Plane crash victims revealed
Police have released the identities of two men recovered from a plane wreck south of Castor Peak near the Whangamoa Saddle. They were 67-year-old Nicholas Charles Taylor of Alexandra and 76-year-old Belgian national Alain Henri Copine. The pair were on board a FlyInn-operated Cessna 172P Skyhawk. The aircraft departed Nelson at 9.10am on Tuesday before going missing 35km northeast of the city. The Transport Accident Investigation Commission has opened an inquiry into the crash.
Floods strike local businesses
Heavy localised downpours last Saturday afternoon left several Blenheim businesses dealing with flooding and water damage. The Marlborough District Council weather station recorded 18mm of rain on 7 November. Pita Pit owner Amit Jiwani said overflowing gutters and drainpipes sent water pouring through ceilings, lights, speakers and cameras. The store closed for half a day after losing Wi-Fi but has since reopened. Other retailers including Molto Bella, Caltex, Farmers and Cresswells all experienced flooding damage. Caltex and Molto Bella remain closed for cleanup work.
Fire at Riverlands
A large fire at Dry Food NZ in Riverlands prompted a major Fire and Emergency New Zealand response early last Sunday morning. Crews were called to the blaze just after 3am. Southern shift manager Amanda Taylor says the building was well alight when firefighters arrived. Thirteen fire trucks were dispatched and the incident escalated to a third alarm. The fire was later contained, with a small number of firefighters remaining at the scene alongside a fire investigator.
