Two a penny

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A rare show by comedy duo Flight of the Conchords raised an estimated $60,000 for Masterton’s Makoura College, the former high school of band member Jemaine Clement, at a fundraiser last night.

The 2000 tickets were intended to go on sale for Wairarapa residents a day before being opened to the wider public, but sold out in 91 minutes. .

Clement contacted his old teacher Rae McKenzie last year after hearing the struggling school’s falling roll – from 600 to 200 – may force it to close, asking if there was anything he could do to help. I really enjoyed my time at this school,” he told Radio New Zealand.

“I was worried about it.

Clement said he was amazed how big the duo was in Masterton.

He emailed Mrs McKenzie again in mid-March to say he and sidekick Bret McKenzie would be available to play at the school on March 31. I’m wondering if this might have spread as far as Carterton, and possibly even to Featherston.

“We’re huge in Masterton.

Mrs McKenzie told Radio New Zealand a committee would be set up to decide how the money would be spent.”

He said it was an honour to play a venue where, as a child, he was taken to watch the Golden Shears shearing competition. There’s also talk of a scholarship each year, so a certain amount will be invested, and have a scholarship for music students to develop.

“It will probably be used mostly in the performing arts area.

It followed a show earlier in the day just for Makoura College students.”

The concert was one of few in New Zealand in recent years by the duo, who have a huge following and TV show in the US.

Mrs McKenzie had contacted one seller and persuaded them to withdraw the sale, saying it was unfortunate that people were trying to make money off the charity event.

Ticket scalpers who were attempting to sell the $40 tickets for triple their original price received flak on TradeMe, with potential buyers asking if the profit would also be donated to the school. .

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“The price was kept low to make sure locals would be able to go. it wasn’t kept low for some people to make money on,” she told the Wairarapa Times-Age. .

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Flight of the Conchords leave for a two-month tour of the United States on Friday

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A man who sexually attacked two English tourists in their campervan north of Gisborne last year grabbed both women by their hair and asked them if they wanted to live or die.

He threatened to take them “for a drive” and they both believed they were going to be killed, police told Gisborne District Court.

He was convicted and remanded in custody for sentencing on June 3.

The 29-year-old Tokomaru Bay man, who has name suppression, yesterday pleaded guilty to three counts of sexual violation by unlawful sexual connection on August 29.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Dave Walker said the two women parked their campervan on a beach lay-by at Tokomaru Bay, 90km north of Gisborne, about 7.

His victims were two 19-year-old English university students who were touring New Zealand.

During a walk, they found a function was being held at the United Sports Club clubrooms and, believing it was a tavern, they went in.30pm on the night of August 28.

The man who later attacked them was present, but did not speak to the women, the court was told.

Local residents freely conversed with them and bought them drinks, Mr Walker said.50pm.

The women returned to their campervan about 11.

When it was made clear that they wanted to go to bed, he entered their van.

Shortly afterwards, their attacker pulled up next to them in his car, turned off the lights and engine, and conversed with one of the women through the back sliding door of the campervan.

He grabbed both women by their hair, asked them if they wanted to live or die, and threatened to take them “for a drive”.

A very large man, he pinned down the two slightly-built tourists with his body and kissed them and sexually attacked them.

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Later that morning the man was told by a friend that two tourists had been attacked.

One woman pleaded for their lives, Mr Walker said.

When initially questioned by police, he admitted being at the clubrooms but denied attacking the women.

He became concerned about washing his clothes and later shaved off his goatee beard and cropped his hair, the court was told.

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An inquest into the death of a loader driver on a Taranaki farm has been adjourned after the coroner took the unusual step of urging the Department of Labour to reconsider laying charges.

The inquest into the death of Paul Edwin Orin Robinson, 36, of Tapawera, 58km south-west of Nelson, was due to be heard in the New Plymouth Coroner’s Court yesterday.

She told the court she was “surprised” no charges had been laid by the department and put Mr Robinson’s former employers, Nelson-based South Pacific Movements Ltd, as well as the owners of the land where the fatal accident happened “on notice” that they might need to take legal advice. .

Forestry workers jumped into the water in an unsuccessful attempt to save their trapped colleague.

Mr Robinson died after his machine tumbled off a farm bridge and into the Mohakatino River, near Mokau, in June last year.

Ms Nagara said she was not prepared to proceed with the inquest, given the amount of evidence she had in front of her, and was concerned that proceeding with the hearing could prejudice the case.

Farm owner Ben Hutchinson was cleared in December of any blame, following an investigation by the Department of Labour, while no charges were laid against South Pacific Movements Ltd.

“The features of this case are such that I’m surprised that charges were not laid.

“I don’t consider I would do Paul any justice if I was to rush it [inquest] through,” she said.

Mrs Gichard then asked if the coroner had fresh evidence that the department was not in possession of.”

Department of Labour health and safety inspector Gail Gichard responded in court by telling the coroner that the case had been extensively peer reviewed before the decision not to lay charges was made.

“My concern is very much to do justice to Paul and get to the bottom of what happened,” she said, before adding that it was a difficult decision to adjourn the case, knowing that a number of Mr Robinson’s family had travelled from Nelson.

Ms Nagara responded that she was not prepared to discuss that in open court.

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Mrs Robinson said she did not want to comment on the coroner’s decision until after the case was closed.

Barbara Robinson, Paul’s mother, said after the adjournment that she “just wanted closure” to the case.

“The next step will be to discuss a number of issues with the coroner, and that’s pretty much as far as I can go,” he said.

Department of Labour Taranaki manager Brett Murray was also reluctant to talk about the decision.”

South Pacific Movements Ltd director Anthony Bamford, of Nelson, was not available for comment. “I don’t really want to say any more until I’ve discussed it with her.

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Energy and Resources Minister Gerry Brownlee has launched an immediate Ministerial review of the electricity sector.

Brownlee today released Terms of Reference for a review and announced that six independent experts would be appointed to a Technical Advisory Group.
“There are a number of other reports completed or underway in the electricity sector.
“The government has concerns about security of supply, the affordability of electricity, and duplication of electricity sector governance,” said Brownlee.
The six experts on the Technical Advisory Group are Brent Layton, David Russell, Lewis Evans, Stephen Franks, Toby Stevenson, and Miriam Dean. The best way to draw the threads together and make timely decisions to build public, industry and investor confidence is to proceed with a Ministerial review,” he said. The first phase would look at regulatory and governance issues, with the second addressing issues of electricity market performance.
Brownlee said there would be two phases of work in the Ministerial review.
Brownlee’s announcement comes a day after state owned Genesis Power announced price rises, effective from May 17, for 75,000 residential customers.
“It may be that the review process throws up some obvious short-term improvements that can be made and if so these will be acted on immediately,” he said. And Meridian said the previous month it would increase power bills for 180,000 customers by an average of 6. .5 percent, on top of a 6 percent increase last September.

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Violent crime in New Zealand continues to rise, largely driven by increasing family violence.

According to the crime figures for 2008, released by New Zealand Police today, violent crime rose by 5.2 percent last year compared with a 12.

Assistant police commissioner Grant Nicholls said the overall increase was driven by recorded family violence, which increased by 12.3 percent increase in 2007. .4 percent in the year.5 percent increase in recorded family violence in 2007 after the roll-out of mandatory training for all frontline police staff in family violence investigation and risk assessment.5 percent), Waikato (11.

The greatest increases were Eastern (14.7 percent).8 percent), Southern (10 percent) and Canterbury (9.

Across the region there were 1,200 less crimes in total recorded.

But in the Auckland region, which accounts for a third of all crime in the country, the streets are marginally safer. That means every day last year three less people were affected by crime than in 2007. That means every day last year three less people were affected by crime than in 2007. Amidst the welter of statistics released by the police, one way of looking at the figures is how many crimes occur for every 10,000 people.

However, that’s an improvement on last year.7 per cent improvement) with only Waitemata doing worse than last year with a 1.

There were decreases in Auckland city (down by five per cent) and Counties Manukau (a 1.

In other words in Waitemata, which covers Waitakere and North Shore, your chance of becoming a victim of crime is less than one in 10.1 per cent increase, but it is still the safest of the three Auckland police districts with just 760 people in every 10,000 being hit by crime.

Waitemata saw a drop in violent offences by 1.

Among the serious end of crime, violent offences including homicides, grievous assaults and robbery, Auckland is also faring better than the national average.

Even in where violence increased, it was below the national average of 5.1 per cent. In Auckland the rise in violence was 0. In Auckland the rise in violence was 0.4 per cent or just 19 more crimes, and Counties Manukau saw a rise of 4.1 per cent of 361 crimes – just shy of one extra violent crime a day in 2008.

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There were 109 homicides last year, compared with 88 in 2007, and 13 recorded family violence murders in 2008 compared with 15 in 2007, 16 in 2006, and a peak of 29 in 2005.

The homicide category includes attempted murder, illegal abortions, infanticide, accessory after the fact, aiding suicide and manslaughter.

“Any violent death is one too many as far as police are concerned,” Mr Nicholls said.

Total recorded crime rose 1.2 percent last year, in line with New Zealand’s population growth over the same period.

There were 431,381 offences committed in 2008, compared with 426,380 in 2007.

Six districts recorded increases in crime, while six experienced a fall.

Auckland City recorded the biggest decrease, with 4 percent fewer offences last year.

Police were pleased that the national rate for solving crime was the best it has been in a decade, at 46.7 percent.

Resolution rates for violence continued to rise, with 81.8 percent offences resolved.

Sexual offending rose by 3.3 percent last year and continued to make up less than 1 percent of recorded crime.

However, issues of under-reporting of sex crimes remained, Mr Nicholls said.

Drugs and anti-social offences increased 4.2 percent, mostly on the back of a rise in recorded cannabis offences.

Offences for drugs involving amphetamines, ecstasy and fantasy-type substances continued to decline, down 4.6 percent in 2008.

House burglaries were up 4.3 percent, with only Waikato and Northland districts recording decreases.

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A British journalist has fallen short of his goal of reaching the subantarctic Campbell Island, south of New Zealand, within 30 days of leaving his home relying only on the generosity of people using a social networking site.

Paul Smith had aimed to reach the island on the opposite side of the planet to his Newcastle home, but went as far as Stewart Island.But in his latest Twitchhiker blog he said once he reached the South Island forward motion began to wane, after having had “ceaseless support” on Twitter until then. .”On a land mass the size of England and Wales, with just one 50th of the population, a cast-iron communications infrastructure simply isn’t necessary.He wrote that the biggest obstacle was lack of internet access or mobile phone coverage.”In fact wherever you go in New Zealand, residents will complain how utterly frustrating the technology is, one born of a telecommunications monopoly and the country’s remote placing on the planet. Where I did find internet access, it was often decrepit to the point of useless.”Once on Stewart Island, he also realised he was unlikely to find a captain who, unpaid, would “risk his life and that of his crew across some of the most treacherous seas on Earth” for a six-day return voyage to Campbell Island.”So I wasn’t able to push my message as hard as I wanted to in the final days of the project.He exceeded his fund-raising target of Stg3000 ($NZ7680) for a charity helping bring clean and safe drinking water to people in developing nations, with more than £5000 being raised.But Smith does not view his trip as a failure.He said Twitchhiker project showed that “kindness is universal” and “that social media may begin online but it will converge with the real world whenever and wherever you let it”. –

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The Warriors have received another massive injury blow in the lead-up to Sunday’s clash with South Sydney – captain Steve Price has been ruled out with a throat injury.

The 35-year-old prop received an accidental blow to his throat making a tackle on Manly forward Jason King early in the second half of the Warriors’ 26-24 win over the defending premiers at Brookvale Oval on March 22.

Although he fronted in the loss to the Broncos last Saturday night, the Warriors have decided against risking him against the Rabbitohs at Mt Smart Stadium this weekend.

“A scan revealed Steve has a haematoma to his throat and the area is still swollen,” said Warriors doctor John Mayhew.

Price was named on Tuesday to captain the Warriors but was advised to miss the South Sydney match after visiting a specialist on Wednesday.”

Price’s absence means nine players from the Warriors are now unavailable for Sunday’s encounter.

“He needs to rest this week to allow the swelling to ease before he is reviewed next week with a view to being able to return in round five (against Newcastle).

On the injured list are centre Brent Tate (knee), wing Manu Vatuvei (knee), utility Lance Hohaia (knee) and second rower Ben Matulino (ankle) plus props Leeson Ah Mau (shoulder), Mataupu Poching (ankle), Evarn Tuimavave (neck) and now Price (throat) as well as second rower Epalahame Lauaki.

Tate is out for the season after rupturing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee playing against his old Brisbane club last Saturday night. Lauaki has been prevented from playing for the Vodafone Warriors after signing with Hull FC.

“It’s a big dent in our resources but there’s nothing we can do about that except back other players to step in and do the job, which is exactly what we’re doing,” said coach Ivan Cleary. Tuimavave is out indefinitely at this stage but Vatuvei, Hohaia, Matulino and Poching are all expected to be available for selection soon, possibly for round five.”

On Tuesday 39-game NRL utility Patrick Ah Van was confirmed as Tate’s replacement in the centres for this fourth round match.

“While we’ve lost two of our most experienced players this week in Brent and Steve, we have boys in our squad who are busting themselves for an opportunity and now they have it.

With Price out, Cleary said Sam Rapira and Russell Packer would be the starting props against South Sydney while he has brought in new signing, 22-year-old Lewis Brown, and 2008 Vodafone Junior Warriors captain Daniel O’Regan (21) to create a five-man bench.

With Price out, Cleary said Sam Rapira and Russell Packer would be the starting props against South Sydney while he has brought in new signing, 22-year-old Lewis Brown, and 2008 Vodafone Junior Warriors captain Daniel O’Regan (21) to create a five-man bench.

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– DUNCAN JOHNSTONE,

Can the Warriors overcome their serious injury problems? below.

Cleary said he wouldn’t confirm the final make-up of the interchange bench until closer to game time.

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Two burglaries in Methven today are thought to be the work of elusive fugitive William Stewart.

The burglaries came within about five minutes of each other, police said, and a vehicle sighted fitted the description of a 4WD ute believed to be in Stewart’s possession.

Stewart, 47, has been on the run since he allegedly threatened a police officer with an iron bar in central Canterbury on February 10 before disappearing into bush. .

There are five warrants out for his arrest and he is thought to have committed a string of burglaries and car thefts while on the run.

On March 21 Stewart eluded the armed offenders squad southwest of Christchurch before stealing a purple late model Ford Falcon XR6 and picking up hitchhikers.

He is believed to be a P addict and his burglaries include hauls of drug products from South Island pharmacies.

Stewart offered the hitchhikers a ride from Hororata, Mid-Canterbury, to a close toby motorcycle rally and asked them to get him the drug P.10am when a window was smashed to gain entry to Methven chemist’s shop, and a fishing rod was taken.

The man leading the hunt for Stewart, Senior Sergeant Stewart Munro, of Selwyn, said today the first burglary was about 4.15am the front door of the Mobil Service Station in Methven was smashed and a quantity of tobacco taken.

About 4.

The suspect vehicle was believed to be registration number ETU351, a grey 2009 Hilux twin cab, well side ute with a canopy.

Mr Munro said the vehicle sighted at both burglaries was a 4WD double cab ute, coloured grey. It was thought to be in the possession of Stewart. It was thought to be in the possession of Stewart.

He also advised farmers in the area to ensure that their properties, out buildings, farm houses, huts and vehicles were monitored and secured.

He asked that farmers and occupiers of properties in farming areas report any suspicious vehicle movements or people on their property to southern police communications on 111.

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The defence in the David Bain trial has attacked a Crown scientist’s view that bloodied footprints in the Bain house implicate David Bain. .

Retired ESR forensic scientist Peter Hentschel today gave evidence in the High Court in Christchurch of his testing in the Bain house in Dunedin on the days after the murders were discovered.22 rifle.

The scientist, who retired in 2005 after 40 years as a forensic scientist, said he believed a footprint measured at 280mm had to be made by a foot larger than 280mm.

He told Kieran Raftery, for the Crown, of testing bloodied footprints made with stockinged feet using luminol which reacted with blood and glowed in the dark. The defence says David’s father Robin shot the family and then himself but Robin’s feet were measured at 270mm, as previous evidence has already established.

The view tends to implicate David Bain as the killer because his feet are 300mm long.

He said it was based on his years of experience which led him to the conclusion a luminol print was shorter in length than the foot which made the print.

Hentschel was challenged in his view by Michael Reed QC, for the defence, and disclosed he had done no actual testing to support his conclusion.

The retired scientist agreed a number of items from the Bain house had not been seized and sent for testing including scrapings from under Arawa fingernails and the bloodstained sheet from Stephen’s room.

If other ESR scientists said the foot was smaller than the print he would be surprised, he said, when Reed said another ESR scientist would be giving evidence saying that. Asked why he had not recommended keeping the carpet on which the bloodied footprints were found, he said he had never in his 40 years as a forensic scientist kept the carpet on which such footprints were found.

He agreed they were relevant and important.

The green and brown wool fibres were checked against seven green items of clothing in the Bain house and found to match the green jersey from the washing.

In other evidence Hentschel said wool fibres from underneath Stephen Bain’s fingernails matched those from a green jersey found clean in the washing machine of the Bain house.

The killer would have been covered in blood from a struggle with Stephen.

The Crown alleges the jersey was worn by David as he killed his family and that he laundered the jersey to dispose of evidence.22 bullet.

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The scientist, who is also a ballistics expert, said a target found in David’s bedroom contained 28 holes that could have been made by a .

He said he examined samples of skin from Robin Bain’s hands but could find no particles related to gunshot residue.

No gunshot residue was found on Robin Bain’s hands, Hentschel told the court.

The Crown maintains Robin Bain could not have killed his family because the blood that would be expected to have splattered on his clothes if he was the gunman was not found. Luminol testing of Robin Bain’s shoes and socks showed they were free of blood, he said today.

Hentschel said he also inspected scrapings from beneath Robin’s fingernails and apart from dirt and possible blood nothing else was found.

Hentschel said he also inspected scrapings from beneath Robin’s fingernails and apart from dirt and possible blood nothing else was found.

Nothing could be done with the possible blood because there was insufficient to be tested.

The rugby shorts David Bain was found wearing when police arrived at this address contained a “wee stain” of blood on the front and his white T-Shirt was found to have blood on its hem and on the back.

Specks of blood were also found on the duvet on David’s bed and a light switch taken from David’s bedroom responded weakly to a test for blood.

A spectacles frame found in David’s bedroom was bent out on its right side and also showed signs of damage.

Hentschel said he also tested swabs taken from David Bain’s hands and these were found to be clear of gunshot residue particles.

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Most 16-year-olds like to conform; be one of the crowd.

But St John’s student Mark Overdevest has no choice in the matter. At 216cm tall – seven foot one inch in the old money – he stands out in the crowd, and more importantly, on the basketball court. Waikato basketball icon Mal Young recalls the story of when the teen’s mum told Young about her son.

Overdevest was always going to be a big lad.

Overdevest is the only Waikato member of the New Zealand under 18 basketball team, who this weekend head to Villagarcia de Grousa, in northern Spain, to play in a Spanish Invitational tournament. At that stage he was eight years old and the tallest person in his school, including the teachers.

He knows it’s a big chance and he’s looking forward to the opportunity to impress scouts who use it as a way to check out some of the world’s best young talent, even though the plane trip may not be the most comfortable.”

Overdevest said the competition could help him try to reach his goals of a US college team, or a spell in Europe before hopefully getting to the NBA.

“One of the things I’m looking forward to is maybe playing against some guys near my height. .

Being grilled about his basketball career, goals, dreams and idols, Overdevest is shy and guarded but he’s come to terms with his height and doesn’t slouch like he once did. For a big centre he has a handy jump-shot and ball skills that many big guys lack.

But he’s not just all about being tall.

He’s not awkward like some larger players, but impressive.

He’s not awkward like some larger players, but impressive.

“He’s got good footwork too.

“He has the ability and the desire to go a long way, but who’s he up against anyway?” Homik said.”

There is a saying in basketball that point guards are a dime a dozen. He’s got a lot to work on still, but Mark can be very good.

The late Murray McMahon played a major part in Overdevest’s development, as he did with so many top young basketballers.

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But seven foot centres don’t grow on trees, especially ones with a game.

BY COMPARISON

sports reporter Matt Richens – 170cm

Pistons basketballer Pero Cameron – 188cm

Chiefs lock Toby Lynn – 197cm All Black lock Ali Williams – 202cm

St John’s College basketballer Mark Overdevest – 216cm

Chinese basketballer Yao Ming – 229cm

World’s tallest man Bao Xishun – 236cm

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Bevan Sutton and Young have played a major part too and the latter will join him in Spain