A crash between a truck and ute on State Highway 1 at Whangārei yesterday did not cause any injuries, but left traffic disrupted on both sides of the crash scene. There were no injuries in the collision, which happened about 1pm yesterday, but traffic was tailed back on both sides of the scene, just near the Gull Service Station for more than an hour. The crash partially blocked with the northbound lane and traffic banked up for about 2km on both sides while the accident was dealt with.
Second suspicious fire
A second suspicious fire an as many weeks has swept through 2ha of scrub and pine at Horeke in South Hokianga. The blaze started about 11am on Thursday opposite the recycling station on Rangiahua Rd, the same location as the previous fire. Volunteer crews from Ōkaihau and Kerikeri brigades tackled the fire initially along with three helicopters using monsoon buckets. A digger was also deployed to cut fire breaks. A forestry fire crew was back at the scene on Friday to finish dousing hotspots. Fire and Emergency NZ is investigating.
Swimming spots tested
Northland swimming spots have improved since the last round of testing with the December 30 results declaring only Kerikeri River at the Stone Store off-limits due to bacterial contamination. Two other sites — Waimamaku River at Wekaweka Rd in South Hokianga and Victoria River south of Kaitaia — were found to have elevated bacterial levels so caution was advised. That's a marked improvement since the December 16 tests which found four out of 60 sites around Northland were unsuitable for swimming and caution was advised at another five. The unsafe locations in the earlier tests included one of Northland's busiest swimming spots, the southern end of Paihia Beach. Bacteria levels there have now dropped back below safe levels. The earlier results are thought to have been influenced by heavy rain in preceding days. The tests are conducted fortnightly during summer by the Northland Regional Council and published by Land, Air, Water Aotearoa.
