Warkworth RegionFriday 12th April - Rain, with squally thunderstorms and downpours possible, easing to a few showers this afternoon as fine spells develop. Strong northeasterlies, gusting 90 km/h, turning lighter westerly this afternoon.Heavy Rain WatchPeriod: 10hrs from 2am - noon Fri, 12 AprArea: Auckland and eastern WaikatoForecast: Periods of heavy rain, with thunderstorms and localised downpours possible, especially in the east. Amounts may approach warning criteria.Severe Thunderstorm WatchPeriod: 12hrs from 9am - 9pm Fri, 12 AprArea: Auckland, Great Barrier Island, Coromandel Peninsula, Waikato, Waitomo, Bay of Plenty, Rotorua, Taupo, GisborneForecast: A front will move eastwards over the North Island during today, bringing a period of heavy rain. There is mostly a low to moderate risk of thunderstorms with the frontal rain as it moves over the north of the North Island. However, there is moderate risk of localised downpours affecting eastern Auckland this morning, about the Coromandel Peninsula, Waikato, eastern Waitomo, Taupo, Bay of Plenty about and west of Whakatane this morning and afternoon, and about Bay of Plenty east of Whakatane and northern Tairawhiti/Gisborne this afternoon, evening and night. This Watch is for the potential of localised downpours of 25 to 40 mm/h in these areas. Rainfall of this intensity can cause surface and/or flash flooding, especially about low-lying areas such as streams, rivers or narrow valleys, and may also lead to slips. Driving conditions will also be hazardous with surface flooding and poor visibility in heavy rain.Strong Wind WatchPeriod: 16hrs from 8pm Thu, 11 Apr - noon Fri, 12 AprArea: Northland, Auckland, Coromandel Peninsula and Great Barrier IslandForecast: Northeast winds may approach severe gale in exposed places. Please note, winds easing in Northland earlier Friday morning.Saturday 13th April - Partly cloudy, chance of a shower. Westerlies, becoming strong for a time in the afternoon and evening.Sunday 14th April - Mainly fine, chance of a shower until evening. Fresh southwesterlies, easing in the afternoon.Mangawhai RegionFriday 12th April - Rain, with squally thunderstorms and downpours possible, easing to the odd shower with fine spells around midday. Strong northeasterlies, gusting 80 km/h, turning lighter westerly.Heavy Rain WatchPeriod: 13hrs from 8pm Thu, 11 Apr - 9am Fri, 12 AprArea: NorthlandForecast: Periods of heavy rain, with thunderstorms and localised downpours possible. Amounts may approach warning criteria.Strong Wind WatchPeriod: 16hrs from 8pm Thu, 11 Apr - noon Fri, 12 AprArea: Northland, Auckland, Coromandel Peninsula and Great Barrier IslandForecast: Northeast winds may approach severe gale in exposed places. Please note, winds easing in Northland earlier Friday morning.Saturday 13th April - Fine. Westerlies, becoming fresh in the morning.Sunday 14th April - Fine. Southwesterlies, easing in the evening.

Mangawhai / Whangarei / Northland RegionStrong Wind WatchPeriod: 24hrs from 9am Thu, 11 Apr - 9am Fri, 12 AprArea: Northland, Auckland, Coromandel Peninsula and Great Barrier IslandForecast: Northeast winds may approach severe gale in exposed places. Please note, winds easing in Northland and Auckland earlier Friday morning.Heavy Rain WatchPeriod: 15hrs from 6pm Thu, 11 Apr - 9am Fri, 12 AprArea: NorthlandForecast: A period of heavy rain, with thunderstorms and localised downpours possible. Amounts may approach warning criteria. Please note, a Severe Thunderstorm Watch will be issued later this morning for this region.areas have a Heavy Rain Watch for 12 hours today from 6pm Thursday until 6am Friday.Forecast: A period of heavy rain, with thunderstorms and localised downpours possible. Amounts may approach warning criteria.Severe Thunderstorm WatchPeriod: 14hrs from 10pm Thu, 11 Apr - noon Fri, 12 AprArea: Northland, Auckland, Great Barrier Island, Coromandel Peninsula, Waikato, Bay of PlentyForecast: An active front is forecast to move eastwards over northern New Zealand tonight and Friday morning, bringing a period of heavy rain. Thunderstorms are also possible, and this Watch is an alert to the potential development of severe thunderstorms that could produce localised downpours of 25 to 40 mm/h in Northland, Great Barrier Island, Auckland, Coromandel Peninsula, Bay of Plenty north and west of Tauranga, and eastern Waikato near the ranges. Note, these downpours could occur with or without thunderstorms. Rainfall of this intensity can cause surface and/or flash flooding, especially about low-lying areas such as streams, rivers or narrow valleys, and may also lead to slips. Driving conditions will also be hazardous with surface flooding and poor visibility in heavy rain.Warkworth RegionStrong Wind WatchPeriod: 24hrs from 9am Thu, 11 Apr - 9am Fri, 12 AprArea: Northland, Auckland, Coromandel Peninsula and Great Barrier IslandForecast: Northeast winds may approach severe gale in exposed places. Please note, winds easing in Northland and Auckland earlier Friday morning.Severe Thunderstorm WatchPeriod: 14hrs from 10pm Thu, 11 Apr - noon Fri, 12 AprArea: Northland, Auckland, Great Barrier Island, Coromandel Peninsula, Waikato, Bay of PlentyForecast: An active front is forecast to move eastwards over northern New Zealand tonight and Friday morning, bringing a period of heavy rain. Thunderstorms are also possible, and this Watch is an alert to the potential development of severe thunderstorms that could produce localised downpours of 25 to 40 mm/h in Northland, Great Barrier Island, Auckland, Coromandel Peninsula, Bay of Plenty north and west of Tauranga, and eastern Waikato near the ranges. Note, these downpours could occur with or without thunderstorms. Rainfall of this intensity can cause surface and/or flash flooding, especially about low-lying areas such as streams, rivers or narrow valleys, and may also lead to slips. Driving conditions will also be hazardous with surface flooding and poor visibility in heavy rain.

Staff at a reptile park are shell-ebrating after the return of their stolen tortoise.The 17-year-old male leopard tortoise was stolen - along with a green iguana - from Ti Point Reptile Point, near Leigh in north Auckland, between 19 and 20 March.Police appealed to the public for information, saying they had fears for the welfare of the stolen animals.There were concerns they would be sold illegally, police said.On Friday, a Northland mother called the reptile park after her daughter was given a tortoise for her birthday.The woman was "reluctant to say who had made the gift", police said in a statement."Police were called and worked with DOC for the handover of the tortoise in Kaitaia's main street."The tortoise - identified as the one stolen from the reptile park - then made the nearly-300km journey home.Sergeant Dan McDermott said the stolen iguana was yet to be found and police were still trying to work out how the tortoise ended up in the Far North.It is thought there is a black market breeding programme involving leopard tortoises, which are the fourth-largest tortoise in the world.They can reach weights of up to 40kg, but generally weigh between 10kg and 15kg.https://www.police.govt.nz/news/ten-one-magazine/shell-shocked-tortoise-back-homeThis story was originally published by RNZ

Come along to a session on the council's long-term plan and have your say.Weds 10th April5:30-7pm1c Molesworth DriveConsultation for the Kaipara District Council'sLong Term Plan 2024 – 2027 is now open.KDC are after your thoughts and feedback on our plans for the next three years.You can read the consultation document, along with the source documents, and speak up for Kaipara on our websitewww.kaipara.govt.nz/ltpIntroduction to the Long-Term Plan Consultation - Roadmap to Recovery – Te Huarahi WhakaorangaA Visual Display will outline the three-year plan and key topic areas for submissions/discussion.Introduction to Paul Thompson- Economic Development LeadElected members and council staff on hand to answer any specific questions.The feedback period closes at 11.59pm Saturday 4 May 2024.

Auckland Council will soon carry out pest fish control at Lake Tomarata.Please keep out of the lake from 15-19 April.No swimming or boating and dogs should stay out the water because of nets in the lake.All nets will be gone by the weekend.The reserve is open throughout this time.Signs will be posted to remind everyone.

A temporary health warning is in place at Mangawhai estuary - please do not swim or gather shellfish in the area until further notice.Our outfall pumpstation on Thelma Road South failed overnight due to a power issue.Council contractors Downer have been onsite and have connected a generator to get it going again.Because of the failure some wastewater overflow is expected into Mangawhai estuary.Signage is being installed at entry points to the estuary and this will remain in place until Saturday 13 April.

NZ Post will no longer be delivering to rural addresses on Saturdays.From 29 June, there will no longer be newspaper and parcel deliveries to rural addresses on Saturdays in the majority of rural New Zealand, with the exception of 17 rural delivery runs that will be phased out by June 2025.There will be no changes to rural mail delivery, as NZ Post does not currently deliver mail on Saturdays to any address.NZ Post chief operating officer Brendon Main said Saturday services to rural areas were not commercially viable."We deliver very low volumes of items on these days, and it costs us more to deliver on Saturdays than we earn from the products we deliver."Main said impacted rural customers could expect to receive a written notification about the change from NZ Post, and rural customers who currently had newspapers delivered on Saturdays were advised to contact their newspaper subscription service.This would also affect rural customers who were PO Box holders and received deliveries through the NZ Post Box Lobby service on Saturdays.PO Box holders impacted by this change would also receive a letter from NZ Post.There will be no changes to rural mail delivery as NZ Post does not currently deliver mail on Saturdays to any address, and Monday to Friday deliveries will also continue as usual.Main said NZ Post was going through a period of transformation, responding to the ongoing decline in mail volumes and future growth in e-commerce, while charting a path towards commercial sustainability without government funding."We need to make some hard decisions about our future and the services we offer as we evolve to meet the needs of New Zealanders."We are continuing to invest in growing an unmatched delivery business, while managing a transition to a commercially sustainable mail delivery service as we move toward a single network for mail and courier delivery as announced on 26 March, 2024."This story was originally published by RNZ

Police Update:"Missing Auckland woman located safe and well"Police can advise the 22-year-old woman reported missing and last seen in Māngere has been located.She is safe and well.We thank the public for the information received to assist in locating her.Police are appealing for information from the public to assist us with locating Nga-Hou-E-Whā, who was last seen in Māngere on the afternoon of Sunday 7 April 2024.She is believed to be wearing a light blue tie-dyed long sleeve top, dark blue or black trackpants, and black and white Adidas shoes.She is also riding a bike of a similar style to the one pictured, but described as pink or gold in colour.It has a brown basket and carrier tray as in the picture.Police understand she could be anywhere across Tāmaki Makaurau.Police and her family are concerned for her wellbeing and want to see her return home safety.If you have seen Nga-Hou-E-Whā or have any information that may assist in locating her please contact Police immediately on 111, referencing file number 240328/8076.

Warkworth RegionMonday 8th April - Cloudy periods with the odd shower north of Whangaparaoa. Mainly fine elsewhere, with the chance of an afternoon shower. Easterlies.Tuesday 9th April - Partly cloudy with a few showers. Northeasterlies.Wednesday 10th - Partly cloudy. Chance of a shower. Northeasterlies, becoming fresh in the morning.Thursday 11th - Rain becoming persistent. Northerlies, becoming strong.Friday 12th - A few showers. Southwesterlies.Saturday 13th - Cloudy, with rain developing. Southerlies.Sunday 14th - Fine. Southerlies.Mangawhai RegionMonday 8th April - Cloudy periods, with the odd shower. Easterlies.Tuesday 9th April - Partly cloudy with a few showers. Northeasterlies.Wednesday 10th - Fine, but becoming cloudy in the afternoon. Northeasterlies, becoming fresh in the morning.Thursday 11th - Rain becoming persistent. Fresh northerlies.Friday 12th - A few showers with southwesterlies.Saturday 13th - Cloudy, with rain developing. Southerlies.Sunday 14th - Fine. Southerlies.

Dog owners are being told not to panic despite a new parasite claiming the life of a dog in Canterbury.Biosecurity New Zealand said it was the first time the disease babesiosis has been detected in a dog in New Zealand.It comes from the tick-borne parasite Babesia gibsoni.Biosecurity NZ spokesperson Dr Mary van Andel said an investigation was underway and a surveillance system was in place."The person brings their dog to the vet and that blood is sent to a veterinary laboratory. Each of those blood tests is looked at for exotic diseases as well, and so we haven't had any cases of this condition through that pathway."What we're hoping at this stage is that there aren't lots of cases."The dog was euthanised at the owner's request, being "extremely unwell". There were no known links to overseas cases.Van Andel said dog owners should make sure their pets are up-to-date with flea and tick treatments."The disease is often chronic and mild, but in some cases, it can be acute and severe," the Biosecurity NZ website said. "Chronic babesiosis often presents as intermittent fever, lethargy, and weight loss. Acute babesiosis is characterised by fever, lethargy, and anaemia."Babesia gibsoni can be transmitted by New Zealand cattle ticks and ticks exotic to New Zealand, such as the brown dog tick, according to Biosecurity NZ. It can also be spread via dog bites.It is difficult to eradicate, with infected dogs often remaining carriers once infected. The most commonly affected breeds are pit bull terriers, staffordshire bull terriers, and greyhounds.Vets and owners who find, or suspect they have found an infected dog, are urged to call Biosecurity NZ on 0800 80 99 66.This story was first published by RNZ

Great news for the Mangawhai EV community.There will be a new fast charger with 2 plugs coming to Mangawhai soon, that charges 4x quicker than the next best charger Mangawhai has to offer.It will be located at the Mangawhai Museum. While you wait for your car to charge, you will be able to spend some time at the muesum, or see a movie , or eat and grab a coffee at the new improved Kotare Cafe.

Prolife Foods Limited is recalling specific batches of its Value Pack and Refill Pack products containing peanuts as these products contain levels of aflatoxin above the allowable level.Point of sale notice for retailersIf you are a retailer of the products in this recall, download a copy of the point of sale notice. You need to display it in your store for one month.Point of sale notice – Prolife Foods Value Pack [PDF, 146KB]Consumer adviceCustomers are asked to check the date mark on the product and check at the place of purchase. A Food Recall Notice is displayed at all stores where affected product has been sold.Aflatoxins are naturally occurring in many food products and are produced by a group of moulds that grow on foods produced in hot and tropical climates. Levels of aflatoxin in the New Zealand diet are usually very low and don't represent a health risk, however, consumption of food products with increased levels of aflatoxin over a continuous period of time can be harmful.Affected product should not be consumed. If you have consumed any of this product and have any concerns about your health, seek medical advice.Customers should return the product to their retailer for a full refund.Who to contactIf you have questions, contact Prolife Foods Limited:Phone: 0800 35 23 52Address: 100 Maui Street, [email protected]

There was a fire last night behind the top of the town Four Square. The old abandoned bacon house was severely damaged. Wellsford firefighters controlled the blaze and were there promptly serving our community. Top marks to the volunteers. Thank you from the community.

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi advises of the following closures for motorway improvements. Work delayed by bad weather will be completed at the next available date, prior to Friday, 12 April 2024.Unless otherwise stated, closures start at 9pm and finish at 5am.NORTHERN MOTORWAY (SH1)Onewa Road northbound on-ramp, 7-11 AprilCENTRAL MOTORWAY JUNCTION (CMJ)Southbound lanes between Fanshawe Street off-ramp and Hobson Street on-ramp, 8-11 April (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)SH1 southbound to SH16 eastbound (Port) link, 8-11 April (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)SH1 southbound to SH16 westbound link, 8-11 April (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Northbound lanes between Symonds Street off-ramp and Wellington Street on-ramp, 7-9 April (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)SH1 northbound to SH16 westbound link, 7-9 April (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)SH1 northbound to SH16 eastbound (Port) link, 11 April (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Eastbound lanes between Nelson Street (SH16) off-ramp and Grafton Road on-ramp, 8-11 AprilSOUTHERN MOTORWAY (SH1)Southbound lanes between Mt Wellington Highway off-ramp and East Tamaki Road on-ramp, 7-8 April (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Mt Wellington Highway southbound on-ramp, 7-8 AprilPrinces Street southbound on-ramp, 7-9 AprilHighbrook Drive southbound on-ramp, 7-8 AprilSouthbound lanes between Takanini off-ramp and Drury/SH22 on-ramp, 7-11 AprilTakanini southbound on-ramp, 7-11 AprilPapakura southbound on-ramp, 7-11 AprilNorthbound lanes between Drury/SH22 off-ramp and Takanini on-ramp, 8-11 AprilPapakura (Diamond) northbound on-ramp, 8-11 AprilPapakura (Loop) northbound on-ramp, 8-11 AprilDrury/SH22 northbound on-ramp, 8-11 AprilRamarama northbound on-ramp, 7-8 AprilRamarama northbound off-ramp, 7-8 AprilPioneer Road northbound off-ramp, 5-13 April (24/7)Southbound lanes between Mercer off-ramp and Mercer on-ramp, 8 April (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Northbound lanes between Mercer off-ramp and Mercer on-ramp, 8 & 10 April (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Dragway Road northbound off-ramp, 10 April (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Southbound lanes between Hampton Downs off-ramp and Hampton Downs on-ramp, 7 AprilNorthbound lanes between Hampton Downs off-ramp and Hampton Downs on-ramp, 7 AprilSouthbound lanes between Hampton Downs off-ramp and Rangiriri on-ramp, 9-10 AprilHampton Downs southbound on-ramp, 9-10 AprilNORTHWESTERN MOTORWAY (SH16)Te Atatu Road (Diamond) southbound on-ramp, 7-8 AprilEastbound lanes between Great North Road off-ramp and Great North Road on-ramp, 7 & 9-10 April (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Great North Road eastbound off-ramp (Waterview southbound tunnel closed), 8 AprilSH16 eastbound to SH20 southbound link (Waterview southbound tunnel closed), 8 AprilSH16 westbound to SH20 southbound link (Waterview southbound tunnel closed), 8 AprilUPPER HARBOUR MOTORWAY (SH18)Albany Highway westbound off-ramp, 7-8 April (approx. 7:30pm to 5:00am)Albany Highway eastbound on-ramp, 7-8 April (approx. 7:30pm to 5:00am)SOUTHWESTERN MOTORWAY (SH20)Rimu Road northbound on-ramp, 10-11 AprilSTATE HIGHWAY 2 (SH2)Mangatawhiri eastbound off-ramp, 9 April (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Eastbound lanes between Mangatawhiri off-ramp and Rawiri Road, 10 April (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Westbound lanes between Rawiri Road and Mangatawhiri Road, 10 April (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)Koheroa Road westbound on-ramp, 10 AprilMangatangi westbound off-ramp, 10 AprilPlease follow the signposted detours. NZ Transport Agency thanks you for your co-operation during these essential improvements and maintenance.

Police investigating a serious crash in Waipu earlier this week are seeking help from the public.The two-vehicle crash happened on Cove Road, approximately 150 metres north of Johnson Point Road, at around 1.30pm on Wednesday 3 April.Detective Sergeant Steve Chamberlain says seven people were injured in the crash, and four of them were children.“Sadly, one adult remains in a critical condition.Five other people are doing well and are stable, while another has been discharged from hospital.”Police are seeking any witnesses to the crash, or driving prior to the crash, or any person with any information relating to the crash, to call the 105-reporting line quoting the file number 240403/7326 and provide details about what they have seen.“In particular, we are seeking sightings of a silver-coloured Subaru that was travelling north on Cove Road at the time of the crash,” Detective Sergeant Chamberlain says.“We are also seeking persons who have CCTV cameras on their property covering the Cove Road area south of Waipu township.“And we ask anyone who might have recorded dash camera footage from the area to also come forward and assist the ongoing investigation.”People can also contact Police online at https://www.police.govt.nz/use-105 clicking ‘Update Report’ and reference file number: 240403/7326

Compared with other countries, New Zealand classrooms have some of the highest rates of device use in the world.OECD data in 2018 showed that youth in Aotearoa used digital devices 42 hours per week on average, compared to 35 hours globally, and studies have shown that children's screen use has increased since then, the Auckland University of Technology (AUT) says.While technology does have benefits for learning, a study published this week in the New Zealand Journal of Physiotherapy highlights the risk of harm for youth.Auckland University of Technology student and paediatric physiotherapist Julie Cullen told RNZ's Afternoons the narrative review of studies looked at eight different areas of health - including vision, hearing, physical impacts, sleep, mental health, obesity and social impacts."While digital technologies can certainly offer opportunities for learning, and other benefits as well, frequent and extended device use is associated with a risk of harm to child and adolescent health and also in numerous areas of health," Cullen said."So, time spent using digital technologies affected some areas of health and that's regardless of what content, what kids are doing online."This included eye health, like myopia and dry eye disease, and noise induced hearing loss linked to volume and length of time.Whether kids were doing school work or playing games, didn't seem to matter.But when it came to mental health, wellbeing and cognition, it may."On the flip side, there were other areas of health where while time spent on screens is still important, it may be more important what kids are doing online, the content and quality of what they're doing and other factors like their age."LISTEN ▶ "There is increased evidence showing there are harmful impacts, compared to what there was a few years ago" - Student and paediatric physiotherapist Julie CullenMore long-term research into the impact of screen use was needed, Cullen said."But it's going to take years, if not decades to have that causation."...The Covid-19 pandemic created quite a unique research opportunity to look at the impacts of higher screen use in a way no ethics committee would have ever allowed. They would never have said increase kids screen use and see what happens, but that is what happened with the pandemic."There is increased evidence showing there are harmful impacts, compared to what there was a few years ago."An example was the total myopic shift in children over the pandemic that was directly attributed to increased screen use and reduced time outdoors, she said.It meant more children were diagnosed with myopia - short-sightedness. As many as three times as many children between six and nine years old were found to have myopia than any of the previous five years.This had more of an impact for children than adolescents, she said."More and more studies have shown that dry eye disease is increasing in our young people, primarily in association with screen use."Screen use was so prolific that finding causation would take a long time, she said, because it was hard to study people who were not using screens.While the government was banning phone use in schools and there was recreational screen use guidelines, Cullen said in terms of frequent and excessive use nothing was happening in New Zealand.The average time kids spend using digital technologies in class in other countries was once or twice a week, she said.Denmark and Sweden, which have similarly high screen use to use, are developing guidelines with a view to encourage a balance of learning on and off screens and to limit screens in the classroom for younger children.Cullen would like to see recommendations or guidance as well as structured support for teachers and kaiako here."We've got primary schools with digital immersion models in New Zealand... we've got young children who do the majority of their learning online, they can be online in their breaks at school, that's before homework and recreational screen use."This story was originally published by RNZ

Warkworth RegionFriday 5th April - Cloudy periods. Isolated light showers clearing this morning. Southwesterlies.Saturday 6th April - Mainly fine, chance of a shower until afternoon. Easterlies.Sunday 7th April - Fine. Easterlies, easing in the evening.Mangawhai RegionFriday 5th April - Mostly cloudy. Showers clearing this morning and becoming mainly fine. Southerlies.Saturday 6th April - A few showers, clearing to fine in the evening. Southerlies, turning easterly in the morning.Sunday 7th April - Fine. Easterlies.

Three people are in a critical condition and four seriously injured after two vehicles crashed in Waipu, Northland.The crash occurred shortly after 1.30pm yesterday.The route has been the main one for cars travelling to and from Northland due to road works on State Highway One over the Brynderwyn Hills.Police have confirmed that their initial understanding is seven people are injured.St John said nine vehicles were sent to the scene, treating and transporting seven patients.Three patients were taken to Starship Children's Hospital in Auckland, one in a critical condition and two in a serious condition, and four were taken to Whangārei Hospital. One person in a critical condition was taken by helicopter.Three helicopters were dispatched, five ambulances, two rapid response units and two operations managers.St John confirmed three patients were critically injured while four were seriously injured.Whangarei's mayor Vince Cocurullo said the road the crash happened on was not usually dangerous.Up until now, the detour route has been going smoothly, and traffic has travelled well below the speed limit, he said.Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency said the crash had occurred near Johnson Point Road and closed Cove Road between McLean and South roads.One dead in separate crashOne person has died following another crash in Northland yesterday.The two-vehicle crash happened at the intersection of State Highway 1 and Apotu Road in Kauri.It was reported to police at 3.13pm.Police said one person was critically injured and died at the scene."Police extend our condolences to their family and friends at this time.""The Serious Crash Unit will conduct a scene examination, and motorists are asked to avoid the area."This story was first published by RNZ

Northland’s six-monthly tsunami siren test will take place at the end of daylight saving on Sunday, 7 April.The network of more than 200 outdoor tsunami sirens in coastal communities, from Te Hapua in the north to Mangawhai in the south and Ruawai in the west, is checked twice a year, coinciding with the start and finish of daylight saving.The sirens sound twice: firstly at 10am for 10 minutes and then again at 10.30am for 30 seconds, and will be monitored for any faults.Indoor sirens will be tested at the same time as the outdoor network.Northland Civil Defence Emergency Management Group spokesperson Zach Woods added that people should also be aware of the risk of local source tsunami (those generated on or close to the coast), which could arrive ahead of any official warning. "Everyone who spends time on the coast needs to know the natural warning signs of tsunami - a strong earthquake that is hard to stand up in or one that lasts longer than a minute, or out-of-the ordinary sea behaviour, such as sudden rise or fall and/or unusual noise."He said Northlanders can check out whether they live, work or play in a tsunami evacuation zone, and plan the quickest route to safety, using the interactive maps at: www.nrc.govt.nz/evacuationzonesNorthland’s outdoor tsunami sirens are funded and owned by the region’s three district councils (Far North, Whangarei and Kaipara) and operated in a partnership which also includes the two electricity networks (Northpower and Top Energy).The Northland network has been developed since 2007, with a total of 205 sirens installed over that time.This year will also see the first set of new outdoor tsunami sirens installed in the community. With the first two due to be installed in Whangārei in April, more will be progressively installed across Northland over the next couple of years.To avoid confusion, even when the new sirens are installed, they won’t be used straight away. The current network will continue to be used until all the sirens have been replaced, then the new sirens will be used, and the old sirens removed.To find out more on the upgrade project: www.nrc.govt.nz/sirenprojectTo hear Northland’s current outdoor and indoor tsunami sirens online visit: www.nrc.govt.nz/tsunamisirens