Northland news in brief: man injured on mower and total fire ban remains

The Northland Rescue Helicopter at the scene where a mower deck attached to a tractor rolled on a man yesterday. Photo / Northland Rescue Helicopter

Mower crash rescue

A man in his 50s was flown to hospital after the tractor he was mowing grass on rolled on him at Mangawhai.

Emergency services were called to a lifestyle property on Robert Hastie Dr, Mangawhai, shortly before midday yesterday after reports that a lawn mower had rolled on a man. The Northland Rescue Helicopter was dispatched, a spokesman said.

He said it appeared that the man had been using a tractor with a mower deck attached to mow lawns. He said it looked as if the man had got off the machine on a hill and it then rolled back on him. The injured man, in his 50s, was trapped by the legs and is believed to have suffered crush injuries to one or both legs.

He was flown to Whangārei Hospital. No more details were available at edition time.

Fires banned

A total fire ban is still in place in Northland, despite recent rain. Due to inconsistent weather conditions the total fire ban will remain in place until further notice.
Fire and Emergency NZ monitors conditions on a weekly basis. The region has experienced a bit of rain lately which unfortunately can lull people into a false sense of security regarding the use of fire. The risk of fire spread is enhanced with increased grass growth after rain, wind which allows rapid drying of fine fuels and the potential for rapid fire spread if a fire was to get out of control.

Woman's arrest does not go well

The arrest of a woman who had been engaging in fisticuffs with her brother outside a Kaitaia address last week did not go entirely as planned.

The woman, who did not take kindly to being arrested, allegedly kicked one officer in the stomach, then the police car she was being invited to get into, and spat at an officer's face.

At about that point Officer A decided to subdue her with pepper spray, but missed, Officer B copping the full blast in the face.

The woman was subsequently charged with assaulting police and wilful damage.
A police source said this was not the first time that pepper spray had hit an unintended target, and probably wouldn't be the last. He was even aware of one officer (not in Kaitaia) spraying himself in the face as he checked that he knew what he was doing.

Bee pioneer

Mary Bumby, who brought the first honey bees to New Zealand 180 years ago, will be remembered by the Ngahere Bee Club at Mangungu Mission, Horeke, where she delivered the bees in 1839. The commemoration, on Sunday, March 17, will include a guided tour and demonstrations, and story-telling by Tanya Batt. The day will start at 10am, with honey products and seedling trees for sale.

Search for wanted man

A wanted man sparked a police search in Whangārei yesterday morning. Senior Sergeant Steve Dickson said police carried out a normal traffic stop on Kiripaka Rd around 10am. A passenger in the car had a warrant to arrest and was subsequently arrested. The driver, a 24-year-old Rodney man, was wanted for dishonesty offending. Before officers could get him out of the car and cuffed, he drove off. He dumped the car on Bush Haven Dr and ran off into bushland. The man was not found at the time, but police are making further inquiries to find him.