Two a penny

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An America tourist is grieving after the girlfriend
who accepted his proposal of marriage died 24 hours later while swimming
with dolphins.

Emily May Harper, 27, from Denver, Colorado, is thought to have died from natural causes as she swam in Tory Channel in the Marlborough Sounds on Tuesday.

Her boyfriend Matthew Hawkins proposed to her on Monday and she said ‘yes’.

Their last night together was memorable for all the right reasons, he told The New Zealand Herald.

Mr Hawkins said yesterday he believed his girlfriend was fit and healthy.

“I came up to her from behind and gave her a hug, and I said to her, ‘We should get married’.

He said they had been walking together at Picton Harbour, watching the lights reflecting off the water. And she said, ‘What, are you serious?’ And I said, ‘Yeah, I think I am’.”

He said he had planned to ask her two days later and she never saw the ring he had bought because it was with his mother. And then she said, ‘Yes, absolutely’.”

Next morning, the pair sailed out into the Marlborough Sounds with Mr Hawkins’ mother Sandra and brother Andrew on a Dolphin Watch Ecotours vessel.

“I meant to ask her in Auckland, but the setting was just perfect.

“Emily kept giving me a thumbs-up signal while she was in the water.

He said she loved animals and wildlife and was very excited about the dolphin encounter.

“I took my eyes off Emily for barely a second, and I saw someone face down in the water.

“I took my eyes off Emily for barely a second, and I saw someone face down in the water.

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Auckland look bound for another moderate placing in this year’s Air NZ Cup championship after succumbing 12-8 to Tasman in Nelson today.

In a classic David-overcomes-Goliath scenario, the scoreline actually flattered Auckland, a union that has dominated the history of the national provincial championships but whose reputation is starting to take a battering. .

They didn’t deserve victory at Trafalgar Park, the country’s biggest union being outplayed up front by the Air NZ Cup’s smallest, allowing Tasman to surge past them into fifth place.

The hosts bagged their second soon after the break to winger Blair Cook, taking advantage of a non-existent blindside defence.

Playing with a strong wind at their back, Auckland conceded a costly try to Tasman captain Andrew Goodman soon before halftime to trail 3-7.

A Tasman loss would have been a travesty after overwhelming the visitors at scrum and lineout time while edging the breakdown battle, where Auckland coach Mark Anscombe took a gamble by playing regular No 8 Peter Saili at openside flanker in one of 10 changes.

They remained 12-3 up for much of the remainder before Auckland’s reserve hooker Pat Leafa handed them a glimmer of hope, scoring off a sizzling break by winger Atieli Pakalani with five minutes remaining.

Today’s result was an epic reversal of the teams’ only previous meeting, when Auckland prevailed 46-6 three years ago.

Tasman also played usual halfback Kahn Fotuali’i out of position at first five-eighth and he responded well, keeping the ball in hand through much of the first spell into the elements.

Halftime: 7-3.

Tasman 12 (Andrew Goodman, Blair Cook tries; Goodman con)

Auckland 8 (Pat Leafa try; Ash Moeke pen).

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A 60 bed container unit is to be established at Rimutaka Prison as the Corrections Department seeks ways to house a burgeoning prison population.

The block, to be constructed on a field in the prison grounds in the Hutt Valley, would house high to medium security prisoners and be staffed by 20-25 new guards.

The Government previously announced it would use converted containers as cells to boost capacity.

“This project is the first of its kind at a New Zealand prison and we hope it will point the way to how we can build extra prison capacity faster and much cheaper than in the past,” she said.

Corrections Minister Judith Collins said today the unit would help the department evaluate whether the containers can be used in other prisons. We have to take immediate action to ensure that prisoners are securely locked away and the public is kept safe.

“Corrections is forecast to run out of baseline beds early next year.”

Ms Collins said prison numbers had swelled from about 5000 in 1996-97 to 8400 now.

It was estimated a further 5000 beds would be needed by 2018.

As on Monday the muster was 12 short of breaking the record for the number of people locked up.

A tender process had started and cells would be in use from March.

Using containers was a quick and cost effective solution, and the recession meant there were plenty to be recycled, she said.

Staff, dining, showers and other facilities would also feature in the containers.

Each bed would cost between $53,000 and $63,000, which Ms Collins said was far cheaper than for a new prison.

While some of the components of the initial cells will come from overseas, they will be extensively fitted out in New Zealand.

While some of the components of the initial cells will come from overseas, they will be extensively fitted out in New Zealand.

Corrections Department chief executive Barry Matthews said container cells were used in Australia, Britain and the United States.”

Prisoners would not be involved in construction as a result of the tight schedule, but they may be in future.

Asked about rolling out the new style of cells at Rimutaka given problems it has recently faced – such as guards alleged involved in a drug ring and a female guard having a relationship with a prisoner – Mr Matthews said overall there had been improvement in management of prisons.

They were similar quality to normal prison cells and better than in older prisons.

The department was also rolling out double bunking at prisons, aiming to add 1000 beds to the system.

Containers would be a mix of single and double cells. .

Prison guards’ union, the Corrections Association of New Zealand, is taking the department to the Employment Court over the double bunking issue, saying it breaches collective agreements

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Miley Cyrus rode a wave of success at the Teen Choice Awards.

The teen queen sailed away with six surfboard-shaped trophies at Sunday’s ceremony. Cyrus won for comedy TV actress and comedy TV show for “Hannah Montana,” music/dance movie actress and hissy fit for the “Hannah Montana” movie, music single for “The Climb” and summer song for “Before the Storm.

“I’m a huge fans of hers,” Cyrus said before a subdued Spears accepted her own surfboard.”

She also presented Britney Spears with the ultimate choice award.

Show hosts the Jonas Brothers kicked off the ceremony by performing “Much Better” on a tiny stage that moved through the audience. .

They won five awards, including choice male red carpet icons and breakout TV show for “Jonas.”

“We’ll see you guys in theaters Nov.”

The biggest winner of the night was vampire drama “Twilight,” which sucked up nine movie awards: choice drama, romance, liplock, rumble, drama actress for Kristen Stewart, drama actor for Robert Pattinson, villain for Cam Gigandet, fresh face female for Ashley Greene and fresh face male for Taylor Lautner, who will also appear in the upcoming sequel, “New Moon.

Other big winners included “Gossip Girl” and Zac Efron. 20,” Lautner teased the squealing crowd.”

Spears – who performed at the annual event on Sunday night – was presented with the Ultimate Choice Award for her “extraordinary contributions to the entertainment industry”. Chace Crawford, Leighton Meester and Ed Westwick picked up drama actor, actress, villain and TV series awards for the sudsy CW series while Efron won for music/dance movie actor in “High School Musical 3″ and comedy movie actor and rockstar moment in “17 Again.

Britney’s performance will mark 10 years since the first Teen Choice Awards in 1999, where Britney – who is currently on a break from her world tour – was one of the performers.

Britney’s performance will mark 10 years since the first Teen Choice Awards in 1999, where Britney – who is currently on a break from her world tour – was one of the performers.

Retired boxer Mike Tyson – currently starring in the movie The Hangover – also attended.

The ceremony at Universal City’s Gibson Amphitheatre in California – will also feature appearances from Black Eyed Peas, Miley Cyrus and Cobra Starship with Leighton Meester.

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Sarah Walker, who turned 21 this month, definitely came of age when she claimed the UCI BMX World Championship in Adelaide tonight.

Walker totally dominated the opposition, winning all three qualifying motos, her semifinal and the final in a brilliant display to complete her set of world championship medals.

She won the silver in 2007 in Canada and the bronze last year in China and she was never threatened in one of the most convincing victories in recent years.

“That’s by far the best I have ever ridden,” Walker said. . I have probably had the skill and ability to win in the past but I have not believed enough in myself. “It’s the first time that I have believed that I could do it.

“I’ve trained really hard for the last few months, and have been really strong in the gym. I just had confidence that I had the ability and I had done the work. As soon as I rode the track I was feeling my bike and was at one with it.

“I absolutely nailed it.”

Walker was delighted with her form not only in the final but throughout the day’s five rides. You have got to be happy with that. I won every lap today and was faster than anyone else in every round.”

Her only disappointment was that last year’s champion Shanaze Reade and Beijing silver medallist Laetiita Le Corguille were missing with injury.”

Her only disappointment was that last year’s champion Shanaze Reade and Beijing silver medallist Laetiita Le Corguille were missing with injury.

“I won every race easily and my times were pretty fantastic throughout the day. I would have loved to have had them here because I was riding that well I believe I would have still won and won really well.

Walker said she chose the inside lane so she only had one side to contend with physically, and while she did not get the same snap from the start, she nailed her first big jump.”

She was delighted with her sub-32 second time for the final, her best of the day. Then I just had to concentrate and not make a mistake from then on.

“I still had some track room in that lane and I knew once I really hit that first jump that I was in a good place.

He also praised the efforts of BikeNZ head coach, Canadian Ken Cools in his first world championship campaign with the team.”

BikeNZ High Performance Director Mark Elliott said it was an outstanding display by Walker, and reiterated that she came to the championships with a new attitude and belief in her abilities.

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“Ken has always said that Sarah is the most gifted BMX rider in the world,” Elliott said

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Auckland should be largely run by community councils with powers to set rates and compete for ratepayers and each others businesses, ACT MP Sir Roger Douglas said today. .

He suggested the single council board should be made up of a mayor and eight councillors elected at large and responsible for setting policy, and looking after region-wide issues such as roading and water.

Groups of ratepayers who lived next to another community council should also be able to opt out and join another council.

The former Labour finance minister said under the single council there should be a flexible community council structure with ratepayers able to decide its size and even set up their own councils.

Rates demands should set out where the money was being spent and ratepayers should be able to decide whether they preferred to get services such as rubbish collection and recycling from the private sector.

“The capacity to change council will create competition for ratepayers, which is likely to see value for money being delivered by local government,” Sir Roger said.

“The golden rule is that decisions must be made by those closest to the action.

“Unless they are required to raise the revenue, community councils will join the queue of special interests which advocate increased spending. Capability to make decisions also necessitates responsibility for revenue to pay it,” Sir Roger said.

Ms Kedgley said the bill as drafted gave too much power to the Auckland mayor and believed there needed to more councillors on the single council elected from wards

She was concerned that the single council could become a “bloated, inaccessible, remote monolith.”

Green MP Sue Kedgley also called for the role of community boards, as proposed in the bill, to be expanded to that of community councils with responsibility to deliver all local services within a fixed budget set by the wider single regional council. . .there is a real risk, in other words, that it will end up a super tanker, rather than a super city council”.there is a real risk, in other words, that it will end up a super tanker, rather than a super city council”

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The readers of have spoken and it appears the All Blacks have listened. They say they are ready to sing their national anthem loud and proud tomorrow night against Italy.

After a resounding response to an opinion column this week imploring the All Blacks to belt out their anthem with the same gusto and pride that they show for their haka, it appears that the subject has hit home.

“I haven’t instructed them to sing the anthem.

With over 1000 comments posted on the original story and a poll revealing emphatically that New Zealanders would like to see their All Blacks treat their anthem with more respect, both coach and captain today confirmed the topic had been discussed within the team… yet,” said Henry at today’s captain’s press conference..

“I think that’s a decision they will come to.”

In other words, the All Blacks have been made aware that the mixture of stony silence and self-conscious mumbling that the majority of them seem to favour is not reflecting well on the team..

Skipper Mils Muliaina admitted some players were probably less emphatic in their delivery than they should be – a situation he put down to the conservatism of Kiwis in general.

“I think they should sing the anthem, sure,” added Henry when asked for his view on the topic.

“We’ve had a brief discussion as players,” he said.

“We’ve had a brief discussion as players,” he said. If you look at the French and compare them to us, we probably just open our lips a little bit. We’re probably conservative people as Kiwis. “We’re very passionate about being All Blacks and also the national anthem.

“Perhaps there’s a couple of guys in the team that don’t sing, but the majority of the group do,” added Muliaina. . We don’t I suppose jump up and down about it. we’re pretty conservative people..”

A bit of levity was then restored when the subject of whether certain All Blacks actually shouldn’t sing the anthem, given their vocal prowess.

“But we are making a conscious effort to do that, and we are very proud of it. “There’s some not very good singers in this team. “There’s some not very good singers in this team. Jimmy Cowan doesn’t sing it and I’ve just realised why – because he can’t sing.”

Of course Henry then had the last word: “We’ll have to get them a singing coach,” barked the coach.

Not such a bad idea if it gets these guys belting out their anthem with the gusto it deserves.

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School rides market for art

– Tuesday, 03 March 2009

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EYE OF THE BEHOLDER: Christchurch artist Melissa Sharplin is dwarfed by her work Ahab’s Wife, among the items Linwood College has assembled to go under the hammer at Turners Auctions in Christchurch on Friday.

Art investment is back in vogue and a Christchurch school is at the head of the queue for a windfall.
About 130 pieces, including works by Ralph Hotere and Bill Hammond, will go under the hammer on Friday.
Linwood College art auction organiser Tom Davies said 10 times the numbers expected had seen the first three days of a fundraising exhibition at Turners Auctions.
There were already bids on five works well over their reserves.
"At the moment we're sort of panicking about how many people are going to turn up," Davies said.
Art experts say tumbling bank interest rates and falling house prices have made art an attractive investment. Viewers included dealers expressing surprise at the quality on show, he said.
"We've had a lot of inquiries about what people should be looking at to invest a sum of money in.
The director of the Arthouse in Christchurch, Peter Gregg, said: "In the last few weeks, with interest rates dropping and people losing some faith in the finance companies, people are looking at securing their finance through art.
Clients were "frightened" by the housing market, and older, mortgage-free couples were looking to art."
Turnover at the Arthouse had doubled every year for the past three years.
A Goldie oil painting of a Maori chieftainess last year astounded art experts when it sold at auction for $323,000. "If they buy right, they won't lose," Gregg said. The Trade Me auction website yesterday had 835 pieces of art for sale, including one listed yesterday by a Taranaki artist for $250,000.
Months earlier, a 1933 Goldie oil of Maori chief Hori Pokai sold for a record auction price of $454,000. Key is said to favour Maori artists. .

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Climber sets record at age of 79

– Monday, 02 March 2009

It is not your average pensioner who dances on top of a mountain.
Christchurch retiree Ron Webster, 79, is believed to be the oldest person to climb Mt Aspiring, after reaching the top of the 3033m peak last week.
Webster's effort surpassed Taranaki mountaineer Doug Ball's record for the oldest Mt Aspiring climber set last March by three months.
The pair each had a guide.
The Cashmere-based retired pharmacist took 14 1/2 hours to climb the mountain with his friend, 73-year-old Darfield man Murray Robb.
"We booked the climb three months ago.
Webster, who turns 80 on May 20, said achieving the climb put to rest months of sleepless nights. ."
Webster and Robb trained by going for tramps in the Christchurch foothills and Arthur's Pass every week for about eight weeks. I kept wondering whether I was crazy and should I be doing this at my age.
Webster said any loss of concentration could prove fatal.
Mt Aspiring has claimed many lives.
"We got close to the top and suddenly there was blue sky and no-one else around.
"It's very steep and the day we climbed it was clouded over for three-quarters of the way," he said. We danced and jumped for joy. We danced and jumped for joy.

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Killer Antonie Dixon dies in prison

By MARK STEVENS and – Thursday, 05 February 2009

PRISON DEATH: Antonie Dixon has died in Paremoremo Prison.

INSANITY PLEA: Antonie Dixon during his 2005 trial.

The lure of Antonie Dixon

Samurai sword attacker and convicted killer Antonie Dixon, who died in prison earlier today, was seen by a psychiatrist just hours before his death. He was due in court earlier today.
Dixon died in Paremoremo Prison in the early morning.
His lawyer Barry Hart told of his growing concern for Dixon’s state of mental health, particularly following an attack by Dixon on Mr Hart.
A prison source told Dixon had suffered head and neck injuries when he struck his head on his cell bars. Dixon had pulled a "makeshift weapon" on Mr Hart last month. The psychiatrist confirmed to Mr Hart at 5pm last night that Dixon was mentally unwell but believed that Paremoremo had the facilities to care for Dixon.
Mr Hart arrange for a psychiatrist from the Mason Clinic to assess him yesterday.
Mr Hart says the Corrections Department "stuffed up".
The next call Mr Hart took was at 6am today, advising him Dixon was dead. .
Mr Hart said his client had refused to take his medication and had been beaten up several times by inmates.
Dixon was due to appear for sentencing earlier today, however arrangements had already been made to have sentencing adjourned until February 20 so his sister, who lives overseas, could attend.
Dixon was due to appear for sentencing earlier today, however arrangements had already been made to have sentencing adjourned until February 20 so his sister, who lives overseas, could attend.
"The Department is now undertaking an initial investigation to determine what happened," she said."He was pronounced dead by ambulance staff when they arrived at the prison.
A coroner's investigation, assisted by the police, would be conducted ahead of an inquest to determine the cause of death, she said.
Ms Field said the death would be investigated by the prison authorities. He was high on the drug P.
Dixon, 40,attacked Simonne Butler and Renee Gunbie with a samurai sword in Pipiroa close to Thames on January 22, 2003, and murdered James Te Aute in Auckland the same night.
His defence had beenthat he was insane when he attackedButler and Gunbiebefore driving to Auckland where he shot dead Te Aute with 10 bullets in his back.
In 2005, Dixon was convicted of charges, including murder, kidnapping and using a firearm against a police officer.
However, the insanity defence waswas always challenged by police who called Dixon a "gold-plated psychopath". He took a hostage before giving himself up to police after a standoff.
In Pipiroa, Dixon's increasing paranoia had exploded into rage when he hacked atGunbie andex-girlfriendButler with a samurai sword – slashing at them until their hands were severed.
In Pipiroa, Dixon's increasing paranoia had exploded into rage when he hacked atGunbie andex-girlfriendButler with a samurai sword – slashing at them until their hands were severed. The chopping stopped only because the sword broke.
It took a team of surgeons 27 hours to delicately reattach Butler's hands but Gunbie's hand couldn't be saved and she's lucky to be alive.
The Court of Appeal quashed the convictions in 2007, ruling the judge had erred in the summing-up of the case. In Augustlast year, after a second jury trial, Dixon was again found guilty on the eight charges he faced.
His death comes just weeks after another prison incident involving Dixon. The reported that Dixon had pulled a "makeshift weapon" on his own lawyer – Barry Hart – during a meeting at Auckland Central Remand Prison on January 17.
"Staff supervising the meeting between the prisoner and his lawyer saw the prisoner get agitated, and attempt to remove what they believed to be a makeshift weapon from his shoe," a Corrections spokeswoman said at the time.
MrHart told the that "[Dixon] has some major mental issues at the moment"."The issues have deteriorated," he said.
The drama was the second time Dixon was reported to beinvolved in an incident with a weapon inside prison. In December, 2007, Dixon used a fork to try to gouge out the eye of another prisoner, who required hospitalisation.
Justice Hugh Williams said he had received a letter from Dixon saying he had dispensed with Mr Hart's services and queried whether a new lawyer needed to be appointed.
Mr Hart said Dixon had dispensed with his services on a number of occasions.
"Everytime he got unwell, he had trust issues."
He said the system had let Dixon down badly. When asked ifhis deathwas a stuff by corrections department, Mr Hart said "Well it has to be".
Dixonhad been jailed at least 14 times and had almost 160 prior convictions – predominately for theft and burglary.
During the 2007 Appeal Court hearing, Hart said Dixon had suffered a horrendous upbringing. As a child he was tied to a clothesline, could only bark like a dog, and showed paranoid behaviour over several years.
– With additional reporting fromMichael Fox, Clio Francis, Kim Ruscoe and