Two a penny

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Heavy rain and snow across central New Zealand caused problems today.

The MetService issued a severe weather warning late this afternoon, saying farmers in the lower North Island and upper South Island should consider moving vulnerable stock to shelter.

In Auckland, police warned motorists to be aware of surface flooding.

People in the central North Island and Bay of Plenty were warned to watch for rising rivers and streams and for possible surface flooding.

The Rimutaka Hill Road on State Highway 2 was closed by snow, and in the north Wairarapa at Mount Bruce driving conditions were marginal as a result of snow.

The MetService said an active front was crossing the North Island bringing rain to most areas, with snow to low levels in parts of the lower North Island.

In the Manawatu Gorge area – from Ashhurst to Dannevirke – snow and ice was reported on the roads, with high winds adding to driving hazards. The Pahiatua Track, the main alternative route between Manawatu and Wairarapa, was also reportedly closed by snow.

In Nelson, SH60 between Riwaka and Upper Takaka was closed by snow.

SH1, north of Bulls in the Manawatu, was being affected by flooding and motorists were urged to exercise caution.

A spokesman said a roof in the town had been lifting earlier in the day, but had since been repaired.

Greymouth police said high winds had been gusting in the area. .

The MetService said cold strong or gale winds were affecting parts of central New Zealand. It has got progressively cooler during the day and at 2.

Wellington has failed to hit double figure temperatures today, recording its high of 9 degC at Wellington Airport at 9am.5 degC.30pm was only 6.

A MetService spokesman said it would be slightly warmer in the Capital during the day tomorrow, but still was not expected to reach double figure temperatures. At the same time, it was sitting under 6 degC in neighbouring Lower Hutt.30pm in Christchurch.

In the South Island, it was 8 degC at 2.

. By contrast, Aucklanders had a high of 18 degC, recorded at the city’s airport

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Christchurch police are hunting for a woman’s husband after another man was killed and she was left with serious injuries.

A woman was taken from her home in Burrows Place, Avonhead to Christchurch hospital last night with serious injuries and is in a stable condition.

Police were called to the Burrows Place house two weeks ago to break up an argument between the former couple, Radio New Zealand reported.

Detective Inspector Greg Williams says the woman and her two children, all of Kenyan descent, moved to the address four weeks ago after she separated from her husband.

The dead man was a friend of the woman, who has severe head injuries.

They were again called to the address after there were concerns from friends who had not heard from her or her husband.

Inquiries have been made to find her husband and it appears he left New Zealand on Sunday morning and travelled to Kenya.

Police said they knew who the dead man was, but he was yet to be officially identified. .

Police said they are working with Interpol, but New Zealand has no extradition treaty with Kenya.”

The woman’s two sons, aged 13 and 9, were dropped at a friend’s house on Saturday afternoon by their father.

“There are indications that the husband may be involved.

The body is still at the house and the post mortem is expected to be carried out either later today or tomorrow.

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Kelvin Meredith thought he’d be “looking at dead people” when he saw two cars that had been bombarded by rocks in a landslip near Rotorua today.

Instead he found three people very much alive and played a key role in their rescue.30am on State Highway 36 between Tauranga and Rotorua, about 20km northeast of Rotorua.The slip happened about 8.Mr Meredith told Campbell Live he and a colleague dragged the woman from the car which had gone off the road out through a window.Large rocks and boulders buried one car and forced another off the road and down a bank towards a river. .”Then we went back up the top and tried to make the other people as comfortable as possible,” he said. The car was pretty squashed.”We just thought they had no hope.”The driver of the vehicle forced off the road suffered minor injuries, while the passenger and driver of the other vehicle also suffered minor injuries.”We pretty much thought they were toast but I smashed the window and they were pretty good, really.They were all taken to Rotorua Hospital for checks before being released. -

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Labour’s call for the dole to be paid to redundant workers even if their partners were on high incomes would cost about $1 billion over three years, Prime Minister John Key said today.

“It demonstrates (Labour) haven’t got their heads around what’s occuring in 2009,” Mr Key said.

“It’s not that I don’t have sympathy for those people but in the end someone has to pay the bill – and there aren’t little pixies at the bottom of the garden printing cash.

He said he wasn’t talking about people bludging off the system, but about those who had often never been unemployed in their lives and lost their job through no fault of their own.”

Mr Key was reacting at his post-cabinet press conference to Labour leader Phil Goff’s suggestion that the measure would be temporary and would help ease the pain of increasing unemployment during the recession.

“It could potentially turn every New Zealander into a beneficiary, if they wanted that, and I don’t think that’s right.

Mr Key said it amounted to a major extension of the welfare system.”

Labour confirmed today it was changing its policies and would soon announce details of a “recession response package” aimed at getting unemployed workers off the dole.

“Our recession response package, which will be comprehensive shortly, represents insurance against the recession for hard working New Zealand families.

“Significant changes are needed to better protect New Zealanders from the downturn and ensure we have a highly-skilled workforce ready to go when the recession comes to an end,” Mr Goff said.

Under current policy the Job Search Allowance lasts for 13 weeks for redundant workers who have been in the workforce for five years or more.”

Mr Goff said the new policies would include extending the time the Job Search Allowance was available to redundant workers to help ease financial pressures while they were examining for work.

The Job Training Allowance would be available to many more workers by reducing the amount of time people had to have been in the workforce before qualifying.

The five year threshold was likely to be significantly reduced, Mr Goff said.

Unemployment is forecast to rise as high as 180,000 by late next year.

Unemployment is forecast to rise as high as 180,000 by late next year.

He suggested the requirement that a spouse’s income be means-tested be suspended, if only during the recession. .

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The suspension would be dependent on an individual having previously been in employment for a set period – for example five years

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An appeal against conviction for the attempted
rape of an Australian backpacker has backfired on a teenager, who
has had his jail term increased from four to six years.

Maia Rongonui was sentenced last November after being convicted on charges of assault with intent to commit rape, and sexual violation by unlawful sexual connection.

The Australian victim was approached by Rongonui as she walked through Christchurch in 2007, when he was 17 years-old. .

The court was told he offered to walk her home but turned on her when she rebuffed his advances, hitting her and sexually assaulting her.

The act was “impulsive and out of character” and she hoped the Parole Board would quickly consider his release to the community and his family.

Rongonui was “not a bad boy at all”, she said.

The Appeal Court didn’t show the same compassion toward Rongonui, who had racked up 16 convictions before his sentencing, rejecting his appeal against conviction.

In a decision released today, the Appeal Court judges agreed with the Crown’s suggestion that the sentence was in fact “manifestly inadequate”.

It agreed with an appeal by the Solicitor-General against the leniency of the sentence and increased it from four years to six.

Her comments about Rongonui’s character were irreconcilable and, furthermore, there was no guilty plea and no remorse shown.

Judge Farish had given too much weight to testimonial material and not enough to Rongonui’s criminal history.

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Rongonui’s appeal against conviction was based on Judge Farish allegedly giving confusing direction to the jury and criticising defence counsel when summing up, but that was dismissed

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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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About 35 police and fisheries officers busted a black market fishing ring worth tens of thousands of dollars
in Southland.

The operation involved two commercial fishermen allegedly supplying blue cod, rock lobster and oysters to associates, who then on-sold the seafood illegally to the wider community.
The men had been under serious surveillance for the last six months before earlier today’s raids of about eight Southland houses, whose occupants had allegedly received stolen fish, Ministry of Fisheries district compliance manager Reece Murphy told .
“We’re talking high value species.
He could not put a dollar value on the scam but said it would have been in the tens of thousands of dollars. .”
The investigation was in its early stages and a decision about what charges the men would face would be made over the next week, Mr Murphy said.
They could also have to forfeit their fishing gear, including boats.
“Unfortunately there continues to be those amongst the general public who are willing to buy cheap but illegal fish.
Mr Murphy said continued black market activity could place the sustainability of fish stocks in jeopardy.
“If you’re offered cheap fish and it seems too good to be true, it probably is.
“It is these buyers that create the market for illegal fish sellers to operate.
“Anyone who now on reflection believes that they may have unwittingly bought suspect rock lobster, blue cod or oysters recently is encouraged to contact the Ministry of Fisheries Invercargill office before fishery officers have to contact them.”
Fishery officers would be contacting a number of people who had been buying the illegal fish, he said.”
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Stay out of the water

Harbour sewage alert after deluge

and PAUL EASTON Saturday, 21 February 2009

A massivedownpour that brought a month's worth of rain in just a few hours has sparked health warnings after raw sewage poured into Wellington Harbour and Lyall Bay.
The downpour overwhelmed the city's drainage system yesterday morning sending untreated sewage into a street near Courtenay Place, a day before the entertainment zone holds the Cuba St Carnival parade.
The city copped 69 millimetres of rain yesterday, well over the expected entire February average of 62mm.
The overflow also sparked warnings about swimming at several beaches.
Wellington City Council spokesperson Richard MacLean confirmed last night that warning signs had been erected at Lyall Bay beach.
The lashing caused surface flooding and slowed traffic to a crawl, sparking a slew of accidents, and slips that blocked Rimutaka Hill Rd.
There were further discharges near the international passenger terminal and Kaiwharawhara stream which also discharges into the harbour.
Similar advisories were in place for Wellington Harbour after sewage diluted by stormwater was discharged at the long outfall at Moa Point.
"But it is very diluted sewage.
"People should probably stay out of the water," Mr MacLean said. The council would review results before lifting the warnings." Water quality testing would be carried out by council officials and Regional Public Health during the weekend. An "absolutely nauseating" smell had enveloped her property towards the bay's western end.
A Lyall Bay resident said the sewage had been leaking into the area for the past week."
The council spent $4 million on a stormwater upgrade in 2004 after a similar incident with sewage in Bond St in 2004. .
"Large amounts of fat are not supposed to get into the sewerage system so we'll be doing a check of grease traps in the area to make sure they're operating and being maintained properly.
Mr MacLean said the sewer blockage that resulted in untreated sewage spew near the intersection of Courtenay Place and Tory St was caused by a combination of the heavy rain and a buildup of congealed fat in the sewer.30am to complain."
StarMart manager Priyank Jain said he was first alerted to the spillage after customers came in to the store about 8.
The low was anchored off Westland yesterday.
Yesterday's onslaught came as a deep low brought warm moist air from the subtropics, MetService duty forecaster Oliver Druce said.
Mr Druce said the rain was forecast to ease in the North Island. An associated front sent heavy rain up the North Island.

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Animals go missing

By SUSANA TALAGI – Tuesday, 20 January 2009

SUSANA TALAGI/
LOST: Bonny Tawharu wonders where all the pets in her neighbourhood are disappearing to.

Animal lover lover Bonny Tawharu says something sinister is going on in her neighbourhood.
The Ranui resident’s cat went missing last month and is presumed dead.
She says numerous cats have vanished in the area in the same period.
But Ms Tawharu isn’t the only resident to lose a pet in recent weeks.
Three dogs, three rabbits, 17 chickens and numerous ducks are either missing or dead.
But that’s not all.
The problem came to Ms Tawharu’s attention after her eight-year-old cat Havok didn’t return home to Elvira Place on December 20.
"I only got up in the morning to feed him.
"I got him after a separation, he kept me alive," she says.
"I would do anything to get him back, but I think someone’s done him in, that’s the honest truth. Without him I wouldn’t be here now.
"I thought that’s weird," she says."
Ms Tawharu went doorknocking and learned two neighbours had the same problem.
"Then I went around the corner and another woman said she had lost her cat.
"Then I went around the corner and another woman said she had lost her cat.
She had a "phenomenal response"."
Ms Tawharu delivered 470 leaflets seeking information about her cat and urging people to contact her if they were in a similar predicament. .
"How come all these animals are disappearing and dying?" she says.
"They were murdered," she says.
The chickens were savaged, presumably by a dog, and she believes her dog was poisoned."
Animal Welfare Centre officer Priya Sundar also thinks the situation is strange.
"I’m on my own and have cancer – those creatures were my friends.
"It would suggest something out of the ordinary is going on.
"The number of animals disappearing in the area sounds unusual," she says.
"Ms Tawharu is on the right path.
"Ms Tawharu is on the right path. Making other people aware is good because people might not know to ring us."
If you’ve lost or found a pet call the centre on 836-0400.

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Key undecided on Transmission Gully route

The Friday, 16 January 2009

Prime Minister John Key says an alternative northern route out of Wellington is critical but that questions remain over whether that route would be Transmission Gully.
Speaking at a press conference yesterday, Mr Key mirrored comments made earlier in the week by Transport Minister Steven Joyce, who said he had a "mixed view" on whether the $1.
Mr Key said Wellington needed an alternative route, but he had not seen enough of the comprehensive work to give an opinion on his favoured option.025 billion Gully project was the right option for improving Wellington's northern transport corridor.
The previous Labour government approved the project last June, with former transport minister Annette King telling the New Zealand Transport Agency to move forward with resource consents for Transmission Gully.
"I don't think there is a debate over the fact that there needs to be an alternative northern route out of Wellington, and the question here is simply, what is the right route?" he said.
However, her government committed just $400 million of the $1.
That effectively ended debate on which route the Gully or improving the coastal highway would go ahead.
They have till the end of this year to do that, with options including a regional fuel tax and tolling.025 billion cost, leaving local councils to fund the rest. .
Mr Joyce's comments this week signalled a step back, something Mr Key agreed with.
"We're just working our way through that programme. It just happened to announce it without announcing the $600 million extra that they needed to fund it."