Two a penny

.

Southland celebrated a “once in a lifetime” Ranfurly Shield win in style in Invercargill on Tuesday with thousands turning out for the traditional tickertape parade.

The Stags players were rapturously received as fans crowded both sides of the main street.

A weekend of partying flowed into the formalities as the heroes were feted in the deep south.

Southland won the famous Log o’ Wood for the first time in 50 years last Thursday night when they upset holders Canterbury 9-3 in Christchurch. There are a lot of people here, it’s great for the community,” Southland co-coach Dave Henderson told Radio Sport from the back of one of the floats involved in the parade.

“She’s pretty exciting. Once you do these sorts of things .

“There are 50 years of players that have gone through before us – 30 or 40 challenges have come up with nothing…. this might only happen once in a lifetime . you have to celebrate them in a bit of style which we are doing today..Then to see them turn up at the airport the next day and now to see thousands here cheering us on, it’s quite emotional for some of the guys.

“It was such a thrill to see the faces of the fans at the game with the support we got up there in Christchurch.

The challenge for Southland now is to stay on track in the Air New Zealand Cup where last week’s win had taken them into the semfinals.”

Henderson admitted it had been a long weekend full of partying.

Henderson said the team had trained well on Monday and would face a big hitout on Wednesday. . We have focused on celebrating the Ranfurly Shield but we have also focused on the next Saturday in Wellington because we want to go the next step,” said Henderson.

“I don’t think some of the boys remember arriving back at the airport.

.

Robin Bain’s brother has broken his silence to insist Robin was a “loyal, peaceful and thoughtful” man and “no killer”.

In an article published in this week’s Listener, Michael Bain, of Wellington, wrote of how the good names of David Bain’s parents Robin and Margaret, two sisters Arawa and Laniet, and brother Stephen were vilified during David Bain’s retrial, The Otago Daily Times reported.He said the extended family found the retrial difficult to accept because none of those against whom the “hearsay” allegations were levelled were alive to rebut them.

But Bain campaigner Joe Karam said Michael Bain did not know his dead brother, Robin, well enough to say publicly he was not a killer.

Bain, 37, was cleared of murder the five members of his family in June after a retrial in the High Court in Christchurch.”It is nice that he loves his brother but I think he is in denial, really.Mr Karam said Michael Bain had seen his brother less than six times in more than 20 years before the killings.”The evidence was very clear he (Robin) was in a seriously declining mental condition.

Bain had spent 13 years in prison after originally being convicted in 1995 of the killings in the family’s Every Street home in Dunedin a year earlier.”Mr Karam led the battle to take the case to the Privy Council in England which led to the retrial and not guilty verdicts for David Bain.”We, his family, knew him to be a man of integrity and a good and faithful husband to Margaret and an excellent father to his children.Michael Bain said the family rejected the allegations levelled at members of the Dunedin family, particularly Robin Bain, as “totally out of character, speculative and disbelieved”.”He was a calm, loyal, peaceful and thoughtful man who deserved to grow old surrounded by the love of his family.”Robin was no killer.”I remain honoured to be his brother.”I remain honoured to be his brother.Little attention had been paid to the others killed, whose futures were also “brutally and tragically snatched from them”.Since the Every St killings, much “media hype” had focused on David Bain, including attempts to divert attention from him to Robin Bain.”David is able to enjoy his new-found freedom, but we haven’t forgotten those who were never given a chance and now are unable to defend their reputations, or to enjoy any future at all.”For us, their loving brothers, sisters, uncles, aunts and cousins, the end for each remains as unimaginable and horrifying today as when we first heard the news.

.

After he had stabbed and disfigured Sophie Elliott in a bedroom attack, Clayton Weatherston told a police officer: “I killed her” in a calm, normal tone, a court has been told.

“It appeared that he was in normal control … he was just standing with his hands either side of himself,” Constable John Cunningham has told the Christchurch High Court.

Weatherston is on trial for Elliott’s murder at Dunedin on January 9 last year.

Cunningham was the first person at Elliott’s Ravensbourne home the day she was killed. The defence says he was provoked to kill her.”

Cunningham said he went upstairs to Elliott’s bedroom.

He described talking to Elliott’s mother, Lesley Elliott, on the driveway who told him “that her daughter was dead.

“I tried the door handle but it was locked.

“I then heard the door being unlocked so I opened the door and walked in to a small bedroom.

I voice appealed to open the door or I would kick it in,” he said.

“I was confronted by a body, lying face up.

I saw in front of me on the floor a young female caucasian … I then saw a male standing a the end of the bed.

He asked Weatherston to lie prone on the floor, which he complied with, straight away.”

Cunningham said he asked the man, who was Weatherston, what he had done and he said: “I killed her” in a calm, normal tone. He said his name was “Clayt”. He said his name was “Clayt”.

“I then asked him, why did you kill her.

“I asked him if he understood these rights and he replied that he did,” Cunningham said.”

He asked what he had killed her with, and Weatherston said a knife. He replied, the emotional pain she has caused me over the past year.” Cunningham also asked him about a pair of scissors he found between Elliott’s legs. .

“All this time, the defendant Clay was lying face down in the room.

“He replied, I used them at the end,” Cunningham said.

“I could clearly see the stab wounds to the right side of her throat,” he said.” Cunningham said he put gloves on and checked Elliott’s carotid artery, finding no pulse. … Her legs were spread wide. … Her legs were spread wide. … She had multiple cut and stab wounds to the left side of the throat with a large amount of blood around the throat area.”

Cunningham said he took Weatherston downstairs and told him was under arrest for assault – “he replied he understood.”

Weatherston was on the ground outside the house and continued answering questions. “He was very forthcoming and just answered my questions.”

.

The number of confirmed swine flu cases has risen to close toly 100 after 28 cases were confirmed in 24 hours.

The number of confirmed swine flu cases reached 99 tonight with the confirmation of 13 more cases in Canterbury.

It follows a further 15 cases announced earlier today.

The cases, including six pupils from three schools in Christchurch’s eastern suburbs, were all being treated with Tamiflu and all contacts of those affected were being traced.

The Canterbury District Health Board said all cases of the influenza A (H1N1) strain – now totalling 31 – stemmed from a single case who had been in Victoria, Australia in early June.

There were still relatively few cases and only isolated instances of community transmission, health officials said.

Earlier today an Auckland primary school closed as health officials said they remained focused on containment.

“New Zealand is still in the containment phase,” deputy director of public health Fran McGrath said.

“At this time there remains a combination of border management (keep it out) and cluster control (stamp it out).

“This is the reason that New Zealand has relatively few cases.

“What we’re seeing around the world is that there’s a rapid transfer in young people,” he said.”

The number was expected to further rise and the Ministry of Health was going to step up its public information campaign about flu prevention, Health Minister Tony Ryall said at a press conference. We want to delay the major impact of swine flu beyond the normal winter cycle.

“The strategy remains containment.”

Mr Ryall said there were normally about 31,000 hospital admissions a month during winter and health officials thought there could be another 4000.”

Mr Ryall said there were normally about 31,000 hospital admissions a month during winter and health officials thought there could be another 4000.

Police national manager of training Superintendent Mike Wilson said the move was part of the nationwide effort to try to minimise the spread of the virus.

The college yesterday postponed new training courses due to start this week in a bid to minimise the number of people exposed.”

Staff were working with Public Health to identify any other recruits who may have flu-like symptoms or had direct contact with the sick recruits, he said.

“We’ve had instances of whooping cough and norovirus in the past which present similar challenges and my team are very professional in the way they are handling this and providing any ongoing support to our staff who are understandably worried too.

Mr 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.

Approximately 50 people had been placed in isolation.

“It diverts people away who may have flu symptoms from hospital and emergency departments and GP clinics. Other district health boards were likely to follow. 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.

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. Restrictions could be placed on public gatherings, including sports events. During the Mexican outbreak, big football matches were played in empty stadiums.

There were no plans to cancel Saturday’s second rugby test between the All Blacks and France, Dr Hunt said. However, anyone with flu symptoms should stay away. “It’s a prime opportunity for coughing and sneezing over a lot of people.”

Wellington City Council will outline plans today to deal with the growing number of cases. Mayor Kerry Prendergast said options included closing buildings where large crowds gathered, such as libraries and swimming pools. “We are a long way from that, but you have to have these plans in place.

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

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.

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.

“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. Every day that we can delay it is another day that we might not grind the health system to a halt.”

Swine flu symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people also have diarrhoea and vomiting.

Seventy-four countries have reported 29,669 cases and 145 deaths. Up to 30 per cent of the population might eventually contract swine flu, Dr Hunt said.

WEEKEND DEVELOPMENTS:

Swine flu cases doubled over the weekend, from 35 on Friday, to 71 yesterday. It is now spreading in the community, and not just among people who have travelled overseas.

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 earlier today the health ministry had done a “tremendous job” coping with swine flu so far, though it may have to change tack slightly as a result of the community spread.

“The containment has been a lot better in this country than in others,” he told TVNZ.

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.”

-By , TRACY WATKINS and PAUL EASTON

– Next Health story: –
A home in times of direst need

– National Homepage -

.

He’s done it again for the seventh time.

Kiwi freediver William Trubridge has broken the world record in his specialist diving discipline of constant weight without fins considered the “purest form” of the sport because it uses no fins, weight, rope or any other aid.
On a s of air, he dived to an unassisted depth of 88 metres and swam back to the surface at the Vertical Blue 2009 event in the Bahamas.
The event was held in Dean’s Blue Hole, a 200m-deep sinkhole. He finished the dive, on Saturday morning, in three minutes and 30 seconds.
Trubridge, 28, set his first constant weight without fins record in April 2007, diving to 82m. It was Trubridge’s seventh world record, and his fifth in that discipline. That was broken by Austrian Herbert Nitsch, at 83m, but Trubridge bettered it again with 86m last year.
A few days earlier, he descended to 88m but he blacked out when he got to the surface and took his first breath, which disqualified him. . “But somehow I managed to remain calm and finished the dive completely lucid.
He said he felt anxious as he went for his second attempt.
“Freediving is a sport similar to marathon running, in the sense that athletes peak later in age.”
He planned to keep pursuing records and “extending the idea of the human aquatic potential” for at least another five to 10 years.”
Preparing for a dive required “years of training, months of specific depth adaptation, and a couple of hours of body and lung stretching and meditative exercises on the day”, Trubridge said.”
Preparing for a dive required “years of training, months of specific depth adaptation, and a couple of hours of body and lung stretching and meditative exercises on the day”, Trubridge said.”
Trubridge spent his teenage years in the Bay of Islands and Hawke’s Bay, he said. “He basically learned to walk on the boat before he walked on land.

Ad Feedback –>
loadAd(’300×250′,’STORYBODY’,300,250);

.
Online dating warning after alleged sex assault

By CLIO FRANCIS – Monday, 02 March 2009

Police have issued a warning over the perils of online dating after an alleged sexual assault in Hamilton over the weekend.
Detective Inspector Greg Nicholls said a 41-year-old man was facing a variety of charges relating to the alleged sexual assault of a woman in her home on Saturday morning.
"The offender and victim had connected via the internet sometime last November and had been in subsequent contact since by phone, text and email but had not previously met in person.
He would appear in Hamilton District Court this afternoon, he said.
He urged people to exercise caution.
"The pair had planned to meet on Friday night, however when that fell through the accused had gone to the victim's house and sexually assaulted her," Mr Nicholls said."
The woman, 36, struck up an online friendship with a man she believed was a 33-year-old PhD student from Dunedin in October.
"Wherever possible when meeting with someone for the first time meet in a public place, such as a cafe or restaurant and inform someone where you are going and who you are meeting.
She went to his house, where chickens lived inside among cartons and rubbish, and there was no electricity.
When she arrived on February 8, she realised the unkempt, unemployed 54-year-old had lied about his identity.
The Armed Offender Squad were called while the pair were in Kaikoura, but she was later rescued by police.
When he refused to let her leave the house on her own or take her passport, she contacted a person she had met on her plane, who called police.
The man would not be prosecuted, police said.

.
Good samaritans lose $1000 to robber

Monday, 22 December 2008

Two Wellington men who help itinerants have had their good deeds repaid by being robbed at knifepoint.
Phillip Thomas-Sam, 24, and a workmate were closing up the Gourmet Express Pie Cart beside the city's railway station about 2.
As the robber held a knife against the 18-year-old worker's stomach, Mr Thomas-Sam gave him about $1000 from the till, and was then pushed to the ground.10am on Saturday when a man came in and demanded money. .
Mr Thomas-Sam said the intruder told him he had a gun, and would shoot the pair if they called the police or followed him outside. I thought, `You're kidding me, how can you do this?'
"I have a tendency to take in itinerants or people who need help.
"I was completely shocked [when he came in to the pie cart].
"He was wearing a hat and the hood was up but he looked directly into the security camera. How did he think he could get away with it?"
His colleague, Robert Hughes, believed the robber wore a hoodie he had earlier lent him. He's obviously not the brightest. Then he came back on Saturday night wanting to speak with Phillip. "I've met some really awesome people and made good friends."
Mr Thomas-Sam said the "freaky" experience would not put him off helping others."
Police arrested a 23-year-old man in Cambridge Tce about 9. They are mostly travellers with no place to stay, so that's okay.
He will appear in Wellington District Court today.30pm on Saturday and charged him with aggravated robbery. "We sometimes get crimes like this around Christmas when people's finances are stretched. Detective Sergeant Damian Murphy said police were not seeking anyone else in connection with the robbery."

.
Searchers recover sixth body from Air NZ wreckage

Sunday, 21 December 2008

Divershave now recovered the bodies of six of the seven people who died in the previous month's Air New Zealand plane crash off the southern coast of France.
The most recent body was recovered last week from wreckage, situated in 40m of water, 7km off the coast of the resort town Canet-en-Roussillon. Identification has been proving difficult due to the impact of the crash.
French authorities say they hope to identify the remains, which have been taken to the Institute of Forensic Research at Montpellier, by mid-January. The dead New Zealanders were senior pilot Captain Brian Horrell, 52, engineers Murray White, 37, Michael Gyles, 49, Noel Marsh, 35, and Civil Aviation Authority inspector Jeremy Cook, 58. .
A team of 12 divers will continue searching the wreckage for the remaining body this week, assisted by an observation robot being brought from Marseille. The two German pilots, who have not been named, worked for XL Airways, a German company which had leased the aircraft for two years.
German media have speculated the plane's de-icing gear might have failed resulting in it to nosedive into the sea, but the official investigation has yet to establish why the four-year-old aircraft crashed on what should have been a routine "acceptance" flight. Authorities plan to lift parts of the cockpit out of the water. The plane's black boxes have been sent to their US manufacturer for analysis, but it's unknown whether the flight data can be retrieved.

.
Searchers recover sixth body from Air NZ wreckage

Sunday, 21 December 2008

Divershave now recovered the bodies of six of the seven people who died in the previous month's Air New Zealand plane crash off the southern coast of France.
The most recent body was recovered last week from wreckage, situated in 40m of water, 7km off the coast of the resort town Canet-en-Roussillon. Identification has been proving difficult due to the impact of the crash.
French authorities say they hope to identify the remains, which have been taken to the Institute of Forensic Research at Montpellier, by mid-January. The dead New Zealanders were senior pilot Captain Brian Horrell, 52, engineers Murray White, 37, Michael Gyles, 49, Noel Marsh, 35, and Civil Aviation Authority inspector Jeremy Cook, 58. .
A team of 12 divers will continue searching the wreckage for the remaining body this week, assisted by an observation robot being brought from Marseille. The two German pilots, who have not been named, worked for XL Airways, a German company which had leased the aircraft for two years.
German media have speculated the plane's de-icing gear might have failed resulting in it to nosedive into the sea, but the official investigation has yet to establish why the four-year-old aircraft crashed on what should have been a routine "acceptance" flight. Authorities plan to lift parts of the cockpit out of the water. The plane's black boxes have been sent to their US manufacturer for analysis, but it's unknown whether the flight data can be retrieved.

.
Shakespeare gets school reprieve

Tuesday, 16 December 2008

Amajor education review that some principals fear will spell an end to Shakespeare in schools is being held back a year by the new education minister.
Anne Tolley said yesterday that a review of NCEA standards papers used to assess pupils against the curriculum would be pushed back by 12 months to ensure greater consultation with worried principals and teachers.
"The timeline was so short at a very busy time of year," Mrs Tolley said.
It means changes due to be implemented from 2010 affecting thousands of high school pupils would not come into force till 2011."
Her decision follows a meeting on Friday with the Auckland Secondary Schools Principals Association, which represents a quarter of the country's high schools. "I think it was too ambitious. .
Some members had called for a moratorium on the proposed changes, saying they would "dumb down" the education system. She had instructed officials that wider consultation was required with principals and teachers, who were responsible for implementing changes in schools.
Mrs Tolley said she would meet Education Ministry chief executive Karen Sewell today.
"They're already struggling with what they've got, so the thought of putting more assessment on them is a real concern.
Proposed increases to internal assessment had huge potential effects on teachers' workloads, Mrs Tolley said."