Two a penny

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A former police officer has escaped a custodial sentence after being arrested on drugs charges on his wedding day.

Tauranga District Court was told on Friday that Anthony Brooks, 38, had to cancel the ceremony after he was denied bail and spent three days in prison, The Bay of Plenty Times reported.

Brooks had earlier pleaded guilty to cultivation of cannabis, possession of cannabis, receiving stolen property, possession of BZP, possession of methamphetamine and possession of pipes for consuming methamphetamine.

Sentencing him to 110 hours community work Judge Thomas Ingram told Brooks he presented “somewhat of an enigma”.

Two other drug supply charges, and a charge of blackmail, were withdrawn the previous month.

“You, more than anybody, knew what you were getting involved in was illegal and the consequences, and what you did reflects absolutely no credit on you.

He was someone who had not only held down quite a responsible job, but had previously worked as a police officer.”

Brooks worked as a police officer for at least eight years but was employed as a marketing manager when police searched his Papamoa, Tauranga, home earlier this year.

Brooks spent four days in custody, including three in Waikeria Prison, having been denied bail on his first court appearance on drug supply allegations, which were later withdrawn.

The raid uncovered drugs, including methamphetamine, BZP and cannabis, as well as a stolen laptop computer. They also forfeited $8000 of wedding deposits and Brooks subsequently lost his employment as a marketing manager. .”

Mr Mansfield said Brooks was a first-time offender with an otherwise unblemished record and of otherwise good character, and references showed he was thought of in high regard.

“You may say these effects were of his own making but nevertheless they were significant losses over and above those which were usual.

Unfortunately, Brooks had given into the temptation of recreational drug use and was remorseful for that, Mr Mansfield said.

Unfortunately, Brooks had given into the temptation of recreational drug use and was remorseful for that, Mr Mansfield said.

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The head of Auckland’s troubled Labtests has resigned after criticism of the company’s failures.

Auckland Regional District Health Board spokeswoman Lauren Young confirmed that Ulf Lindskog had stepped aside from his role as CEO of Labtests.

The shock move by Mr Lindskog follows Prime Minister John Key wading into the dispute and Auckland district health boards appointing six of its senior officials to step in and help run the troubled lab testing company.

It is understood Mr Lindskog’s resignation is from his role as CEO of Labtests only and he will continue on with parent company Healthscope, although the company has not clarified this.

During the weekend the Auckland boards ordered their own senior representatives to take over at Labtests and sort out the problems.

Australian-based company Labtests took over the contract with three Auckland district health boards from Diagnostic Medlab this month but within days problems surfaced over the speed of tests and results, and communications with clinicians.

Auckland District Health Board chairman Pat Snedden said there were indications the public might be at risk over inefficiencies.

It came as Labtests apologised to people who had had trouble with the company since the takeover.

“The people of Auckland rely on this service, this is a $500 million contract – they have had a couple of years to get themselves organised,” Mr Key told NewstalkZB today. .”

Mr Key said he was confident Labtests could get on top of the issues.

“While I don’t think any of the specific issues are so serious that they can’t be fixed, now is the time for Labtests to actually stand up and deliver a proper product to the people of Auckland.

The Australian bosses of Labtests flew into Auckland on Sunday where they were give the message about the city’s laboratory testing – shape up or face consequences.

Labtests said today in a newspaper advertisement it took responsibility for fixing the problems and was working extremely hard to sort out the issues.

It was given the contract by Auckland’s three district health boards after promising savings of $15 million a year, and kept the contract following a bitter court battle with its predecessor Diagnostic Medlab.

Labtests is owned by Australian company Healthscope.”

”What we’re saying to Labtests is, we don’t think you’re fulfilling the terms of the contract at the moment.

Mr Snedden told the Sunday Star-Times: “We are starting to feel very clearly that Labtests need to pick up their act.”

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Industrial action by bus drivers which threatened to disrupt up to 80,000 Auckland commuters tomorrow has been cancelled.

A threatened lockout of almost 900 bus drivers and cleaners in response to a planned work to rule programme has been called off after mediation between the union and their employer.

However, mediation talks today saw the notice of strike action lifted and an amended offer will be presented to the union on Friday.

The Auckland Combined Union gave notice of their planned action last week and their employer, NZ Bus responded by saying it would lock them out. .

Bus services will be temporarily affected on Friday between 11am and 1pm as the offer is considered.

The work to rule action was to involve drivers taking scheduled 10 minutes breaks between routes to complete tasks such as lost property inspections and recommended stretching exercises, even if they were running late.

Both sides had earlier said they were unwilling to back down.8 percent this year, taking the starting wage from $14.

The drivers were seeking an increase of 6.05 more than the minimum wage, to $15 an hour, the union said.05, only $1.30 after three months employment before peaking at $16.

Presently, the pay rate climbs to $15.

NZ Bus operations manager Zane Fulljames said they had offered a 9.75 after nine months of service.

Mr Fulljames said the lockout had been put in place as the company could not operate safely or reliably if the workers were working to rule.9 percent increase over three years which he said was exceptionally fair in this economy.

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Legislation allowing workers to take meal and breast-feeding breaks may be changed because it would cause the cancellation of nine domestic flights, Labour Minister Kate Wilkinson says.

Previously, there were no statutory requirements for meal and rest breaks, although entitlements were in most collective agreements.An amendment bill was passed last year by the previous Labour government, which set guidelines for break requirements. .Today, Ms Wilkinson said the law was “too prescriptive” and needed “clarifying”.The Airline Pilots Association had been “unwilling to continue the flexible breaks system”.The current legislation meant regional airport control towers were being closed down while workers took breaks, she said.If she did not act it “would result in the cancellation of at least nine regional return flights a week and the risk of further schedule disruptions”, Ms Wilkinson said.”Parliament certainly didn’t intend for this law to create more problems than it solved.Pharmacies, schools, meatworks and sole attendant operations had also raised concerns about the law, she said.The Council of Trade Unions was quick to express their disappointment at the planned amendment.”It would appear that what was once common sense in the past is no longer common sense under this legislation,” Ms Wilkinson said.”To now exclude sole charge workers, for example, would see many people returning to the very unsatisfactory situation of working long hours without any break.Many workers had benefited from the law, president Helen Kelly said.”Last month, Ms Wilkinson called for public submissions on a draft code of practice about breast-feeding at work.”Last month, Ms Wilkinson called for public submissions on a draft code of practice about breast-feeding at work.

.Submissions close on Monday

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Dan Carter’s class shone as the All Blacks rediscovered their fire and a few of their skills too as they nipped Australia 19-18 to claim the Bledisloe Cup and get the defence of their Tri-Nations title back on course.

Carter kicked his fourth penalty 90 seconds from the end to earn the All Blacks a nail-biting win in front of 80,000 at a ground that has so often been a graveyard for them.

The win applies heat to the pace-setting Springboks as the All Blacks head home with renewed confidence for their two remaining Tri-Nations fixtures in Hamilton and Wellington.

Smarting after two shoddy losses to the Springboks and some harsh words from coach Graham Henry the All Blacks put together a more accomplished performance.

The pressure now goes on Robbie Deans – his side have lost three matches in a row.

But the victory importantly puts the All Blacks 2-nil up against the Wallabies and the sight of the Bledisloe Cup being locked away in the trophy cabinet will give major relief to what was sliding towards a season of discontent. But New Zealand deserved credit for their increased urgency and accuracy.

Given how low the All Blacks’ skills sunk in Durban getting a measure of improvement in Sydney shouldn’t have been too hard.

The boot dominated both in field play and on the scoreboard – Ma’a Nonu got the only try – but both sides were willing to run the ball when it was on.

The lineout was better, the scrum solid – Al Baxter was removed after half an hour – there was better work under the high ball and they hung tough to see out a crucial victory in a see-sawing game. But it wasn’t easy and this match hung in the balance right till the end.

Carter’s guidance certainly allowed the All Blacks to work in the right areas of the field for long periods. .

The Wallabies kept the ball alive after the halftime siren had sounded and while they weren’t rewarded with a try after their most promising attack took them to within sight of the All Blacks’ line they did earn a penalty for Giteau to land his fourth penalty and a 12-3 halftime lead. Two knocks to the head eventually forced Luke McAlister off after 50 minutes and Stephen Donald came off the bench to play at first five with Carter moving out one spot.

Australia’s problems deepened when Berrick Barnes and James O’Connor were forced off with injuries.

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A forward pass ruled out a gift try to Carter as New Zealand’s frustrations continued

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The Government and the ACT Party are denying that a crisis has developed over whether there should be reserved Maori seats on Auckland’s new city council.

It was revealed last night that a senior National MP – believed to be Tau Henare – sent an email to his caucus colleagues telling them ACT had threatened to end its relationship with the Government if it “gave in to Maori” and agreed to having special Maori seats on the council.

“We’ve certainly never threatened to end the relationship,” he said.

But ACT leader and Local Government Minister Rodney Hide said the email was wrong.”

Speaking on Radio New Zealand this morning, Mr Hide said they were waiting to hear back from the results from the select committee but conceded there was discussion around the issue.

“What we have done is state our position very clearly and we are opposed to any reservation of seats for a particular group.”

Mr Hide said he would have to resign as minister if the Maori seats were enshrined.

“We’ll get the report, we’ll see what the select committee recommends and then we’ll see what Parliament decides.

“I can’t in good conscience as leader of the Act Party accept legislation that to me is so fundamentally against the culture of New Zealand and the principle of the Act Party as the separate Maori seats are.

He said he had told Mr Key about his stance on seperate Maori seats when talks about a confidence and supply agreement began.

NOT CONFIDENCE AND SUPPLY CLAUSE

Mr Hide said National MP Tau Henare had the wrong impression around his intention and said ACT would continue to support National in a confidence and supply agreement.”

He said it was a matter of principle – one person one vote and seats should be contestable by all comers.

A spokesperson for Prime Minister John Key said ACT’s views were well known.

He said it had never occurred to him that a National government would be even contemplating having separate Maori seats, “so I didn’t write it in our confidence and supply agreement,” he told Radio New Zealand. We have all sorts of discussions with support parties, we’re not about to start conducting those in the media,” the spokesperson said.

“We are working through arrangements for the super city.”

The Royal Commission which reported on Auckland’s local government structure recommended reserved Maori seats but the Government scrapped that when it set out its plans for the city. .

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The Maori Party has been lobbying to overturn the Government’s decision and both sides have been looking for a compromise

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Great Train Robber Ronnie Biggs is to be released from prison on compassionate grounds due to ill health, after serving 10 years of a 30-year sentence.

The release was announced by UK Justice Secretary Jack Straw overnight.

He was refused parole by the Justice Secretary the previous month.

“Mr Ronald Biggs has been informed today of my decision regarding his application for compassionate release on medical grounds,” Straw said in a statement. His son, Michael, has made desperate pleas for his release.

The 79-year-old inmate at Norwich Prison in eastern England has since been admitted to hospital suffering from a chest infection.”

He said he had been influenced by the Parole Board’s judgement which had found his propensity to breach trust a very significant factor.

Straw said he had made the initial decision to refuse parole principally because Biggs had shown “no remorse for his crimes nor respect for the punishments given to him.

“The medical evidence clearly shows that Mr Biggs is very ill and that his condition has deteriorated recently, culminating in his re-admission to hospital.

But Straw said he had changed his mind after considering the prisoner’s health, specifically whether death was likely to occur soon and whether the prisoner was bedridden or incapacitated.

Along with 11 other gang members, Biggs robbed a Glasgow-to-London mail train in 1963 and stole 2. His condition is not expected to improve,” Straw said. The crime became known as “The Great Train Robbery.6 million pounds – about 30 million pounds in today’s money.

He used his share of the loot to pay for plastic surgery and papers for a passage to Australia where he returned to his old job of carpenter and decorator. .

His playboy lifestyle and cocky defiance of the British authorities made him a criminal legend, spawning several films and making heroes out of the villains in the eyes of millions around the world. He later fled to Brazil via Panama and Venezuela.

The Ministry of Justice said Biggs will spend one more night being watched by prison guards before his release.

He surrendered to police in 2001 after 36 years on the run.

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“It won’t come into effect until tomorrow morning once licence papers have been signed — then he will be free to go,” a spokesperson for the Ministry of Justice said

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Unemployment is going to get worse before it gets better, Finance Minister Bill English said today after latest statistics showed it had risen to 6 percent.

The Household Labour Force Survey put the number of unemployed at a 10-year high of 138,000.

“That’s why we have to strengthen the economy and provide sustainable jobs — too many of those jobs that have been lost were based on too much borrowing and government spending.

“There’s more job losses to come over the next 12 months,” Mr English told reporters.

“That’s obviously of concern to the Government,” she said.”

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett said the increase was larger than had been expected, up from 5 percent on the March figure.3 percent.

“New Zealand continues to feel the effects of the global downturn, but we’re holding up internationally with an unemployment rate well under the OECD average of 8.

“This is deeply worrying,” said social development spokeswoman Annette King.”

Labour said families were hurting and the Government had failed to protect them from the sharp edges of the recession, as it said it would.”

Other reaction to the latest figures included:

* Business NZ said the country had been in recession since early 2008, longer than other developed countries and well before the beginning of the global downturn.

“It makes mockery of (Prime Minister) John Key’s claims earlier this week that Labour was scaremongering on unemployment and underscores the Government’s ongoing failure to take the recession seriously.

* The Council of Trade Unions said the Government should urgently expand its programmes.

“The fact that the unemployment rate is not higher is a testament to the loyalty of New Zealand employers who have demonstrated great commitment to retaining staff,” said chief executive Phil O’Reilly..

“The rise to 6 percent unemployment is a shocking result . we are very worried that Treasury’s May forecast of a peak of 8 percent in late 2010 will be exceeded,” said CTU economist Bill Rosenberg..

“It is a lot of people out of work, about twice the population of Dunedin,” said MP Sue Bradford. .”

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“Also noticeable is the sharp rise in women’s unemployment and in the number of people who have been pushed into part-time hours

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LATEST

Health officials are setting up specialist swine flu centres as the number of cases soars.

Health Minister Tony Ryall confirmed yesterday that Capital and Coast District Health Board had set up one of New Zealand’s first swine flu assessment centres at Wellington Hospital. Other district health boards were likely to follow.”

The number of nationwide swine flu cases doubled over the weekend, from 35 on Friday to 71 yesterday.

“It diverts people away who may have flu symptoms from hospital and emergency departments and GP clinics.

Darren Hunt, the Health Ministry’s deputy director of public health, said the weekend’s rise signalled a new phase of the pandemic and the number of cases was expected to rise steeply. Meanwhile, the UK has reported its first death from swine flu.

The ministry has moved its response to phase six, one of the highest health alert levels, opening the door for radical measures including the declaration of a national state of emergency. During the Mexican outbreak, big football matches were played in empty stadiums. Restrictions could be placed on public gatherings, including sports events. However, anyone with flu symptoms should stay away.

There were no plans to cancel Saturday’s second rugby test between the All Blacks and France, Dr Hunt said.”

Wellington City Council will outline plans today to deal with the growing number of cases. “It’s a prime opportunity for coughing and sneezing over a lot of people. Mayor Kerry Prendergast said options included closing buildings where large crowds gathered, such as libraries and swimming pools. Mayor Kerry Prendergast said options included closing buildings where large crowds gathered, such as libraries and swimming pools.”

Challenges included keeping essential services such as water supply and sewerage systems going if large numbers of people are off sick or stuck at home.

“Senior council managers have been working out how we will cope if Wellington is greatly affected by swine flu.

“If swine flu takes hold as is expected, that means a whole lot more people have flu, which means a whole lot more people might be turning up at emergency departments and GP clinics.

Mr Ryall said that, although New Zealand’s swine flu cases had been mild and most people recovered at home, there was still potential for it to swamp hospitals and clinics.”

Swine flu symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Every day that we can delay it is another day that we might not grind the health system to a halt.

Seventy-four countries have reported 29,669 cases and 145 deaths. Some people also have diarrhoea and vomiting.

WEEKEND DEVELOPMENTS:

Swine flu cases doubled over the weekend, from 35 on Friday, to 71 yesterday. Up to 30 per cent of the population might eventually contract swine flu, Dr Hunt said.

In Wellington, 12 new cases were reported, including a recruit at the Police College in Porirua.

In Wellington, 12 new cases were reported, including a recruit at the Police College in Porirua. Other recruits were being treated with Tamiflu and isolated.

The Health Ministry moved its response to phase six, opening the door for radical measures such as declaring a national state of emergency.

Tamiflu given to 50 pupils at Burnside High School, Christchurch, after a 13-year-old confirmed with swine flu.

Year 12s at Auckland’s Westlake Girls’ High School told to stay home after a fellow pupil is diagnosed.

Australia has 1458 cases, with more than 1100 in Victoria.

Health officials are also stressing the need for people who suspect they have flu to seek medical advice over the phone. Call Healthline 0800 611 116.

OFFICIALS HANDLING OUTBREAK WELL – PM

Prime Minister John Key today praised the actions of health officials in dealing with swine flu and emphasised the importance of people staying home if they have symptoms.

Mr Key said this morning the health ministry had done a “tremendous job” coping with swine flu so far, though it may have to change tack slightly because of the community spread. .

The messages the department were putting out were the right ones to help contain the spread, he said.

“We don’t have immunity and at one level it’s reasonably easy to spread,” he said.

“. . .If you’re not feeling well stay home, cover your mouth if you cough or sneeze, wash your hands regularly.”

– Next Health story: –
Fears over spread of flu at church

– National Homepage -

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Banks in New Zealand could come under pressure to match a deal done across the Tasman offering homeowners who lose their jobs up to 12 months’ mortgage relief.

Prime Minister John Key said yesterday he would seek further information on the scheme, as the Government exerts more pressure on banks over its taxpayer-backed government guarantees. . But it sounded interesting and he would look into it.
Mr Key said he was yet to see the details of the scheme. So .
“What I would say is the New Zealand Government has offered the same level of support to the Australian banks as the Australian Government has provided.. the New Zealand branches, or New Zealand subsidiaries, might take into consideration what is required..
The banks would also be prepared to consider interest-only repayment options, including car loans, where appropriate, Mr Rudd said.”
Under an agreement with Australia’s four big banks, borrowers would be supported through times of temporary hardship by banks postponing mortgage repayments for up to 12 months, at the banks’ discretion.
The Australian deal comes as the New Zealand Government ramps up its rhetoric over banks.
But the sting in the tail was that accrued interest would be rolled back into the loan to be repaid once borrowers were back on their feet. Finance Minister Bill English warned last week that they could not expect to continue making big profits while taxpayers took on their business risk. Finance Minister Bill English warned last week that they could not expect to continue making big profits while taxpayers took on their business risk.
Mr Key said that, although there had been a moderate rise in mortgagee sales, they had come off “an extremely low base”. January figures showed there were 150 forced sales throughout the country, a fivefold increase from January 2007.”
But he said there had been discussions with banks about how they would handle homeowners who lost their jobs.
“In absolute numbers, it’s still a small number of homes relative to the stock of housing.
Mr Key said he had an assurance from banks that mortgagee sales were the last resort. There are expected to be 50,000 more jobless people within 18 months.
“Generally speaking, it’s their preference that some small payments continue to be made not so much because of the monetary value of them, but to continue the process of making payments. Many banks were already offering mortgage holidays and other monetary relief.”

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