Northland news in brief: alleged knife man arrested and kauri dieback meetings

A man is taken into custody after an armed police callout in Otaika, Whangārei yesterday.

A man has been taken into custody after police rushed to the Whangārei suburb of Otaika on Friday morning. Police were called about 9.45am to an address on Dakota Place, Raumanga, to reports of a man being threatening with a knife. Around 10.10am police were seen to take a hand-cuffed man from a property in Dakota Place and put him into a police car.

Kauri dieback meetings

Seven consultation meetings on long term plans to protect kauri are being held in Northland over the next week. This is a valuable opportunity to have a say in shaping long term plans to protect kauri from dieback disease. These plans include new rules that could affect the way you access kauri forests, or require you to carry out protection measures if you have kauri forest on your land. Today's meetings are at Mangamuka Marae from 9.30am and Te Ahu Centre, Kaitaia, 7pm-9.30pm. Tomorrow they are held at Mangawhero (Ōtangaroa) Marae from 8.30am and Woodlands Conference Centre, Kerikeri, 7pm-9.30pm. On Monday, March 4 there will be a meeting at Naumai Marae from 9.30am then on Tuesday at Te Puna o Te Mātauranga Marae, NorthTec Whangārei, 9.30am; Barge Park Events Centre, Whangārei, 7pm-9.30pm. More details are at www.kauridieback.co.nz.

Beach closes for Beach 2 Basin

A 200 metre stretch of Onerahi's Beach Rd, Whangārei, from 25 metres before the boat ramp to the Raurimu roundabout will be closed from 8.30am to 9am tomorrow for the Beach 2 Basin event. Emergency services and residents may use the closed road by arrangement with the organiser Sport Northland by phoning 022 519 6095.

Shave for a Cure

Want to go bald for a good cause? Whangārei's Farmers store is hosting a Shave for a Cure event later this month for staff and members of the public. Shave for a Cure is the Leukaemia and Blood Cancer New Zealand's signature fundraiser and anybody keen to go bald for the cause can do so at the Farmers store from 12 noon on March 21. People can register in advance at www.shaveforacure.co.nz or can turn up on the day and pay a $20 donation to the foundation.

Kiln firing postponed

A community firing of the wood-fired kiln at Whangārei's Quarry Arts Centre planned for today has been postponed. The Quarry Arts Centre said due to unforeseen circumstances kiln master David Huffman is unable to fire up the kiln as planned. The firing has been delayed until further notice and the centre will advise of a new firing date as soon as possible.

Golfers gather

Golfers from around the country will be in Whangārei next weekend for the North Island Long Drive Championships. Being held at the Whangārei Golf Club on March 10 from 12.30pm, the men's and women's winners will be entered in the national Long Drive Champs in Arrowtown later this year. The winners of that competition then represent New Zealand at the World Long Drive Championships in the United States.

Missing boy found

A police search for a missing boy in Whangārei yesterday had a happy ending, with the child found safe and well. Police descended on Parihaka Reserve and Mair Park after the child was reported missing shortly after lunchtime. Officers searched the wider area and police said the boy was found safe and well. No further details were available at edition time.