November 4 2025
126 Rodney Street Wellsford 0900 e: admin@aomltd.co.nz ph: 09 423 8244 Kaipara’s Only Regional Newspaper | Kaipara owned and Operated
10,510 Copies DELIVERED FREE throughout the Kaipara
The power of nature unleashed A Kaipara lifesaving success Dr Vijay Dasari, the director of Dargavillebased Pristine Biologicals, is proud to celebrate the 10th birthday of …
P3 p The forces of nature did not wait for Halloween to provide scares, thrills and chills last week. A powerful series of electrical storms rolled across Kaipara Monday night, last week, with more thunderous action on Tuesday as well. Viv Trounson captured the exact moment when three bolts of lightning crashed down over Dargaville, rattling the windowpanes on several correspondents’ homes.
Mayor-elect sets out priorities u by Andy Bryenton
Keeping the choppers flying
The decision by Whangārei District Court judge KD Kelly to dismiss the call for a recount in the Kaipara mayoral race means that Jonathan Larsen is confirmed as mayor-elect.
Across Northland last week, crews assembled to rattle buckets and sizzle sausages, raising money for the …
While an Ōtamatea recount decision is not expected until tomorrow, Mr Larsen has already made plans to implement his election promises, and says this term, unity between east and west Kaipara is of high importance. Judge Kelly ruled that there was ‘no evidence of any voting irregularity’, and noted that a narrow margin alone was not enough grounds to call a recount in the race for mayor. Snow Tane, the closest contender trailing by just 21 votes, will represent the community in the role of councillor following the decision, representing the Wairoa Ward. This means that Jonathan Larsen has been granted the certainty to begin planning to fulfil his election promises of greater unity, managed growth and fiscal
P5
Salute to young achievers Dargaville High School has celebrated its high-achieving senior students with a prizegiving that honoured more …
P7
CREATING ATING A CLE ATING CLEANE CLEANER AND MORE SUSTAINABLE WORLD
accountability in leadership. This first point will involve other elected members. “My first order of business is to meet with all the councillors and see what our common goals are, from what we promised and what we heard from the public in our campaigns. Then we’ll make them happen,” said Mr Larsen. Larsen confirmed Gordon Lambeth will be deputy mayor, so that executive power is shared by the east and west Kaipara. The mayor-elect also confirmed that his deputy would be empowered to take action on two issues affecting Dargaville; the town hall and the civic swimming pool. Mr Larsen also has a plan to ensure people know spending is fair and even across all wards. He plans to publish regular, easy-to-read financials detailing Tractors Cars Trucks Batteries
MARSDEN M ARSD METALS NORTHLAND OWNED & OPERATED
CASH FOR CASH FOR SCRAP SCRAP
Steel Brass Lead Motors
Copper Motors Cast Iron Cylinders
Bin Hire: Bream Bay Dargaville Whangarei & Surrounding Areas
0800 33 66 73 Waipapa, D Dargaville, arg rga aville, R uakaka Ruakaka
where money has been spent on infrastructure and services, so everyone can see a lack of bias. To achieve other promises about fiscal openness, the mayor-elect will undertake a line-byline budget analysis to keep rates rises down. To build prosperity, he says he’ll have a strong focus on managed growth, capitalising on the new District Plan and the forthcoming motorway link to Auckland. “The stars are really starting to align for Kaipara. We will have four lanes of motorway to our doorstep just as new zoning opens up opportunities for business and industry. The proposed District Plan will become operative, boosting growth for the west and central wards while maintaining a green belt area in the east with managed growth there.” ¢ Transformers Radiators Car/Truck Rims Aluminium
BEESSTT CO C OPPPPEE P PRRIICCEE RR S S