News in Brief

 

Bloody hell!
The New Zealand Blood Service was amazed at the number of willing donors at Mangawhai Library Hall on Tuesday Oct 8, collecting 91 units of blood.

“We were overwhelmed at the 121 donors that arrived on the door step,” said donor recruiter Beth Brannen. “Thank you for your patience as we tried to manage the flow of donors from interview to bed. Next time we will have three interview booths to reduce wait times.”

NZ Blood Service will be back at Mangawhai on February 12 2020, and is looking at moving collection times to 1pm till 7pm to accommodate donors that want to come after work.

Fright Night fun
One of the Kaiwaka Sports Association's most popular events of the year, Fright Night, will be held on Saturday November 2. Fun for the whole family, there will be a photo booth, lolly scramble, face painting, games with prizes, haunted house sessions, costume parade, dancing and glow items. Strut your stuff at the costume parade - great prizes to be won for the best dressed boy, girl and adult.

Take your bravest friends and venture into the haunted house. There will be different levels of scare to suit everyone. Take a Halloween-themed plate for supper with prizes for the top four plates. Be at the Kaiwaka Sports Association complex on Saturday Nov 2, 5.30pm. Entry $5, preschoolers free. Kaiwaka Playcentre will be selling food. 

Mangawhai growth
Latest Census figures from 2018 released by Stats New Zealand show Northland registered an 18.1 per cent growth between 2013 and 2018 – the fastest growing region in the country. Mangawhai rural recorded the largest population growth of 702 over that period – 50.2 per cent – followed by 633 at Waipu, and 537 at Kaiwaka.

Kaipara’s proximity to Auckland is one of the reasons for population growth in the area. Stats NZ figures show Kaipara's population rose from 18,963 to 22,869 which was a 20.6 per cent rise.

Rates battle continues
‘Rates rights warriors’ Bruce and Heather Rogan have filed an application for leave to appeal to the Supreme Court in their ongoing battle with the Kaipara District Council and Northland Regional Council over the legality of penalties imposed on rates. The Rogans are claiming they suffered a miscarriage of justice in the Court of Appeal because there were breaches of natural justice in the way that the Court dealt with their case. The Court found against the Rogans at that time and dismissed the appeal, with costs against them.

Dr Rodney Harrison QC, one of New Zealand’s most senior and respected courtroom lawyers, has agreed to act as senior counsel on the application for leave to appeal and the appeal itself (in the event that leave to appeal is granted). 
The KDC and NRC had until October 21 to decide if they are going to oppose the application for leave.