Who cares about the two-headed lamb born in Invercargill last week? PJ Charpentier of Kerikeri went one better by spotting a cow at Mangakaretu with a head at both ends. Okay, so maybe it's two cows sitting one behind the other, but it looks pretty convincing to us. PHOTO / PJ Charpentier
Who cares about the two-headed lamb born in Invercargill last week? PJ Charpentier of Kerikeri went one better by spotting a cow at Mangakaretu with a head at both ends. Okay, so maybe it's two cows sitting one behind the other, but it looks pretty convincing to us. PHOTO / PJ Charpentier
This week's edition of Bay News Bites features some scary driving, a two-headed cow, a talent quest for young performers, a positive result for a Labour candidate, cash for Gaza, John Key's tie, and more...
Close call
Kawakawa's top cop came within millimetres of being the victim of a head-on smash on his way to work last week.
Sergeant Kevin Milne was approaching Kawakawa about 5.45am last Thursday when he saw the headlights of a ute coming straight at him.
The driver of the ute, apparently annoyed at having been stuck behind a logging truck on the Three Bridges, was passing the truck but failed to check the way was clear ahead.
With the truck occupying one lane and the rapidly approaching ute in the other there was nowhere for Mr Milne to go. He's still not sure how he avoided a head-on. Somehow he did, his heart eventually returned to its normal rate, and later that morning he busted an indoor cannabis growing operation in Opua.
Unfortunately he doesn't expect to find the driver of the ute because he was too busy pulling to the left to get its registration. Presumably that driver also got a fright, though he would have got a worse one had Mr Milne been driving his work car.
"People, please be careful on our roads. We all want to get to where we are going and there is no excuse for this sort of dangerous driving," he told his followers on the Central Bay of Islands Community Watch page.
The annual Be Free talent quest gets under way again this weekend with the qualifying round due to take place at the Turner Centre in Kerikeri on Sunday.
Auditions start at 1pm. The best dancers and musicians, as groups or solo acts, will go through to the semi-finals at the Bay of Islands Show on November 8 at the showgrounds in Waimate North.
Kerikeri sister act The 2Ts (Tihema and Temamaeroa Riwai) won the people's choice award in last year's Be Free talent quest finals. PHOTO / PETER DE GRAAF
The finals will take place at the Be Free family day out concert on March 1 next year. Performers can turn up on the day or register by contacting organiser Tony Harrison on 021 583 986 or musicwks@ihug.co.nz.
Last year's winner in the music section was Guy Yarrall of Paihia performing with Arni Bailie-Bellew from Kerikeri. Rosey Robb of Okaihau was first in the dance section. The people's choice award went to Kerikeri hip-hop dance duo The 2Ts (sisters Tihema and Temamaeroa Riwai).
Young dancers dress as korora (little blue penguins) in Echo, an environmentally-themed production at the Turner Centre directed by Liz Russell. PHOTO / CHRIS PEGMAN
Image 1 of 8: Echo photos by Chris Pegman
Praise for Echo
More than 100 people of all ages took part in a dance/music/kapa haka/audiovisual production called Echo staged over two nights at the Turner Centre.
The show, part of the Papatuanuku Soul-utions expo, was the culmination of ten years' work by choreographer/director Liz Russell and was met with rave reviews.
It explored environmental themes including the plight of the Maui's dolphin, the deep-sea oil drilling planned off Northland's coast, fossil fuels dependence and the impact of consumerism on the natural environment.
Nearly one in every ten people whose blood pressure was tested over four hours outside Kerikeri New World on Saturday was found to have unusually or dangerously high blood pressure.
The readings were taken by St John staff with help from Kerikeri Rotarians. Of the 161 people tested during the Stroke Foundation's sixth annual blood pressure awareness day, 15 were referred to their doctors.
Rotary club president Bruce Mathieson said if the exercise prevented one premature death it would have been four hours very well spent. High blood pressure is strongly associated with strokes, the third biggest killer in New Zealand and a major cause of disability.
Positive result
In a positive result for Labour, the party's Northland candidate Willow-Jean Prime has announced she is expecting her first child.
Mrs Prime is a lawyer, marae chair and current Far North District councillor who won 8042 votes in the September 20 election, reducing incumbent Mike Sabin's majority by about 2500. Husband Dion Prime is a teacher at Bay of Islands College.
The good news came after four years of trying and in the midst of a hectic election campaign - somewhat disproving the advice of "don't stress, take it easy, and it will happen".
The indefatigable Mrs Prime hopes to have another tilt at the Northland electorate in 2017.
Cash for Gaza
An art exhibition for the child victims of the Gaza conflict had raised $6000 as of yesterday morning, half of that coming from the sale of renowned photographer Frank Habicht's 1960s black-and-white print of actress Vanessa Redgrave protesting against the Vietnam War. The show ends today at Kaan Zamaan gallery on Kerikeri's Hobson Ave.
Epilepsy seminar
Epilepsy Northland is holding another seminar at Kerikeri's St John Ambulance Hall on Thursday, October 16. It will run from 10am to noon, followed by a one hour drop-in time when anyone can catch up with the organisation's Northland field officer.
Called Understanding Epilepsy, the seminar will cover the causes, seizure types, first aid, seizure triggers, medication and lifestyle issues. Call (09) 438 5498 or email northland@epilepsy.org.nz for more information.
Dance show
Kerikeri's Demonstr8 Da Flow dancers will stage their first main-stage show this Saturday when they perform Dance Your Way to the Top.
The original show, devised and directed by the DDF crew, is set in the 1960s and 70s. Through dance and song it tells the story of a young girl's struggle with the sometimes harsh realities of life, love and fame.
Tickets to the Turner Centre show are $20 adults, $15 seniors/students and $10 children. Call (09) 407 0260 to book. Door sales are $25.
The recent trivia night and auction held at Paihia's Scenic Hotel raised more than $17,000 for the Bay of Islands Vintage Railway Trust. Among the items auctioned by MCs Frank Leadley and Mayor John Carter was a signed tie previously owned by Prime Minister John Key. Proceeds will go towards a new station complex in Opua.
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