Two a penny

.

Richard Heene provided a glimpse into his bizarre life when he described for a US TV audience in March his belief that aliens are humanity’s ancestors, his latest madcap inventions and his unconventional approach to raising a family.

Appearing on the ABC reality TV show Wife Swap, he told of once passing out in a fast-food restaurant and hearing aliens speak to him.

He boasted of his plans to build a flying saucer covered in aluminum foil and send it into a tornado.

“I’m very grateful that America has voted for us to be on a second time,” he said of his second appearance on the show. He pulled his children around a hockey rink on a hovercraft-like device and took them on UFO-hunting expeditions. Seriously. “(It’s) like the best thing that’s ever happened in our life.”

The signs of Heene’s publicity-hungry ambitions appeared to culminate last week, when a helium-filled balloon floated away from his home with his six-year-old son thought to be inside.

Heene now faces the possibility of criminal charges that could send him to prison for several years.

In the end, investigators said it was all a hoax designed to drum up attention for his next reality TV endeavour on the heels of the Wife Swap appearance.

In this case, investigators say it involved making it seem like his youngest child had drifted away in a balloon when the boy was actually somewhere in the neighbourhood.

The case has cast the spotlight on the bizarre antics of Heene, a 48-year-old amateur scientist, handyman and aspiring reality TV star, whose associates described him as a shameless self-promoter who would do almost anything to advance his latest endeavour. He tried his hand at acting and standup comedy in Hollywood, where he met his wife Mayumi, 45.

Heene has lived a fairly transient lifestyle over the years. They had three children – ages 10, eight andsix – and quickly immersed the kids in their storm-chasing missions that sometimes involved putting them dangerously close to tornadoes. .”

The family has chased down one storm after another, and Richard Heene claims to have flown in an airplane around the perimeter of Hurricane Wilma in 2005.

“Mayumi also manages to take care of the three rough, tough Heene boys, who are completely out of this world.

. Heene was obsessed with launching various inventions into storms, something that developed back in the 1970s after a storm ripped off the roof of a building he was working on

.

Maori Party co-leader Tariana Turia says a decision on Foreshore and Seabed legislation will be revealed in the next two weeks.

The Maori Party wants the legislation repealed and its party president Whatarangi Winiata yesterday said the government had agreed.The controversial Act followed a 2003 Court of Appeal ruling in the Ngati Apa case that made it possible, in some instances, for Maori customary title to convert into freehold title.The previous government was not prepared to accept that position and legislated against the ruling, resulting in widespread unrest among Maori and the resignation from the Labour Party of Mrs Turia, who went on to form the Maori Party.That raised the possibility of parts of the foreshore and seabed coming under Maori control, and fears that public access to beaches could be restricted. It recommended its repeal and said interim legislation should be put in place until the politicians worked out a way to recognise Maori rights to coastal areas.The National government appointed a panel to review the Act.Mrs Turia told TV One political show Q and A today that progress was being made..”We’ll see within the next fortnight, but certainly it has progressed really really well. the public will know in two weeks whether that has happened..”I am really satisfied with the progress that we have made, and of course then we get down to the level of detail of what will be in any new piece of legislation, and the important thing about that is that the rights of all New Zealanders are protected including Maori. .”Asked if Maori’s right to take cases to court would be reinstated Mrs Turia said that had not been determined yet.”Asked if Maori’s right to take cases to court would be reinstated Mrs Turia said that had not been determined yet.”

.

All Blacks coach Graham Henry has named four new caps and the return of three 2008 All Blacks in the 33-strong squad for their northern tour.

The All Blacks squad features 18 forwards and 15 backs and will again be captained by Richie McCaw. The versatile Ben Smith makes the All Blacks after just his third season of Air New Zealand Cup rugby. The new caps in the squad are 27-year-old Bay of Plenty first five-eighth Mike Delany, 20-year-old Hawke’s Bay winger Zac Guildford, 23-year-old Otago fullback/wing Ben Smith and 26-year-old Wellington utility back Tamati Ellison, who was assembled with the All Blacks during this year’s Tri-Nations, but has been officially selected in an All Blacks squad for the first time. The experienced Mike Delany, who also plays fullback, made his provincial debut in 2005 and his Rebel Sport Super 14 debut last year. He made his debut for the Highlanders this year and also played alongside fellow All Black Owen Franks in the 2007 New Zealand Under 21 side. Young Zac Guildford has had a stellar season this year, playing for the Hurricanes, the world champion New Zealand Under 20 team and Hawke’s Bay, and is the leading try scorer in this year’s Air New Zealand Cup, with 13 tries. He has played 52 matches for Bay of Plenty and is the leading points scorer in this year’s Air New Zealand Cup. The All Blacks squad also features the return of Canterbury hooker Corey Flynn, who fractured his arm on last year’s Grand Slam tour, his Canterbury teammate, halfback Andy Ellis, who suffered a rib injury on the same tour, and North Harbour lock Anthony Boric, who returned to rugby this year after a toe injury. The skilled Tamati Ellison is well-known to the All Blacks coaches, impressing during his time with the squad this year, and his ability to cover several positions has made him invaluable for his Wellington and Hurricanes teams. . Players not considered for selection due to injury include: Piri Weepu (ankle); Isaia Toeava (pelvis), Lelia Masaga (shoulder), Keven Mealamu (chest), Bryn Evans (back), Richard Kahui (shoulder) and Ali Williams (Achilles).” Henry said the All Blacks had two objectives for the tour. “The selectors were impressed by the high standard of play in the Air New Zealand Cup and that is reflected in the selection of players who have been stand-outs in the competition.” The All Blacks squad will assemble in Auckland for a training camp this week before flying out to Tokyo next Sunday 25 October. “We want to play quality rugby that we are proud of, the tour is also the opportunity for players to put their hand up when it comes to selection for the All Blacks for the future.00am. A public training and autograph session to raise funds for the Tsunami Relief Fund will be held at Trusts Stadium, Waitakere, on Wednesday at 11. All Blacks Northern Tour Saturday 31 October, All Blacks vs Australia, National Olympic Stadium, Tokyo Saturday 7 November, All Blacks vs Wales, Millennium Stadium, Cardiff Saturday 14 November, All Blacks vs Italy, San Siro Stadium, Milan Saturday 21 November, All Blacks vs England, Twickenham, London Saturday 28 November, All Blacks vs France, Stade Velodrome, Marseille Saturday 5 December, All Blacks vs Barbarians, Twickenham, London

.

A joint bid by three television networks for local broadcast rights to Rugby World Cup games is close to completion, Maori Affairs Minister Pita Sharples indicated today.

The Maori Television Service (MTS), TVNZ and TV3 started negotiations last night after Prime Minister John Key and Dr Sharples brokered the joint bid deal which averted the two state-funded networks, MTS and TVNZ, bidding against each other.

Dr Sharples, co-leader of the Maori Party, backed the MTS bid while the Government was supporting a rival bid by TVNZ.

MTS and TVNZ have withdrawn the bids they put in to the International Rugby Board (IRB).

Dr Sharples told reporters “a couple of things” still had to be sorted out before the joint bid went in.

MTS is leading the joint bid and the aim is to secure nationwide free-to-air broadcasts of World Cup matches.

He confirmed that one of the issues under discussion was whether MTS would broadcast the opening ceremony of the 2011 tournament and the first match.

“They’re almost through, I’m pretty happy with the way things are at the moment,” he said.

It reaches about 85 percent of the population.

Under the joint bid deal, MTS would have exclusive rights to the ceremony and the match between the All Blacks and Tonga, but MTS does not at present have nationwide cover.

“I believe that Maori Television actually will cover the whole of New Zealand.

“I would like everyone to be able to see it,” Dr Sharples said.

“If I have to lend my shoulder to the wheel I guess I would, but this negotiation is happening in a spirit of goodwill between the three partners,” he said on One News.”

Prime Minister John Key indicated he would step in again if there was a problem with the ceremony and the first match. .

MTS chief executive Jim Mather said today there was no guarantee a joint bid would be accepted by the IRB.

“Given their vast experience of allocating rights for many, many years in different countries I think even they would be quite surprised by the events that have happened (in New Zealand),” he said.

However, just because the broadcasters wanted to work together, approval from the IRB was “not a fait accompli”.

.

Under the joint bid MTS would broadcast all 48 tournament matches,

The 16 key matches, including All Black games, would be shared between the networks

.

South Canterbury Finance is to make a material announcement to the market, likely within the next 24 hours.

Trading in the finance company’s listed debt securities has been halted pending an announcement.

In August South Canterbury Finance’s credit rating was downgraded by Standard & Poor’s to BB+ and on September 19 this was placed on creditwatch negative meaning a one-in-two chance of a further lowering of its credit rating in the next three months.

The company is due to renew its prospectus, and the market has been awaiting details of a restructuring and a succession plan for backer and NBR Rich List member Allan Hubbard. .

Around the same time SCF withdrew its prospectus due to a delay in the June 2009 audited accounts, with the company has suspended the acceptance of investor subscriptions, instead being placed in a trust.

Southbury Group has appointed Forsyth Barr and Harmos Horton Lusk as advisers to assist in the restructuring and recapitalisation of the group.

The market has speculated that SCF owner, the Southbury Group could float part of its business perhaps Dairy Holdings.

South Canterbury Finance was registered as a company in 1926 and in recent decades has been in the guiding hands of NBR Rich Lister Allan Hubbard (credited as being worth $550 million in the publication).

The market thinks the group including SCF needs in the order of $150-250 million of new capital or perhaps significantly more.

The trading halt will remain in place until the announcement is released.

.

A Hastings police officer is in intensive care after he was assaulted while trying to break up a fight in the early hours of Sunday morning. .

Mr De Lange said the off-duty officer was driving through the area at the time and had stopped to intervene when he became concerned about a fight taking place on the street.

The officer was assaulted and received serious head injuries, Mr De Lange said.

“It appears that people attending a party at a house became involved in an altercation which developed into a series of assaults on the street,” he said.

Police are speaking with a number of people who were at the scene. He is currently in a serious condition in Hawke’s Bay Hospital.

Police have seized a number of items including a wooden stake that may have been used as a weapon during the assault, police said.

.

A 17-year-old Hastings youth is due to appear in Hastings Court today charged with wounding with intent to cause grevious bodily harm

.

A police dive team is searching part of the Waitemata Harbour for a missing 23 year-old man.

Srikanth Rayadurgam, an Auckland University of Technology student and a part-time chef, was last seen at midday October 1 when leaving his Mt Albert home.His family contacted police when he failed to come home by 10pm, Acting Detective Senior Sergeant Joe Aumua said.Air and sea searches in the harbour close to Westhaven Marina had so far revealed no sign of Mr Rayadurgam.His wallet was found by a cyclist close to the Westhaven Marina shortly before 8am on Friday, and several other items, including his backpack and some clothes, were later found in the area.”At this stage there’s nothing to suggest that he was unwell or unhappy, so his disappearance and the location of some of his personal belongings at Westhaven, are definitely a concern to us and his family,” Mr Aumua said. .He asked anyone with information about the case to contact Avondale police.

.

Tens of thousands of Auckland commuters face disruption on Thursday with services suspended indefinitely and bus drivers locked out.

Bus operator NZ Bus saidservices provided by Metrolink, North Star, Go West, Waka Pacific, LINK and City Circuit will be suspended from 4am on Thursday in response to the notice of strike action provided by the Auckland Combined Unions.

NZ Bus said a notice of lockout issued to drivers will remain in placeuntilthe strike noticeis withdrawn and busdrivers return tonegotiations or ratify the offer on the table.

The authority’scustomer services manager, Mark Lambert said: “Ritchies (who operate the Northern Express), Birkenhead, Bayes, Howick and Eastern, Murphy Buses, Urban Express, Waiheke Island Buses, Tranzit and AirBus Express services will all be operating as usual.

Limited bus replacement services will operate onaffected routes,the Auckland Regional Transport Authority said.

“We emphasise that train, ferry and all bus services other than NZ Bus services will continue to operate as usual. In addition these bus companies have helped customers out by providing some skeleton bus replacement services. We also encourage people to think of alternative ways to get to school and work.”

National Distribution Union spokesperson Karl Andersen, who has negotiated on behalf of bus drivers, said: “NZ Bus has advised us that they are going to lock us out so there’s no longer a strike. .”

He said at this point there was not a lot the bus drivers could do. They are going to lock out at 4am on Thursday morning.”

NZ Bus said the union’s action when the option of “resolving the issue responsibly in facilitation” was unacceptable.

“If they’re locked out, they’re locked out.

“It is difficult to understand why they do not want to resolve this issue responsibly, both for their members and Auckland commuters,” said NZ Bus’ Zane Fulljames.

“It is difficult to understand why they do not want to resolve this issue responsibly, both for their members and Auckland commuters,” said NZ Bus’ Zane Fulljames.

“NZ Bus is effectively locking out the Auckland bus passengers. They’ll [bus drivers] turn up for work and they’ll be locked out.

“We would have kept services going, but NZ Bus has brought out the sledgehammer and they’re effectively going to lock out all the drivers and lock out all the passengers.”

He said the union’s strike action would have caused minimal disruption.”

.”

But Fulljames said: “Let me be quite clear – if this was not meant to be disruptive, the unions wouldn’t have issued a notice of strike action

.

This is the first picture of Alfie Cunliffe, the two-year-old boy from Nelson who was swept out to sea by the Samoan tsunami.

Alfie was on the beach with his parents Gill and Garywhen the first wave hit at the Taufua Lodge in Lalomanu, the tourist resort on the island’s southeast coast that was worst affected by the disaster.

Alfie’s mother, Gill, hoped he was with his father, Gary, but discovered he was not when her husband was brought in alone for medical attention. . He was swept back into shore when a second wave struck and taken to hospital in Lalomanu suffering from internal injuries.

Gary Cunliffe had been swept out to sea by the first wave but survived by clinging on to the coral reef.

Ulrich Moritz, the neighbour, told the Daily Telegraph the Cunliffes arrived at different times at the hospital and it was only when they met up there that they realised Alfie was missing.

The family, who had emigrated from Lancashire in Englandto New Zealand, happened to be staying at the same resort as neighbours from the same street in Nelson. She started crying ‘I’ve lost Alfie’,” Moritz said.

”At first only Gill was there. But then they pulled Gary in and he was in quite bad shape. ”So we thought he could be with Gary.”

After arriving back at his home yesterday, Moritz told The Sunday Telegraph that the scene at the hospital in Lalomanu was chaotic and he had not seen the Cunliffes since then. That’s when she realised that no one had Alfie.

Moritz told the Telegraph the families were on the beach after the earthquake when a young couple shouted that the outlying coral reef had gone dry, a sign that a tsunami might be incoming.

The Cunliffes flew back to New Zealand over the weekend. We all yelled ‘The reef is dry, run, run, run.

”I looked out and all the water was gone, sucked out. We ran to a hill, scrambled and scrambled.’

”Everyone just started to run.

”If we had been any slower, we would have been washed out. We could hear it coming,” Moritz added.”

”We couldn’t believe it. We were seconds from death. It dragged everything out like a giant vacuum cleaner,” he said. It dragged everything out like a giant vacuum cleaner,” he said.

Nelson’s Samoan community say they would like to send representatives to any service held for Alfie.

.

The army is tonight rescuing hundreds of motorists trapped in their vehicles after heavy snow closed roads across the central North Island.

Up to 200 vehicles were trapped on Stage Highway 2 between Napier and Taupo, with most cars believed to have stopped because of snow and ice at Waipunga, at about the halfway point. .About 150 people had made their way to the Te Pohue Hotel and a further 60 were at the Te Pohue Hall, Hastings Civil Defence controller Mike Maguire said.”People need to stay where they are and stay as warm as possible,” Mr Maguire said.He advised those waiting to stay put.”A welfare centre has been set up at Hukerere Girls College at Eskdale, and Red Cross and the Salvation Army workers were gathering there to make sure evacuees were warm and feed.”When they hear or see army vehicles approaching they need to flash their lights so they can be seen.Police central communications Inspector Kirsty Henson said about 120 cars had been stuck on State Highway 1 between Waiouru and the Three Sisters.The army also rescued motorists from SH1 near Waiouru.Snow had also closed SH49 between Ohakune and Waiouru, and SH47 at Turangi, she said.Those rescued would be returned to their vehicles tomorrow, she told .”Snow is expected down to 400m, with heavy falls through to (tomorrow) morning, especially above 600m,” forecaster Andy Downs said.The MetService issued heavy snow warnings for the central North Island high country, from the Tongariro National Park and the hills and ranges of Hawkes Bay.East of Whakatane, rain should ease early tomorrow, with 50-70mm of rain expected to fall until then, he said.A heavy rain warning was also in place for the Eastern Bay of Plenty, Gisborne and Hawke’s Bay.

.Heavy rain was expected in Gisborne until tomorrow morning, easing by evening