Two a penny

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A second prison officer working at Wellington’s Rimutaka Prison has been arrested on drug charges.

Corrections chief executive Barry Matthews said the prison guard had been arrested under the Misuse of Drugs Act. .

“This second arrest should send a very clear and strong message that corrupt and illegal behaviour will not be tolerated in our prisons,” Mr Matthews said.

In June this year, a senior prison manager, Jeffrey Mark Reid, 43, was arrested and charged with selling cannabis to inmates. There is always the possibility of corrupt practices occurring within the system, he said.

He said it was disappointing such action had to be taken, but the department was confident the overwhelming majority of officers were honest.

In August a female prison officer was suspended on full pay, accused of having an affair with a violent criminal.

TVNZ also reported more arrests were imminent, following the investigation into one of the country’s largest prisons.

She was one of five Rimutaka staff suspended at that time – two years after a spate of staff problems prompted a more than 15-month inquiry into corruption at the prison.

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Mr Matthews said he could not provide further details on the arrest as the case was before the courts

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People have been warned to take care after reports of dog and sea life deaths on Auckland’s eastern beaches and within the Hauraki Gulf.

A dog died after visiting a Browns Bay beach last month, and a second death was reported on Cheltenham Beach, Devonport.

Two other dogs were reported to have become ill, but not die.

Over 1000 fish, as well as some penguins and seabirds were washed up dead on the affected beaches, reported the New Zealand Herald.

Various agencies are investigating the deaths to determine the cause.

The matter is considered so serious, ARPHS is warning:

* People should avoid exercising pets along Hauraki Gulf beaches;

* children should not be taken to Hauraki Gulf beaches;

* people should avoid contact with sea water and sea life in the Hauraki Gulf;

* people should not collect shellfish from the Hauraki Gulf.

Auckland Regional Public Health Service (ARPHS) said it was unable to rule out risk to the public until results were received.

Residents have been advised not to walk their dogs on the beach but North Shore District Council environmental health team leader Duffy Visser said she hadn’t heard of people being affected.

“Usually if there is a toxic algae it is more along the lines of an allergic reaction but we haven’t heard of anything yet.

“That is a big concern, but there are no reports of people suffering yet,” she said.”

Checks had been inconclusive as to the cause of the deaths and illnesses, Ms Visser said.

“Fortunately there are not many people using the beach at the moment but there are some so we are keeping an eye on that.

Yesterday North Shore City Council Environmental Protection team held a meeting with representatives from Rodney District Council and Auckland Regional Public Health.

Some test results from this week’s death have been sent away but results are not likely to be available until Friday.

North Shore City Council was working closely with Auckland Regional Public Health, the Department of Conservation, MAF and other local councils in terms of sharing information and working together.

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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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School sports stars are being targeted by agents trying to fill their client books, a New Zealand sports lawyer warns.

Sports lawyer and agent David Jones said there was a growing number of agents trying to make money from ever-younger athletes.

The New Zealand Rugby Players’ Association has issued an agent charter and set up a website with advice for rising stars “in recognition that younger and younger sports stars, particularly in rugby, are receiving approaches to join the semi-professional ranks”.

He said that while a deal might look good, the devil would be in the detail.

“With competition growing between the people who are agents and have clients, they naturally have to go further afield, so they approach younger and younger players,” Jones said.

Jones said more agents were chasing younger sportsmen and women.”

New Zealand Secondary School Sports Council executive director Garry Carnachan said some students were offered contracts with rugby unions to join an academy programme. .

The Rugby Players’ Association charter required that prospective agents tell under-21 rugby players to seek advice before signing up with an agent.

“Obviously, if they are being approached about any form of contract they might want to seek advice,” Carnachan said.

“It is a competitive market and there are good agents and bad some will not hesitate to stretch the truth and act aggressively to secure a player.

“It is important that the player does not just go with the first agent that he comes in contact with,” it said. “It’s too young for a player, much too young for a player to be (approached).”

Jones said school was not an appropriate place to tout for talent.

“Someone like a Danny Lee should certainly have representation from the right sort of person,” Jones said.”

There were some exceptions based on the sport, and for a few remarkable talents.

International Management Group (IMG) is expected to sign him up in a deal worth US$10 million (NZ$17.

Ad Feedback –>
loadAd(’300×250′,’STORYBODY’,300,250);

Lee, 18, is due to sign a multimillion-dollar deal today to mark his switch to the professional ranks of golf.

.5m)

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1500 take opportunity for walkabout on roundabout

Monday, 02 March 2009

Pedestrians braved the wind and rain to go walkabout on the roundabout, at the new Dowse Interchange on State Highway 2.
The interchange opened to traffic for the first time today but was open to pedestrians on Saturday, with a gold coin donation fee going to Te Omanga Hospice. Despite the wet weather, about 1500 people turned out.
She urged motorists to show caution while they familiarised themselves with the new route.
NZ Transport Agency's regional director, Deborah Hume, said there would be a period of adjustment to the new layout but she expected it to significantly improve traffic flow.
Work is continuing on the next stages of the $65 million project, including the construction of an overbridge at Korokoro.
Those keen to be among the first to drive the new stretch of road had to be up early it was expected to open at 2am.
Lower Hutt Mayor David Ogden, who walked the interchange on Saturday, was pleased with what he saw.
"What I found is that it's quite elevated it becomes a new entrance to the city and lifts the traffic. "It will bring a bit of order to the area and leave out some of the bottlenecking that happens.
"It really changes the vista. .
The next phase of the project involves the demolition of the old Korokoro bridge and the construction of a new overbridge and intersection."
The expressway-style roading and overbridge replace three sets of traffic signals between Dowse Drive and Petone that caused congestion, delays and accidents.
Final completion is scheduled for early next year.
Final completion is scheduled for early next year

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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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Anti-Israel cafe standoff sparks protest

Aus-based Ambassador upset

Friday, 16 January 2009

WILL HINE/
YOUR MOVE: Israeli chess grandmaster Victor Mikhalavski, left, takes on Hilton Bennett in the Queenstown Chess Classic.

Peace group plans nationwide Gaza protests

Invercargill cafe breaches human rights

Reader comments

LATEST: A protest has broken out across from an Invercargill cafe where the owner refused to serve two Israeli women earlier this week.30pm today.
About 12 pro-Israel protestors gathered across the road from the Mevlana Cafe about 12.
He said he would not serve anyone from Israel until it stopped killing innocent babies and women in the Gaza Strip.
Mevlanaowner Mustafa Tekinkaya, a Turkish Muslim, told two Israeli women, Natalie Bennie and her sister Tamara Shefa, to leave his cafe on Wednesday.
Countering today's pro-Israel protestors were three supporters of Mr Tekinkaya's stand, who gathered outside his shop. Mr Tekinkaya, and his wife Joanne, said they had no family members living on the Gaza Strip."
"At this moment you don't need to bring the Middle East into New Zealand .
The protest action follows a call by Israel's ambassador to New Zealand- Australian-basedYuval Rotem – for ourgovernment to ensure nothing similar to happened again: "This anti-Israeli and anti-Jewish sentiment needs to be stopped…
Meanwhile,a spokesperson for the Human Rights Commission yesterday confirmed Mrs Bennie had lodged a complaint, while 15 others had called the commission. you need to take the spirit of New Zealand into the Middle East," he said.
And protests against Israel's military offensive on Gaza moved to an international chess tournament in Queenstown yesterday.
Race Relations commissioner Joris de Bres said it was illegal for providers of goods and services in New Zealand to discriminate in this way.
Signed by veteran protester John Minto, the letter said campaigners would ask tournament organisers to expel Mikhalevski if he did not voluntarily withdraw.
The Israeli top seed, Victor Mikhalevski, was asked to withdraw by Global Peace and Justice Auckland from the $50,000 tournament as an act of solidarity with the Palestinian people.
Mr Tekinkaya's action has sparked international media interest as well as debate within New Zealand.
However, Mikhalevski refused to bow out and his decision to remain in the tournament was backed by organisers.
Mr and Mrs Tekinkaya yesterday remained defiant.
More than 100 comments were posted on the Stuff website, with the vast majority condemning the cafe owner.
"No one's sticking up for them. .
".
"… what happened to freedom of speech and the rights of a business to serve or not to serve?"
The cafe's neighbouring takeaway shop, Turkish Kebabs, also said on Wednesday it was not serving Israelis.
Mr Tekinkaya said he had received dozens of phone calls from people supporting him and a handful of calls opposed to his stance.
Mrs Bennie said from her home close to Invercargill she and her visiting Israeli sister had received over a dozen calls from strangers to say they were appalled by Mr Tekinkaya's stance.
Ambassador Rotem said New Zealand should not become part of the conflict and the government needed to make a declaration or statement giving the "red light" to such actions.
He expected "full fledged action" from the government and would address the issue when he visited New Zealand in the next few weeks, he said.
Foreign Affairs minister Murray McCully did not return calls last night.
Mrs Bennie commended the Israeli ambassador's actions, saying Mr Tekinkaya had displayed "anti-semitic" behaviour.
"He might as well have put a sign outside his shop saying `No Jews Allowed'."
Mrs Bennie said her mother, who lives in Israel, was concerned she could now become a target for New Zealand radical Muslims.
"It could be a possibility, you never know."
WHAT THEY SAID:
Israel's ambassador to New Zealand Yuval Rotem:
"This anti-Israeli and anti-Jewish sentiment needs to be stopped.
"At this moment you don't need to bring the Middle East into New Zealand … You need to take the spirit of New Zealand into the Middle East."
Mustafa Tekinkaya, Mevlana Cafe co-owner:
"Everyone is going on about racism. This has nothing to do with racism. This is all about the killing of innocent children."
Joanne Tekinkaya, Mevlana Cafe co-owner: "Those dead women and children don't have a voice. No one's sticking up for them. Innocent women and children are being punished, so how can we be quiet and stand by and support that … what happened to freedom of speech and the rights of a business to serve or not to serve?"
Natalie Bennie, Israeli national ordered out of the Mevlana Cafe in Invercargill:
"It was very anti-semitic behaviour.
"He (Mustafa Tekinkaya) might as well have put a sign outside his shop saying `No Jews Allowed'."

.
Anti-Israel cafe standoff sparks protest

Aus-based Ambassador upset

Friday, 16 January 2009

WILL HINE/
YOUR MOVE: Israeli chess grandmaster Victor Mikhalavski, left, takes on Hilton Bennett in the Queenstown Chess Classic.

Peace group plans nationwide Gaza protests

Invercargill cafe breaches human rights

Reader comments

LATEST: A protest has broken out across from an Invercargill cafe where the owner refused to serve two Israeli women earlier this week.30pm today.
About 12 pro-Israel protestors gathered across the road from the Mevlana Cafe about 12.
He said he would not serve anyone from Israel until it stopped killing innocent babies and women in the Gaza Strip.
Mevlanaowner Mustafa Tekinkaya, a Turkish Muslim, told two Israeli women, Natalie Bennie and her sister Tamara Shefa, to leave his cafe on Wednesday.
Countering today's pro-Israel protestors were three supporters of Mr Tekinkaya's stand, who gathered outside his shop. Mr Tekinkaya, and his wife Joanne, said they had no family members living on the Gaza Strip."
"At this moment you don't need to bring the Middle East into New Zealand .
The protest action follows a call by Israel's ambassador to New Zealand- Australian-basedYuval Rotem – for ourgovernment to ensure nothing similar to happened again: "This anti-Israeli and anti-Jewish sentiment needs to be stopped…
Meanwhile,a spokesperson for the Human Rights Commission yesterday confirmed Mrs Bennie had lodged a complaint, while 15 others had called the commission. you need to take the spirit of New Zealand into the Middle East," he said.
And protests against Israel's military offensive on Gaza moved to an international chess tournament in Queenstown yesterday.
Race Relations commissioner Joris de Bres said it was illegal for providers of goods and services in New Zealand to discriminate in this way.
Signed by veteran protester John Minto, the letter said campaigners would ask tournament organisers to expel Mikhalevski if he did not voluntarily withdraw.
The Israeli top seed, Victor Mikhalevski, was asked to withdraw by Global Peace and Justice Auckland from the $50,000 tournament as an act of solidarity with the Palestinian people.
Mr Tekinkaya's action has sparked international media interest as well as debate within New Zealand.
However, Mikhalevski refused to bow out and his decision to remain in the tournament was backed by organisers.
Mr and Mrs Tekinkaya yesterday remained defiant.
More than 100 comments were posted on the Stuff website, with the vast majority condemning the cafe owner.
"No one's sticking up for them. .
".
"… what happened to freedom of speech and the rights of a business to serve or not to serve?"
The cafe's neighbouring takeaway shop, Turkish Kebabs, also said on Wednesday it was not serving Israelis.
Mr Tekinkaya said he had received dozens of phone calls from people supporting him and a handful of calls opposed to his stance.
Mrs Bennie said from her home close to Invercargill she and her visiting Israeli sister had received over a dozen calls from strangers to say they were appalled by Mr Tekinkaya's stance.
Ambassador Rotem said New Zealand should not become part of the conflict and the government needed to make a declaration or statement giving the "red light" to such actions.
He expected "full fledged action" from the government and would address the issue when he visited New Zealand in the next few weeks, he said.
Foreign Affairs minister Murray McCully did not return calls last night.
Mrs Bennie commended the Israeli ambassador's actions, saying Mr Tekinkaya had displayed "anti-semitic" behaviour.
"He might as well have put a sign outside his shop saying `No Jews Allowed'."
Mrs Bennie said her mother, who lives in Israel, was concerned she could now become a target for New Zealand radical Muslims.
"It could be a possibility, you never know."
WHAT THEY SAID:
Israel's ambassador to New Zealand Yuval Rotem:
"This anti-Israeli and anti-Jewish sentiment needs to be stopped.
"At this moment you don't need to bring the Middle East into New Zealand … You need to take the spirit of New Zealand into the Middle East."
Mustafa Tekinkaya, Mevlana Cafe co-owner:
"Everyone is going on about racism. This has nothing to do with racism. This is all about the killing of innocent children."
Joanne Tekinkaya, Mevlana Cafe co-owner: "Those dead women and children don't have a voice. No one's sticking up for them. Innocent women and children are being punished, so how can we be quiet and stand by and support that … what happened to freedom of speech and the rights of a business to serve or not to serve?"
Natalie Bennie, Israeli national ordered out of the Mevlana Cafe in Invercargill:
"It was very anti-semitic behaviour.
"He (Mustafa Tekinkaya) might as well have put a sign outside his shop saying `No Jews Allowed'."