Farm locked down
A Northland property infected with Mycoplasma bovis is still under quarantine lockdown to prevent the disease from spreading to neighbouring farms. The herd of 50 beef animals on the Kaipara farm is yet to be culled. The Ministry of Primary Industries said they would be killed at a time best suited to the farm owner. The ministry is keeping the whereabouts of the farm tightly under wraps. No additional properties in Northland have tested positive for M. bovis, the disease which was discovered on the beef cattle farm early in September.
Bridge jumps to end
The NZ Transport Agency understands that jumping into the river from the Taipa Bridge is part of summer at Doubtless Bay, but it's about to be taken off the agenda. ''No Jumping'' signs would be erected, a spokesman from the national roading agency said, and would remain in place for most of next year as work on building the new two-lane bridge and dismantling the existing structure continued. "These signs will be installed for people's own safety, so please don't jump," the spokesman said. "It will be unsafe to jump for most of 2019, but when the project is finished you will have a fabulous new viewing platform. Please start talking about this with whanau, family and friends, and in particular children. Please help us to keep everyone safe."
