Northland news in brief - Eliza Boom in Song Quest finals and 5 stand for election

A motorcyclist is carefully lifted into an ambulance after the crash on Kaitaia-Awaroa Rd on Friday afternoon.

Motorcycle crash

A motorcycle became airborne in a crash near Ahipara on Friday afternoon. Witnesses say the motorbike was travelling at a "fair rate of knots" and was attempting to overtake when it collided with a light truck turning right into a driveway on Kaitaia-Awaroa Rd. The motorbike was airborne and hit a tree before landing in a ditch. The motorcyclist was taken to hospital with moderate injuries. Police said investigations are continuing.

Elections for Kaikohe-Hokianga Community Board

South Hokianga residents will get to chose a representative from five candidates in the Kaikohe-Hokianga Community Board (South Hokianga Subdivision) byelection. The candidates are Mervyn Gray, Alan Philip Hessell, Fred Hohua, Amanda Phillips (independent) and Collin Rameka (independent). The byelection fills a seat vacated by Robert Cassidy, who resigned due to a change in circumstances and new opportunities overseas. Voting will open on 23 August and closes on September 14.

Lexus Song Quest finalists to compete

Whangārei soprano Eliza Boom is one of five 2018 Lexus Song Quest finalists to compete at the Grand Final Gala. Boom, 24, won through from the semifinals held at he weekend, which were judged in front of a live audience. The 2018 winner of Lexus Song Quest will be decided at the Grand Final Gala at Auckland Town Hall on Saturday where the five will perform live with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and compete for New Zealand's most prestigious singing title and a share of $90,000 in prizes. In its 62-year history Lexus Song Quest has launched the careers of some of New Zealand's most celebrated singers including Dame Malvina Major, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, Phillip Rhodes, Jonathan Lemalu and Sol3 Mio's Amitai Pati.

Kaitaia store burglary

A burglary at a Kaitaia store has disappointed Kaitaia's top cop. The Hunting & Fishing store was broken into on two occasions late Wednesday night and early Thursday morning last week. One person was arrested and charged with two counts of burglary after a family member helped police. Senior sergeant Russell Richards said he was disappointed with the incident, as burglary numbers had been going down in Kaitaia. He put that down to offenders being apprehended and taken into custody.