Two a penny

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When Spencer Hill sat for a portrait in a German prisoner-of-war camp in 1944, he had no idea the painting would make it back to New Zealand before him.

Painted by a fellow POW using sardine oil from rations, the artwork still hangs in the 94-year-old’s Paraparaumu home.
Captured at Kalamata, in Greece, in 1941, he was shunted in cattle trucks across Europe before ending up in Stalag 383 in southern Germany.
Mr Hill, who eventually escaped from the camp, is a quintessential Anzac still ringing an Aussie accomplice and mate every April 25.
But Mr Hill has lost nothing of the roaring laugh and open demeanour that won over fellow POWs from throughout the Commonwealth.
He is a little harder of hearing now than when he spent four years of World War II in prison camps, his hair has thinned and his walk is slower. “The memories are of boredom, always thinking when were you going to get out, when was the war going to finish?”
Although some prisoners pined endlessly, there were good memories too, including the painting, which was done by a fellow prisoner with the surname Nethercote, who had a flair for art.
Originally from Stratford, he was dubbed the “Taranaki Terror” in camp for his love of practical jokes, which included dumping buckets of snow on fellow inmates as they took a rare hot bath.
Mr Hill gave the likeness to a sick Kiwi prisoner who was sent home before the end of the war and took it to Mr Hill’s startled mother in Taranaki.
“He flogged cigarettes to the Germans for paint”, which was then mixed with sardine oil and painted on to a canvas bedding material. “We kept it amongst ourselves because if the Germans found out, we were gone,” Mr Hill said. .
Mr Hill worked as a barber in Lambton Quay for 40 years and married his wife, Olive, 57 years ago after meeting her at a Willis St delicatessen.
It worked, and over the years he has kept in close touch with Mr Keshan, visiting him in New South Wales and telephoning regularly.

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Jobs to go in Justice Ministry overhaul

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He still loves rugby and boxing, and will attend an Anzac Day parade in Paraparaumu today

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Fears are held for the safety of a New Zealander missing in Boise, Idaho.

Friends say Peter O’Brien, 44, has been missing since last Thursday, according to United States media reports.
Mr O’Brien apparently failed to pick up his two boys on Saturday morning and a friend said his ex-wife went to his home and found his apartment door unlocked. .
Inside she found his wallet, car keys and cellphone.
Mr O’Brien oftenly took long walks in Camel’s Back Park and the adjacent wilderness areas.
Yesterday she filed a missing persons report.
“It is just an awful mystery,” said Martin Lopez, a friend and former co-worker of O’Brien.
The Associated Press reported that Mr O’Brien had moved to Boise last year from southern California.
“He has two young boys that are missing him horribly and worried beyond reason,” Mr Lopez said.
Friends have set up a hotline in the hopes that someone may be able to reveal what has happened to Mr O’Brien.
His former brother-in-law, Jonathan Oppenheimer said Mr O’Brien usually called if he was going to be late and his disappearance was “definitely out of character”.
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New Zealander Rob Hamill is to be heard at the Khmer Rouge Tribunal trial of the man who ran the Cambodian Prison where his brother was killed in 1978, though his words will be conveyed only by his lawyer. .

Mr Hamill, an Olympic rower in 1996, is expected to appear at the tribunal.

Their lawyers can ask questions on their behalf of witnesses and of
Kaing Guek Eav, or Duch, who ran Tuol Sleng or S21 prison where an
estimated 17,000 were tortured then executed. One crewman,
Canadian Stuart Glass, was shot dead while Mr Hamill and Briton John
Dewhirst were taken for interrogation before being killed.

His brother Kerry Hamill ended up at S-21 when the yacht he and friends
were sailing strayed into Cambodian waters in August 1978.

The trial is the first of senior leaders in the Khmer Rouge regime
under which 1.

Rob Hamill told yesterday that it was good that Duch admitted
in court yesterday that what he did was wrong, although he did claim
he was acting under orders.

Duch faces charges including crimes against humanity, breaches of the
Geneva Convention and violations of the Cambodian penal code, including
premeditated murder.7 million Cambodians died to be heard before the UN-backed
dual international Cambodian Court.

Maggie Tait travelled to Cambodia with the assistance of the Asia New Zealand Foundation.

Maggie Tait travelled to Cambodia with the assistance of the Asia New
Zealand Foundation.
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Arrests after vicious attack in New Plymouth

– Monday, 23 February 2009

A New Plymouth man ended up in hospital after being knocked out in a vicious, unprovoked assault yesterday.
The 23-year-old was walking towards town, along St Aubyn St, with a group of friends when they were set upon by another group about 12.
The man was knocked to the ground.30am.
Police have made two arrests. He received cuts and bruising to his head and face, and another man was hit on the head by a flying bottle.
"It is becoming way too common and it's very dangerous," Mrs Clarke said.
Detective Trish Clarke said police were concerned at the escalation of violence on New Plymouth's streets. "We are appealing for witnesses to come forward, so we can identify people at the party to clarify who did what," she said. . They are in custody and due to appear in the New Plymouth District Court today.
Two 18-year-old males were arrested, one charged with assault with intent to injure and the second with assault with a weapon.

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Holmes ‘nutted off’ at gang pad

– Sunday, 22 February 2009

TheHeadhunters gang have dismissed former broadcaster Paul Holmes' attack on them last week as just "the rantings of an angry parent", but say they sympathise with his plight.
"I am a parent, I am a grandparent I understand what Paul is going through," senior patched member and convicted murderer Wayne Doyle told .
"I get concerned about my daughters, who are all straight-as, bringing strange guys around."
The former TV and radio frontman was dishing out parenting advice to Social Development Minister Paula Bennett who took in her daughter's gang member boyfriend Viliami Halaholo before he was sentenced for a savage assault in June 2007."
Last week Holmes branded all gang members "filth, criminals, low life who have no aspiration, no respect for work and peddle drugs.
The man broke his jaw and had a 10cm head gash.
Halaholo who had a child with Bennett's 21-year-old daughter Anna stayed with the minister before he was sentenced for attacking a man with a fence paling.
Holmes told Bennett through the Sunday Star-Times she should make her daughter choose between her family and her gangster boyfriend.
Holmes' daughter Millie Elder is living with and dating Headhunters prospect Connor Morris.
"If I were Paula and my daughter did not wash her hands of that ignorant, violent thug, then I would wash my hands of my daughter," he said.
The 20-year-old, with Morris, was due back in court this month on a separate charge of possessing the class-A drug.
In March last year Elder, 20, was sentenced to 12 months supervision after being convicted of possessing P and allowing drugs to be consumed at her flat.
"My daughter knows where I am, but she knows we will have nothing, ever, to do with the Headhunters.
Holmes said his daughter's relationship with Morris whose dad is a patched Headhunter meant they did not see each other."
Doyle who was convicted in 1985 of murdering a King Cobra gang member said suggestions all gang members were hooked on drugs were wrong."
Doyle who was convicted in 1985 of murdering a King Cobra gang member said suggestions all gang members were hooked on drugs were wrong.
"We have got older, it's as simple as that. It is different now."
He said he hoped Millie made a full recovery from her drug addiction.
"It's not as though we are out here sitting around smoking crack. She is just going through a growing up process and I f*****g hope she grows out of it.
"I don't feel sorry for Millie."
Holmes' frustration with the Headhunters was compounded by a $1740 repair bill he was forced to pay for damage to an apartment Elder had shared with Morris."
Doyle a father of eight and grandfather of 12 said Holmes was the "one with the parenting issues, not us.
But "he was stopped at the door", Doyle said.
Holmes last week blamed Morris, his family and the gang for not settling the bill and told of his debt-collector trip to the gang's Ellerslie pad.
"We don't even have a response to that because it is not our business.
"We don't even have a response to that because it is not our business."
Holmes' impromptu visit to the gang's pad in his bright-red luxury Bentley car caused quite a stir.
"A couple of the guys were quite impressed at seeing Holmes there and started shaking his hand, but they hadn't seen him nutting off."
Doyle said Holmes had a closed mind about the gang.
"I invited Paul to come in and have a look around when he was here. I asked him if he wanted to come and make an informed decision. He said he didn't have time and just stormed off."
Doyle said he had met Elder but she did not spend much time at the gang headquarters although she was welcome.
"If Millie wants to come out here and train at our gymnasium, then not a problem. But it's not a place to just sit around and do nothing. You have to be motivated."
And Doyle said even Holmes was welcome back. ."

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Axe hangs over department head

– Thursday, 19 February 2009

The Government is denying it is trying to get the head of the Corrections Department sacked, despite the refusal of Minister Judith Collins to back Barry Matthews.
Matthews was still in his job yesterday, a day after Collins called for an urgent report into who was accountable for the findings of the Auditor-General into the failing of the Corrections Department to monitor paroled offenders.
However, she refused yesterday to elaborate on her concerns, saying she was not Matthews' employer.
Collins refused to express confidence in Matthews and also demanded "culture change from the top".
Ministers were not meant to interfere in their employment something National criticised Labour for during its years in power.
All chief executives of government departments are employed by the State Services Commission (SSC), and are independent of the Government. He declined media interviews, saying he would speak tomorrow.
Matthews was meeting with the SSC late yesterday, with the talks expected to focus on his future.
However, the relationship was more that of a client, and the SSC could probably use her dissatisfaction as grounds for dismissal as long as due process was followed.
Employment lawyers spoken to yesterday said that if Collins was Matthews' employer, he would probably have a case for constructive dismissal.
Collins' remarks were "a reflection of a report that was absolutely damning of the department – it's a department where they had promised improved performance and failed," Key said.
Yesterday, Prime Minister John Key came to Collins' defence, saying he did not believe she had placed undue pressure on the SSC to sack Matthews. . "Whether Mr Matthews stays or goes is a matter for the SSC."
Key said he was waiting for the report of State Services Commissioner Iain Rennie.
"It is not for me for express confidence in him one way or the other I'll leave that for the minister. I guess at that point if the minister can't affirm confidence in the chief executive, then there will be a real issue.
"He'll be reporting back within 10 working days to the minister about where accountability lies.
However, he said hypothetically speaking there was a limit to the number of chances a chief executive could be given to fix problems of a similar nature."
Appearing before a Parliamentary select committee yesterday, Rennie said he could not comment on Matthews.
"It is very important that ministers and chief executives have a productive relationship.
Outside the meeting, Rennie told reporters he was not willing to say whether Collins' apparent lack of confidence in her departmental boss alone would be enough for him to be sacked."
Labour leader Phil Goff, who was the last corrections minister, said Matthews would have to go if he did not have the confidence of his minister. It also has to be seen in the context though that we have an impartial, politically independent public service and chief executives are employed by the commissioner.

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Fiery bull puts dazzle in parade

The Monday, 09 February 2009

/The
ALL DECKED OUT: Sandra Young rides on a float in the street parade which started from Cambridge Tce and ended in Frank Kitts Park.

Thousands of people turned out to see the Year of the Ox roll into Wellington, at the Chinese New Year parade.
Dragon dancers, puppeteers and a fire-breathing bull proceeded through the city yesterday afternoon, forming part of a weekend of cultural celebrations.
Children waving lucky red flags lined the streets. .
The metal bull, made by Wellington artist Michael Tuffery, was the dazzling centrepiece as its fire-breathing nostrils later exploded with firecrackers. Big-bang firecrackers warded off bad spirits as the procession made its way to the park.
Organiser Stephanie Tims said community support for the weekend's events had blown her away."
The Asian food market was so busy that organisers were close to turning people away from the TSB Arena, she said.
"The whole weekend has been absolutely terrific and it's really heartening to see so many people come out.
People born in the Year of the Ox include Margaret Thatcher, Princess Diana, Saddam Hussein and John Key.
In China, the new year festival runs for at least two weeks and is the country's major public holiday.

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Antonie Dixon’s million-dollar fortune

By and JONATHAN MARSHALL – Sunday, 08 February 2009

DRUGS MONEY: Drugs and property had made Antonie Dixon – found dead in prison last week – nearly $1 million a friend.

Samurai swordsmanAntonie Dixon was worth between $750,000 and $1 million, say friends of the killer, who died in Auckland Prison on Thursday.
His wealth came from his involvement in the lucrative P trade, and investments in property, cars and boats, friends say. Rather than passing to Dixon's family, the fortune may instead be siphoned off by other criminals.
Much of that money was earned through crime, which meant it would now be difficult to recover and retain, his friends said.
It's understood Dixon made the bulk of his fortune from the P trade in the early part of the decade.
"Everyone will be trying to rip it off," said a close friend and former cellmate of Dixon.
Dixon invested in a property at Beachlands on Auckland's east coast and picked up $650,000 when the house was torched. It is likely those funds will be divided up among his nine children. He also had from $60,000 to $80,000 on term deposit, which was expected to mature shortly. The vehicle was advertised in Auto Trader last year but failed to fetch its $120,000 asking price.
Dixon's greatest passion was cars: his most prized possession was a 2008 supercharged GTS Holden.
Dixon's uncle, Chris Wheeler, viewed his nephew's body yesterday and says it was covered in gashes and bruises to the head, legs, arms and face. He also owned several boats. He believes some of the injuries could not have been self-inflicted and were sustained before he was transferred from Auckland Central Remand Prison a day before he died. He believes some of the injuries could not have been self-inflicted and were sustained before he was transferred from Auckland Central Remand Prison a day before he died. "There will be hell to pay.
He says his family will take action against the Corrections Department because his nephew was clearly not being properly monitored or receiving adequate care.
Meanwhile, the Sunday Star-Times understands Dixon had been trying to get someone to write a book about him in the months leading up to his death, and bragged he had $100,000 to pay for publishing."
Wheeler blames Dixon's erratic behaviour on drug use inside the prison system. He declined the offer.
A man who was approached to write Dixon's book a few months ago says those close to the killer could confirm Dixon had $100,000 and would be willing to part with it to have his story told. .
A jury first convicted Dixon of murder and causing grievous bodily harm in 2005 when it heard how he went on a rampage slashing Simonne Butler and Renee Gunbie with a samurai sword and gunning down James Te Aute. Dixon was found dead in his cell just hours before he was due to appear in court for sentencing on Thursday morning.
Lawyers successfully appealed the decision, but he was again found guilty after a seven-week retrial at Auckland High Court last year.

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Dixon jurors unmoved by insanity pleas

The Friday, 06 February 2009

Antonie Dixonbecame renowned for theatrical court appearances as jurors were asked to decide whether he was mad or bad.
His defence in his trials was that he was insane. However, two juries decided he was a hardened criminal who had to be locked up. As a child he was tied to a clothesline, could communicate only by barking, and showed paranoid behaviour over several years.
Dixon's horrendous upbringing was comprehensive in court.
During that trial, the court was told Dixon sometimes feigned symptoms in an attempt to mislead people about his mental health.
At his sentencing to life in prison, without the chance of parole for 20 years, at the end of his first trial in May 2005, he clapped his hands and called for the electric chair. At times he stared wild-eyed around the court-room and hid behind a bench in the dock.
He pulled up at a Papakura service station in the stolen car but found himself in "a biblical situation", with several "aggressive" men walking toward him.
At his second trial, Dixon told how, while on the run after slicing at the hands of Simonne Butler and Renee Gunbie with a samurai-style sword, he stopped to buy a cookie crumble ice-cream. "I let it go as long as I could, then just picked up the gun. One had horns and something behind his back, he said."
He killed James Te Aute by shooting him 10 times in the back within half a second. .

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Hydro-lakes spill flushes didymo out

– Tuesday, 03 February 2009

A controlled flood has flushed much of the didymo in the Waitaki River out to sea but the reprieve may be short.
The invasive algae in the river's main channels has been washed away after a recent hydro-lakes spill.
The flood, initiated by power company Meridian Energy two weeks ago, came after a request from Fish and Game that water not needed for power generation be used to clean the braided river.
However, Fish and Game New Zealand warns didymo may return within months.
Environment Canterbury also took the opportunity to bulldoze a new path for the Waitaki at its mouth, where a shingle spit had developed, pushing the river north for 3.
Excess water from Lake Tekapo, Lake Pukaki and Lake Benmore was spilt down the river valley, with the river's mean flow of about 250 cubic metres a second (cumecs) almost quadrupling to 950 cumecs. .5 kilometres.
"Much, if not all, of the didymo has been cleared off the gravels.
More than a dozen mostly salmon anglers had reported that didymo had disappeared in the main channels and the river was much cleaner, he said.
"Some of the anglers are making comments it's `like the old days', they can cast 10 or 12 times without cleaning off their hook. Some of what has been washed away could still be hung up in quiet backwaters, but in more active channels it's largely cleared out. The cells are still there.
"Not every last scrap of it (didymo) will have gone though. We're not sure how long it will take could be a matter of weeks or months. We are still watching to see how and when it comes back.
"The biggest thing for us was the opening of the (river) mouth."
Environment Canterbury southern region duty flood controller Tony Henderson said the flushing flow had been a success.
"The reports we have had are that not a lot of vegetation was cleared out, except vegetation on the edge of the flow gorse and rubbish like that. It certainly has cleaned out the river."
Meridian spokeswoman Claire Shaw said the company had stopped spilling from the Waitaki hydro scheme late last week. The flow was constrained mainly to the central part of the river. There's a very, very dry forecast for this week. "We're back to normal.

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