New service centre a step closer
The site for a shared customer services centre in Dargaville for the Kaipara District and Northland Regional councils has been blessed. The proposed $9 million complex is expected to house up to 80 staff from the two councils and construction will begin within weeks. It is expected to generate work for more than 100 people in the Covid-19 recovery period.
The 32 Hokianga Rd site was formally blessed by hapu Te Kuihi, Te Roroa and Te Uri o Hau at a low-key event attended by about 30 people, including council representatives. The regional council is developing the complex, expected to open late next year, for by the regional council and about a dozen operational field staff, their vehicles and specialist equipment but the district council will be akey tenant, with about 65 mostly administrative staff in the building.
Fire committee appointed
Fire and Emergency has appointed seven people to first Local Advisory Committee in Northland.
More than 30 Northlanders were nominated for the committee, which will provide independent community-focused advice to the Fire and Emergency Board and inform emergency planning across the area.
The members are architectural designer Gordon Lambeth as chairman and Heritage New Zealand's Mita Harris as deputy, and Sarah Hoyle, Karen Joyce-Paki, Ken Rintoul, Rolien Elliot and Colin Kitchen.
Jones gets nod
New Zealand First officially selected Shane Jones as its Northland candidate at a meeting in Kerikeri on Saturday.
Jones, a Cabinet minister, stood in the Whangarei electorate in the 2017 election. Party leader Winston Peters held the Northland seat from a by-election in 2015, before losing it to Matt King in 2017.
Jones said it was a privilege to be selected - and took a shot at the National Party.
"We look forward to telling our story of continued Government investment into rail, water storage, roads, digital connectivity, tourism and health after nine years of neglect by the last National Government."
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