Northland news briefs: Police assault accused in court and dairy meeting

Police at Otaika Shops on Tuesday where a policeman was allegedly knocked unconscious and another officer allegedly assaulted.

A man accused of attacking two police officers in Whangārei has been remanded in custody. August Lemon, 43, appeared in Whangārei District Court this week charged with causing grievous bodily harm to a male officer on March 19 and assaulting a female officer the same day. The charges relate to a callout at Otaika Shops that day in which a policeman was allegedly knocked unconscious. Lemon was remanded in custody to reappear in the court on April 8.

Agriculture Minister to speak

Agriculture Minister Damien O'Connor will join Fonterra director Brent Goldsack as a keynote speaker at the annual Northland Dairy Development Trust Conference. This will be the first time a Minister of Agriculture has addressed farmers at the annual event. Goldsack and O'Connor, who is also Minister of State for Trade and Export Growth, Biosecurity, Food Safety, and Rural Communities, will take questions from the audience. The agenda includes updates on trials from the Northland Agricultural Research Farm in Dargaville, fertility research data from DairyNZ, farmer feedback from the Northland 350 Project and environmental factors affecting the industry from the Northland Regional Council. All farmers are welcome to the free event. Registration from 9.45am for a 10am start, Wednesday, April 3, Northland Events Centre. www.nddt.nz

Riot-related arrests

Two more men have been charged over a riot on a Ōtangarei St. Daddy Boy Nelson, 30, and Samuel Tamati Hetaraka Mark, 21, both of Ōtangarei have been charged with taking part in a riot on March 9 on William Jones Dr. Both were remanded on bail to appear in the Whangārei District Court on April 10. Police have now arrested five people in relation to the riot that seemed to be sparked after a stabbing on the street.

Delayed vote to go ahead

Primary teachers and principals will now vote in online ballots whether to accept the Ministry's latest collective agreement offers, following the cancellation of this week's paid union meetings. Education union NZEI Te Riu Roa's national executive decided on Sunday to cancel the meetings as a mark of respect to those killed in last Friday's mosque attack, and so members could be in their schools this week to provide continuity and stability for their students. After discussions with member leaders in Christchurch, the national executive decided last night to run an electronic ballot from Monday, April 1 to Friday April 5. NZEI and the Ministry of Education returned to negotiations for the primary teachers' and primary principals' collective agreements last month. It came after primary and intermediate school teachers and principals took strike action twice last year.

Reserve to get wasp control

Many Bream Head Reserve Conservation Trust volunteers working on the trap/toxin lines were stung multiple times this summer by vespular, or common, wasps. Ranger Adam Willetts said the number of wasps has been far higher than he have seen in the five years he has worked at Bream Head. The trust fast-tracked funds to purchase the latest vespular wasp control toxin being using successfully in Tasman District beech forests. It only attracts protein-feeding wasps so bees and other non-target catch are not harmed. The project covered the full 805ha Bream Heads reserve and should significantly reduce wasps' nests. Repeat controls will occur if monitoring shows high numbers in future summers.

Walk for Depression awareness

Whangārei residents are invited to walk around the Hatea Loop on April 4 wearing their gumboots to raise funds for young people living with depression. The event is part of Gumboot Friday - with other events planned across the country. Gumboot walkers are asked to bring a gold coin donation and meet at the Canopy Bridge at 6pm to sign in before walking anti-clockwise around the Loop at 6.30pm. The donations help the Key to Life Trust provide free counselling to kids in need. For more information search Gumboot Loop on Facebook.