Two a penny

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Heavy rain and thunderstorms and possible tornadoes are set to strike northerneastern parts of the country over the next 24 hours.

The MetService said a “very active front” was expected to move across Northland from later today before hitting the Coromandel Peninsula early tomorrow morning.The low is expected to bring severe thunderstorms along mainly coastal areas along with “damaging” wind gusts and possibly tornadoes. It was then predicted to move over the Bay of Plenty on Friday morning. The snow could settle as low as 400m, the MetService said.Cold rain is also forecast to sweep the South Island, with heavy snow falls of up to 25cm predicted for the hills from South Canterbury to South Otago starting tomorrow.The MetService warned that some roads in the area may be affected. .”Snow is likely to spread north into the high ground of Kaikoura, Wairarapa and Hawke’s Bay and a low pressure system is expected to bring some more squally showers to places north of Taupo, and more rain to the Gisborne region,” he said.MetService spokesman Bob McDavitt said the period of unsettled weather was likely to last through the weekend. The unsettled weather may give rise to hazardous driving conditions, so please check the latest weather details before setting off.”There are likely to be extra travellers on the roads this weekend given that the school holidays are kicking off.”

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AFP – China Monday strongly condemned authorities in Paris for making Tibet’s exiled spiritual leader the Dalai Lama an honorary citizen, saying it was a grave interference in Sino-French ties. .. can only create serious damage to cooperation between Paris and relevant cities in China and has created grave interference in relations between China and France, said a statement faxed to by China’s foreign ministry..

The Paris council decided in March 2008 to make this award out of regard for the Dalai Lama’s qualities and the fight he is leading for dialogue and peace, Paris mayor Bertrand Delanoe told guests at the award ceremony.

The Dalai Lama was made an honorary citizen of the French capital on Sunday following a March 2008 decision by the city’s council to award him the title.

The news comes amid shaky relations between China and France.

China had also warned Paris in May not to make more errors on Tibet by conferring the honour on the Dalai Lama.

The two countries have only just patched up ties after French President Nicolas Sarkozy incurred China’s wrath for meeting the Dalai Lama in Poland in December, leading Beijing to cancel a key EU-China summit.

China accuses the Dalai Lama of seeking independence for Tibet — a claim he denies — and regards any official meeting with him as meddling in its internal affairs.

We oppose Paris’ disregard of the Chinese side, express strong dissatisfaction and firmly oppose its determination to grant the Dalai with the so-called title of ‘honorary citizen’, the ministry said Monday.

We ask Paris to stop any acts of interference in China’s internal affairs, to adopt effective measures, immediately rectify its mistake, and avoid going too far on the wrong path, it said.

The Chinese foreign ministry acknowledged in its statement Monday that relations with France had recently improved thanks to efforts on both sides.

The Dalai Lama, who has lived in exile in Dharamsala in India since 1959, when China took full control of Tibet, began a European tour in Denmark last Friday and has also visited Iceland and the Netherlands.

The Dalai Lama, who has lived in exile in Dharamsala in India since 1959, when China took full control of Tibet, began a European tour in Denmark last Friday and has also visited Iceland and the Netherlands

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Wanganui Mayor Michael Laws has separated from his partner, Leonie Brookhammer, the mother of his three youngest children.

The breakup comes as their four-year-old daughter, Lucy, continues her year-long battle with leukaemia and six months after the birth of the couple’s son Theo. Their other child is two-year-old Zoe.
Ms Brookhammer, a former Manawatu-Wanganui regional councillor, is the president of Plunket Wanganui.
Mr Laws and Ms Brookhammer were together for seven years and have children from previous relationships. .
The couple announced their engagement last year. It changes nothing in terms of our love and devotion for our beautiful children”.
Meanwhile, Lucy’s condition continues to fluctuate.
Ms Brookhammer declined to comment.
Despite responding well to chemotherapy, she has suffered from high fevers caused by a lack of immunity and had spent the three weeks leading up to Easter in isolation at Wanganui Hospital. The leukaemia was diagnosed last February and, at the time, she was given a slim chance of survival.
He was due back this week but took further leave yesterday afternoon after Lucy developed a rash.
During that time, Mr Laws took intermittent leave from his mayoral duties and position as a talkback radio host to care for her.
An update on his website said she was being flown to Auckland’s Starship children’s hospital today for a likely bone marrow biopsy after blood tests conducted yesterday showed worrying results.
An update on his website said she was being flown to Auckland’s Starship children’s hospital today for a likely bone marrow biopsy after blood tests conducted yesterday showed worrying results

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Geraldine Brophy bows out

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Geraldine Brophy bows out

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By CHRIS SCHULZ

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Last updated 22:30 07/04/2009
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BACK IN BLACK: Geraldine Brophy performs the rumba on Dancing with the Stars.

MAN IN PINK: Tamati Coffey dances the foxtrot on Dancing with the Stars.

UPSIDE DOWN: Barbara Kendall performs the cha cha on Dancing with the Stars. .

BEND AND STRETCH: Josh Kronfeld performs on Dancing with the Stars.

GREEN THING: Tamati Coffey performs on Dancing with the Stars.

GREEN THING: Tamati Coffey performs on Dancing with the Stars.

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It’s wild out there on the lino

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An injured Geraldine Brophy has become the fifth person eliminated from Dancing with the Stars, leaving just three contestants in the running.

The former Shortland Street actress had been nursing injuries for much of the season,but with partner Stefano Olivieri she scoreda respectable 18 points for her tango and 20 for the rumba.

“I have to tell you, I no longer have to prove I’m as good as I never was,” said Brophy after her elimination.

“It’s been a wonderful experience … we’ll bring scones in on Monday.”

She was praised by the judges for creating extravagant themes for her dances, but criticised for her lack of technique.

“There was a lot of drama but we’re at that point in the competition where we need to see technique,” said Craig Revel Horwood after her tango.

Olivieri caused controversy last week by making an off-colour sexual remark.

Boardsailer Barbara Kendall topped the leaderboard after last night’s episode, earning 35 for her tango and 32 for the cha cha.

“I really loved it,” said Horwood. “You demonstrated strength and control … a triumph.”

But Cole said Kendall’s cha cha was missing “gooey sexiness”.

A surprised Josh Kronfeld came second, earning 31 points for his rumba and 25 for the foxtrot.

“It’s time we awarded this season’s most improved player award,” said Alison Leonard about the former All Black’s efforts in the rumba. Paul Mecurio said: “That sizzled.”

Breakfast weather presenter Tamati Coffey had a disappointing night, earning just 23 for his cha cha and 27 for his Pink Panther-themed foxtrot.

“I would like to have seen a lot more movement over the floor,” said Horwood about Coffey’s cha cha.

“There was absolutely no ‘wow’ factor whatsoever.”

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The finalists will be decided next week out of Kronfeld, Coffey and Kendall.

* Did Geraldine Brophy deserve to leave Dancing with the Stars? below.

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The Hells Angels brother of a man bashed to death in a bikie brawl at Sydney Airport has been gunned down outside his Lakemba home. .45 last night.

He was treated by ambulance officers and taken to St George Hospital in a critical condition.

He had got out of his car to open a mesh security gate allowing entrance to the car park when he was shot.

“A 32-year-old-man stopped his motor vehicle in the driveway of a unit block .

As of 4am he was being operated on but was in a stable condition.. a number of shots were then fired, hitting the man,” Campsie local area commander, Superintendent Peter Lennon, said…

“Another man was seen . running from the unit block..”

That man was described as being about 175 centimetres tall, of large, muscular build, with collar-length dark hair and wearing dark jeans and a dark, long-sleeved jacket.”

That man was described as being about 175 centimetres tall, of large, muscular build, with collar-length dark hair and wearing dark jeans and a dark, long-sleeved jacket..

“A [white] motor vehicle . had to sound its horn to avoid colliding with the gentleman running across the road..

At 6am Peter Zervas’s white Hyundai Excel remained where it had stopped when he was shot.”

Police want to speak to both the driver of the white car and the man who ran across Punchbowl Road.

Nine yellow evidence markers were placed in an arc from the rear of the car towards the driver’s side front door.

Three bullet holes bunched together could be seen in the right hand side of the car’s rear window.

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Another bullet hole could be seen on the rear wall of the car park, about 15 metres in front of the car.

The driver’s door was open, the window shattered and blood could be seen spattered along the window frame.

It is not yet known whether another motorcycle club is responsible for the shooting.

It is not yet known whether another motorcycle club is responsible for the shooting.

The shooting comes only two days after Peter Zervas, along with family and members of the Hells Angels and Bandidos, buried his brother.

It is also the latest in a string of bikie-related shootings that has swept south western and western Sydney.

Both Zervas brothers were involved in a brawl with about 10 Comanchero Motorcycle Club members at Terminal 3 of Sydney’s domestic airport on March 2, along with Hells Angels Sydney Chapter president, Derek Wainohu, and other club members.

Anthony Zervas was killed after being hit with a metal bollard used in the fight.

Officers attached to Strike Force Raptor – the new squad created to combat bikie violence – are leading the investigation.

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PM rejects estimate of 11.2pc jobless

By VERNON SMALL Tuesday, 24 February 2009

Government departments are bracing for the unemployment rate to reach double figures as the economy shrinks and the outlook for New Zealand's trading partners gets bleaker.2 per cent.
Prime Minister John Key refused to speculate yesterday about how high unemployment could go, but rejected a calculation by think tank the New Zealand Institute that it could reach 11.
"There's two options, isn't there? Option A is I spend every day on the phone to Treasury asking what the latest prediction is.
He said the Government was concentrating on ways to curb the rise in joblessness, including options to be considered at Friday's job summit, rather than seeking regular Treasury updates. We're taking option B," he said. Or option 2 is I actually get on and do something about it.
"I don't think we should spend a whole lot of time contemplating our navel about whether it is going to be 6 per cent, 7.
Picking the ultimate peak of joblessness was "highly subjective" and influenced by factors beyond his control, such as how other countries performed. All I know is that predictions show unemployment will rise and any New Zealander losing their job worries me.5 per cent or 8. "Of course good policy is based on good data."
But Labour finance spokesperson David Cunliffe said that was ridiculous.
The Treasury's next full forecasts will be prepared in April, for inclusion in the May 28 Budget." Where fear was a major factor, the best policy was "levelling with people".5 per cent over the next 18 months, adding 68,000 to jobless numbers.
Its "worst case scenario" in December was for unemployment to hit 7.
Mr Cunliffe said he understood the Social Development Ministry was making incident plans for 100,000 unemployed this year, suggesting it was prepared for the rate to reach 9 per cent.
But government sources said officials were already signalling worse news ahead.9 per cent in 1991. Unemployment hit 10. .
The ANZ Bank yesterday warned of longer dole queues ahead, saying it now expected the economy to shrink 3 per cent this year, pushing unemployment to nearly 8 per cent

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Airport neighbours go to court over flightpath

Saturday, 14 February 2009

Masterton residents sitting beneath a new flightpath have launched an Environment Court showdown to protect their safety.
The row between residents living close to the fast-expanding Hood Aerodrome and Masterton town leaders has stepped up since mediation broke down late last year.
They have taken their case to the Environment Court to force Masterton District Council to rethink its plans.
Residents claim they found out about the rerouting of flightpaths, and severe restrictions that will be put on their properties and their ability to develop their land, only after someone stumbled across the plans.5-hectare (16-acre) lifestyle block on South Rd, directly opposite the airport, nine years ago, said safety was his main concern. . If that plane had been on the new flightpath, it would have crashed into either a hangar or right into our house.
"Just recently, a vintage aircraft got into trouble and the plane ended more than six metres up in trees at the southern end of the runway. They had no issue with noise or activity at the airport, but just wanted some flexibility from the airport authority Masterton District Council over where alternative flightpaths should be."
Mr Robertson said residents were not being unreasonable. The restrictions for those properties within the alternative flightpath are understood to include building heights, and a ban on any vineyards being developed.
The new layout also crosses directly over a new subdivision where 150 houses are planned. They [the council] are using our rates money to fight us over this.
"All we want is to have a bit of a fair go."
Council chief executive Wes ten Hove said there was no secret agenda.
"We could come up with some reasonable compromise instead of feeling like the council is bulldozing the whole thing through."
He said that, as an airport authority, the council had to make sure there were safe vectors including crosswind options for all types of planes that fly to or from the aerodrome to ensure there was a safe operation for aircraft. "The council has advertised the designations and, yes, some people have objected, as is their right."
The two disputing sides met for mediation last November but could not reach an agreement.
"There is some agitation about it but, from an airport authority's perspective, we are looking to ensure that we have a safe operating environment for the types of aircraft that we have and I would have thought that was in everyone's interest.
No date has been set at this stage for further mediation. Letters from residents detailing their concerns have now gone to Local Government Minister Rodney Hide and to a committee of Wairarapa combined district councils.

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In the meantime, Eagle Air will start its daily service to Auckland from Hood Aerodrome on Monday

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Injuries after car and train collide

– Tuesday, 20 January 2009

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HELPING HAND: Paramedics treat the injured after a car full of passengers and a freight train collided at a crossing close to Pukekohe.

BREAKING NEWS: Severalchildren have been injured – one critically – afterafreight train and car collided in Pukekohe.
Emergency services – including the police serious crash unit – are at the scene.
Two other childrenwere seriously injured.
Sergeant Chris Money, of Auckland police, saidonechild was in a critical condition following the collision. . Another child and an adult areunderstood to have moderate injuries. A spokesperson for St John ambulance said those injured in the crash were being flown to hospital by the WestpacTrust rescue helicopter.
A badly damaged grey car can be seen pushed off to the side of the railway tracks.
The accident happenedat the rail crossing at the intersection ofPaerata and Crown roads.

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A reporter at the scene saida man, covered in a white blanket, was sitting at the intersection and rockingback and forth

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Ratepayers fork out for chairman’s rent

Tuesday, 20 January 2009

Hawke'sBayratepayers have paid close toly $25,000 to house their regional council chairman in the past 15 months.
Rex McIntyre said he was entitled to the house which is equivalent to a quarter of his salary under the Local Government Act and it was "too bloody bad" if ratepayers were upset at the cost.
"It's an issue of democracy," said Mr McIntyre, who lives north of Wairoa and would have to commute more than 120 kilometres each way to the council in Napier.
"He's the chair of the regional council.
But Rex Mildenhall, chairman of the Haumoana Ratepayers Association, said the cost was ridiculous.
"We might have made a different choice, especially if we'd known about the cost," Mr Mildenhall said. Shouldn't he be examining after the region? It's particularly grating when he's been elected chair by the councillors, not the ratepayers. "This is something he should have thought about before putting his hand up for the chairman's job $25,000 is a lot of money that could be spent more usefully. ."
Hawke's Bay Regional Council has paid $1950 a month on rent for a three-bedroom Taradale house for Mr McIntyre.
Mr McIntyre said accommodation costs were provided for by the act. He is on a salary of $106,211, plus travel costs.
"Why pick on me?"
He had recently moved to a two-bedroom Taradale house and the monthly cost had reduced to $1480.
"If it wasn't covered it would mean no one other than those living close to the office could represent or chair the council".
Commuting from Wairoa was out of the question as it meant driving for 4 1/2 hours a day, he said.
Commuting from Wairoa was out of the question as it meant driving for 4 1/2 hours a day, he said

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New cannabis type prompts call for action

and Monday, 22 December 2008

A new breed of powerful cannabis and ballooning costs in treating its health effects have led to calls for urgent action, including drug education for primary school children.
The information, in a National Drug Intelligence Bureau report obtained by The under the Official Information Act, shows that cannabis, the most widely used illicit drug, causes more than $30 million a year in hospital bills. The threat posed by high-potency "re-engineered" cannabis has been steadily increasing, it says.
The report the first of its kind to use information from Customs, health and police officials warns that the drug is likely to become more harmful.5 million in 2004 to $31 million in 2005.
Hospital costs jumped 50 per cent from $19.
The report calls for further action to reduce supply and demand as communities have become "comfortable with high prevalence levels". Of the 2062 hospital cases in 2005, 48 admissions cost between $100,000 and $370,000 each.
Cannabis could account for up to 10 per cent of cases of psychosis, the report says, pointing to increasing admission rates for psychotic disorders, including schizophrenia and behavioural disorders.
Included is a call to curb the "alarming" trend of teenagers to use cannabis by making drug education programmes an immediate priority in primary schools.
"We talk about methamphetamine, but here we can see the harm it causes with the number of hospital admissions caused solely by cannabis.
Bureau co-ordinator Detective Inspector Stuart Mills said the report provided the first big picture of cannabis' harmful effects.
The call for primary school drug education is welcomed by the Wellington youth drug and alcohol counselling service WellTrust."
Health Minister Tony Ryall said he had not yet read the report, but suspected the cost to the health system would be "significantly higher than that, when you consider its contribution to accidents and family breakdown".
The report says users prefer marijuana grown indoors, where "a consistently higher-quality product is achieved". The average age at which the trust's clients begin using cannabis is about 12, executive officer Murray Trenberth says.
Police have refused a request for the THC test results, but the report says levels are believed to have increased between six and 12 per cent since the late 1990s. .