New Zealand Food Safety (NZFS) is advising the public not to collect or consume shellfish gathered from the Northland west coast until further notice because of a high paralytic shellfish toxin risk. Routine tests on seawater from Hokianga Harbour showed very high levels of toxin-producing phytoplankton. This is likely to cause shellfish to contain paralytic shellfish toxins over the safe limit and that can make people sick, NZFS deputy director-general Vincent Arbuckle says. Cooking does not remove the toxin.
Bush safety
Northland police are encouraging people to take care when heading into the bush. They encourage those headed into the outdoors to use the New Zealand Mountain Safety Council app called Plan My Walk. All information on Department of Conservation tracks, MetService weather warnings, watches and forecasts, track-specific alerts and interactive gear lists are available on the app.
Māori immunisation funding
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti has announced a $50 million package to help Māori health providers lift immunisation rates over the next two years. The package includes $30m to Whānau Ora providers to work with at-risk Māori and non-Māori pēpi, hāpu māma and kaumātua. Northland has the lowest rates of childhood immunisations in New Zealand.
Kiwi Christmas Books
Farm Source Dargaville won $5000 for their charity of choice, Kiwi Christmas Books, as part of Fonterra’s Christmas Giving campaign. Farm Source Dargaville is one of three winners and chose Kiwi Christmas Books for their charity because they wanted to give back to local schools in their area. Store manager Di Parsons said they wanted to make sure children in their area who may not receive a Christmas gift this year would get a book.
Lotto winners
A Whangārei Lotto player is one of two people in the country to win $29,572 in Lotto Second Division and Powerball Second Division on Wednesday. Ten players nationwide each won $22,417 with Lotto Second Division. The lucky Whangārei ticket was bought on MyLotto.
SH1 closed through gorge
State Highway 1 through Mangamuka Gorge remains closed during the summer holidays. The official detour route is still via SH10 and may add up to 40 minutes to motorists’ journeys. People driving heavy and freight vehicles can take this route. The Twin Coast Discovery Highway is also open but is only suitable for people in light vehicles and campervans. Work is underway in the Mangamuka Gorge on 12 of the 15 slip sites.
Truck stop petition
A petition has been launched in opposition to a reported plan for a 24/7 truck stop and un-manned service station on the corner of State Highway 1 and Mountfield Rd in Waipū.
