Two a penny

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Teenage skipper Jessica Watson was asleep when her plastic yacht hit a 63,000-tonne sea freighter off North Stradbroke Island last month.

A preliminary report into the collision was released by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau earlier today and has revealed Jessica had been catnapping at the time of the crash on September 8.

Jessica had earlier admittedthat -havinga number of collision avoidance systems running at the time – she was catching “a few cat naps”.

Instead, she had detected another vessel six miles away and deemed it was not a collision risk before setting her alarm and going to bed.

Investigators found Jessica had not spotted the 225-metre bulk carrier Silver Yang on her radar equipment despite checking four minutes before impact, 15 nautical miles from Point Lookout.50am, the bow of Jessica’s 10-metre sloop Ella’s Pink Lady collided with the ship’s starboard side, tearing off the yacht’s mast and scraping its side.

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The 16-year-old, who had been on the first night of a week-long test run to Sydney ahead of her world record attempt to sail solo around the globe, woke up and tried twice to contact the Silver Yang on her radio.

The report found the Silver Yang had tried to avoid Jessica and had stopped the ship’s engines as soon as crew realised there had been a crash.

On the second attempt, she told the Chinese-speaking crewman she did not need help.

“The collision was almost square on,” it stated

“The collision woke Ella’s Pink Lady’s skipper.

The ship continued on its journey after Jessica told them she was OK, the report found. She looked upwards and thought that it was likely that the yacht’s rigging would become entangled with the ship and dismast her vessel, so she returned to the cabin. She climbed out of the cabin, grabbed the tiller and tried to steer the yacht.

“A few seconds later the mast came crashing down.

“A few seconds later the mast came crashing down.

But before she departed from Sydney, the safety bureau took the teen sailor to visit the bridge watch-keeper’s position on a tanker ship in order to help her understand what could be seen from that vantage point. .

Lead investigator Peter Foley said Jessica had used high-quality equipment, but improvements had been made ahead of her journey around the world.

They also suggested she visit fatigue-management experts in an effort to help her better manage her sleep patterns on the solo journey.

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Some night shifts at Blenheim’s St John ambulance are critically under-resourced because some staff are not qualified to administer life-saving drugs or carry out emergency procedures.

A severe staff deficit and the lack of qualified staff could compromise patients and is putting workers under unnecessary stress, according to St John employees. Sometimes that ambulance looks after the whole Marlborough region, as the service struggles to find and retain volunteers.

The reported last week that only one ambulance services Blenheim at night at least once a week. .

Two full-time advanced paramedics worked shifts of two days and two nights each, meaning half all Marlborough night shifts were covered by people with a maximum qualification level of Basic Life Support, the lowest of three levels of ambulance officer practice.

They say there could be delays in an ambulance attending an incident in Marlborough, and when one does arrive, it may lack qualified and experienced staff to administer life-saving interventions.

Blenheim St John staff have said a deficit of volunteers and qualified paid staff in Marlborough was placing unnecessary stress and demands on both paid and volunteer staff and potentially compromising patients. He will be replaced this month by an existing staff manager.

The claims come after months of upheaval at the Blenheim station, since operations team manager Mike McNabb resigned in February.

Staff at the station are currently in the middle of pay talks.

Staff said morale at the station had steadily declined and volunteers were difficult to retain as pressure mounted on them to cover rostered shifts on top of ongoing training. Informal talks were continuing.

The Amalgamated Workers Union of New Zealand (AWUNZ) in the South Island said pay negotiations on behalf of St John members had stalled since St John made it clear that it could not pay more. It was made so that current employees would not lose their jobs, he said.

St John regional operations manager for the northern region of the South Island, Chris Haines, blamed the “extraordinary current economic situation” for the decision. It is a prudent response to the current recessionary environment.

“This is not a position of our making or one we wanted to adopt.5 per cent.”

He said in the last financial year ambulance officers received an average pay increase of 4. There are some patient charges.

St John funding is split across ACC, the Ministry of Health and district health boards.

. Community donations and fundraising help St John meet the shortfall in ambulance operations funding

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A massive wildfire tore through outlying suburbs north of Athens early Sunday, destroying homes and forcing thousands to flee in dramatic overnight evacuations, Fire Service and local officials said.

The fires near the capital raged for a third day, blackening thousands of hectares of rugged land covered by pine forest or thick bushes. Anti-aircraft missiles at a nearby base were removed as flames approached, the army said. Fires are out of control on many fronts,” greater Athens local governor Yiannis Sgouros said.”The situation is tragic.After daybreak, planes and helicopters resumed water drops following an eight-hour pause that allowed the wildfire to spread across parts of Mount Penteli and reach suburban homes.A state of emergency was declared in greater Athens, in the worst destruction seen here since massive fires struck southern Greece in 2007 and killed more than 70 people. Clouds of black smoke filled the capital’s skyline and obscured the sun.Deputy Fire Chief Stelios Stefanidis said no casualties had been reported by early Sunday, despite the overnight evacuations of hundreds of hillside homes on the outskirts of the city.Authorities evacuated two large children’s hospitals, camp sites, and homes in villages and outlying suburban areas threatened by blazes that scattered ash on streets across the city. .The fires, which started late Friday, were reported in an area more than 25 miles (40km) wide.Residents battled the fires outside their homes with hose-pipes and even branches, and many ignored evacuation orders that were called out over loud speakers in fire-stricken towns.Winds of up to 50 kilometers per hour were forecast Sunday, while Stefanidis said the thick smoke was hampering water drops. Volunteers and army conscripts joined hundreds of firefighters to help fend off the flames. Volunteers and army conscripts joined hundreds of firefighters to help fend off the flames.”Some of the threatened areas were in the vicinity of the town of Marathon, from which the modern long-distance foot race takes its name. “A massive effort by authorities is taking place to deal with this very difficult challenge.Elsewhere in Greece, serious fires were reported on the islands of Evia and Skyros.Municipal officials in that area said the fire was threatening the archaeological site of Rhamnus, home to two 2,500-year-old temples.

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A police checkpoint within Kiwi soldiers’ area of responsibility in Afghanistan, has come under attack from insurgents in the run-up to presidential elections.

Insurgents with rocket-propelled grenades and AK47s sparked a three-hour gunfight on Thursday, leaving one policeman injured and another missing.

Only hours later, a Kiwi patrol rushed to investigate a loud explosion near the Ish Pesta checkpoint, possibly an IED (improvised explosive device) attack.

It’s thought that Taliban threats scared voters and dampened turnout in the militant south.

No further details on the second attack were available last night.

The checkpoint targeted in the first attack sits in a mountain gorge in the Pashtun enclave, on the border of Bamiyan and Baghlan provinces, and falls within the New Zealand provincial reconstruction team’s (PRT) region. Insurgents killed 26 Afghans in scattered attacks, but officials said militants failed to disrupt the vote.

It has been repeatedly targeted, but yesterday’s attack was the worst.

Police officers returned fire, but did not have the weapons needed to repel the onslaught. Bullets tore through windows, becoming embedded in walls as insurgents in the mountains across a river fired repeatedly.

A Kiwi patrol inspected the checkpoint as soon as it heard about the attack. The gunfight ended when the attackers ran out of ammunition.

“My guess is they would have moved to Baghlan province, which is outside our PRT boundaries,” he said.

However, patrol commander Corporal Matthew Pearce did not hold out much hope of finding the insurgents.

Policeman Ahmed Zia said he feared he was “going to die” in the gunfire.

Policeman Ahmed Zia said he feared he was “going to die” in the gunfire.

“When I heard the shots, I took my weapon and fired back.

There were six men at the checkpoint when fighting broke out “around midnight”. The enemy was yelling at us to put our weapons down, but we fired back.

“It was really frightening, very loud.”

Pearce walked around the area yesterday, and checked the condition of the injured man.

“It went on so long because they used up all their rounds.

“Given the time of the month, it coincides with all the other new moon attacks, and being on the eve of the election, it’s really no surprise at all.

He said it was the type of incident the Kiwis had expected. .

“I always expect more, but it’s possible that this may have been the token effort for this group of insurgents

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More New Zealanders are diagnosing their illnesses online instead of going to their GP, according to a new survey.

More than a third of those surveyed in the 2009 NetGuide Telecom broadband survey had looked for medical advice from the many internet-based resources available rather than visiting their GP. .com, diagnoseme.

There are also many websites providing medical advice including answers.com.com and healthline.

But New Zealand Medical Association chairman Peter Foley warned there was no substitute for a face to face consultation with a doctor for diagnoses. Many illnesses can have similar symptoms and the internet can’t provide you with a fully informed diagnosis or be relied on to provide factual and balanced information, Dr Foley said.

“People risk being misinformed if they rely solely on the internet.”

Ralph Brayman, Telecom’s director of home services, said the survey was a useful way to track the fast changing internet habits of New Zealanders.

“It is important that there is some balance between people seeking basic information for themselves with the role experts play in sorting the complexity of symptoms and expectations in our modern health systems.

About 1600 people took part in the survey, which included various other questions about New Zealanders’ internet habits.

“While the quantity and variety of information available on the internet is fantastic, as in all good things, moderation and balance are important,” Mr Brayman said.

* Do you prefer using the internet or going to the doctor? below.

* Do you prefer using the internet or going to the doctor? below

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Life will draw to a halt in the Tongan capital of Nuku’alofa today as mourners pay their respects to those who died in Thursday’s inter-island ferry disaster.

Eighty-five people remain missing presumed drowned after the MV Princess Ashika suddenly capsized and then sunk off the island of Ha’afeva.

Fifty-four men miraculously survived after being thrown from the rapidly sinking vessel into the open sea.

Police confirmed on Saturday that they now believe at least 141 people were onboard the vessel during the ill-fated voyage.

Two bodies have been found – one a British man who had previously lived in New Zealand and the second of an as-yet unidentified Tongan woman.

The gathering will include both survivors, their families, and loved ones of the scores still missing following the tragedy.

Hundreds of mourners will today gather at Nuku’alofa’s Saione Weslyan Church – the official church of the Kingdom of Tonga’s monarchy – to pay their respects.

Meanwhile, out to sea the search and rescue mission will continue in its so-far futile bid to find bodies of those who perished in the tragedy, or the unlikely presence of survivors.

However, Tongan government officials have ruled that anyone doing any task in relation to the search, or the investigation into what caused the tragic sinking, should continue with their work.

Non-essential Sunday work is banned in Tonga.

However, an RNZAF Orion is unlikely to be in the air today – with Tongan Police Commander Chris Kelley saying it had exhausted all avenues following three days of intense searching.

Among those who will be involved today are the combined 26-strong Navy diver crew provided by both New Zealand and Australia.

“We believe that the manner in which we have conducted the search is such that the Orion staff, believe they couldn’t do any more. .

“That doesn’t mean that the search won’t continue – it will.

“That doesn’t mean that the search won’t continue – it will. By the end of Saturday it would have done three days searching in the area, working on the wind and sea drifts, they have got a huge amount of photographic evidence.

“In the event that the Orion is needed again, it will be immediately available.

“At the moment our focus is still on the possibility of the rescue of people, of survivors.”

Kelley said of the possibility of finding more survivors: “I hate to be pessimistic, but the chances of survival are less and less.

. And I don’t want to give that up until we have exhausted every possibility

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About a dozen protesters faced the rain today to stick a summons on Social Development Minister Paula Bennett’s door.

The protest, organised by Socialist Aotearoa was over National’s cutting of the Training Incentive Allowance (TIA) and Ms Bennett’s revealing of beneficiaries’ private information.

The mothers said without it they would not be able to continue courses which would help them get jobs.

Ms Bennett has been under fire this week for revealing the welfare payment details of two solo mothers, on benefits, who complained about the Government’s decision to scrap the TIA.

“We think it’s disgraceful that people are trying to scapegoat on the poor and the unemployed and single mothers for the problems in society,” said Socialist Aotearoa member Joe Carolan.

The protesting group, a coalition of community, disabled and trade union groups, was at Ms Bennett’s West Auckland office today. .

“We are in a huge economic crisis at the moment where 50,000 people are going to lose their jobs so we need more support and more training for the unemployed in this period. We need all the help we can get, not to be yet again discriminated against by the Government.

“As a single parent and a student myself I know how hard it is to try and complete some training.

“It’s going to significantly affect my ability to keep studying.”

She said the cut would mean she would not have money for travel, text books and it would affect her ability to afford childcare.”

The summons, stuck on to Ms Bennett’s door, called for her to attend a hearing of “the people’s court” to defend her actions in cutting the TIA and revealing the personal information of the two beneficiaries.”

Ms Ferguson said she would keep studying regardless, but it would be “incredibly difficult.

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The hearing is set for next Saturday, at her office

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A case involving an HIV-positive man charged with infecting others with the disease has aroused plenty of fear, the New Zealand Aids Foundation said today.

Glenn Richard Albert Mills, 40, now faces 28 charges including wounding or attempted wounding with reckless disregard, infecting with a disease and attempting to infect with a disease. .

Fourteen of those charges were added today as a result of publicity arising from his earlier appearances in Auckland District Court and the lifting of name suppression the previous month.

She said the numbers coming to the foundation to have HIV tests had gone up by 40 per cent since Mills’ name was released.

Aids foundation executive director Rachael Le Mesurier said she knew it was “a scary time for many people”.

“We’re also aware that a lot of people have realised that they might have put themselves at risk with somebody else.

“We’re very aware that some of these people may have had contact with the accused,” she said.

While Mills is alleged to have knowingly infected, or tried to infect others, it was far more likely for people to get HIV from partners who didn’t know they had the disease.”

Ms Le Mesurier said the Mills case was unusual.

“The best answer is to use condoms and to get yourself tested as regularly as you can,” she said.

Ms Le Mesurier said everyone who was concerned about the possibility that he or she might have contracted HIV should get tested, either by the foundation or by a GP.

The new counts concerned offending that was alleged to have occurred between April last year to May this year.

The latest complainants against Mills include two females aged 23 and 28 and five men aged between 18 and 28.

The new charges arose after publicity about the case and the lifting the previous month of suppression of Mills’ name and photo.

The offences were alleged to have happened in Auckland and Wellington and, in relation to one male complainant, on the “high seas”.

He is accused of attempting to infect the others with the virus and with attempting to cause them grievous bodily harm.

Of the new complainants, Mills is accused of infecting two of them with HIV and resulting in them grievous bodily harm.

On the previous charges, which were laid before the law change, he was remanded until November 24 for a depositions hearing, which is expected to take four days.

He was remanded in custody to reappear on September 23 for a pre-committal hearing under the new trial process that came into effect the previous month and did away with oral depositions.

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Seven months ago Owen Franks had never played a Super 14 match.

Now the 21-year-old tighthead prop is preparing to start against the Springboks in Sunday morning’s Tri Nations test at Absa Stadium, having been picked to replace Neemia Tialata who suffered a knee injury in last weekend’s 22-16 defeat to the ‘Boks in Bloemfontein.

All Blacks coach Graham Henry has made just one other change to his starting side, bringing Jimmy Cowan back in for Brendon Leonard at halfback.

Although Tialata has played 36 tests, the introduction of in the inexperienced Franks, who has made three appearances as a substitute for the All Blacks this season, should not be viewed as a risky selection. . Later in the season Owen then leapfrogged Bronson Murray as the starting tighthead.

A technically sound scrummager, he also possesses a high work-rate around the field and rose to prominence with the Crusaders earlier this year when his older brother, Ben, who made one appearance against Munster for the All Blacks on last year’s end of year tour, was forced to sit a large chunk of the season with a broken foot.

If Franks continues to improve under the tutelage of All Blacks scrum coach Mike Cron he will be targeting a place in the 2011 World Cup squad as the management continue to seek replacements for Carl Hayman and Greg Somerville.

Linwood, a club that produced prominent All Blacks Fergie McCormick and Tane Norton, is proving a fertile environment for grooming brothers that have represented their country.

Franks, who was born in Motueka before moving to Christchurch as a youngster where he attended Christchurch Boys’ High School, is a member of the Linwood club and worked his way through the national secondary schools and under-21 teams before earning his Crusaders stripes.

Franks made his provincial debut against North Harbour as a 19-year-old in 2007 but battled to get starts with Canterbury behind Somerville and Campbell Johnstone. The Bachop brothers, Graeme and Stephen, and Aaron and Nathan Mauger, are also former All Blacks that represented the east Christchurch club. Cron is understood to be enthusiastic about the young man’s ability to scrum so well at such a young age.

Recently All Blacks forwards coach Steve Hansen revealed that Owen, who weighs around 116kg was several kilos heavier than Ben, who returned to the Crusaders squad late in the season after his rehabilitation.

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New Zealand’s international reputation has bounced back from the Bastareaud affair, New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) boss Steve Tew says.

Tew today returned from Japan to news French Prime Minister Francois Fillon had written to New Zealand counterpart John Key, to apologise for the “unacceptable behaviour” of countryman Mathieu Bastareaud .Rugby centre Bastareaud, 20, lied over an alleged assault in Wellington following France’s 14-10 defeat against the All Blacks on June 20.He said he had drunk too much and hit his head on a hotel table, but there have been reports his injuries were due to being hit by a teammate.Police investigated the incident, which had the potential to damage the New Zealand tourism industry, for several days, until Bastareaud admitted he made it up.”Ironically, given how much the story has snowballed over the last week, we’ve probably repaired all the damage and gone some way, so .Tew told reporters that, based on headlines he had seen overseas, widespread publicity about the incident might turn out to be a positive for New Zealand.. if there’s a positive out of this, that would be it,” he said…”The initial story didn’t do New Zealand any good, but the story’s become such a big issue now . it’s getting headlines, including that New Zealand’s international reputation has been restored..”We would have all preferred for it not to happen, but the way it has unfolded now is probably as good as we can expect.”We would have all preferred for it not to happen, but the way it has unfolded now is probably as good as we can expect.”By his false statements, as a result of which you had to intervene publicly, he seriously tainted the image of your country and its people.Mr Fillon said that “France’s tour of New Zealand has been marked by the unacceptable behaviour of one of its players”.Tew echoed the response of Mr Key.”Mr Fillon said he regretted the incident and wanted the culture of rugby shared by the two countries to continue. .”It’s totally appropriate, I think our prime minister’s summed it up very well, we now support his position that it’s time to move on.”Bastareaud was welcome to return to New Zealand, he said.”We’d also like to say we wish the player all the best, he clearly has some issues he needs to deal with and we’d like him to be able to move on and get well.”Bastareaud was admitted to hospital in France with serious psychological problems on Monday after allegedly trying to commit suicide.”He’s a member of the wider rugby community, he made a mistake, he’s got to live with that mistake for the rest of his life, he now needs to get on – we hope he will be back here in 2011 playing against the All Blacks.”The FRF is shocked that one of the French XV has lied.”The FRF is shocked that one of the French XV has lied. The New Zealand nation and the world of rugby can legitimately feel wounded by the player’s initial statements which have also tarnished the image of French rugby.”Camou has contacted the FRF’s disciplinary commission and has called for an inquiry into the episode.