Northland news in brief, Lemons Hill open 24/7 and new leader for Maori Council

Traffic will be able to go past the Lemons Hill Slip, on State Highway 11 between Kawakawa and Paihia, 24/7 through a one-way system from today.

Lemons Hill open today to one way traffic

State Highway 11 past the Lemons Hill slip in the Bay of Islands will be open 24 hours a day to one-way traffic from 4pm today .

There will be stop/go traffic management in place to control safe and orderly travel past the slip site. Hundreds of motorists have been using the road that links Paihia and Kawakawa since limited opening hours started on April 23. The road was blocked on February 13.

"We've been promising this day would come, so it's great to finally tell our Northland customers that the road is open all hours," NZ Transport Agency Northland system manager Jacqui Hori-Hoult said.

Te Kenana "Wiremu" Puriri elected to Tai Tokerau District Māori Council

Te Kenana "Wiremu" Puriri has been elected to lead the Tai Tokerau District Māori Council for the next three years. Puriri was elected at triennial elections held in Opononi earlier this month. He will serve as a member of the New Zealand Māori Council along with the new council secretary Hiku Kawiti Taylor-Wi Neera and treasurer Kim Tito. Puriri is a barrister who is involved in a range of organisations. He replaces Rihari Dargaville who led the Tai Tokerau Council following the passing of Sir Graham Latimer in 2016.

Hamilton man warned after leaping on Northland cafe counter

A 31-year-old man Hamilton was given a pre-charge warning after a misunderstanding saw him leap on to the counter of a Northland cafe. Police were called to the Matauri Cafe and Bar about 10.30am by the female shop worker after the male's behaviour caused her concern.

Police said two males went into the shop and then left in a campervan with two other adults. The van was stopped near Kerikeri on SH10 and the 31-year-old was taken to Kerikeri police station and spoken to. He was issued with a warning for disorderly behaviour likely to cause violence and released. The two males were also trespassed from the business and victim support will visit the shop worker.

Wayfinding Leadership workshops for Māori SMEs

Te Puni Kōkiri, with Wayfinding Leadership Ltd, will host a series of Wayfinding Leadership workshops for Māori SMEs and Māori tourism operators next week, beginning with looking at the Core Wayfinding Leadership approach, followed by a session focused on the tourism industry. Venues will be in Waitangi on Monday, May 21, the Hokianga on Tuesday, Kaitaia on Wednesday and Whangārei on Thursday. For details, and/or to secure a place, phone Shannon Edmonds Tito on (09) 430 3731 or 027 403 4002 by tomorrow afternoon.

2018 NZ Bakels Supreme Pie Awards begin

Northlanders love a good pie and the region's bakers can test their pastry creations against the rest of the country with entries open for the 2018 NZ Bakels Supreme Pie Awards, New Zealand's biggest food competition. This year competitors can go online and enter at: pieawards.nz/. NZ Bakels managing director Brent Kersel said the move to online will make it a lot easier for bakers and cafe owners to enter the 22nd Supreme Pie Awards.

"But don't worry if you don't have internet access, hard copy entry packs will still be available from your local Bakery Advisor or Bakels directly." Last year Fast and Fresh Bakery in Taupo won the NZ Bakels Supreme Pie Award with their venison, mushroom, bacon and cheese pie.