Two a penny

.

Taito Phillip Field, the first New Zealand politician to be convicted of corruption, faces up to seven years in prison. . He was also found guilty of 15 of 23 obstruction of justice charges.

New Zealand’s first Pacific Islands MP, Field was granted bail by Justice Rodney Hansen yesterday, then whisked out a back entrance of the High Court at Auckland.

Field, 56, who always claimed he was innocent, will be sentenced on October 6 and could be jailed for a maximum of seven years.

Crown prosecutor Simon Moore said it was a crucial trial.

A weeping Maxine Field, his wife, had to be helped from court by family, all of whom refused to comment.

“Bribery and corruption strikes very much at the heart of who we are as a people,” he said after the verdict. “I am grateful these witnesses had the courage to stand up and be counted,” he said.

Detective Superintendent Malcolm Burgess, who led the investigation, said giving evidence was “an extraordinary harrowing experience” for some witnesses.

“I’m disappointed, but Mr Field is very disappointed,” he said.

Field’s lawyer, Paul Davison, said it had been a long and difficult trial.

‘REFLECTS BADLY ON PARLIAMENT’

Prime Minister John Key said the case was a sad affair.

It was “premature” to consider an appeal.

“Ultimately it reflects badly on our Parliament.

“Ultimately it reflects badly on our Parliament.

“I think it’s an isolated case.

He said it would be “unjustified” for this case to be taken as a reflection of the whole Parliament, he said. I think New Zealanders should see it on that basis. I think Mr Field’s been dealt with now by the judiciary and ultimately has to face whatever sentence they decide is appropriate.

“What it shows you is when you are facing a very serious issue you actually have to have a proper investigation and I don’t think the terms of reference were ever set in a way where the government of the day was look for a conclusive outcome.”

He said it showed investigations into Mr Field ordered by the former Labour government were not examining for a solution.”

. Actually they wanted to park the situation for political convenience

.

School sports stars are being targeted by agents trying to fill their client books, a New Zealand sports lawyer warns.

Sports lawyer and agent David Jones said there was a growing number of agents trying to make money from ever-younger athletes.

The New Zealand Rugby Players’ Association has issued an agent charter and set up a website with advice for rising stars “in recognition that younger and younger sports stars, particularly in rugby, are receiving approaches to join the semi-professional ranks”.

He said that while a deal might look good, the devil would be in the detail.

“With competition growing between the people who are agents and have clients, they naturally have to go further afield, so they approach younger and younger players,” Jones said.

Jones said more agents were chasing younger sportsmen and women.”

New Zealand Secondary School Sports Council executive director Garry Carnachan said some students were offered contracts with rugby unions to join an academy programme. .

The Rugby Players’ Association charter required that prospective agents tell under-21 rugby players to seek advice before signing up with an agent.

“Obviously, if they are being approached about any form of contract they might want to seek advice,” Carnachan said.

“It is a competitive market and there are good agents and bad some will not hesitate to stretch the truth and act aggressively to secure a player.

“It is important that the player does not just go with the first agent that he comes in contact with,” it said. “It’s too young for a player, much too young for a player to be (approached).”

Jones said school was not an appropriate place to tout for talent.

“Someone like a Danny Lee should certainly have representation from the right sort of person,” Jones said.”

There were some exceptions based on the sport, and for a few remarkable talents.

International Management Group (IMG) is expected to sign him up in a deal worth US$10 million (NZ$17.

Ad Feedback –>
loadAd(’300×250′,’STORYBODY’,300,250);

Lee, 18, is due to sign a multimillion-dollar deal today to mark his switch to the professional ranks of golf.

.5m)

.
1500 take opportunity for walkabout on roundabout

Monday, 02 March 2009

Pedestrians braved the wind and rain to go walkabout on the roundabout, at the new Dowse Interchange on State Highway 2.
The interchange opened to traffic for the first time today but was open to pedestrians on Saturday, with a gold coin donation fee going to Te Omanga Hospice. Despite the wet weather, about 1500 people turned out.
She urged motorists to show caution while they familiarised themselves with the new route.
NZ Transport Agency's regional director, Deborah Hume, said there would be a period of adjustment to the new layout but she expected it to significantly improve traffic flow.
Work is continuing on the next stages of the $65 million project, including the construction of an overbridge at Korokoro.
Those keen to be among the first to drive the new stretch of road had to be up early it was expected to open at 2am.
Lower Hutt Mayor David Ogden, who walked the interchange on Saturday, was pleased with what he saw.
"What I found is that it's quite elevated it becomes a new entrance to the city and lifts the traffic. "It will bring a bit of order to the area and leave out some of the bottlenecking that happens.
"It really changes the vista. .
The next phase of the project involves the demolition of the old Korokoro bridge and the construction of a new overbridge and intersection."
The expressway-style roading and overbridge replace three sets of traffic signals between Dowse Drive and Petone that caused congestion, delays and accidents.
Final completion is scheduled for early next year.
Final completion is scheduled for early next year

.
Sunnyvale granny robbed by teens

By LUKE PARKER – Tuesday, 10 February 2009

LUKE PARKER/
BAG SNATCHED: Heather Smith is warning others to watch out for thieves after having her handbag stolen.

A peaceful ride back from a shopping trip turned into a horrible experience for Sunnyvale grandmother Heather Smith, 65.
She was steering her mobility scooter along a cycleway just off Millbrook Rd on Saturday afternoon when her bag was snatched by one of three teenagers. .
She had hopped off the scooter to look at a garden when one of the boys swiped the bag.
The handbag was hanging off the scooter’s mirror. They walked past me towards a bridge ahead and then one turned around and came running back," she says. It contained a card wallet, passport, garage opener and coin purse with 80 cents.
"What worries me is a lot of elderly people use it to walk their dogs.
Mrs Smith has been using the cycleway two or three times a week for the past 18 months and says nothing like this has happened before.
"I’m pretty sure they would have taken the bag whether I was on the scooter or not," she says."
She warns people to be careful and not to carry a lot of money.
"Up until now I felt a bit sorry for some of the kids around here but after this I don’t. "It’s a horrible feeling."
Mrs Smith says trying to remember all the different cards in the wallet has been very frustrating."
Mrs Smith says trying to remember all the different cards in the wallet has been very frustrating. I don’t have a driver’s licence. I really want my passport back because that’s what I use for identification.
"I think I’ll sit on my wallet," she says."
Mrs Smith says the incident will not stop her going out.

.
Police are investigating

.
Breastfeeding mother of 10 jailed for drink driving

By GLENN McLEAN – Thursday, 05 February 2009

A breast-feeding mother of 10 has been separated from her baby and jailed for repeat drink driving.
Tania Cherie Tawa, 41, of Waitara, was sent to prison for six months when she appeared in the New Plymouth District Court yesterday. The legal limit is 400mcg.
Tawa was heavily pregnant in September when she was caught driving with a breath alcohol reading of 624 micrograms per litre of breath.
It was her third conviction in four years.
She told police she had drunk a dozen bottles of beer before deciding to drive. .
Defence counsel Barry Henderson, in asking for community work for Tawa, said she had 10 children aged from two and a half months to 21 years.
He filed an urgent appeal on humanitarian grounds within an hour of the sentence being handed down.
Mr Henderson said the baby, who was in a pram in court during the sentencing, will have to be cared for by the father because there were no baby facilities in Wellington's Arohata Prison.
He told the court she had told a probation officer she was not prepared to give up drinking because she enjoyed it too much.
Judge Allan Roberts told Tawa she had had plenty of warnings about her drink driving, but was not prepared to change.
Tawa was also disqualified from driving indefinitely.

.
Sex assault on teen girl in toilet

Thursday, 29 January 2009

Hastings police are investigating a alleged sexual assault on a 13-year-old girl in a central city block of public toilets.
Senior sergeant Dave Greig said the girl was found wandering around the city centre in a "dazed and confused" condition around 8pm yesterday and was taken to the police station by members of the public.
The Hastings girl told police that between 6pm and 7pm she had been approached by a group of 5-6 teenage males outside the Russell Street public toilets
"She was allegedly taken into the toilet by those youths where her handbag was taken from her and allegedly sexually violated by one of those youths," Mr Greig said. The toilet block was cordoned off overnight and a scene examination would take place earlier today. .

.
"At this stage we're appealing for any witnesses who were near the toilets between approximately 6-7pm last night to come forward," Mr Greig said

.
Anti-Israel cafe standoff sparks protest

Aus-based Ambassador upset

Friday, 16 January 2009

WILL HINE/
YOUR MOVE: Israeli chess grandmaster Victor Mikhalavski, left, takes on Hilton Bennett in the Queenstown Chess Classic.

Peace group plans nationwide Gaza protests

Invercargill cafe breaches human rights

Reader comments

LATEST: A protest has broken out across from an Invercargill cafe where the owner refused to serve two Israeli women earlier this week.30pm today.
About 12 pro-Israel protestors gathered across the road from the Mevlana Cafe about 12.
He said he would not serve anyone from Israel until it stopped killing innocent babies and women in the Gaza Strip.
Mevlanaowner Mustafa Tekinkaya, a Turkish Muslim, told two Israeli women, Natalie Bennie and her sister Tamara Shefa, to leave his cafe on Wednesday.
Countering today's pro-Israel protestors were three supporters of Mr Tekinkaya's stand, who gathered outside his shop. Mr Tekinkaya, and his wife Joanne, said they had no family members living on the Gaza Strip."
"At this moment you don't need to bring the Middle East into New Zealand .
The protest action follows a call by Israel's ambassador to New Zealand- Australian-basedYuval Rotem – for ourgovernment to ensure nothing similar to happened again: "This anti-Israeli and anti-Jewish sentiment needs to be stopped…
Meanwhile,a spokesperson for the Human Rights Commission yesterday confirmed Mrs Bennie had lodged a complaint, while 15 others had called the commission. you need to take the spirit of New Zealand into the Middle East," he said.
And protests against Israel's military offensive on Gaza moved to an international chess tournament in Queenstown yesterday.
Race Relations commissioner Joris de Bres said it was illegal for providers of goods and services in New Zealand to discriminate in this way.
Signed by veteran protester John Minto, the letter said campaigners would ask tournament organisers to expel Mikhalevski if he did not voluntarily withdraw.
The Israeli top seed, Victor Mikhalevski, was asked to withdraw by Global Peace and Justice Auckland from the $50,000 tournament as an act of solidarity with the Palestinian people.
Mr Tekinkaya's action has sparked international media interest as well as debate within New Zealand.
However, Mikhalevski refused to bow out and his decision to remain in the tournament was backed by organisers.
Mr and Mrs Tekinkaya yesterday remained defiant.
More than 100 comments were posted on the Stuff website, with the vast majority condemning the cafe owner.
"No one's sticking up for them. .
".
"… what happened to freedom of speech and the rights of a business to serve or not to serve?"
The cafe's neighbouring takeaway shop, Turkish Kebabs, also said on Wednesday it was not serving Israelis.
Mr Tekinkaya said he had received dozens of phone calls from people supporting him and a handful of calls opposed to his stance.
Mrs Bennie said from her home close to Invercargill she and her visiting Israeli sister had received over a dozen calls from strangers to say they were appalled by Mr Tekinkaya's stance.
Ambassador Rotem said New Zealand should not become part of the conflict and the government needed to make a declaration or statement giving the "red light" to such actions.
He expected "full fledged action" from the government and would address the issue when he visited New Zealand in the next few weeks, he said.
Foreign Affairs minister Murray McCully did not return calls last night.
Mrs Bennie commended the Israeli ambassador's actions, saying Mr Tekinkaya had displayed "anti-semitic" behaviour.
"He might as well have put a sign outside his shop saying `No Jews Allowed'."
Mrs Bennie said her mother, who lives in Israel, was concerned she could now become a target for New Zealand radical Muslims.
"It could be a possibility, you never know."
WHAT THEY SAID:
Israel's ambassador to New Zealand Yuval Rotem:
"This anti-Israeli and anti-Jewish sentiment needs to be stopped.
"At this moment you don't need to bring the Middle East into New Zealand … You need to take the spirit of New Zealand into the Middle East."
Mustafa Tekinkaya, Mevlana Cafe co-owner:
"Everyone is going on about racism. This has nothing to do with racism. This is all about the killing of innocent children."
Joanne Tekinkaya, Mevlana Cafe co-owner: "Those dead women and children don't have a voice. No one's sticking up for them. Innocent women and children are being punished, so how can we be quiet and stand by and support that … what happened to freedom of speech and the rights of a business to serve or not to serve?"
Natalie Bennie, Israeli national ordered out of the Mevlana Cafe in Invercargill:
"It was very anti-semitic behaviour.
"He (Mustafa Tekinkaya) might as well have put a sign outside his shop saying `No Jews Allowed'."

.
Anti-Israel cafe standoff sparks protest

Aus-based Ambassador upset

Friday, 16 January 2009

WILL HINE/
YOUR MOVE: Israeli chess grandmaster Victor Mikhalavski, left, takes on Hilton Bennett in the Queenstown Chess Classic.

Peace group plans nationwide Gaza protests

Invercargill cafe breaches human rights

Reader comments

LATEST: A protest has broken out across from an Invercargill cafe where the owner refused to serve two Israeli women earlier this week.30pm today.
About 12 pro-Israel protestors gathered across the road from the Mevlana Cafe about 12.
He said he would not serve anyone from Israel until it stopped killing innocent babies and women in the Gaza Strip.
Mevlanaowner Mustafa Tekinkaya, a Turkish Muslim, told two Israeli women, Natalie Bennie and her sister Tamara Shefa, to leave his cafe on Wednesday.
Countering today's pro-Israel protestors were three supporters of Mr Tekinkaya's stand, who gathered outside his shop. Mr Tekinkaya, and his wife Joanne, said they had no family members living on the Gaza Strip."
"At this moment you don't need to bring the Middle East into New Zealand .
The protest action follows a call by Israel's ambassador to New Zealand- Australian-basedYuval Rotem – for ourgovernment to ensure nothing similar to happened again: "This anti-Israeli and anti-Jewish sentiment needs to be stopped…
Meanwhile,a spokesperson for the Human Rights Commission yesterday confirmed Mrs Bennie had lodged a complaint, while 15 others had called the commission. you need to take the spirit of New Zealand into the Middle East," he said.
And protests against Israel's military offensive on Gaza moved to an international chess tournament in Queenstown yesterday.
Race Relations commissioner Joris de Bres said it was illegal for providers of goods and services in New Zealand to discriminate in this way.
Signed by veteran protester John Minto, the letter said campaigners would ask tournament organisers to expel Mikhalevski if he did not voluntarily withdraw.
The Israeli top seed, Victor Mikhalevski, was asked to withdraw by Global Peace and Justice Auckland from the $50,000 tournament as an act of solidarity with the Palestinian people.
Mr Tekinkaya's action has sparked international media interest as well as debate within New Zealand.
However, Mikhalevski refused to bow out and his decision to remain in the tournament was backed by organisers.
Mr and Mrs Tekinkaya yesterday remained defiant.
More than 100 comments were posted on the Stuff website, with the vast majority condemning the cafe owner.
"No one's sticking up for them. .
".
"… what happened to freedom of speech and the rights of a business to serve or not to serve?"
The cafe's neighbouring takeaway shop, Turkish Kebabs, also said on Wednesday it was not serving Israelis.
Mr Tekinkaya said he had received dozens of phone calls from people supporting him and a handful of calls opposed to his stance.
Mrs Bennie said from her home close to Invercargill she and her visiting Israeli sister had received over a dozen calls from strangers to say they were appalled by Mr Tekinkaya's stance.
Ambassador Rotem said New Zealand should not become part of the conflict and the government needed to make a declaration or statement giving the "red light" to such actions.
He expected "full fledged action" from the government and would address the issue when he visited New Zealand in the next few weeks, he said.
Foreign Affairs minister Murray McCully did not return calls last night.
Mrs Bennie commended the Israeli ambassador's actions, saying Mr Tekinkaya had displayed "anti-semitic" behaviour.
"He might as well have put a sign outside his shop saying `No Jews Allowed'."
Mrs Bennie said her mother, who lives in Israel, was concerned she could now become a target for New Zealand radical Muslims.
"It could be a possibility, you never know."
WHAT THEY SAID:
Israel's ambassador to New Zealand Yuval Rotem:
"This anti-Israeli and anti-Jewish sentiment needs to be stopped.
"At this moment you don't need to bring the Middle East into New Zealand … You need to take the spirit of New Zealand into the Middle East."
Mustafa Tekinkaya, Mevlana Cafe co-owner:
"Everyone is going on about racism. This has nothing to do with racism. This is all about the killing of innocent children."
Joanne Tekinkaya, Mevlana Cafe co-owner: "Those dead women and children don't have a voice. No one's sticking up for them. Innocent women and children are being punished, so how can we be quiet and stand by and support that … what happened to freedom of speech and the rights of a business to serve or not to serve?"
Natalie Bennie, Israeli national ordered out of the Mevlana Cafe in Invercargill:
"It was very anti-semitic behaviour.
"He (Mustafa Tekinkaya) might as well have put a sign outside his shop saying `No Jews Allowed'."

.
Gaming machines ‘worst form of gambling’

– Tuesday, 23 December 2008

Gaming machines are the most harmful form of gambling, new research shows.
Massey University researchers have completed the largest survey of the social and economic impact of gambling in New Zealand.
More than 7000 people nationwide were interviewed, with more than 60 per cent having participated in some form of gambling in the past year.
Another 8 per centhad used pokies in bars or at a casino, and 4 per centhad used them in clubs.
Many respondents had bought Lotto tickets, while just under 10per centhad placed bets at a racetrack or TAB.
Pokies affected people's feelings about relationships with family and friends, their sense of self, quality of life and satisfaction with life, the survey showed.
Users of gaming machines reported poorer physical health and mental well-being.
This contrasted with other types of gambling, such as betting on horses or playing poker, which in some cases had positive aspects.
He lost his house, his partner and about $250,000 before realising he had a problem.
Colin Partleton, 47, of Christchurch, knows the downfalls of playing the pokies after a 10-year addiction left him with only the clothes on his back.
It took 18 months of counselling to break the habit, which had seen him spend up to 10 hours at a time in front of gaming machines.
He has been gambling-free for six years and has managed to put his life back together. .
Despite working up to 70 hours a week to feed his addiction, Partleton ended up heavily in debt. Within six months he was going four or five times a week. Within six months he was going four or five times a week.
"It's like massive tunnel vision. It took all the worries of the world away," he said.
"I lied to just about everybody really. You just don't see what you are doing; the addiction itself is so strong."
One night while sitting at home alone with no furniture and no friends, he finally made the call for help.
"I always knew where I could get money from.
"For this country to keep supporting the pokie industry as a form of entertainment and as a cash cow for community funding is both inaccurate and immoral," he said.
Problem Gambling Foundation communication director David Coom said more than 80% of the foundation's clients had gambling problems caused by pokies."

.
"For the amount of harm that pokies cause and for the way that these machines suck money out of poor communities such as at best returning $1 for every $3 spent we should be seriously asking questions around their safety and viability

.
Saturday sitting for tax bill

By VERNON SMALL Friday, 12 December 2008

Parliament is set for a rare Saturday sitting tomorrow as the Government pushes through laws to fulfil its election pledges.
The Taxation (Urgent Measures and Annual Rates) Bill, implementing National's three-year programme of personal tax cuts and reductions in KiwiSaver entitlements, passed its final reading yesterday.
"The tax cuts we have delivered will stimulate the economy in the short term by putting cash in people's pockets, and in the longer term by encouraging people to invest in their own skills to earn and keep more money," Finance Minister Bill English said. . A worker on the average wage is in line to receive an extra $18 a week from the first round of the cuts on April 1.
He said no one would be worse off as a result of the law change. "Sheep's clothing has fallen from the National wolf.
But Labour finance spokesman David Cunliffe said the changes were bad for ordinary New Zealanders and bad economics.5 per cent more tax than under Labour's plan."
Anyone earning between $14,000 and $20,000 would pay 8.
"It is the wrong way to fight recession; it rewards the few, punishes the many and wastes an opportunity for effective government economic stimulus. All families earning $40,000 or below, and some earning up to $80,000, would also pay more tax.
Labour's labour spokesman, Trevor Mallard, will try to amend the law so that teachers would not be covered by the 90-day provision."
National has also introduced the Employment Relations Bill, instituting a 90-day probation period for employees in enterprises of fewer than 20 employees – a plan dubbed the "fire at will bill" by opponents because it removes the right to take legal action over unjustified dismissal.
About 30 per cent of schools have 20 or fewer employees and teachers. That came after the Opposition uncovered a video of new Education Minister Anne Tolley, speaking to the New Zealand Educational Institute conference before the election, in which she said that teachers would be exempt from the law change.
These include moves to amend bail laws, beef up sentencing for violence or the neglect of children, and set national literacy and numeracy standards for schools.
Meanwhile, after being criticised for keeping proposed law changes under wraps till they were debated, Leader of the House Gerry Brownlee has relented and National is now tabling planned laws as they are drafted.

.
New ministers will face their first question time on Tuesday