News in Brief

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19 Sept, 2022

 

Increase in burglary say police
Local police in Mangawhai are warning residents and holiday home owners to be wary following an increase of reports of burglaries in the area.

Police say they are seeing an unfortunate increase of incidents where vacant holiday homes are being targeted. During recent stormy nights opportunist thieves are using the wet weather as a cover late at night and early in the morning to arrive in vehicles and remove large items.

So before you pack up to head back home from the coast, or even just day-to-day, police recommend the following security measures:

· Ensure your home has good quality door and window locks.

· Don't leave any spare keys in those obvious places like under that outdoor mat or pot plant.

· Garages and sheds contain tools and other items that can assist burglars to break into your home so make sure any out-buildings are well secured too.

· If the garden has got away on you over the colder months, give your trees and bushes a trim to ensure you don't provide burglars with convenient places to hide.

· Organise for the lawn to be mowed if you are going to be gone for more than a few weeks.

· Think about installing a simple security camera system which you can monitor remotely.

· Consider an alarm system or security lighting.

Police also encourage people to look out for their neighbours, and encourage anyone who sees suspicious behaviour in their community to call 111 immediately.

To report a crime after it has occurred, contact police on 105. Information can also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

 

Mental health a priority
September 26 – October 2, 2022, is Mental Health Awareness Week (MHAW). This MHAW the Mental Health Foundation of NZ is asking New Zealanders to ‘Reconnect with the people and places that lift you up’. The past couple of years have been tough on our wellbeing they say, and it’s been difficult to connect with friends and whanau and the places that are important to us. This year’s MHAW theme is about encouraging you to engage with the people and places that bring you joy - hei pikinga waiora.

“We hope you’ll take some time this MHAW to reconnect, whether it’s reaching out to someone you’ve lost contact with, visiting a place that’s special to you or getting outside in nature. Reconnect with the people who lift you up and places that are special to you

and notice how this makes you feel,” says Shaun Robinson, Mental Health Foundation chief executive

“Our mental health is a special taonga. One in five New Zealanders experience a mental illness and/or addiction each year and it’s important to remember that with the right tautoko many people can and do recover.”

“Wellbeing isn’t just for people who have not experienced mental illness – it’s for everyone. Think about how you and your community can engage with this year’s theme and help to improve the wellbeing of all New Zealanders.”

Find more resources and real stories at mhaw.nz.

 

Free bus travel on World Car Free Day
All buses on Whangarei’s CityLink and the region’s BusLink networks will be free all day on Thursday September 22 to mark World Car Free Day.

The global event encourages people out of their cars in favour of more sustainable forms of transport; public transport, bike and by foot.

Northland Regional Council Transport Project Officer Anita Child says regional council staff will be at Whangarei’s Vine St car park from 7.30am-11.30am on the day with small giveaways, demonstrations of e-bikes and bus timetables and information.

“Take the stress out of your day and take a step towards more sustainable transport choices by leaving the car at home and taking the bus instead.”

BusLink passengers can ask their driver, who will have giveaways on hand on the following services; the Far North Link, Mid North Link, Hokianga Link and the Bream Bay Link.

Further information can be found at: facebook.com/CitylinkWhangarei and facebook.com/NorthlandRegionalCouncil.

Timetables can be found at: buslink.co.nz and citylinkwhangarei.co.nz

 

Voting begins for local elections
From September 16, voting packs for local elections began rolling out to letterboxes across Kaipara. The packs include voting papers, candidate handbooks and a prepaid return envelope.

Get your votes in the post by Tuesday October 4, 2022 to ensure it’s received before voting closes at 12 noon Saturday October 8, 2022. Voting papers can also be hand delivered to one of the ballot boxes at Council offices before voting closes.

If you are eligible to vote but haven’t received voting papers in your letterbox by Wednesday September 21, call the Electoral Office on 0800 922 822 to be posted a special vote. You can also pick up a special vote pack from a Kaipara District Council office.

If you request a special vote from council offices, please bring a government issued photo ID, such as a passport, driver licence or firearms licence, for staff to sight. If that’s not possible, you will need to take your voting pack away and have your vote witnessed by someone over the age of 18.

Kaipara District Council’s ballot box locations: Dargaville office, 32 Hokianga Road, Dargaville; Mangawhai office, Unit 6, The Hub, 6 Molesworth Drive, Mangawhai. Find out more about local elections in Kaipara at kaipara.govt.nz/council/local-elections

 

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