Northland news in brief

The Whangārei Youth Orchestra is performing at the Turner Centre, in Kerikeri, above, on Saturday.

Youth perform classics

The Whangārei Youth Orchestra, comprising 40 young musicians from around Northland, will perform at Kerikeri's Turner Centre on Saturday from 2pm.
The concert will feature works by Mozart and Brahms, with Humperdinck's overture to the opera 'Hansel and Gretel,' and 'Danse Macabre,' by Camille Saint-Saens, with violinist Maia-Dean Martin. Soloists Daniel Morrison and Tania Priebs will perform two duets from Mozart's opera 'The Magic Flute.'

The mostly school-aged musicians, will be supported by Whangārei Youth Music committee members and parents, who play some of the harder-to-find orchestral instruments. Tickets to Saturday's concert cost $20 for adults, $15 senior citizens, $10 students (18 and under), and $50 for a family of two adults and two children.

Last tickets remaining

Tickets for the Bay of Islands Vintage Railway's trivia and auction night at Waitangi on August 18 have almost sold out. As of Tuesday there were still a few left, at 39 Gillies St Café in Kawakawa, Paihia Pharmacy and Paper Plus Kerikeri.

Basketball champs

The Northland secondary school basketball competition for girls is being held in Whangārei today.
The competition tips off at ASB Stadium, Kensington, Whangārei, at 10am, with the finals held around 3.30am.

Byelection begins

Five candidates — Mervyn Gray, Alan Philip Hessell, Fred Hohua, Amanda Phillips and Collin Rameka — will contest the Kaikohe-Hokianga Community Board byelection, which closes on September 14. Voters receive papers in the mail from August 23. South Hokianga residents can enrol at any Post Shop, by calling 0800 367-656, or by going to www.elections.org.nz.