Potter in winning form
Whangārei multi-award winning potter Greg Barron has won the Quarry Arts Centre Open Ceramic Award. Barron's Oval Form, Wood-fired Porcelain, was judged the top pot by acclaimed New Zealand potter Peter Lange. This year's competition, organised by Northland Craft Trust, attracted 75 entries from 45 potters.
Policing trial
A round-the-clock policing trial is due to start in Kaitaia on October 8. The town's top cop, Senior Sergeant Russell Richards, said officers would not necessarily be in the station 24/7 but they would be visible, mobile and ready to respond around the clock, rather than being available only on call late at night. In April last year, after a series of homicides and other high-profile incidents, police national headquarters committed to introducing 24/7 policing in Kaitaia, Kerikeri/Kaikohe and Dargaville. The Government at that time also committed to 66 new officers for Northland, a number which was increased earlier this week to 87. Frontline officers have told the Advocate burglaries and other crime have dropped since a 24/7 roster was introduced in the Mid North on July 2 with officers responding out of Kerikeri, Kaikohe or Kawakawa.
Man remanded in custody
A 28-year-old Auckland man who had been bailed to Kaitaia is facing serious charges after two police officers were assaulted during a routine bail check. Nash Kara was remanded in custody when he appeared in the Kaitaia District Court yesterday charged with aggravated assault, aggravated injuring, three counts of resisting police and one of escaping lawful custody. Senior Sergeant Russell Richards said the officers were assaulted at a Williams St, Kaitaia, address on Tuesday evening after trying to arrest a man for breaching his bail conditions. It was only through good luck that the eye injury suffered by one officer had not caused permanent damage, Richards said. The offender fled but was caught about 1.30pm on Thursday. He had earlier been bailed to Kaitaia with a 24-hour curfew for firearms and assault charges relating to an incident in Auckland.
Fleeing man arrested
Police vehicles and officers on foot flooded central Whangārei after reports of a man fleeing from police. Whangārei police Senior Sergeant Brian Swann said a wanted person who ran off from police was chased and arrested in Whangārei shortly after 11.10am yesterday. Swann said the officer called for help and cordons were quickly put in place around the central city. A police dog and handler were also called and the man was discovered on the top level of the Event Cinema carpark only minutes after he fled. He was taken to the Whangārei station, just a block away, in a police vehicle.
All-girls footy clinic
The Warriors NRL club is calling for registrations for the club's first all-girls footy clinic on Wednesday, October 3. The call comes after the successful Women in League where a girls rugby league team from Glenbervie School played in a curtain-raiser. The clinic, which is on during the school holidays, is open to girls aged 5 to 13 and will run from 9am to 3pm. It will feature skills and drills, games, a tour of the Warriors' facilities, giveaways and interaction with the Warriors women's team members. To register, go to www.warriors.kiwi
