Northland news in brief: Yachties say thanks with concert; Pink Ribbon volunteers needed

Bellywood Fusion Dancers, led by Anna Morton, joined the line-up of boatie talent at the Riverside Drive Marina Music and Food Festival. Photo / Mark Ullman

Grateful yachties stage festival

Overseas yachties stranded in Whangārei due to Covid-19 are determined to give back to the local community hosting them.
A group of yachties who are musically inclined held the Riverside Drive Marina Music and Food Festival recently. Nearly three dozen yachties ranging in ages from 7 to 70 put on an evening of music and dance that was sponsored by some 35 local businesses. A raffle was held as a fundraiser, the proceeds going to two local organisations.
The Black Ball Yacht Club will be receiving money from the event for its Scholarship Fund, which is in the process of donating $2000 to NorthTec's apprenticeship programme to provide electrical testing equipment to students who will be working in the marine trades.

Pink Ribbon collectors badly needed

Breast Cancer Foundation NZ is urgently looking for Northland volunteers to help out with its Pink Ribbon Street Appeal on October 30 and 31.
Around 70 collectors will be at sites across the region, but area co-ordinators are still needed in Whangārei, Hikurangi, Kaikohe, Kaitaia and Mangawhai to manage a small team of volunteers at local collection sites. Area co-ordinators will be supplied with a detailed briefing, a roster of volunteer collectors, street permits, and all the materials necessary to run a successful appeal. Anyone interested in being either a volunteer co-ordinator or collector is encouraged to email pinkribbon@bcf.org.nz or phone 0508 105 105 for more information.

Food safety plaudit for council

The Kaipara District Council has easily passed a review of its accreditation as a recognised agency to conduct food verification.
At a recent audit, Risk and Finance meeting council staff were congratulated for the glowing audit report they received from International Accreditation NZ (IANZ).
Council chief executive Louise Miller says the result is a reflection of the work the food safety team does with the 173 registered food providers across the district.
"This means the community can feel safe in the knowledge that our food operators and vendors are being held to a high standard. Kaipara is punching well above our weight, and leading the country in our quality management system," Miller said.

Social services vocation roadshow

People wanting to find out about working in the social services can attend a roadshow by NorthTec.

Staff will present on "All About Working in Social Services" and there will be talks on careers in social work, mental health, addictions support, counselling, youth work and community development.

It will be held at the NorthTec City Centre Learning Hub in Bank St, Whangārei, today from 5pm to 8pm. The roadshow will then go to NorthTec's campuses in Kerikeri and Kaikohe, and there will also be an event in Kaitaia at the Te Ahu Centre. The roadshow will be at the Kerikeri campus

tomorrow, October 7; in Kaitaia on October 20; and at the Kaikohe campus on October 21. Each event will run from 4pm to 7pm, with a drop-in session between 4pm and 5pm, and a presentation from 5pm.