Two a penny

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New Zealand golfer David Smail was left fuming after his group was put on the clock mid round on day two of the US PGA Championship at Hazeltine in Minnesota.

Smail made it through to the opening two rounds in his maiden US PGA showing with scores of 75 and 73 for a four-over par tally and right on the halfway cut-off mark.

But while Smail was delighted with his efforts on the longest venue in Major’s history, he was far from pleased with the events that unfolded on the par five, third hole that he was playing as his 12th.

Smail’s effort makes amends after the 39-year old Hamilton player sat out the closing two rounds of this year’s US Open and British Open championships.

“I had hit a good drive down the middle but then my second shot then just ran off into the first cut of rough before I hit my third `fat’ that landed on the fourth tee,” he said.

Smail eventually walked away with a double bogey to drop back to four over par, but then hung on grimly to par his remaining six holes and ensure his place over the weekend.

“It was then a rules official came up to the group to say we were being put on the clock.

“I had no shot from there and managed to get it on the green.”

The player in question was 47-year old American Michael Miles, also competing in his first US PGA.

“But it’s just disturbing that a rules official should put us on the clock when one player in our group, and I am not naming names, but there was one guy in our group and he was the reason we were out of place and behind the group ahead.

Miles, who also qualified for June’s US Open, buckled under the weight of a second round 81 to miss the cut with a nine over par total.

Miles is the Assistant Professional at the Virginia Country Club course in Long Beach, California and qualified for the event after finishing tied 16th in the 2009 PGA Professional National Championship.

“But it’s just disappointing when one of your playing partners just doesn’t try to make the effort to catch up.

“We were slow and we were at least a hole behind, so we deserved to be on the clock,” Smail admitted.”

Smail went to the next tee fuming and it took the intervention of his wife, Sheree, who was walking with her husband, to defuse his anger. If he did, we wouldn’t have been on the clock, and we wouldn’t have to worry.

“But I found myself starting to rush my shots so it did take a while to settle down.

“I have always been a quick player and Sheree knows my game, and she was watching from the sidelines signalling to me to calm down,” Smail said.

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The New Zealand navy team trying to find the wreckage of the sunken Princess Ashika faces a “challenging environment” with depths of up to 800m, commanding officer Lieutenant Commander Andrew McMillan says.

A 15-strong team, comprising 12 drivers and a three-member remote search team, spent a second day today searching for the Tongan inter-island ferry, which sank on Wednesday with 149 people on board.Police say the final number of missing could be higher, and they were continuing to analyse information about unrecorded people on board the vessel, whose official manifest showed only 79 passengers and crew.Two bodies and 54 survivors have been found, while 93 people remain unaccounted for.However, nothing was found.

Mr McMillan said the team today focused on a 50-110m deep site where an oil slick and debris had been seen, and where the Tongan Defence Service’s echo sounder had appeared to detect an object. It ranges from 35m down to 110m down to 800m,” he said.”The topography of the seafloor is a very challenging environment here.”The New Zealand equipment had a limitation of 100m -”or, if we’re very lucky, 115m”.”You don’t have to travel very far and the depth can change very quickly.”But we’ll certainly do our best.”So with the topography, with the uncertainty of where the vessel has gone down, we have to face the realisation that we might not even be able to find it.Those members who remained in the capital Nuku’alofa tonight attended a multi-denominational remembrance service which attracted about 1000 people.”The team would spend tonight aboard Tongan patrol boat and resume their search tomorrow.Earlier he said a complete manifest was held by a crew member on the ferry when it sailed but that had been lost in the sinking.Tongan police commander Chris Kelley gave those there an update on the situation.Survivors have described how they saw the ferry hit by a 1m wave which swept the cargo to one side, resulting in the vessel to overturn.”What we are faced (with) is that people are telling us is they put people on the boat and they weren’t on the manifest that was supplied here,” he said.Mr Kelley said police and government support teams were visiting families throughout the kingdom “to try to confirm the exact number and identity of people on board”.”The ferry sank so quickly that no one was able to do anything, and I think the passengers inside just couldn’t make it out in time because the ferry just overturned and sank so quickly, in a minute,” survivor Viliami Latu Mohenoa said. .Efforts were also under way to identify foreign nationals among the passengers.

.”The two bodies recovered were of a British national who had been living in New Zealand and a Tongan woman

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How to keep the same sports team fresh and fizzing for eight years?

That’s perhaps the greatest challenge facing All Blacks’ rugby coach Graham Henry, now that he is clear to plot a path to the 2011 rugby World Cup.

The Henry way has been a winning one since taking over in 2004, with one notable exception.

Henry is adamant he retains the ability to morph with the rugby times. .

“And the people you’re coaching are changing, they’re different individuals to what they were four years ago,” Henry said.

He fully expects test rugby in 2011 to be a different animal to what is being played this year, or what worked best two years ago in France.

“I coached the Blues in 1996 and that’s quite a different group of people to the All Blacks right now as far as personalities are concerned and what pushes their buttons.

“They reflect the society they come from and the system they’re educated in so you have to change with the times as well.”

It was Sir Clive Woodward’s seventh year in charge when England won the 2003 World Cup.

“We’re all trying to get better at what we do.

No stone was unturned nor cost cut as Woodward steamrolled any English officials who tried to muzzle his decision-making. His methods changed over time, becoming notably more autocratic.

On hand every time will also be assistant coaches Steve Hansen and Wayne Smith along with manager Darren Shand – all part of the furniture since 2004.

For the next 26 months the All Blacks players will listen to Henry’s words at trainings, tactical meetings and in the changing rooms before tests and at halftime.

“We’ve talked about it as senior players and you just can’t afford to get (robotic).

Captain Richie McCaw doesn’t anticipate any Groundhog Day issues, as long as the message remains fresh and players are still allowed to have a say.

“As senior players, we need to start examining for that edge. If you start standing still, then everyone else is going to move past.

“That comes from the leadership of those guys (coaches) and from the senior players in the team,” he said.”

McCaw pointed to the All Blacks’ ability in recent seasons to win tight tests as evidence that emphasis Henry places on team character is still working.

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“As long as we keep that attitude, then I don’t see it being a problem at all

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A “white supremacy”-themed after-ball party organised by Mount Aspiring College students for this weekend has shocked and outraged Wanaka parents.

Tickets for the party, at Wanaka’s Outlet camping ground, went on sale two days ago but angry parents have already called a halt after being shocked by the racial overtone. .

One parent said her daughter was as surprised as she was when she brought the ticket home.

“My question is, how did it get through staff before printing?

“It was marketed as all white but you don’t use that wording.

She said he told her it was an innocent mistake, but admitted he didn’t know anything about it before the tickets were printed.

Tickets were pulled from sale last night and new ones were being printed with the name “White Out”. The name is just completely inappropriate for any school project,” she said.

Manager Mark Watson said he had no idea the $7. But many students have already got their costumes organised after depleting all the stocks of white coveralls from Wanaka’s Mitre 10 hardware store.

An organising committee student told they had absolutely no intention to offend anyone.98 clothing item had been so popular when contacted last night, but after a quick check of his database confirmed he had only large sizes of the boilersuit-type clothing left. The way it is written, ‘White Supreeemacy’, was supposed to be like white supreme white the dominant colour of the night. “When we were deciding on the name it didn’t even cross our minds.

Another girl spoken to said a separate group organised the after-party and admitted they did things in secrecy. But once it was pointed out to us we thought we’d better change it,” she said. I only realised what the name was when I bought the ticket. “It’s not even related to the school, really.”

The angry mother believed the students must have known it was going to cause a reaction because they waited until the last minute to put the tickets on sale. I was shocked. They were hiding them until the last minute.

“Last year they went on sale two weeks earlier and this year it was only a few days before.”

But principal Bosley said last night the students involved were “absolutely gobsmacked” and had now realised they made a big mistake.

“Those kids are not as dumb as the principal is making out. It was never their intention and there was no maliciousness involved. It was never their intention and there was no maliciousness involved.”

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He admitted they got things wrong but stood by their word that it was an honest mistake. “You have got to believe me. But if anybody has taken offence we apologise to them,” he said.

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South Africa’s ruling ANC has won a sweeping election victory and party leader Jacob Zuma pledged that as president he would work with unions and business to ensure stability amid global turmoil.

“There will be no surprises in the next administration’s programme of action,” Zuma said in a victory speech.

“The electorate has endorsed our call for an equitable, sustainable and inclusive growth path that will bring decent work and sustainable livelihoods,” Zuma, who is due to be sworn in as president on May 9, said.9 percent of the vote, a big victory but just short of the two-thirds needed to ensure a parliamentary majority big enough to make constitutional changes unchallenged.

Official results of Wednesday’s election gave Zuma’s African National Congress 65. Despite some market concerns over whether the ANC would get the two-thirds majority, the party repeatedly has stressed it has no intention of changing the constitution.

The margin that would let the ANC change the constitution is largely symbolic.

Although a newly formed party of ANC dissidents failed to make a dramatic impact, the ruling party has seen its share of the vote fall for the first time since the end of apartheid in 1994.

Political analyst Steven Friedman said the result meant the ANC now had to worry more about the opposition than it had since the party took power 15 years ago. It won close toly 70 percent in 2004.

“The ANC has to worry more about the opposition now than it has had to do since democracy.

“The effect of them not getting the two-thirds, despite the euphoria, really underlines that there has been a drop in the ANC vote,” he said.

RECESSION THREAT

But Zuma has done all he can to emphasise that there will be no dramatic change, particularly as South Africa faces its first recession in 17 years as a result of the global financial crisis and cannot afford to discourage investment.”

Financial markets wary of a policy shift to the left under a Zuma presidency may welcome a limit on the party’s power. .

In his speech, he addressed both business interests and the leftist allies who helped his rise to power during eight years of struggling against corruption charges, which were dismissed early this month on a technicality.

Zuma, who said he was not disappointed that the ANC did not achieve a two-thirds majority, also called on South Africans to get over the divisions of the past. We will work with all stakeholders, especially business and labour, to find ways to prevent and cushion our people against job losses and other difficulties that may arise,” he said. We must enter a period in which South Africa reclaims its position and image as a thriving nation, which can overcome all its difficulties, and which is able to put the country first above sectional and party political interests.

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“It is now time to put it all behind us.

The Independent Electoral Commission said the ANC will be allocated 264 seats in South Africa’s 400-seat parliament after it won 11.”

He said South Africa will continue with its efforts to find lasting solutions for political stability in neighbouring Zimbabwe and other flashpoints in Africa.68 million valid votes cast in the April 22 election.65 million votes out of 17.

Zille’s DA was the ANC’s closest rival with 16.

The ANC also lost control of the Western Cape province, centre of the tourist industry, to the official opposition Democratic Alliance (DA), led by Helen Zille, a white woman. The Congress of the People (COPE), formed by politicians who broke from the ruling party, stood at 7. The Congress of the People (COPE), formed by politicians who broke from the ruling party, stood at 7.42 percent. The DA will get 67 seats in parliament and COPE 30.

Inkatha Freedom Party support waned to 4.56 percent, giving it 18 parliamentary seats, of the vote from 6.97 percent in 2004. The ANC also made inroads into the IFP’s traditional support base in KwaZulu-Natal province, home to South Africa’s Zulus — the biggest tribal group, of which Zuma is a member.

Electoral officials said the turnout was 77.3 percent, a little higher than in 2004.

The rand currency firmed well over 2 percent against the dollar to a new 6-1/2-month high late on Friday, aided by a strong euro and higher stocks as well as the smooth election.

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Somali pirates seize another ship

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South Africa’s ruling ANC has won a sweeping election victory and party leader Jacob Zuma pledged that as president he would work with unions and business to ensure stability amid global turmoil.

“There will be no surprises in the next administration’s programme of action,” Zuma said in a victory speech.

“The electorate has endorsed our call for an equitable, sustainable and inclusive growth path that will bring decent work and sustainable livelihoods,” Zuma, who is due to be sworn in as president on May 9, said.9 percent of the vote, a big victory but just short of the two-thirds needed to ensure a parliamentary majority big enough to make constitutional changes unchallenged.

Official results of Wednesday’s election gave Zuma’s African National Congress 65. Despite some market concerns over whether the ANC would get the two-thirds majority, the party repeatedly has stressed it has no intention of changing the constitution.

The margin that would let the ANC change the constitution is largely symbolic.

Although a newly formed party of ANC dissidents failed to make a dramatic impact, the ruling party has seen its share of the vote fall for the first time since the end of apartheid in 1994.

Political analyst Steven Friedman said the result meant the ANC now had to worry more about the opposition than it had since the party took power 15 years ago. It won close toly 70 percent in 2004.

“The ANC has to worry more about the opposition now than it has had to do since democracy.

“The effect of them not getting the two-thirds, despite the euphoria, really underlines that there has been a drop in the ANC vote,” he said.

RECESSION THREAT

But Zuma has done all he can to emphasise that there will be no dramatic change, particularly as South Africa faces its first recession in 17 years as a result of the global financial crisis and cannot afford to discourage investment.”

Financial markets wary of a policy shift to the left under a Zuma presidency may welcome a limit on the party’s power. .

In his speech, he addressed both business interests and the leftist allies who helped his rise to power during eight years of struggling against corruption charges, which were dismissed early this month on a technicality.

Zuma, who said he was not disappointed that the ANC did not achieve a two-thirds majority, also called on South Africans to get over the divisions of the past. We will work with all stakeholders, especially business and labour, to find ways to prevent and cushion our people against job losses and other difficulties that may arise,” he said. We must enter a period in which South Africa reclaims its position and image as a thriving nation, which can overcome all its difficulties, and which is able to put the country first above sectional and party political interests.

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“It is now time to put it all behind us.

The Independent Electoral Commission said the ANC will be allocated 264 seats in South Africa’s 400-seat parliament after it won 11.”

He said South Africa will continue with its efforts to find lasting solutions for political stability in neighbouring Zimbabwe and other flashpoints in Africa.68 million valid votes cast in the April 22 election.65 million votes out of 17.

Zille’s DA was the ANC’s closest rival with 16.

The ANC also lost control of the Western Cape province, centre of the tourist industry, to the official opposition Democratic Alliance (DA), led by Helen Zille, a white woman. The Congress of the People (COPE), formed by politicians who broke from the ruling party, stood at 7. The Congress of the People (COPE), formed by politicians who broke from the ruling party, stood at 7.42 percent. The DA will get 67 seats in parliament and COPE 30.

Inkatha Freedom Party support waned to 4.56 percent, giving it 18 parliamentary seats, of the vote from 6.97 percent in 2004. The ANC also made inroads into the IFP’s traditional support base in KwaZulu-Natal province, home to South Africa’s Zulus — the biggest tribal group, of which Zuma is a member.

Electoral officials said the turnout was 77.3 percent, a little higher than in 2004.

The rand currency firmed well over 2 percent against the dollar to a new 6-1/2-month high late on Friday, aided by a strong euro and higher stocks as well as the smooth election.

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A Wanganui rest home resident has complained to the Health and Disability Commissioner after bandages were left on her ulcered legs so long that maggots grew in the wounds.

Christine de Roo, 50, from Marton, but now living at Wanganui’s Aubert Home of Compassion, said her dressings should be changed two to three times a week but they were left untouched for 13 days the previous month.

Ms de Roo is wheelchair-bound with multiple sclerosis and has serious kidney problems and lymphoedema.

When the bandages were finally pulled back, her legs were crawling with maggots, she told the Wanganui Chronicle.

Small cracks in her skin mean there is a high risk of infection and fluid leakage, requiring both legs to be heavily bandaged from her knees to her feet.

The lymphoedema means her legs are often swollen due to a build-up of fluid.

“I was left until March 21.

Ms de Roo said her bandages were changed on March 8 but not again for almost another two weeks. . . By then my legs had become so itchy it was painful and I was desperate to have them done. it was a Saturday afternoon.

It was “the worst kind of nightmare anyone could ever have”, she said.”

A nurse removed the bandage from one leg and discovered the maggots. They were in shock.

Ms de Roo said she would never forget the look on the faces of the nurse and caregiver.

“I never thought I’d ever be fly-blown like an old sheep. .”

She demanded a specimen jar to scrape the maggots into. There were dozens of them – it was revolting. .

“I told her if she didn’t get me one I would scrape them into a cup. and I would’ve too, believe me. . Maggots were found under them too, she said. Maggots were found under them too, she said.

Ms de Roo has complained to the Health and Disability Commissioner and is now awaiting his report.

A Ministry of Health investigation and an internal investigation are also being undertaken.

Home of Compassion nurse manager Ruth Portland told the Chronicle that she would not comment on Ms de Roo’s case until the investigations were not completed.

-

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Boy saves 5-year-old at surf champs

Tuesday, 03 March 2009

/The
YOUNG HERO: Cameron Turchie, 12, of Wellington, rescued a five-year-old after he was swept 200 metres out from shore at a Mt Maunganui beach.

Twelve-year-old Cameron Turchie risked his life to save a five-year-old from drowning in pounding three-metre-high surf, 200 metres from shore.
When the young Lyall Bay surf club member saw a limp, bloodied body being sucked under the water at Mt Maunganui's Main Beach on Sunday, he drew on his five years' surf lifesaving experience and all of his energy to rescue the boy. "I saw blood coming down his face and he was crying and wasn't really moving that much or talking, so I swam over and held him up. . "I had to really fight to stay above the water."
The pair were bashed by the waves, which kept sucking them both under, as they waited for rescuers. I wasn't scared but it was hard work holding him up."
Two lifeguards arrived in an inflatable rescue boat after about five minutes, pulling the limp boy on board and taking him back to the beach, where he was given oxygen and treated by event medical staff and two passing doctors. I was determined not to let go. Another lifeguard had to swim out with a flotation tube to support the young hero till the boat returned.
But the drama was not over for Cameron, who got pounded by the waves for several more minutes.
"He probably would have gone under for good and that could have been the end of it.
Surf Life Saving New Zealand sport manager Mark Weatherall, who was on the beach when the rescue unfolded, said he would hate to think what would have happened if the victim had swallowed another mouthful of water. He's a lucky little fella and Cameron was very brave to put his own life at risk. He's a lucky little fella and Cameron was very brave to put his own life at risk. That experience made all the difference on Sunday."
It wasn't Cameron's first rescue; he helped a friend with breathing difficulties at a surf carnival in Wellington last year."
His mother, Tanya, said she was unbelievably proud of her boy.
"I sort of panicked once I got out there but because I'd done it once before, I guess I knew what to do."

. "It was a brave thing to do, but he just backed himself and didn't even hesitate

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Economic crisis keeps Kiwis close to home

By KATHERINE NEWTON Thursday, 05 February 2009

Kiwis who might once have headed overseas in search of work or play are hunkering down to weather the economic storm at home instead.
Overseas visitors have no such qualms yet, with 322,200 short-term visitors arriving last December a record for any month.
The number of Kiwis and long-term visitors who left for any period of time in that month dropped to 165,700 from 176,100 in December 2007, a decrease of 5.
That included a 16 per cent fall in the number of New Zealanders heading to Britain permanently or long term.9 per cent. Overall, the number of New Zealanders heading overseas last year was steady compared with 2007, dropping only 0.
There were fewer trips to all top 10 destinations for New Zealand residents, including Fiji, down 18 per cent, the United States, down 13 per cent, and Britain, down 8 per cent.3 per cent.
"One of the economies that's been hardest hit is the UK and you're now getting mass job layoffs in that sector," he said.
However, ASB chief economist Nick Tuffley said December's fall in departures was likely to continue this year as moving overseas, especially to Britain and the United States, became less attractive. . "People are now becoming more aware that their prospects of going over to the UK and getting a job are diminishing.
Departures to Australia steadily rose last year, but now appeared to be levelling off, it said.5 per cent from December 2007. "The Australian labour market has recently become more difficult and . "The Australian labour market has recently become more difficult and . net outflows across the Tasman may start to ease..
Tourism New Zealand chief executive George Hickton said that month had been unexpectedly strong, but he expected the number of visitors to start to fall in the next few months."
Despite record visitor numbers to New Zealand in December, tourism officials are bracing themselves for a tough year."
Tourism New Zealand was predicting long-haul visitor numbers to fall by up to 15 per cent between January and March, he said, but an expected small rise in Australian numbers could help to offset that.
"We're going to get through the summer a little bit better than some people imagined [but] there will be a reduction over the next year.

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Jet-boat driver ‘in wrong place at the wrong time’

Wednesday, 07 January 2009

Kawarau River smash bodies found

The jet-boat driver who died in a collision with a jet-ski on the Kawarau River near Queenstown on Monday night has been described as a cautious jet boater who was in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Laurence Brett Singleton, 51, known as Brett, had driven jet boats for more than 20 years and had helped in river searches for other boaties.
Singleton's widow, Sue, yesterday said her husband was a "wonderful person" with a love of the outdoors.
Singleton and three brothers had been involved in developing the Rees Apartments in Frankton Road.
He was a member of the Canterbury Jet Boat Association for more than 15 years before moving to Queenstown about eight years ago. Police say he was not wearing a lifejacket at the time of the collision
"He was a good jet boater but he just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time," she said.
Sue Singleton said her husband would never get in a jet boat without wearing a lifejacket, and would have taken it off while slowly trawling for fish. "He knew what he was doing on rivers."
Kawarau Jet director Shaun Kelly said Singleton was a diligent jet boater. He wasn't a stupid driver; he was a very cautious person. He was a well-respected guy and a competent operator," he said.
"It's a real tragedy that this has happened."
Singleton had gone fishing on the river with friend and colleague Anton Oskar Woitasek, 34, who was a senior project director on the apartment development.
"He was a very cautious man, drove well and had done many, many years of racing.
Woitasek's mother-in-law, Jeanette Pierson, said his death was "very painful".
Woitasek's mother-in-law, Jeanette Pierson, said his death was "very painful"."

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