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Armed robbers hold up Auckland supermarket
– Wednesday, 19 November 2008
LATEST: Armed robbers have made off with tens of thousands of dollars after holding up a Countdown supermarket in Botany, Auckland.
Detective senior sergeant Dave Pizini said the aggravated robbery took place late last night.15pm, pushing a trolley around the aisles, Mr Pizini said.
One of the alleged robbers posed as a "regular shopper" when entered the supermarket at 11.45pm and spoke to the first one before making his way back to the store entrance and creating a diversion.
The second entered about 11.
Meanwhile, the first man approached the check out operators and threatened them with a machete and demanded cash.
"He caused some disruption and distracted staff in the store," he said. .
He then fled through a rear fire exit door and was seen getting into a grey or silver sedan-shaped car.
They would also like to hear from anyone who saw the offenders' car at any time after 10pm yesterday.
Police would like to talk to anyone has information connected to the incident.73 metresto 1.
The first man was described as a Maori or Polynesian, in his early 20s, about1.
He was clean shaven with one small piece of facial hair on his chin.79 metres, of solid build.
Before approaching the tellers, he changed into a pair of white shorts, a black jacket and wore a white hockey-like mask over his face.
He was wearing a red T-shirt with a white pattern, black three-quarter paints, long black socks, a dark cap and was carrying a navy or black shoulder bag.83 metres.
The second man was also in his early 20s and a Maori or Polynesian of solid build, but was taller, about 1.
He was wearing a black T-shirt with a white pattern on it, three-quarter black under knee shorts and black and white trainers.
He had frizzy hair, and was unshaven with a goatie beard.
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Shear fun at Royal show
– Saturday, 15 November 2008
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I SAY: Princess Anne enjoys a light moment as special guest at the 78th Royal New Zealand Show in Christchurch yesterday.
The black-gloved hands of the Queen's daughter remained clasped for almost an hour, but the Princess Royal broke into applause after the spectacle of Kiwi sheep shearing.
The Princess stood to watch the 50-minute parade of award-winning animals loop the arena.
Princess Anne was the special guest at the 78th Royal New Zealand Show at Canterbury Agricultural Park in Christchurch yesterday.
Culverden farmers Jim Hartnell and Bridget and Mark Galbraith said they "couldn't have paid for better seats" as they were behind the Princess.
One woman yelled "Welcome to Christchurch" as Anne entered the arena and was given a wave in return.
One of the animals became unruly, so the Princess took a step backwards. . "But it's a plastic rose bush.
"She asked if the plant she nearly fell on was a chilli pepper plant," Bridget Galbraith said.
Simon Paterson was given a silver tray and decanter set, and the Princess joked with him that the decanter should have come with some kind of alcohol."
The Princess presented the Supreme Champion Animal of Show award to Allan and Simon Paterson for their merino ram.
The competitors, with sweat dripping from their noses after the event, were rewarded with the Princess's applause, the first time she clapped since arriving.
Her most animated display was reserved for the shearers.
A written protocol said the Princess should be addressed as "Your Royal Highness followed by ma'am in later conversation".
Diplomatic protection officers tried to usher the Princess to her waiting car, but she veered off-course to shake a couple of the shearers' hands. She will leave on Tuesday.
The Princess is in Christchurch for the 23rd Royal Agricultural Societies of the Commonwealth Conference.
A woman supervising the pen believed two of the four goats had been stolen, but it was later revealed they were sold.
Meanwhile, a suspected case of kidnapping sparked fears in the City Farmyard yesterday when two kids (baby boer goats) disappeared from the pen.
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Baby’s head injury no accident – Nelson police
The Friday, 31 October 2008
The skull fracture suffered by a four-month-old Motueka baby who is in a critical condition in Auckland's Starship Hospital could not have been the result of an accident, police say.
Detective Sergeant Kevin Tiernan of the Nelson CIB said the baby boy was still in paediatric intensive care Friday morning.
Mr Tiernan said the police inquiry was proving difficult because paediatricians were unable to give a date when the skull fracture was suffered.
The baby's parents called St John Ambulance on Monday night, as he was becoming unresponsive.
He said it could have been any time over Labour Weekend, and police needed to interview everyone who had had contact with the baby since then.
Mr Tiernan said the parents had also been caring for an extended family member's 13-month-old infant, who was now in Child Youth and Family care. He was transferred to Starship Hospital from Nelson Hospital on Tuesday.
The baby's mother was interviewed at length on Thursday but had no explanation for how he suffered the skull fracture, Mr Tiernan said. It could not have been an accident.
"At this stage, there is no reasonable explanation for how he fractured his skull. ."
Mr Tiernan said he hoped to build a clearer picture of what had happened after speaking with the baby's father on Friday. It is difficult to unravel – nobody wants to talk about it.
"These are very difficult investigations because it is something that has happened in the privacy of their own home."
Mr Tiernan said the baby had no injuries other than the skull fracture and was otherwise a "normal, healthy, well-cared-for" little boy."
Mr Tiernan said the baby had no injuries other than the skull fracture and was otherwise a "normal, healthy, well-cared-for" little boy."
Mr Tiernan said it was too early to comment on whether charges would be laid.
"They are looking for answers themselves.
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Teachers being lured overseas
Tuesday, 28 October 2008
Teacher resignations have reached a five-year high, with fears that up to 1000 teachers left last year to work overseas.
The rate of principal resignations is also the highest since at least 2002, with one-in-10 school leaders leaving their posts in the past year.
In the year to May, 4305 teachers left the profession, a loss rate of 10.
The figures are revealed in the Education Ministry's annual teacher loss rate report and follow ministry estimates that hundreds of experienced teachers are being lured overseas by lucrative contracts – many to tax-free jobs in the Middle East. Most (2258) were primary teachers.8 per cent.
Overall teacher numbers remained steady at 47,000, meaning vacated positions were filled by newly trained teacher graduates and overseas-trained or returning New Zealand teachers. Secondary schools lost 1719 teaching staff.
However, the Post Primary Teachers Association says the number of teachers leaving to work abroad is concerning amid current staff deficits.
A ministry spokesman said many of the departures were for unpaid maternity or sabbatical leave.
"It's not about stopping these people either, but we should have some idea of the numbers involved and the potential disruption for us here," union president Robin Duff said. It wants the ministry to survey departing teachers to find out why they are leaving.
The average age of principals was about 55, so many were retiring.
Secondary Principals Association president Peter Gall said that as well as high resignation rates, some school boards were struggling to fill principal vacancies with high calibre candidates and were having to readvertise positions.
"There's a need to get quite a bit of recruitment into principalships in years to come.
There was also demand overseas for Kiwi principals' expertise, particularly in places such as Dubai.
Education Ministry initiatives to attract more local and overseas teachers include scholarships, retraining schemes and advertising campaigns. .
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Parents feared ‘baby girl’ was dead
Families united in their pain
– Sunday, 28 September 2008
The parents of the woman police claim was the target of a fatal stabbing have told how they were terrified their "baby girl" had been murdered.
Devonport father of three Austin Hemmings, 45, was stabbed to death in Auckland's CBD on Thursday evening after attempting to fend off a man who was allegedly attacking a female relative.
The accused made a brief court appearance, charged with one count of male assaults female but police said more serious charges were imminent.
As Austin attempted to call police from his cellphone he was stabbed in the chest, allegedly by a man who was located the following morning at a south Auckland flat.
But yesterday her parents spoke of hearing about the Mills Lane tragedy the street where their daughter worked and "immediately" thinking she was the slain victim.
The 25-year-old woman Austin tried to help was last night in hiding with a close friend.
"I was just so shocked, so upset.
"I thought `that is my baby girl, my little girl is dead'," the mother told from her west Auckland, home.
The woman's parents had been praying since Austin's death. How could this have happened?"
The mother said the arrested man was a distant relative. He saved my daughter's life.
"We are spending much time thinking about Austin.
"My girl is the person who always helps everyone else, so to see other people coming for her rescue is just amazing. How can I ever repay that kindness," the father told .
The head of the police homicide inquiry last night confirmed the fears of the woman's family."
The Western Samoan parents said they haven't spoken to their daughter whose name is suppressed but planned to attend church as a family tomorrow.
Asked if the accused had been in a relationship with the woman, Whitley responded: "I can't make any comment about that.
"He has gone there specifically to see her," Detective Senior Sergeant Gerry Whitley said."
has learned armed police guarded the home of the woman until the accused had been apprehended.
"I would like to but that is a purely operational matter.
Meanwhile, members of Grey Lynn Samoan Methodist Church which the woman's family have attended since she was born will this morning meet and pray for Austin's family.
"We didn't want another fatality on our hands," said one police source.
He would offer to participate in Austin's funeral service.
Reverend Ioane Tuupo said the congregation had been severely affected by the tragedy but their faith in God would help them get through.
"It is not a nice feeling knowing that a member of your church could have died," Tuupo said.
"It is not a nice feeling knowing that a member of your church could have died," Tuupo said.
"She is a very courageous, supportive and helpful young lady. I rely on her in this church."
The deeply religious woman says on her social networking page that "too many" people "go around not knowing" or being "scared" of the "unknown".
Nalesoni Tupou, one of the lawyers representing the accused, last night attacked media coverage of the incident, saying he was "greatly concerned" by the public sympathy for Austin.
"I respect the loss of the father but with all the emotions running like this you have to wonder how we will get a fair trial."
Tupou had not yet discussed with his client the events of Thursday but said he was "pleased to be in custody".
Meanwhile, Austin's family wife of 25 years, Jenny, daughters Meghann, 19, and Jessica, 17, and son Gareth, 16 said they planned to scatter his ashes in Israel.
"He wanted to go to Israel," said Jenny, an art teacher at Takapuna Grammar. "He just wanted to see where a lot of the Bible happened walk where Jesus walked. So what we're going to do, he's going to be cremated and we're going to do that trip for him."
Jenny said she hoped her husband's death would inspire more people to find God.
"I want everyone to be talking about Austin … We have got too much violence in our society. The only way to change that is to change what's in our hearts.
"One of the greatest wishes in Austin's life was that people come to know God. And he had to die to get his message to the nation."
Austin's funeral will be held at Holy Trinity Church, Devonport, on Wednesday at 1.30pm.