Two a penny

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Teenage skipper Jessica Watson was asleep when her plastic yacht hit a 63,000-tonne sea freighter off North Stradbroke Island last month.

A preliminary report into the collision was released by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau earlier today and has revealed Jessica had been catnapping at the time of the crash on September 8.

Jessica had earlier admittedthat -havinga number of collision avoidance systems running at the time – she was catching “a few cat naps”.

Instead, she had detected another vessel six miles away and deemed it was not a collision risk before setting her alarm and going to bed.

Investigators found Jessica had not spotted the 225-metre bulk carrier Silver Yang on her radar equipment despite checking four minutes before impact, 15 nautical miles from Point Lookout.50am, the bow of Jessica’s 10-metre sloop Ella’s Pink Lady collided with the ship’s starboard side, tearing off the yacht’s mast and scraping its side.

At 1.

The 16-year-old, who had been on the first night of a week-long test run to Sydney ahead of her world record attempt to sail solo around the globe, woke up and tried twice to contact the Silver Yang on her radio.

The report found the Silver Yang had tried to avoid Jessica and had stopped the ship’s engines as soon as crew realised there had been a crash.

On the second attempt, she told the Chinese-speaking crewman she did not need help.

“The collision was almost square on,” it stated

“The collision woke Ella’s Pink Lady’s skipper.

The ship continued on its journey after Jessica told them she was OK, the report found. She looked upwards and thought that it was likely that the yacht’s rigging would become entangled with the ship and dismast her vessel, so she returned to the cabin. She climbed out of the cabin, grabbed the tiller and tried to steer the yacht.

“A few seconds later the mast came crashing down.

“A few seconds later the mast came crashing down.

But before she departed from Sydney, the safety bureau took the teen sailor to visit the bridge watch-keeper’s position on a tanker ship in order to help her understand what could be seen from that vantage point. .

Lead investigator Peter Foley said Jessica had used high-quality equipment, but improvements had been made ahead of her journey around the world.

They also suggested she visit fatigue-management experts in an effort to help her better manage her sleep patterns on the solo journey.

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Two schoolboy rugby teams who brawled with each other at the weekend are likely to have to face the Auckland Rugby Union’s judiciary.

Players and up to 100 spectators were caught up in the brawl, which erupted in the last minute of a semifinal between Auckland Grammar and Kelston Boys High on Saturday.

The violence was described as “extremely disappointing” by spectator and All Black coach Graham Henry, a former coach of both schools’ 1st XVs.

The fight, after a last-minute Grammar try sealed a 20-9 victory for the school, lasted five minutes and led to at least one schoolboy being knocked out, according to a witness.

Its judiciary would now decide what penalties, if any, would be imposed, he said.

Auckland Rugby Union chief executive Andy Dalton said the fight was “appalling” and a “bad look” for the game.

The union would also speak to the headmasters of both schools and seek a full report from the referee manager, Mr Dalton said.

It was likely both teams would appear before the judiciary this week.

Auckland Grammar headmaster John Morris told the New Zealand Herald newspaper a Kelston player “king hit” one of his players out of frustration after a try was scored.

The two schools blamed each other for the fight.

Mr Watt and Mr Morris said they would both be reviewing film of the brawl before deciding whether any disciplinary action would be taken.

But Kelston principal Steve Watt said film of the incident showed one of his players being punched twice by a Grammar student before the try was scored.

He said the violence was “mainly adults behaving badly”, sentiments echoed by Secondary Schools Rugby Union secretary Alex Bing.

Manoj Daji, chief executive of College Sport, the body in charge of high school sport, said that if the brawl was reported to him today, it would be the first complaint involving rugby this year.

Both Mr Morris and Mr Watt agreed the incident was a “one-off” and was not likely to happen again.

“If people hadn’t come across the field, I’m sure the whole thing would have died off within half a minute,” he said.

“There is a tremendous respect and relationship between the two schools and this certainly won’t sour it in any way,” Mr Watt said. .

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Finance Minister Bill English says he appreciates the support he gets from taxpayers, which saw him claim close toly $1000 a week to live in his family house in Wellington.

Mr English today defended the payments, saying it was within the rules and was the same as other ministers were getting.The English’s family trust owns the $1. He had made the best option for his family and the cheapest for taxpayers.Mr English, the MP for Clutha-Southland, is entitled as an out-of-Wellington minister to either a crown-owned house or an accommodation allowance.2 million house in Karori.Other costs are also covered – including power and cleaning – which saw Mr English claim more than $23,000 for living in the house for the six months to June 30.He has six children and his wife works as a GP in WellingtonHe said Prime Minister John Key had capped the accommodation rate at $700 a week for rent, which was previously unlimited.He said most people thought politicians were paid too much, their cars were too big and their travel costs too extravagant. As deputy prime minister he earns $276,700 a year.”I get the same deal as everyone else. .”Mr English has come under attack for the claim at the same time as he has called for “permanent restraint” in the public sector. This isn’t about the money this is about the support I get which I appreciate that enables our family to be together.Meanwhile, at the National Party caucus in Christchurch today high profile delegate Wira Gardiner’s bid for the presidency fell at the first hurdle, when he failed to secure a seat on the party’s governing board.But he said the Government had shown leadership including a cap on the amount that could be claimed, and a cap on the number of staff in the Beehive. The front-runner is Auckland businessman Peter Goodfellow.The board will select a president tomorrow to replace Judy Kirk who is stepping down after seven years.He told reporters he did not rule out a capital gains tax, though he said it would be hard to persuade a National Government a capital gains tax was a good idea.In his speech to the conference Bill English warned the party it must be prepared for possible tax changes that they would be uncomfortable with.Prime Minister John Key’s speech to the conference tomorrow will include a package of youth employment initiatives, likely to include details of its youth guarantee policy.The Government needed to get as much revenue in over the next five years without raising the tax burden.

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Seven months ago Owen Franks had never played a Super 14 match.

Now the 21-year-old tighthead prop is preparing to start against the Springboks in Sunday morning’s Tri Nations test at Absa Stadium, having been picked to replace Neemia Tialata who suffered a knee injury in last weekend’s 22-16 defeat to the ‘Boks in Bloemfontein.

All Blacks coach Graham Henry has made just one other change to his starting side, bringing Jimmy Cowan back in for Brendon Leonard at halfback.

Although Tialata has played 36 tests, the introduction of in the inexperienced Franks, who has made three appearances as a substitute for the All Blacks this season, should not be viewed as a risky selection. . Later in the season Owen then leapfrogged Bronson Murray as the starting tighthead.

A technically sound scrummager, he also possesses a high work-rate around the field and rose to prominence with the Crusaders earlier this year when his older brother, Ben, who made one appearance against Munster for the All Blacks on last year’s end of year tour, was forced to sit a large chunk of the season with a broken foot.

If Franks continues to improve under the tutelage of All Blacks scrum coach Mike Cron he will be targeting a place in the 2011 World Cup squad as the management continue to seek replacements for Carl Hayman and Greg Somerville.

Linwood, a club that produced prominent All Blacks Fergie McCormick and Tane Norton, is proving a fertile environment for grooming brothers that have represented their country.

Franks, who was born in Motueka before moving to Christchurch as a youngster where he attended Christchurch Boys’ High School, is a member of the Linwood club and worked his way through the national secondary schools and under-21 teams before earning his Crusaders stripes.

Franks made his provincial debut against North Harbour as a 19-year-old in 2007 but battled to get starts with Canterbury behind Somerville and Campbell Johnstone. The Bachop brothers, Graeme and Stephen, and Aaron and Nathan Mauger, are also former All Blacks that represented the east Christchurch club. Cron is understood to be enthusiastic about the young man’s ability to scrum so well at such a young age.

Recently All Blacks forwards coach Steve Hansen revealed that Owen, who weighs around 116kg was several kilos heavier than Ben, who returned to the Crusaders squad late in the season after his rehabilitation.

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A Nomads gang member whose house was torched in a suspected arson attack has been forced out of Levin for his own protection.

Phillip “Filthy” John Stevens, 31, appeared in the Palmerston North District Court yesterday, after he pleaded guilty to drink-driving, driving while disqualified, and breaching the conditions of community detention.

Neither Stevens, his partner, nor three young children were home at the time of the fire.

The influential Nomads member’s Kinross St property was destroyed by fire on June 15, thought to be a result of conflict between junior and senior Nomads members following the death of the gang’s founder, Dennis “Mossie” Hines, on June 7.

He was to go straight from court to collect his belongings from Levin, before leaving the area on bail until his July sentencing.

In court discussions about his sentencing yesterday, Judge Gerard Lynch ordered the case be transferred from Palmerston North, but suppressed the exact location for Stevens’ protection.

“I would have thought Levin is the last place he should be,” he said.

But Judge Lynch considered even that a risk. Community detention was not an option as a result of his history of non-compliance.

A sentence of imprisonment was recommended, but under the “current circumstances” home detention could be considered, the court heard.

Hines’ stepson, Tony Cootes, 25, was shot the same day the Nomads founder was laid to rest in Foxton and police believed other incidents in the area about the same time were gang-related.

Outside court, Stevens’ lawyer Stephen De Vorms said certain actions had to be taken since his client’s life had come into real danger.

“There is some suggestion that Dennis, as the founder of the gang, felt it should die with him and the dispute appears to be conflict between those who feel that Dennis’ legacy should be honoured and those who feel someone else should .

Detective Senior Sergeant Marc Hercock told the there appeared to be a difference of opinion within the gang about its future and direction… . be leader

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‘Traumatic’ death sparks hunt for missing partner

and JO MCKENZIE MCLEAN – Tuesday, 17 February 2009

Homicide inquiry: Police investigate the scene in Waiau where Jo-Anne Thompson was found dead yesterday.

A North Canterbury man is being hunted by police after the "traumatic" death of his partner, discovered after her young sons were seen wandering outside the family's run-down Waiau house.
A neighbour found the couple's sons, aged four and six, outside the house about 8am yesterday.
Police earlier today will remove the body of Jo-Anne Thompson from her Parnassus Street home.
Police were unable to say how the woman died but an officer described Thompson's death as "traumatic".
Other neighbours were unable to find the boys' mother and called police, who found Thompson's body in the bathroom of the weatherboard house, which remained cordoned yesterday.
Fraser had been kicked out of the home a week ago, a neighbour said.
A homicide inquiry was launched as police searched for the woman's partner, Ross Simon Fraser, 43.
"She looked after her kids they were her number one priority.
Thompson's neighbour, Nigal Stratford, described the 46-year-old mother as a "real nice lady" whose life revolved around her children. She was such a nice person she had no enemies. Everyone is just gutted. I don't know anyone who actually liked him. But he was the opposite."
The pair had been in an "on-again, off-again" relationship, he said. He was a scum-bag, basically."
Last week, Stratford had asked Thompson about the relationship and questioned what she was doing with Fraser.
"The last I had seen she had kicked him out about a week ago and he had gone."
The news of the death had shocked the small community of 254, he said.
"She didn't really say anything.
Fraser, a shearer, has two older children with a former partner.
The children spent the day with a neighbour and were taken in by extended family last night.
She was also looking forward to the younger boy starting school this year.
Waiau School principal Mary Kimber said the six-year-old boy was "delightful and lovely".
"The teachers are very upset.
"The teachers are very upset. They know how much Jo was looking forward to being a parent-teacher helper when (the younger child) started school."
Waiau residents said Fraser's behaviour had become increasingly erratic over the years.
Ram's Head Cafe and Bar owner Lindsay Clemens said Fraser bought one bottle of beer from his bar on Sunday.
"He's an unusual fella to say the least," he said. "I thought he was a bit of a clown. I allowed him four bottles on a visit.
"I'd say, `one and you're tolerable, two and you're annoying people, three and you're really p…… people off, four and someone's going to punch you and it might be me'.
"He just had a different disposition than everybody else. He got a high off upsetting people."
Fellow shearer Alistair Parkes said Fraser had some "pretty way-out ideas" and would often go for a week without washing.
Fraser, described by police as an itinerant shearer, had been working on and off for one Waiau family for about seven years.
His employers, who did not want to be named, said they were "blown away" by the news.
"We knew Jo as well and as far as we were concerned they were both good people.
"We just can't understand what's happened here.
"He'd help anybody and take the shirt off his back if he had one to give and she'd stay home and look after the kids. They meant the world to her."
The employers agreed Fraser had lost his "zip" recently.
They said Fraser had not worked over the weekend and they were unable to contact him on Sunday night to inform him he was expected yesterday morning. . They left his house without checking inside, saying it was not unusual for some farm workers to skip Monday after a "big weekend".
Police described Fraser as 170cm tall, of thin build, with shoulder-length scruffy hair.
Anyone with information on his whereabouts should contact Detective Sergeant Rex Barnett or Detective Tanya Drake, of the Rangiora police on (03) 313 6167.

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Collosal squid attracts monster fan club

– Sunday, 14 December 2008

A giant squid yesterday pulled in more than twice the usual number of Saturday visitors to Te Papa. Up to 6500 people queued for the first opportunity to see the world's only displayed colossal squid.
The squid, the largest of the museum's three specimens of the world's largest invertebrate, proved a gigantic hit.
About 100 people sprinted to the 495kg creature's 6m tank inside Wellington's museum when the doors opened at 10am.
"It makes me hate the sea," said Lena Riki, 20, of Upper Hutt, who took her children, three-year-old Iranui and 12-month-old Arapeta to the exhibition.
"It's huge," said a wide-eyed Inzimam Ali, seven, of Johnsonville, who pestered his parents for a week to visit the exhibition after seeing a billboard about it. It was clinging to a toothfish longline in Antarctica's Ross Sea .
Although the colossal squid is the showpiece, the exhibition also includes a short 3-D animation film, computer interactives, specimen and model displays and an audiovisual telling the squid's remarkable journey since being captured by the fishing boat the San Aspiring on February 23, 2007.
Te Papa staff said they knew the squid exhibit which runs until 2011 would be popular, but they were stunned by the huge turnout.
Lectures on the squid are also running over the weekend. . "Seeing queues like this is rare and it's a gorgeous day outside it just shows you how keen people are," project manager Lucy Ryan said.
A blogsite on Te Papa's dedicated website, www. When scientists thawed it in April, the BBC reported it was the most globally viewed internet story for the week.tepapa.squid.nz, had attracted interest around the world.govt.

. An 85-year-old couple from America wrote they were keeping a close eye on the project

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Mascot knocker says sorry

– Wednesday, 03 December 2008

MARK TAYLOR/
ATTACKED: Harold the Giraffe who was knocked over by 22-year-old Damien Gifkins in Hamilton’s Garden Palace. Gifkins was fined over his disorderly behaviour.

The man who knocked over Harold the Giraffe in Hamilton says it was an accident and wants to make it up to him and take the mascotout for a beer.
The charge relates to an incident last Friday in which 22-year-old Gifkins knocked over Harold while he was fundraising for Life Education Trust in Hamilton'sGarden Place.
Damien Gifkins – known as Shady1 to his friends – pleaded guilty in Hamilton District Court on Monday to a charge of disorderly behaviour and was ordered to pay $130 reparation.
The suit was being worn by Hamilton lawyer Murray Grant, who required medical treatment afterwards.
Harold went flying into a cafe table, scattering cutlery and plates.
Gifkins contacted the after reading an article about the incident in Saturday's paper. "I was excited to be back in Hamilton (from Christchurch) and was running down the road and did not see Harold.
"From my point of view it was an accident," he said. I got a bit of a fright actually. I bumped into him and bowled him over. There was no excuse 4 what i dun n i would like 2 make it up to u."
In a text sent to Mr Grant, Gifkins wrote: "Im sendn u ths txt 2 apoligise 4 my idiotic actions on fridae afternoon…
Gifkins said he tried to ring Mr Grant yesterday because he wanted "to take him out for a beer".by offering my services n help to raise fundz 4 a new class rm if i am allowd 2?". He was still in a lot of pain and had physiotherapy treatment yesterday.
However, Mr Grant told the he had no interest in meeting up with Gifkins.
"He texted me and offered to do some fundraising for the trust, but I'd rather he pay to fix the suit – approximately $500.
Mr Grant did not believe the incident was an accident – "that's crap"."
The trust needs about $100,000 a year to stay operational in Hamilton. .lifeeducation. People wanting to make a donation can do so via their website, www.nz/about-us/donate .nz/about-us/donate .