Far North news in brief: Street party raises funds for charity, rubbish barge back, flights in demand

Biosecurity New Zealand is prepared for busy summer.

Residents and visitors to Far North beaches should be on the lookout for a foreign plant hostile to almost everything. The threat of the highly invasive and toxic weed, sea spurge (Euphorbia paralias) to the coastline has increased with the discovery of another infestation on Te Oneroa-a-Tōhe - Ninety-Mile Beach near Pukenui. Please watch the short video below that explains what to do if you find sea spurge.

Barge back

The popular mobile summer rubbish barge will be back on the water in the Bay of Islands from December 27 until January 27. The staffed barge is a joint venture between Northland Regional Council, Far North District Council and the Department of Conservation, supported by contractors Northland Waste, with the aim of keeping the Bay of Islands rubbish-free. Go to nrc.govt.nz/rubbishbarge for details about locations, times and costs.

Flight flurry

Air New Zealand says it is experiencing strong demand for flights to Whangārei and Kerikeri. General manager of airports Kate Boyer said the airline was preparing to welcome 43,000 customers flying to and from Northland in December and January. Nationwide, the airline’s busiest day will be December 27, with nearly 50,000 booked to travel.

Street party raises funds

Kerikeri charities and projects received $2600 from this year’s Kerikeri Street Party. This year’s event, sponsored by Barfoot & Thompson Kerikeri and One NZ and organised by Jacman Entertainment, saw 3500 people turn out to party following the Kerikeri Half Marathon on November 16. Bald Angels Charitable Trust received $1000, Kerikeri District Business Association received a $1000 donation towards the Hanging Baskets project, and Coast to Coast Cat Rescue, who rescue and rehome unwanted stray cats and kittens, received $600 towards ongoing costs.

Biosecurity boost

In an effort to ensure biosecurity threats such as foot-and-mouth disease and brown marmorated stink bug do not cross the border and harm the country’s biodiversity. Biosecurity New Zealand Commissioner Mike Inglis announced more officers, detector dogs, and airport hosts, along with an enhanced public awareness campaign, will bolster biosecurity protections for New Zealand this summer. He urged travellers to avoid bringing food or other items that could pose a biosecurity risk.