Club rugby players have been given the thumbs up from Northland's ITM Cup coach as the season approaches the midway stage.

The seventh draw in Sport Northland's Lotto Sport Maker has seen volunteers recognised for their contribution to local sport.

The opening round of the Asia Pacific Rally Championship was welcomed to Whangarei over the weekend. The first event of the international series also incorporated the first round of the New Zealand Rally Championships and Richard Mason, with wife Sara co-driving, finally flicked a long-standing monkey off their backs.