Two a penny

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Jonah Lomu is turning heads again.

The rugby great, kidney transplant patient and father of one was buying tanning oil yesterday for one of the most unlikely sporting comebacks – the Wellington body building championships. On Saturday night, at the 330-seat Memorial Hall at Victoria University, he hopes to be 114kg.

Two years ago, Lomu tipped the scales at 142 kilograms.

Lomu never dreamed of entering a bodybuilding competition, but after two years of lifestyle conditioning by six-time Mr New Zealand Joe Ulberg, one thing has led to another.

The man nicknamed the Black Bus during his 63-test career now has 50-centimetre biceps and will compete against three others in the over-90kg novice section. “I want my son to see me as a 50-year-old with a six pack, not a beer gut.

“I’ve got a seven-month-old boy now [Brayley] and I want him to see me examining healthy and being healthy,” Lomu said.

In November he heads to France for another shot at rugby with second-division Marseille.”

Lomu’s health-driven retirement has not been a comfortable fit for the 34-year-old who debuted for the All Blacks as a 19-year-old in 1994 weighing 112kg. I’ve always loved lifting weights, just ask the All Blacks, so it’s been a lot of fun .

“I just started out wanting to get back in shape and it’s just gone from there…”

In recent weeks, Lomu has found himself doing the things bodybuilders do like examining in the mirror lots and shopping for that tanning oil. . I’m seeing myself in a different shape. “You do look in the mirror at your body and it’s amazing how critical you become.”

Lomu does concede that being coated in oil on Saturday night will be a new experience. It’s been hard work but anybody can be a bodybuilder, it’s all about discipline.”

Lomu added that competing on Saturday was a nice touch because the man who gave him a second chance at life with a kidney donation radio broadcaster Grant Kereama was passionate about bodybuilding and held two Wellington open titles. “I’ve got the year-round tan but they reckon I need this. But he worked around Lomu’s kidney condition by using the right supplements and strictly monitoring his food intake and hydration levels.

Ulberg would not divulge the training programme he put Lomu on because that was giving away “trade secrets”. “He’s a great guy, I’ve trained him like he’s my brother, not a client. “He’s a great guy, I’ve trained him like he’s my brother, not a client.

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It was meant to be their special day when she stood in a church marrying “the best man in the world”. Instead, she was there yesterday to bid him goodbye.

American Danielle Granahan put on her bravest face as she and 500 others farewelled her fiance, Kiwi pilot Jeremy Clarke, 32, who died when the helicopter he was flying was involved in a mid-air crash above New York’s Hudson River on August 9.

At a funeral service on Auckland’s North Shore yesterday, Granahan, 29, insisted now was not the time to discuss “who was to blame”. He and eight others died when the sightseeing craft was struck from behind by a Piper PA-32 plane.

As the hearse of the former Rosmini College head boy was driven off she stood alone, not letting her eyes move from the coffin as she mouthed the words: “I love you. It was a time to remember the man she met three years ago and planned to marry next year in America.”

Shortly after, and speaking for the first time, she told of the gap Clarke would leave in her life. He was truly special,” she said. .”

As the funeral ended, three North Shore Aero Club helicopters hovered as mourners released yellow balloons.

“If I was to say one thing about him it is that from the day he died he has been honoured.

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Police are annoyed at having to rescue a tramper for the second time from a snow-covered ridge in the Ruahine Ranges as dusk fell last night.

The 59-year-old Hastings man had been rescued from the same spot less than a month ago.

A spokeswoman for the Lowe Corporation rescue helicopter said it responded to a police search and rescue request to find the tramper who was experiencing difficulties.

Police say last night’s rescue cost $1500 and put the lives of the rescue team at risk. He misjudged the weather and his timing,” she told .

“It was getting dark and he was at the top of a ridge in the snow.

But police say the man had been warned not to attempt the trip in alpine conditions, Hawke’s Bay Today reported.

The man was flown to Hawke’s Bay Hospital for a check-up but there was nothing wrong with him medically.

Police said then he was not carrying the right equipment, had not planned his trip well and didn’t have the fitness level to complete the trip.

He was first rescued on July 14 from the Golden Crown area of the Ruahine Ranges after he was caught out by heavy snow, deteriorating weather and lack of daylight.

Hawke’s Bay search and rescue co-ordinator Detective Sergeant Luke Shadbolt said today the man’s actions were irresponsible at best and “have put the lives of our rescue staff at risk to get him out of situations that he was ill-equipped and under prepared to deal with”.

At that time poor weather had prevented the rescue helicopter from being used, so police search and rescue squad members and volunteers from Hawke’s Bay LandSar walked into the Ruahine Ranges and found the man about 11pm in a cold and mildly hypothermic state. He has a poor appreciation of winter conditions in the Ruahine Ranges. .”

Mr Shadbolt said he had looked into what charges could be laid but said it was unfortunate no provisions existed to take the man to court.

“It highlights the importance of good planning, good equipment and a good understanding of your capabilities and limitations in the back-country environment.

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The wreck of sunken Tongan ferry Princess Ashika has been found but is in water too deep to dive, Tongan Police Commander Chris Kelley says.

He told a press conference that a combined Tonga, Australia and New Zealand dive team found the boat at 11am using sonar.

He said it “fits the general size and shape of the missing ship.

“It appears to be intact, in an upright position at a depth of 110 metres,” Kelley said.”

It is 11 nautical miles south southwest of Nomuka in Ha’apai.

“It is important to realise that nobody on board could still be alive.

That is too deep for Australian or New Zealand divers to reach, meaning the 93 bodies – many believed to be trapped inside – may never be reached.”

Kelley said the team had not visually confirmed the identity of the vessel but “we have a high level of confidence it is the Princess Ashika.

Dive tender HMNZS Manawanui will arrive in Nuku’alofa on Saturday with a deep diving remote operated vehicle.”

Due to bad weather the operation has now been suspended and the forecast is not good for the next couple of days.

The Tongan ferry sank a week ago with atleast 149 peopleaboard.

“This underwater vehicle will provide images that will give 100 percent certainty to the identity of the vessel,” Kelley said. They include 33 women and 10 children who were sleeping on the lower indoor decks.Two bodies and 54 survivors have been found, while the 93 missing are presumed drowned.Yesterday a combined Tongan Navy, New Zealand Navy and Australian Navy operation located a rope floating which led to the wreck.Yesterday a combined Tongan Navy, New Zealand Navy and Australian Navy operation located a rope floating which led to the wreck.

Meanwhile, the Tongan Legislative Assembly has formed a select committee to begin examining legislation around a royal commission to examine the ferry disaster.

This will provide an increased search and diving capability to the operation.

NOT SEAWORTHY

A surveyor in charge of carrying out checks on the Tongan ferry Princess Ashika has saidthe craft was not seaworthy.

Its members include King George Tupou V’s younger brother, who was a former prime minister and who is known as “His Serene Highness” Prince Tu’ipelehake.

.Mosese Fakatoa, who teaches at the Tongan Maritime School, told 3News the boat was not seaworthy and that he never had a chance to finish his report on it

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The Government will not be pressured by the United States to send the Special Air Service (SAS) back to Afghanistan, Prime Minister John Key says.

The US has put more pressure on its allies to boost their contribution in Afghanistan and has warned New Zealand through its Nato ambassador that it should fight as a “partner and ally” in case it ever needs US military support.

Ambassador Ivo Daalder told a New Zealand journalist visiting Afghanistan that New Zealand should be fighting the Taleban and should consider its relations not just with the US, but with other allies such as Australia. Wouldn’t it be good for a country like Holland or Canada or Slovakia or the US to be there?” Daalder said.

“God forbid there be a threat directly to New Zealand.

Daalder had merely been stressing that members of the international community needed to support one another, she said.

A spokeswoman for the US embassy in Wellington said the US had been at pains not to pressure any of its allies over Afghanistan.

“We understand that this is a decision for the New Zealand Government and for New Zealanders,” she said.

“I think you’ve got to take those comments with a grain of salt,” Key said.

Key said yesterday that Daalder’s comments were “a little gung-ho”, and New Zealand would make its own decisions.

“I’m reasonably relaxed about the comments that are being made. “It’s quite clear the Americans have asked all of their Nato and ISAF [International Security Assistance Force] partners to contribute greater effort to Afghanistan to stabilise the position there.”

Asked what he meant, Key said: “Well, only in the sense that read the wrong way they could be implied as putting pressure on New Zealand. They are a little gung-ho, but I’m reasonably relaxed about it. .”

He said the Cabinet would decide on whether to send the SAS back to Afghanistan by mid-August, “but that decision will be made in what we deem to be the best interests of New Zealand”. Whatever decision we make has to be made here in New Zealand,” he said. “We are able to say `no’. They are the people entitled to that answer, not anybody else.

“I answer to the New Zealand public.

“Whether we agree or not is something Cabinet has to consider, but my view is I am somewhat sympathetic to the position on the basis that we send New Zealanders all around the world and they are in harm’s way,” he said.”

Key said he was sympathetic to the US request. I can’t see how that is in New Zealand’s best interests. “What is the counter-factual? If the world doesn’t get on top of the position in Afganistan, the counter-factual is it becomes an even bigger hotbed for global terrorism.”

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Killers will lose the right to claim provocation as a defence after murderer Clayton Weatherston’s attempt to smear his victim.

It is understood Justice Minister Simon Power wants the controversial defence scrapped as soon as possible and will announce his intentions today.

Weatherston, 33, was found guilty in the High Court at Christchurch yesterday of murdering his former girlfriend Sophie Elliott, 22.

Should provocation be scrapped as a defence for murder? below.

He said he was provoked by their tumultuous relationship and because she had attacked him with a pair of scissors.

He had admitted inflicting 216 stab and cutting wounds on her in the bedroom of her Dunedin home on January 9 last year, but pleaded not guilty to murder.

“There was no provocation in this case, no provocation from Sophie,” her father, Gil, said. .. “That was all fabricated . She didn’t have time to provoke him..

“We’ve thought about it a lot over the last few weeks – probably there’s not … very many murders where provocation is justified but however, in our society it’s never justified – thou shalt not kill and that’s the bottom line.”

Her mother, Lesley, told Radio New Zealand that said she believed there was no room in the legal system for provocation.

“As far as we were concerned, up until the trial, provocation hadn’t really been mentioned – if it had been it certainly wasn’t a massive issue.”

She said they were surprised at accusations that Sophie had made the first attack on her killer.

“[Sophie] doesn’t have another chance and I don’t see why he should.”

Mrs Elliott told Radio New Zealand she didn’t believe in capital punishment but thought Weatherston should spend his life in prison.”

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“I’ve struggled… a lot over the last year with… forgiveness and I will never be able to forgive him for what he’s done

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Slippery fugitive William Stewart is styling himself “Billy the Hunted One” and appears to be enjoying his new-found notoriety.

A Teddington farmer, whose property was broken into by the 47-year-old, showed Stewart’s table-top calling card yesterday.

Stewart, who broke into the farm’s smoko room and helped himself to a meal the weekend before last, had carved his thanks into the dining table.

Stewart has been on the run since early February.

“Thanks guys, Billy the Hunted One,” he wrote.

He has five warrants for his arrest and is thought to have committed a string of burglaries and car thefts while on the run.

He has not been seen since he picked up hitchhikers in Hororata more than a week ago.

Police believed his latest crime was to swap a stolen car for a 2008 Hilux in Waddington, central Canterbury, on Tuesday.

“He helped himself to a nice meal of hot pies and coffee and wrote a thank-you note carved into the table.

The Teddington farmer, who declined to be named, said Stewart had been “sleeping rough” in the hills towards Gebbies Pass behind the property before he ventured down to the farm’s sheds.

“It was more that he had been watching and seeing where the keys were kept,” the farmer said.”

The fact that the door had not been forced but was opened using keys hidden on the property was unnerving.

The farmer said it was clear Stewart was “having a lot of fun and games”.

After carving his thanks, Stewart stole one of the farm motorbikes and blasted through a police cordon towards Governors Bay early on March 22.

However, police had called his antics “silly”.

However, police had called his antics “silly”. .

The Teddington farmer said Stewart, who had popped up in Tai Tapu the following day he evaded police in Governors Bay, obviously had some bushcraft skills as it was a long hike over the hills

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Afternoon nightmare at the Manor

The Friday, 27 February 2009

JONATHAN CAMERON/
TO THE MANOR BURNT: Due to a water shortage, firefighters had to use water from a school pool to extinguish this blaze at the historic Manor Cafe in Sanson.

An exploding LPGcylinder is thought to have started a massive blaze at a landmark restaurant near Sanson, drawing fire crews from around the district in an attempt to save the historic wooden building on State Highway 1.
Fire service shift manager Murray Dunbar said the two-storey building, which was badly damaged, was "well alight" when the crews arrived. .
Mr Dunbar said that, at one stage, all internal firefighting was stopped and crews withdrew to attack the blaze from above.
The fire is thought to have started when a gas bottle exploded inside the building which also offers backpacker accommodation and a nighttime maze horror attraction called "Nightmares".
There were no reports of anyone inside the building. Because of a water shortage, firefighters used water from Sanson School swimming pool.

. Several fire crews remained at the scene last night

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Overseas buyers start new gold rush

By KAREN ARNOLD – Sunday, 01 February 2009

GOLD RUSH: New Zealand is poised for another gold rush but it’s unlikely anyone will be digging for their fortunes. Pictured is $100,000 worth of Kiwi gold.

New Zealandis poised for another gold rush but it's unlikely anyone will be digging for their fortunes.
New Zealand Mint head bullion trader Mike O'Kane said as the world recession deepened, more people wanted to safeguard their cash and saw the precious metal as an insurance policy.
As gold prices hit record levels, it's overseas buyers with money to spare who are turning their dollars into Kiwi gold.
O'Kane said that with the failures of large US investment banks, such as Bear Stearns and Lehman Brothers, demand for New Zealand gold increased.
The price of gold has doubled in the past two years and last week hit an all-time high, reaching $1745 an ounce. The failures coincided with NZ Mint doing a month's worth of transactions each day."
During the past two weeks one US buyer had bought $1 million in gold -about 570 coins -and was contracted to buy another $1m during the next fortnight.
"We've just started to see another surge in demand through fear and worry. "They're going to take that away with them.
"There's an Asian couple flying over to buy $500,000 worth," said O'Kane. NZ Mint would not reveal that buyer's identity for privacy reasons."
There have been two other recent $1m gold transactions one by a New Zealander. As well, there had been five $100,000-plus gold transactions in the the previous month. As well, there had been five $100,000-plus gold transactions in the the previous month.5cm high about the length of a ballpoint pen.
Fifty-four gold coins equals $100,000 worth of gold, and stacked on top of each other they are 13.
O'Kane said New Zealand was regarded as a place where gold would be kept safe. And while $1m in notes would be the size of a pallet, the same sum of gold would fit in a shoebox.
Not all countries manufactured gold bullion and some made it difficult to buy.
About half the gold bought at NZ Mint was kept there in secure storage; the rest was taken away by the owners, he said. O'Kane said once a trader placed an order, it was confirmed within 24 hours and delivered to the client within one to four weeks. NZ Mint, a privately owned company, tried to make the process as simple as possible. A year ago the average gold purchase was about $25,000 a time, he said.
The number of Kiwi gold buyers was also increasing."
O'Kane said the drop in the NZ dollar and the ever-steady demand for gold was driving the price up."
O'Kane said the drop in the NZ dollar and the ever-steady demand for gold was driving the price up.
MINT'S MOMENTS
* Fifty-four gold coins equals $100,000 worth of gold, and stacked they are 13.5cm high – about the length of a ballpoint pen.
* $1m in notes would be the size of a pallet, the same amount of gold coins would fit in a shoebox.
* NZ Mint buys refined gold from reputable suppliers throughout the world including Australia, Europe and Asia
* Once it arrives in New Zealand it is melted down and made into rough bars
* The bars are pressed repeatedly until they reach the desired coin thickness then discs are cut out and softened in an oven at temperatures of between 500 and 600degC.
* They are then "stamped" with a Kiwi on the top and map of New Zealand on the bottom of the coin
* A pure NZ Mint gold coin is the size of the old 50c piece.
* It weighs one troy-ounce = 31.1gms.

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Armed police interviewed over motorway shooting

– Tuesday, 27 January 2009

Cop had ‘seconds’ to decide

Drugs could be McDonald’s defence

Police are today interviewing the Armed Offenders Squad members involved in the incident which led to the fatal shooting of 17-year-old Halatau Naitoko.
Mr Naitoka was killed by a stray police bullet while they were shooting at 50-year-old Stephen Hohepa McDonald following an hour long police chase through Auckland on Friday.
Detective Inspector Peter Devoy said police were appealing for further witnesses to the tragic events.
"The driver of the truck has advised that, at the time McDonald was threatening him, a vehicle went past on the outside lane, heading towards the city.
In particular, they wanted to speak to the occupants of a vehicle heading towards Auckland City about 2pm which passed the truck that the alleged offender, McDonald, was trying to hijack at the time.
The driver of the truck, 40-year-old blacksmith Richard Neville, was injured in the attempted heist. We'd like whoever was in that to contact us as they could provide some valuable witness information to the inquiry," he said.
Police also believed there would have been more witnesses who saw the chase on its way from west Auckland into New Lynn, Grey Lynn and Ponsonby."
Police were taking more than 50 statements from police staff who were involved in the ordeal.
"It's important that we speak with as many people who saw some of the activity along the way so that we can accurately reconstruct the events leading up to Halatau Naitoko's death.
Witnesses with information or mobile phone photos should contact police on 09 302 6567.
Five vehicles, including the Eagle helicopter, were also undergoing forensic examination in the search for clues as to what went wrong.