In brief
Chopper callouts
The Palmerston North Rescue Helicopter flew far and wide on recent rescue missions. On Sunday afternoon, it was called to Raetihi, west of Waiouru, when an 8-year-old boy suffered a medical emergency. The boy and his mother were flown to Whanganui Hospital. On Wednesday afternoon, a man in his 70s was flown to Palmerston North Hospital. He was injured while riding a quad bike on a rural property near Papatawa, north of Woodville. And a woman in her 70s was flown from Ranana, up the Whanganui River, to Whanganui Hospital after a medical emergency on Tuesday morning. The helicopter was dispatched on a ‘‘late night mission’’ the previous Friday to collect a Porangahau boy in another medical emergency. The teenager and his mother were flown to Palmerston North Hospital.
Trio injured
Three people were injured when two cars crashed on State Highway 3, north of Bulls. Emergency services were called to the intersection of Makirikiri Rd and SH3, about 16 kilometres north of Bulls, after two cars collided just before 5.30am on Monday. A St John spokesman said one person suffered serious injuries and two people were moderately injured in the crash. All three were taken to Whanganui Hospital.
Survey on working Easter
The Horowhenua District Council has published a survey to see whether shops should be opened in the region on Easter Sunday. In a statement, customer and regulatory services manager Mike Lepper said a recent change in government legislation gave the councils the option to decide. The survey would help inform councillors about whether to draft a policy or retain the status quo, Lepper said. The survey is available from the council’s customer service centres in Levin, Foxton and Shannon or by request by phoning 06 366 0999 or emailing
Hundredth chick hatches
Pukaha Mt Bruce National Wildlife Centre in Wairarapa is celebrating the hatching of its 100th kiwi chick. In 2005, the centre started raising kiwi using the Operation Nest Egg technique, retrieving eggs from the wild to hatch in protected areas.conservation manager Todd Jenkinson said the survival rate of these kiwi was 65 per cent compared to 5 per cent if they had hatched in the wild. The milestone will be celebrated with an event at the centre on Sunday, where the 100th chick will be on display briefly at noon.