Two a penny

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Two people were killed on New Zealand’s roads this weekend, both in Northland crashes.

A 29-year-old pedestrian, Sheridan David Snowden from Northland, was killed in a possible hit and run overnight.Mr Snowden’s body was found near a car on its side in a ditch on Russell Rd in Oakura, 50km north of Whangarei, about 4.He died at the scene, but it was not clear whether the upturned car had struck him or another vehicle that may have collided with that car, police said.30am.”Inquiries conducted to date have given rise to the possibility that another vehicle may also have been involved in the incident.The driver of the car left in the ditch was “assisting police” with their investigation, a police spokesman said. .5m down a bank.On Friday night 19-year-old Andrew Thomas Ellwood from Whangarei died after the car he was a passenger in crossed the centreline, collided with another car and rolled 2.20pm.The car had been travelling along Whangarei Heads Rd before the crash about 7.He and two other people were trapped in the car.Mr Ellwood was conscious when emergency services arrived but died shortly afterwards.They were taken to hospital with serious injuries and stabilised.They were taken to hospital with serious injuries and stabilised.

.Police believe speed was a factor in the crash

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The Reserve Bank has fired a warning shot about the sudden recent sharp rise in interest rates.

The central bank said this morning that current levels of long-term interest rates in this country were “out of line” with its expectations.

The action by the governor was unusual, as he normally waits for his regular six-weekly review of interest rates before making comments on market conditions.

Reserve Bank Governor Alan Bollard said the recent rise in rates charged between financial institutions was “unwarranted and inconsistent with the monetary policy outlook”. A short time ago it was worth US55.

The New Zealand dollar reacted sharply to the announcement, falling over a cent in value against the American currency.

The comments by Bollard indicate a clear concern from him that recent actions of the markets could put further pressure on struggling Kiwi households and on the depressed New Zealand economy.9 cents compared with over US57c prior to the RBNZ statement. Governments around the world are issuing huge amounts of bonds as they seek to pump money into their own economies.

A number of factors have caused the recent increase in longer term rates.

There has also been a very strong rise in the value of the New Zealand dollar – largely due to the weakness of the US dollar.

This is forcing banks sourcing money offshore to pay higher rates. Several banks have increased their longer term fixed mortgage rates. .5 percent to 3 percent, indicated it did not see much more scope for further falls.

As well, the RBNZ, when lowering official interest rates from 3.

Continuation of such a trend could put further downward pressure on an economy that has been in recession since the start of 2008.

All of these factors have contributed to what is effectively a sharp tightening in monetary conditions within New Zealand – contrary to the RBNZ’s wishes. Furthermore, the risks around the outlook continue to be weighted to the downside,” Dr Bollard said in a statement.

“As we said in our 12 March Monetary Policy Statement, the economic recovery is expected to be very gradual.”

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Dr Bollard said that if this “apparent distortion” in the market persists, it could put unnecessary pressure on the cost of borrowing by firms and households.

“As indicated in our March Statement, we are projecting interest rates to remain at relatively low levels for an extended period.

A number of economists in recent days have been calling for just such an action from the RBNZ governor.

The comments by Bollard are effectively an attempt to “jawbone” interest rates and the New Zealand dollar down.

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NZ sisters offer shelter to survivors

By DENISE McNABB in Whittlesea Friday, 13 February 2009

The Age
MOVED TO TEARS: Two big-hearted Kiwi sisters have opened their home to victims of the Australian bushfires. Maria Totorewa, front, and Sue Wirepai say their home is open to anyone who wants to stay.
Maria Totorewa and sister Sue Wirepai, visiting from Melbourne, are among hundreds of people in the devastated town of Whittlesea, Victoria, to offer help at a temporary refugee centre.

Two big-hearted Kiwi sisters have opened their home to victims of the Australian bushfires. She fought back tears yesterday as she remembered friends who died in the fires.
"My house is open to anyone who wants to stay," Mrs Totorewa said.
"I can't take my sunglasses off. The flames were just 20 minutes from her home when the wind changed direction, saving her family. . You will see my tears," she said. We saw nothing. We were under the air conditioner eating ice popsicles, trying to get relief from the heat. Police need cellphones in the huge task of identifying bodies."
Her husband, Chris, a telecommunications contractor, has gone to the obliterated town of Marysville to build new cellphone towers.
Many people, including cricketer Shane Warne, have poured into Whittlesea anxious to lend a hand. Fifteen people are confirmed dead in the town, which had a population of 519.

. Firms have also donated goods by the truckload

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Man charged over attempted murder in NZ

By PIPPA O’ROURKE – Monday, 02 February 2009

A man wanted over the murder of his first wife in the UK and the attempted murder of his second wife on Auckland's North Shore is facing charges in a Scottish court.
British news agencies reported that Malcolm Webster, 49, had been arrested and charged in connection with the death of a woman who died in a car crash in Aberdeenshire almost 15 years ago. Her husband Malcolm Webster survived the crash. .
Webster, 48, failed to appear in the North Shore District Court in 2000 on charges of administering a drug and stupefying his then-wife Felicity Drumm and two charges of arson at her parents' home.
Grampian Police said the man had also been charged in connection with events in the UK and New Zealand leading to the attempted murder of another woman. Tests found she had been drugged before dying in a crash in Scotland in 1994.
Scottish police reopened their case into the death of his first wife, Claire, after becoming aware of the New Zealand case.
Webster met Ms Drumm in Saudi Arabia after he moved there with the proceeds of a £200,000 insurance payout.
Reports about the crash that killed Clare Webster said the vehicle, a Daihatsu 4×4, did not immediately burst into flames after the crash.
A year later the couple were involved in a crash on the North Shore.
They were married in Takapuna in 1997, according to the Scottish Sunday Mail.
Webster is a healthcare worker and reportedly worked as a manual handling advisor, training staff in safe lifting of objects or patients, in Scotland in 2006. Ms Drumm survived the crash.
"I heard a comment but it was unsubstantiated.
Ms Drumm's father, who lives in Takapuna, told the he was suprised to hear Webster had been charged.
When asked of Ms Drumm, he said "as far as I know, she's doing fine. That's of interest," he said."

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Kindy teachers want exemption from law

The Thursday, 22 January 2009

Kindergarten teachers want an exemption from National's 90-day trial period law, in what may be the first real test of the controversial employment legislation.
The Educational Institute, which represents most of the 2000 kindergarten teachers, has lodged a new employment claim with the Education Ministry. . It follows the passage of a law before Christmas giving employers of fewer than 20 workers the right to sack staff within the first 90 days without going through normal employment procedures.
The 28-month claim, which seeks a 4 per cent pay rise this year and continuing pay parity with primary teachers, was lodged in December but a new clause was lodged this week.
Educational Institute national secretary Paul Goulter said the law had serious implications for the education sector, where recruitment was a "major challenge".
The union fears smaller, rural associations, which employ fewer than 20 teachers, would be disadvantaged by the law, as working for them could become less attractive. It seeks agreement between the ministry and kindergarten associations that a 90-day trial period "is neither necessary or desirable" and would be left out of the kindergarten teachers' collective agreement.

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Recession ‘perfect time’ to build dream home

By CHARLIE GATES – Friday, 16 January 2009

A Christchurch housing developer is defying the recession to build a $4 million home for himself on the Estuary waterfront in Redcliffs.
When the 505-square metre "dream home" is completed this year, it will feature an outdoor pool with a view of Shag Rock, a glass-walled wine cellar complete with adjustable mood lighting, frosted perspex staircases and a large fish pond stretching into the house from outside.
The owner of the property, who wished to remain anonymous for privacy reasons, said it would be his "dream home".
The home has taken 18 months to design, will take 18 months to build and will include five bedrooms, six bathrooms, a gym, a home theatre, a pantry, a barbecue area, a spa, a three-car garage and a roof terrace..
"It is a dream home for my family and we have spent a lot of time and effort to make a home that suits the Christchurch market . It is beautiful surroundings and a beautiful spot and I think the area is completely undervalued," he said..
"Never let a good recession pass you by.
The developer said the recession had actually helped the building of his luxury home. "It is just a pinch in time. It is a perfect time to build because everyone has not got much work so you always get good contractors," he said.
"The recession has helped the build because you get really good contractors and a good price for materials. No-one was talking about it a year ago and no-one will be talking about it a year from now.
"It is a nightmare."
Project builder Simon Stewart joked that the unique nature of the building made it challenging to construct.
The architect for the project, Group Architecture 3 director Marcus Stufkens, said the grand home had been carefully designed.
"It is a one-off sort of building and it is very unique in a lot of ways," he said.
"From the start it has been designed so from the street you would not know the extent of how large the house is.
"It should be pretty impressive once it is finished," he said."

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Beach seaweed complaints don’t wash, council says

Friday, 02 January 2009

Island Bayresidents are threatening to bring in bulldozers to clean up their beach after the council turned down requests to remove smelly seaweed and weeds.
Council officials say the debris is forming a natural protection against erosion.
"It's a waste of a beach, the only swimming beach on the south coast that's suitable for little children.
Beach cleanup campaigner Margaret Davis said the council had ignored a petition signed by hundreds of residents calling for action."
Last month, Mrs Davis presented a petition signed by 583 people to Wellington City Council.
"Surely it is the right of families who live close to an urban beach to be able to take toddlers in bare feet to play in clean dry sand. "And his answer is still no.
However, on Christmas Eve she was told councillors had referred the matter to the official who refused her request in the first place.
Wellington City Council parks manager Paul Andrews said council workers regularly removed litter and rubbish, but not natural beach debris and vegetation."
She said some long-term residents were so fed up that they had suggested hiring a bulldozer to do the job themselves."
Where vegetation had spread, the sand had stabilised. .
"Potentially you're going to get a better quality beach long term if you allow the dunes to build up again.
"We're not losing sand from the beach system, and there's less cost to ratepayers in cleaning up the road, less inconvenience to residents from sand blowing on to their properties.
In October, Mrs Davis told The the council had stopped taking seaweed and driftwood from the beach after the Taputeranga Marine Reserve came into force in August."
A local community conservation group had been replanting dunes at the western end of the beach for some years and was interested in extending that work, he said.

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Wellington City Council said last year it could no longer remove seaweed from the reserve because of rules prohibiting the removal of marine items a stance the Conservation Department said was wrong

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Witches, masons miss out on fake knives

Saturday, 20 December 2008

Abulk order of fake plastic knives and swords, coveted by local witches and Freemasons, will be handed over by Customs, but not in time for the Christmas rush.
Importer and retailer Dave Hannay won the right to retrieve the 230 knives and swords after the Customs service failed to appear in Napier Civil Court yesterday – but he cannot have them till next month, and then only if Customs does not object.
The order included 60 dragon-handled double-edged swords, 50 slide knives and 120 daggers with twisted blades.
The Chinese-made knives and swords were to have been sold in Mr Hannay's Napier store, King of Swords, but were seized by Customs in Auckland on December 21 last year as they were deemed to be offensive weapons.
The items, most of which are plastic with blunt edges, would have sold for about $9200. .
"The daggers were for the Freemasons. The swords have blunt stainless steel blades and plastic handles, and are glued into a resin dragon before being sold. "You'd be surprised who buys them. The others are bought for all sorts," Mr Hannay said. There are heaps of witches round here, and down in Masterton. Witches need them for their covens.
"This means I've missed two Christmases. And re-enactors, they like them too. If they'd [Customs] just turned up in court it might have been sorted. I've spent a year writing letters to various people trying to sort this out. "But these are weak imitations."
Mr Hannay said he understood that Customs was bound by definitions that saw fakes such as his classified as offensive weapons. I sell pocket knives in my store that are more dangerous. They'd snap if you hit anyone with them."
He said Customs had been made aware that it should have appeared in court. It's just ridiculous. He adjourned the case till next month in case Customs wished to be heard.
Judge Geoff Rea said that, "on the face of it", the knives would be ordered to be turned over to Mr Hannay.

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Cheers! We’re killing ourselves

Saturday, 13 December 2008

Amassive hike in alcohol prices is the key solution to a national booze problem which kills close toly three people every day and injures many more, say doctors and counsellors.
Alcohol is a contributing factor to 70 per cent of emergency hospital admissions and well over half of all crime.
It costs $425 million in ACC payouts, $655 million in the public health sector, and $1.
Those who see the devastation daily say raising the price of beer and wine, and reducing the number of liquor outlets are key solutions.17 billion in lost productivity each year. "It's very, very clear what we need to do, all we need now is the guts basically to get on and do it.
"Everyone agrees we have a problem," said Rebecca Williams of Alcohol Healthwatch."
Emergency medicine specialist Paul Quigley agreed."
Wellington Hospital chief medical officer and drug and alcohol specialist Dr Geoff Robinson said New Zealand had a "huge problem" with alcohol. "I'd just put the price up and sod it to all those who complain. .
His research showed that if alcohol were put through the drug-scheduling committee now, it would be a class B drug, sitting alongside Ritalin and morphine and more dangerous than fantasy."
Dr Quigley said the harm done by alcohol compared to the damage from methamphetamine was 100-1. It affects close toly every organ. "Alcohol is by far and away the overwhelming problem. "Alcohol is by far and away the overwhelming problem..
"The amount of money that's spent on `the war on drugs' versus on rehab is phenomenal," Dr Quigley said.
Last year 23,000 people attended treatment, but up to 160,000 were in need of help.
Counsellors say funding for alcohol treatment in the community and in prisons needs to be doubled.
"But there's very clear research that compulsory or mandatory treatment works as well as, or even better than for people who are supposedly self-motivated.
Drug and Alcohol counsellor Roger Brooking said it could be difficult for alcoholics to make the decision to help themselves because alcohol affects the brain.

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He said the Government had allowed the liquor industry to behave like drug dealers, and said it was essential to abolish conscience voting on all alcohol-related issues in Parliament

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Families to return without ‘lost men’

The Monday, 08 December 2008

Familyand friends of New Zealanders killed in the A320 Airbus crash are returning from France without the bodies.
Air New Zealand chief executive Rob Fyfe said yesterday that French authorities had said identification of the first two bodies recovered from the sea was unlikely till sometime next week. It would then take some days for the bodies to be released by authorities.
During the weekend, divers found a fourth body near the wreckage of the Airbus, which crashed into the Mediterranean Sea near Perpignan on November 28, killing all seven on board.
Other remains may not be able to be identified and returned to families till later, Mr Fyfe said.
The two German pilots on the plane have not been named.
The five New Zealanders who died were senior pilot Captain Brian Horrell, 52, engineers Murray White, 37, Michael Gyles, 49, Noel Marsh, 35, and Civil Aviation Authority inspector Jeremy Cook, 58. .
"Over the past couple of days it became clear to us all that the opportunity to bring our lost men home may be some time off as the French authorities continue with the painstaking recovery and body identification tasks.
"So the 21 family and friends here in Perpignan have decided to return home to reunite with their loved ones and await advice from the identification process.
"It has been an incredibly moving time for the families and the Air New Zealand support team," Mr Fyfe said."
Mr Fyfe said many of the families had spent the past few days visiting the workplace and hotels in which the men were based in Perpignan, meeting their friends and colleagues, as well as seeing some of the sights they had heard about from their loved ones. Mr Fyfe was to return to New Zealand today.
Senior airline staff, technical specialists and two New Zealand police representatives were remaining in Perpignan to help the French authorities.