Youth attend Youthline workshop
Young Northlanders will get to meet Queen's Young Leaders Award and Northland local Ezekiel Raui at a youth development workshop. Youthline Coca-Cola Good2Great is a youth development programme designed by Youthline. The workshops and free app focus on developing skills, building youth confidence, and helping young people aged 15 to 24 become their best selves and explore their potential. For the first time, Ngāpuhi Iwi Social Services will be partnering with Youthline to deliver the workshop alongside its Hei Huarahi Marae Programme, aiming to put young Māori more in touch with their culture. The first Northland workshop was held yesterday and today (October 3-4) at Moria Marae in Whirinaki. Stan Walker, a Good2Great ambassador, was unable to attend the workshop as planned because of the unexpected passing of a very close family member.
RDA garden recognised
A team of keen gardeners also passionate about raising money for Whangarei Riding for the Disabled have been named as finalists in NZ Gardener's Gardener of the Year award. The volunteers started a plant stall to raise money after seeing the difference the charity and horses made in the lives of people it worked with. With no government funding, the Whangarei branch of RDA relies on donations, grants and sponsorship. And with an annual operating budget of $250,000, the staff and volunteers were always keen to think of a new way to raise extra funds, and so the plant sales began. The volunteers are one of five finalists in the magazine's annual award to celebrate people using their gardening skills to enrich their communities: with other finalists in Auckland, Rotorua, Christchurch and Rakaia.
Bushfire doused
Firefighters from Kaeo, Mangonui and Kerikeri were scrambled to Wainui Rd, north of Matauri Bay, after reports of a bushfire about 3.30pm on Monday. However, Kaeo fire chief Lindsay Murray said the blaze turned out to be ''half the size of a lounge'' so the other brigades were turned back before they reached the scene. Passers-by had the fire under control before firefighters arrived. It was thought the blaze, just west of Ota Pt Rd, was caused by a rubbish fire spreading into scrub.
Designers on display
The talent of Northland designers will be showcased at the Bernina Northland Fashion Awards this weekend. The annual event will feature the creations of primary, intermediate and secondary school students in the region, along with home-schooled children, polytechnic students and amateur and semi-professional sewers and artists. The categories range from street fashion to cosplay, with all entries eligible for Northland's Designer of the Year. There is even an award for models up for grab. The show runs from 7pm at Forum North in Whangārei.
