News In Brief

17 Jan, 2022

Arson attempt at MAZ
Lucky for the community the local fire brigade were training late on January 12 and got a whiff of an attempted arson at Mangawhai Activity Zone (MAZ).

Three unknown youths tried to set fire to the plastic playground around 9.55pm, however fire fighters were able to douse the flames before any major damage was caused. Via their facebook page, a MAZ spokesperson says if the trio had succeeded ‘this could have been a really bad situation, both financially and environmentally… so a huge thanks goes out to the firefighters’.

A reward is on offer for any information leading to the identity of the offenders especially one boy whose image was caught on CCTV. Check out MAZ on facebook and contact police with any details.

Northern Bass officially cancelled
After being postponed from the usual date of New Years due to Covid concerns, all hope for the annual Northern Bass festival near Mangawhai is now gone as organisers regrettably announced on January 13, that the three day concert is officially cancelled.

The decision was based on Northland’s low Covid vaccination rates and the growing threat of Omicron, as well as headline acts who have tested positive and were unable to travel.

‘It’s just not a risk we can take, a risk we can put Northland at, or a risk we can expose you all to’ a spokesperson stated via social media.

Festival-goers have the option of transferring their tickets to the 2022/23 event which NB state is currently in the planning stages.

Kaipara Flats Road works detour
The Ara Tuhono-Puhoi to Warkworth project will be undertaking pavement works along a small section of Kaipara Flats Road, near the intersection with State Highway 1. For safety reasons, there will be a full closure of Kaipara Flats Road/SH1 intersection, while the work is undertaken, and signposted detours will be in place.

The works, which began on January 16, are expected to be completed by 9pm Wednesday January 26, weather permitting. There will be no access to and from SH1 and Kaipara Flats Road for the duration of the work.