list of the region’s most festive homes Northland Scaffolding Ltd on the corner of Pipiwai and Kamo Rd Email us at reporters@northernadvocate.co.nz so we can add it The Hits is running a contest where Northlanders can vote for their favourite spot The winning homeowner will go in the draw to win a $200 Prezzy card Voting is open at thehits.co.nz until Wednesday Habitat for Humanity's northern region housing manager Carina Dickson is excited about the new affordable homes being built in Tikipunga Northlanders wanting to buy their first home but struggling to save a deposit are being offered a helping hand through Habitat for Humanity The charity was providing the largest number of affordable houses to be built in Whangārei with 24 homes under way in Tikipunga and Kensington northern region chief executive Conrad LaPointe said It is now accepting applications for its rent-to-own scheme for these houses Habitat for Humanity’s progressive home ownership scheme works through a long-term partnership with whānau The selected families pay rent on the home and this rent – minus expenses like rates – is saved for a deposit if people were also contributing to KiwiSaver they normally had about 50% of the value of the home after 10 years banks would be keen to give them a mortgage The programme is aimed at working couples and families who can afford rent but cannot save for a deposit – one of the biggest problems the charity heard about Latest data from realestate.co.nz shows the average asking price in Whangārei is $815,000 LePointe was clear the programme was not for everyone. Selected families had to meet a minimum income threshold, be able to afford market rent and show they could manage any existing debt The scheme is also different to social housing. Habitat is also a community housing provider and will soon open a further 23 homes on Maunu Rd as low-cost community rentals “We have plans to develop more public housing but we’re very committed to getting people into owning their own homes,” LePointe said We try to do that through our progressive home-ownership programme the only thing that’s available for us in terms of long-term financial security is having an asset that’s yours We try to enable that for working families.” Habitat for Humanity’s programmes aimed to make houses more affordable in Whangārei and advocated for the Government to invest more in housing in Te Tai Tokerau The rent-to-buy scheme was enabled by support from the previous Labour Government which allowed the organisation to access cheap debt LaPointe hoped this sort of support would continue “Public housing is not the only answer to the housing crisis .. We don’t need a huge amount of money to enable people to get into home ownership.” As well as meeting minimum income requirements families wanting to join the rent-to-own scheme must be prepared to work with a financial mentor be already living in Whangārei and contribute some “sweat equity” into the community Expressions of interest are now open on Habitat’s website by which time the new houses are expected to be finished The suspected arson on Thomas St on Thursday is immediately next to the house where Hoani Reupena-Tuoro died in a house fire (left rear) A fire in Whangārei in an empty Kāinga Ora home, next to the site of a fatal fire The fire on Thomas Street in Tikipunga was well-involved when Fire and Emergency NZ were called at about 6.15am on Thursday six fire trucks were needed to control the flames By 9.30am the fire trucks were no longer needed but an investigator remained at the scene while smoke damage could be seen on the house eaves Police are now investigating and have urged anyone with information to come forward The damaged property is next to the home where 61-year-old Hoani Reupena-Tuoro died after a fatal car and house fire on April 29 A man has been arrested and charged with arson for that case Bain said it would be up to police to investigate if there is a link between the two fires but he could not see any connection other than the location Thomas St has a number of empty Kāinga Ora houses, with redevelopment in the consenting stage Police did not answer questions about whether the two incidents were linked Kāinga Ora Northland regional director Jeff Murray confirmed the fire was at a Kāinga Ora home and believed to be deliberately lit He confirmed the agency owns a number of Thomas St homes including some vacated as they were proposed for future redevelopment Murray would not comment on security for the empty homes: “Security arrangements for vacant properties are considered on a site-by-site basis and are not something we publicly comment on for safety reasons “Redevelopment of our Thomas St homes is under assessment while we confirm our social housing projects for the next two years with a focus on priority locations and best value for money,” he said Fire and police investigators examine the house on Thomas St after Hoani Reupena-Tuoro died after the suspicious blaze Six weeks after the death of Hoani Reupena-Tuoro in a suspicious fire in Northland police are yet to make an arrest but remain determined to find out what happened and why The 61-year-old, also known as John Reuben died on April 29 after a car fire spread to a house on Thomas St in Whangārei’s Tikipunga Detective Senior Sergeant John Clayton, from Whangārei CIB, said the investigation is ongoing to find out exactly what happened and to locate the person “We appreciate the public still have a number of questions regarding this investigation and we would like to reassure them we are working hard to answer them,” he said “These questions include the why – and our dedicated team are working tirelessly to understand this to provide this and bring a resolution to Hoani’s whānau.” Clayton said he was aware of public speculation around the fire starting from a Molotov cocktail and police are not considering it as part of enquiries “While there are some aspects of the investigation we cannot comment on at this stage we continue to believe there is no immediate ongoing risk to the public due to our investigation to date,” he said Police thank members of the public who have provided information and footage which continues to be reviewed as part of the investigation alongside available CCTV footage from the area Clayton said police continue to encourage anyone else who may have information to please get in touch particularly anyone with footage around the Thomas St area between 2am and 6am on Monday April 29 Information can be provided through the 105 phone or online service Anyone with footage that may help can upload it online information can be provided anonymously through Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111 Denise Piper is a news reporter for the Northern Advocate, focusing on health and business. She has more than 20 years in journalism and is passionate about covering stories that make a difference. Haydn Christy was jailed in 2016 for 12 years with an 8-year minimum non-parole period. The Tikipunga fire was first spotted by a member of the public at around 5.30am on January 2 when they came across a vehicle on fire on the front lawn of a residential property. The member alerted the property's occupants and helped them move another vehicle to safety. "Police would like to speak to this member of the public and any other potential witnesses who may have seen or heard something suspicious in Kiripaka Road around the time of the fire," Acting Detective Senior Sergeant Shane Pilmer said. He asked anyone who can help to contact police via 105. Police appealed for witnesses to come forward following a "suspicious" fire in Whangārei on Thursday morning. Man charged after gun allegedly fired in Masterton MSD office Police said it was believed to be an isolated incident with no wider risk to the public Crime and Justice Bystanders prevent attempted abduction of Auckland primary student Police said they were investigating the incident which occurred outside Rowandale School in the suburb of Manurewa at around 3pm on Monday Homicide investigation after man dies in Auckland's Manurewa Emergency services were called to the property on Mahia Rd just before 10am to a report of a man "seriously injured" Vandals in 4WDs mow down The damage was done overnight on Saturday after the vandals first removed new vehicle barriers in front of the trees Owner prosecuted after dog starves to death SPCA inspectors found evidence suggesting Mike had been tethered to the same spot "for an extended period" Blaze at McDonald's in east Auckland treated as suspected arson Counties Manukau CIB Detective Senior Sergeant Michele Gillespie said a scene guard has been in place at the restaurant overnight Auditor-General launches probe into school lunches 18 mins ago Man charged after gun allegedly fired in Masterton MSD office 29 mins ago Police plea after 'oversight' left Bondi killer without help 57 mins ago Sullivan's four-try onslaught highlights Chiefs' vulnerabilities 2:03pm Watch question time live as Parliament resumes after recess 1:53pm Bystanders prevent attempted abduction of Auckland primary student 1 min ago 1Bystanders prevent attempted abduction of Auckland primary student Two men's shared name brings years of trouble and a hefty bill to one Vandals in 4WDs mow down, destroy 38 pōhutukawa trees in Napier Person dies following morning crash on Auckland motorway Photos: Lorde among stars at 2025 Met Gala 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 fans Sun, May 4 Lorde announces new album name, date Thu, May 1 Kim Kardashian to testify in Paris trial over 2016 armed robbery Mon, Apr 28 Chubby Checker, Outkast, Cyndi Lauper join Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Mon, Apr 28 Kim Kardashian to testify in Paris trial over 2016 armed robbery Mon Police appealed for witnesses to come forward following a "suspicious" fire in Whangārei on Thursday morning The Tikipunga fire was first spotted by a member of the public at around 5.30am on January 2 when they came across a vehicle on fire on the front lawn of a residential property The member alerted the property's occupants and helped them move another vehicle to safety "Police would like to speak to this member of the public and any other potential witnesses who may have seen or heard something suspicious in Kiripaka Road around the time of the fire," Acting Detective Senior Sergeant Shane Pilmer said He asked anyone who can help to contact police via 105 A 25-year-old man has appeared in court after he allegedly fired a gun at another person inside a Ministry of Social Development office in Masterton yesterday Police were called to the incident on Lincoln Rd at around 12.40pm on Monday Wairarapa Area Commander Inspector Nick Thom said there were no reports of injuries from the incident "Following police's initial enquiries one person was taken into custody a short time later nearby." Cordons were put in place around the area and some staff were armed as a precaution Thom said it was believed to be an isolated incident with no wider risk to the public "Police would like to commend Ministry of Social Development staff for their prompt actions in following their lockdown procedures as this enabled police to provide a swift response to resolve this incident quickly." A 25-year-old man appeared in Masterton District Court today charged with unlawful possession of a firearm and conducting a dangerous act with intent to cause grievous bodily harm Vandals in four-wheel drives have mown down 38 pōhutukawa trees on Napier’s Marine Parade She said the council was concerned at the behaviour and said an early estimate to replace the damage came to $20,000 "These trees were planted for our community by the Rotary Club as a gift over the past five years," Wise said "There are lots of community groups who work alongside us to make sure Napier has places and spaces that are beautiful and welcoming and Rotary is a key partner in projects like this one "It is heartbreaking to see community resources time and energy treated in this way," she said "The damage was done by people in 4WD vehicles after removing the vehicle barriers and driving over the trees Our parks' team is looking closely at the cost to replace them and at how to ensure the trees are kept safe." recently erected along Marine Parade to keep vehicles off the beach but there was no evidence to suggest the vandalism was related to that to be installed from the National Aquarium of NZ to the Pump Track were to prevent vehicles from tearing up the grass and destroying trees fishermen profiled in a Hawke’s Bay Today article last week said it was a case of blocking their access to prevent "idiots" "It’s not going to stop the idiots doing the damage," one noted Napier City Council has reported the incident to police Local Democracy Reporting is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air A Southland man whose dog was found starved to death has been sentenced to community work was found dead in his kennel by Invercargill City Council Animal Control officers in June 2023 SPCA inspectors executed a search warrant and found evidence which suggested Mike had been tethered to the same spot "for an extended period" with a rusty chain He was prosecuted for failing to seek veterinary care for the severely malnourished dog The ground Mike was restricted to was described as "worn down" "His body was in extremely poor condition and pelvis were clearly visible," SPCA said A post-mortem confirmed the dog had the lowest possible body condition score which suggested Mike had been starved over several weeks His stomach and intestines were "almost entirely empty" The offender admitted he had not checked on the dog for "about a week" The man claimed he had not contacted a vet or the SPCA because he could not afford to do so He was sentenced to 200 hours of community service at the Invercargill District Court after pleading guilty to charges relating to the treatment of Mike He was also ordered to pay reparations of $233.88 for veterinary costs and $500 towards legal costs He was disqualified from owning dogs for a period of five years SPCA chief executive Todd Westwood said Mike's death was the result of neglect that could have been avoided This case is a clear reminder that if an animal is unwell It’s a basic responsibility of pet ownership,” he said He said prolonged tethering was "unacceptable and heartbreaking", which was why the SPCA advocated for new regulations that would be released later this year "The prolonged tethering of dogs is an issue that our inspectors deal with daily While it is difficult to gather accurate numbers it is safe to say this issue impacts the lives of thousands of dogs in New Zealand." Associate Agriculture Minister Andrew Hoggard said in April that the new regulations would give animal welfare inspectors the tools to intervene quickly when dogs are suffering harm from being tied up for long periods Hoggard said he had "been hearing a lot from members of the public" who want to see action taken" on the issue of dog chaining "Most dog owners in New Zealand treat their animals well and these regulations will have little to no impact upon them," he said "I’m confident these regulations will result in better outcomes for those dogs "We have a few steps to follow to get these proposals ready to become law but it is my expectation that these will be finalised by the end of the year That will be followed by a short period with a focus on education so that all dog owners understand their obligations and to allow those who need to make changes time to adapt." The changes agreed on through Cabinet included: A law change was first proposed and consulted on two years ago Nearly 30,000 people signed a petition to Parliament on the issue in 2021 Police say a fire at a McDonald's restaurant in Pakuranga is being investigated as a suspected arson Emergency services attended the fire on Pakuranga Rd just before 3pm yesterday Large plumes of smoke could be seen and explosions heard at the fast food restaurant which has "sustained significant fire damage as a result" "At this point in time we are treating this fire as a suspected arson "A scene examination is being conducted this morning and police will work alongside a fire investigator," she said Gillespie said part of these inquiries would be working to understand how the fire began She said police would like to hear from anyone who saw suspicious activity prior to the fire Anyone with information was urged to contact police online or anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111 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 A coroner is likely to recommend improvements after an overworked police force failed to connect a mass killer to the mental health system before his unprovoked attack had been diagnosed with schizophrenia as a teen and was experiencing psychotic symptoms when he killed six people and injured 10 at Sydney's Westfield Bondi Junction in April 2024 An inquest has been told Queensland Police had a number of chances to plug him back into mental health treatment and medication ahead of the tragedy Cauchi was homeless and living apart from his family in Toowoomba when he was shot dead by police during his stabbing rampage He had stopped taking his medication in 2019 and stopped seeing a psychiatrist in 2020 Queensland police officers made several calls for change including greater numbers of mental health officers within the force They also suggested that laws regarding when mentally ill people could be forced to take an involuntary psychiatric examination be amended to be less confusing manager of the Queensland police's vulnerable persons unit said the changes were needed to prevent the criminalisation of those with mental illness "Mental health shouldn't just be a police response," he told the NSW Coroners Court "It's a no-brainer to me that there should be appropriate responses that are health-led." Counsel assisting Peggy Dwyer said that changing legislation around police powers was "shaping up to be a significant recommendation" at the inquest This week's evidence has focused on one particular incident in January 2023 when Cauchi called police to his family's Toowoomba home He accused his father Andrew of stealing his collection of knives telling attending officers that they had to be returned or he would become bankrupt or homeless A follow-up visit to the Cauchi family home was requested and the fill-in police mental health incident co-ordinator for the Darling Downs region saw the email — but he forgot to action it due to an "oversight" the co-ordinator he was filling in for backed the officer "His oversight on that email is devastating," she said "It's not indicative of him as an officer or how he performed my role." She also backed a call for further assistance saying police officers were under greater pressure due to increasing numbers of call-outs relating to mental health despite not being trained in this area "If it's not bleeding and it's not on fire the police are the people who have to attend," she said police were called to Cauchi's unit in Brisbane after residents heard a man screaming and the sound of someone being hit He told attending officers that he had been slamming his fridge Cauchi was also pulled over three times in 2020 and 2021 by highway patrol police for erratic driving The Chiefs are putting their faith in first-five Damian McKenzie recovering from a hand injury in time to play the Crusaders in what is a pivotal game in Christchurch on Saturday But just as important to the Super Rugby Pacific leaders will be improving a defence which leaked 26 unanswered points in the second half of their 35-17 defeat to the Hurricanes It was an uncharacteristic defensive lapse by a usually highly consistent side who retained their place at the top of the table thanks to their superior points differential compared with the Crusaders the Chiefs face Moana Pasifika in Hamilton and the Highlanders in Dunedin in the run in to the playoffs – games very much in the winnable category although the former have surprised a few this season The Crusaders’ run-in features the Waratahs in Sydney the Highlanders in Christchurch and a potentially difficult trip to Canberra to play the third-placed Brumbies Every team has looked vulnerable at times this season The Crusaders’ two losses came against the Chiefs in Hamilton and a shock defeat to Moana Pasifika — both heavy although they did escape a Hurricanes’ comeback in Wellington in round nine They also needed two James O’Connor penalties in the final 10 minutes to beat the Blues a week later But the Chiefs’ downfall at the weekend was as unexpected as it was spectacular after they led 17-9 at the break Replacement wing Bailyn Sullivan made history when scoring all four of the Hurricanes’ tries after the break as the home side too easily unlocked the Chiefs’ defence via a long pass a break through Cortez Ratima and Shaun Stevenson close to the line an excellent wide cross-kick by Ruben Love and a shorter grubber kick by Riley Higgins Getting McKenzie back on the field after he missed the last two weekends for the Chiefs will be important for their game management but a Crusaders attack that ran in six tries against the Highlanders last time out will threaten them in different ways the Crusaders may be without All Black Will Jordan Jordan has played in all 10 Crusaders matches this season and head coach Rob Penney has been guarded about Jordan's rest plan of his All Blacks No.10 McKenzie: “Everything's tracking in the direction that he should be available but we won't count our chickens before they hatch.” the defending champion Blues must win in Suva against the Drua to force their way back into the playoffs mix after being overtaken for the sixth and final spot by Moana Pasifika Moana Pasifika beat the Highlanders 34-29 in Dunedin – their first win over the southerners in another Ardie Savea-inspired performance 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 A person has died following a crash on Auckland's south-western motorway this morning The single vehicle crash was reported to police shortly before 5am the sole occupant of this vehicle died at the scene," a police spokesperson said "Earlier closures of northbound lanes have now lifted and police advise motorists to continue to expect delays as earlier backlogs clear "We appreciate motorists' understanding this morning while emergency services carried out their work." Police said the serious crash unit examined the scene this morning and an investigation was underway into this morning's crash on behalf of the Coroner This is in addition to an earlier crash on Auckland's northern motorway near the Auckland Harbour Bridge Emergency services responded to a two-truck collision on the northern motorway near the Auckland Harbour Bridge shortly after 5am New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) said all lanes south on State Highway 1 were open again following this earlier crash with five lanes available on the Harbour Bridge "Allow extra time for delays on the Northern Motorway to slowly ease this morning three lanes going south were now open again between Onewa Rd and the Harbour Bridge," NZTA said 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 Layla the lap dog was in a vehicle when it was stolen from outside a shop in the Whangārei suburb of Tikipunga inside a car when it was allegedly stolen from outside a Whangārei store last week Police confirmed they found a Mazda 626 Hatchback vehicle abandoned on Steere Place, Whangārei, after it was reported missing from a carpark outside Meadow Park Dairy and Takeaways, Tikipunga The vehicle’s owner was in the store when someone took the car from where it was parked directly out the front Layla was no longer in the car when police located it and police did not know if she had since been found in public Facebook posts the vehicle’s owner said Layla had been found albeit with an injured paw that she appeared to have suffered when being “turfed out” of the vehicle 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 A 14-year-old girl reported missing in Whangārei has been found Hayden was last seen at her Tikipunga home on Sunday night and is now safe Police thanked the community for assistance in sharing an appeal for Hayden today Volunteers are streaming in and rescue dogs have been sent in during the search for an autistic boy missing in terrain filled with waterways and forestry A Whangārei woman is distraught - as well as out of pocket and without transport - after her car was destroyed during a spate of seemingly random arson attacks said her car was torched about 4.15am on Wednesday this week; another car a few streets away was burnt out on Thursday The fire also destroyed her driver's licence May said her partner was jolted out of bed when the fire triggered the car horn Then I saw the flames coming out the windows and I went into a panic and less than a metre from a tall wooden fence Her partner raced outside and started dousing the fire with a hose while she called 111 She feared the flames could spread via the fence and trees to the house May said she knew no reason why she would be targeted "It seems like someone's just going around doing this for no reason." which she'd bought second-hand four years ago was insured - but the amount she'd get back was so minimal it would not come close to covering the cost of a replacement Once her son was in day care she'd be able to look for a job The blaze had left her distraught and in disbelief She had been pleasantly surprised, however, by the response when she set up a Givealittle page explaining her plight who've been incredibly supportive and generous." As of 5pm on Friday more than $3700 had been donated Some "lovely ladies" had given her a pram and car seat and neighbours had dropped off toys to replace what her boy had lost in the blaze Between the Givealittle appeal and the small insurance payout she hoped she would have enough to buy a reliable May said she'd become attached to her old car "It was reliable and safe and it always got me from A to B She said she didn't want anyone else to lose their car to a random arson attack said police were "keeping an open mind" as to whether all three fires involved the same offenders There was no known link with a fire that took the life of Tikipunga resident John Reuben The 61-year-old died after a car fire spread to his Thomas Street home just before 3am on 29 April Serfontein urged Tikipunga residents to be vigilant especially in the early hours of the morning and report any suspicious activity by calling 111 While no one had been injured in the latest fires they had a serious effect on families who had lost their only means of transportation Serfontein asked anyone with information about the fires to call 105 or use the online reporting form A man has been charged with arson after a fatal fire in Whangārei Website intended for a New Zealand health professional readership sforbes@nzdoctor.co.nz Kia ora and welcome to New Zealand Doctor Rata Aotearoa Not a subscriber? Unlock this article by subscribing here. Hall discusses the evaluation of thyroid nodules which primarily aims to determine the likelihood of malignancy He then reviews the treatment of thyroid nodules and thyroid cancer New Zealand Doctor Rata Aotearoa Online is intended for a New Zealand health professional readership. Use of this site implies acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Statement New Zealand Doctor Rata Aotearoa Online is not a consumer medical advice service Consumers should seek advice from a health professional and not act in reliance on any statement contained in the information provided A man has been charged with arson after a fatal fire in Whangārei Hoani Reuben died in a fire in his home on Thomas Street on 29 April Detective Senior Sergeant John Clayton said a 48-year-old man has been charged with arson and will appear in Whangārei District Court in September He said police are not ruling our further charges but they are not seeking anyone else in this investigation spread to his home in the suburb of Tikipunga took to the field for Ngunguru for the last time on Thursday against one of his former teams Tikipunga After more than 40 years playing and coaching football in Whangārei football ‘legend’ Ray Broad is finally hanging up his boots but he was determined to make his last game a significant one Broad lined up for the Ngunguru Third Division team against the first team he played for in the city - Tikipunga walking to the sidelines to cheers and congratulations from players from both teams and spectators Broad has always been an inspirational and motivational figure for his teams The Ngunguru team was 0-1 down against Tikipunga at half time ‘and they were all over us’ but after one of Broad’s ‘inspirational team talks’ they came back to win 4-3 and was a fitting way to end his final game ‘’Ray’s just a legend of football in Whangārei having played for so long and coached so many players at different teams He’s a real inspiration and his team pep talks really motivate the boys,’’ Herbert said ‘’He really geed up the team at half time (on Thursday) and inspired us to the result.’’ Broad will continue supporting and motivating the team at training and on game days for as long as he can coming here on the recommendation of his father ‘who had travelled the world a bit’ in 1963 He settled at Ngunguru with wife Jacqui and he has never looked back He originally played rugby ‘because I was a big Sid Going fan and the standard of football here in those days wasn’t very flash’ he started playing football in 1983 for Tikipunga He’s since played for or coached at Madhatters and his depth of knowledge of the beautiful game is unrivalled Broad said his love of the game had kept him involved for so long and he loved to train the next generation of players as they came through In fact there’ll be many players in Whangārei who have benefited from his expertise It’s a great game and you make some life long friendships through it And I feel really privileged to have been involved this long,’’Broad said got him a club hoodie with ‘Sir Ray’ printed on the back to show just how highly they thought of him So what has he enjoyed most about the teams he’s played for and coached it’s been an honour to be involved and help out ‘’I’ve made some lifetime mates through football It’s a great game to play and be around and I’d recommend it to anybody.’’ his granddaughter Niahm Quann representing NZ at under 15 and under 17 level Herbert said Broad had been around the game in Whangārei for so long that everybody knew his name with many having their game improved by his input ‘’He’s coached most of us over the years and his love of the game and passion is unbelievable and he inspires so many people,’’ Herbert said ‘’Ray started playing here with Tiki so it’s very fitting Ngunguru play their last game of the season on Saturday and Broad will be on the sideline cheering them on - and giving them some of his unique inspirational talks Budget documents show the government was told of "profound" wellbeing benefits from the free school lunch scheme months before it decided to trim its funding The findings come from a yet-to-be-published study that also found achievement improved at some schools participating in the Ka Ora The research was supposed to be published in June but was still under wraps Budget papers published this week referred to the study's early findings "Emerging findings support previous evaluation findings but also highlight further benefits of the programme including improvements in achievement and the importance of universality," said a December briefing note to Minister of Education Erica Stanford "This includes that learners are more settled and able to engage with classroom activity and learning with some schools showing increased academic achievement resulting from an enhanced learning experience from being more settled and less distracted Initial findings also indicate that the programme is having a profound impact on the wellbeing of learners," it said The briefing said feedback from schools highlighted the importance of a universal lunch scheme that provided food to all children in a given school and learners was that student-level targeting ('means-testing') requires learners to self-identify as in-need refuse to engage with free kai programmes," it said The briefing said earlier evaluations found the scheme resulted in happier The documents said the lunch scheme reached about 235,000 children - about 27 percent of all school students - but covered 60 percent of children living in material hardship and 67 percent of those in severe material hardship the government cut annual funding for the scheme by $107 million reducing the per-student spend for children at intermediate and secondary schools to $3 A March briefing paper about changing the model for Ka Ora Ka Ako said it was not clear whether lunches could be provided at that price "The most significant risk from the proposal is that we have not market-tested or otherwise analysed the proposed $3 per head price We do not know whether sufficient supply exists to offer lunches to the specified standard at this price across the full range of schools," the document said It said the change was also likely to create more work for school staff "Schools moving to the alternative model will move from having supported lunch supply (e.g. external suppliers or paid school staff) to managing the ordering and management of surplus of the alternative food option themselves without additional resources," it said The charity says the poverty line is shifting and people who didn't previously need help Up to 10,000 more hungry children under five will become eligible for free lunches under the government's revised lunches in schools programme A Northland school is urging the government to rethink its plans to cut back the free lunches programme saying the meals have greatly improved student attendance and behaviour The coalition is confident Budget 2024 is just what was promised: tax relief for the squeezed middle and reduced spending A principal says she has been told the meals won't meet the same nutrition standards because of cost Police continue to investigate the fatal fire in Thomas St A man police were seeking after the death of a man in a house fire in Tikipunga has come forward and been eliminated from the inquiry On April 29, emergency services were called to a Northland address on Thomas St at 3.09 am after a fire started in a car and spread to the house Hoani Reupena-Tuoro was found with critical injuries but died at the scene Police say the fire was arson and they have commenced a homicide investigation The man with tattoos was in the Te Kura Kaupapa school at the rear of the property that was set alight Whangārei police Detective Senior Sergeant John Clayton said they have since received a substantial amount of information from the public “We would like to thank the community for their assistance This person has come forward and has been eliminated from the police inquiry “But we would still like to hear from anyone who knows who started this fire or saw anyone in the area that night between the hours of 1.30am through to 3.30am on Monday 29 April,” Clayton said Northlanders with any footage concerning the incident could assist by uploading their video by going to https://egret.nc3.govt.nz/ Police would also like to hear from anyone who has information via 105 phone service or online at https://www.police.govt.nz/use-105 People can use reference file number 240429/4766 information can be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111 Tikipunga High School student Mj Keegan-Witehira The Healthy School Lunch programme is about more than just feeding hungry pupils according to Tikipunga High School students Ka Ora, Ka Ako also provides a chance for kinship as students all sit together and eat their healthy The school is one of 115 in Northland getting free school lunches for all students, funded by the Ministry of Education, and among thousands of voices advocating for the programme to stay Associate Education Minister David Seymour has been tasked with reducing the costs of the programme by 30 to 50 per cent that provides nutrition at a crucial time of day and helps kids stay engaged in school – or at least that’s the theory – and we are making sure it goes to the right kids and is done in a way that is cost effective,” he said Seymour previously criticised Ka Ora, Ka Ako for creating food waste and not improving attendance or benefiting Māori students Tikipunga High School held an open lunch day to show Northland politicians and health leaders how its lunch programme works The school employs three staff to make the meals in-house and hosts students in the cafeteria over three different lunch sessions Sixteen-year-old pupil Trent Bowater volunteered to speak to dignitaries because he can see the benefits of students eating their meals together “We have karakia and it teaches you manners It’s a vital and important way of getting together; it seems like an important way to communicate,” he said it will impact a lot of kids who don’t have food at home.” “It tastes like something my mum would make or you would get in a restaurant.” Making the meals available to all students and sitting together to eat does create extra benefits to the scheme from the University of Waikato’s school of health “There’s additional benefits for all kids that come from having universal food “Food is about more than just putting fuel in bodies - it’s about socialisation and caring.” there has not been enough time to research all the benefits But the programme is showing improvements in student attendance especially for children from the most deprived homes Tikipunga High School acting principal Emma Leyland agrees and says a 90 per cent attendance rate in term one proves it Recent feedback from parents shows the healthy school lunches encourage students to go to school and relieve budget pressures on parents and free up time in the mornings Leyland said cutting costs by not making the meals available to every student - or asking parents to contribute - would not work in the low-decile school where parents struggle to cover compulsory costs and some students might be too shy to ask for food Eleven-year-old Mj Keegan-Witehira said if the healthy school lunch programme ended it would mean the loss of jobs for the three cooks saying her favourite is butter chicken - a very popular choice among students Tikipunga has received the most noise complaints in Whangārei over the past three years Northland’s three district councils have revealed the neighbourhoods with the most noise complaints under the Official Information Act (OIA) — and the results may be surprising to some Loud music, boy racers and barking dogs may have led to a small rural town receiving the most noise complaints in the entire Kaipara district while a suburb in Whangārei may produce the loudest neighbours Councils are encouraging residents to “be good neighbours” following the OIA revelations Te Kōpuru’s Norton St was the source of the most noise complaints in a single street in the Kaipara district While known as a rural area with a population of 501 in the 2018 Census the news came as no surprise to residents of the street They say drivers ignoring speed limits treated the road as a speedway and loud music barking dogs and beeping horns were not unusual Dargaville had the highest number of noise complaints from 2021-23 out of the entire Kaipara district Kaipara District Council general manager of customer experience Hayley Worthington said stereo noise and barking dogs were the main sources Worthington reminded residents and visitors that while noise is a “constant companion” residents have a responsibility under legislation to be respectful “Owners and occupiers (tenants) of land including buildings are responsible for ensuring noise caused on their property does not create a nuisance for any other person Kaipara District Council encourages people to be responsible use good judgement and to be good neighbours.” Tikipunga holds the trophy for the most noise complaints from 2021-23 of any Whangārei suburb Whangārei urban general ward councillor Carol Peters said roaring bikes She said increased police presence in Tikipunga had been one way of attempting to reduce the level of noise from bikes Complaints over loud music were not confined to only Tikipunga She encouraged residents to be more considerate of their neighbours but also acknowledged that whether a complaint was justified depended on the level of noise and location “The noise control people catch up wherever they can.” experienced issues with loud motorbikes and general noisy “misbehaviour” According to Whangārei District Council manager of health and bylaws Reiner Mussle the most common noise complaints in the district were for social gatherings two pieces of stereo equipment were seized each month in Whangārei when attempts to reduce noise under other methods became futile Far North District Council refused to reveal the noisiest streets or suburbs under the OIA request stating the number of complaints was not captured by suburb and doing so would involve “substantial collation” of information The council did provide the number of complaints broken down by the Northern The Northern ward (Te Hiku) was found to be the noisiest of the three with 413 noise complaints reaching Far North District Council last year Northland police said the most common complaint they were requested to assist noise control with were reports of loud noise — usually music So far this year police have assisted with the seizure of eight stereo systems and speakers in Northland “We also receive reports of excessively loud music coming from vehicles and general noise coming from addresses,” a spokesperson said and often these incidents are linked to reports of disorder from people living nearby “Police are also called to beaches in Northland after complaints of excessively loud music being played.” This means noise that unreasonably interferes with peace excessive noise may depend on the time of day a neighbour’s party music may not be considered excessive at 9pm Guidelines are different for zones within the district plan What’s acceptable may vary between city centre The bureau encourages residents to try speaking with neighbours in the first place and if the issue is not resolved Notices to reduce noise apply for 72 hours from the time issued and if the noise is not reduced or restarts within the period Officers may seize equipment and can also issue instant fines Noise coming from a parked vehicle can be complained to your local noise control officer Excessively loud noise coming from moving vehicles can be reported to police because noisily operating a vehicle while it is moving is a breach of the Land Transport (Road User) Rule 2004 Breaches of the rule include a noisy exhaust These complaints can be reported to the police on 105 or by completing an online form Brodie Stone is the education and general news reporter at the Advocate The Advocate visited Tikipunga High School in April to see what their lunches looked like However, they say it is essential that schools are included in the decision-making process around how the programme will look The scheme will also be extended to 10,000 preschoolers who attend community-based and equity-funded centres Seymour said there would be no changes to the programme for primary school learners in Years 0 to 6 but an “alternate provisional model” would be established for Years 7 and up “The alternate provision model will use the Government’s significant buying power to save money on food give schools more flexibility on what they provide It also means parents and students can choose to make their own lunch.” Tai Tokerau Principals’ Association president Brendon Morrissey said principals are “over the moon” that the programme is continuing “It’s done so much good for some of our kids and gone a long way [toward helping to] address some equity issues.” He said it signalled a positive step forward for primary schools in which “gone are the days” of a bag of Twisties and a bottle of Coke for lunch - or no lunch at all Morrissey said it is not difficult to see why the programme has been so well-received “It’s not rocket science by any stretch of the imagination Kids can’t concentrate in class if their tummy is rumbling.” there has been a notable improvement in attendance His main worry was the programme’s funding may be cut in the future and said it should instead be viewed as something that “just is” “It’s something that really does need to be continued on by whoever is in government.” Collaboration with schools on future provision should be prioritised “Nobody knows the kids better than the schools and the staff that have them every day.” Te Mānihi Tumuaki Northland Secondary Principals’ Association chairman Alec Solomon said he is “delighted” about the continuation of the programme but “incredibly concerned” regarding how the changes will look Solomon said those with concerns students receiving lunch in schools were getting a superior nutritional offering compared with students who don’t are missing the point “What the ministry has potentially misunderstood is that for many of our students their lunch [at] school is an essential meal of the day.” “There is extreme nutritional poverty in Northland and other areas and this is one of the only programmes that truly met the resource and met the need.” Solomon understood the funding would be based on a $3 per meal basis - a “significant drop” from what schools were funded at but Solomon said whether those discounts are big enough to equate for such a drop is yet to be seen He also called into question whether Seymour had considered the logistics of delivering the programme the new programme will see food delivered “on a palate” and it will be up to the school to deliver the programme “I just cannot see how we can continue to afford to have that delivery.” He said it could take away from valuable resources if not implemented well we don’t need to use valuable teaching resources to make sandwiches.” A fatal car and house fire in Whangārei early Monday morning is being treated as suspicious and the death as unexplained About 20 police officers, plus Fire and Emergency NZ investigators and ESR scientists are investigating the man’s death At 2.40am Fenz received multiple calls to a fire that started in a car in Tikipunga Fenz said that on arrival crews found the fire had spread to the house Detective Inspector Al Symonds said a man was found alive inside the home after the fire had been extinguished and sadly died at the scene,” Symonds said The Kāinga Ora house is down a long driveway and surrounded by boarded-up Kāinga Ora houses, ready to be removed and redeveloped with a few people driving past to see more detail Four police cars and four Fire and Emergency vehicles were at the scene where investigations were being carried out with about 20 police officers involved in the investigation Police were called to the scene by Fenz after the man was found “In conjunction with our colleagues at Fenz we determined it needed a bit more investigation as to what happened.” Symonds would not be drawn on what could have started the fire including if it might have been deliberate: “Until we get some facts on how the fire was started The victim has been identified by police but his name will not be released until family has been contacted Neighbours of the victim have commented on social media how scary the fatal fire was to wake up to still a bit shaken up from this morning .. Our condolences to the family,” said another The post-mortem examination and formal identification of the victim will take place in the coming days “Our investigation is now in the early stages to determine the full circumstances of what has occurred,” Symonds said Northern shift manager Paul Radden said both car and house were “well involved in fire” when the brigade arrived Two crews from Whangārei and two from Kamo attended the blaze with one crew still at the scene tamping down hotspots crews were called to a second car fire in Tikipunga Radden did not know if the two fires were related Symonds is asking that anyone who was in the area or has information to assist who has not yet spoken to police to get in touch Police can be contacted via the 105 phone service or online at https://www.police.govt.nz/use-105 Whangārei leaders and police say the Tikipunga neighbourhood, where a person died in a suspicious fire on Monday morning Emergency services were called to Thomas Street at about 2.40am for a fire that started in a car and spread to the house Fire and Emergency NZ northern shift manager Paul Radden said both the car and house were “well involved in fire” when the brigade arrived A man with critical injuries was pulled from the house but despite the efforts of first responders he died at the scene Police determined the cause of the fire was suspicious and the death unexplained with about 20 officers investigating the incident on Monday alongside Fenz investigators and ESR scientists Symonds would not speculate on what happened saying it was early days in the police work “Until we can determine how this fire started we will treat it as suspicious and will investigate it to the ninth degree until we can determine if it’s accidental or not,” he said “There’s no indication that there’s any outstanding risk to the public.” if it started in a way that could happen in other places we have to determine that it won’t happen again,” Symonds said Fenz crews were called to a second car fire in Tikipunga just before 5am but it was not clear if the two fires were related The Kāinga Ora house is down a long right-of-way and opposite a group of houses boarded-up ready for removal and replacement by the state house owner But Symonds said there was no evidence to suggest the area is unsafe “It [the house] was occupied by someone who has lived there for a while Until we get some facts on how this fire started heard or knew any information about what happened to get in touch with police Whangārei urban ward councillor Carol Peters said Tikipunga is a nice area that is generally safe and full of lovely people “This is a very sad thing for the people involved “I’m sorry that this area is having such a bad time at the moment - I expect it will upset a lot of people there.” Peters said people had no reason to feel concerned especially with the police presence in the area “I note that the police are in gear and are taking this very seriously,” she said “I want to reassure people that police are there Symonds is asking that anyone who was in the area or has information can contact police by calling 105 or police’s 105 online form using the reference number 240429/4766 Information can also be provided anonymously through Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111 Whangārei and Kamo firefighters at the Tikipunga home A young couple with a baby ‘lost everything’ in a late night blaze at their Tikipunga home The fire broke out at the Paramount Parade property about 10pm on Wednesday sending a large wall of flames into the air Fire investigator Craig Bain said a woman had been cooking in the kitchen when an electrical fault in the room sparked a fire “She tried to put it out herself but it got too big so she grabbed the kids and bolted.” Police closed the road while firefighters from Kamo and Whangārei spent two and a half hours extinguishing the blaze A large plume of smoke could be seen coming from the home who had moved into the home from Hamilton about a year ago and had been in the process of arranging insurance The rental property had been completely gutted inside The outside walls still stood in place but were charred in places and the home’s windows had smashed from the ferocity of the fire Even the couple’s cars were “stuffed” as they had been parked in the carport connected to the house The fire was one of many keeping Northland’s brigades busy overnight Shortly after midnight Kaikohe firefighters were called to a car fire that had partially damaged a nearby house The Advocate understands police are investigating the circumstances around the blaze The Mangawhai and Kaiwaka brigades were responded to two separate callouts around four hours apart The first was to a vegetation fire on Bickerstaffe Rd in Maungatūroto - alongside the Maungatūroto The fire was reportedly started by a 4WD and grew to the size of 100m by 60m Maungatūroto station officer Jodie Bennetto said their brigade was the first to arrive When they got there they saw that flames were burning in the slash and threatening the bush Bennetto said the area was remote and the terrain rugged Firefighters had needed six lengths of hose to reach the start of the blaze A second vegetation fire in Mangawhai drew the Mangawhai and Kaiwaka brigades back out less than two hours later Kaiwaka fire chief John Bowmar said that fire turned out to be small A separate fire in Maromaku kept the Kawakawa and Towai brigades busy for nearly an hour Bowmar warned people about the dry conditions Police investigations are continuing today into the fire at a Tikipunga address Police investigators are continuing to piece together the details of a suspicious car fire in Tikipunga Whangārei as an increased police presence remains in the area today Emergency services were called to Thomas St at 3.09am on Monday A man was found with critical injuries but died at the scene Northland CIB Detective Inspector Al Symonds said scene guards remain in place at the address and a post-mortem was under way “Our investigation teams are continuing to piece together exactly what has taken place.” Symonds said they were making steady progress with inquiries and had spoken to several people in the area at the time Support was also being provided to the man’s whānau He said an increased police presence would remain in the area until the scene examination was completed They were currently working through the formal identification process Police would still like to hear from anyone who was in the area or who may have information to assist with this investigation People can call via 105 or provide information online at https://www.police.govt.nz/use-105 The High Court has accepted an unchallenged application by a Northland-based trust which catered for orphans and destitute children that it be liquidated and its surplus assets distributed Tikipunga Protestant Children’s Home — once the last privately-owned establishment of its type in New Zealand— has made numerous grants to charities around Northland in support of disadvantaged children It has given away almost all its money and is left with $22,937 the home would use this fund to pay legal and accounting fees It proposes that any balance be donated to CCS Disability Action Mr and Mrs Frederick Seymour Potter established and funded a trust to purchase an 11-hectare property in Corks Rd a new deed of trust declared the purpose of the trust to be “for the benefit of orphans and destitute children who must be brought up in the Protestant faith” The home came into existence when the predecessor trust was incorporated in 1939 when the Potters donated more money so that with a contribution from the local authority until 2012 when it closed because it was too expensive to continue It was the last privately-owned establishment of its type in New Zealand The High Court amended the home’s trust deed in 2018 to enable it to sell its assets and use the proceeds “for the benefit of children from disadvantaged backgrounds” The home sold its assets and raised about $4.8 million it sold land to the Whangārei District Council for $1 and granted WDC for $130,000 to establish a children’s playground High Court Judge Timothy Brewer said the home has given away almost all its money and is left with $22,937 the home served the application to be liquidated on the Attorney-General who did not identify any impediment to the application “I am satisfied that the home’s capital has reduced to the extent where it is no longer viable for it to continue I am further satisfied that the home has reached this position through the proper and lawful exercise of its charitable purpose,” Justice Brewer said He appointed David Reyburn as the liquidator this is a Premium article and requires a subscription to read Kāinga Ora has come under fire over plans to undertake arguably Northland's largest social housing development without consulting nearby residents and a retirement village Whangārei District Council last month issued a resource consent to Soho Development Company No 1 Limited and civil work is expected to start at the end of this year Delivery of the houses is expected around mid 2024 The development will include 55 one-to-three bedroom homes across three level walk-up apartments and terraced housing a multi-purpose community room for residents bike shed and a looped access with carparking There will be two three-story walk-up apartment blocks containing 24 two-bedroom and 12 one-bedroom apartments Three two-storey apartment blocks with four three-bedroom and 15 two-bedroom terrace style apartments will also be built Since the development is categorised as discretionary under council rules the resource consent application need not be publicly notified but residents directly opposite the tavern and a retirement village said they would have appreciated being told about it it's not a legal requirement but we would have appreciated a call of course," Summerset Group Holdings head of communications Logan Mudge said He said the retirement village only recently found out about the development we work hard to create good relationships with all our neighbours and this development will be no different ''This ensures that if issues ever arise we can work through them together in the best interests of our residents." Kāinga Ora on Wednesday this week held an initial drop-in session in Tikipunga for the public to hear more about its housing plans throughout Whangārei On concerns around a lack of community consultation Kāinga Ora regional director for Northland Jeff Murray said: "We will keep our stakeholders and neighbours updated about our developments in the coming months as part of our usual engagement processes" A 90-year-old resident on Wanaka St said he and his neighbours have heard a private developer from Auckland was buying the Tikipunga Tavern site for a residential development "These social houses look new in the start but they don't stay like that for long It's not just the type of people they put in there but there are also the hangers on I've driven to Puriri Park Rd and seen those new social houses there and I now understand why residents on that road are upset," he said A female pensioner said she dreaded developments like social housing threatening the peace and tranquillity of her neighbourhood "I am only renting here but we should have been told about it There's already enough crap going around here without the state houses ''I think it's disgusting they're going to put those houses across the road from a beautiful retirement village," she said The new Kāinga Ora houses would devalue residential properties on Wanaka and surrounding streets A nearby resident who attended the drop-in session said more modern state houses was a great concept but Kāinga Ora needed to give more information around the finer details of their housing plan They should come back in two to three months with more information about their plans," he said Murray said while existing state houses around Whangārei would continue to be maintained many of them would require extensive upgrades in future "We are looking at where we can replace older public houses with more new homes We are also working with developers to purchase new homes This is on top of significantly upgrading a number of our existing public homes Including redevelopment of land Kāinga Ora already owns removal of its existing homes for new ones to be built on those sites and the development on Wanaka St There will be on average three new homes for every one taken down Murray said these homes provided easy access to jobs play areas and services such as schools and hospitals "Kāinga Ora could be the first developer to build at this height Homes built now will last 50 years or more." He said Kāinga Ora has more than 1300 homes in Whangārei and there was high demand for more Murray said about 780 people lived in public houses in that suburb which constituted about 9 percent of houses in the area He said WDC has identified Tikipunga as a high-growth area with its zoning rules allowing for medium-density development in areas within easy walking distance of parks which focuses on meeting the demand for housing "Having this plan in place to support population growth and foster connected communities makes Tikipunga a great place for a mix of housing types terraced housing and three-level apartment buildings." Resource consents have been approved for four homes on Steere Pl in Tikipunga and 17 on Paramount Parade Consent has been lodged for eight homes on Vinegar Hill Rd while an early feasibility study is underway for 25 homes on Balmoral Rd and Townsend Pl 12 on Thomas St and 21 on Paramount Parade Demolition of the former Tikipunga Tavern has started Kāinga Ora has bought six existing houses worth $4.5 million in Northland and is accelerating the pace of new-builds including the region’s largest social housing development in Tikipunga Kawakawa and Kerikeri bought in the last quarter of 2022 consisted of two two-bedroom three three-bedroom and one four-bedroom homes These include five standalone homes and a duplex home Kāinga Ora regional director for Northland Jeff Murray said the $4.5m reflected the median house price of $785,000 in the region in December Murray said Kāinga Ora purchased existing properties either to rehouse customers who were living in re-development areas made better use of land for planned developments or met individual needs of a tenant/whānau He said work was progressing as part of its Tikipunga housing developments demolition of the Tikipunga Tavern should be complete by early February and civil works anticipated to get under way in early March Kāinga Ora has signed a development agreement in place with Soho Group for the design and construction of 55 new public houses at the tavern site The Whangārei District Council issued a resource consent to Soho Development Company No1 Limited in August last year and delivery of the houses is expected around mid-2024 bike shed and a looped access with car parking walk-up apartment blocks containing 24 two-bedroom and 12 one-bedroom apartments Kāinga Ora has 780 tenants living in Tikipunga which has been identified as a high-growth area Murray said civil works were expected to get underway at the four-home development at Steere Place in Tikipunga by mid-February Resource consent has been lodged for a 17-home development on Paramount Parade and a similar consent is expected to be lodged for a 22-home development “We are taking a neighbourhood approach to Tikipunga and Vinegar Hill in terms of where we deliver new public homes Our aim is to provide more homes in areas that are close to jobs “We held a community drop-in session about our housing plans in Tikipunga in September 2022 and we will continue to update the community as work progresses,” Murray said A feasibility study is under way for 25 homes on Balmoral Rd and Townsend Pl Four knife-wielding youth allegedly robbed Tikipunga Gas in a brazen attack that has left workers and witnesses traumatised and the owner considering getting rid of tobacco products the manager at Gas Tikipunga Kunal Sharma was fixing the air hose outside the station when he heard his wife screaming out for him The pair had been working there for just over a week before experiencing what has become a regular occurrence at the local service station “I just saw a car drive really fast by the window Kunal” and then I pushed the panic button,” said wife Poonam Devi She ran into a back room and locked herself in there as two youth-estimated to be around 14 years of age - allegedly brandished knives Two others were allegedly outside guarding the doors with knives they were goading people watching from nearby Countdown He was throwing his arms up and standing there intimidating the public as if to say come on then.” One male allegedly exited the gas station holding a washing basket “full of smokes” “I feel so much for that gas station being constantly robbed,” the witness said “It is actually pretty scary because you don’t know if they are going to pull out guns.” Sharma said the youth were acting completely audaciously “I tried to protect her (his wife) but as soon as I went in they chased me with the knife,” he said a local man also attempted to stop the robbers by punching one but the impact has left the couple unable to sleep and now they’re worried for their lives each time they go to work “We are putting our life on the line,” he said “we don’t know if we’re gonna go home safe we don’t know if we’re gonna go home safe with the kids “I was just praying to God (when it happened),” Devi said because they’re always behind the counter.” The pair came to New Zealand 11 years ago to pursue a better life “We’re just trying to create the best future for our kids,” Devi said tearfully Sharma said he feels sorry for those running service stations and dairies and has noticed it’s “all about tobacco” Owner Avon Singh said he is now putting “serious thought” into stopping tobacco sales in order to keep his staff safe The Gas Station was last robbed in January this year Singh ordered a security shield in order to stop the youth from jumping on to the counter when they attempt a robbery He said the government “needs somebody to take the earplugs out of their ears” “Ten years from now you won’t see any petrol station with a shop,” he said don’t just leave them (to continue committing crimes).” He said the constant stress has caused him to consider moving back to India “No injuries were reported in relation to this matter but the victim and those who witnessed the incident are understandably shaken and Police are providing support,” a spokesperson said “Anyone with information which may assist is asked to contact Police via 105 Information can also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.” Police have named the man who died in a suspicious house fire in Tikipunga Police have released the name of the man who died following a suspicious fire at a Tikipunga property in Northland on Monday Hoani Reupena-Tuoro, 61, also known to whānau and friends as John Reuben of Whangārei died after a fire that started in a car spread to the home Emergency services were called to an address on Thomas St around 2.40am after they received reports of the fire On arrival firefighters found both the car and house “well involved in fire” and located a man alive inside the home with critical injuries Northland CIB Detective Inspector Al Symonds said despite best efforts from first responders he died at the scene “Our inquiries into the exact circumstances surrounding this fire are continuing.” At the time about 20 police officers along with fire investigators and ESR scientists were investigating the death Earlier Symonds said that they were making steady progress with inquiries and had spoken to several people in the area at the time “We wish to thank the public for the information and assistance provided so far we would still like to hear from anyone who was in the area or who may have information in relation to this incident.” Whangārei Police have launched an online portal as part of its investigation. The public can upload any photos or videos they may have of the incident at https://egret.nc3.govt.nz/ Northlanders with any information can get in touch via the 105-phone service or online at https://www.police.govt.nz/use-105 Tai Tokerau community adviser for Neighbourhood Support Hannah White speaks to Whangārei residents about how they can help connect with their neighbours A perceived "Armageddon" of crime was laid bare by Tikipunga residents at a public hui attended by Northland community leaders More than 40 people – both local and from wider Whangārei - shared their fears that Tikipunga had become a bedlam of drugs and violence at the meeting held at Tikipunga High School on Sunday The hottest topic on the table at the event organised by Whangārei MP Emily Henderson was how these issues – amplified by social and mainstream media – had splintered Tikipunga's community spirit Henderson orchestrated the "community helping community" hui as a response to people's concerns crime had increased in the area I think I know what's bothering people but I need to know accurately and I need to know in detail and where the tensions are..." Henderson said it was crucial to understand why things were happening so they knew what action points were needed She was especially driven to help find solutions for the area as Tikipunga had been her home from the age of 7 A large contingency of community leaders were in attendance that included Whangārei mayor Sheryl Mai and other district councillors; Northland police Whangārei area commander Inspector Marty Ruth and acting senior sergeant Christian Stainton Tai Tokerau community adviser for Neighbourhood Support Hannah White; and Whangārei Youth Space community outreach co-ordinator Anahera Pickering Members of different community patrol organisations also joined in the conversation A member of the Whangārei Rangatahi patrols said their work had shown Tikipunga was one of three current hotspots for crime alongside Raumanga and Ōtangarei – with Kamo having calmed down in that regard A Tikipunga resident told leaders police cars passing his place at all times of the day and night were a common occurrence Henderson began the hui by asking the audience to indicate their anxiety levels with one being "everything is fine" and five the opposite Most people indicated they were around three and under but said they found issues such as recent stabbings She said a lot of the issues raised were about "disconnection" One man told the audience his workshop group believed "a lack of resources" within the household and from community and national groups as well "feelings of exclusion from the community" had contributed to the appeal of crime Ruth said the perception of an "Armageddon" crime wave had been romanticised by social plus mainstream media and police data indicated the number of burglaries and robberies in the district had fallen He said police had become a lot more effective now they were working even more closely with key stakeholders – such as youth groups Ruth acknowledged recent vehicle thefts linked to youth challenges to steal Mazda and Altezza cars and said it was a national problem but Northland police were making progress He said they had arrested a 16-year-old male who faced around 26 charges related to the problem A big boost to preventing crime had come with the 84 new police recruits assigned to Northland – the highest percentage of new recruits nationwide Those resources had been invested heavily into youth offending Police were also taking a proactive approach with schools and had introduced a number of programmes to deter youth from offending Ruth said residents could help police by signing up to organisations such as Neighbourhood Support New Zealand where you're encouraged to get to know four of your closest neighbours Mai said everyone played a part in creating an environment where people could "live and thrive in" about finding solutions for our communities." It was a sea of yellow at Tikipunga Primary School as students and teachers dressed in all shades for Daffodil Day 2023 to spread awareness for cancer Tamariki were encouraged to attend the day armed with a coin donation Teacher Kylie Kahotea said whether it was $2 or 10 cents “Everybody is affected by cancer one way or another Kahotea said students at Tikipunga Primary School were part of the KiVa anti-bullying programme and learning to be “upstanders” “Part of being in the bullying programme is that we have upstanders who stand up to the bullies “So we’re being upstanders by standing up and supporting the cause.” Students eagerly came into school “so excited” to join in and see what their classmates were wearing Image 1 of 3: Tamariki gathering before the parade wave at photographer Michael Cunningham they always come in and put a lot of effort in They can all bring 10c and still feel like they’re contributed.” Daffodil Day is a nationwide initiative by the Cancer Society which uses the spring-blooming daffodil as a symbol of hope According to the Cancer Society approximately one million kilometres are driven each year to cancer treatments 50,000 nights are spent in accommodation for cancer patients and $5.2m is redirected to cancer research Across Te Tai Tokerau, many initiatives took place in the lead-up to Daffodil Day with Ahipara Sandhoppers ECE raising over $1000 and Northland Vintage Car Club raising over $700 Street collectors were also out across Northland with their buckets. You can donate by visiting https://daffodilday.org.nz/ Brodie Stone is the education and general news reporter at the Advocate Brodie recently graduated from Massey University and has a special interest in the environment and investigative reporting The movement of the land saw a significant gap form between Kathy Pope's Tikipunga house and the ground A Whangārei woman has had to evacuate from her hillside Tikipunga home after a section of land near her home started to sink Fire crews and police arrived at the Amy Kate St property this afternoon after reports of someone being trapped in a house on top of land that was about to give way was not trapped but had noticed this morning that the ground under the north-west corner of her house had subsided creating a gap of about 150-200 millimetres between the ground and the house I honestly couldn't believe it," Pope said the house is going to fall down the hill'." Described by MetService as a once-in-500-year storm 220mm of rain fell on Whangārei last night causing major disruption today with slips and landslides that closed roads and limited water supplies Pope said she had even joked with a friend yesterday about the possible effect of the extensive rainfall on her home "[My friend] was talking about the thunder and lightening and I said to her Pope said she had rung the fire service before exiting the property with her late husband's ashes The bottom of Amy Kate St had been cordoned off to encourage people to stay away from the area below the house Whangārei Fire Service senior station officer Brad Cunningham said the house had been cordoned off and all nearby residents had been notified of the land subsidence Cunningham said they would wait for expert advice by way of a geotechnical report While he acknowledged his lack of expertise regarding land subsidence Cunningham believed the house would not slide down the hill Whangārei Police Sergeant Rachel Wood said the house was definitely not safe to be in currently and a report was necessary to determine the next steps Wood said all nearby residents had been informed of the incident and advised that they should probably leave their homes if possible until the report was done Wood said all residents baring Kathy had remained in their homes Wood said it was important for everyone to stay vigilant and keep an eye out for any land subsidence after last night's rainfall A manhunt for an alleged gunman triggered in Tikipunga and which later shifted to Kamo disturbed the two Whangārei suburbs this afternoon Police swarmed the carpark outside Countdown Tikipunga during an incident involving the alleged gunman where half a dozen cars were reportedly "smashed to pieces" District Commander Northland Police Superintendent Tony Hill said police allegedly observed David Johnstone in the carpark of a business premises in Tikipunga When Johnstone failed to stop for police when signalled armed officers employed "tactical options" "Mr Johnstone fled in a vehicle which he crashed in to other vehicles in the carpark and came to a stop upon crashing into a vehicle on Paramount Parade," Hill alleged People near the supermarket at the time claimed a vehicle was rammed by a car before the driver fled on foot about 4pm They believed the man had a gun of some sort A witness described seeing a damaged red and black car in the middle of Paramount Pde which was closed to northbound traffic for a short period of time A second damaged vehicle - a white Volkswagen - was in the carpark in front of Countdown Tikipunga The witness said the front of the vehicle was "smashed" A bystander told the Advocate they first heard skids and vehicles crashing I looked out the window and saw a black truck with a man jumping in wearing a bulletproof vest and holding a gun then we were told to move away from the area." Nick from the Butcher Shoppe at Paramount Plaza said there were roughly half a dozen cars in the Countdown carpark "that have been smashed to pieces" "He's driven past our shop out to the main road and crashed his car and done a runner on foot." Nick said he didn't see a gun so was unable to say whether the man had been armed The police Eagle helicopter from Auckland joined the search for the man as members of the armed offenders squad (AOS) closed in on Hawea Place in Tikipunga Armed police were stationed at both ends of Manapouri St as the police chopper circled over head Their search in the suburb proved fruitless as AOS soon left the scene to follow a new trail less than 3km away in Kamo Johnstone then fled the scene on foot and his whereabouts is currently unknown Hill said no police or members of the public were injured Johnstone is considered dangerous and Hill said he should not be approached Anyone with information on his whereabouts is urged not to approach him and instead to call 111 immediately and quote file number P049808095 Alternatively information can be provided anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 Meadow Park Store and Lotto was robbed by two men Owners of a Whangarei dairy were left terrified after they were robbed of cash and cigarettes by a man wielding a gun They were shaken by the ordeal and declined to speak to the Northern Advocate Police were at the Meadow Park Cres dairy in Tikipunga shortly after reports of the robbery on Thursday about 6pm Detective Sergeant John Clayton said two people went into the dairy "The firearm has been presented at the owners and an unknown amount of cash and cigarettes have been stolen," Clayton said A distinctive single-cab ute with large silver ferns painted on both doors was used in the robbery and yesterdaypolice were calling for sightings of the vehicle Police believe the stolen ute was driven from Boundary Rd The two people have then got back into the ute and turned right on to Kiripaka Rd "It's a very distinctive ute with the two silver ferns and no tray on the back." No one was injured in the robbery but police are concerned about the risk to the public because a firearm was used The robbery comes a day before the Government announced $1.9 million in additional funding for fog cannons in dairies Fog cannons release dense fog when triggered and only seconds after a cannon is activated a robber or burglar is blinded and confused cannot see and will usually retreat because they don't want to get caught in the fog Fog cannons had already been installed in 523 premises including 28 in Northland.The non-violent but explosive action will create a barrier between staff An estimated 470 retail businesses across the country will be eligible for the security measure Police Minister Stuart Nash said the funding meant business owners would pay no more than $250 for fog cannons that normally cost $4000 The extra money comes from the Proceeds of Crime Fund Anyone with information about the ute or people associated with it should contact Detective Beckett at Whangārei police station on 09 430 4500 or Crimestoppers anonymously 0800 555 111 Two people are in hospital after a van hit two parked vehicles Two people were taken to Whangārei Hospital after the van they were travelling in crashed into two parked vehicles Police were called to the crash in Kiripaka Rd in Tikipunga about 6.35pm on Thursday A Hone Hato St John spokesperson confirmed one person was in moderate condition while the other suffered minor injuries The Advocate spoke to a resident at the scene of the crash who was upset because the van had smashed the boot of their parked car Akshay Kumar came rushing out of his house after he heard a “loud sound” “I had just come home after getting some groceries and then parked my car ahead of another vehicle I was inside my house for not more than five minutes when I heard the sound from my kitchen “I immediately came out and couldn’t find my car in the spot where I had parked That’s when I saw the other damaged vehicle that was behind mine.” It didn’t take Kumar long to find his Nissan Micra which had been dragged about 15m from where he had parked it He said the van seemed to have hit the sedan parked behind his vehicle first before smashing into his car “My wife notified the police and soon they came along followed by an ambulance as well It’s been only a while since we moved into this region and it’s unfortunate for us since we don’t have insurance for our vehicle,“ he said Our website is currently undergoing maintenance If you're having issues please let us know through our feedback form CityLink Whangārei’s Route 3 bus service from Tikipunga via Te Kamo has been extended by 1.8km at the public’s request the extension to Route 3 runs through Totara Park who chairs the Joint Whangarei District Council/Northland Regional Council Whangarei Public Transport Working Party says the extended route goes down Corks Road “There will be three off-peak services each weekday and all day on Saturday.” Chair Craw says the extension comes after community requests including from the Totara Gardens Retirement Village “CityLink is pleased to be able to accommodate the requests and urges the community to make use of the extended route.” A morning tea to celebrate the extension was held recently at the retirement village with Chair Craw and his regional council colleague John Blackwell were among the guests CityLink passengers can check the updated timetable on the CityLink website: citylinkwhangarei.co.nz or they can follow CityLink on Facebook Pictured at the recent morning tea celebrating the newly extended Route 3 are from left Chair of the Joint Whangarei District Council/Northland Regional Council Whangarei Public Transport Working Party retirement village resident Lola Couvee – who advocated for the new route – and M’Lago Morris General Enquiries0800 002 004Stay connected: Call us toll-free between 8am and 4:30pm Incident Hotline0800 504 639The 24/7 NRC Incident Hotline: Report pollution or marine incidents toll free More than 60 birds have died from avian botulism in Tikipunga with several dead ducks left to rot in the Totara Parklands stormwater pond For the last month, ducks, seagulls and a signet have been struck down by disease at Totara Parklands and the wider Tikipunga area Totara Parklands resident Gareth Blithe became alarmed when he saw dead ducks in the suburb’s stormwater pond off Wairau Dr on Saturday “We were walking with the family on Saturday morning Blithe was initially concerned the birds were poisoned and put a post up on social media but he was soon educated about avian botulism “It’s the first time we’ve seen anything like this and we’ve been here six years it was quite concerning when you see a whole lot of dead birds in a small area.” A botulism outbreak is triggered by environmental conditions - including hot weather - which prompts a naturally occurring bacteria to produce a toxin deadly to birds according to the Department of Conservation (DoC) Outbreaks stay localised and clear naturally with rain and cooler temperatures Ministry for Primary Industries biosecurity surveillance and incursion manager Wendy McDonald said Biosecurity New Zealand was notified three times in March about dead birds in Tikipunga Its main role is to determine if any exotic bird disease is involved in the deaths and tests to date have shown no sign of this “Large numbers of dying birds are not uncommon and can have environmental causes such as algal blooms and botulism.” Whangārei District Council said there is no sign of a deadly blue-green algal bloom Red-billed gulls that were still alive were taken to the Whangārei Native Bird Recovery Centre where about 10 were saved but about 50 died also died along with a black signet and Webb said there could also be others that he doesn’t know about He confirmed the birds are victims of avian botulism caused by the hot weather which has dried out the Totara Parklands pond “Botulism is very common this time of year – it’s the heat that does it and warms up the water The seagulls that were saved were found at an early stage of the disease About 10 have been released back into the wild but one remains at the recovery centre – possibly a “freeloader” which has learnt about the centre’s easy meals he said someone should safely dispose of the dead birds to stop it spreading gathering up dead animals has health and safety risks and it is best to let nature take its course said Whangārei District Council wastewater and stormwater operations manager Andy Keith “A good wet spell will help to sort the situation out continue to monitor the situation in case anything in our approach needs to change.” The stormwater ponds are designed to protect properties from flooding and are large and shallow so they can dry out between rain events with the stagnant water sometimes smelling People and pets should keep away from dead birds and people should report any large numbers of sick or dying wild birds to Biosecurity NZ on 0800 80 99 66 Ka Ako programme - which feeds about 230,000 students a day at just under 1000 schools around the country - is up for review as part of next month's Budget Associate Health Minister David Seymour has previously told RNZ its funding could be cut by as much as 50 percent and has questioned its effectiveness and value for taxpayers The programme costs about $325 million per year some schools are deeply concerned about possible cuts to the scheme as are some health and child poverty advocates Those concerns prompted Tikipunga High School to open up its lunchroom on Thursday to politicians and organisations such as Health Coalition Aotearoa Principal Emma Leyland said her message to the government was to keep school lunches "because they were making a real difference" Leyland said the school closed its tuck shop and started providing healthy meals 10 years ago but that initiative was limited because the school had to rely on donations of food Ka Ako had allowed every child to be provided with a nutritious meal every day A Treasury report released last year did not find evidence of improved achievement or attendance at schools receiving the lunches but Leyland said it had brought huge benefits to her school and practice whakawhanaungatanga [relationship building] because the number of meals cooked was tailored to the number of students present each day and the few scraps that were left went to a local pig farm The sit-down meals were served in three shifts of 120 students each with a karakia and real plates and cutlery Leyland said a whānau survey last week found it had made "a real difference" to families Much of that was due to the high cost of living which forced families to choose which essentials they could afford and those they could not whānau said it encouraged children to go to school and the food provided was often healthier than they could afford at home A surprising finding was it had helped students who had been too shy to eat in front of others Kids with full bellies learn better," Leyland said Year 13 student Aamea Walding-King said many children relied on school lunches as their main source of food for the day said communal meals were also a chance for busy senior students to reflect on their work and catch up with friends Health Coalition Aotearoa executive director Faye Langdon said free lunches allowed children to attend school and achieve They were also good for social development and behaviour Her group was "extremely concerned" by the prospect of cuts to free lunches and had so far gathered 26,000 signatures calling for the programme to be not just kept but expanded "Children need full stomachs to learn," she said said research had demonstrated the benefits for mental health David Seymour said 10,000 lunches were wasted daily and there was no hard evidence the programme improved school attendance or achievement He said the government was committed to improving the cost-effectiveness of the school lunches programme which he said the Labour government had left unfunded from 2024 "We're looking at the evidence we do have and the feedback we get from the community in order to make a decision that balances the country's books and the expectations people have around the taxpayer-funded school lunch programme," Seymour said "It's worth noting - for those who say we shouldn't be making savings - that the success of the programme isn't going to be defined by the number of taxpayers' dollars spent Success will ultimately be defined by whether kids are getting to school and learning and taxpayers are getting value for their money." Seymour said he would announce a programme that delivered for both students and taxpayers as part of the upcoming Budget Ka Ako targets the 25 percent of schools where students face the biggest socio-economic barriers and are most likely to arrive at school with an empty stomach the programme caters to about 18,000 students at 115 schools Schools can decide whether to make their own lunches or contract to an external supplier A group of health experts is urging the government to expand its free lunch scheme to more schools A dozen school and early childhood sector groups have asked the prime minister to retain funding for the free school lunch scheme The Green Party wants to increase the number of children receiving free school lunches by 58 percent from the start of next year The associate education minister says lunch programme will continue in "some form" but he is looking to cut its funding by up to half