Two a penny

.
Trio building up Wellington fan base

The Monday, 09 February 2009

MAARTEN HOLL/The
PHYSICAL GRAFFITI: Terence Turner (top) and Harley Durst are watched by Tiago Miranda as they bounce around buildings in Wellington’s Civic Centre in an exhibition of the French discipline of parkour.

They run up walls, bounce off balustrades, leap across roofs and all but defy gravity.
Spiderman-like exponents of the French discipline of parkour Harley Durst, Terence Turner and Tiago Miranda ran and bounced around the architectural features in Wellington's Civic Centre on Saturday.
They were the star act in New Zealand's first national parkour meet – a showcase for a sport that combines balance, speed, agility and strength in an athletic mix of running and climbing obstacles in the quickest way possible. .
Tutoring was provided by a top Australian exponent.
Shahir Daud, the group's cameraman, said more than 50 young people interested in the sport turned up to get tips on how it was done, starting with instructions on how to jump safely as well as jumping and rolling on hard surfaces without suffering injuries.
"I've been filming them for a year and they're very safety-conscious and I've not seen one injury."
The sport, which originated in France more than a decade ago, has become popular through films such as The Bourne Identity, Casino Royale and Die Hard 4. The whole point is training the body to absorb impact and fall correctly.

.
Nazi collectible sales ‘abhorrent’

By KEITH LYNCH – Saturday, 07 February 2009

The continued sale of Nazi memorabilia in New Zealand is "disgraceful", Jewish leaders say.
A search of online auction site Zillion this week found several Third Reich collectibles up for sale, including medals, pins and armbands, most adorned with swastikas.
Despite bans in many European countries, the sale of Nazi artefacts is legal in New Zealand.
"It is disgraceful when people make a profit from the sale of items that commemorate the crimes committed by others.
New Zealand Jewish Council president Stephen Goodman said the sale of the items was disgraceful, but stopped short of calling for a ban.
"In many ways, we'd like it to be made illegal, but that said, doing so might give it publicity that would only encourage certain elements. There is, of course, a balance between the freedom of choice and censorship, but profiting from the sale of these items is abhorrent."
Wellington Regional Jewish Council chairman David Zwartz said the sale of Nazi items was deeply offensive.
"After media publicity last year, the prominent auction house Dunbar Sloane changed their policy and now will not handle Nazi material.
"The publicised sale of Nazi memorabilia is offensive to Holocaust survivors and returned servicemen and women from World War II," he said.
Trade Me business manager Mike O'Donnell said the history associated with Nazism made banning the sale of the items an easy decision. . We ban items that relate to anti-semitism, extermination and racial dominance.
"Nazism is a school of thought and there is hate literature associated with it. It's a no-go area for us. It's a no-go area for us.
"That said, we support consumers' freedom and right to do as they please within the law and do not feel that it is Zillion's place to act as a moral censor.
"Firstly and most importantly, Zillion in no way endorses the Nazi regime or those who continue to espouse its rhetoric," he said.
"In the case of Zillion, we simply provide a mechanism for New Zealanders to buy and sell items that are legally tradeable in an open and efficient online auction environment," the spokesman said.
"These same objects, like wartime memorabilia from many nations, are common collector's items and can be purchased in antique and second-hand shops across New Zealand.

.
Canterbury leads with tickets for boy racers

– Saturday, 31 January 2009

Canterbury boy racers received almost half of all tickets handed out nationally by police for noisy vehicles last year.
Canterbury's acting road policing manager, Senior Sergeant Neville Hyland, said that last year more than 3800 noise-infringement tickets were handed out nationwide. More than 1700 were given to Canterbury drivers.
A demerit system was introduced last year where police could issue infringement notices to people with excessively noisy cars, he said.
The high number of infringement notices issued in Canterbury was possibly due to police vigilance, Hyland said. Previously, drivers of noisy cars could be given just a fine, he said. If drivers got more than 100 demerit points they could lose their licence.
Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker has taken a stand against boy racers, banning them from certain areas on the outskirts of the city and introducing night-time no-stopping restrictions on Deans, Harper and Moorhouse avenues.
This month, Parker called on the Government to tell Christchurch residents what it would do to address the problem of boy racers. .
Parker called for urgent legislation to:
Use demerit points for offences such as unpaid fines, speeding, noisy vehicles and false or obscured registration plates.
"The ball is now in the court of central government to introduce legislation to curb the problem of young hoons terrorising our community," he said.
Police being able to ticket immediately without having to warn drivers at unruly gatherings.
Licences suspended for unpaid fines.
Third-party insurance for all vehicles.
Third-party insurance for all vehicles.
Transport Minister Steven Joyce said he would visit Christchurch in the next six weeks to see the problem at "ground level".
Lowering the legal level of blood-alcohol for drivers.
The Ministry of Transport is writing a report for Joyce on proposals to curb noisy cars.
He said he would talk to Police Minister Judith Collins on whether current laws gave police enough power to act against boy racers.

. The report should be finished mid-year

.
Family wins second Madagascar trip

The Thursday, 22 January 2009

PATRICK HAMILTON/
WHAT ARE THE CHANCES: Chrystiana, 8, and Chase, 5, Wright are old enough this time to accompany parents David and Shelley after the family won a trip to South Africa for the second time in a Madagascar movie promotion.

The lucky dip gods might soon start examining twice at a Stoke family. They will soon pack their bags for a second trip to South Africa as winners once more of a national competition run in conjunction with the launch of a movie.
The Wright family has won national competition draws more times than the odds would normally allow.
Last week, they learned they had won again, after entering a competition to promote the sequel, Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa.
Four years ago, their names were drawn from the barrel of entrants in a nationwide competition run through the TV Guide to promote the animated movie Madagascar. The family then sent in a couple of entries, tempted by the smaller prizes available, Shelley Wright said.
The competition involved counting the number of times the logo of the movie's character Alex the Lion featured during a recent television screening of Madagascar."
Last week they got a call from the movie's distribution company, Paramount Productions, announcing them as winners.
"I thought it would be a waste of time entering, but they had such great runner-up prizes, and the kids love the movie.
Paramount Productions spokesperson Matt Andree Wiltens said the competition, run with TVNZ (TV2) and the TV Guide, had a great response, with thousands of entries.
"Never in our wildest dreams did we expect to win again," said her husband, David Wright, operations manager at the Nelson City Council. I know they put in more than one entry to the competition, and I guess it goes to prove the adage that you've got to be in to win.
"The Wright family were the lucky winners drawn out of the barrel.
He said that while there were many memorable highlights from their first trip to South Africa, sharing a picnic with other winners from around the world, who were then gatecrashed by a mob of 20-30 hungry baboons, stood out."
The Wrights' two children, Chrystiana, 8, and Chace, 5, were too young to travel the first time, so the second opportunity was a rare blessing, Mr Wright said. They attacked the van, and the authentic African barbecue we were having.
"They came charging over the sand dunes. . One baboon grabbed the bag of an Irish lady, but she held on and screamed loudest and the baboon let go," Mr Wright said. I had four because no one else was eating anything," Mr Wright said.
"That day we went to an ostrich farm and got offered steaks for lunch. The couple also won their honeymoon to Sydney in 1995, and then a competition in December 1999 to meet American actor and comedian Robin Williams while he was in Auckland promoting his movie Bicentennial Man.
Mrs Wright has the lucky hand and regularly enters competitions.
The family plans to take up their latest prize during the April school holidays.
The family plans to take up their latest prize during the April school holidays.

.
Family wins second Madagascar trip

The Thursday, 22 January 2009

PATRICK HAMILTON/
WHAT ARE THE CHANCES: Chrystiana, 8, and Chase, 5, Wright are old enough this time to accompany parents David and Shelley after the family won a trip to South Africa for the second time in a Madagascar movie promotion.

The lucky dip gods might soon start examining twice at a Stoke family. They will soon pack their bags for a second trip to South Africa as winners once more of a national competition run in conjunction with the launch of a movie.
The Wright family has won national competition draws more times than the odds would normally allow.
Last week, they learned they had won again, after entering a competition to promote the sequel, Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa.
Four years ago, their names were drawn from the barrel of entrants in a nationwide competition run through the TV Guide to promote the animated movie Madagascar. The family then sent in a couple of entries, tempted by the smaller prizes available, Shelley Wright said.
The competition involved counting the number of times the logo of the movie's character Alex the Lion featured during a recent television screening of Madagascar."
Last week they got a call from the movie's distribution company, Paramount Productions, announcing them as winners.
"I thought it would be a waste of time entering, but they had such great runner-up prizes, and the kids love the movie.
Paramount Productions spokesperson Matt Andree Wiltens said the competition, run with TVNZ (TV2) and the TV Guide, had a great response, with thousands of entries.
"Never in our wildest dreams did we expect to win again," said her husband, David Wright, operations manager at the Nelson City Council. I know they put in more than one entry to the competition, and I guess it goes to prove the adage that you've got to be in to win.
"The Wright family were the lucky winners drawn out of the barrel.
He said that while there were many memorable highlights from their first trip to South Africa, sharing a picnic with other winners from around the world, who were then gatecrashed by a mob of 20-30 hungry baboons, stood out."
The Wrights' two children, Chrystiana, 8, and Chace, 5, were too young to travel the first time, so the second opportunity was a rare blessing, Mr Wright said. They attacked the van, and the authentic African barbecue we were having.
"They came charging over the sand dunes. . One baboon grabbed the bag of an Irish lady, but she held on and screamed loudest and the baboon let go," Mr Wright said. I had four because no one else was eating anything," Mr Wright said.
"That day we went to an ostrich farm and got offered steaks for lunch. The couple also won their honeymoon to Sydney in 1995, and then a competition in December 1999 to meet American actor and comedian Robin Williams while he was in Auckland promoting his movie Bicentennial Man.
Mrs Wright has the lucky hand and regularly enters competitions.
The family plans to take up their latest prize during the April school holidays.
The family plans to take up their latest prize during the April school holidays.

.
Fox Glacier ice collapse recovery postponed

Melbourne brothers named

Friday, 09 January 2009

BROTHERS: Ashish Miranda, 24, and Akshay Miranda, 22, of Melbourne, at World Youth Day in Sydney last year.

Photo 1 of 3

DOC/Supplied
ICE FALL: Two tourists lost their lives when they were buried by falling ice at the face of Fox Glacier.
Ashish Miranda, 24, and Akshay Miranda, 22, of Melbourne, were crushed by ice after crossing safety barriers at the terminal face to take photos around 4.

Photo 2 of 3

FOX GLACIER

Photo 3 of 3

LATEST: The recovery of the body of one of two Australian brothers crushed by falling ice on Fox Glacier yesterday has been postponed because it is too dangerous, police say.
The body ofAshish Miranda, an aerospace engineer for Boeing, was recovered last night while the body of his brother Askhay – presumed dead – is thought to be right at the bottom of the ice shelf, an area believed to be exceedingly dangerous.20pm yesterday. Some piecesof the ice werethe size of large vehicles.
More than 100 tonnes of ice was believed to have fallen on the men.
"We are pretty certain we know where he is and a decision will be made on whether we try and get him out.
Constable Paul Gurney, of Franz Josef police station,said the search was continuing today and had been narrowed down to a specific area where searchers thought the body of Akshay Miranda had fallen… . There is a possibility that he will be left there," he said.
The body of Ashish Miranda was found buried beneath the fallen ice around 10 to 15metres away from the ice face.
"The guys took a risk yesterday getting the other man out and this guy will be even more at risk," he said. The rain is not expected to ease until later tonight.
The recovery attempt is set to be hindered by heavy rain as the Metservice have issued a severe weather warning for the South-Westland area.
The parents were in the Fox Glacier township, Constable Tony LeSueur, of Hokitika, said.
TRAGEDY ON FAMILY HOLIDAY
Thetwo men were the only children of their parents who they lived with in Melbourne.
The brothers attended World Youth Day in Sydney in last year, with the younger brother Akshay describing it as "the most kick ass week ever'' on his Facebook profile.
The family was due to fly back to Australia on Sunday morning.
He was an engineering student at Monash University, due to finish his studies this year.
The profile also revealed Akshay as a football fan who proudly celebrated his Indian heritage.
According to Indian website Daijiworld Media Network, the family had migrated to Melbourne from Indian city Mangalore.
According to Indian website Daijiworld Media Network, the family had migrated to Melbourne from Indian city Mangalore.
The boys parents, Ronnie and Winnie Miranda, were original from Mumbai, it said.
Tributes to Ashish were already being posted on his Facebook page.
"Rest in peace, Akshay,'' wrote Elise Aycardo. "You'll be forever missed, forever loved, and always, forever, in our hearts. I'm sorry … And my thoughts and prayers are with your family.''
John Oddo wrote: "You were such a great man and such a valuable friend. I will really really miss you and I know you're making fun of me right now from up there but I love you and thanks for putting up with me.''
An aunt of the brothers told Daijiworld the family was still praying Akshay, whose body has not been recovered, would be found alive.
On Sunday, Akshay proudly boasted on Facebook that he had completed a 134-metre bungee jump.
GLACIER RISKS
Conservation Minister Tim Groser said it was a "tragedy of almost unimaginable proportions (for the parents) to lose both sons in one tragedy".
Mr Groser was at Fox Glacier but was staying out of the way of the operational staff conducting the search.
"There are extensive safety procedures in place, these are reviewed annually, there's also been independent assessment of these procedures.
"We're dealing with a situation that is a highly dangerous and dynamic natural environment involving rock, ice and rivers."
The procedures were last reviewed in August last year.
He said the facts of the latest incident would be reviewed by the Department of Conservation (DOC), police and probably the coroner.
There will always be risk, but also "some responsibility on the part of these individuals who go into these areas".
In 2007, DOC said almost a third of the 600,000 visitors to the West Coast glaciers ignored warning signs and entered danger zones.
In February that year, a tourist standing beside an ice cave at the terminal face of the Franz Josef Glacier was injured when the roof collapsed.
He had walked past signs warning of the danger of falling ice.
– With Michael Fox, , Arjun Ramachandran

.
Holiday traffic at a crawl

Saturday, 27 December 2008

Heavy holiday traffic was causing problems throughout the North Island today and police were urging caution.
Drivers heading to destinations in the Auckland, Northland, Waikato and Coromandel regions were warned to expect long delays in traditional bottleneck areas such as the Kopu Bridge at Thames, where there is a 10km tailback, and the Northern Motorway at Orewa.
Policeare urging motoristsheading to Waikato and Coromandel to use the alternative route of State Highway 2 towards Paeroa and then turn into Hubbard Road, then left into State Highway 26.
Traffic on Auckland's Northern Motorway was at a crawl.
Thoseheading to the Northland region the alternative route of State Highway 16 is available.
Motorists simply had to display tolerance, said Inspector Ken Climo, of police central communications.
Further south on the Kapiti Coast there were traffic delays both north and south bound on State Highway One between Waikanae and Otaki.
"Police are starting to receive information about a number of incidents involving poor driving, like tailgating, silly overtaking and cutting other traffic off at the end of passing lanes," he said."
Mr Climo said traffic was also starting to build on the Desert Road, both north and south bound.
"Please take care and live to enjoy another Christmas.
Mr Climo said there would be extensive delays for traffic travelling north through the area, and contractors were working to ensure delays are kept as short as possible. .
"Motorists who must travel to the Hutt Valley may consider using State Highway One, then State Highway 58 (Haywards) as a means of getting into the Hutt Valley.
"This remedial work will be on going over the next three days and contractors will be working up until 7pm hours daily," he said."

.
Court told of sexual attack on six-year-old

Tuesday, 04 November 2008

Achance encounter and quick thinking by a community patroller resulted in a man being arrested and charged with sexually molesting a six-year-old girl, a court has been told.
Richard Miller, 46, appeared in the High Court at Napier yesterday accused of sexual offences against two girls.
The unemployed Napier man faces one charge related to the six-year-old. Five further charges relate to sexual offences, including two of rape, against a 10-year-old girl in 1990. The jury will need to decide between alternate charges of attempted rape or committing an indecent act. He noticed a car near the yard with a man in its passenger's seat moving in a manner that suggested a sexual activity.
Crown prosecutor Clayton Walker told jurors that volunteer community patroller Brooke Ibbotson was returning a patrol car to its parking yard in Nelson Park at the end of his shift on the afternoon of September 19 last year.
As Mr Ibbotson drove away from the yard, he decided to return "as it was a strange time and place to be doing what he was doing", Mr Walker said. In its passenger seat was a young girl.
On driving back into the park, he saw the car approach him.
Mr Ibbotson followed the car out of the park and through several streets to an address in Onekawa, where the girl got out.
"You can imagine the horror," Mr Walker said. .
He waited in order to get a better look at the driver. Mr Ibbotson contacted police, who spoke to the girl and arrested Miller that day. Mr Ibbotson contacted police, who spoke to the girl and arrested Miller that day.
He does not dispute talking to Mr Ibbotson in Onekawa, but denies the girl's allegations and claims he took her straight home from school without going into the park.
Miller was a friend of the girl's mother and often took the girl to and from school.
The girl is one of 13 witnesses being called by the Crown.
Mr Walker said jurors would hear from ESR scientists who would say dna found on the girl's underwear was 44 times more likely to be Miller's than anyone else's. Another witness is the woman, now 29, who alleges Miller sexually assaulted her in 1990 when he was her babysitter. She will give evidence over closed-circuit television from another courtroom.