Two a penny

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A man has died following a fight in the West Coast township of Kumara, just a fortnight after the mayor gained national attention for demanding a police presence in the town.

Police were called to a residence in the small town, 25km south of Greymouth, at 12.45am, and found the body of man.

He confirmed that the dead man lived in Kumara.

Inspector John Canning said several people at the house had been spoken to and one was was still helping with inquiries.

The town’s only pub, The Empire Hotel, lost its liquor licence in June following reported misbehaviour by local drinkers.

Kumara, on State Highway 73, has no community constable.

Westland mayor Maureen Pugh said it was a “real irony” that the killing had occurred just two weeks after she wrote to the West Coast police area commander John Canning outlining her concerns about the level of nuisance crime and trouble in the “usually lovely” town.

“I used the example of needless nuisance stuff that needs to be knocked on the head now before it turns into real crime.

Pugh said her letter had meant to outline the need for a community constable in Kumara.

However, it would be difficult for anyone to argue against the need for a constable in the town now, Pugh said.”

“But I doubt very much whether the people involved in this killing were the same people that had been involved in the minor stuff like throwing stones on people’s roofs.”

Ms Pugh said the impact of the man’s death would be felt throughout the town. .

“This is not a nice thing to happen on your back door step.

“This is not a nice thing to happen on your back door step

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A 15-year-old ringleader in a vicious street bashing and robbery in Lincoln Road has been sent for sentencing in the adult court after admitting his offending in the Youth Court today.

He is heading for a lengthy prison term – a sentence the Youth Court cannot impose. That suppression will be considered again at his District Court sentencing.

Judge John Strettell declined jurisdiction for the youth, whose name remains suppressed as a result of Youth Court reporting restrictions.

“Denunciation and protection of the public are highly relevant to the sentencing process and are best dealt with in the District Court. .

At least one victim was knocked unconscious when they were attacked with lengths of wood.”

The youth was a member of the YSK youth street gang which carried out of the mugging under the Lincoln Road overbridge at 2am on Sunday April 18, robbing youths aged 18 and 19 years who were walking home together.

The police said YSK stood for Young Skuxx Klicxx, a youth gang with between 10 and 20 members. One had a broken jaw and both had bruises and cuts to the head and face needing stitches.

Tuari Damyn Karipa-Rangi pleaded guilty in June and is due to be sentenced on Friday.

A 17-year-old schoolboy visiting Christchurch from Tokoroa over the school holidays was the other ringleader of the incident.

Youth advocate for the boy who admitted the aggravated robbery in court today, Elizabeth Bulger, said a plan had been formulated and agreed for him to be sent for a crown sentencing, but the date available was in December. He was the other youth brandishing the wood.

He said it had been an unprovoked attack against two young people.

Judge Strettell said he would arrange for that to be brought forward, because the delay was too long for such a young offender.

“There needs to be a clear message given that incidents of this type are not tolerated in Christchurch and that those who take part in and are ringleaders, and carry out violence of this type can expect little sympathy from the court.

A prison term for the length likely to be imposed was not available in the Youth Court.”

He said the youth’s age would be taken into account at the sentencing.

“That applies to young people of your age as much as any others.

The boy received hugs and kisses from family members before he was led back to the cells.

He remanded the boy in custody for two weeks so that an earlier crown sentencing date could be set.

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Taito Phillip Field, the first New Zealand politician to be convicted of corruption, faces up to seven years in prison. . He was also found guilty of 15 of 23 obstruction of justice charges.

New Zealand’s first Pacific Islands MP, Field was granted bail by Justice Rodney Hansen yesterday, then whisked out a back entrance of the High Court at Auckland.

Field, 56, who always claimed he was innocent, will be sentenced on October 6 and could be jailed for a maximum of seven years.

Crown prosecutor Simon Moore said it was a crucial trial.

A weeping Maxine Field, his wife, had to be helped from court by family, all of whom refused to comment.

“Bribery and corruption strikes very much at the heart of who we are as a people,” he said after the verdict. “I am grateful these witnesses had the courage to stand up and be counted,” he said.

Detective Superintendent Malcolm Burgess, who led the investigation, said giving evidence was “an extraordinary harrowing experience” for some witnesses.

“I’m disappointed, but Mr Field is very disappointed,” he said.

Field’s lawyer, Paul Davison, said it had been a long and difficult trial.

‘REFLECTS BADLY ON PARLIAMENT’

Prime Minister John Key said the case was a sad affair.

It was “premature” to consider an appeal.

“Ultimately it reflects badly on our Parliament.

“Ultimately it reflects badly on our Parliament.

“I think it’s an isolated case.

He said it would be “unjustified” for this case to be taken as a reflection of the whole Parliament, he said. I think New Zealanders should see it on that basis. I think Mr Field’s been dealt with now by the judiciary and ultimately has to face whatever sentence they decide is appropriate.

“What it shows you is when you are facing a very serious issue you actually have to have a proper investigation and I don’t think the terms of reference were ever set in a way where the government of the day was look for a conclusive outcome.”

He said it showed investigations into Mr Field ordered by the former Labour government were not examining for a solution.”

. Actually they wanted to park the situation for political convenience

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The man who rang the council and threatened to sort out Wellington Mayor Kerry Prendergast also claimed to be “mates” with councillor Rob Goulden.

During the 41-second call the man said: “We’re going to be down there to sort that bloody mayor out at one o’clock . . She better bloody well pull her socks up otherwise she’ll be gone..

Ms Prendergast’s 24-hour protection was lifted by Wellington City Council yesterday morning after police said the man posed no risk.”

When asked for his name, he said he was one of Mr Goulden’s mates. The caller was interviewed by police on Tuesday and let off with a warning.

About an hour before the call, the councillor had criticised council process during a Newstalk ZB interview and discussed his expulsion from an earlier meeting after his foul-mouthed outburst at colleagues.

The threatening call came 15 minutes before a council meeting on Friday, from which Mr Goulden was escorted by police.

Council chief executive Garry Poole said the council had acted appropriately to increase Ms Prendergast’s security.

Mr Goulden declined to comment yesterday. She listened to advice she was given [by council's head of security] and accepted that advice. “In my view, council did not over-react.

“If we hadn’t taken any action and it turned out to be a real threat .

“If we hadn’t taken any action and it turned out to be a real threat . we’d all be sitting here now probably saying, `Why the hell didn’t we do something’..

“The guy sounds .”

A spokesman from Wellington security firm Protective Services, whose clients have included Peter Jackson and former mayor Mark Blumsky, listened to the call and said the council had done the right thing… He’s probably thought about what he’s going to say . agitated… There’d be some reason to be concerned there. There’d be some reason to be concerned there.”

Wellington area commander Inspector Peter Cowan said that “through a process of Chinese whispers this matter may have been blown up more than initially intended”.

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The Maori Party is calling for open access to university for all Maori students even those with “miserable” academic records and is pushing for a Maori education authority.

What do you think of the proposal? below.

Maori Affairs Minister Pita Sharples called yesterday for universities to reserve places for Maori in an effort to turn around educational underachievement. Readers are reminded to keep on topic.

“We have seen how the dice are loaded against Maori, right through the school system.

Equal educational opportunities were a myth without support for those who needed special help, Dr Sharples said in a speech at Victoria University.”

The open access of the wananga system had shown that it was possible to take students who had dipped out of school and “fire them up”, even if they had a “miserable” academic record.

“That is not any reflection on the academic potential of our young people.”

He would be pushing the plan with the Government and saw it as part of a long-term goal to set up a Maori education authority and Maori language excellence centre, Dr Sharples said.

“Reserved places for Maori have proven the ability of Maori students to rise to the challenge if they are given the opportunity.

“He’s given a perspective and he’s fully entitled to do that,” he said of Dr Sharples. .

“This notion that we can make every kid into an astrophysicist without addressing basic literacy and numeracy and other learning impediments which have to be addressed well before they go to university show he’s more interested in cheap rhetoric.

But Labour MP Shane Jones, who was educated at Harvard, said Dr Sharples’ call only deepened the sense of Maori as victims.

“I think the important thing is to understand the nature of the problem here,” Prof McCutcheon said.”

University of Auckland vice-chancellor Professor Stuart McCutcheon told Radio New Zealand a key point of secondary school was to prepare students for tertiary education.”

The issue was resources to get tertiary institutions and schools to work together to close the gap.

“I think we all agree with Dr Sharples that there is a significant gap in New Zealand’s education system as far as Maori and also Pacific students are concerned.

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Auckland University of Technology (AUT) Maori Development Faculty history professor Paul Moon said Maori students needed to be able to meet the same standards as other students

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Sunnyvale granny robbed by teens

By LUKE PARKER – Tuesday, 10 February 2009

LUKE PARKER/
BAG SNATCHED: Heather Smith is warning others to watch out for thieves after having her handbag stolen.

A peaceful ride back from a shopping trip turned into a horrible experience for Sunnyvale grandmother Heather Smith, 65.
She was steering her mobility scooter along a cycleway just off Millbrook Rd on Saturday afternoon when her bag was snatched by one of three teenagers. .
She had hopped off the scooter to look at a garden when one of the boys swiped the bag.
The handbag was hanging off the scooter’s mirror. They walked past me towards a bridge ahead and then one turned around and came running back," she says. It contained a card wallet, passport, garage opener and coin purse with 80 cents.
"What worries me is a lot of elderly people use it to walk their dogs.
Mrs Smith has been using the cycleway two or three times a week for the past 18 months and says nothing like this has happened before.
"I’m pretty sure they would have taken the bag whether I was on the scooter or not," she says."
She warns people to be careful and not to carry a lot of money.
"Up until now I felt a bit sorry for some of the kids around here but after this I don’t. "It’s a horrible feeling."
Mrs Smith says trying to remember all the different cards in the wallet has been very frustrating."
Mrs Smith says trying to remember all the different cards in the wallet has been very frustrating. I don’t have a driver’s licence. I really want my passport back because that’s what I use for identification.
"I think I’ll sit on my wallet," she says."
Mrs Smith says the incident will not stop her going out.

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Police are investigating

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Sex assault on teen girl in toilet

Thursday, 29 January 2009

Hastings police are investigating a alleged sexual assault on a 13-year-old girl in a central city block of public toilets.
Senior sergeant Dave Greig said the girl was found wandering around the city centre in a "dazed and confused" condition around 8pm yesterday and was taken to the police station by members of the public.
The Hastings girl told police that between 6pm and 7pm she had been approached by a group of 5-6 teenage males outside the Russell Street public toilets
"She was allegedly taken into the toilet by those youths where her handbag was taken from her and allegedly sexually violated by one of those youths," Mr Greig said. The toilet block was cordoned off overnight and a scene examination would take place earlier today. .

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"At this stage we're appealing for any witnesses who were near the toilets between approximately 6-7pm last night to come forward," Mr Greig said

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Killer revealed a year after teen found in Clutha River

Tuesday, 13 January 2009

Christopher Wayne Patterson murdered teenager Michael Hutchings last year, while Nichole Field helped dispose of his body in the Clutha River.
The pair, both farm workers from Kaitangata, close to Balclutha, were publicly identified after their name suppression lapsed.
A farmer found Hutchings' body weighed down by metal bars in the Clutha River on January 12.
Justice Graham Panckhurst last year sentenced Patterson, 38, to a life sentence with a 13-year non-parole period after he admitted murdering Hutchings. He also had a 7cm stab wound to his neck. Hutchings had died of blood loss from a stab wound to his stomach, inflicted five days earlier.
It is understood she is being released from prison this week.
Field, 30, a former de-facto partner of Patterson's, was sentenced to two years in prison after she admitted being an accessory after the fact.
Bartlett and Detective Constable Craig Dinnissen yesterday went to the spot where Hutchings' body was found and planted a native tree as a tribute to the 18-year-old.
Detective Sergeant Kate Bartlett, of the Balclutha police, said yesterday it was ironic the pair could be named exactly a year after the body was found.
Hutchings' murder had had a big impact on the community, Bartlett said.
They had become close to his sister, Sarah, during the inquiry and had planted the tree where Hutchings' family and friends had planted other natives in a memorial spot gifted by Inch Clutha farmer Morris Storer."
Name suppression for Patterson and Field lapsed yesterday, when rape charges against them were withdrawn in the Dunedin District Court.
"I think a lot of the locals didn't believe something like this could happen in their area. No application for final name suppression had been made.
The names of both had been suppressed until the conclusion of the rape case.

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Gaming machines ‘worst form of gambling’

– Tuesday, 23 December 2008

Gaming machines are the most harmful form of gambling, new research shows.
Massey University researchers have completed the largest survey of the social and economic impact of gambling in New Zealand.
More than 7000 people nationwide were interviewed, with more than 60 per cent having participated in some form of gambling in the past year.
Another 8 per centhad used pokies in bars or at a casino, and 4 per centhad used them in clubs.
Many respondents had bought Lotto tickets, while just under 10per centhad placed bets at a racetrack or TAB.
Pokies affected people's feelings about relationships with family and friends, their sense of self, quality of life and satisfaction with life, the survey showed.
Users of gaming machines reported poorer physical health and mental well-being.
This contrasted with other types of gambling, such as betting on horses or playing poker, which in some cases had positive aspects.
He lost his house, his partner and about $250,000 before realising he had a problem.
Colin Partleton, 47, of Christchurch, knows the downfalls of playing the pokies after a 10-year addiction left him with only the clothes on his back.
It took 18 months of counselling to break the habit, which had seen him spend up to 10 hours at a time in front of gaming machines.
He has been gambling-free for six years and has managed to put his life back together. .
Despite working up to 70 hours a week to feed his addiction, Partleton ended up heavily in debt. Within six months he was going four or five times a week. Within six months he was going four or five times a week.
"It's like massive tunnel vision. It took all the worries of the world away," he said.
"I lied to just about everybody really. You just don't see what you are doing; the addiction itself is so strong."
One night while sitting at home alone with no furniture and no friends, he finally made the call for help.
"I always knew where I could get money from.
"For this country to keep supporting the pokie industry as a form of entertainment and as a cash cow for community funding is both inaccurate and immoral," he said.
Problem Gambling Foundation communication director David Coom said more than 80% of the foundation's clients had gambling problems caused by pokies."

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"For the amount of harm that pokies cause and for the way that these machines suck money out of poor communities such as at best returning $1 for every $3 spent we should be seriously asking questions around their safety and viability

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Saturday sitting for tax bill

By VERNON SMALL Friday, 12 December 2008

Parliament is set for a rare Saturday sitting tomorrow as the Government pushes through laws to fulfil its election pledges.
The Taxation (Urgent Measures and Annual Rates) Bill, implementing National's three-year programme of personal tax cuts and reductions in KiwiSaver entitlements, passed its final reading yesterday.
"The tax cuts we have delivered will stimulate the economy in the short term by putting cash in people's pockets, and in the longer term by encouraging people to invest in their own skills to earn and keep more money," Finance Minister Bill English said. . A worker on the average wage is in line to receive an extra $18 a week from the first round of the cuts on April 1.
He said no one would be worse off as a result of the law change. "Sheep's clothing has fallen from the National wolf.
But Labour finance spokesman David Cunliffe said the changes were bad for ordinary New Zealanders and bad economics.5 per cent more tax than under Labour's plan."
Anyone earning between $14,000 and $20,000 would pay 8.
"It is the wrong way to fight recession; it rewards the few, punishes the many and wastes an opportunity for effective government economic stimulus. All families earning $40,000 or below, and some earning up to $80,000, would also pay more tax.
Labour's labour spokesman, Trevor Mallard, will try to amend the law so that teachers would not be covered by the 90-day provision."
National has also introduced the Employment Relations Bill, instituting a 90-day probation period for employees in enterprises of fewer than 20 employees – a plan dubbed the "fire at will bill" by opponents because it removes the right to take legal action over unjustified dismissal.
About 30 per cent of schools have 20 or fewer employees and teachers. That came after the Opposition uncovered a video of new Education Minister Anne Tolley, speaking to the New Zealand Educational Institute conference before the election, in which she said that teachers would be exempt from the law change.
These include moves to amend bail laws, beef up sentencing for violence or the neglect of children, and set national literacy and numeracy standards for schools.
Meanwhile, after being criticised for keeping proposed law changes under wraps till they were debated, Leader of the House Gerry Brownlee has relented and National is now tabling planned laws as they are drafted.

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New ministers will face their first question time on Tuesday