Northland news in brief

Festival tickets offer

Anyone keen to win tickets to two top acts at the upcoming Upsurge Festival in the Bay of Islands has until 4pm today to enter. Up for grabs are double tickets to theatre-comedy Hudson and Halls Live! and Saddest Songs in the Universe by singer-songwriters Julia Deans and SJD. Just send an email to baynews@northernadvocate.co.nz telling us which show you want to go to and why you deserve to win. Make sure you include your name, address, and home or after-hours phone number. We'll call the winners tonight and publish their names in next week's Bay News Bites.

True tales launch

The latest True Tales book - True Tales of Hikurangi - Hukerenui - will be launched in Hikurangi tomorrow. The books include tales from residents of the area it is focused on and so far the series has included Onerahi, Whangarei Heads, Kamo and Great Barrier Island. True Tales of Hikurangi - Hukerenui will be launched at Hikurangi Memorial Hall from 10am tomorrow.

Roadworks close road

State Highway 1 through the Mangamuka Gorge, south of Kaitaia, will be closed this Sunday and Monday while the road is resurfaced. Detours will be in place via State Highway 10 between Awanui and Pakaraka. The work, which is dependent on dry weather, will take place from 6am to 6pm on March 26 and 27. The NZ Transport Agency apologises for any inconvenience.

Red Cross appeal

The New Zealand Red Cross is calling on Northlanders to help millions of people facing catastrophic drought and famine in Africa and Yemen by donating money. More than 20 million people in Nigeria, the Horn of Africa and Yemen are facing famine as the region experiences one of the worst droughts in decades. In North-East Nigeria, South Sudan, Somalia and Yemen, 1.4 million children are at risk of death from severe malnutrition.
The international humanitarian organisation has launched a global appeal for funds.
Those wishing to donate can do so online at www.redcross.org.nz.