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Police interview 140 prostitutes in Manning murder probe
By JO McKENZIE-McLEAN – Tuesday, 13 January 2009
Police have spoken to about 140 prostitutes and 40 minders in their hunt for the murderer of a Christchurch woman. .
Her body was found in the Avon River in Dallington.
Williams said police had spoken to a man they were seeking. She had been strangled, stabbed in the chest several times and beaten about the head and legs with what appeared to be a piece of reinforcing steel.
"At this stage in the investigation we still believe it is likely that Mellory has been picked up from her corner by a vehicle around 10.
He was in the area the night of Manning's murder, driving a silver Ford Focus.45pm, and the telephone inquiries definitely indicate that all is not well by 11.
"This also seems to fit with her watch stopping at 10.30pm as she failed to reply to the next set of texts that were sent to her," Williams said."
The violent attack would have caused considerable blood loss where she was attacked, in any vehicle that she was in or anything she might have been wrapped in, Williams said.58pm.
Police had still not identified the vehicle or driver of the XR6 or XR8 Ford Falcon that Manning was seen in.
He appealed for information on anyone who might have changed their behaviour since December 18, who were reluctant to use their vehicle, had suddenly sold it, cleaned or altered it, or said they had sold it.
Police had identified about 100 cars and had sent out about 20 inquiries to other towns, Williams said.
Police had identified about 100 cars and had sent out about 20 inquiries to other towns, Williams said.
Also of interest was a man in a blue 4WD possibly a Toyota Hilux who approached a prostitute about 10.
Men had been driving four-wheel-drive vehicles in the Manchester Street-Peterborough Street area in central Christchurch about the time Manning must have been picked up, including a dark-coloured one either black or blue with chrome wheels and tinted windows, he said.
He is described as European, slim, with grey stubble, balding at the front and greying hair at the back.35pm and asked for prices.
Williams asked that person or anyone knowing him to contact the police.
He was described as "rough-looking" and was wearing a blue jersey with holes in it.
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Plea to take it easy on tenants
– Thursday, 27 November 2008
Landlords are being urged by their national body to show more compassion as the recession starts to bite.
Property Investors' Federation president Martin Evans said the difficult economic times meant some tenants were getting into problems through no fault of their own, and landlords needed to understand that.
Department of Building and Housing figures show Tenancy Tribunal applications have increased 16 per cent in recent months, with most relating to rent arrears.
"We're seeing it across all types of tenancies having problems with rent arrears; it's not just low-income people and beneficiaries," he said.
Evans said the number of properties available to let had increased 13% in the past three weeks, creating a soft rental market where it was hard to find tenants, so it was better to work with existing ones to resolve any problems. They need to talk to them and point them in the direction of people who can help them people like the Tenants Protection Association (TPA) and Work and Income.
"A lot of it is beyond their control, with people losing their jobs, so landlords need to have some leniency."
Evans said landlords needed to contact tenants immediately if they fell behind in rent.
"This is a time when everybody has to help everyone out and be a bit more compassionate, although I'm not saying to put the rent arrears to one side.
"Landlords need to remember they will go through hard times in the next 12 months everyone will be affected," he said."
Christchurch TPA manager Helen Gatonyi urged tenants to contact landlords as soon as they got into difficulty to explain the problem.
"If they've got a good record, don't just jump on them the first time they get behind. "Then there are contacts for people where they can get help to avoid getting into difficulties.
"Our message is very simple: pay your rent first," she said."
Gatonyi said the association had had a big increase in the number of tenants approaching it for help in the past few months and it was important tenants did not leave it too late to ask for help."
Gatonyi said the association had had a big increase in the number of tenants approaching it for help in the past few months and it was important tenants did not leave it too late to ask for help.
"We're seeing what they can do and whether they can just pay some, and giving them advice about what sort of supplements they're entitled to and telling them where they can get help.
Evans, the managing director of A1 Property Managers, said the company had seen more problems than usual with tenants getting behind in rent. ."
Despite the difficulty of finding tenants, Evans advised landlords to tighten their letting criteria. Maybe they just need to drop the rent a little bit.
"But an empty property is better than bad tenants."
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UK travel tax could hit rugby cup crowds
– Thursday, 27 November 2008
A British move to increase the tax paid by airline passengers on flights to New Zealand could dampen an anticipated boost in tourist numbers during the 2011 Rugby World Cup.
The cup will be the biggest international sporting event to be held in New Zealand, with 60,000 to 70,000 international visitors expected to attend the matches.
However, the British Government is about to increase taxes on long-haul flights to help reduce the amount of carbon emissions from highly polluting jet aircraft.
England, Wales and Scotland are automatic qualifiers for the tournament, and organisers had expected the three teams to be accompanied by many fans.
With half of the World Cup visitors expected to come from Britain and Ireland, any possible disincentive to travel was a concern, Tourism Industry Association chief executive Tim Cossar said.
The duty on a flight to New Zealand will be $155 from next November, with a second increase to $240 in November 2010.
The tourism sector is worried the tax increase will hurt visitor numbers from Britain New Zealand's largest source of holidaymakers after Australia and is concerned other countries will follow Britain's move.
"It doesn't do anything to prime the market or send positive signals to the market," he said.
"We don't want to see our price competitiveness as a destination damaged," he said. . As a country, we have done a lot to try to be a responsible tourism destination.
"It seems to me they are always incentivising short-haul travel by penalising the long-haul markets."
Prime Minister John Key raised New Zealand's objections to the tax changes during his meeting in London with British PM Gordon Brown yesterday.
"We were given an award in Britain for responsible tourism.
"We just indicated we were concerned about it, we didn't think it was fair and we'd like to progress the issue further if we can," he said.
Key said he told Brown there were efficiency differences between airlines and aircraft, and some airlines, including Air New Zealand, were trialling biofuels.
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Kyah’s journey an inspiration for thousands
By GREER MACDONALD Friday, 21 November 2008
DEAN KOZANIC/
FOREVER REMEMBERED: Fundraising websites have gathered close toly $20,000 for the Child Cancer Foundation, in dedication to Kyah Milne. Her battle with cancer ended on Wednesday morning.
Kyah Milne may have drawn her last breath in her fight against cancer, but her battle has inspired thousands to dig deep to provide continuing support for others.
She died peacefully, with her parents and her much-loved stuffed toy "Giraffe" at her side, just over a week before her third birthday.
Fundraising websites have attracted close toly $20,000 of donations toward the Child Cancer Foundation in dedication to Kyah's battle, which ended in her parents' Johnsonville home on Wednesday morning.
Tributes have flowed from around the world to the online journal that was kept by her parents throughout the toddler's 505-day rule-breaking fight with the disease.
Kyah was found to have neuroblastoma, a rare cancer of the adrenal glands, when she was 19 months old.
"She has gone to a place where she can run and play just like any other almost-three-year-old can, where she is surrounded by butterflies and Polly Pockets and where she is no longer in pain," her mother, Shanell Christian, wrote on the site.
"I guess that's just one of the ways that people can help, and that's fantastic – that's what we've always said through this journey, for people not to send gifts, just donate to child cancer or Ronald McDonald House.
Kyah's father, Jason Milne, told The yesterday that the many donations were "absolutely amazing".
Mr Milne said the support the family received from Christchurch and Wellington hospitals and from community nurses was "absolutely amazing", and that staff had become like family."
Donations can also be left at Kyah's funeral service, which begins at 1pm today at the Lychgate Chapel in Johnsonville.
Mr Milne said he hoped the entries would eventually be made into a book so that the couple's two other children, 12-year-old Kaleb and seven-year-old Jordan, would understand "how to treat people, and how people can band together". .
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Thousands watch baretop ride
Saturday, 08 November 2008
/The
ON DISPLAY: Steve Crow and his topless troupe pose in the grounds of Parliament.
Boobs at Parliament
(nudity)
The city's leaders called it "sleazy and cynical" but about 8000 Wellingtonians turned out to see the Boobs on Bikes parade.
At its first appearance in the city yesterday, the motorcade of more than 20 topless porn stars atop Harley-Davidsons roared from Post Office Square down a crowded Lambton Quay before the stars walked on to Parliament's grounds. .
The largely male audience ranged from businessmen to gangs of wolf-whistling construction workers, mixed with curious mothers and smirking teenagers – all clicking away on their cameras in lines sometimes four-deep. Dylan, 4, sat in her arms pointing and saying, "Naked ladies, Mum.45pm."
"I'm not offended at all," Mrs McRae said. Kids don't have any preconceived ideas, it's adults who tell them it's wrong. "Women's bodies are beautiful and I don't see why children can't join in the fun."
IT specialist Chris Slade, 24, said: "It's great entertainment. It's not hurting anybody. I think it's all in good taste. No one's forced to be here."
As promotion of the Erotica Lifestyles Expo this weekend, it seems to have worked."
As promotion of the Erotica Lifestyles Expo this weekend, it seems to have worked.
The parade was barred from Parliament's grounds because it was seen as a commercial venture, but organiser Steve Crow said it was about "freedom of expression" and vowed to reach the steps. We never get to explore this side of life in New Zealand, we're too modest," Mr Slade said. American porn star Evan Stone walked up to "admire" the Parliament building before being escorted back by three security guards.
Though the bikes were banned and a barrier kept the porn stars and their entourage a good 10 metres from the steps, they were allowed to walk up to the statue of Richard Seddon, surrounded by more than 100 shouting fans. Obviously anyone involved with the adult film industry isn't allowed to visit Parliament," he said.
"I'm a tourist. Family First spokesperson Bob McCoskrie said it was "an absolute disgrace" the parade had been allowed on Parliament's grounds.
Wellington Mayor Kerry Prendergast was unavailable for comment yesterday but a council spokesperson said she found the parade "sleazy and really cynical", with little public support."
. "Maybe the parliamentary security and police were blinded by the porn stars