Driver caught
A driver who fled from police may have thought they were in the clear until officers showed up at their door hours later. Police said a vehicle failed to stop after being signalled by police on Wednesday night on Masterton’s Makoura Rd. Police chose not to pursue the fleeing driver but later found the vehicle parked in a residential driveway on the same road at 11.20pm. One person was taken into custody on previous driving-related charges, and police have confirmed other charges are being considered.
Winning tickets
New World Masterton is one of 102 retailers to have sold a winning ticket for Lotto’s ‘Strike Must Be Won’ $1 million jackpot on Wednesday. The 185 winning ticket holders each get $5984 of the jackpot. Meanwhile, a Lotto ticket purchased from Paper Plus Masterton has shared a Second Division with 17 others, with the ticket holder pocketing $23,695. Winners are advised to write their name on the back of the ticket and check it immediately at any Lotto outlet, online at mylotto.co.nz, or through the MyLotto app.
Beyer honoured
A memorial event will be held at the Embassy Theatre in Wellington next month to honour Georgina Beyer MNZM, the trailblazing former Carterton mayor, Wairarapa MP and transgender activist who died on March 6. Although tickets are free, they still need to be booked via www.eventfinda.co.nz. The event starts at 5pm on Tuesday, July 18.
Half-price fares
Greater Wellington Regional Council yesterday voted to extend half-price public transport while waiting for government subsidies to kick in. Councillors agreed to the extension at an extraordinary council meeting, and also agreed to implement the discounts announced in the government’s Budget. The discounts, which let children under-13 ride for free, and under-25-year-olds ride at half price, can be introduced by Public Transport Authorities, when possible, from 1 July. Because Metlink is unable to “activate the discounts at such short notice”, and the government’s half-price fares initiative concludes on June 30, council chair Daran Ponter said extending half-price fares is a “practical interim solution”. Free travel for five to 12-year-olds will not be available until Snapper has made a digital portal.
