Northland news in brief

Whangarei District Court

Woman denies sex charges

A Whangarei woman is denying a claim that she had sex with a boy aged under 16. Amanda Campbell, 39, is charged with one count of sexual connection with a young person under 16, one of permitting premises to be used to commit a crime and another of permitting premises - a motor vehicle - to be used to commit a crime. She has denied all charges and a week-long, judge-alone trial began in the Whangarei District Court yesterday.

The complainant, giving evidence by CCTV, said his parents took his cellphone from which a series of texts, presented as evidence in court yesterday, were sent between the two. In one message, the boy wrote to Campbell: "Yay love you". She replied: "Love you too". There was also a message about both going to the "Falls".

Charge over murder

A 19-year-old Far North man is the first to be charged in relation to the murder of a gang member who died at the Whangarei St John station after being dropped there with fatal gunshot wound in the chest.

Tribesman Motorcycle Club member John Henry Harris, also known as John Boy, from Horeke, died on October 18 last year. Appearing in the High Court at Whangarei yesterday was Chayce Hayward-Dodd, of Kaeo. He was charged jointly with a female with knowingly helping a person who had committed murder to avoid arrest. He entered a not guilty plea and was remanded on bail until April 13.

St John fundraising

St John transported 437,978 patients nationally last year and this week it is fundraising to ensure it helps many more. St John collectors will be out shaking buckets for donations that will go towards command units and specialist equipment to be used when responding to major emergencies. Command units cost $180,000 each and contain state-of-the-art satellite, radio and cellular technology. Donations can also be made online at www.heartofgold.org.nz.

Youth leaders off to US

Aspiring young Far North leaders Ashley Waitai-Dye and Quintin Moeke have been chosen to travel to the United States with Moko Foundation general manager Deidre Otene. They flew out from Auckland on Saturday.

They will begin their experience by attending the Alaska Native Studies conference, where Ms Otene, a Vodafone World of Difference recipient in 2013 and currently a Vodafone Fellowship holder, will present a research paper to an international indigenous audience, focusing on supporting and growing inter-generational Maori leadership.

Airport build delayed

Construction of the proposed new terminal building at Bay of Islands Airport near Kerikeri has been pushed back a year to future-proof the project. In light of possible new security requirements for domestic airports in New Zealand, airport owner Far North Holdings has had to review plans for the new terminal developed last year.

Chief executive Andy Nock said it would have been possible to start construction this year, but it would have meant significant disruption at the airport next summer, when traffic volumes peak. Construction is now due to start next April, with a view to completion by the start of December 2018.

Dispute over change

An incident initially reported as a robbery of a Chinese takeaway shop in Kerikeri is now being treated as a civil dispute. Police searched the town on March 28 for a man who reportedly snatched money from a staff member at Don Huang Chinese Restaurant on Cobham Rd. It turned out to be a dispute over change. The amount taken was $10.