Dance workshop
Northland dancers will have the opportunity to watch world-renowned dancers perform, and the chance to learn from them. The Palace Dance Studio - run by award winning choreographer Parris Goebel who has worked with stars like Rihanna, Justin Bieber and Nicki Minaj - will be bringing its Ignite the Crown tour to Whangarei next month. All crews from the Penrose-based studio will be performing at Whangarei Intermediate on Saturday, May 19 at 7pm including Bubblegum, Sorority, The Royal Family Varsity, ReQuest, Kingsmen and The Royal Family. People can also learn from some of the members of the crews by registering for the workshop held earlier that day at 1pm. To buy tickets to the show visit www.eventfinda.co.nz/2018/ignite-the-crown/whangarei or to secure a spot at the workshop email info@thepalacedancestudio.co.nz.
Manhunt over
A Kaitaia man who had been actively sought by police, including the Armed Offenders Squad, since late February was arrested after a short chase in Kaitaia on Wednesday. He was remanded in custody on 31 charges including alleged drug, firearms, driving and violence offences, and is due to appear in Kaitaia District Court on Monday to apply for bail.
Rotary are Sunsmart
Four hundred pupils at Kaikohe East School are to get Sunsmart caps thanks to Kaikohe Rotary Club. The caps will be distributed to the children on Wednesday morning. One of the smaller clubs around, Kaikohe Rotary's 16 members raised $1200 to buy the caps by holding food and drink stalls at the Bay of Islands Pastoral and Industrial Show at Waimate North and the Kaikohe A&P Show.
Call for Rockquest entries
Entries for New Zealand's only nationwide, live, original music, youth event close next week. Bands, or solo/duos have until Thursday, May 3 to get their entries in for Smokefree Rockquest. Where there are 15 or more entries in a region, there will be a heats process to select regional finalists. The top two solo/duos will be announced at the end of the heats process and both will go on to the video selection stage. Meanwhile, the top 12 bands will go through to the regional final and from there the top two bands and the People's Choice winner will go to the video selection stage. The video selection stage is where acts submit a 12-minute performance video which is viewed and assessed by a panel of judges who select the top 30. The top 30 will be reviewed and reassessed and a new panel of judges will chose the top nine bands and solo/duos to perform at the national final. Visit sfrq.co.nz for more information and to sign up.
Hunting licences
Amid predictions of a good duck hunting season, Northland game bird hunters are being urged to abandon their usual habit of buying a hunting licence at the last minute. The 2018 game bird season opens on Saturday, May 5. Last season 2052 all-season licences were sold in Northland with 104 day licences sold. Fish & Game says anyone hoping to put a wild duck dinner on the table needs to have a game bird hunting licence. For information on the "rules and regs", where to hunt, how to get a licence and much more, visit www.fishandgame.org.nz and click on Hunting and Game Bird Season 2018.
