Two a penny

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Police want to hear from anyone who sees unexplained damage on a four-wheel-drive vehicle with bull bars following an incident which left a Tokoroa teen in hospital. .

Detective Sergeant Kevan Verry said it appeared the incident happened after an altercation in the centre of the Waikato township between two groups.30am yesterday.

It was not known if the vehicle had sustained any damage in the incident.

Police were treating the incident as a serious assault.

The scene examination had been completed and several witnesses spoken to.

“If any person knows of someone who drives or owns a vehicle of this type that has some unexplained damage, they are urged to contact police,” Mr Verry said.

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The teenager remains in a critical condition in Waikato Hospital

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OPINION:
The official website of the mayor of Wanganui is a fascinating monument to a man who simply cannot get enough of himself. It is a site absolutely awash in self-love.

Visitors to the cosily titled mayormichael. .co. Oh, and there’s some stuff about Wanganui, too. The site’s latest thrilling additions are magazine photos of Michael Laws’ family dating back to 2003 – just in case any of us neglected to cut them out at the time of publication – but there are also shots of his kids’ birthday parties, updates on the state of his relationship with his partner, and photos of Laws that stretch back to boyhood.

If there is any glimmer of a redeeming feature in this exercise in narcissism, it is that Mr Laws appears to have almost as soft a spot for children as he has for himself.

All of which makes it a surprise to see the level of contempt with which he treated a group of Otaki children who had the temerity to write to him last month. Mr Laws clearly adores his own kids, and has written in the past about the evils of child abuse.

In response, he wrote the girls a letter suggesting their teacher be sacked, urging them to control their anger, and saying he wouldn’t take their views seriously unless they first looked at the rate of child abuse and murder within Maori society.

The seven students of Otaki School’s kura kaupapa unit, aged from 11 to 13, wrote to Mr Laws in Maori to say what they thought about the controversy over whether Wanganui should have an “h” in its name. But here’s the thing: whatever.

There has since been much debate about whether the Maori word used by all seven students in their letters and translated by Mr Laws’ team as “anger” should instead have been “frustration”. It shouldn’t be news to Mr Laws, father of many, that pre-teen girls are stroppy, and that 12-year-olds have yet to learn the social bullshit that enables us to express our opinions in a detached manner. It shouldn’t be news to Mr Laws, father of many, that pre-teen girls are stroppy, and that 12-year-olds have yet to learn the social bullshit that enables us to express our opinions in a detached manner. Children of their age should, he said, care only about Harry Potter.

Firstly, this champion of direct democracy argued that “it’s wrong for kids to be angry about something inanimate”.

AN ARGUMENT this ludicrous doesn’t fly for long, so Mr Laws then argued that their teacher had put them up to it. In others words, it’s not just that their views are wrong; they shouldn’t be allowed to have views. As any parent knows, it’s impossible to convince a 12-year-old girl to turn her music down if she doesn’t want to. Who is this classroom Svengali? Again, I come back to the legendary stroppiness of pre-teen girls.

. The thought of a teacher being able to persuade seven of them to write letters against their will is simply inconceivable, unless electric cattle prods were involved

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The Government is planning a stocktake of valuable minerals in the conservation estate but it isn’t going to dig up pristine landscape, Energy and Resources Minister Gerry Brownlee says.

Conservation land is protected by Schedule Four of the Crown Minerals Act and Mr Brownlee said he wasn’t considering changing the legislation.”What we’re examining at is the type of land that needs to be in Schedule Four,” he told reporters today.”Mr Brownlee mentioned the stocktake at a mining conference in Queenstown yesterday.”All we’re saying is there may be some places where the conservation values of the land are significantly less than the high standard put on Schedule Four.The estimated value of untapped minerals in New Zealand has been put at about $140 billion and around 70 percent of that involves conservation land.He said today there seemed to be “a degree of panic” about it which was not warranted.”New Zealand has some of the most pristine landscape in the world.”What we’re saying is where there are new lands added to that we need to balance both aspects of economic and conservation values. It is recognised in Schedule Four of the Crown Minerals Act as being impenetrable,” Mr Brownlee said. This is a stocktake, which is perfectly reasonable. .”What New Zealanders need to know is that New Zealand is similarly endowed,” he said.”He said the previous government spent nine years explaining the economic gap between Australia and New Zealand was as a result of Australia’s mineral wealth.”It’s going to be a very public process.”It’s going to be a very public process

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A man was crushed to death in an elevator shaft at the Fonterra plant in Edendale, Southland, this morning.

An ambulance communications spokesman said it received a report at 11.08am of a worker gone missing in an elevator shaft.

A Fonterra spokeswoman said the man was a contractor working on installing the plant’s ED4 drier, as part of a $212 million expansion due to be commissioned in the next two weeks.

The man was found dead by ambulance services, from a “crushing injury,” the spokesman said.

The Labour Department has confirmed it is investigating the fatal accident.

“Our thoughts are with the contractors family, colleagues and friends at this terrible time,” the spokeswoman said. . Theodorus Rangihu Blake, 52, of New Plymouth, was crushed to death at the company’s Hawera, Taranaki, plant in January.

It it the second incident this year where a Fonterra employee died while at work.

-By MICHAEL FORBES and DEBBIE JAMIESON,

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Prime Minister John Key has struck turbulence in Niue over aid.

The island’s premier, Toke Talagi, today ratcheted up the stakes by threatening to seek aid money from China if New Zealand did not release funds which he said Niue desperately needed to put its economy on a sounder footing.

“It makes sense for us to look at other forms of support to ensure that we can do the things we want to do for our economy as quickly as possible,” he said. If we don’t do that in a timely manner we are wasting our time, therefore we’ve got to look elsewhere if we can’t access those funds from New Zealand.

“The opportunity that is available to us at the present moment is to build our economy, build accommodation for example so we can get a second [Air New Zealand] service from New Zealand.

At issue is about $4 million in aid money which falls outside the annual aid assistance provided by New Zealand to Niue.”

But Mr Key said he was waiting for the arrival of a special envoy from New Zealand to consider how the aid money should be spent before it was released. It is tagged for economic development aimed at making the island’s economy more sustainable.

Mr Key said the money would be released as long as the Government was confident the funds would be deployed in the right places.

The island, which has a population of fewer than 2000, is heavily dependant on aid.

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The Rimutaka Hill Road north of Wellington was open early tonight after being closed because of snow but may close again later tonight.

NZ Transport Agency highways manager for Wellington, Rob Whight said the agency’s contractor was clearing a further dusting of snow this evening, but there was potential for the road to close overnight.

Freezing weather has hit much of the country today.

If the road had to be closed overnight it would be reopened in time for morning traffic between the Wairarapa and Wellington, unless conditions were too bad.

New Zealand Transport Agency operating manager David Bates told Radio New Zealand there was a lot of ice and snow about, especially around Dunedin.

State Highway 87 in the South Island was also closed because of the chilly conditions.”

The agency was also urging caution on the Desert Rd, State Highway 1 between Waiouru and Turangi in the Central North Island, where up to 5cm of snow was expected on the road.

”This evening the problem’s going to be ice and we’re recommending in Dunedin and areas around Dunedin people don’t go out unless it’s absolutely essential.

Heavy snow falls in Dunedin caused a number of accidents and closed roads in and out of the city.

Snow, black ice and sleet caused traffic chaos in and around the hills of Dunedin earlier today.

Sergeant Ed Baker said Dunedin’s roads had quietened down this afternoon once people realised they shouldn’t be driving around in such conditions.

Schools were also closed because buses could not take students to school.

It had been so busy police were not attending minor accidents where cars slid off the road.

The Kilmog Hill, on SH1 north of Dunedin, was close to reopening but flurries of snow threatened to keep it closed, he said.

Snow also closed Dunedin Airport earlier today, cancelling a total of 10 flights and the travel plans of 480 people. There had been no serious injury accidents, he said.40am.

However, the snow cleared and flights were able to leave from 10. .

Dunedin Airport was only rarely closed because of snow, said Air New Zealand airport manager Alistair Bevin.

For the rest of Otago, Southland and Fiordland there would be snow to close to sea level, with snow levels rising.

Snow showers would clear by evening for a frosty night but it would be fine tomorrow for north and Central Otago.

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– Next National story: –
Court dismisses Gardner’s appeal

– National Homepage –

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Snow showers were forecast for Porters Pass, Lindis Pass and the Milford Road in the South Island

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Health board sued over car death

– Monday, 02 March 2009

A woman whose mother was killed by a drugged methadone patient near Picton is suing a South Island health board over the death.
Picton woman Mary Radley died in 2004 after her vehicle was hit by a car driven by a man with methadone and the equivalent of 500mg of a tranquilliser in his system.
The driver, who has name suppression, was a patient on the methadone programme run by the Nelson Marlborough District Health Board at the time of the crash.
Ford will claim, under human rights legislation, that the health board breached its obligations to ensure public safety by its alleged lax management of the driver who killed Radley.
This week, Radley's daughter, Rachael Ford, employed a Queen's Counsel to take legal action against the health board.
A recent coroner's court finding into Radley's death said the driver failed four drug tests in the year before the fatal crash and the health board was aware of his escalating risk on the roads.
Ford told she was taking legal action because she did not feel the health board fully accepted the impact of its actions.
Ford, who started the lobby group Campaign Against Drugs on Roads (Candor) to press for tougher laws on drug driving, said she wanted the board to acknowledge the effect its systemic failures had had on her family.
Under a behaviour management programme running at the prison between 1998 and 2004, inmates Christopher Taunoa, Alistair Robinson and Matthew Kidman were kept in solitary confinement for extended periods, denied regular clothing and bedding changes, and had their weekly toilet-paper use restricted.
The law that Ford will use in her claim is the same as that employed by three violent prisoners from Paremoremo prison, who favourably sued the Corrections Department for breaching their human rights.
Taunoa, a convicted murderer, was awarded damages of $35,000. .
Canterbury University public law expert Professor Stephen Todd said suing public institutions under human rights legislation was a "pretty popular thing", as a result of the possibility of financial payments. Aggravated robber Robinson was paid $20,000 in damages, while fellow aggravated robber Kidman was paid $4000.
The case of the three Paremoremo prisoners was one of the best-known recent examples, he said.
The case of the three Paremoremo prisoners was one of the best-known recent examples, he said

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Would-be thief good for a laugh

– Thursday, 29 January 2009

Is this the dumbest crook in Christchurch?
Police allege a 28-year-old man burgled a Prebbleton house, set fire to it and knocked himself out while trying to make his getaway.
The homeowner's family said the man tried to steal a drum kit, which meant the plasma-screen television set he also tried to take would not fit in his car.
"And he forgot the remote," the homeowner's son said, stifling a laugh.
"He's allegedly stolen property and then set a fire in the house," Tarawhiti said.
Detective Sergeant Ross Tarawhiti said the man would appear in the Christchurch District Court today charged with burglary, arson and resisting arrest.20pm.
Greg Kitson said the events began when his wife went to his parents' Shands Road house about 1. His parents had left on holiday that morning.
She called her husband, who was working close toby.
Christine Kitson noticed a fire in the kitchen and heard noises coming from upstairs. Looking around, the Kitsons realised a burglary was in progress. He found a man upstairs "incoherent and examining like he was having a seizure".
"There was a bit of chemical warfare going on there," he said.
Greg Kitson said the man appeared "pretty out of it", possibly on drugs.
The fire was small and the Kitsons were able to put it out.
The fire was small and the Kitsons were able to put it out."
The Kitsons suspected the man had fallen and hit his head taking the drum kit down a spiral staircase from the loft in the garage. "He was a really bad burglar.
"He tried to tell police he had just got back from Japan, but he had 30 Malaysian ringgit.
"He tried to take some foreign currency," Kitson said. It's worth about $2. He can keep it and count it in his jail cell. Ha!"

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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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Harder times expected in job market

By EMMA PAGE – Sunday, 18 January 2009

It's shaping up to be a tough year for Kiwi workers as the New Zealand job market continues to weaken during the global financial crisis.
Experts say there will be more competition for fewer jobs, with unemployment picked to hit 6 percent for the first time in eight years, and the latest figures from the Institute of Economic Research revealing that close toly one-third of firms expect to lay off staff. Unions are expecting wage negotiations to be tough this year while Business New Zealand chief executive Phil O'Reilly says pay claims will "moderate significantly".
And workers with secure jobs shouldn't budget on a pay rise. .
"I would be very surprised if they were anything like as high as they have been for the last year or two.
Although some of the drop can be explained by seasonal differences and the numbers didn't factor in part-time listings, TradeMe Jobs head Jimmy McGee says they indicate the market is deteriorating.
Fulltime job listings on the site dropped around 15 percent in the second half of 2008 while a surge of job seekers saw the number of applicants per vacancy increase 32 percent.
Auckland and Wellington were the best places to land a high-paid job, and IT workers and doctors were netting the best pay.
The study, which looked at 61,000 jobs, found customer service roles and the banking and finance sector had been worst-hit, while central and local government, and engineering were showing growth.
McGee predicts that pay rates will stagnate this year and workers will become reluctant to change jobs. Kitchen workers, baristas and caregivers were paid the least."
Thousands of Kiwis have already lost their jobs in recent months, and BNZ chief economist Tony Alexander warns there will be further layoffs across all sectors. "It's entirely reasonable to expect that things are going to get worse.
"I'm pretty confident overall that workers' expectations will be moderate because they're reading the same newspapers as their bosses.
O'Reilly expects the minimum wage will remain at $12 and that workers, aware of the current economic climate would not ask employers for more money.
And they say the minimum wage should keep rising."
But the major unions, which have hundreds of contracts up for renegotiation this year involving close toly 50,000 workers, say they will continue to push for pay rises to keep in step with inflation picked to be around 3 percent this year.
"If businesses can't survive by paying reasonable and acceptable pay increases, then they're probably not going to survive anyway and there's no reason for workers to cop that and underprice themselves.
Engineering Printing and Manufacturing Union chief executive Andrew Little says accepting low or no wage increases did not typically save jobs.
"If the value of wages isn't keeping pace with what's happening worldwide and we become a low-income country to work in, we'll simply lose golden talented people as we have been."
He didn't want to see a repeat of the 1990s when New Zealand became a low-wage economy.
And it wasn't all bad news."
National Distribution Union president Robert Reid said the government was partly relying on consumer spending to pull the country out of recession, so a "healthy wage increase was the best and most just mechanism to get the economy growing again".
And the TradeMe Jobs figures show some professions still demand high wages.
And the TradeMe Jobs figures show some professions still demand high wages. McGee says advertisements for six-figure jobs have remained relatively constant.
"Even in the current climate, high-calibre revenue generators are in demand and paid accordingly."