Serving the North since 1904 Kaitaia, Tuesday, March 27, 2012 $1.30 Our Modern Lofty WINDSCREENS milking goals @ hero KAITAIA P8 -9 P14 GLASS &ALUMINIUM P3 5Matthews Ave, Kaitaia Phone 0800 809 080 ● ISSN 1170-1005 156 Commerce Street ● PO Box 45 ● Kaitaia ● Phone (09) 408-0330 ● Fax (09) 408-2955 ● ADVERTISING 0800 AGE ADS ● www.northlandage.co.nz ● Email [email protected] ● Kerikeri ● Phone (09) 407-3281 ● Fax (09) 407-3250 AUPOURI PENINSULA ● AWANUI -KAITAIA ● DOUBTLESS BAY ● KAEO ● WAIPAPA ● KERIKERI ● KAWAKAWA ● PAIHIA ● RUSSELL ● OKAIHAU ● KAIKOHE ● NORTH &SOUTH HOKIANGA IN BRIEF No big prize Free flights for the needy Kerikeri’s Turner Centre has failed to emulate the Bay of Islands Vintage Railway Trust’s feat of winning the supreme TrustPower National Community Award, decided in Methven over the weekend. The volunteer-run centre, widely Lance Weller loves to fly. And he knows recognised as the best north of Auckland, won how difficult, not to say expensive, it can the regional title last year, qualifying it compete be for those living far from major against 24 other regional winners for the centres to keep medical appointments supreme accolade. Mayor Wayne Brown, his wife when their health needs exceed what Toni, staff members Shirley Ayers and Erica can be provided for them locally. Richards were in Methven to support the bid, the Now, from his home in Tutukaka, he award being shared by the Denniston Heritage has put the two together to create Angel Trust (Buller district) and Trev’s BBQ Flight NZ, acharity which will fly (Ashburton), ahead of Homes of Hope patients from their local airport to (Tauranga). wherever it is they need to go, at no cost to the patient whatsoever. Lance is still building Angel Flight, Space at the library and will welcome more volunteer pilots Kaitaia’s library, now well settled into Te Ahu, with open arms, but has no doubt that it has space available for club meetings during will make ahuge difference in many weekday hours (8.30am -5pm), John Haines people’s lives. saying staff would be happy to provide a‘‘cosy And it doesn’t end there. The offer nook’’ for such gatherings. ‘‘This might appeal to includes the service of Earth Angels, lots of people —book clubs, embroidery groups who will meet flights at their destination and the like,’’ he said. Contact can be made on and deliver the patient to the hospital/ 408-9455. specialist, then take them back to the airport for the flight home. There are some criteria. For astart Eczema risk high Angel Flight will not transport patients The facial eczema risk remained high (80,000) at in any kind of emergency (it has no Pukepoto last week according to TopVets plans to compete with services already monitoring. Moderate spore levels (55,000 and operating in that field), and patients 30,000) were recorded at Waiharara and on the must be finally needy/disadvantaged, east coast, slight (15,000) at Houhora and low effectively meaning they have no (5,000) at Awanui. The veterinary practice warns alternative but to travel by road. that its monitoring results should only be taken ‘‘Everyone knows how long it takes as aguide, spore counts varying from farm to to drive from Kaitaia to Auckland, for farm, while levels of 100,000 and more are example,’’ Lance said when he made a considered dangerous. test flight to Kaitaia earlier this month, ‘‘and it doesn’t take much imagination to appreciate how uncomfortable that must Hikoi to Wellington be for people who aren’t well to begin An ‘Aotearoa Not For Sale’ hikoi will leave Cape with. Reinga on Monday April 23, arriving in ‘‘Our motto is ‘Improving lives one Wellington on May 5. Te Tai Tokerau MP Hone flight at atime,’ and being able to fly, at Harawira said last week that the Mana Party no cost, really will make ahuge differ- ANGEL FLIGHT:Lance Weller, making lives better one flight at atime. would be involved but the hikoi would be anon- ence for some people.’’ political display of opposition to government Passengers would also be accepted Angel Flight NZ has now officially to give five to 10 hours of their and their At last count 12,351 flights had been concerns about taking to the air with policy on privatisation, and would be open to all. for compassionate reasons, ranging from taken off, at this stage flying from Kai- aircrafts’ time ayear, are welcome to logged in Australia since 2003, and he Lance at the controls of his fully com- special requests from the terminally ill taia, Kerikeri and Whangarei to North contact Lance on (09) 434-3271, (027) was disappointed to see that the idea puterised Cirrus SR20. to transporting afamily member who Shore airfield, landing fees there, and 893-4587, or [email protected] hadn’t taken flight in New Zealand, so He and aco-pilot flew the plane from Messages for Sharmian has been unable to travel with an emer- elsewhere, have been waived, and will Meanwhile the idea behind Angel he set about changing that. Brisbane to Whangarei, via Lord Howe The email address published on Thursday for gency helicopter or fixed-wing plane. expand to other parts of the country as Flight isn’t anew one —it’s been oper- Anyone who would like to see what’s Island, Norfolk Island and Kerikeri messages of support for Davina Reed and her Patients and their travelling volunteer pilots become available. ating in Australia for some time, where being done in Australia can do so by (where they cleared Customs). daughter Sharmian (Cancer strikes close to companions will need to be referred, and Prospective Angel Flight pilots, who Lance, who lived on the other side of the going to www.angelflight.org.au The plane even has its own para- home) was incorrect. The address is certified, by ahealth professional, and must have 250 hours’ PIC, current BFR Tasman for 43 years before coming And prospective passengers who chute, in case it ever comes down over [email protected] will need to weigh no more than 95kg. and medical certification, and be willing home, served as avolunteer pilot. might suffer fear of flying need have no water. AOS not needed #1 ... Police responded last week to reports of arguing and children screaming at an address in Kaitaia, but managed to handle the situation without the No free ferry home in flood AOS or other specialist back-up. What they found Catch the hospital was abunch of children who had agame of hide and seek in full swing. AFar North ratepayer is unhappy about hadn’t organised free transport over. alonger journey home. having to pay to use the Hokianga car We are ratepayers and we were forced The ferry cost the council $900,000 a ...And #2 ferry when she was forced off State to divert, we had no option,’’ she said. year to operate, and it was reasonable shuttle in Kaikohe Asimilarly innocent explanation was found after Highway 1byflooding last week. Mrs Bedggood questioned what allow- that users helped meet those costs, even members of the public reported screams and Heeding the weather warnings, ances the council made for flooding, given in weather events the council had no Those living in and around Kaikohe can that patients had viewed avoiding the grunts coming from Kaitaia College. Police Maryanne Bedggood left her work at that the Far North was prone to heavy responsibility for creating. now get to Whangarei Hospital, and one-hour drive to Whangarei as very discovered agroup of girls who were spending Mangamuka early on Monday, taking rain and the ferry was sometimes the ‘‘As it is, annual revenue from ferry home again, aboard the Kaitaia hospital helpful. the night there, and had decided to take cold SH1 south towards her home at only transport available. While she had a users is less than half of these costs, so bus, with afree shuttle service every Patients must book their seats in showers at 2.15am. ‘‘That explained the Motukiore, in the South Hokianga. five-trip concession ticket, she wondered the council is not in aposition to be week day. advance, and will need to show their screams,’’ aspokesman said, ‘‘but we’re not sure However, police told her to head to how many Far North residents ended up offering free rides,’’ Mr Edmondson said. The Northland DHB is funding the appointment letter or card to the driver about the grunts.’’ Kohukohu instead and catch the ferry to paying the full fare. However, as aFar North resident, service, run by Mid North Shuttles, to get aboard free of charge. Parents/ Rawene, because floodwaters had closed Far North District Council spokesman Mrs Bedggood was entitled to alower whose six-seater vehicle leaves from caregivers who accompany young SH1 at Rangiahua. Richard Edmondson said the council was fare. If that had been refused council Broadway Health in Kaikohe every patients, and the supporters of elderly Drive-by shooting She duly joined aqueue of cars pleased Mrs Bedggood was able to get management would make enquiries. morning to meet the bus at Pakaraka. patients or those with disabilities, will Police are investigating the firing of aslug gun, waiting at the ferry landing, and when home thanks to the Hokianga ferry, but (Discounted concession tickets for five or ‘‘We wanted to make it easier for also ride free. apparently from avehicle, at Mangonui on she eventually got on board she was sur- was surprised she objected to paying 10 rides have been available for some patients, parents/caregivers and sup- To book contact the NTA co- Thursday afternoon.