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Attacker asks victim not to call police
Saturday, 21 February 2009
A manwho broke into a Porirua home, pinned a woman to her bed and punched her repeatedly, apologised and asked her not to call police before fleeing.
The attack happened as the woman, in her 40s, was preparing for bed in her Whitby home about 11.15pm on Wednesday. "The first thing that went through my mind was: `this is not a burglary, he's going to rape me'.
The woman had just come out of an ensuite bathroom and saw the man come out of her walk-in wardrobe."
In a frenzy she lashed out with her arms and legs but the intruder managed to throw her on the bed, punching her repeatedly on the face and covering her mouth to stifle the screams.
"But I wasn't going to let that happen, I was going to fight.
"He was covering my mouth and nose as well."
But the woman kept fighting, punching his head and body and pulling down the clothing he used to cover the lower part of his face. For a couple of seconds I thought, `My God, I'm going to suffocate'. He repeated "sorry, sorry" before leaving the house.
The man soon stopped, apologising to her, saying he was doing a "job" for someone but had got the wrong address.
"The whole experience still feels so surreal, but he had no right.
The woman received medical treatment for cuts and bruises and, though she said one side of her face looked ghastly, she was just thankful things had not been worse. And I'm very worried that he will do it again to someone else. And I'm very worried that he will do it again to someone else.
The man is described as dark skinned, clean shaven, of medium build and about 1. He believed the man got into the house through an unlocked door. He was possibly wearing a dark top.75 metres (5ft 7in) tall.
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Police would like to hear from anyone who saw any suspicious persons or vehicles around Staithes Drive North in Whitby on the night of the attack, or from anyone who has had anything similar happen to them
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New stage of Manukau police hub open
By NICOLA WILLIAMS – Eastern Courier Tuesday, 10 February 2009
TIMI TIKKANEN/Eastern Courier
GRAND OPENING: Police minister and Papakura MP Judith Collins opened the second stage of the Manukau policing hub complex today.
The second stage of a Manukau policing hub was opened today by police minister Judith Collins.
It features a tunnel between the Hub and the Manukau courthouse for prisoner transfers.
Part two of the Wiri Station Rd police station has a 24-hour cell block and will be home to team policing, road policing, a file management centre and a serious incidents room. .
The second stage cost $22 million bringing the total cost of the hub to $35 million.
"I am a firm believer that the foundation of any police service is officers out on the streets and the neighbourhoods where crime occurs.
"I am confident that this state-of-the-art new station will enable the police to serve the people of Manukau City and Counties-Manukau with professionalism and pride."
She expressed her pride in the New Zealand police and her belief they are among the finest in the world. Being visible and being responsive is one of the greatest deterrents to criminals."
Ms Collins says additional manpower, stronger legislation and community support will make a significant impact on the front lines of crime.
"However, there is no room for complacency, during my term as Police Minister I will be asking for even higher levels of excellence and professionalism.
The Hub is now the police headquarters for Manukau which was previously located in Otahuhu.
Among those at the ceremony were assistant commissioner Steve Shortland, district commander Mike Bush and deputy police commissioner Lynne Provost.
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Chch mayor vows to give away pay rise
By JO McKENZIE-McLEAN – Tuesday, 27 January 2009
Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker plans to donate the pay rise he receives this year to charity or a community project.
Parker will get a $5032 salary increase from July a 3.
The total salary pool for other elected members, including councillors and community board members, would increase by $51,000, he said, and the council would meet in March to decide how the pool should be allocated.2 per cent rise.
However, he "would not feel comfortable taking it in light of the current economic situation" and Prime Minister John Key's call for restraint on salaries for MPs.
Parker cannot refuse the increase, which is set by the Remuneration Authority. It's not about the money; it's about doing a good job for residents to ensure the future of our wonderful city," Parker said.
"Being mayor of this city is a job I love."
Councillors contacted last night thought Parker's actions were noble but most were non-committal over whether they would follow suit.
"Although the increase is beyond my control, I can ensure that the extra dollars paid to me can be returned to the community and put to good use.
"I think it's noble of the mayor to make such a gesture, but our increase would not be of the same magnitude, I would have thought.
"We could look at it, but I am not aware of the pay increase," Deputy Mayor Norm Withers said. But in principle, good on him.
"I would rather wait and sit down as a group of elected members before commenting.
Parker said he was not trying to "preach" to others about donating pay increases."
Councillor Sally Buck said that while she was not aware of councillors getting a pay increase, she would be happy to donate hers to charity. Everyone's circumstances are different," he said.
"It's up to every individual. I think it would be inappropriate for someone like that.
"Mayors on smaller councils don't get paid, in my view, a great deal of money compared with the workload, the pressure and all of those issues they have to carry.
MPs received pay rises of between 3."
Key last week called for a freeze on MPs' pay. .8 per cent and 4.
Parker has also asked staff to re-evaluate Sister City engagements this year that would see him travelling overseas at ratepayers' expense.
Parker has also asked staff to re-evaluate Sister City engagements this year that would see him travelling overseas at ratepayers' expense.
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Man in court over attack on Dutch tourists
Saturday, 17 January 2009
A 25-year-old man facing a charge of raping a Dutch tourist at Tuatapere has made a brief appearance in the Invercargill District Court.
The man, who was granted interim name supression, appeared before Justice of the Peace Fraser Clark on the charge which stems from an attack on the 22-year-old woman and her partner, 25, at the Five Mountains Holiday Park in the western Southland town on Thursday morning. .
Lawyer for the man Hugo Young said he sought a remand for his client, and made no application for bail.
Yesterday, the man in charge of the police investigation in to the attack, Detective Sergeant Dave Nelson said the rape charge was likely to be followed by other charges.
Mr Clark remanded the man in custody to reappear in the Invercargill District Court on Friday.
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Archaeologists uncover 700-year-old Maori home
By ALEX VAN WEL – Thursday, 15 January 2009
Alex van wel
DIGGING UP PAST: Archaeology masters student Jean Spinks sifts stone flakes on the Wairau Bar.
Otago University archaeologists have identified what they believe to be the site of a 700-year-old dwelling on the Wairau Bar in Marlborough. .
At the dig yesterday, the main focus was a mound of earth known by Rangitane as Mohua, where the remains of a house had been uncovered.
A deal between local iwi Rangitane, the museum and Otago University means scientists have been allowed back for the first time in almost half a decade. "There are adzes on the site that look like they are made by real specialists, but there are also fairly ordinary adzes, so what we suspect is the case is that there are a small number of people who were producing the highest quality materials, but probably every household had an adze-maker.
Team leader Richard Walter believed it might have been the home of a professional adze-maker."
The Wairau Bar is considered one of New Zealand's prime archaeological sites. Bones and artefacts uncovered at the site in the 1940s and 1950s provided the first direct link with the islands of East Polynesia. A thin slice of land separating a lagoon from the open sea just east of Blenheim, it was settled about AD1300. "What we are finding now is evidence of the structures, the layout; we are beginning to uncover the plans of the village itself.
Walter said the team had already gained a fuller picture of the site's original inhabitants.
Graves from the area were dug up in the 1940s and 1950s and the koiwi (human remains) were taken to Canterbury Museum."
Walter is leading a large group of scientists and researchers who have been at the site since last week. Rangitane had campaigned for the return of the bones of their ancestors' bones, which were expected to be repatriated in April. Rangitane had campaigned for the return of the bones of their ancestors' bones, which were expected to be repatriated in April.
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Scared cat causes jail stabbing
Friday, 02 January 2009
A convictedrapist and murderer nearing the end of his prison sentence stabbed a fellow inmate six times in the neck for scaring his cat.
The Boxing Day attack was sparked after a prisoner entered the living room he shared with another man in Wellington's Rimutaka Prison, startling a feral cat the pair had befriended. . The man would have been killed if a third prisoner had not stepped in, Corrections Association president Beven Hanlon said.
The cat scampered away when the prisoner entered the room."
It is understood the attacker was in prison for rape and murder.
"That prisoner is lucky to be alive.
Corrections acting southern assistant regional manager Tony Howe confirmed there had been an attack with a "makeshift weapon" during a dispute over a feral cat the prisoners had befriended.
His attacker is now in a high-security area.
The injured prisoner was taken to Hutt Hospital under escort but returned to Rimutaka on December 28.
Violence in the self-care unit was rare.
Police are investigating, and Mr Howe said Corrections would begin its own investigation.
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Unsettled weather for Christmas Day
By MICHAEL FOX – Monday, 22 December 2008
Kiwis hoping to bask in sunshine on Christmas Day are being warned the weather might not come to the party. .
MetService spokesperson Bob McDavitt said the outlook for Christmas Day remained uncertain.
"While it's unlikely to be windy in most places, it may not be all that settled.
"It all depends on how quickly this depression heads towards the Chathams," he said."
The forecast is likely to be good news for farmers in parts of the country, he said. We will have a clearer idea on Tuesday.
"The coast between Napier and Gisborne is now the driest part of New Zealand, with Gisborne airport reporting only 14mm so far this month and Napier airport 16mm."
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Art wrecko
The Monday, 15 December 2008
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ART WRECKO: this collection of wrecked cars, washing machines, lawnmowers, oil drums, tyres, weedeaters, breadmakers and other dumped rubbish is art. Journee des barricades, 2008 was created by British artists Heather and Ivan Morison across Wellington’s Stout St yesterday as part of Massey University’s One Day Sculpture project.
Journee des barricades, 2008 was created by British artists Heather and Ivan Morison across Wellington's Stout St yesterday as part of Massey University's One Day Sculpture project.
Itlooks as if it could be the scene of a disaster movie, but this collection of wrecked cars, washing machines, lawnmowers, oil drums, tyres, weedeaters, breadmakers and other dumped rubbish is art.
This work was set up early on Sunday and was to be cleared by early today. The initiative, supported by Wellington City Council, allows for artworks to be exhibited for 24 hours. . Its creators are used to making public sculptures in 2006, they set up a truck spilling its load of 25,000 flowers across Bristol city centre
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Key casts doubt on a quick recovery
and TRACY WATKINS – Tuesday, 25 November 2008
US rescues Citigroup with $37b in capital
Apec leaders pledge to reform lenders
World finances discussed at Apec
Prime Minister John Key doubts the world financial crisis can be solved within 18 months.
The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Lima, Peru, ended yesterday, with the 21 leaders pledging to "take all necessary economic and financial measures" to resolve the crisis.
But immediately after the meeting, Mr Key appeared more pessimistic, describing the goal as "aspirational".
"We are convinced that we can overcome this crisis in a period of 18 months," the leaders said in their final communique after two days of talks. It depends on a number of different factors. "I don't know whether it will be 18 months or not.
Mr Key said it was "one thing to talk; it's another thing to deliver."
The global financial crisis, described by the Apec leaders in their communique as "one of the most serious economic challenges we have faced", dominated the talks.
"There is a real commitment and unity across all 21 economies that we will be not taking a protectionist view, that we will be spending more money and working hard to try to find other answers. . "That is a lot of money to try to get this thing resolved," Mr Key said."
The United States was pledging a stimulus package worth US$2trillion, while China is offering its economy US$600 billion.
A commitment by Apec's leaders to restart stalled World Trade Organisation talks could be a huge fillip to the economy.
He has promised legislation before Christmas fast-tracking tax cuts and did not rule out bringing forward other spending to help to kick-start the economy. They also pledged not to put up any new trade barriers within the next year. Leaders directed their trade ministers to meet in Switzerland next month and asked them to reach an agreement on restarting the stalled Doha round.
But some of the biggest players at the WTO, including European Union countries, are not members of Apec.
Mr Key said a breakthrough would be a "very important step", and Federated Farmers president Don Nicolson said success at Doha "will be the proverbial magic bullet for the economy".
The pact was covered in talks between Mr Key and Mr Bush yesterday, with the first round of negotiations pencilled in for early next year.
Outgoing US President George Bush, meanwhile, pledged to press for a trade pact involving the US, Brunei, Chile, New Zealand, Singapore Australia and Peru – the so-called trans-Pacific trade pact, which has potential to open up America's lucrative domestic market to New Zealand's agricultural exporters.
Labour leader Phil Goff, the former trade minister, said he was confident, however, that a change in US administration would not diminish US enthusiasm. But there is concern that president-elect Barack Obama may not share Mr Bush's enthusiasm for free trade. "They need to be [there] and the trans-Pacific is the pathway into the Asia-Pacific market.
"They know this is the most dynamic and fastest-growing market in the world," he said.
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Calculus exam heavy going
The Wednesday, 19 November 2008
HEAVY GOING: Genevieve Krefft balances a hefty calculus text book on her head – "symbolising my defeat". The 17-year-old had just come from her level-three calculus exam yesterday.
Asked about her chances of passing, she said: "Let's hope so.
Seventeen-year-old Genevieve Kreftt, a year 13 Wellington High School pupil, said she ran out of time during the tough three-hour calculus exam, which she was just happy to put behind her."
There may also be an additional reason why some pupils are finding exams tricky. I don't want to predict anything.
Deputy chief executive Bali Haque said the papers were checked several times, but errors occasionally slipped through. .
The calculus exam had a set of brackets missing on a formula sheet while the biology exam wrongly labelled a graph on movement of larvae in relation to high-tide times. "Where an error occurs in an exam paper, candidates will not be disadvantaged," he emphasised.