Two a penny

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Family wins second Madagascar trip

The Thursday, 22 January 2009

PATRICK HAMILTON/
WHAT ARE THE CHANCES: Chrystiana, 8, and Chase, 5, Wright are old enough this time to accompany parents David and Shelley after the family won a trip to South Africa for the second time in a Madagascar movie promotion.

The lucky dip gods might soon start examining twice at a Stoke family. They will soon pack their bags for a second trip to South Africa as winners once more of a national competition run in conjunction with the launch of a movie.
The Wright family has won national competition draws more times than the odds would normally allow.
Last week, they learned they had won again, after entering a competition to promote the sequel, Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa.
Four years ago, their names were drawn from the barrel of entrants in a nationwide competition run through the TV Guide to promote the animated movie Madagascar. The family then sent in a couple of entries, tempted by the smaller prizes available, Shelley Wright said.
The competition involved counting the number of times the logo of the movie's character Alex the Lion featured during a recent television screening of Madagascar."
Last week they got a call from the movie's distribution company, Paramount Productions, announcing them as winners.
"I thought it would be a waste of time entering, but they had such great runner-up prizes, and the kids love the movie.
Paramount Productions spokesperson Matt Andree Wiltens said the competition, run with TVNZ (TV2) and the TV Guide, had a great response, with thousands of entries.
"Never in our wildest dreams did we expect to win again," said her husband, David Wright, operations manager at the Nelson City Council. I know they put in more than one entry to the competition, and I guess it goes to prove the adage that you've got to be in to win.
"The Wright family were the lucky winners drawn out of the barrel.
He said that while there were many memorable highlights from their first trip to South Africa, sharing a picnic with other winners from around the world, who were then gatecrashed by a mob of 20-30 hungry baboons, stood out."
The Wrights' two children, Chrystiana, 8, and Chace, 5, were too young to travel the first time, so the second opportunity was a rare blessing, Mr Wright said. They attacked the van, and the authentic African barbecue we were having.
"They came charging over the sand dunes. . One baboon grabbed the bag of an Irish lady, but she held on and screamed loudest and the baboon let go," Mr Wright said. I had four because no one else was eating anything," Mr Wright said.
"That day we went to an ostrich farm and got offered steaks for lunch. The couple also won their honeymoon to Sydney in 1995, and then a competition in December 1999 to meet American actor and comedian Robin Williams while he was in Auckland promoting his movie Bicentennial Man.
Mrs Wright has the lucky hand and regularly enters competitions.
The family plans to take up their latest prize during the April school holidays.
The family plans to take up their latest prize during the April school holidays.

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Fox Glacier ice collapse recovery postponed

Melbourne brothers named

Friday, 09 January 2009

BROTHERS: Ashish Miranda, 24, and Akshay Miranda, 22, of Melbourne, at World Youth Day in Sydney last year.

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DOC/Supplied
ICE FALL: Two tourists lost their lives when they were buried by falling ice at the face of Fox Glacier.
Ashish Miranda, 24, and Akshay Miranda, 22, of Melbourne, were crushed by ice after crossing safety barriers at the terminal face to take photos around 4.

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FOX GLACIER

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LATEST: The recovery of the body of one of two Australian brothers crushed by falling ice on Fox Glacier yesterday has been postponed because it is too dangerous, police say.
The body ofAshish Miranda, an aerospace engineer for Boeing, was recovered last night while the body of his brother Askhay – presumed dead – is thought to be right at the bottom of the ice shelf, an area believed to be exceedingly dangerous.20pm yesterday. Some piecesof the ice werethe size of large vehicles.
More than 100 tonnes of ice was believed to have fallen on the men.
"We are pretty certain we know where he is and a decision will be made on whether we try and get him out.
Constable Paul Gurney, of Franz Josef police station,said the search was continuing today and had been narrowed down to a specific area where searchers thought the body of Akshay Miranda had fallen… . There is a possibility that he will be left there," he said.
The body of Ashish Miranda was found buried beneath the fallen ice around 10 to 15metres away from the ice face.
"The guys took a risk yesterday getting the other man out and this guy will be even more at risk," he said. The rain is not expected to ease until later tonight.
The recovery attempt is set to be hindered by heavy rain as the Metservice have issued a severe weather warning for the South-Westland area.
The parents were in the Fox Glacier township, Constable Tony LeSueur, of Hokitika, said.
TRAGEDY ON FAMILY HOLIDAY
Thetwo men were the only children of their parents who they lived with in Melbourne.
The brothers attended World Youth Day in Sydney in last year, with the younger brother Akshay describing it as "the most kick ass week ever'' on his Facebook profile.
The family was due to fly back to Australia on Sunday morning.
He was an engineering student at Monash University, due to finish his studies this year.
The profile also revealed Akshay as a football fan who proudly celebrated his Indian heritage.
According to Indian website Daijiworld Media Network, the family had migrated to Melbourne from Indian city Mangalore.
According to Indian website Daijiworld Media Network, the family had migrated to Melbourne from Indian city Mangalore.
The boys parents, Ronnie and Winnie Miranda, were original from Mumbai, it said.
Tributes to Ashish were already being posted on his Facebook page.
"Rest in peace, Akshay,'' wrote Elise Aycardo. "You'll be forever missed, forever loved, and always, forever, in our hearts. I'm sorry … And my thoughts and prayers are with your family.''
John Oddo wrote: "You were such a great man and such a valuable friend. I will really really miss you and I know you're making fun of me right now from up there but I love you and thanks for putting up with me.''
An aunt of the brothers told Daijiworld the family was still praying Akshay, whose body has not been recovered, would be found alive.
On Sunday, Akshay proudly boasted on Facebook that he had completed a 134-metre bungee jump.
GLACIER RISKS
Conservation Minister Tim Groser said it was a "tragedy of almost unimaginable proportions (for the parents) to lose both sons in one tragedy".
Mr Groser was at Fox Glacier but was staying out of the way of the operational staff conducting the search.
"There are extensive safety procedures in place, these are reviewed annually, there's also been independent assessment of these procedures.
"We're dealing with a situation that is a highly dangerous and dynamic natural environment involving rock, ice and rivers."
The procedures were last reviewed in August last year.
He said the facts of the latest incident would be reviewed by the Department of Conservation (DOC), police and probably the coroner.
There will always be risk, but also "some responsibility on the part of these individuals who go into these areas".
In 2007, DOC said almost a third of the 600,000 visitors to the West Coast glaciers ignored warning signs and entered danger zones.
In February that year, a tourist standing beside an ice cave at the terminal face of the Franz Josef Glacier was injured when the roof collapsed.
He had walked past signs warning of the danger of falling ice.
– With Michael Fox, , Arjun Ramachandran

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Holiday traffic at a crawl

Saturday, 27 December 2008

Heavy holiday traffic was causing problems throughout the North Island today and police were urging caution.
Drivers heading to destinations in the Auckland, Northland, Waikato and Coromandel regions were warned to expect long delays in traditional bottleneck areas such as the Kopu Bridge at Thames, where there is a 10km tailback, and the Northern Motorway at Orewa.
Policeare urging motoristsheading to Waikato and Coromandel to use the alternative route of State Highway 2 towards Paeroa and then turn into Hubbard Road, then left into State Highway 26.
Traffic on Auckland's Northern Motorway was at a crawl.
Thoseheading to the Northland region the alternative route of State Highway 16 is available.
Motorists simply had to display tolerance, said Inspector Ken Climo, of police central communications.
Further south on the Kapiti Coast there were traffic delays both north and south bound on State Highway One between Waikanae and Otaki.
"Police are starting to receive information about a number of incidents involving poor driving, like tailgating, silly overtaking and cutting other traffic off at the end of passing lanes," he said."
Mr Climo said traffic was also starting to build on the Desert Road, both north and south bound.
"Please take care and live to enjoy another Christmas.
Mr Climo said there would be extensive delays for traffic travelling north through the area, and contractors were working to ensure delays are kept as short as possible. .
"Motorists who must travel to the Hutt Valley may consider using State Highway One, then State Highway 58 (Haywards) as a means of getting into the Hutt Valley.
"This remedial work will be on going over the next three days and contractors will be working up until 7pm hours daily," he said."

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Edgeware inquiry backs police action

By CLIO FRANCIS – Thursday, 18 December 2008

POLICE PRAISED: The actions of police who attempted to control the party at which Hannah Rossiter and Jane Young died last year has been praised by the Independent Police Conduct Authority. Lipine Sila is in prison for their murders.

The Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA) review has found no fault in the police response to the Edgeware Road party in Christchurch at which two schoolgirls were killed.
Lipine Sila was sentenced to 17 years in jail for their deaths in June this year.
Hannah Rossiter and Jane Young, both 16, died from injuries they suffered when a car was driven into them at the out-of-control party on May 5 last year.
"There was no relationship between those actions and the timing of the police decision to close down the party.
Justice Goddard, who led the IPCA inquiry, said police could not have predicted Mr Sila's actions. .
"No doubt the release of the IPCA report will bring back all the emotions and memories for those involved, including police and emergency services staff who were involved in the aftermath of this incident," he said
He said his heart went out to all those involved and their families.
Canterbury District Commander Dave Cliff said nothing could ever bring back the two young women or change the life long consequences suffered by some of those injured."
He said the report has gone further to commend the conduct of two Sergeants.
"For my staff involved and the Canterbury Police District, this independent report has validated the approach taken.

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Police name Wanganui woman killed in road accident

Saturday, 29 November 2008

Police have named the woman who was killed in a car crash on State Highway 3 just south of Wanganui on Saturday morning.
She was 59-year-old Georgina Maud Mareikura from Palmerston North.
An 11-year-old female passenger in Ms Mareikura's car, who was a relative, received minor injuries.
She was driving a dark-coloured Honda towards Wanganui and collided head-on with a dark-coloured Holden being driven in the opposite direction, just after 7am. .
The driver of the Holden was in a critical but stable condition, police said.

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Witnesses, or anyone with information relevant to the investigation, are asked to contact Wanganui Police on 06 349 0600

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Info sought on stolen items after attack on schoolgirl

– Monday, 17 November 2008

STOLEN: Police are seeking information on a backpack and a cellphone stolen from a schoolgirl after she was attacking by a man posing as a truancy officer.

Police have released pictures of items stolenfrom a schoolgirl sexually assaulted by a man posing as a truancy officer in Auckland last week.
A well-dressed man pulled up alongside the 15-year-old school girl as she walked home along Hobsonville Rd between 12.
The man, who posed as a truancy officer, invited the girl into his car so he could check she was not wagging school. .
The schoolgirl was on study leave and had been heading towards her West Harbour home to prepare for exams, which start this week. He then drove her home in his white station wagon, which had a tidy grey interior, and then assaulted her as soon as he got in the door.
Police today released pictures of a backpack and cellphone stolen from the student "in the hope members of the public may have seen them", Detective Sergeant Steve Salton from Henderson CIB said.
"We hope someone will be able to tell us where these two items are.
"We've received a lot of good information from the public," he said.
The alleged attacker is described as a short, stocky Maori or Polynesian man in his early 40s.
"They are of considerable importance to our ongoing enquiries," Mr Salton said.

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Chat via hologram could be household reality

By KRIS HALL Wednesday, 17 September 2008

CHRIS GORMAN/
MIND BOGGLING: Live chat via hologram is a step closer to being a household reality. Auckland comedian Jeremy Corbett has a chat with Aussie celebrity Rove McManus – or at least his hologram, beamed across the Tasman.
In what TelstraClear says is a national first, a walking, talking image of Australian chat show host Rove McManus was beamed across the Tasman yesterday to appear live on stage at Auckland's Vector Arena.

Forgetconference calls or video crosses – beaming your hologram for a live chat is a step closer to becoming a household reality.
It was all rather mind-boggling for the 500-plus business leaders invited to see what the company's Next IP network could do.
There "Rove" joked with Auckland comic Jeremy Corbett and TelstraClear chief executive Allan Freeth, before making way for musician Che Fu, who performed alongside a pre-recorded hologram of himself. "Next IP is about very fast, very capable networks .
"IP network, that just means fibres and computers instead of coppers and switches," Dr Freeth said… Imagine every second of every game played – Next IP can transport that from Auckland to Sydney in under 75 seconds.
"Take the Bledisloe Cup.4 billion, the IP, or Internet protocol, allows the company's network to stretch from Whangarei to Invercargill, as well as across the Tasman, where it meets parent company Telstra's Next IP global network, which in turn links to 35 countries."
Costing TelstraClear $1.
"It can turn what many think of as science fiction into reality.
"It opens a new frontier for business and a more productive way of using technology to bring the world to you," said Telstra chief executive Sol Trujillo, who was also present in hologram form.
TelstraClear plans to roll out TelstraPresence lounges in Auckland and Wellington, where businesses separated by the length of the North Island may conduct meetings."
Though the likelihood of Kiwis using the hologram technology to chat to family members overseas is several years away, businesses will be able to tap into the technology sooner than they might think.
"It's so good you'll be able to see the beads of sweat dripping when the decision making gets a little heated," Dr Freeth said.
High-definition screens built into boardroom-like desks will give users the impression that they are sitting across the table from each other."

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"It's not quite holograms – we're not quite there yet – but it's not too far away