Two a penny

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An earthquake measuring 5.9 magnitude centred in Fiordland was felt widely in the lower South Island tonight, following two other quakes earlier in the evening.31pm was centred 120km west of Te Anau.

The latest tremor at 8.9, the US Geological Survey registered it at 6.

While GNS Science measured it at 5. Geologists say the measurements of quakes are often more accurate from a long distance as a result of how shock waves travel through the earth.1.

”The phones are quiet,” a police spokesman said.

Invercargill police said there were no immediate reports of any damage.8 magnitude Fiordland quake that struck on July 15.

A GNS spokesman told Radio New Zealand residents should not be concerned as the quakes were all aftershocks from the 7.

There were two earlier quakes – one measuring 5. They could be expected to continue for the next few weeks, he said. .2, 100km west of Te Anau, at 4.07pm.8, at 7.

The 5. It was centred in Fiordland, 110km west of Tuatapere.

More than 200 people had logged reports on tonight’s latest quake on the GNS website, she said.9 quake was one of the largest aftershocks recorded since that, duty seismologist Lara Bland said.

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The jury in the former MP Taito Phillip Field trial have finished their deliberations for the day and retired for the evening, following a day of disruption by Maori protestors.

The six-woman, four-man jury deciding the case at the High Court in Auckland retired for the night about 4.

Earlier in the day Judge Hansen was nearing the end of his summary of the case when the mentried to address the court.45pm, a little over four hours after Justice Rodney Hansen asked them to begin their deliberations. Journalists in the court said the six men leftthe courtroom and police arrived.

Justice Hansen would not allowthem to continue and adjourned for 15 minutes. He described the interuption as most regrettable, but stressed to the jury that it had nothing to do with Field and had no implications to their decision making.

Justice Hansen returned and told the jury, “so near and yet so far”.

He said he had chosen the Field trial because the ex-MP was “tangata whenua”.

After court resumed, one of the men in the group,Tass Davis -part of what he called the Mauri Nation State Hapu – said the time had come to tell Prime Minister John Key andMaori Affairs Minister Pita Sharples that the justice system was unfair.” This, he said, meant they were not binding. .

The75-year-old former Auckland police constable said at the time that he expected between 300 and 400 Maori would be involved in the non-violent campaign.

In June, Mr Davis -an uncle of Maori Party MP Hone Harawira -announced a planned campaign of civil disobedience where they would target the homes of high-profile judges and occupy courtrooms to draw attention to their bid for a Maori sovereign nation.

“The judge instructed people to have me removed.

Another of today’s group,Roger Tozer – who labelled himself a Christian peacemaker and prophet – said hehad beenevicted by Judge Hansen. So I told him [the judge] that if he tried to do that, if he carried through with what he was threatening, to evict a senior kaumatua, then he could be removed from his position as Judge,” Mr Tozer said. Then the police tried to evict me from the building.”

Mr Tozer said the Crown had not upheld its promises to the native people.

“The Crown has been acting treasonally in many ways.

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A father arranged for his 12-year-old daughter to be sexually assaulted by three customers from a McDonald’s restaurant in return for $40, a court has been told.

The 37-year-old father-of-eight arranged for the attack to take place, the Crown has alleged in the High Court at Auckland.

He was seen talking to three men at McDonald’s in Manukau, then forced his daughter to go to the men, who placed her up against a wall in a Farmer’s car park and held her there, the court was told.

The father eventually got out of his car and told them to stop.

One man masturbated against her, while another man held her down and kissed her neck.

The man and a 33-year-old woman, who both have name suppression, are charged with three counts of assault on a child, eight charges of cruelty to a child and one charge of intentional damage to a Housing New Zealand home in Manurewa. He was paid $40 then spent the cash on cannabis in Otahuhu after his daughter’s ordeal was over.

The man is also charged with sexual conduct with his then 12-year-old daughter and injuring her with intent by inflicting repeated blows with a broom. All charges related to events between January 2005 and September 2007. He is also charged with two counts of assault on his children.

The man pleaded guilty to one assault charge, while all other charges are denied.

The cruelty charges include wilfully ill-treating the eight children in a manner likely to cause unnecessary suffering, physical and mental abuse, generating a climate of fear, providing unsuitable housing, resulting in and maintaining poor hygiene and allowing them to go hungry.

Prosecutor Katie Hogan told the jury the pair were parents of eight children, aged two to 14.

A jury of eight men and four women was sworn in today for the trial, which is expected to last two weeks. .

The Housing New Zealand house the couple moved into in February 2005 was brand new.

The couple had received notices from Housing New Zealand about the poor state of the property. The carpet had become black, there was faeces on the wall and toilet, and a terrible smell, she said. The accused provided their children with poor living conditions, and the older children had to care for the younger children.

“The children were exposed to violence, alcohol and drugs.

“On one occasion, a broom was used on the eldest child.

“Four of the eldest children were punched in the face and stomach, sometimes with weapons such as brooms, cords and belts.

“Her father hit her eight or nine times. She was `given a hiding’, in the words of the other children. He kept her out of school, and put her between the ceiling and roof so her injuries could not be seen,” Ms Hogan said. Her arms were swollen and he punched her in the stomach.

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Police have grave concerns for the safety of a man and two children missing in Northland’s Mangamuka Ranges.

The 40-year-old man and his children, aged 13 and six, went into the bush on Friday morning on a day hike , Far North area commander Inspector Chris Scahill said.

The trio went in the Omahuta Forest, which was part of the Mangamuka Ranges.

Since then their vehicle had been located on Blackbridge Road, he said. .

Search and rescue members from the wider Northland squad began searching at first light earlier today, with 30 members in five teams being taken into the area by an army Unimog, Mr Scahill said.

The trio were only prepared for a day hike and had no food or other supplies.

The Unimog had been brought in from Whangarei for the search.

A search base had been set up at a local marae, and police iwi liaison officers and Victim Support staff were there to assist.

There was flooding in the area and the weather was still stormy but less so than overnight, he said.

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Eight people have been committed for trial over an alleged multi-million-dollar drug ring operated from within Auckland’s maximum security prison.

A depositions hearing to determine if eight others charged in the same case should also face a high court trial continues in the North Shore District Court next week.

The depositions hearing has been told that inmates in Auckland Prison at Paremoremo ran a importing and manufacturing ring.

The shipments were alleged to have been sent to the homes of associates of prisoners and the pseudoephedrine was used to make P. The operation involved smuggling cold tables containing pseudoephedrine from China inside toothpaste, chocolates and cakes, the New Zealand Herald reported today.

Asian crime figures and several gangs were linked to the operation, including the King Cobras, the Killer Beez, the Head Hunters and the Mongrel Mob.

The accused include inmates Arthur William Taylor, Ulaisi “Rocky” Pulete, Michael Anthony Laumanu, Ernest Tofaeono, Wayne John Clarke, Wanzhe Gui and Fraser Samuel Milham.

Associates outside the prison were charged with conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine by allowing packages of drugs to be sent to their homes.

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Police are looking for two women in connection with the attack on a French player on Sunday morning.

French centre Mathieu Bastareaud suffered severe bruising around his eye and needed four stitches to his face after four or five men attacked him in central Wellington early on Sunday.

Inspector Peter Cowan said CCTV footage showed two women who appeared to be accompanied by three males that police believe are part of the French Rugby Team. The attack was hours after France’s 14-10 second-test defeat by New Zealand on Saturday.

The group was dropped off at the Holiday Inn Hotel on Featherston St between 5.

“We would be interested in speaking to those two young women, as well as the driver of the white taxi that dropped this party off and to any other persons who may have seen this party at the Hotel or any other location within Wellington City, he said.30 on Sunday morning.15 and 5.

They had also obtained CCTV footage from a number of locations.

Inspector Cowan said that police had visited a number of city bars and the Holiday Inn Hotel as part of their investigation.

Bastareaud France’s assistant coach, Emile Ntamack, confirmed he had been cleared of a suspected fractured eye socket.

The investigation was focused on establishing the movements of the team and Bastareaud and on speaking with any witnesses. He told them he thought his attackers were Polynesian and Maori.

Bastareaud, dubbed the “French Nonu” as a result of his dreadlocks, spoke to police from Sydney yesterday.

The 20-year-old told police he caught a taxi to the Holiday Inn in Featherston St early on Sunday, but left his wallet in the vehicle.

He has now returned home to France.83 metres tall and weighs 111 kilograms, ran after the taxi to get his wallet and was attacked as he walked back to the hotel. The centre, who is 1.

“We believe it’s genuine and we are still calling out for any witnesses that may have seen this incident to come forward,” he said.

Wellington area commander Inspector Peter Cowan said police were pursuing the investigation.30am.

Police said the attack occurred between 3am and 5. He was then struck from behind,” Mr Cowan said.

“He remembers hearing people singing behind him, but thought nothing of it and continued walking.

“He is sure someone recorded the incident on their cellphone.

“He is sure someone recorded the incident on their cellphone. Finding that footage would be very helpful,” Mr Cowan said.

Police would monitor the internet for footage.

Bastareaud also told police he saw someone drive past during the attack.

Police were looking at CCTV footage and expected to know by tomorrow if they had anything. They were also talking to local taxi companies and hotel staff.

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The All Blacks coaches were ruthless with their axing of Liam Messam but spoke with hope for their latest back row that now has Kieran Read playing out of position at No 8 to face the French in the second test.

Cleaned out by the French as a trio, the selectors have now cleaned out their own back row themselves.

With a fit Jerome Kaino available there was no hesitation in handing him back his old blindside flanker’s jersey and that meant a decision at No 8.

One of the changes was forced with specialist openside Tanerau Latimer coming in for the injured Adam Thomson.

In other changes to the starting XV, Conrad Smith comes back into the backline at the expense of Isaia Toeava and Keven Mealamu takes over at hooker for the injured Andrew Hore

New recruits Aled de Malmanche and George Whitelock are on the bench alongside Toeava.

Read got the job easily over Messam.

“Toeava and Messam didn’t play as well as we hoped last week,” said Henry.

There was no such luxury for Messam. So it’s a bit of a form thing.

“We didn’t think Messam played as well as he normally could play.”

Forwards coach Steve Hansen explained Messam’s departure in more depth. That’s what selection is all about I guess. He’s a real athlete and does some wonderful things and then he can do some silly things that are prone to error,” said Hansen.

“Liam just has to get more consistent within the game. He’s been working on it for a while.

“That’s something that he has to work on. You can’t pick them all and unfortunately for Liam when you go to your bench you need somebody in the loose forwards who can play seven. He probably didn’t have his best night in that department last week.”

Hansen has to go back to the drawing board with another combination as the All Blacks really feel the heat of their missing leaders Richie McCaw and Rodney So’oialo. So George Whitelock gets that job.

He backed Kaino’s experience to be a big lift in that department. . He and Jerome will drag Lats (Latimer) through.

“Kieran now has another test and he’s an experienced player as a (red and black) captain.

“If we can give them a platform with the tight five then they will be able to operate.

“If we can give them a platform with the tight five then they will be able to operate.”

A lot of it seemed to be spoken in hope as much as conviction.

Kaino has played virtually all of his season with the Blues at No 8, but Hansen was adamant that he was best suited to No 6, particularly with his defence off the scrum, something that was exposed by the French last week.

Hansen believed Read’s future as a starting player in the All Blacks might have to be at No 8, backed up by his blindside play.

Henry also backed Read to step up: “He played quite a bit there for the Crusaders. We thought he played pretty well at six last week and on the form of last week’s game he was probably our best loose forward. It was a matter of fitting Jerome in at six because that’s where he plays most of his rugby.

The All Blacks are delighted to have Smith back, for his form, experience and his combination with Ma’a Nonu.

The team had a solid training session in wintry conditions in Wellington and Henry noted the hunger and enthusiasm that usually comes after a rare loss.

“That’s what you would expect. It’s good,” he said.

The All Blacks had worked particularly hard at tackle ball situations in their training. Attention had also been given to the scrum where they were surprisingly inferior in Dunedin.

NEW ZEALAND: Mils Muliaina (captain), Cory Jane, Conrad Smith, Ma’a Nonu, Joe Rokocoko, Stephen Donald, Jimmy Cowan, Kieran Read, Tanerau Latimer, Jerome Kaino, Isaac Ross, Brad Thorn, Neemia Tialata, Keven Mealamu, Tony Woodcock. Reserves: Aled de Malmanche, John Afoa, Bryn Evans, George Whitelock, Piri Weepu, Luke McAlister, Isaia Toeava

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France defence minister, Herv&eacute Morin, presented a long-awaited bill on reparations for nuclear victims on Wednesday. Victims and their representatives were quick to condemn the eligibility criteria foreseen by the minister.

The bill provides for civilians or veterans who have suffered from radio-induced diseases after living or staying near test sites in Algeria or French Polynesia to be financially compensated. None of the associations will be represented in the committee, whose members will be nominated by several French ministries. . We will submit an amendment for associations to be represented in a national compensation oversight committee.

We completely disagree, says H&eacutel&egravene Luc, a former senator and member of pressure group V&eacuterit&eacute et justice (Truth and Justice) which demands reparations for test victims, speaking to them.

‘Restrictive’ reparations criteria

Victims’ associations have also criticised the list of radio-induced diseases (lung, breast, blood and thyroid cancer, etc) the defence ministry said it would base itself on to determine which victims receive compensation. It doesn&rsquot take into account new types of cancers and heart diseases that have appeared [among veterans], she explains. According to Luc, the list drawn up by the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR ), used as a basis for the bill, is too restrictive. Doom maintains the bill does not take into account all French Polynesian zones affected by nuclear tests.

John Doom, coordinator of the association Moruroa e Tatou , denounces a fool bargain given the compensation eligibility criteria. According to the French defence ministry, residents in the capital Papeete are excluded from the reparations plan.

In Tahiti, for example, only local residents from the eastern peninsula of the island will be considered for damages. This, he said, is despite the fact that all of Tahiti suffered 23 nuclear fallouts from nearby tests. This, he said, is despite the fact that all of Tahiti suffered 23 nuclear fallouts from nearby tests. But aid associations say far more people have been badly affected by the tests. At the time, he said 10 million euros had been earmarked in 2009 for compensation.

Anticipation for the new bill increased last Friday, when the Paris court of appeals rejected compensation requests submitted by twelve former soldiers suffering from skin, blood or kidney cancer.

The French government body in charge of following the health impact of the tests, the (CSSEN), estimates that nearly 150,000 civilian or military personnel participated in the 210 nuclear tests conducted by France in the Sahara Desert and in the Pacific Ocean between 1960 and 1996.

France has carried out a total of 210 nuclear tests over a 36-year periodBetween 1960 and 1966, 17 tests were carried out in the Algerian Sahara desertBetween 1966 and 1996, 193 tests were carried out in the Pacific Ocean

&raquo TIMELINE: Four decades of French nuclear testing

France – justice – nuclear power
. Only five are still alive, the others are now represented by their families

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Finance Minister Bill English has continued to lay out a grim scenario for his May 28 budget, putting forward an argument to suspend or reduce payments into the New Zealand Superannuation Fund.

Mr English last week outlined his concerns about the economic storm hitting New Zealand and putting forward a case to scrap planned tax cuts.

Today he told a Christchurch business audience his budget would set out a way to preserve entitlements at current levels — such as super payments — and stop debt levels blowing out to 45 percent of GDP by 2013.

The fund had been set up when the Government’s accounts were expected to stay in surplus for the foreseeable future and it had been a way to help meet rising superannuation costs.

“Because of the difficult economic and fiscal circumstances we face over the next few years, we’ve signalled that we are considering the future of income tax cuts planned for 2010 and 2011, as well as the Government’s contributions to the New Zealand Superannuation Fund,” Mr English said. Next year we would have to borrow around $2 billion, or around $40 million a week to put into the fund, to be invested in what are currently uncertain global financial markets.

“The Government will have to borrow quite a lot of money to make its full super fund contributions.”

The law allowed for contributions to be varied to reflect conditions and households faced similar decisions when dealing with tough economic times, Mr English said.

The contributions are calculated on a complicated formula which takes into account how much money will be needed when the fund starts subsidising super payments and how much money it has.

In his speech notes, he did not address another aspect of the law, which required the Government in the future to put in more money when the fund performed badly or it took a payment holiday.

In the speech Mr English repeated much of the dark economic statistics he faces writing his first budget.

Mr English did not believe that reducing or suspending contributions now would affect the future affordability of superannuation.

The budget would focus on reprioritising government spending, particularly spending for public services.

“Just about every unlikely event has occurred and every worst case scenario has become reality,” he said.

There would be no room for significant fiscal stimulus in the budget and the rate of increased spending would be lower than in the past.

There would be no room for significant fiscal stimulus in the budget and the rate of increased spending would be lower than in the past. .

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Tax revenue and receipts for the eight months to February were $1.

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Tears welled in the eyes of 92-year-old Albert Hewitt yesterday as he paid tribute to the mates he lost in World War II.

Hunched in a wheelchair, medals proudly pinned to his chest and with a poppy in his lapel, Hewitt struggled to keep his emotions in check during the Christchurch dawn service to remember both those who landed at Gallipoli on April 25, 1915, and all those who have fought for New Zealand. An estimated 10,000 people packed Cathedral Square for the service, led by Canterbury Malayan Veterans’ Association president Paul Tau.
Hewitt, who served with 20 Battalion in Egypt and Italy, said he was touched by the size of the turnout to this year’s service.
“It’s lovely to see so many people there, especially the young children. The numbers attending Anzac Day services have been on the rise since the 1980s.” Hewitt said. .
“A lot of them didn’t come back,” said Hewitt, who has attended the dawn service every year since the war ended.
It is 64 years since the war ended, but he still thinks often of the mates he made during those “terrible years”.
A keen student of history, Gregory said it was important the sacrifices made by those who served at Gallipoli and in subsequent wars were remembered.
Standing on Hewitt’s left at yesterday’s service was retired Lieutenant-General Russell Gregory, who served 22 years in the territorial forces.”
Yesterday, thousands of Kiwis ignored wind and rain to pay tribute to those who gave their lives for their country.
“The lessons of history, if you don’t learn from them, are likely to be repeated again.

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