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Safety plea on foreign drivers
Tuesday, 23 December 2008
Acoroner is calling for special road markings and fluorescent warning stickers in rental vehicles to prevent tourists driving on the wrong side of the road.
But the mother of a man killed when an American driver crossed the centre-line says it is the tourists who have to take more responsibility. "And you can't change the habits of a lifetime. "People get off a plane and get straight into a car without even knowing the road rules," Sally Beard said yesterday. ."
Her son, Kylie, 26, was travelling with his partner and his two-year-old daughter in a Subaru Legacy when it was struck by the tourist's Maui rental van near Nelson in November 2005.
In a ruling issued yesterday, coroner Ian Smith reiterated calls from the dead man's family to improve foreign driver education and for fluorescent "Keep left" warning signs to be displayed prominently in all rental vehicles.
American tourist Jess Fronckowiak had already pleaded guilty to a charge of careless driving causing injury, was ordered to pay $10,000 and had left New Zealand before Mr Beard died. At present, all cat's eyes are either white or yellow.
Mr Smith said reflector cat's eyes, which glow red when seen by vehicles on the wrong side of the road, should be installed on New Zealand roads.
Figures from 2004 showed that five of the 46 deaths involving overseas drivers, and 91 of the 1193 injuries, were caused by cars being driven on the wrong side of the road, Mr Smith said.
He also called for Parliament to review driving laws after police confirmed that careless driving causing injury carried the same weight as careless driving causing death.
The agency would also be reviewing licensing rules for overseas drivers next year, including tightening rules for gaining a New Zealand licence which is compulsory for people who have stayed in the country for more than a year.
There were no warning stickers in Fronckowiak's rental van, but the Transport Agency said that, since the accident, officials had been working with rental companies to ensure they were used. They need to take more responsibility.
But Mr Beard's mother said that was irrelevant: "Tourists should be more prepared, maybe have to sit a test before they come here.
"He's gone happily on his way and we're the ones with the life sentence."
Mrs Beard said Kylie's death had devastated the family and, even though it was an accident, they still felt Fronckowiak had walked free."
Transport Agency central operations manager Mark Owen said the coroner's recommendations on cat's eyes would be investigated. Nothing will bring Kylie back, but we want to make sure this doesn't happen to anyone else.
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Transport Minister Steven Joyce is awaiting a briefing next year on road safety measures and what can be done to improve them
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Inquest into six trawler deaths abandoned
By DYLAN THORNE – Wednesday, 10 December 2008
A Southland coroner has decided not to resume an inquest into the deaths of six people in the sinking of Bluff trawler Kotuku in 2006. .
In a decision released yesterday, Mr Savage acknowledges the capsize of the Kotuku, with the loss of six lives, was New Zealand's largest maritime disaster since the sinking of the Wahine and deserved public scrutiny.
The coroner adjourned the inquest in May 2006 after learning independent investigations were being carried out.
However, he says that scrutiny had been applied through inquiries and subsequent reports by the Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) and Maritime New Zealand and it is not in the public interest that it be relitigated at a resumed inquest.
Mr Savage does clarify that one of those on board, Ian "Shorty" Hayward, 52, died from drowning and hypothermia, consistent with cold-water immersion, rather than just cold water immersion as noted in a pathologist's report.
The TAIC report accepted the Kotuku capsized after being hit by two waves and, while the Maritime report had a different emphasis, the two were consistent and the coroner was satisfied matters such as the identity of those who died and and cause of death had been established, the decision says.
The only real question related to whether the circumstances of the deaths had been adequately established in the reports, the decision says.
Tests carried out to assess the boat's stability after it was recovered were inconclusive but TAIC found the general condition of the hull was substandard and it should not have passed a survey inspection.
Two issues highlighted in the inquiries were the stability of the Kotuku and the condition of its hull and fastenings.
Maritime New Zealand merely stated what the evidence of the surveyor and the skipper was and made no finding of its own.
However, it did not make a finding that that contributed to the accident, the decision says.
Both reports referred to actions already taken as a result of the tragedy and made extensive safety recommendations so there was no reason to hold and inquest for the purposes of making recommendations, the decision says.
Despite this, matters could be deemed to be adequately established if proper consideration was given to all evidence, even if that resulted in a conclusion that it was not possible to make definitive findings, the decision says.
Family members of those who died in the sinking could not be contacted for comment yesterday, but Mr Savage's decision notes they did not want the inquest to be held.
Family members of those who died in the sinking could not be contacted for comment yesterday, but Mr Savage's decision notes they did not want the inquest to be held.
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"You would have been asking a generalised body to review the work of a specialist organisation," he said
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Serious injuries in Wellington fire
Thursday, 13 November 2008
JESS MCKEOWN
HOUSE FIRE: One person has been taken to hospital after a fire in central Wellington’s Tasman St late last night. Fire officers have begun investigating the blaze.
Five fire engines rushed to the house in Mt Cook's Ranfurly Terrace about 11.
Up to 18 fire fighters battled a house fire in central Wellington for more than an hour, which left a female occupant with burns and other serious injuries.
A fire spokeswoman said it took nearly two hours to bring the blaze under control and fire services were still at the scene this morning.30pm last night to find the building already engulfed in flames.
The woman, who was the sole occupant, suffered burns among other serious injuries and was taken to Hutt Hospital. Fire officers did not yet know what caused the blaze.
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Locals dream of the big stage
By SHANE COWLISHAW – Friday, 31 October 2008
DEAN KOZANIC
Starlight in her eyes: Christchurch musical theatre performer Julia Guthrey, 23, was among those to make a shortlist from the Christchurch hopefuls auditioning for the roller-skating musical Starlight Express.
It was all leotards, nerves and hot dance moves at a Christchurch dance studio during auditions for the roller-skating musical Starlight Express.
Starlight is second to Cats as the longest-running musical in British theatre history, and tells the story of a child's dream in which his toy train set comes to life.
The Andrew Lloyd Webber production will be performed in New Zealand for the first time next year with shows in Wellington, Auckland and Christchurch, beginning on July 1. Auditions were also held in Auckland and Wellington.
The 34 hopefuls at yesterday's Christchurch audition at the Impact Dance Studios had been whittled down from hundreds of applicants, and they were competing for 29 spots across the country.
After singing two songs to the judging panel, she was asked to learn and sing two more from the musical.
Christchurch musical theatre performer Julia Guthrey, 23, was among those to make a shortlist from the Christchurch hopefuls.
Angela Hegraty, 22, said of her audition: "I just think the nerves got to me a bit and the choreography went out the window, but I think it went all right.
She said a role in Starlight Express would be a huge step up for her career, which has so far included roles in Christchurch productions of Cats, Chicago and Guys and Dolls. He said the audition panel would now make its recommendations to the English director of the show, and the successful candidates would be told before Christmas."
Producer Stewart Macpherson said the Christchurch hopefuls were among the strongest groups to audition.
The cast would be put through a four-week course with a top German roller-skating coach, he said.
Some hopefuls yesterday were nervous about their roller-skating abilities, but Macpherson said "if they can dance, then almost certainly they can skate".
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Locals dream of the big stage
By SHANE COWLISHAW – Friday, 31 October 2008
DEAN KOZANIC
Starlight in her eyes: Christchurch musical theatre performer Julia Guthrey, 23, was among those to make a shortlist from the Christchurch hopefuls auditioning for the roller-skating musical Starlight Express.
It was all leotards, nerves and hot dance moves at a Christchurch dance studio during auditions for the roller-skating musical Starlight Express.
Starlight is second to Cats as the longest-running musical in British theatre history, and tells the story of a child's dream in which his toy train set comes to life.
The Andrew Lloyd Webber production will be performed in New Zealand for the first time next year with shows in Wellington, Auckland and Christchurch, beginning on July 1. Auditions were also held in Auckland and Wellington.
The 34 hopefuls at yesterday's Christchurch audition at the Impact Dance Studios had been whittled down from hundreds of applicants, and they were competing for 29 spots across the country.
After singing two songs to the judging panel, she was asked to learn and sing two more from the musical.
Christchurch musical theatre performer Julia Guthrey, 23, was among those to make a shortlist from the Christchurch hopefuls.
Angela Hegraty, 22, said of her audition: "I just think the nerves got to me a bit and the choreography went out the window, but I think it went all right.
She said a role in Starlight Express would be a huge step up for her career, which has so far included roles in Christchurch productions of Cats, Chicago and Guys and Dolls. He said the audition panel would now make its recommendations to the English director of the show, and the successful candidates would be told before Christmas."
Producer Stewart Macpherson said the Christchurch hopefuls were among the strongest groups to audition.
The cast would be put through a four-week course with a top German roller-skating coach, he said.
Some hopefuls yesterday were nervous about their roller-skating abilities, but Macpherson said "if they can dance, then almost certainly they can skate".
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Poisoning tragedy survivor remains seriously ill
– Monday, 08 September 2008
Barbeque accident leaves two dead
Hamilton man Jason Basson remained seriously ill in an Auckland hospital this morning after a carbon monoxide poisoning at a motor camp close to Raglan that left two men dead.
Do you know more about the Ruapuke tragedy? The would like to talk to you.co. Please email news@waikatotimes.
Mr Basson, 32, is the sole survivor from the accident at the Ruapuke motor camp, which claimed the lives of his two companions.nz or phone the news desk on 07 8499 666.
The victims' names will not be released until relatives in South Africa are informed of the deaths.
The men died after inhaling fumes from a charcoal barbecue they brought inside to heat the tiny cabin.
The other victim was a 50-year-old purchaser, from Hamilton.
But Huntly policeman Sergeant Brent Wallace this morning told the one man was a 35-year-old store manager from Howick, Auckland.
Mr Basson had fallen in and out of consciousness as he dragged himself along the floor of the cabin in a desperate attempt to get help for his two mates.
All three men were originally from South Africa.
He was this morning recovering in North Shore Hospital's high dependency unit, where he was likely to remain for some time, a spokeswoman said.
He was airlifted to Waikato Hospital, before later being transferred to Devonport naval base in Auckland for hyperbaric treatment.
However, it all turned tragically wrong overnight Saturday after a charcoal-burning portable barbecue was turned on to help them keep warm.
The three men were in a group of five from Hamilton and Auckland who had travelled to the secluded Ruapuke Camping Ground, about 20km southwest of Raglan, for a weekend of fishing and relaxation, while their wives were attending a baby shower for the injured man's wife in Hamilton.
About 8am yesterday, the teenage son approached Mr Walker for help after he was unable to rouse the trio, who were late for their scheduled 5am fishing trip to the popular Papanui Rock, about 2km up the road.
Camp ground manager Ben Walker said the group arrived on Saturday and had hired two cabins, with a father and son sharing a neighbouring site."
He realised once he got to the cabin that something was wrong.
"He wanted to get in that cabin to get his food. Mr Basson told him he couldn't move and to call an ambulance.
Mr Walker said he spoke with the injured man through the door."
It was then he realised the barbecue was probably inside the cabin.
"I said 'wake the others up', but he said they won't wake up.
Once inside the two men were found dead in their beds with Mr Basson lying on the floor against the door.
Once inside the two men were found dead in their beds with Mr Basson lying on the floor against the door.
"I did hear him say he had passed out and come around again. There's a bit of wind that passes through these cabins, so maybe that little crack under the door was enough to keep him alive."
Mr Walker said he hardly recognised the Hamilton man whose complexion was white and swollen.
He he knew the men reasonably well as they had stayed at the camping ground at various times in the past.
"They're just happy go lucky kinda guys."
However, he was baffled as to why they would use the barbecue as a heater.
"I don't know why they took it in. It's too small to take anything like that inside."
The camp ground is a popular spot for families over the summer period who are keen to escape, he said.
Yesterday, campers on site were lying low, including a young family in a campervan, and were kept inside the cordon until interviewed by police.
Sergeant Wallace said there was no indication that the men's deaths were suspicious, more they died as a result of a tragic oversight.