Northland news briefs: November 14
Crash death
Police are still contacting family of a woman killed in a crash south of Whangarei on Monday before they release her name.
The 26-year-old was the front-seat passenger in a car that was crushed by a fully laden logging truck and trailer that rolled after trying to avoid another car.
The driver of the car in which the woman died was cut free by firefighters and was taken to hospital as a precaution.
The crash happened on State Highway 1, on the southern side of Lookout Hill, near Whangarei, about 2.20pm.
Junior kapa haka
Children from eight Northland schools will be showing their culture at the Mangakahia Area School's junior kapa haka festival tomorrow.
Mangakahia started the festival last year with two schools attending, but this year the event has snowballed with kapa haka groups from Hora Hora, Maungatapere, Morningside, Pakotai, Poroti, Te Horo and Whangaroa schools taking part. The festival will start from 10am at Mangakahia Area School, 1480 Mangakahia Rd, Titoki.
Search for burglar
A woman who went to find out why her neighbour's house alarm was sounding was allegedly punched in the face by a fleeing thief. Police said a man went into a house off Riverside Drive and took a laptop computer before running outside about 10.30am on Monday.
When the woman approached the man in the driveway he allegedly hit her in the face and dropped the stolen property before running off. A police dog tracked him but police believe the man rode off on a pushbike.
He was described as a male Maori, aged between 35 and 40 years. He was of solid build, with black wavy hair. He had a moustache and a goatee and looked well-groomed. At the time he was wearing black adidas track pants and running shoes. Anyone with information should contact Whangarei police on (09) 430 4500.
Boys break windows
Five boys all aged under 16 smashed windows with sticks and stones in two separate incidents over the weekend, Whangarei police said. Whangarei police Senior Constable Bryan Cross said police were called to a Whangarei business after two boys were spotted smashing windows on a house waiting for removal about 4.50pm on Sunday. About seven windows were broken by the boys - aged 11 - who were wielding sticks. They have been referred to Youth Aid. In another incident, three boys - two aged 13 and a 9-year-old - were seen to smash windows of a vacant house in Otaika about 3pm on Sunday. They were found by police and have been referred to Youth Aid.
Tuck shop thief
A thief with a weakness for junk food cut a hole in a roller door at Moerewa School's tuck shop to steal a box of chips and a box of flavoured milk.
The theft, the school's second in two days, occurred about 1am on November 7.
