Two a penny

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Family and friends have so far failed to find the bodies of Timaru men Antony Haywood, 46, and Murray Green, 54, after their boat capsized on a fishing trip on Lake Tekapo last Wednesday.

Searchers recovered the body of the third crew member Mr Haywood’s father Alexander Haywood, 72, of Pleasant Point, close to Timaru, the day after the tragedy.

However, they had not yet found sign of their bodies, a Tekapo police spokesman said this afternoon.

Police called off the official search for the other two on Friday but relatives and friends continued looking for the men throughout the weekend.

Police believe that the fishing boat which had been recovered possibly hit a submerged object such as a tree at high speed about midday Wednesday flinging the men into the icy water. .

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Mr Haywood’s funeral will be held in Timaru tomorrow

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LATEST:
Wanganui authorities already disagree over the enforcement of a new ban on gang patches, as gang members prepare to march the city’s streets in protest.

Wanganui District Council banned gang insignia from the city at its meeting yesterday, and the bylaw came into force at midnight.

Black Power was planning a mass ride through Wanganui around lunchtime today to protest the bylaw.

The bylaw gives police powers to fine patchwearers $2000 and to take their gang insignia from them.

Acting area commander Inspector Greg Hudson said any arrests today would “depend on the circumstances”.

Member and rally organiser Denis O’Reilly told 3 News the council’s issues with gangs had nothing to do with their patches.

“In each case, we’re going to police it with a commonsense approach.

Police would take a commonsense approach and enforce the bylaw on a case-by-case basis, he said.”

But Mayor Michael Laws told Radio New Zealand gang members who wore their gang patches in protest today would be arrested. To us, it’s no different – it’s business as usual – to a liquor ban.

“Honestly, Wanganui is going to become a very, very uncomfortable place if you’re a gang member or gang associate from now on.

“If there is [a protest] and they’re wearing their gang patches, we’d be delighted to arrest them. . And we’re delighted it’s going to be. uncomfortable for them. .

Wanganui’s gang situation was no worse than anywhere else in New Zealand but the city’s residents had “chosen to, in effect, have a dress code which does not include gang insignia”, he said.”

Meanwhile, Mr Hudson said police would appreciate if the public reported gang members wearing insignia in public.”

He said the bylaw was to protect the majority of residents, and the minority affected by the ban – the gang members – could test the bylaw in court.

“I think it’s the feeling of the community and like any democratic country, anything that makes the community feel safe and enhances their wellbeing has got to be of benefit.

Mr Laws said it was “extraordinarily” rare for Parliament to give a council such power.

BYLAW A ‘TRIUMPH’

Wanganui Mayor Michael Laws has described the bylaw as “a triumph for decency and democracy”.

“It removes gangs’ most powerful and intimidatory weapon.

“To ban gang patches and gang insignia will give a real fillip to Wanganui police and to Wanganui citizens,” he said.

Councillor Rob Vinsen called the move a publicity stunt and unnecessary.

Councillor Rob Vinsen called the move a publicity stunt and unnecessary.

“We haven’t got a gang problem in Wanganui,” Mr Vinsen said.

“The police said there were two incidents in 2009 and there were five incidents last year. . This is a publicity-seeking stunt from mayor Michael Laws, I’m afraid,” he told Newstalk ZB.

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The five Kelston High schoolboys thumped by an Auckland Rugby Union judiciary last week are to appeal.

Kelston Boys High first XV players were punished much more harshly than their Auckland Grammar opponents for their roles in an ugly brawl at the end of their Auckland secondary schools rugby semifinal two weekends ago.

In contrast four Grammar players had suspensions varying from two weeks to seven weeks and one player had no sanction because no case was proven against him.

The brawl saw both teams taken before the Auckland Rugby Football Union judiciary last week where five Kelston players were suspended from rugby for periods ranging from 10 to 16 months.

This meant a 10 month ban for a Kelston player was effectively the same as a four week ban for a Grammar player, it said. .”

Former All Blacks Michael Jones and Inga Tuigamala have both come out criticising the length of the Kelston suspensions.

Kelston principal Steve Watt today said: “Whilst there is no issue with the condemnation and admonishment inherent in the penalties imposed by the Disciplinary Committee, the extent and the disparity of the penalties imposed have given rise to widespread disquiet and disbelief as to their propriety from not only the local community but also the wider rugby community.”

The school is paying the $1500 for each boy needed to lodge the appeal.

Mr Watt said the appeals lodged today with the Rugby Union were “on the grounds that the penalties imposed on them are manifestly excessive and that the disparity in the length of the suspensions meted out to them by the Disciplinary Committee amount to a miscarriage of justice.

Mr Watt said the boys had faced “unprecedented publicity” and have received counselling.

Mr Watt said lawyers have also contacted the school offering their services for free to assist the boys with their appeals. As I have said before – we can all learn from this inexcusable incident and with the goodwill of all involved, make sure that it doesn’t happen again.

“I am hopeful that the appeal process can be resolved quickly so the school can focus on its primary function of educating boys to become good young men.

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Further criticism came when it emerged one of the panel, former policeman Neil Grimstone, has a child attending Auckland Grammar

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A master baker who spent seven years working for Kiwi baking goods giant Edmonds says he raised problems with the iconic cook book’s hot cross buns recipe 10 years ago. .
Nothing was done and 10 years on the company is still refusing to make any changes, even after a public battering thanks to a Sunday Star-Times story last weekend. Last week she could not believe Edmonds was standing by its recipe and said: “Everyone can make mistakes.
That story quoted home-baking guru Jo Seagar who tested the recipe and called it “dry, old crappo”. You don’t keep printing it and printing it and printing it. You get it wrong, but you fix it. That’s what we think is bad.
“I don’t think the recipe’s necessarily the [most wrong] in the world I just think the style of the book doesn’t allow for the right information to be given.”
Brettschneider waded into the debate, telling the Star-Times “it is probably time to right the wrong”.
“We’ve done three test bakes during the week and all were successful, so we don’t believe that there are problems with the recipe,” a spokesperson said.”
Edmonds would not comment on Brettschneider’s criticism and said it was “comfortable with the recipe”. “Part of the problem might be that people have different expectations. “[We're] not sure what the problem is probably something to do with the yeast that people are using, or the way they’re handling the recipe. That cook book is home-cooking style food. That cook book is home-cooking style food. “Are they trying to say that because you make it at home you’ve got crap expectations? I expect anything I make at home to be just as good as anything I buy, if not better.”
That made Seagar steam. “We think it’s rubbish.”
Seagar and her staff made six test batches of the Edmonds buns and they all failed.”
Brettschneider said he had made the recipe work with more liquid but it still needs to be changed. We think it’s a load of craparooba. This is because when fruit is added before kneading it gets crushed and releases sugar, which can stop the yeast working properly. There should be more instructions about the all-important kneading and dividing process and the fruit should be added right at the end of kneading, not the beginning, as it is now.. “It’s not a slanging match,” Brettschneider said, “it’s about giving people the right information . so they’ve got a much better chance of making good hot cross buns. so they’ve got a much better chance of making good hot cross buns.”
Brettschneider left Edmonds in 2003 and is based in Shanghai, has his own bakery brand and numerous international awards to his name. He judges New Zealand’s annual baking competition and moderates our bakery training standards.

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A memorial book for victims of the Mt Erebus air disaster in 1979 has been brazenly stolen from an Auckland church.

The book was taken yesterday afternoon from St Matthew In The City, in downtown Auckland, by a male wearing a cap.20pm, but it’s hard to identify the offender.
Church spokesman Clay Nelson told tonight the book was inside a glass case, which it appears was not locked, below the Erebus memorial windows at the church,
“We have security camera footage of it being taken about 12.
The leather-bound book contains the names of all the victims in calligraphic writing.”
The book was put together for a memorial service for the 257 people who lost their lives in the Air New Zealand plane crash on Mt Erebus, Antarctica on November 28, 1979. He said he was not too hopeful it would be returned.
Mr Nelson said the book had no value to the offender.
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Afghanistan extension on cards

Monday, 09 February 2009

Kiwi troops in Afghanistan are likely to be asked to dig in for longer as the Government prepares to review the six-year-old deployment amid mounting pressure on the United States' allies to do more.
Government sources say there has been no request yet from the US for more Kiwi troops but it would "not be a surprise" if there were. .
The push for more Australian troops comes as US President Barack Obama prepares to step up pressure on his country's European allies to provide more toops to support Nato's 55,000-strong International Security Assistance force.
At least 800 extra Australian troops would be required, The Australian newspaper reported.
New Zealand has 132 troops in Afghanistan's Bamyan province, close toly six years after they were sent there on a year-long deployment.
The US expects to lift its troop commitment in Afghanistan by about 25,000 over the next three years.
It also has instructors with the Afghan National Army Training Team, an officer based with the United Nations Assistance Mission and two staff officers and a driver at the International Security Assistance Force headquarters in Kabul.
Sources have confirmed it is likely to be rolled over.
The pressure from the US for international troops to do more in Afghanistan comes as Cabinet prepares to receive a briefing paper on extending the Bamyan commitment beyond September.

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The Labour government and the Defence Force answered previous suggestions that troop numbers be increased with concerns that it would overstretch the armed forces

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Family beat back fire from Mahia home

Tuesday, 03 February 2009

/The
ASH REMAINS: Christina (left) and Kerry Jane stand in ash-covered sandhills on their Mahia farm where parents Colin and Raewyn battled flames for hours before appealing for help to save the family home.

Mahia couple Colin and Raewyn Jane used wet sacks and buckets of water to beat down flames leaping toward their family home as a wind-fed fire ripped across a huge tract of the coast. They summoned water tankers to help control flames racing through dry grass in their back paddock toward pine trees close to their house.
The Janes, who live with their three children in Kaiwaitau Rd, worked themselves to exhaustion before dialling 111 about 11pm on Sunday. About 50 evacuated residents and holiday-makers spent the night at close toby Opoutama School.
The fire, which began at close toby Opoutama on Sunday afternoon, sent 20-metre flames sweeping through a wetland, tinder-dry grass and pine plantations destroying a house and seven other buildings in YMCA Rd.
By yesterday afternoon, the fire had burnt a seven-kilometre perimeter and left 140 hectares of charred, smoking earth. A YMCA Rd home, owned by Rata Sinclair, was saved by family members who stamped on the sparks and flying embers that threatened to ignite it.
The Janes managed to keep the fire from their home and hay shed, and their 50 cows and 180 deer walked through burning sandhills to safety.
Helicopters with monsoon buckets, more than 100 firefighters from Gisborne and Hawke's Bay, and heavy earthmoving contractors had fought to bring it under control.
A neighbour, Hau Taumata, said that at one property, he and fellow firefighters saved a truck and a house, but a tractor, trailer, boat and another truck were burnt.
"At one stage we thought we weren't going to win," Mrs Jane said.
He saved 100 cattle on his property, but lost about four hectares of pine trees and kilometres of fencing. .
There were fears last night that strong winds could reignite it.
Conservation Department spokesperson Malcolm Smith said it could take weeks to fully extinguish the deep-seated fire.

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Game body fights farm water bid

Wednesday, 21 January 2009

Fairfax
TOO MUCH? The Owen Butler Trust wants to take aquifer water to irrigate 318 hectares of crops, but Fish and Game will oppose it.

Afarmer's application to take a large amount of water from the Hawke's Bay plains will be opposed by Fish and Game, which is urging all applicants to wait until a council water allocation study is completed.
The Owen Butler Trust has applied to Hawke's Bay Regional Council to take up to 70 litres of water a second from a well near Tikokino to irrigate 318 hectares of crops.
An assessment of environmental effects accompanying the application states that "surface water is unlikely to be directly affected in the short term".
The application was originally lodged with the council in June on the grounds that it would not affect surface water in the area, but council officers found that the application could affect surface water and so it needed to be notified.
The huge aquifer beneath the Ruataniwha Plains is the main source of water for irrigation and domestic supplies in the area, but the amount that can safely be taken from the aquifer is unknown. It also states that a test on the 124-metre well over 48 hours had no discernible effect on nearby wells.
A regional council study on groundwater and surface water in the area and how it affects allocation is due to be completed next year. . The area may already be over-allocated. If the council starts granting consents like this, it will add pressure to water resources that have already been allocated.
"There are some big gaps in this application, such as what is meant by `short term'. The application contains no detail on the stream-depleting effect of this take.
"This is the type of consent we have concerns about.
"The effects of a take like this may not be evident for weeks or months after the water has been taken.
"The effects of a take like this may not be evident for weeks or months after the water has been taken. Submissions close on February 3."
The application was notified the previous month.

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Police study river to find Manning clues

By JOHN HARTEVELDT – Saturday, 10 January 2009

"Different actions" seen along the Avon River on the night Christchurch woman Mellory Manning was killed will become either significant or irrelevant after river testing finishes.
Yesterday, police floated a device down the river to piece together data on its flow.
Tests were set to continue today. "It's really getting an understanding of what that is doing.
"You've got one end where the river is flowing down which is current and then you've got this tidal surge that is coming up the river," Detective Inspector Greg Williams said.
But police do not know where she entered the river."
Manning's body was found in the Avon River on Dallington Terrace on December 19.
Williams said the tests would give a picture of river flow.
"We've got information from various different sources about different actions on the river and now we're just trying to see whether that bears any relevance to us," Williams said. That would help assess what people had seen on the night of December 18.
"It's not scientific by any stretch of the imagination, it's just giving us some indications.
The flotation device was not a replica of Manning's body, he said.
A prostitute had told police a man approached her on the night of January 2 wanting to talk about Manning's death."
A man police had asked to contact them about the case was yet to come forward.
The woman had asked the man to contact police, but he had not.
The woman had asked the man to contact police, but he had not.
Williams said he was "mindful" of a male body found in the Heathcote River yesterday.
The man was in his late 40s, with short, brown, wavy hair, and was driving a small, four-door, late-model, silver car similar to a Ford Focus. .
"We're mindful of it, but it's very early stages with that and I don't know where they're at with that one

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$1m police station blaze

By CHARLIE GATES – Monday, 08 December 2008

A second arson attack in a week has caused about $1 million damage to a police station under construction in Christchurch, and set the project back more than two months.
The South Christchurch Police Station on Colombo Street, Sydenham, is now a blackened shell after a fire early Saturday.
A smaller fire at the station last week caused hundreds of thousands of dollars damage.
The fire destroyed the building's fittings and damaged concrete floors.
"The soot and dirt in there is unbelievable . … There are sagging pipes and melted wiring hanging down. It is black. Absolutely horrendous," he said. It is filthy."
Police believed the fire started about 4am on Saturday, but was only spotted by a neighbour about 5.
"The heat damage has eaten away at the concrete on the first floor.
The building was due for completion in March, but Rae believed there would be a 10-week delay.30am and reported to the Fire Service.30am and 5.
Police would like to speak to anyone who saw any activity near the construction site on the corner of Colombo and Strickland streets between 3.
Anyone with information can contact Rae via the central police switchboard on 03 363 7400.30am.
Seven fire appliances, including a command unit, attended the blaze at the end of Rocking Horse Road.
Police were also investigating a fire on Southshore Spit at 2pm on Friday.

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Anyone with information on the Southshore blaze should call Sergeant Valyn Barrett, of the Papanui police, on 03 374 1760