Two a penny

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Search and rescue teams are examining for a missing two-year-old girl in Auckland with police holding concerns for her safety.

Ashling disappeared from her Longburn Rd home in Henderson at around 5.40pm last night, Police northern communications shift commander Lance Burdett said. Mr Burdett said police had established a search command centre as concerns grew about Ashling’s welfare due to the poor weather, dark and her young age. Search teams, officers, local residents and helicopters are all involved in the search. Ashling has light brown hair and is wearing a green parka/ski jacket, jeans with embroidered flowers on them and white tennis shoes. He said there was also a swollen creek nearby the family’s home. Residents in the area are asked to thoroughly check their homes, inside and out.

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The number of unemployed has jumped by 10,000 in the last quarter – but the rate of growth has slowed dramatically meaning good news for the economy and the Government.

“I believe what we’re seeing is a result of employers’ confidence rising, seasonal work kicking in and this Government’s unrelenting focus on supporting jobseekers,” said Social Welfare Minister Paula Bennett.

She released the benefit numbers for the September quarter, which show 60,660 people receiving the Unemployment Benefit around the country. .

That is up from the 50,855 on the dole in the last official quarterly results, and is an increase of 19 percent. Back in March dole queues lengthened by 22 percent and then 37 percent in July.

Compare that 19 percent quarterly increase with those earlier in the year when the recession was in full grip on the economy.

And if you look at the monthly figures, the growth rate between August and September has dropped back considerably – up just three percent. We will continue to work on growing the economy and creating jobs,” said Ms Bennett.

“It’s always pleasing to see fewer people needing a benefit – but this doesn’t mean we’re out of the woods yet.

The Minister has today also launched the Ministry of Social Development’s 2009/10 Auckland Regional Plan, which focuses on employment.

“I’m cautiously optimistic about today’s benefit statistics,” she said. They set out each region’s specific needs and how the Ministry will respond to them.

The plan is one of 11 to be rolled out across New Zealand over the next month.

“This has been a tough year for so many families, particularly in Auckland.

“This has been a tough year for so many families, particularly in Auckland.

“Since Job Ops was set up nine weeks ago, 307 work opportunities have been listed by Auckland employers. The Ministry will continue to work with employers and industries to understand their changing needs,” she said. I’d encourage more Auckland employers to step up – I want to see more of them offering employment opportunities for our under 24s,” Bennett said. Right now there are 131 positions available.

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The other major areas being highlighted in the Auckland Regional Plan include helping young people thrive, keeping children safe and achieving this through value for money

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Pamela Anderson narrowly avoided a wardrobe malfunction, and called a hongi “erotic,” at her first New Zealand press conference. .

But things close toly came unstuck when the 42-year-old was showing how her scarf could be made into a dress with a few well-placed knots.

Anderson – the biggest international star to attend this year’s Fashion Week – held the press conference with her co-designer Richie Rich to promote her Fashion Week runway show, scheduled to be held tomorrow evening.

The New Zealand press attending the conference struggled to answer a question put to them by Rich when he asked what set Kiwi fashion apart from the rest of the world.

She lifted up her arms and said “see,” but was quickly forced to lower them again – narrowly avoiding a Janet Jackson-style wardrobe malfunction.

Also during the conference, a reporter asked if she could give Anderson a traditional Maori welcome with a hongi.

After a long pause, one reporter said: “Maori”.

Anderson said the most important thing about her show was to have a good time.

Anderson obliged, but said afterward that she found it “erotic”.

She seemed enamoured with New Zealand.

“We want to bring the sun back into fashion,” she said.”

Anderson confirmed she wouldn’t be on the runway for tomorrow’s A*muse catwalk show – one of fashion week’s last events.

“It’s kind of like Canada, where I grew up.

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Prince Harry has received a 9 million pound (NZ$21.49 million) birthday present from his late mother, Princess Diana.

The party-loving prince, who is third in line to the throne, inherited the money from his mother’s estate as he turned 25 on Tuesday.The Princess of Wales left an estate worth £21 million (NZ$49m)when she died in a Paris car crash in 1997.While the prince will not be able to access the full amount until he turns 30, he will start receiving an estimated £300,000 ($703,000) worth of annual interest payments from the lump sum.5 million (NZ$15m) was set aside for for each of her two sons, but the amount grew over the years as it earned substantial interest.About £6.

The quarter-century mark marks a coming of age for the flame-haired prince, whopossesses both his mother’s sense of adventure and her common touch.

British media ran a flood of pictures, showing Harry’s steady progression from a toddler in short pants to an earnest soldier in combat gear.

The younger son of Diana and Prince Charles spent his birthday continuing his pilot training in the Royal Air Force, but he was hardly out of the spotlight.

Other sympathetic images included the 12-year-old boy who walked behind his mother’s coffin to Westminster Abbey and the confident 24-year-old who spoke movingly at a memorial service in 2007 about “the best mother in the world. At each step – with his easy smile and approachable ways – he reminded many of Diana. She was our guardian, friend and protector.”

“When she was alive, we completely took for granted her unrivaled love of life, laughter, fun and folly. She never once allowed her unfaltering love for us to go unspoken or undemonstrated,” he said. She never once allowed her unfaltering love for us to go unspoken or undemonstrated,” he said.

Patrick Jephson, who was involved with Diana’s finances when he worked as her private secretary, said the princess’ money was “very prudently” invested and that Harry will also have access to some of the considerable wealth generated by the Duchy of Cornwall, which is under Prince Charles’ control.Diana’s estate was comprised mostly of her divorce settlement from Charles.

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Simon Cowell has blasted The Beatles, claiming they would have failed auditions on The X Factor.

The music mogul – who once rejected the Spice Girls, the best-selling girl group of all time – says he would have kicked the iconic band off his British TV talent show unless they fired drummer Ringo Starr.’

“With Ringo, I’m afraid, we would have said ‘bad news’.

The 49-year-old star said: “If The Beatles came on the show we would have said, ‘We’ll take those three – Paul McCartney, John Lennon and George Harrison – but probably lose the drummer. That’s what excites me.”

Speaking in a US television interview with his Britain’s Got Talent co-star Amanda Holden, Simon also revealed what drives him, saying: “I like winning, Amanda.

Her debut album is due for release in November, and is expected to shoot to the top of the charts in America and Britain.”

Simon is now focusing on the career of Scottish singing sensation Susan Boyle, who will perform on the final of America’s Got Talent next week. .

* Would The Beatles succeed in today’s music world? below

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Prime Minister John Key says a review of New Zealand’s intelligence services is part of an overall efficiency drive that involves all Government departments. .

The identity of the owner of the notebook has not been revealed but RNZ reported the person was a high level public servant.

The review of the way the Security Intelligence Service (SIS) and the Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) work was revealed in a notebook found by a Radio New Zealand (RNZ) reporter.

“It’s very high level.

Mr Key confirmed the review was being carried out by former foreign affairs secretary Simon Murdoch.

The notes set out options for the way the security services operated and one was a merger, RNZ reported. He will report back to me, it’s too early to tell whether there will be any changes,” Mr Key said.

Asked whether that concerned him, Mr Key replied: “It does in that this is a very serious area.

The notebook was found in a Wellington street by reporter Julian Robins…

“We’ll ask some questions, but people do make mistakes.it sounds like human error, it’s dropped out of a jacket pocket or someone left it behind.

He said he would give it back to its owner.”

Robins said the notebook contained information across a range of issues, not just the review of the security intelligence services.

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Two bodies have been found at a house owned by a man who appeared in court this afternoon charged with murder, and police strongly suspect one is missing woman Tisha Lowry.

The bodies of the two women were found under the house at the corner of Wainoni Road and Hampshire Street in Christchurch.

Detective Inspector Tom Fitzgerald told a media conference this afternoon it had not been possible to identify the bodies but suspected that one was Ms Lowry who went missing on September 25 last year.

Both bodies are still at the scene, under the house, and are likely to be for a few days, police said.

The other is believed to be a 35-year-old woman who was reported missing on Sunday. Mr Fitzgerald described the find as “an horrific crime”. An extensive scene examination is taking place.

Meanwhile a Christchurch man was given name suppression after appearing in court this afternoon charged with the murder of the 35-year-old woman, believed to be his wife.

The accused lived two doors down from missing woman Tisha Lowry. He had reported her missing, police said.

Mr Fitzgerald says that while he cannot confirm the identities it would be “silly not to draw a connection with Tisha Lowry” whose family was advised of the development earlier today. .No causes of death have yet been established.”The families are trying to cope with the possibilities at this time,” he said.Identification may take “days rather than hours”, Mr Fitzgerald said.Identification may take “days rather than hours”, Mr Fitzgerald said.The bodies had been taken through the manhole before being buried “fairly close together”.Police gained access under the house through a manhole and he described the bodies as “well covered”.The accused had been spoken to as a neighbour in the very early stages of the Lowry inquiry “as were hundreds of others throughout that inquiry”.Mr Fitzgerald said the gruesome discovery was the result of “good detective work” when talking to the accused yesterday.Mr Fitzgerald confirmed the accused alerted the police about the disappearance of his partner on Sunday.Police had no reason to suspect him at that time.He was confident there were only two bodies under the house.”After speaking to the male yesterday afternoon, we began a scene examination yesterday evening,” he said.Mr Fitzgerald indicated there had been “some commotion” at the property on Sunday morning.He dismissed suggestions that missing sex worker Mallory Manning might also be connected to the Wainoni Road discovery, saying that was “pure speculation”.

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The New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) faces a public backlash of calamitous proportions if it goes ahead with announced changes to next year’s provincial competition format.

Momentum is gathering in the provinces among some unions, supporters and the rugby media for the NZRU to scrap those changes or face the consequences.

The Air New Zealand Cup (ANZC) is enjoying unprecedented popularity this season and is proving to be one of the most competitive and evenly fought since the old NPC was established in 1976. On a Sky Reunion programme poll conducted this week, more than 70 percent voted for the ANZC competition to remain unchanged.

Crowd numbers are generally well up, and television viewing audiences were up more than 86 percent after four rounds.

New teams Tasman, Counties Manukau, Hawke’s Bay and Manawatu have taken time to get up to speed onfield, but now, four years down the track, they are more than matching it with the big boys. The quality of rugby has been excellent, the All Blacks are keen to play whenever they get an opportunity and several exciting new players have been uclose tothed. On their day, any team can beat the other, as has been proven so far in 2009.

Tasman, Northland and Counties Manukau, who struggled financially in the initial stages of the ANZC, have now cut their cloth to fit and are keeping their heads above water. The Heartland competition kicked off in similar exciting fashion last week. Four will drop out of the current 14 team competition to form a first division, effectively a second division, which will also include two promoted Heartland teams, making a six-team division. . Also, if Tasman or Manawatu were demoted, most of their best now almost entirely home-grown players would leave for premier unions.

The problem is that the Heartland teams have little chance of being competitive.

Under a list of criteria to remain in the premier division, onfield performance is only a 20 percent factor and that, like the other criteria, is judged over the past four years.

Under a list of criteria to remain in the premier division, onfield performance is only a 20 percent factor and that, like the other criteria, is judged over the past four years. Promotion relegation of up to two teams is an option being considered.

The Heartland competition will comprise 10 teams.

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The changes were adopted after a series of workshops involving New Zealand’s 26 provincial unions, Super 14 franchises and the New Zealand Rugby Players Association

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At least 15 people are dead and thousands were evacuated after a powerful earthquake rattled Indonesia’s main island, according to officials.

The 7.0 magnitude quake, as recorded by the US Geological Survey, shook buildings in the capital Jakarta and flattened homes in villages closer to the epicentre in West Java.

“Many houses are flattened to the ground,” said Edi Sapuan in Margamukti village, not far from Tasikmalaya.

The health ministry said it was sending medical teams to Tasikmalaya near the epicentre of the quake in West Java. Many villagers are injured, covered in blood. “Only the wooden houses remain standing.”

“We ran as soon as the quake hit.

The quake was felt as far away as Surabaya, Indonesia’s second-largest city, about 500 kilometres northeast of Tasikmalaya, and on the resort island of Bali, about 700km to the east. .

Hundreds of people sheltered in a military base in Tasikmalaya, fearing that the initial powerful quake would be followed by aftershocks, an official at the disaster management agency said.

At least 27 people were injured in Jakarta, a health ministry official said.

Local tsunami warnings were issued for coastal areas within several hundred kilometres of the epicentre soon after it struck, but were withdrawn about half an hour later.

Indonesia’s main power, oil and gas, steel, and mining companies with operations in West and Central Java island closest to the quake’s epicentre said they had not been affected and suffered no damage.

Indonesia’s seismology agency put the magnitude at 7.

Indonesia’s seismology agency put the magnitude at 7.

Residents in Jakarta reported buildings shaking, and thousands of people streamed onto the streets of the capital from office and apartment blocks. The Hawaii-based Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said there was no threat of a widespread tsunami. “It lasted quite long.

“The chandelier started moving and it started shaking really strong,” said Jakarta resident Victor Chan, who lives in a 34th floor apartment.”

“Everything was shaking and my neighbour shouted ‘quake, quake’,” said Nur Syara, from the 31st floor of the same building. I was really scared and rushed downstairs. I lay down on the floor. “You could hear the walls creaking.”

A witness in Tasikmalaya said several houses collapsed, including the mayor’s office, and a mosque was damaged. I was scared things would collapse.

“We were all studying and the building we were in started shaking for a few minutes and the ceiling fell,” said a man identifying himself as Evan.

“We were all studying and the building we were in started shaking for a few minutes and the ceiling fell,” said a man identifying himself as Evan.

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Cabinet is set to make a decision about Maori seats on a new Auckland super city today – likely ruling them out and averting a ministerial resignation.

Prime Minister John Key this morning confirmed Cabinet would make a decision today. His stated preference has been that Maori issues would be best dealt with by an advisory board to the council, rather than separate seats.

The Maori Party has been lobbying to overturn the Government’s decision and a compromise was on the cards.

The Royal Commission which reported on Auckland’s local government structure recommended reserved Maori seats but the Government scrapped that when it set out its plans for the city.

Maori Affairs Minister Pita Sharples said resigning was not an option for him or co-leader Tariana Turia at this point. However that was derailed by Local Government Minister and ACT leader Rodney Hide, who is in charge of super city legislation, who said he would resign if the seats went ahead.

“Do we throw the baby out with the bathwater now? Or do we stay in the tent?” he told Radio New Zealand.”

Dr Sharples said Auckland Maori would see a rejection of seats as a “rebuke” which might affect decisions by Maori landowners.

“That’s something we will decide when we meet after but we’re not putting it up as an option at this stage.

“Does (Mr Key) really want to have Rodney Hide’s resignation? That’s one thing he’s got to consider.

He hoped Cabinet might still decide to go ahead with the seats but believed Mr Hide’s ultimatum would have an effect.”

While Dr Sharples respected Mr Hide’s view he disagreed with his resignation threat over a small part of the super city proposal that was important to Maori. On the other hand, he has created a first for New Zealand, with National and the Maori Party, just achieving so much together in good partnership – does he want to affect that relationship?

“So, you know, it is a hard decision for him to ponder over, but at the end of the day I’m hoping that it will be decided by Cabinet.

One option proposed but rejected by Mr Hide was that the seats be set up via an amendment that he could vote against.

One option proposed but rejected by Mr Hide was that the seats be set up via an amendment that he could vote against.

“I didn’t think it would end in one of them throwing their toys away.”

Dr Sharples said the Maori Party and ACT were always expected to have differences but did not think Mr Hide would have held the Government to ransom.

“I guess it’s a matter of principle for him.”

Mr Key was unruffled by Mr Hide’s ultimatum, which followed the prime minister sounding him out about the possibility of a changed position on the seats. . . . I haven’t lost respect for him for it.”