Fleeing motorcyclist
A morotcyclist's refusal to stop for police resulted in a short road chase, six patrol cars swarming to the scene and a police dog team searching a property in Eden Tce, Whangārei. The incident early yesterday afternoon started when the rider of a motorcycle with no licence plates sped off when police signalled him to stop. After a short distance the man abandoned the motorcycle near Charles St and fled on foot. A police dog and handler tracked him to a house in Eden Tce. The rider was not found but another person of interest to the police was at the address. No arrests were made but police are continuing to carry out routine inquiries.
Kiwi likely died before blaze
A dead kiwi found at the site of an explosion and fire on Purerua Peninsula probably died before the blaze, the Department of Conservation says. A member of the public found a dead kiwi at the base of the cliff near Marsden Cross on January 21, about 36 hours after a fire started by an explosion on the beach. It was reported to DoC on January 29 and retrieved by rangers the following day. Senior ranger Adrian Walker said from the bird's state of decomposition in the initial photo taken on January 21 it was likely the kiwi had died at least a week before the fire. However, given the poor state of the mummified specimen, which had been immersed in sea water, it was impossible to determine the cause of death. A 25-year-old Kerikeri man has been charged with arson in relation to the explosion.
Iwi chairs-mayoral forum agreement
