A Whangārei man accused of having a home-made bomb and illegal stash of firearms has been remanded in custody. Daniel Paul Van Houten, 36, appeared briefly in the Whangārei District Court yesterday after police raided an Otaika Rd property on April 5. He is charged with unlawful possession of a .223 AK-47, unlawful possession of a semi-automatic 308, unlawful possession of a pistol Comet Flare gun, unlawful possession of 308 ammunition and unlawful possession of .223 ammunition. He also faces a charge of unlawful possession of an explosive device, namely an improvised explosive device - a homemade bomb constructed from military or non-military components. He was remanded in custody to reappear in the court on May 1.
Fire restrictions end
The end of fire restrictions across most of Northland led to a flurry of fire brigade call-outs, including to a scrub fire Wiroa Rd, near Bay of Islands Airport, about 1.20pm on Monday. Kerikeri fire chief Les Wasson said the fire started when sparks from the burn-off ignited nearby vegetation. Two Kerikeri appliances plus a rural fire tanker from Kaikohe fought the blaze. Although the fire ban had been lifted, Wasson urged Northlanders to exercise caution before lighting fires and to pay close attention to the conditions, especially wind. Fire restrictions remain in force on the Karikari and Aupouri peninsulas.
Driver in court
A 31-year-old man who allegedly led police on a chase was eventually driven to the Whangārei District Court in a police car. Police said the man failed to stop after two people got out of the vehicle on Central Ave in Whangārei about 12.20am yesterday.The driver continued west and was eventually stopped near Wheki Valley on State Highway 14. He was to appear in Whangārei District Court yesterday on charges of driving with an excess breath alcohol level, driving while disqualified, failing to stop, dangerous driving, and breach of release conditions.
