New in Brief

Rally of Whangarei cancelled
Rally New Zealand organisers have opted to cancel this year’s International Rally of Whangarei. Originally scheduled to run May 8–10 it was postponed just prior to New Zealand’s Covid-19 lockdown. Organisers say the decision was inevitable given the growing uncertainty around offshore travel. A provisional date of May 14-16 2021 has been set as a return to action on the roads around the Whangarei region.

Focus now shifts to the Rally New Zealand-organised double-header event planned for November. The City of Auckland Rally will be held on Saturday November 14 and includes stages in the Kaipara Hills, Puhoi and Riverhead Forest before its conclusion at the purpose-built road ‘Jack’s Ridge’ in Whitford.

Threat closes KDC offices
Kaipara District Council’s offices closed temporarily on Monday July 13 and police were called after a Facebook threat was received, however they reopened the following day to enable members of the public to carry out their usual business. A security guard remained in place throughout the day to provide reassurance to the public and staff.

A council spokesperson told The Focus threats on Facebook have to be taken seriously: “I don’t think people realise they get a visit from police when they make threats on Facebook. We always take threats seriously.”

Road works alert
Road widening works will be taking place on a section of State Highway 1 north of Warkworth from Monday, July 13. This works will connect the new Ara Tuhono - Puhoi to Warkworth motorway and Matakana Link Road between Hudson Road and the Kaipara Flats Road and Goatley Road intersection, Warkworth.

The works will be carried out over the next few weeks Sunday-Thursday and are expected to be completed by Monday August 2, weather permitting. Stop-go traffic management will be in place between 7pm and 5am. There is a reduced speed limit of 60kmh in place on this section of SH1.