Northland news briefs

A man critically injured in a car accident near Broadwood, in North Hokianga has died

Injured driver dies

A man critically injured when his four-wheel-drive vehicle crashed into a roadside culvert near Broadwood, in North Hokianga, on Sunday has died.

Firefighters had to cut off one door, part of the roof and the dashboard to free the man, who was worked on at the scene by St John paramedics then flown to Whangarei Hospital.

On Monday he was transferred, still in a critical condition, to Auckland City Hospital, but died there yesterday.

Experts from the police serious crash unit returned to the scene yesterday to determine the cause of the crash. The man was the vehicle's sole occupant.

Assault arrest

A Whangarei man has been arrested and charged with assaulting his neighbour during a dispute. Police were called to an argument between two neighbours on Riverside Dr about 1.15pm yesterday.

A woman received a minor injury to her arm and was assessed by St John staff but did not need hospital treatment. A 64-year-old man was arrested and charged with two counts of assault with intent to injure. He is expected to appear in the Whangarei District Court on Friday.

Ewen to head NorthTec

Mark Ewen has been appointed the new chief executive of NorthTec. Mr Ewen has been the acting chief executive since last September, and was previously NorthTec's director of Trades and Primary Industries.

He was born and raised in Lyttelton and has studied and worked in New Zealand, Australia and Britain. Mr Ewen takes over the role from Paul Binney, who resigned in May last year after 13 years at the helm.

Car catches fire

An electrical fault is thought to have started a fire which gutted a car on State Highway 12 just west of Kaikohe on Monday evening.

Deputy fire chief Wiremu Matene said the owner had trouble starting the car so left it parked outside. A member of the public called in the fire about 7.20pm. Firefighters stopped it spreading to a nearby shed but little remained of the car that could be salvaged.

Police probe Kerikeri crash

The police serious crash unit is continuing to investigate an Anzac Day crash on Kapiro Rd, near Kerikeri, which killed a 53-year-old motorcyclist. The resident of the Purerua Peninsula, north of Kerikeri, died after his bike and a car turning into a driveway collided.

The driver of the car and her 14-year-old passenger were uninjured. Police are not commenting on the cause of the crash, or whether charges are likely, while the investigation is under way.

Motorcycle accident

Emergency services, including firefighters from Kaeo and Kerikeri, were called to Whangaroa Rd about 12.30pm yesterday after a young man is thought to have taken a corner too quickly on his motorcycle and crashed. The rider and his father, who was riding pillion, suffered only minor cuts and scrapes.

Generosity after death in France

Nearly 300 donors have raised $37,394 to bring a former Northland man home after he died in a car crash in France. Beau St George, 33, was killed last Thursday only weeks before his marriage to Herminie Gouard.

The couple have a 14-month-old daughter, Joan. A Givealittle fund "Bringing Beau home" was started at the weekend. Mr St George died after a head-on crash between Valensole and Manosque in the Alpes-de-Haute Provence, northeast of Nice.