Briefly: Nasty surprise, Spill causes crash

Nasty surprise

Staff at the Kaitaia courthouse do not expect all their clients to be on their best behaviour all the time, but one unknown patron well and truly crossed the line last week according to a court security spokesman.

Cleaners who arrived long after the business day was over discovered faeces, carefully covered with toiletpaper, on the floor of the men's toilet. "We all know that some of the people who have business here have a slightly different set of values than most, but this is beyond the pale," the spokesman said.

Staff regularly discover that toilet roll holders, light fittings and even ventilation grills had been stolen from the courthouse toilets, he said, and graffiti was routinely written, scratched and burned on the walls and ceilings.

Spill causes crash

A diesel spill the length of Te Pua Rd, northeast of Kaikohe, yesterday caused at least one accident when a car slid off the road about 8.30am. No one was injured but several other cars struck trouble on the slippery surface. NZ Transport Agency contractors were called out to clean up.

Pa plans

A public meeting is being held at the Kaikohe RSA from 1pm on Sunday to discuss a long-term vision for the town. Among the ideas up for debate are a beautification programme for Kaikohe's main street and building a replica Maori pa.