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Gunman makes off with brothel booty
The Tuesday, 10 February 2009
Supplied
CAUGHT ON TAPE: A series of security camera images of the offender.
Police have praised the actions of a brothel receptionist who was robbed by a man wielding a sawn-off shotgun.
Police said a man walked into Il Bordello in Vivian St with a sawn-off rifle about 11.
He demanded money from the brothel's female receptionist at gunpoint and escaped with "several thousand dollars".40pm on Sunday.
Detective Sergeant Mike Patz today said the gunman had been captured on the brothel's security camera.
It has been reported the figure could have been as high as $20,000 with the brothel saying it had a bumper weekend following the Wellington leg of the international rugby sevens.
Police were planning to release the footage later today in a bid to help identify him.
Several local street workers had provided information about a man who fitted theoffender's description- European, in his 30s, slimly built and wearing dark clothing including a beanie- who was seen in nearby Marion St about 20 minutes before the heist.
Mr Patz said there had been a good response to the police call for people to come forward with information. .
The robber fled through the back of the brothel and possibly left in a dark coloured saloon-style car that was in the Swan Lane and Marion Street areas around the time of the robbery.
"The offender wasn't deterred, forced open the panel, leapt over the counter, grabbed the victim and forced her to hand over the takings.
"She saw him approach the counter with the firearm and swiftly closed a sliding glass panel to try and avoid him," he said.
A spokesperson for Il Bordello said the receptionist was now "good as gold" and would be back at work in a few days.
A spokesperson for Il Bordello said the receptionist was now "good as gold" and would be back at work in a few days."
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Dixon jurors unmoved by insanity pleas
The Friday, 06 February 2009
Antonie Dixonbecame renowned for theatrical court appearances as jurors were asked to decide whether he was mad or bad.
His defence in his trials was that he was insane. However, two juries decided he was a hardened criminal who had to be locked up. As a child he was tied to a clothesline, could communicate only by barking, and showed paranoid behaviour over several years.
Dixon's horrendous upbringing was comprehensive in court.
During that trial, the court was told Dixon sometimes feigned symptoms in an attempt to mislead people about his mental health.
At his sentencing to life in prison, without the chance of parole for 20 years, at the end of his first trial in May 2005, he clapped his hands and called for the electric chair. At times he stared wild-eyed around the court-room and hid behind a bench in the dock.
He pulled up at a Papakura service station in the stolen car but found himself in "a biblical situation", with several "aggressive" men walking toward him.
At his second trial, Dixon told how, while on the run after slicing at the hands of Simonne Butler and Renee Gunbie with a samurai-style sword, he stopped to buy a cookie crumble ice-cream. "I let it go as long as I could, then just picked up the gun. One had horns and something behind his back, he said."
He killed James Te Aute by shooting him 10 times in the back within half a second. .
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Women refuse refuge as a result of nearby mosque
By ESTHER HARWARD – Sunday, 01 February 2009
Muslim women are staying away from a domesitc violence crisis centre since a mosque opened next door.
The Auckland Shakti Asian Women's Centre in Onehunga helps women escape violent domestic situations but women are too scared to go because they may be recognised by their husbands or relatives attending the mosque.
Meanwhile, Housing New Zealand Corporation is paying $310 a week $4030 so far for security guards to keep vandals away from the empty building that the women could move into.
The centre has an alternative premises but cannot move in because Auckland City Council has held back planning permission for more than a year.
Women who visited the centre usually did so without telling their husbands, she said.
Centre spokesperson Shila Nair said victims were "really afraid" to go to the centre in Church St, Onehunga in case they were recognised by men worshipping at the Onehunga Islamic Mosque, which is over a boundary fence. We have had instances of women who visited our Women's Centre later accessing our refuge. "If their husbands, in-laws or any other family members or friends were to know that they have visited Shakti, life for them would be even more difficult. Staff tell them what their rights are under New Zealand law."
Most were from Middle Eastern, Africa and Asian countries that don't legislate against domestic violence. Of the calls, half of the women were recommended to visit for counselling, legal advice or training.
The crisis centre took 4800 phone calls last year on a 24 hour nationwide helpline of which 90% were about family violence. .
The housing corporation renovated another building for the women to move to after the mosque bought a building next door from the Jehovah's Witness church. It was not known when the issues would be resolved. Council resource consents team leader Ian Smallburn said the consent was "on hold" as a result of concerns about the impact of parking on neighbours, trees and stormwater.
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The centre opened a decade ago and is the busiest of Shakti's five branches in Auckland, Tauranga and Christchurch, which together they help 6000 women a year escape domestic abuse
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Women refuse refuge as a result of nearby mosque
By ESTHER HARWARD – Sunday, 01 February 2009
Muslim women are staying away from a domesitc violence crisis centre since a mosque opened next door.
The Auckland Shakti Asian Women's Centre in Onehunga helps women escape violent domestic situations but women are too scared to go because they may be recognised by their husbands or relatives attending the mosque.
Meanwhile, Housing New Zealand Corporation is paying $310 a week $4030 so far for security guards to keep vandals away from the empty building that the women could move into.
The centre has an alternative premises but cannot move in because Auckland City Council has held back planning permission for more than a year.
Women who visited the centre usually did so without telling their husbands, she said.
Centre spokesperson Shila Nair said victims were "really afraid" to go to the centre in Church St, Onehunga in case they were recognised by men worshipping at the Onehunga Islamic Mosque, which is over a boundary fence. We have had instances of women who visited our Women's Centre later accessing our refuge. "If their husbands, in-laws or any other family members or friends were to know that they have visited Shakti, life for them would be even more difficult. Staff tell them what their rights are under New Zealand law."
Most were from Middle Eastern, Africa and Asian countries that don't legislate against domestic violence. Of the calls, half of the women were recommended to visit for counselling, legal advice or training.
The crisis centre took 4800 phone calls last year on a 24 hour nationwide helpline of which 90% were about family violence. .
The housing corporation renovated another building for the women to move to after the mosque bought a building next door from the Jehovah's Witness church. It was not known when the issues would be resolved. Council resource consents team leader Ian Smallburn said the consent was "on hold" as a result of concerns about the impact of parking on neighbours, trees and stormwater.
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The centre opened a decade ago and is the busiest of Shakti's five branches in Auckland, Tauranga and Christchurch, which together they help 6000 women a year escape domestic abuse
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Beachside camp may be lost to the sea
The Thursday, 22 January 2009
Thedays appear to be numbered for a popular Hawke's Bay motor camp that is gradually being eroded by the sea.
Clifton Camp, between Te Awanga and Cape Kidnappers, lost 12 metres off its coastal boundary to high seas last year and the cost of erecting a sea wall, if it was permitted, is prohibitive.
The camp is run by the Clifton Reserve Society on land owned by the Conservation Department and administered by Hastings District Council, which lets it to the society. But at a public meeting at the camp on Tuesday, Hastings Mayor Lawrence Yule said the lease might be renewed only if the society agreed to a "managed retreat".
Society chairman Rex Davis said the lease would expire in 2012 and the society had asked the council to extend it for another 15 years.
Mr Yule said options would be considered by the council at its meeting next month. .
Mr Davis said the society was eager to have the lease renewed before considering whether to spend money repairing sea walls and protecting the camp's only access along a short, narrow erosion-prone road. It has lost about 12 metres of land to heavy seas and big tides since a concrete sea wall was breached last January.
The camp is home to about 90 caravans and has 15 fulltime residents.
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The Conservation Department opposes construction of a sea wall
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Beachside camp may be lost to the sea
The Thursday, 22 January 2009
Thedays appear to be numbered for a popular Hawke's Bay motor camp that is gradually being eroded by the sea.
Clifton Camp, between Te Awanga and Cape Kidnappers, lost 12 metres off its coastal boundary to high seas last year and the cost of erecting a sea wall, if it was permitted, is prohibitive.
The camp is run by the Clifton Reserve Society on land owned by the Conservation Department and administered by Hastings District Council, which lets it to the society. But at a public meeting at the camp on Tuesday, Hastings Mayor Lawrence Yule said the lease might be renewed only if the society agreed to a "managed retreat".
Society chairman Rex Davis said the lease would expire in 2012 and the society had asked the council to extend it for another 15 years.
Mr Yule said options would be considered by the council at its meeting next month. .
Mr Davis said the society was eager to have the lease renewed before considering whether to spend money repairing sea walls and protecting the camp's only access along a short, narrow erosion-prone road. It has lost about 12 metres of land to heavy seas and big tides since a concrete sea wall was breached last January.
The camp is home to about 90 caravans and has 15 fulltime residents.
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The Conservation Department opposes construction of a sea wall
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Beachside camp may be lost to the sea
The Thursday, 22 January 2009
Thedays appear to be numbered for a popular Hawke's Bay motor camp that is gradually being eroded by the sea.
Clifton Camp, between Te Awanga and Cape Kidnappers, lost 12 metres off its coastal boundary to high seas last year and the cost of erecting a sea wall, if it was permitted, is prohibitive.
The camp is run by the Clifton Reserve Society on land owned by the Conservation Department and administered by Hastings District Council, which lets it to the society. But at a public meeting at the camp on Tuesday, Hastings Mayor Lawrence Yule said the lease might be renewed only if the society agreed to a "managed retreat".
Society chairman Rex Davis said the lease would expire in 2012 and the society had asked the council to extend it for another 15 years.
Mr Yule said options would be considered by the council at its meeting next month. .
Mr Davis said the society was eager to have the lease renewed before considering whether to spend money repairing sea walls and protecting the camp's only access along a short, narrow erosion-prone road. It has lost about 12 metres of land to heavy seas and big tides since a concrete sea wall was breached last January.
The camp is home to about 90 caravans and has 15 fulltime residents.
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The Conservation Department opposes construction of a sea wall
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Rescue choppers in a spin
Aviation rules ban non-urgent patient transfers
Tuesday, 20 January 2009
Recuehelicopter operators are fighting an industry crackdown that will ban them flying some patients directly to major hospitals.
The operators have warned the move could potentially cost the health service millions of dollars, put added strain on already struggling ambulance services and delay treatment for patients.
But the Civil Aviation Authority says some operators have been flouting the life or death clause, potentially endangering people living close to hospitals.
Single-engined aircraft which covers most of the rescue helicopters landing in Wellington are already officially banned from landing in built-up areas unless it is a life or death emergency.
In Wellington, operators from Palmerston North, Hastings, New Plymouth and Nelson would be unable to land on the hospital's rooftop pad, with Wellington-based Westpac rescue helicopter the only service that flies a twin-engine craft in the area. It has held a meeting with rescue helicopter operators, who have been asked to come up with proof they are operating within the law. While at least half are emergency flights, it is believed a large proportion of the rest are routine transfers. Wellington Hospital gets between 50 and 80 flights a week. "We wouldn't use the helicopter or the aircraft if it wasn't safe, full stop," said Nelson Marlborough Rescue Helicopter Trust pilot Tim Douglas-Clifford.
Operators have labelled the move "ridiculous" and say single-engine helicopters are safe."
It would mean more work for ambulance services, which would be used to pick up patients from airports or approved landing spots. "It doesn't make much difference to the operator but it makes a big difference to the patient. That pricetag would have to be picked up by the health system and donations. The alternative upgrading to twin-engine craft, which can land in congested areas would cost about $2 million for each helicopter. Any life-threatening case is exempt from the rule.
Civil Aviation rules state single-engine helicopters cannot land in a built-up area in case the engine fails and they injure people on the ground. "It will have a huge effect on the industry, there's no doubt about that.
Helilink chief pilot Alan Deal said the industry had to work with the CAA to solve the problem."
CAA's rotary wing unit manager, John Fogden, said operators had been using the life-threatening clause when they should not be to land at hospitals. It will mean that we have to find places to land, like airfields for instance, and that will create a huge ambulance logistics problem. .
The CAA called a meeting at Wellington Hospital before Christmas to inform local operators they would need to prove they were following the rules."
Westpac rescue helicopter spokesman Dave Greenberg said he thought CAA had been very reasonable.
"We'd like them to operate safely because we're underneath them, but we'd also like them to continue saving lives.
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Air NZ crash: mother loses son a second time
The Saturday, 17 January 2009
The biological family of air inspector Jeremy Cook had just 16 years with him before he died in the Air New Zealand Airbus crash off the coast of France, Rebecca Palmer writes.
Shegave him up when she was 20 to give him a better life, got him back when she was 62 and lost him again at 78.
Mr Cook, 58, was on board as the Civil Aviation Authority's inspector.
Beryl Wride's son Jeremy Cook was one of seven people killed in the Air New Zealand Airbus crash off the coast of Perpignan, France, in November.
He died just 16 years after being reunited with his biological mother, who gave him up for adoption in 1950. His widow, Sally, is in France to bring his remains home.
"I was on my own and there was an opportunity to let him be adopted to the Cook family so I did, which was a pretty terrible thing to do, but it was the most practical thing at the time. Mrs Wride was then 20 and a recent immigrant from England."
For more than 40 years she did not hear anything about him. It broke my heart.. "I took the line that . I should leave it to him.."
In the meantime she married Sidney Wride and raised three children Margaret, Mike and Ian. If his life was settled, it was better left like that. "He did wait he didn't want to hurt their feelings.
But in 1992, after both his adoptive parents had died, Mr Cook went examining for her. . And they had obviously been wonderful parents to him.
Mr Wride contacted the rest of his family in Britain. But neighbours put him in touch with Ian Wride, who was still in New Zealand and surprised to learn he had another brother.
Though Mrs Wride had told her husband about him, she had not told her other children. Not long after, Mr Cook, who was then working for a Papua New Guinea airline, flew over with Sally and children Diana and Jonathan.
But Mike Wride says: "Jeremy just fitted in like he'd always been a part of the family, and his family did too.
But Mike Wride says: "Jeremy just fitted in like he'd always been a part of the family, and his family did too. There was no doubt he was our brother when we saw him and he saw us."
Mrs Wride was also struck by the similarities. "The mannerisms nearly blew me away." Jeremy constantly cracked jokes, "but always nice jokes".
From then on the two families, who both later returned to New Zealand, saw each other regularly.
Last month Mrs Wride and other family members were among relatives and friends of the crash victims who travelled to France, visiting the crash site and holding a beachside memorial service.
She says Air New Zealand's special assistance team set up to support survivors and family members after an air accident took care of everything, allowing the bereaved to concentrate on their emotions.
"They did an amazing job, just amazing."
Mrs Wride is grateful her son contacted her. "He went to the Cook family in Christchurch and came back to us, which was marvellous. Even though we hadn't been together all that time, it was as though he was someone really familiar, right from the start."
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Deja-vu in building consent fraud case
Saturday, 17 January 2009
An elderlycouple have been scammed out of $6500 by a man using forged council building permits.
In November a man presenting himself as a builder named Matthew Logan offered to do building work for the Hastings couple and to take responsibility for obtaining building consents. He presented them with a crude imitation of a Hastings District Council building consent, complete with council logo, issued to Matthew Logan. The man asked for a deposit of $6500, the couple paid the money and he disappeared.
He also showed them fake correspondence with the council, signed by non-existent council building officers. .
Council environmental manager Ian Macdonald said there may be more victims and he would like to hear from them. Many builders do the paperwork on behalf of homeowners but you still need to do your own homework on their background. "Whoever's done this has obviously done it before."
Mr Macdonald said the man offered the couple references, proof of liability insurance and had a sound knowledge of building terminology and council process. Hapeta Mathews, also known as Matthew Logan, convinced a Christchurch man that he had the contract to demolish the old Hillmorton Hospital buildings in Christchurch."
A Hawke's Bay man using the same name was jailed in Christchurch last June for a similar offence. He then advertised the demolition.
He approached Canterbury District Health Board about tendering for the work and so got the plans, documents and keys to the buildings. It all looked legitimate, and the victim handed over $14,000 for the work. It all looked legitimate, and the victim handed over $14,000 for the work.
The judge was told Mathews had been offending for 13 years, with mainly dishonesty convictions on his record and a term in jail in 1999. He was jailed for 20 months and ordered to attend a programme to reduce his offending.
The Corrections Department said Mathews had been freed from custody. Mathews was also ordered to pay $14,000 reparations.