Northland news in brief: library turns 25 and lawyer on Māori Council

Hikurangi Friendship House Charitable Trust chairman Neil Crowther and secretary Linda Vanstone.

Library turns 25

Hikurangi Community Library will be celebrating 25 years of operation today. The library, which is also in the midst of raising money to carry out repairs on the Heritage NZ listed building, was opened in the old Hikurangi Post Office building in 1993 after the post office closed the year before. The popular community library has been run by volunteers for the past 25 years. Past and present volunteers have been invited to the afternoon tea celebration today. Any volunteers who have not been in contact with the library are still able to attend. Contact Friendship House on 4338452.

Puriri joined executive

Whangārei lawyer Wiremu Puriri has been elected to the New Zealand Māori Council's executive. At the council's national hui in Wellington over the weekend, Puriri was unanimously elected from the Te Tai Tokerau district. All 16districts were present for the hui which covered a range of areas, challenges and opportunities impacting Māori.

Two injured in crash

Two people suffered minor injuries when their car rolled on a hairpin bend on the road down to Matauri Bay beach yesterday. The accident occurred just after 9am. St John Ambulance responded along with firefighters from the Cavalli, Kerikeri and Kaeo brigades.

Health awards tomorrow

Innovation, quality and integration across Te Tai Tokerau's health care and social sectors will be celebrated in Whangārei tomorrow night with the presentation of the 2018 Northland Health and Social Innovation Awards. Far North finalists include HEALNZ (support for victims of sexual abuse), Tapuwae Podiatry Northland Services (Cynthia Otene), Te Roopu Kimiora Kaitaia (Te Rakau a Oranga), the Kaitaia chemotherapy satellite unit (Tatau Ki Te Oranga) and Kaitaia Physiotherapy.

Jones' behaviour questioned

Shane Jones' failure to declare dozens of meetings raises concerns about the Provincial Growth Fund model, says the New Zealand Taxpayers' Union. Executive director Jordan Williams said there is a perception the Provincial Growth Fund is merely a political tool of New Zealand First and holding meetings behind closed doors fuels that perception.
Williams said their should be set criteria for funding preventing a minister be able to approve funding up to $20 million without seeking Cabinet approval.