Northland news briefs: January 16
Boaties swim to shore
Two middle-aged men, both wearing life jackets, swam back to the beach after their dinghy was swamped by a rogue wave 150-200m off Cable Bay early on Monday morning. The dinghy was later recovered, complete with the men's fishing rods. A police spokesman thanked Mangonui Fire Brigade for its assistance. Far North Coastguard Radio sent out a rescue boat but it was not required.
Arrest after disorder
A 24-year-old Kaitaia man was charged with disorderly behaviour and fighting in a public place after police received numerous complaints that he was running up and down Allen Bell Drive hitting people and animals with a spade. A police spokesman said he was "seeing off" three people who had given him a beating some time earlier on Wednesday night.
