Two a penny

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Auckland bus drivers will decide earlier today whether to accept recommendations made by an employment facilitator to end a bitter pay dispute that has seen 80,000 commuters stranded over the last week. .The company and the coalition of four unions that make up the Auckland Combined Unions have been in facilitation with the Employment Relations Authority since the lockout to try and resolve the five month dispute.”We will take the recommendations from facilitation .Union negotiators will meet their members at 11am to discuss developments… to a meeting and will vote on whether to accept,” union spokesperson Karl Andersen said.”This is on the proviso that by 1.NZ Bus operations manager Zane Fulljames said that as a gesture of goodwill the company would lift the lock-out notice and resume all normal services, with effect from 4am on Thursday..30pm.the unions also lift their strike notice and agree to work with the facilitator to reach a ratified settlement..”We have confidence in the facilitation process, and trust that the unions will join with us to get our buses back on the roads,” Mr Fulljames said.”We have confidence in the facilitation process, and trust that the unions will join with us to get our buses back on the roads,” Mr Fulljames said.

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This year is shaping up to be the battle of the bloggers at New Zealand Fashion Week.

Jenna Sauers, who wrote under the pseudonym ‘Tatiana Anymodel’, on high-profile New York-based feminist blog Jezebel, will be writing about New Zealand Fashion Week for .

Other high-profile bloggers who will be attending the event this year include Joe K and Dan Bailey from Tokyodandy.com.com and Rumi Neely from fashiontoast.

“When I started modeling after university I wanted to be a writer, that was a dream.

Sauers said she is thrilled to be blogging for from New Zealand Fashion Week. I never expected that modeling would inspire me to write.

Her ‘Modelslips’ blog developed a cult following with her explosive look into the underbelly of the modelling world.” Sauers told .

Sauers said that she steeled herself for a negative response but was shocked and surprised by the support she received.

In July she decided to give up modelling and reveal her identity to readers and the industry. People I’d worked with years ago dropped me a line and said really nice stuff.

“It was actually incredibly positive; I got lots of e-mails about it.”

Sauers spent two years modelling for magazines such as Marie Claire, Harper’s Bazaar, Glamour and InStyle, and wrote in her Jezebel posts about the less glamorous side of the industry.”

Sauers spent two years modelling for magazines such as Marie Claire, Harper’s Bazaar, Glamour and InStyle, and wrote in her Jezebel posts about the less glamorous side of the industry.”

These days she is more concerned about her writing than her measurements. It’s psychologically demanding to maintain your own confidence – there were moments where your confidence is just shaken to the core by clients saying awful things about your body.” Sauers said.

“I really enjoy that I’ve been able to continue my involvement with fashion – just from a different perspective. That appeals to me as a feminist. .

This year she’ll be watching the shows from the audience and blogging about her experience on .”

Last year Sauers took part in runway shows for Zambesi, Lonely Hearts and Trelise Cooper at New Zealand Fashion Week. The process of making a fashion show come together is so different from watching one.

“It’s a different environment out front than being backstage.

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A New Zealand military chaplain, Father Darren O’Callaghan, has held a memorial service in the Solomon Islands for one of the New Zealanders killed in the Tongan ferry disaster.

Fr O’Callaghan held the service so members of the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI) could farewell Sisiliah Puleheloto, 24, a member of the Niue police force. A cousin, Dwenelle Luani, 25, last saw her on the sinking MV Princess Ashika grasping at seats inside the passenger lounge as the ferry rolled over.Ms Puleheloto had taken leave to visit relatives in Tonga. A total of 54 people – all men – were rescued, and two bodies were recovered.She remains one of the 73 people missing after the ferry sank in Ha’apai waters on August 5.RAMSI special coordinator Graeme Wilson said the young policewoman, who worked in the community relations team, had made an enormous contribution, showing a big heart and working to help Solomon Islanders build a better, safer future. .She would be missed not only by the remaining 15 members of the Niue police force, but by the many friends she had made around the world in her short life, Mr Buchhorn said.The commander of the Participating Police Force (PPF), Wayne Buchhorn, said “Sisi”, as she was known, was one of only two officers who made up RAMSI’s Niue contingent and the first female officer to represent her nation in an overseas mission.Ms Puleheloto is the fifth active member of RAMSI to die in the six years since RAMSI first deployed to the Solomon Islands in July 2003.

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A police checkpoint within Kiwi soldiers’ area of responsibility in Afghanistan, has come under attack from insurgents in the run-up to presidential elections.

Insurgents with rocket-propelled grenades and AK47s sparked a three-hour gunfight on Thursday, leaving one policeman injured and another missing.

Only hours later, a Kiwi patrol rushed to investigate a loud explosion near the Ish Pesta checkpoint, possibly an IED (improvised explosive device) attack.

It’s thought that Taliban threats scared voters and dampened turnout in the militant south.

No further details on the second attack were available last night.

The checkpoint targeted in the first attack sits in a mountain gorge in the Pashtun enclave, on the border of Bamiyan and Baghlan provinces, and falls within the New Zealand provincial reconstruction team’s (PRT) region. Insurgents killed 26 Afghans in scattered attacks, but officials said militants failed to disrupt the vote.

It has been repeatedly targeted, but yesterday’s attack was the worst.

Police officers returned fire, but did not have the weapons needed to repel the onslaught. Bullets tore through windows, becoming embedded in walls as insurgents in the mountains across a river fired repeatedly.

A Kiwi patrol inspected the checkpoint as soon as it heard about the attack. The gunfight ended when the attackers ran out of ammunition.

“My guess is they would have moved to Baghlan province, which is outside our PRT boundaries,” he said.

However, patrol commander Corporal Matthew Pearce did not hold out much hope of finding the insurgents.

Policeman Ahmed Zia said he feared he was “going to die” in the gunfire.

Policeman Ahmed Zia said he feared he was “going to die” in the gunfire.

“When I heard the shots, I took my weapon and fired back.

There were six men at the checkpoint when fighting broke out “around midnight”. The enemy was yelling at us to put our weapons down, but we fired back.

“It was really frightening, very loud.”

Pearce walked around the area yesterday, and checked the condition of the injured man.

“It went on so long because they used up all their rounds.

“Given the time of the month, it coincides with all the other new moon attacks, and being on the eve of the election, it’s really no surprise at all.

He said it was the type of incident the Kiwis had expected. .

“I always expect more, but it’s possible that this may have been the token effort for this group of insurgents

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A stolen car struck a policewoman and then drove on its wheel rims after running over road spikes during a high speed chase close to Taupo earlier today, say police.

The officer, who had stopped and was speaking to the driver after he allegedly drove off without paying for fuel, was struck on her left side.

The incident happened about 7.

She suffered minor bruising and a sore left knee but did not require medical help, said Sergeant Greg Weston of Taupo police.

Police pursued the car for about 40km from Wairakei toward Rotorua, at speeds of up to 170kmh, he said.30am on State Highway 5, just north of Wairakei. The car drove on for another 9km, during which time one tyre disintegrated before the driver pulled over.

Police put down road spikes in front of the car, which punctured three tyres.

The charges include theft, reckless driving, driving while disqualified (third or subsequent), failing to stop for police, driving with excess breath alcohol and aggravated assault.

Mr Weston said a 19-year-old Lower Hutt man will appear in Taupo District Court tomorrow, facing nine charges arising from the incident.

Further charges may be laid.

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Publishing industry sources say HarperCollins may have overestimated the appetite for another David Bain book.

Late the previous month HarperCollins trumpeted a book deal it had struck with long-time Bain supporter Joe Karam.

Karam, who has already written two books about Bain’s fight to clear his name after being accused of murdering five members of his family in 1994, was to pen the new title, which was due for publication in September. The advance was rumoured to be worth about $100,000.

Last week the company announced the book would instead be published next year. That date would have given Karam and his publisher barely three months to produce the book after Bain was found not guilty on June 5, following a three-month retrial.

A HarperCollins spokeswoman told the Sunday Star-Times new information had come to light, and that Karam needed more time. It promised “an even more significant book” with the extra time being used by Karam to “fully develop and research” the themes.

But publishing industry sources believe HarperCollins may have initially thought a “quick and dirty” book meaning one that could be produced entirely from notes and recollection could have been commercially successful. The spokeswoman said she did not know what the new information was. .

They say that view may have changed once the deal with Karam was signed.

HarperCollins denies overestimating demand and says the decision to delay the book “is nothing to do with that”. At that point HarperCollins may have gone back to Karam and told him he needed to write something more comprehensive. The poll attracted more than 15,000 responses with only 11% fewer than 1700 people saying they intended to buy it.

However, it is a theory that appears to be backed up by a poll on news website YahooXtra last week which asked respondents whether they would buy the book. The remainder said they would borrow the book from a library. Almost 80% said they were either not that interested in the case, or were no fan of either Karam or Bain.

“The problem at the moment is that everyone thinks they’ve heard everything.

Publishing sources say delaying the book may work in HarperCollins’ favour, with one saying the book could generate more interest next year as long as it contains new information. It’s a risk, but all publishing is. But if there is something in the book that is enough to generate new headlines then it may be a good strategy.”

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New Zealand’s international reputation has bounced back from the Bastareaud affair, New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) boss Steve Tew says.

Tew today returned from Japan to news French Prime Minister Francois Fillon had written to New Zealand counterpart John Key, to apologise for the “unacceptable behaviour” of countryman Mathieu Bastareaud .Rugby centre Bastareaud, 20, lied over an alleged assault in Wellington following France’s 14-10 defeat against the All Blacks on June 20.He said he had drunk too much and hit his head on a hotel table, but there have been reports his injuries were due to being hit by a teammate.Police investigated the incident, which had the potential to damage the New Zealand tourism industry, for several days, until Bastareaud admitted he made it up.”Ironically, given how much the story has snowballed over the last week, we’ve probably repaired all the damage and gone some way, so .Tew told reporters that, based on headlines he had seen overseas, widespread publicity about the incident might turn out to be a positive for New Zealand.. if there’s a positive out of this, that would be it,” he said…”The initial story didn’t do New Zealand any good, but the story’s become such a big issue now . it’s getting headlines, including that New Zealand’s international reputation has been restored..”We would have all preferred for it not to happen, but the way it has unfolded now is probably as good as we can expect.”We would have all preferred for it not to happen, but the way it has unfolded now is probably as good as we can expect.”By his false statements, as a result of which you had to intervene publicly, he seriously tainted the image of your country and its people.Mr Fillon said that “France’s tour of New Zealand has been marked by the unacceptable behaviour of one of its players”.Tew echoed the response of Mr Key.”Mr Fillon said he regretted the incident and wanted the culture of rugby shared by the two countries to continue. .”It’s totally appropriate, I think our prime minister’s summed it up very well, we now support his position that it’s time to move on.”Bastareaud was welcome to return to New Zealand, he said.”We’d also like to say we wish the player all the best, he clearly has some issues he needs to deal with and we’d like him to be able to move on and get well.”Bastareaud was admitted to hospital in France with serious psychological problems on Monday after allegedly trying to commit suicide.”He’s a member of the wider rugby community, he made a mistake, he’s got to live with that mistake for the rest of his life, he now needs to get on – we hope he will be back here in 2011 playing against the All Blacks.”The FRF is shocked that one of the French XV has lied.”The FRF is shocked that one of the French XV has lied. The New Zealand nation and the world of rugby can legitimately feel wounded by the player’s initial statements which have also tarnished the image of French rugby.”Camou has contacted the FRF’s disciplinary commission and has called for an inquiry into the episode.

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TSB Bank is cutting its two-year fixed home loan rate to 5.99 percent to stimulate demand for home loans.

Managing director Kevin Rimmington said the bank was unaffected by the comings and goings on worldwide financial markets, and was determined to pass the benefits of this on to New Zealanders.

The Taranaki-based trust-owned bank, which returns its profits to the community, said it funds its mortgage lending entirely from deposits, which have been increasing. Dr Bollard said he was disappointed that banks had not passed on the April reduction in the official cash rate to short-term lending rates.

The reduction comes a day after the latest round of bank bashing by Reserve Bank Governor Alan Bollard.

Mr Rimmington said the two-year fixed rate was effectively the bank’s benchmark mortgage lending product.

“They have an opportunity to help New Zealand’s recovery by doing so,” Dr Bollard said.

“Right now, we’re experiencing record levels of funds growth.

It was being cut because “we are getting a lot of funds into the bank” and “we have to get it back out again”.25 percent and the one-year rate is 4.”

TSB’s deposit rate for two years is 5.

Mr Rimmington said that up until about a month ago the bank’s margin on lending was the lowest it had ever experienced.6 percent.

The official cash rate has been cut from 8.

Australian-owned banks operating in New Zealand have argued that their funding costs have risen, particularly in global markets, so they can’t pass on all of the cuts in the official cash rate.5 percent.25 percent to the current 2.5 basis points to 3.

reported that New Zealand swap yields firmed across the curve today, with two-year swaps up 4.25 percent.79 percent and five-year swaps up five basis points at 5.

The website interest. These yields influence the pricing of mortgages.nz shows that many two-year home loan fixed rates are around 6.nz shows that many two-year home loan fixed rates are around 6.25 percent. Kiwibank offers 6. .19 percent prior to this cut.

Up to 65 percent of TSB Bank’s assets go into providing home loans. The bank has nine branches outside Taranaki.

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Two people have died on New Zealand roads this weekend.

This morning a 78-year-old Hauraki man died at the scene of a crash close to Paeroa.

The driver of the ute was the only other person involved and was unhurt.

Police said the man attempted to do a U-turn in the path of a northbound ute close to the intersection of Rangiora Road, Komata, on State Highway 26.

The dead man was driving west and hit an oncoming car, Sergeant Steve Salton said.

About 1am yesterday (Saturday) a 22-year-old man died at the scene of a two-car collision on Auckland’s Upper Harbour motorway, close to the Greenhithe Bridge.

On Friday morning two teenage girls were killed in a car crash in Whangarei.

He suspected speed to be a factor in the crash.10am.

The pair, who were aged 17 and 18, were killed when the car they were in rolled down a bank on Anzac Rd and into the front yard of a property in suburban Morningside just after 1.

The two were in the back seat of the car and not wearing seatbelts, Northland police spokeswoman Sarah Kennett said.

Police said they were locals.

They received minor injuries and did not need hospital treatment.

There were three other women, aged 16 to 19, in the car.

Ms Kennett said the car lost control on a bend and no other vehicles were involved.

The driver was breath-tested at the scene and was found not to have been under the influence of alcohol.

Also on Friday, a woman died after her car and a truck collided close to Dargaville, 58km south west of Whangarei.

She said the road would have been wet as it rained in Whangarei yesterday and overnight.

The woman driver of the car died at the scene. . The three deaths on the road on Friday fell outside of the weekend reporting period.

* The weekend road death toll was earlier incorrectly reported as five.

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A newborn girl died after a lab test result revealing a deadly but treatable infection went missing at Wellington Hospital.

The mother complained about the midwife and being pressured to leave hospital early, but the health and disability commissioner ruled that it was the missing lab test that led to the baby’s death. Her first-time mother was discharged about five hours after the birth.

The girl died at home in November 2007, less than 20 hours after her birth at Wellington Hospital.

That policy did not apply to first-time mothers, and was not in effect at the time of the birth, but was a symptom of the pressure the maternity ward was under at the time.

The birth happened as Capital and Coast District Health Board was issuing a memo encouraging midwives to discharge mothers within six hours of giving birth.

The mother said this week: “I can’t say my baby would definitely be OK [if she had stayed] but under professional care I believe she would have had a better chance.

The couple later complained to the commissioner about the standard of care provided by the independent midwife, saying they had felt pushed to leave hospital early. How could I know what is the normal temperature?”

In a decision the previous month, commissioner Ron Paterson said it seemed a “striking coincidence” that the case happened as Capital and Coast issued its early discharge memo. At home I always felt she was cold, but it was my first baby.”

The report is not public but The obtained a copy. “I have no doubt that you felt pressured to leave the hospital. “I find it very difficult to put this statement into the baby’s box,” the mother said.

The parents are angry with the commissioner’s decision, which they do not think is impartial.”

The commissioner found the midwife provided “appropriate care”, although he identified communication and information problems. “I feel it’s an insult to her, it’s not based on much truth, it’s not really listening to me.

“This systems error, rather than the actions of [the midwife], is the true cause of [the baby's] death.

He said the death was caused by the failure to provide antibiotics to treat the infection evident in a swab result that had gone missing. Penicillin was recommended during childbirth.”

The missing test, which the midwife had ordered two days earlier, showed the mother had group B streptococcus bacteria. She did a second swab but those results were not available until after the baby’s death. But when the midwife asked for the test result on the day of birth, it could not be found. “What’s the point of having a second swab on the day of the baby’s birth?”

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An autopsy found the cause of death was pneumonia and persistent pulmonary hypertension (when a baby’s body does not adapt to breathing outside the womb). .

In a letter to Capital and Coast, Mr Paterson said he was satisfied the DHB had made “necessary improvements”.

In a letter to Capital and Coast, Mr Paterson said he was satisfied the DHB had made “necessary improvements”. But he has made extra recommendations and asked it to report by the end of this month.

Capital and Coast women’s health clinical director John Tait said the DHB had taken “significant steps” to address the issues raised by the “tragic event”. It invited the family to meet “to express our sincere apologies and discuss the improvements made in our systems”.