Minerva ferry working bee
The volunteer group hoping to restore the Minerva, a 112-year-old kauri steam ferry, is meeting for a working bee from 10am Sunday at the boat shelter opposite the bowling club on Cobham Rd, Kerikeri. The plans are to work on the sheer line forward. A kauri slab has been donated and will be used to replace the stern rim.
Light blaze suspect
The fire that razed a large shed outside Waipapa on Sunday was probably caused by an electrical fault according to fire safety officer Lindsay Murray. The blaze, on Ironbark Road, was so fierce firefighters could see the smoke from their station in Kerikeri, more than 10km away. The "man shed", a fibreglass catamaran, Toyota Corona, Mercedes 300E, ride-on mower, tools and gym equipment were destroyed, despite the efforts of two fire crews using water from a swimming pool and a tanker shuttling water from the irrigation system on Pungaere Road. Mr Murray said the fire appeared to have started in a light fitting.
Drugs charges for driver
A Kaitaia man was charged with possession of methamphetamine and cannabis for supply after the car he was driving was stopped on Monday night. The car was searched after officers detected the smell of cannabis, leading to the seizure of four methamphetamine point bags, three cannabis tinnies, six grams of cannabis head material, a methamphetamine pipe and what is believed to be a customer list.
Trouble over faulty WOF
A 25-year-old Kaitaia man has been charged with using a forged document, namely a warrant of fitness. Police allege the warrant was issued by a Kaitaia garage, where the alleged offender was employed, last year. The vehicle was sold, the new owner complaining when the rear axle collapsed two months later.