Two a penny

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A grief counsellor has arrived at Dargaville Primary School, as anxious parents seek guidance on how they handle the death of a 10-year-old pupil.

Oliver Nicolson, known to family and friends as Little Ollie, was found dead at his home yesterday morning after an incident with a firearm. Parents had also contacted the school to ask how they should speak with their children about what had happened.

Dargaville Primary School principal Alan Russek said a grief counsellor was now at the school to help staff and students that needed it.

“The children didn’t have much to say, they were quite quiet actually.

Children at the school, particularly those in Oliver’s class, were upset by the tragedy, Mr Russek said.. They were very reserved . not quite as bubbly as they normally were..

“We’re monitoring the staff and their reaction as well as the students. Some of the boys are a little bit upset,” he said.”

Oliver’s teacher had been hit particularly hard by the tragedy, Mr Russek said. Our main concern is with those groups of people.

Oliver was the youngest of four children to Mrs Nicolson and her husband, Laurie Nicolson, with whom he shared a special bond.

FAMILY REACTION

Talking of their “sensitive sweetheart” who they will dearly miss, Oliver’s family said he had wagged school on Friday because he had not done his homework and “was worried about being told off”.

However, yesterday morning he had not wanted to go to school. Over Labour Weekend, Oliver had made a remote control holder for his school showday and had a couple of friends over to visit.

“She came down the stairs screaming”. The Nicolsons say Oliver’s 14-year-old sister, Sarah, went to get him because the family was waiting. “Ammunition was in a [separate] cupboard right up high, it would have been hard for him to reach,” Mrs Nicolson said. . Although he had been quiet and reserved in the past, in recent months he had been “particularly confident and happy”.

Mrs Nicolson said she had tried talking to her son about bullying but, “he never opened up about it”.”

NO PROBLEMS AT SCHOOL

Mr Russek said Oliver was a quiet child and he had not noticed any change in his behaviour recently.”

NO PROBLEMS AT SCHOOL

Mr Russek said Oliver was a quiet child and he had not noticed any change in his behaviour recently.

“He had that close group of friends that he played with and mixed with them most of the time. He never had run-ins with kids that we are aware of. He never was involved in fights or anything like that.”

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A mother accused of failing to provide the necessaries of life for her 11-week old daughter was suffering from post-natal depression, her doctor told an Auckland today.

Tahani Mahomed was admitted to hospital with severe head injuries on December 28, 2007. She died on New Year’s Day. The Crown alleges he broke her leg by apparently twisting it violently and inflicted head injuries that caused brain damage.

Her father, Azees Mahomed, 31, is accused in the High Court at Auckland of murder and two counts of resulting in his baby grievous bodily harm.

The South African-born couple had not been able to explain to police how Tahani received her injuries.

He and his wife Tabbasum, 26, are also charged with failing to provide the necessaries of life.

Crown prosecutor Phil Hamlin said the baby’s head had been forced violently against a hard, “unforgiving” surface.

She was a new immigrant without any family support, living in poor housing, with two children under two-years-old, he told the court.

The family doctor, Mushfiq Ahmad, said there were many factors which were likely to have contributed to Tabassum Mohamed having post-natal depression. She was having to study to keep her visa and keep up with her duties at home.

He wrote her a medical certificate because she was over-burdened and appeared not to be coping.

Dr Ahmad said he received an emergency phone call from her at 5. She also missed paediatric appointments.56am on December 28, 2007.56am on December 28, 2007.

He agreed that was the case.

Paul Borich, defending Tabassum Mahomed, asked Dr Ahmad if she sounded very concerned and worried about Tahani’s condition.

“Are you sure you expressed the urgency to Mrs Mahomed about getting to a doctor straight away?” Mr Borich asked.

He said because the child was non-responsive, she should have gone to a doctor straight away.

Nurse Lesley Kazula was working at Middlemore Hospital when Tahani was admitted. .

Ms Kazula said Tahani was semi-conscious, with her eyes partly open and her hands clenched.

She said Mrs Mahomed told her that her baby wasn’t eating.

When she asked Mrs Mahomed if Tahani had looked like this before, she said “when she gets a fright”.

“She looked quite underweight and seemed unwell and thin,” Ms Kazula said.

Paediatrician David Montgomery also saw Tahani that night at Middlemore Hospital.

Paediatrician David Montgomery also saw Tahani that night at Middlemore Hospital.

He told the court she was receiving oxygen through a mask, with additional breaths administered by staff.

“The child was extremely lethargic and not responding normally. “She was having periods of becoming very stiff, extending her arms and legs and scissoring them over each other.

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A prospective house buyer who had a heart attack is recovering in hospital today after a cardiologist who was a fellow bidder at an auction saved his life.

When bidding resumed after the drama at Barfoot and Thompson’s auction room in central Auckland on Wednesday, the doctor finished up with the Epsom property.

He said the heart patient had stopped bidding by the time he had the attack, while the cardiologist was one of two parties still active in the auction.

Managing director Peter Thompson said today that the incident repaid the company’s decision to buy a defibrillator for the auction room in Kitchener St two years ago.

“The patient had stopped breathing and the company defibrillator brought him back to life.

“Our auction team quickly got into action and straight away the cardiologist in his role came and took over,” he said.

“The auction recommenced and the cardiologist, who was the underbidder, ended up getting the property.”

An ambulance was called and Mr Thompson said the whole incident took about 20 minutes.

Mr Thompson said the company made the decision to buy a defibrillator because the auction room was a public domain with large crowds. .

“We never expected to use it,” he said.

It also had the same device in its training room. But when you look at it now, it has certainly paid for itself many times over.

“At the time we looked at the cost and thought, `Ooh’.”

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Politicians are being asked for their opinions on cancelling travelling entitlements for MPs convicted of crimes.

Speaker Lockwood Smith proposed changes after former MP Taito Phillip Field was this month found guilty of 11 charges of bribery and corruption as an MP, and 15 charges of wilfully trying to obstruct or pervert the course of justice.

At present there is nothing to stop him from claiming thousands of dollars worth of travel entitlements.

He could also claim a 90 per cent discount on international travel as long, as it did not exceed the cost of a return business-class flight to London on Air New Zealand – about $10,000.

Having entered Parliament in 1993, Field was still entitled to claim for up to 12 free domestic return air fares a year. Current and former MPs would also be consulted.

Dr Smith said Field would have an opportunity to comment on the proposal.

Prime Minister John Key previously said morally the entitlements – which included perks for Field’s wife – were inappropriate.

Dr Smith also said he was seeking further information from officials about a decision to freeze travel rebates for former members being dropped.

Dr Smith expected to make a decision next month.

The commission advises the Speaker about services to be provided to the House, and to MPs.

Once he had that information he would talk to the Parliamentary Service Commission about whether to reinstate the freeze.

In November 2003, then-speaker Jonathan Hunt issued a document setting out travel and other perks available to MPs.

In 2003, it recommended members elected before 1999 have their entitlements frozen at the level they were at the end of that term of Parliament.

It also outlined changes proposed for former members’ entitlements.

It also outlined changes proposed for former members’ entitlements.

In 2007, the next speaker, Margaret Wilson, issued a directive on the freeze.

This never happened.”

But the 2008 Parliamentary Travel, Accommodation, Attendance, and Communications Services Determination overturned it. .”

As a result, travel perks were restored to 23 MPs, 12 of whom were not re-elected.

The determination would “remove the freeze on former members’ travel rebates in respect of parliamentary terms after the 2002-2005 parliament.

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Wellington City Council has warned of areas of flooding “right across the city” as wind and rain buffet the capital.

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Severe winds today lashed the lower North Island, with the worst expected to bring down trees and powerlines.

Drainage crews had been dispatched to fix blocked drains, while other council crews were attending to low-hanging power lines in Hataitai and Mt Cook.

There were reports of blocked drains causing flooding in parts of Island Bay, Newlands, Ngaio, Cuba St, Roseneath, Rongatai and the Hutt Rd.

No one was injured in the minor incident, which happened around 2.

WET WEATHER ACCIDENT

A four-car nose-to-tail accident on State Highway 2 near Horokiwi caused delays for motorists in the capital this afternoon.

WILD WEATHER

The biggest gust recorded in the region this morning was 109 kmh on the Rimutaka Hill, but forecasters were warning that the worst weather will arrive this afternoon. .

He warned that the wild weather is likely to bring down trees, lift unsecured roofs and make driving difficult in exposed places.

MetService duty forecaster Ian Miller said gusts of 130kmh would hit Wellington, Wairarapa and parts of the Hawke’s Bay from midday and continue throughout the day.

“We’re expecting heavy falls in the Hutt Valley and the warning includes Tararua ranges.

“Coupled with rain, which we are expecting in the Wellington region, there is a greater chance the odd tree might get toppled,” he said.”

The real cold change was not going to affect the region till early tomorrow morning when snow would fall to around 500m in Wellington and Wairarapa.

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The future of Michael Jackson’s children was thrown into question Thursday when his ex-wife emerged and won a delay in a custody hearing while she decides whether she wants to raise her two offspring.

It was the first legal move from Deborah Rowe since the entertainer’s death. Jackson’s will asks for his mother, Katherine, to get permanent custody of all three of his children. She is the mother of his two oldest children and received US$8.

Rowe, who met Jackson as a receptionist in the office of his dermatologist, has characterised their relationship as strictly for the purpose of birthing Jackson children. His youngest child was conceived with a surrogate.5 million in their divorce, according to court records.

She has spent very little time with her son Michael Joseph Jr, known as Prince Michael, 12; and daughter Paris Michael Katherine, 11.

Rowe’s attorney, Eric M George, said Thursday she had not decided whether to seek custody. But Rowe also has opposed the idea of Katherine Jackson getting custody of her children when it came up in the past.

The identity of the surrogate mother of the singer’s youngest child, 7-year-old son Prince Michael II, has never been revealed.

Superior Court Judge Mitchell Beckloff rescheduled a guardianship hearing for July 13 at the request of attorneys for Rowe and for Katherine Jackson, 79, who has temporary guardianship of her son’s children.

Randy Phillips, chief executive of AEG Live, which owns the Staples Center and was Jackson’s promoter, said tickets would be free.

Jackson’s public memorial was set for 10 am Tuesday at the Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles, according to a press release from the office of the Jackson family’s publicist. . He was not sure how they would be distributed.

“If you can imagine 100,000 people show up and you have 20,000 capacity (at the Staples Center), there is not sufficient room. A week after the singer’s death, the location for a memorial has not been finalized and the cash-strapped city doesn’t have the money to pay police overtime. With the July Fourth holiday weekend “it’s the worst time . Now you have a crowd-control problem,” he said…”

. to work something out

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About 500 residents of a tiny East Coast community are expected to be isolated tonight as rivers continue to rise and heavy rain continues to pound the region.

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Gisborne’s Civil Defence emergency operation was activated about 9.

The rising Waipaoa River at Te Karaka, 32km northwest of Gisborne, was expected to reach 9.30am today as rivers around the Poverty Bay and Uawa catchments rose past warning levels, in the face of continuing south-easterly rain.

About 500 people at Te Karaka were expected to be isolated tonight, she said.5m this evening, and was expected to cut off the two access roads into the community, Gisborne District Council spokeswoman Toni Lexmond said.

Nine residents from Mangatuna, 65km northeast of Gisborne, were evacuated earlier today as the Hikuwai/Uawa River ran high.

While there was no danger to houses or people, residents who wanted to get out of the area should do so before 4pm, Ms Lexmond said.

Tolaga Bay, Whangara, Ngatapa, Waerenga-o-Kuri and Mangatuna schools were closed, and school buses were sent out to pick up rural children from city schools and get them home before more roads closed.

Rainfall totals reached the 180mm mark in both the Waipaoa and Uawa catchments, with a further heavy rain warning for another 150mm-200mm in the hills around Gisborne and Tolaga Bay from 8am today until 2pm tomorrow.

A Civil Defence emergency had not been declared at this stage, she said.

The rain was expected to create a number of road closures through slips and flooding and areas of surface flooding over the next few days, Ms Lexmond said.

Yesterday’s storm brought more than 1000 bolts of forked lightning to Auckland and Northland, while heavy rain caused slips and flooding, resulting in road closures in the central North Island and Manawatu.

Heavy rain warnings were earlier lifted for the Coromandel Peninsula as severe weather that brought slips and flooding yesterday moved away.

The MetService said today the vigorous low that had caused the storm was now sitting north of the Bay of Plenty and was predicted to move slowly east or southeast.

Rain also caused slips in the Manawatu Gorge and contractors were called in to keep the road open.

Snow warnings were also issued for the Desert Road in the central North Island and Porters Pass in central Canterbury. .

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Police have stepped up uniformed patrols in Levin and Foxton to clamp down on violence sparked by a gang power struggle in the wake of the death of Nomads gang leader Dennis “Mossie” Hines.

Molotov cocktails were thrown through a window of a rental house in Levin on Monday night.

Police said the blaze was linked to the shooting of Hines’ stepson, Nomads gang associate Tony Cootes, on the day of the gang leader’s tangi.

Police said there had been five violent incidents, including an assault and a firearms incident, since the death in prison of Hines, the founder of the Nomads in Horowhenua and Otaki.

Mr Cootes was wounded in the leg while attending the funeral of Hines in Foxton on Thursday.

Police stepped up patrols to curb any more violence and there were no further reports of unrest overnight.

About a dozen gang members were believed to be involved.

Hines’ intention was that upon his death the gang was to disband. .

Violence was the result of a leadership struggle and conflict between junior and senior gang members, Detective Senior Sergeant Marc Hercock said.

However, they were “rigorously” investigating incidents and were taking a zero tolerance to criminal activity, he said. Police had received no formal complaint over anything apart from the arson.

“It’s within the one gang and it’s been limited to gang members against gang members.

Mr Hercock said there was no explicit threat to public safety.

“There’s no indication that any members of the public are any greater threat than they ordinarily would be.

“There’s no indication that any members of the public are any greater threat than they ordinarily would be.

Mr Stevens’ family was not home at the time of the arson.30pm on Monday.

“We heard a big smash, smelled smoke, looked out and saw the flames,” one woman said.

Terrified neighbours say they fear reprisal attacks and some are vowing to move out. It was scary.

“It only took a matter of seconds before most of the house was engulfed. It’s the kids I feel sorry for the babies. I’m packing up, moving out.

A Levin supermarket owner said gang members marched into another local supermarket the day before the tangi, grabbed armfuls of meat and walked out again without paying.”

The incident has revived memories of Wanganui toddler Jhia Te Tua, who died when shot in the chest during a gang-related drive-by shooting in May 2007.

“He was a leader.

“He was a leader. The trouble will stop if the person who takes his position commands the same respect.”

Police are still investigating the shooting, which family members believe was self-inflicted.

Detective Senior Sergeant Marc Hercock urged the community to come forward with information.

“The people in this gang are mainly born and bred in Horowhenua and are not likely to be going anywhere anytime soon.

“If anyone has information we urge them to come forward.”

– with

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Two more arrests over Hamilton murder

– National Homepage -

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India were 349 for five in the second innings when bad light forced an early end to the third day of the third and final cricket test against New Zealand at the Basin Reserve.

Stumps were drawn 8. .1 overs before the scheduled close with India leading by 531 runs.
New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori took two for 2-88 and seamer Iain O’Brien two for 77.
Opener Gautam Gambhir topscored with 167, his sixth test century.
India have an unbeatable 1-0 lead in the series after winning the first test in Hamilton by 10 wickets before the second test in Napier was drawn.
New Zealand conceded an initial 182-run deficit yesterday after being dismissed for 197 in reply to India’s first innings of 379.5 overs) 349 Fall: 14 (Sehwag), 184 (Dravid), 208 (Tendulkar), 314 (Gambhir), 319 (Laxman).
Scoreboard at stumps on the third day:
India : First innings 379
New Zealand: First innings 197
India Second innings (overnight 51-1)G Gambhir lbw b O’Brien 167V Sehwag c Taylor b Martin 12R Dravid c McCullum b Vettori 60S Tendulkar c Taylor b Vettori 9VVS Laxman b O’Brien 61Yuvraj Singh not out 15MS Dhoni not out 16Extras (5lb, 4nb) 9 Total (for 5 wkts, 97.5-5-50-1 (2nb), I O’Brien 22-6-77-2, J Franklin 13-3-50-0, J Ryder 6-1-21-0 (1nb), D Vettori 29-4-88-2 (1nb).Bowling: T Southee 12-2-58-0, C Martin 15.
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What’s left of Anthony Valvoi’s shattered jaw has been wired back together and he faces the prospect of being left deaf in one ear after another unprovoked attack in Hamilton on Saturday night.

The 19-year-old is also angry that the attack on him and his mates, Kieran Burton and Josh Ford, also both 19, on Tainui St, off Lake Rd, happened less than 100 metres from police, whose actions he says were “blase”.

Mr Valvoi, who now faces a liquid diet for the next six months, said the trio were walking into town about 11.

Three of the five men, who he said were all well-dressed, got out of the car and started making friendly conversation when Mr Valvoi was suddenly hit on the side of the face from behind.20pm when they were approached by a carload of large Maori or Pacific Island men asking for a cigarette.

Mr Valvoi, a Waikato Hospital theatre sterilising technician, underwent four-hour facial reconstruction surgery on Monday, to wire his jaw back together.

The blow sent Mr Valvoi to the ground, then Mr Ford was punched in the face before they grabbed Mr Burton, pushing him against a wall.

“The jaw behind my right ear is fake, just metal, there’s no jaw.”

Mr Valvoi said if the piece of broken jaw had moved one centimetre further up, he could have suffered “massive brain damage, even death”. They had to cut it off because it shattered and it went up into my eardrum.

“They were dragging me up the road yelling, ‘help, help’ and the police were just standing there, staring.

Following the attack, Mr Ford and Mr Burton took Mr Valvoi who had managed to write down the registration plate of the attackers’ car to the close toby police. We had to get right up to the doors of the (booze) bus before anyone would help us. We crossed the road in front of cars, which were beeping at us, all my clothes were completely covered in blood.”

Mr Valvoi said police then told his friends to “throw him on the ground and we’ll call an ambulance”.”

Mr Valvoi said police then told his friends to “throw him on the ground and we’ll call an ambulance”. “It’s quite a worry.

Mr Valvoi’s father, Rodney, was also disturbed by the incident.. It’s just commonplace now . and they can do it in plain view of police.. .”

However, Waikato road policing manager Inspector Leo Tooman is defending the actions of his staff…”

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Mr Tooman said his staff were very concerned about the state of Mr Valvoi and the amount of blood which was coming profusely from his mouth.”

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Mr Tooman said his staff were very concerned about the state of Mr Valvoi and the amount of blood which was coming profusely from his mouth.

Officers immediately put an alert out on the car registration number. However, a search at that time had proven unsuccessful but inquiries were continuing, he said.

He said given the location of the booze bus in relation to where the attack happened, it was unlikely that the police could see it happening.