Looking back at 2020

Date07 January 2021
Published date07 January 2021
Publication titleNorthland Age, The
6 — All permits issued in Northland have been cancelled as dry weather continues to boost the fire risk.

8 — Armed police arrest a woman in Kaitaia after she allegedly fired an air rifle at a family member.

13 — We Are Water denies responsibility for thousands of dollars worth of damage done at Mapua’s avocado orchard at Motutangi. A total fire ban takes effect throughout Northland.

14 — A petition calling for the introduction of koalas to New Zealand doesn’t get much support from the Northland Age Facebook community.

16 — Recent police recruits in Kaitaia include former vicar Ellen Bernstein, originally from the Waikato, who was ordained in 2012.

19 — Far North Surf Rescue retrieves two 15-year-old girls who were blown more than 500m offshore aboard an inflatable body board at Ahipara.

21 — The Far North District Council says it’s preparing for the worst as dry weather continues. The conditions are also taking a toll on kiwi and other native birds. Residents form a bucket brigade to douse a small fire in the community forest at Waipapakauri Ramp. Police and residents join forces to corner a wanted man in Kaitaia.

22 — The final stretch of SH1 to Cape Rēinga is closed while firefighters battle a 4ha blaze.

25 — Tour buses are having trouble getting off 90 Mile Beach at Waipapakauri Ramp, necessitating a tow or two and a great deal of pushing.

26 — Opposition to 5G technology is growing in Kaitaia, and around the world.

28 — Police are investigating the firing of a high-powered slug gun that punctured a van’s rear window on Puketi Rd. Former Kaitaia GP Lance O’Sullivan is in China, and saying that we shouldn’t get too hysterical over the coronavirus outbreak. He will not be named Psychic of the Year.

29 — Face masks have sold out in Kaitaia as coronavirus fear takes hold.

30 — Deputy principal rural fire officer Wayne Martin says not knowing of the total fire ban is no longer an excuse for those who light fires. Kaitaia man Des Mahoney is calling on the Minister of Local Government to sack the FNDC and appoint a commissioner.

31 — The Northland Regional Council has given the district council until today to reduce Kaitaia’s water consumption by 25 per cent, failing which it is to ban all outdoor use. The reduction comes in at zero.

February3 — A bronze statue of Dame Whina Cooper and her then 3-year-old granddaughter Irenee Cooper starting the 1975 Land March at Te Hapua is unveiled before a huge crowd at Panguru. A 26-year-old man is charged with stealing cash and the eftpos machine from the roadside fruit and vegetable stall in Awanui.

4 — A museum commemorating the 28th Māori Battalion is officially opened at Waitangi.

6 — The FNDC imposes Level 4 restrictions in Kaikohe and Kaitaia, banning all outdoor use of water for any purpose. Ninety-two-year-old Eru Heperi is amongst the crew on the great wāka Ngatokimatawhaora, at Waitangi, 80 years after he last climbed aboard as a bailer.

7 — A former Royal Canadian Air Force Catalina flying boat, built in 1944, is the big attraction at a Kaitaia Aero Club open day.

9 — A fire amongst trees at Ngataki has principal rural fire officer Myles Taylor wondering if educating people not to light fires is working.

11 — Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor announces an ‘adverse event’ (aka drought) in Northland.

13 — Myles Taylor pleads with Northlanders to stop lighting fires. The immediate neighbours of Ahipara’s Baylinks Motel are the only...

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