Northland news in brief: Tickets on sale for fireworks spectacular

About 10,000 people packed into Semenoff Stadium for the Whangārei Lions Fireworks Spectacular last year. Photo / Michael Cunningham

Fireworks spectacular back

Tickets are now on sale for the Whangārei Fireworks Spectacular on Saturday, November 4. Jump the queues and book online through Eventfinda. On the night, expect live music from 6 o’clock, fun activities for all ages, food and beverages and a fireworks spectacular at 8.45pm. Tickets are $14 for adults, and $7 for children (5-16). There are also family deals available. Under-5s go free.

Two arrested over stolen vehicle

Two men were apprehended in relation to a stolen vehicle after reports of a car crash in Waipū Gorge Rd, Whangārei, on Monday. Officers were alerted about a vehicle crash, but on investigation found one of the cars that was hit and parked in the middle of the road was a stolen vehicle.

Māori entrepreneur talk

In a move to grow the number of Māori startups in Aotearoa, Tapuwae Roa will bring a wānanga to support rakahinonga Māori (entrepreneurs) in bringing their business ideas to life to Whangārei next month. Facilitated by experienced business mentor Saara Tawha (Ramaroa Ltd), the interactive one-day wānanga hopes to ignite the entrepreneurial spirit of participants while providing key tools and skills to progress their business ideas into reality. Structured to provide a “kick-start” in progressing rakahinonga aspirations, the workshop not only provides participants with a foundation in business basics, but introduces helpful tools, frameworks, and services available to support participants along their entrepreneurial journey. Places are limited for the November 4 event in Whangārei. For more information, or to register, go to www.tapuwaeroa.org/rakahinonga

Loud Shirt Day

The thousands of adults and children with cochlear implants are the focus of Loud Shirt Day 2023 — a national fundraising event and awareness campaign being held on Friday. Northlanders are encouraged to dress up in their brightest outfits and hold fundraising events at workplaces, homes and schools throughout the country. Loud Shirt Day is the annual appeal of The Hearing House (THH) and the Southern Cochlear Implant Programme (SCIP) — the only two charities in New Zealand dedicated to helping children and adults with a cochlear implant learn to listen, speak and reconnect with school, work and the community. For more info, go to loudshirtday.org.nz/.