Two a penny

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Seven times Formula One world champion Michael Schumacher will replace injured driver Felipe Massa at Ferrari if he passes a fitness test, the team said early today (NZ time).

The German, now 40 years old, retired from Formula One at the end of 2006. All being well, he will make his comeback in Valencia, Spain, next month.

“Michael Schumacher has shown his willingness and in the next few days he will undergo a specific programme of preparation at the end of which it will be possible to confirm his participation in the championship starting with the European Grand Prix on Aug.

“Ferrari intends to entrust Michael Schumacher with Felipe Massa’s car for as long as the Brazilian driver is not able to race,” the Italian team said in a statement.”

That race is one of the few Schumacher is unfamiliar with since the Spanish street circuit was added to the calendar only last season. 23.

Schumacher’s comeback for the reigning champions will be a huge boost for Formula One organisers as well as local fans, who could be without home hero Fernando Alonso after his Renault team were suspended for one race.

Both Hamilton, 24, and 22-year-old German race winner Vettel – nicknamed ‘Baby Schumi’ by his compatriots – entered the sport after Schumacher had left the scene.

His comeback will be the first time McLaren’s current world champion Lewis Hamilton, as well as Red Bull’s title contender Sebastian Vettel, have raced against the man who dominated a decade.

“I talked on the telephone with (team principal) Stefano Domenicali and (Ferrari president) Luca de Montezemolo this afternoon and we decided jointly that I’ll start preparing to jump in for Felipe,” he said on his website, www.

Ferrari contacted the German, who has taken part in occasional motorcycle races since he retired, after Brazilian Massa fractured his skull in an accident at last weekend’s Hungarian Grand Prix.de. .

“Even though I completely wrapped up the subject of Formula One quite a while ago, due to my attachment to the team I cannot ignore this unfortunate situation.

“Even though I completely wrapped up the subject of Formula One quite a while ago, due to my attachment to the team I cannot ignore this unfortunate situation.

He won his first world title aged 25 with Benetton in 1994, by a single point from Britain’s Damon Hill, and retained the title the following season before moving to Ferrari in 1996.”

Schumacher is Formula One’s most successful driver, with 91 wins and more titles and records than anyone else has ever achieved.

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He won five straight titles from 2000, and his final tally of race wins far eclipsed the previous mark of 51 set by Frenchman Alain Prost

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A judge has thrown out charges against a man accused of helping inmates run a large drug ring from the maximum-security wing of Auckland’s Paremoremo prison.

During a depositions hearing in the North Shore District Court last week, Judge David McNaughton dismissed methamphetamine and LSD charges against Bruce Leigh Andrews, the New Zealand Herald reported.

The operation involved smuggling cold tables containing pseudoephedrine from China inside toothpaste, chocolates and cakes to be turned into P at the homes of associates.

Andrews was accused of organising cellphones, collecting payments and passing on orders from senior members of the syndicate.

All but three of those facing methamphetamine charges have been committed for trial.

The 16 defendants have denied the charges over the alleged multi-million-dollar drug ring.

Judge McNaughton will decide next week whether the three will stand trial.

Inmates Arthur William Taylor and Ernest Tofaeono, and Tai Bong Rhee who is accused of organising the pseudoephedrine supply from China, have not conceded a prima facie case, the newspaper reported.

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A sharp-eyed prison officer foiled an attempt to have cannabis delivered to an inmate at Tongariro/Rangipo prison on the weekend.

“One of our guys was on his way into work when he spotted what looked like a Tupperware container tucked into the grass by the prison entrance,” acting assistant regional manager Diane Brophy said.

“Inside he found approximately an ounce of cannabis leaf – enough for several tinnies and considered a valuable commodity by some prisoners.

“The way the container was placed aroused suspicion so the Corrections officer stopped to investigate further.

“Unfortunately, there are people in the community that are willing to help prisoners access drugs by trying various devious methods to get them into Corrections Facilities. .

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Anyone caught trying to smuggle drugs or other banned products into the prison would be prosecuted, Ms Brophy said

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TSB Bank is cutting its two-year fixed home loan rate to 5.99 percent to stimulate demand for home loans.

Managing director Kevin Rimmington said the bank was unaffected by the comings and goings on worldwide financial markets, and was determined to pass the benefits of this on to New Zealanders.

The Taranaki-based trust-owned bank, which returns its profits to the community, said it funds its mortgage lending entirely from deposits, which have been increasing. Dr Bollard said he was disappointed that banks had not passed on the April reduction in the official cash rate to short-term lending rates.

The reduction comes a day after the latest round of bank bashing by Reserve Bank Governor Alan Bollard.

Mr Rimmington said the two-year fixed rate was effectively the bank’s benchmark mortgage lending product.

“They have an opportunity to help New Zealand’s recovery by doing so,” Dr Bollard said.

“Right now, we’re experiencing record levels of funds growth.

It was being cut because “we are getting a lot of funds into the bank” and “we have to get it back out again”.25 percent and the one-year rate is 4.”

TSB’s deposit rate for two years is 5.

Mr Rimmington said that up until about a month ago the bank’s margin on lending was the lowest it had ever experienced.6 percent.

The official cash rate has been cut from 8.

Australian-owned banks operating in New Zealand have argued that their funding costs have risen, particularly in global markets, so they can’t pass on all of the cuts in the official cash rate.5 percent.25 percent to the current 2.5 basis points to 3.

reported that New Zealand swap yields firmed across the curve today, with two-year swaps up 4.25 percent.79 percent and five-year swaps up five basis points at 5.

The website interest. These yields influence the pricing of mortgages.nz shows that many two-year home loan fixed rates are around 6.nz shows that many two-year home loan fixed rates are around 6.25 percent. Kiwibank offers 6. .19 percent prior to this cut.

Up to 65 percent of TSB Bank’s assets go into providing home loans. The bank has nine branches outside Taranaki.

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Two people have died on New Zealand roads this weekend.

This morning a 78-year-old Hauraki man died at the scene of a crash close to Paeroa.

The driver of the ute was the only other person involved and was unhurt.

Police said the man attempted to do a U-turn in the path of a northbound ute close to the intersection of Rangiora Road, Komata, on State Highway 26.

The dead man was driving west and hit an oncoming car, Sergeant Steve Salton said.

About 1am yesterday (Saturday) a 22-year-old man died at the scene of a two-car collision on Auckland’s Upper Harbour motorway, close to the Greenhithe Bridge.

On Friday morning two teenage girls were killed in a car crash in Whangarei.

He suspected speed to be a factor in the crash.10am.

The pair, who were aged 17 and 18, were killed when the car they were in rolled down a bank on Anzac Rd and into the front yard of a property in suburban Morningside just after 1.

The two were in the back seat of the car and not wearing seatbelts, Northland police spokeswoman Sarah Kennett said.

Police said they were locals.

They received minor injuries and did not need hospital treatment.

There were three other women, aged 16 to 19, in the car.

Ms Kennett said the car lost control on a bend and no other vehicles were involved.

The driver was breath-tested at the scene and was found not to have been under the influence of alcohol.

Also on Friday, a woman died after her car and a truck collided close to Dargaville, 58km south west of Whangarei.

She said the road would have been wet as it rained in Whangarei yesterday and overnight.

The woman driver of the car died at the scene. . The three deaths on the road on Friday fell outside of the weekend reporting period.

* The weekend road death toll was earlier incorrectly reported as five.

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Immigration ‘has to be fixed’

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Fellow bikies performed a haka chant as the coffin of Rebels motorcycle club life member Richard Roberts was lifted from a motorcycle sidecar at a crematorium in Canberra.

About 300 bikies attended Roberts’ funeral on Monday, remembering the man they called ”Rebel Rick” as a ”superstar” of drinking who ”loved the chicks and they loved him”.

”He was feared by those who didn’t know him, but loved by those who did,” a fellow bikie, known as Pappa, said of Roberts in a eulogy.

The 57-year-old New Zealand-born father of three was fatally shot last Tuesday at a suburban Canberra home.

”He was a hard worker.

Another Rebel said the slain man had ”loved his club and loved to ride”.

Roberts was a New Zealander who shifted to Australia in 1973.”

Roberts was also remembered as a man with a ”heart of gold” who ”could make you laugh”.

Engelbert Humperdinck’s cover version of Frank Sinatra’s My Way, with the poignant lyrics ”Regrets? I’ve a had few”, was played after the eulogies. .

Earlier, a procession of more than 300 bikies and an empty hearse moved through the northern suburbs of Canberra from a Rebels clubhouse in Queanbeyan to the Norwood Park Crematorium under police escort.

Bikies from Rebels chapters as far away as southeastern Victoria, the NSW central coast, Gundagai and Sydney attended the funeral.

A police car stood by as the bikies, most of them wearing helmets, ran a red light at the entrance to the crematorium.

The coffin containing Roberts’ body was carried on a sidecar. Police have charged 20-year-old Russell Field with their murders.

Roberts and Gregory Carrigan, 48, were shot dead outside a southern Canberra house last week.

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A spokeswoman for ACT police said the funeral and the procession through Canberra on Monday morning were incident-free.

The slayings were initially thought to be an explosion of violence between outlaw bikie gangs, but a long-time Rebels member has said they resulted from a bitter ”love triangle”.

The proposed laws would allow police to apply to the Supreme Court for an order to prohibit members identified in an outlaw motorcycle gang from associating with each other.

The funeral was held as the NSW government is considering introducing tough new laws aimed at stamping out violent bikie gangs.

The night before Monday’s funeral, a Hells Angel member, believed to be Peter Zervas, 32, was gunned down outside his Sydney home.

One bikie at the funeral wore a provocative t-shirt which read, ”Love us or hate us, you’d better get used to us”.

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The man, who survived the shooting, is the brother of Anthony Zervas, 29, who last week was bludgeoned to death at Sydney airport during a brawl between members of the Hells Angels and the rival bikie gang Comancheros

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Police interview 140 prostitutes in Manning murder probe

By JO McKENZIE-McLEAN – Tuesday, 13 January 2009

Police have spoken to about 140 prostitutes and 40 minders in their hunt for the murderer of a Christchurch woman. .
Her body was found in the Avon River in Dallington.
Williams said police had spoken to a man they were seeking. She had been strangled, stabbed in the chest several times and beaten about the head and legs with what appeared to be a piece of reinforcing steel.
"At this stage in the investigation we still believe it is likely that Mellory has been picked up from her corner by a vehicle around 10.
He was in the area the night of Manning's murder, driving a silver Ford Focus.45pm, and the telephone inquiries definitely indicate that all is not well by 11.
"This also seems to fit with her watch stopping at 10.30pm as she failed to reply to the next set of texts that were sent to her," Williams said."
The violent attack would have caused considerable blood loss where she was attacked, in any vehicle that she was in or anything she might have been wrapped in, Williams said.58pm.
Police had still not identified the vehicle or driver of the XR6 or XR8 Ford Falcon that Manning was seen in.
He appealed for information on anyone who might have changed their behaviour since December 18, who were reluctant to use their vehicle, had suddenly sold it, cleaned or altered it, or said they had sold it.
Police had identified about 100 cars and had sent out about 20 inquiries to other towns, Williams said.
Police had identified about 100 cars and had sent out about 20 inquiries to other towns, Williams said.
Also of interest was a man in a blue 4WD possibly a Toyota Hilux who approached a prostitute about 10.
Men had been driving four-wheel-drive vehicles in the Manchester Street-Peterborough Street area in central Christchurch about the time Manning must have been picked up, including a dark-coloured one either black or blue with chrome wheels and tinted windows, he said.
He is described as European, slim, with grey stubble, balding at the front and greying hair at the back.35pm and asked for prices.
Williams asked that person or anyone knowing him to contact the police.
He was described as "rough-looking" and was wearing a blue jersey with holes in it.

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Asbestos alert after destructive Dargaville fire

Dargaville News Thursday, 08 January 2009

HEALTH RISK: Sprinklers are set up to prevent airborne asbestos spreading.

REDUCED TO RUBBLE: The aftermath of the Dargaville fire.
Kaipara District Council infrastructural assets manager Fiona Vessey told the Dargaville and Districts News today that a specialised asbestos crew is due to arrive at the scene later in the day.

The Dargaville public is being kept at bay from the site where asbestos has been found after a major fire consumed four shops and extensively damaged another one in the biggest fire the town has seen in over 40 years.
Ms Vessey says the asbestos group would be supervising clean up contractors GHK Piling from Whangarei.
She says the crew had been held up at a fire in Southdown Auckland that occurred on Tuesday.
The Kaipara District Council issued a statement on Wednesday saying the asbestos discovery in the debris had delayed clearance of the site and the public was required to keep away from the area.
Northland Health health protection officer Paul Reid says the asbestos would be removed and placed in covered trucks to be transported to the Redvale special rubbish disposal facility north of Auckland.
Council, Fire Service, Northland Health and police officials, with insurers, building owners and the Department of Labour met to collaboratively minimise any potential health risk in the meantime. . The area will remain cordoned to protect the public and a section of Victoria St will stay closed.
The site is being kept continually dampened to eliminate any risk of breathable asbestos fibres becoming airborne.
"It is a concern and I apologise for any extra inconvenience but I am confident that the situation is being handled correctly and council's understanding is that the risk posed is minimal.
Kaipara mayor Neil Tiller says the discovery of asbestos is disappointing and hopes it will not significantly delay reinstatement of the area."

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Joust a bit of good, clean medieval fun

The Thursday, 08 January 2009

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JOUST GOOD CLEAN FUN: Caroline Egemalm of Sweden battles to maintain her balance on her mount after taking a hit during a jousting practice session, ahead of a world invitational jousting tournament in Upper Hutt this weekend. .
"You just feel a big impact.
Although it all seemed like a bit of fun, there was nothing pretend about the horses, armour, or the lance blows that jousters aimed to inflict, organiser Callum Forbes said."
While serious injuries nowadays were rare, jousters who fought in medieval times when the head was considered a fair target were more likely to feel pain. If it's off-target it can hurt you.
Competitors were not the only ones examining forward to the tournament, Mr Forbes said.
The 12 competitors taking part in the tournament will all face one another during the weekend, with the person with the highest total points score crowned the winner..
"The horses . really love it..45am on Saturday and Sunday."
Re-enactment clubs The Company of the Dragon, based in Brooklyn, and the Order of the Boar, based in Upper Hutt, will take part in foot combat and archery displays during the tournament, which kicks off at 9.

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Free study on offer if job goes under

Saturday, 29 November 2008

Government-owned polytechnic UCOL is offering free study next year for anyone who loses their job as a result of the economic crisis. .
The initiatives show UCOL's "commitment to its local communities and to the health of the regional economies UCOL serves".
"Anyone who doesn't find employment in their study area within 13 weeks of successfully completing a UCOL programme started in 2009 can then apply to enrol on another programme without paying further tuition fees in 2010," chief executive Paul McElroy said.
"There is still uncertainty about the impact on the New Zealand job market of the recession and slowdown in the global economy," McElroy said.
The offer is available to anyone made redundant after September 1 and includes normal tuition fees on certificates, degrees and diplomas offered at its campuses in Palmerston North, Wanganui, and the Wairarapa."

. "All of this means that many people are anxious about the security of their jobs and their ability to adapt to a changing employment environment