NZ First leader Winston Peters will be at Northland's first meet-the-candidates meeting of the 2017 election campaign.
Meet candidates
Northland's first meet-the-candidates meeting of the 2017 election campaign is tonight, July 28 at Kaitaia College. Candidates confirmed as of yesterday are NZ First leader Winston Peters, National's Matt King and David Clendon of the Greens.
Mana Movement founder Hone Harawira is also expected along with representatives of the Ban 1080 Party and Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party. Labour's Willow-Jean Prime is due to give birth to her second child any day so she is looking for a stand-in. The meeting will start at 6pm.
Park opening
An informal opening of the "Pocket Park" on Port Rd is on Sunday. The event runs from 9am to 11am and features DJs and a sausage sizzle. The public can enjoy the sandpit and the murals for the first time.
The park adds another stop along the popular Hatea Loop while also linking the Loop with the Okara Shopping Centre. The park's name is being kept secret until the day. In the event of bad weather, a cancellation will be posted on the WDC and Love It Here facebook pages.
Kapa haka contest
Thirteen schools from around Northland will sing their hearts out and perform powerful haka in Whangarei this weekend. The Northland Secondary School Kapa Haka Competition is being held at Whangarei Girls' High School tomorrow from 9am. A powhiri to welcome the schools will be held at Whangarei Boys' High School this evening(Fri).
The auction of items spanning four generations of the Norman's Motors business is this Sunday. In excess of 300 auction lots - containing tools, parts and vehicles - will go under the hammer at 10am.
The auction is at 35 Waipanga Rd, Kamo. Viewing of the items is tomorrow from 10am to 4pm at the auction site. A copy of the catalogue is available from Whangarei Traders and Auctions website, facebook page or by emailing darryl@whangareiauctions.co.nz
Hospice turns 25
Hospice Kaipara celebrates its 25th anniversary of providing palliative care today.(Friday) Kaipara Palliative Care was formed in 1992, after a support group for people experiencing terminal illness was set up in 1990.
The Kowhai Room was opened in the Dargaville Hospital general ward in 1993 and Kaipara Palliative Care became Hospice Kaipara Inc in 2007, affiliated to Hospice New Zealand. Hospice Kaipara is partly funded by the Government and receives financial support from the Hospice shop in Dargaville.
The 25-year milestone will be celebrated at Dargaville Town Hall from 10am-4pm, with the public invited for refreshments, music and conversations.