Dog attacks woman
A dog has been seized after a woman was mauled while visiting a family member in Kawakawa. Sergeant Dylan Robinson, of Kaikohe police, said the victim had gone around the back of the house when the attack occurred about 10.45am on Thursday. The dog was on a chain but that snapped when the animal rushed at her. She was bitten on the arms, legs and bottom and taken to nearby Bay of Islands Hospital for treatment. Mr Robinson said the woman was relatively fortunate the injuries were puncture wounds rather than tears. A Far North District Council spokesman said animal officers attended the incident as soon as they were notified and seized the dog. An investigation was under way. The dog's breed was unknown.
Let's go plastic-free
Countdown Dargaville will be holding the first Plastic-Free Friday stall to celebrate World Environment Day on June 5. The initiative is run by Kaipara local, Victoria del la Varis-Woodcock, and is the start of a campaign to reduce waste in the Dargaville region. Countdown has donated $500 of reusable bags which will be handed out to customers today. Local volunteers have also made reusable bags which will be available from the Plastic-Free Friday stall for a gold coin donation. All the proceeds will be used to make more reusable bags.
Starship has a ball
The ASB Donation Ball for the DHL New Zealand Lions Series 2017 was launched Friday in Whangarei. ASB has created a set of rugby ball payment terminals to follow the British and Irish Lions tour across New Zealand and raise money for the Starship Foundation. The balls are fitted with a Smartpay mobile Eftpos terminal, so fans can tap their contactless-enabled credit and debit card or phone to make an automatic $3 donation to Starship.
Drive-by shooting case
The trial of three people charged over a drive-by shooting between rival gangs that landed a Kaitaia man in hospital will start in the High Court on July 31. Rawden James Yates, 35; Clarrissa Yates, 31; and Kyle Leonard O'Callaghan, 23, all appeared in the High Court at Whangarei on Thursday for a callover. All are facing a charge of attempted murder. Their arrest followed a drive-by shooting of a man in Kaitaia, in February last year.
Murder accused to re-appear
A man accused of murdering a Te Kao farmer will re-appear in the High Court in Whangarei on July 24. Marcus Bax, 38, is facing one charge of murder. He allegedly murdered Peter Linder Nilsson, 77, at his farm near Te Kao, on August 4 last year.
