Of course, it’s fair to say predictions of Armageddon are two a penny . Harold Camping, an American radio preacher, got thousands of followers worked up when he predicted the Second Coming of Jesus Christ on May 21 last ..
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Ready for Doomsday: Buying asteroid-proof bunkers, killing their …
Vampire flicks have been two a penny in recent years.
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Fright Night Exclusive Clip | ManmadeMag
Like Soviet Jewish pianists or violinists in Israel in later years, art historical refugees from Hitler were two a penny , and Pevsner endured years of penury and humble work, including as an adviser on household design …
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Notes: Nikolaus Pevsner: The Life by Susie Harries – review, The …
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Rugby sevens and golf have been added to the Olympic schedule from the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro, the International Olympic Committee voted today.
The two sports were added to the Summer Games line-up after a vote of members at the IOC session in Copenhagen.
They are guaranteed an appearance for two consecutive Games. Golf last featured in an Olympics in 1904 while rugby was taken off the Olympic schedule after the 1924 Games in Paris.
The 2012 London Games will have 26 sports after baseball and softball were taken off the programme in 2005.
The IOC, eager to revamp its sports programme to attract younger viewers, voted to raise the number of sports to 28 for the Rio Olympics, including the fast-paced version of rugby played with seven players instead of 15 and men’s and women’s 72-hole stroke play for golf.
Golf earned 63 votes for inclusion and 27 against, while rugby sevens attracted 81 for and eight against. .
Analysts have estimated that rugby sevens will easily double its current sponsorship money of about $US15-20 million ($NZ20-27 million) by joining the Olympics.
The two sports are guaranteed global expansion and cash with funding from the IOC, increased broadcast rights deals and, in some countries, automatic national funding as an Olympic sport.
Earlier in the day, Jacques Rogge was re-elected as IOC president until 2013.
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Trade unions and political party leaders praised Sue Bradford and mourned her imminent departure after the Green Party MP announced today she was resigning from Parliament.
Ms Bradford, 57, was due to formally announce her resignation at a press conference at 10am this morning – but let the cat out of the bag earlier with a message on her Twitter account .
“The Party made a clear and democratic decision, but of course it was personally disappointing and I’m ready for a change.
Ms Bradford said her departure was prompted by losing the co-leadership battle to Metiria Turei.
Green Party co-leader Russel Norman said the party would have liked Ms Bradford to continue but also respected her decision to stand down.”
She will leave Parliament on October 30, but said she would remain a member of the Green Party.
Ms Bradford said she would be “going back to the grassroots”.
Aucklander Dave Clendon will enter Parliament on Ms Bradford’s list spot.”
Council of Trade Unions president Helen Kelly said Ms Bradford would be “hugely missed” by the union movement. .
“She understands working people’s concerns and, building on her years of activism, has campaigned tirelessly as an MP on many important social issues – including advocacy for beneficiaries.
“Sue is a true champion of working people,” Ms Kelly said.
“Her imminent departure is a significant loss for the people she so effectively represented,” said chief executive Murray Edridge.”
Barnardos New Zealand said Ms Bradford’s work in Parliament had been outstanding.
Mr Goff said Ms Bradford made a significant impact on Parliament during her decade as an MP.
Labour leader Phil Goff said Parliament was losing a strong and passionate advocate for low income workers, unemployed people, beneficiaries “and other people who might get a raw deal”.”
Maori Party co-leader Tariana Turia said Ms Bradford had an enormous commitment to improving the lives of families.
“Her passion for the causes she fought for as an activist will be missed.
“The loss for the Greens will be huge.
“I have greatly admired her courage and I know wherever she goes she leaves behind big footprints to follow,” Mrs Turia said.
In the last Parliament, Ms Bradford had Members’ Bills raising the youth minimum wage and extending the time imprisoned mothers can spend with their babies passed into law.”
A Green MP since 1999, Ms Bradford is married and has five children.
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A former police officer has escaped a custodial sentence after being arrested on drugs charges on his wedding day.
Tauranga District Court was told on Friday that Anthony Brooks, 38, had to cancel the ceremony after he was denied bail and spent three days in prison, The Bay of Plenty Times reported.
Brooks had earlier pleaded guilty to cultivation of cannabis, possession of cannabis, receiving stolen property, possession of BZP, possession of methamphetamine and possession of pipes for consuming methamphetamine.
Sentencing him to 110 hours community work Judge Thomas Ingram told Brooks he presented “somewhat of an enigma”.
Two other drug supply charges, and a charge of blackmail, were withdrawn the previous month.
“You, more than anybody, knew what you were getting involved in was illegal and the consequences, and what you did reflects absolutely no credit on you.
He was someone who had not only held down quite a responsible job, but had previously worked as a police officer.”
Brooks worked as a police officer for at least eight years but was employed as a marketing manager when police searched his Papamoa, Tauranga, home earlier this year.
Brooks spent four days in custody, including three in Waikeria Prison, having been denied bail on his first court appearance on drug supply allegations, which were later withdrawn.
The raid uncovered drugs, including methamphetamine, BZP and cannabis, as well as a stolen laptop computer. They also forfeited $8000 of wedding deposits and Brooks subsequently lost his employment as a marketing manager. .”
Mr Mansfield said Brooks was a first-time offender with an otherwise unblemished record and of otherwise good character, and references showed he was thought of in high regard.
“You may say these effects were of his own making but nevertheless they were significant losses over and above those which were usual.
Unfortunately, Brooks had given into the temptation of recreational drug use and was remorseful for that, Mr Mansfield said.
Unfortunately, Brooks had given into the temptation of recreational drug use and was remorseful for that, Mr Mansfield said.
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The head of Auckland’s troubled Labtests has resigned after criticism of the company’s failures.
Auckland Regional District Health Board spokeswoman Lauren Young confirmed that Ulf Lindskog had stepped aside from his role as CEO of Labtests.
The shock move by Mr Lindskog follows Prime Minister John Key wading into the dispute and Auckland district health boards appointing six of its senior officials to step in and help run the troubled lab testing company.
It is understood Mr Lindskog’s resignation is from his role as CEO of Labtests only and he will continue on with parent company Healthscope, although the company has not clarified this.
During the weekend the Auckland boards ordered their own senior representatives to take over at Labtests and sort out the problems.
Australian-based company Labtests took over the contract with three Auckland district health boards from Diagnostic Medlab this month but within days problems surfaced over the speed of tests and results, and communications with clinicians.
Auckland District Health Board chairman Pat Snedden said there were indications the public might be at risk over inefficiencies.
It came as Labtests apologised to people who had had trouble with the company since the takeover.
“The people of Auckland rely on this service, this is a $500 million contract – they have had a couple of years to get themselves organised,” Mr Key told NewstalkZB today. .”
Mr Key said he was confident Labtests could get on top of the issues.
“While I don’t think any of the specific issues are so serious that they can’t be fixed, now is the time for Labtests to actually stand up and deliver a proper product to the people of Auckland.
The Australian bosses of Labtests flew into Auckland on Sunday where they were give the message about the city’s laboratory testing – shape up or face consequences.
Labtests said today in a newspaper advertisement it took responsibility for fixing the problems and was working extremely hard to sort out the issues.
It was given the contract by Auckland’s three district health boards after promising savings of $15 million a year, and kept the contract following a bitter court battle with its predecessor Diagnostic Medlab.
Labtests is owned by Australian company Healthscope.”
”What we’re saying to Labtests is, we don’t think you’re fulfilling the terms of the contract at the moment.
Mr Snedden told the Sunday Star-Times: “We are starting to feel very clearly that Labtests need to pick up their act.”
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The gang boss who was fined $500 and had his patch confiscated under Wanganui’s new gang patch bylaw was the man who sparked the legislation, says the town’s mayor Michael Laws.
Mongrel Mob member and Wanganui chapter leader Peter Randal Nahona, 45, was one of the first people to be charged under the district’s new bylaw, which came into effect last week.
He pleaded guilty in Wanganui District Court today to wearing a hat and a sweatshirt bearing Mongrel Mob insignia.
John Phillip Ratana, 21, unemployed, was also charged with wearing a Tribesman insignia on the day the law came into force, and Brett Allen Beamsley, 45, unemployed, was charged with wearing a bulldog insignia the following day.
Judge Michael Radford indicated today that courts would take seriously anyone who breached the gang patch ban .
A similar charge against a fourth man was adjourned. Both were remanded without plea until September 22.
There was little or no obvious gang presence at the court and a demonstration by gang members that was supposed to have taken place in the central city at noon did not eventuate.
Mr Laws said it was a “double irony” the Mongrel Mob leader was the first conviction, “because it was his vicious beating by Hells Angels members in early 2006 that convinced council to act”.
The only patch in sight (designed to skirt the law) was worn by a good natured Pakeha riding a BMW bike. You could not hope for a better start.
“This is an excellent outcome and proves the police and council viewpoint, that both the act and by-law give them an extra and effective tool to police gangs.
Mr O’Reilly told the Wanganui Chronicle that if the council was to take a proactive line in promoting community work programmes gang members would react positively.”
Mr Laws also rejected what he called the “sob story” of Black Power member Denis O’Reilly that his gang members needed community work programmes to better integrate them into the community.
He said he was concerned that Wanganui appeared to be showing a “poverty of spirit” and in Hastings the city council had gone out of its way and told gangs there that if they want to plug into government work schemes the council would act as the umbrella.
He said he was concerned that Wanganui appeared to be showing a “poverty of spirit” and in Hastings the city council had gone out of its way and told gangs there that if they want to plug into government work schemes the council would act as the umbrella.
But Mr Laws was not impressed.
He believed there was a desire among gang members to be involved in the community. Gang work programmes tried in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s all failed to arrest gang illegality or gang growth. .”
Mr Laws cited his work as a senior Parliamentary researcher in the 1980s and chairman of the government’s caucus employment committee in the early 1990s. In fact, they were used as an economic base to spread those gangs’ influence.
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People wanting to build a new home may have to purchase a warranty to cover the risk involved.
The option is one being considered under a review of the Building Act and the builder licensing scheme.
Building and Construction Minister Maurice Williamson announced the review and changes to the licensed building practitioners scheme.
“Restricted building work” would be limited to foundations, framing and external moisture management systems, such as the roof and cladding.
Under a “new approach” only licensed builders will be, from March 2012, able to carry out specific work critical to construction and weather-tightness. .
Do it yourself (DIY) work will be exempt if it is declared to the local council and meets certain conditions.
The assessment process for licensing builders will be based on examples of projects that an applicant has worked on, trade qualifications and discussion with the applicant and referees.”
Consumers were more likely to hire licensed builders and the consents process would be easier for them, Mr Williamson said.
“Good builders will have nothing to fear from these changes.
The liability for building currently landed on local councils and that needed to change, Mr Williamson said.
It would also be cheaper and faster, he said.
Home Owners and Buyers Association president John Gray said there needed to be an “under-pining” of an insurance warranty programme in case a builder did a bad job and then went bankrupt, leaving the consumer with nowhere to turn for compensation.
He preferred home warranties, the cost of which was likely to be less than the savings made from the reduced consent process, he said.
However, under a licensing scheme “we will see that over time they (builders) will take that responsibility”.
However, under a licensing scheme “we will see that over time they (builders) will take that responsibility”.”
Registered Master Builders chief executive Warwick Quinn said the liability was likely to be spread across plumbers, engineers, architects and other qualified people who worked on a build.
“I think there’ll be a positive outcome in terms of attracting more people to the industry as well because it’s about restoring pride and quality in the building industry.”
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“All builders might not want to be licensed anyway, they are quite able to be used on a labour only contract, or work for a licensed practitioner, or they might specialise in the areas of work that isn’t restricted
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Patrick Allan Daken acted in self-defence when he stabbed his brother 12 times in the chest, back and head in a fight at the family home in Canterbury, his counsel said today.
Daken is appearing in the High Court at Christchurch accused of murdering Kelly at Port Levy, 45km south-east of Christchurch, on June 10 last year.
Defence counsel Andrew McKenzie said the defence of self-defence was available to every citizen.
Daken’s defence team told the court today he was attacked with lethal force by his brother who was wielding a metal poker and threatening to kill him.”
Patrick Daken was sitting at home when Kelly launched his attack, thrashing him around the leg with a metal fire poker, Mr McKenzie said.
“Killing is not murder and this crown case is based on that central flaw.”
Prosecutor Tim Mackenzie said the crown accepted that Kelly Daken attacked Patrick and said he was going to kill him, but the only injuries he inflicted were a couple of red marks on the leg and a bite mark on the finger.
Kelly Daken then started to choke his brother, all the while chanting: “I’m going to kill you Patrick.
The attack continued, and Warren pulled Kelly off his brother again and threatened to call police.
He said that after the attack began, another brother – Warren Daken – took the poker off Kelly and threw it on the couch.
They went back inside and Patrick kicked, yelled, and stomped on his brother as he lay on the floor.
He was outside getting the phone from a camper van when Patrick came out of the house and said he had just killed Kelly.
He told the court pathologist Martin Sage would say there were 12 stab wounds in Kelly’s body. .
One wound to the skull was 5. Five wounds were in the upper chest and penetrated the chest cavity. Abrasions from kicking and stomping were also evident.5cm deep and penetrated the brain.
He would also be guilty of murder if he intended to cause bodily injury that was likely to cause death and was reckless as to whether death ensued.
Mr Mackenzie said Patrick Daken would be guilty of murder if it was proved beyond reasonable doubt that he intended to kill his brother when he stabbed him.
The trial is continuing.
A person was permitted to use reasonable force in defence of themselves or another person.