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Boy bounces to recovery
Saturday, 28 February 2009
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HAPPY LANDING: Cancer battler Liam Todd tries out his trampoline from the Make-a-Wish Foundation.
Eight-year-old cancer battler Liam Todd is bouncing his way to recovery with high hopes of returning to his beloved rugby field this season. .
After his surgery last year and losing sight in one eye, he is now in remission. It was removed and his face was rebuilt using bone and tissue from his leg.
While recovering at home last year, Liam bounced on his old trampoline, fell on the padded rim and because he had had his jaw and teeth removed, ended up with "blood everywhere", his mother, Rebecca, said. This week he came home from school to find a new trampoline with special safety features waiting for him on his back lawn, thanks to the Make-a-Wish Foundation.
The incident prompted the family to ask the Make-a-Wish Foundation for a trampoline that was safe for him.
"He is really excited the surgeon has given him the go-ahead to play tackle rugby this year. The $2400 Supertramp, featuring safety netting, padded rims and two mats to soften his bounce, is expected to help with his rehabilitation, restore his strength and get him back into rugby.
Spotting the tramp as he walked in his front gate, he beamed and said it was the biggest one he had ever seen. He is an awesome kid he cannot see what all the fuss is about," Mrs Todd said."
Three years ago his father, Matt, died from brain cancer at the age of 34. After an enthusiastic bounce and a huge grin at seeing a Hurricanes jersey signed by the team hanging inside the tramp, he said, "I have never been able to bounce so high. The family were just coming to terms with his death when they received the shattering news about Liam, which prompted the local community to stage a fundraising rugby match. The family were just coming to terms with his death when they received the shattering news about Liam, which prompted the local community to stage a fundraising rugby match.
The wish is funded by donations from Air New Zealand's onboard collections.
"It means he will be taking his dad with him when he sprints on to the field," Mrs Todd said.
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Last week they raised more than $20,000 to provide four wishes, including Liam's
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Ill woman, two children missing in Hamilton
By CLIO FRANCIS – Friday, 27 February 2009
Hamilton police are searching for three people – including two children- who were reported missing overnight.
Police said they received a call from a neighbour who had noticed something "amiss" at a Te Rapa Road home around 8. When they arrived they found a flat belonging to Cynthia Bulman, 65, empty.30pm.
"Subsequent checks with Waikato Hospital and accident and emergency centres failed to locate the 65-year-old who is known to have a heart condition," a police spokesperson said.
The doors and windows had been left open, the television was on, and a pet dog was distressed, police said.
The pair, a 10-year-old boy and an 8-year-old boy were last seen on Cassidy St around 7.
Later that night police learned of two missing children in Hamilton East.
Police said the Taylor Jade Thompson, 10, had a history of absconding, and was known to actively avoid police.30pm.
Taylor was last seen wearing a blue T -shirt with light blue sleeves and blue 3/4 length pants.
Devante Mihinui, 8, had no previous history of staying out overnight, police said.
Devante was last seen wearing a purple and white top with writing on it front and back, black 3/4 shorts and a silver watch. He is described as casucasian with short brown hair and a red rinse.
Police ask anyone with information to contact either 111 or the Hamilton Central Police Station on 07 8586200. .
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Streets ahead of last carnival
By TOM CARDY Monday, 23 February 2009
/The
BRAZILIAN TOUCH: A member of the Batucada band performs for the crowds along Courtenay Place during Wellington’s Cuba St Carnival.
The carnival is over but for a record 150,000 visitors who packed central Wellington for the 12-hour street party, it is a day few will forget.
Organisers said the 10th biennial Cuba St Carnival was the most successful yet.
The carnival attracted 50,000 more revellers than in 2007, making it one of the largest events of its kind held in Wellington. Revellers sampled music, stalls and performances, culminating in an extravagant night parade.
A police spokesperson said for the size of the crowds in Cuba St, Courtenay Place and surrounding streets, people were largely well behaved. The Return of the King world premiere in 2003 attracted about 100,000. About 50 people were arrested, mostly for offensive behaviour, assault and liquor ban breaches. "The weather we were very fortunate with, and it was better than what we all expected.
Artistic director Chris Morley-Hall said the event was huge. ." Though the carnival, which had more than 2000 people running it, went smoothly, there were a few delays during the parade, and some onlookers struggled to see in crowds six deep behind barriers. We only have a few hours to pack it in and pack it out, so there's always going to be issues. "[The carnival] is a huge event to to put on logistically. But we really try to mitigate as much as we can. But we really try to mitigate as much as we can.
Courtenay Place was closed to traffic all day for the first time."
Some shopkeepers, while supportive of the carnival concept, said more communication was needed from organisers and Wellington City Council about changes. She had less customers than on a normal Saturday. Robyn Bowers, who owns Bennetts Gift World in Courtenay Place, said signs put up on Friday did not state the street would be closed, confusing shoppers."
Sue Lee, owner of the Metshop in Swan Lane off Cuba St, said custom did not drop, but she believed the carnival had become too big and retailers had been forgotten.
"It's disappointing that they don't communicate with us and we suffer. But it's not a bonus day.
"I don't want to come across all grumpy, I can see that thousands of people love it. I'm glad it's over. It's very hard work and extremely loud."
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Influenza expert calls for more use of Tamiflu
– Sunday, 22 February 2009
Bird fluhasn't hit New Zealand yet, but a killer Brisbane flu's imminent threat is a prime reason to dust off your stockpiled Tamiflu.
Influenza expert Dr Lance Jennings told the Sunday Star-Times the best way to protect against flu was vaccination, which would be available around the country from the first week in March.
"A lot of people have a stockpile of Tamiflu for bird flu, but few GPs prescribe it for flu.
However, he said the antiviral flu drug, Tamiflu, was underused in New Zealand, despite its effectiveness in treating the potentially fatal disease if taken soon after symptoms begin."
In 2005, the government stockpiled 855,000 doses of Tamiflu enough to treat 21% of the population and costing $26 million as part of its strategy to cope with a possible bird flu pandemic sweeping the country.
"I think we need more education around the usage of this drug and for GPs so they are aware they can prescribe it for influenza.
Jennings, a clinical virologist at Canterbury Health Laboratories, said New Zealand was also the only country in the world to allow pharmacists to prescribe the drug, which meant people suffering flu could buy it over the counter. The fears also prompted a buy-up of the antiviral by the public.
He was unaware of any deaths in New Zealand from the three strains. .
New Zealand's past few winters had been relatively mild for influenza, with the last cluster of children dying from flu in 2005, when three North Island youngsters died of an influenza B strain, Jennings said.
Six children's deaths in Brisbane last year were blamed on the Brisbane (H3N2) influenza strain, and it had caused a severe flu outbreak in the United Kingdom over the current northern hemisphere's winter. We have no way of predicting [this winter] will be a really bad season, but just examining at the activity of these viruses in the United States and the UK, and what happened in Australia, it's prudent to advise people there is a vaccine.
"All influenza has a potential to be deadly.
The flu jab is free for people aged 65-plus and those with certain chronic medical conditions, including asthma and heart disease."
The World Health Organisation recommends which flu strains are included in flu vaccines in both hemispheres.
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Toddler in stolen car found, thief at large
– Thursday, 19 February 2009
A two-year-old child who was in a car when it was stolen today from a South Auckland street has been found unharmed, police say.
The child's father Shaun Katipa said he was pretty gutted when he realised his daughter had been taken.
"I'm really happy my baby is back. .
When she was found by a family member she was still asleep in the back of the car, a silver Mitsubishi Eterna Sava saloon,which was parked at a close toby block of shops."
The child was in a car that was taken from Rollerson St, in Papakura, about 2pm.
He said the theft and abduction occurred asanotherfamily memberwas unloading groceries from the car.
Detective Sergeant Craig Taylor said inquiries were continuing to find the offender, who was described as a male Maori, in his mid- to late-30s, wearing black sunglasses and a black scarf.
"The offender, who was unknown to the victims, jumped into the front of the vehicle and fled the scene.
She was sitting in the passenger seat when the offender jumped into the car."
Mr Katipa says the man who took the car appeared quite drunk. The woman who was sitting in the front seat jumped out of the moving vehicle."
Two members of the public chased the vehicle but were unable to stop it.
"He had been at a party up the road and was kicked out.
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Mr Taylor appealed to anyone who may have seen the offender or know his identity, to contact them
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Tired but home with Mum
By Thursday, 19 February 2009
/The
GRATEFUL MOTHER: Police were extremely helpful when they were looking for missing boy Logan Brady, says Shannon Brady. ‘I’m just really happy to see him again.
Logan Brady went missing from his mother's house in Waihi on Sunday night while his mother, Shannon, was sleeping. . The child was returned late on Tuesday night, as she was preparing to go to bed.
She woke to find her son and her car gone. He was remanded in custody pending a psychiatric report.
Yesterday, the boy's father, Charles Ronald Pourau, 32, appeared in Hamilton District Court charged with unlawfully taking a motor vehicle.
Ms Brady said: "He was very tired .
Logan was described as exhausted but otherwise unharmed… He probably thinks he's been on holiday. he wouldn't know where he has been. I'm just really happy to see him again. I think he has been spoiled rotten lots of takeaways and junk food.
Ms Brady said Waihi police had been extremely helpful."
Police began a nationwide alert for Logan on Sunday night and said they suspected he may have been taken to Napier. It would have been terrible if anything had happened to Logan.
"They didn't over-react, they were on to it straightaway."
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Helicopter crashes in prison grounds
By CLIO FRANCIS – Wednesday, 18 February 2009
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CHOPPER CRASH: The pilot of this helicopter escaped serious injury after his machine crashed near Te Awamutu, this morning.
A pilot was lucky to escape unscathed when his helicopter crashed into a water trough at Waikeria Prison near Te Awamutu this morning.15 this morning when he noticed "a problem with his engine". .
He said while the helicopter suffered serious damage, due to the low altitude and reduced speed the pilot was unhurt.
"He's done a loop to come into land in a paddock next to the prison's administration block when part of his spraying equipment has made contact with a water trough causing the aircraft to flip.
"Our officers secured the crash scene in conjunction with Corrections staff prior to the arrival of Civil Aviation crash investigators who have arrived at the scenes.
He did not require any medical attention, Mr Simes said."
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Driving with flu as risky as double scotch
Saturday, 14 February 2009
Driving with a bad cold or flu could be as dangerous as driving after drinking, new research suggests.
One hundred British drivers who were sick with a range of conditions, including colds, flu, stress headaches and premenstrual syndrome, were put through a hazard simulator test, along with 50 unaffected people.
The study found the 60 drivers with colds or flu scored on average 11 per cent worse the same effect as a double whisky.
New Zealand experts agreed being ill could affect driving ability.
In a separate poll of 4000 people, 22 admitted having had an accident while suffering a bad cold and five with flu.
"You have to drive to the conditions, and that includes your personal circumstances. Automobile Association spokesperson Mike Noon said every driver should ensure they were "fit to drive" before setting off.
"Just as you check your car before going on a long trip, you should make sure you are well-rested, alert and fit to drive.
"There are many causes of fatigue, so it's reasonable to infer that, if you're very sick, your driving may be impaired."
Accident Compensation Commission spokeswoman Stephanie Julian said it was accepted that driving while fatigued was dangerous.
"Some cold and flu medicines can make you less alert, slowing your reaction times."
New Zealand Transport Agency spokesperson Ian Gordon said one of the most common symptom of cold and flu was fatigue, "which we know can have a similar impact on your driving as being moderately drunk".
"Our advice to anyone who is considering driving while they are sick is to avoid doing so if they feel tired or have symptoms that may affect their concentration."
By law, motorists had a responsibility to ensure they were capable of driving safely every time they got behind the wheel. . If taking medication, always read the label to see if the manufacturer recommends not driving.
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Councillor’s appeal blocks city stadium
Saturday, 07 February 2009
Wellington City Council's planned $46 million indoor sports stadium in Kilbirnie is being delayed for up to 18 months by one of its own councillors, who has appealed to the Environment Court.
Independent commissioners gave consent the previous month for the 12-court stadium at Cobham Park.
The appeal was filed by Andy Foster, the council's urban development and transport portfolio leader, who believes Cobham Park is the wrong site. Work was due to start in April, with the centre opening in September next year. I believe the council is trying to fly this under the radar.
"The appeal asks for a transparent public process to look at the alternative sites. Both were discounted by the council."
He said the centre should be built in the central city, either on Harbour Quays land owned by CentrePort or on the concourse above Westpac Stadium. "They didn't think they could get all 12 courts there.
"They didn't even put an offer to the port," Mr Foster said."
A submission from Ian Maskell, an independent project and development consultant contracted by the council to investigate the concourse option, backed his claims, Mr Foster said. But they could have put eight there and seven at Hataitai [netball courts] for the same price."
The council reviewed its decision last year to build on Cobham Park. .
Mr Foster called it "a very quick and dirty peer review that only included council information". Mr Maskell said the concourse option design team was not interviewed as part of that review and was at odds with its findings. "[It] is unequivocally the best site.
Mayor Kerry Prendergast said the review heavily favoured Cobham Park."
With the concourse and Harbour Quays, the council would have to pay an extra $30 million to improve Jervois Quay and buy CentrePort land, valued at $15 million. Construction cost is cheapest, it is significantly less complex because we own the land, no [land] negotiations are required, and it can be delivered two years earlier than the other sites.
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Witness feared boy driver would kill
– Thursday, 29 January 2009
Taranakishearer Teherenga Wright will never forget the look of absolute terror on the face of 10-year-old Scott Rickit as he drove over Mt Messenger.
Mrs Wright gave her account of Scott's driving after reading his "gloating" version in the newspaper.
She was in a car that trailed the New Plymouth youngster up Mt Messenger on State Highway 3 during his drive to Awakino. "I couldn't get that little boy's face out of my head all day.
"He looked scared, like he didn't know what he had got himself into," Mrs Wright said. ."
Scott had stolen the keys to his mother's car on December 20, and set out on a 100kilometre "joyride" which ended when a service station owner took the keys from him.30am, with two other shearers, when they pulled in behind Scott."
Contrary to what Scott had said, Mrs Wright said he did not look like he could control the car and she feared he would kill himself or another motorist.
"The driver appeared to be drunk, the way he was braking, he was braking way before corners and taking them all on the wrong side of the road."
She said they had tried to pass Scott, using passing lanes, but had to drop back as he was drifting right across the road. "He could have lost control of that car at any time.
"He didn't even look each way to see if there was any traffic coming.
They stopped at the top of Mt Messenger to talk to Scott but he sped off."
Mrs Wright said she felt powerless as they watched him pass another car on the wrong side of the road and on a blind corner while heading down the northern side."
Mrs Wright said she felt powerless as they watched him pass another car on the wrong side of the road and on a blind corner while heading down the northern side."
Mrs Wright praised Awakino's Junction Service Station owner Julie Robertson for taking the keys from him.
"We were thinking of him but we were also thinking of the carnage he could have caused by the way he was driving.
Mrs Wright was horrified to see Scott's smiling face gloating about what he had done.
"She removed a killer from that road, which was that little boy"."
Mrs Wright said she hoped that by hearing the truth Scott would be brought back to earth and realise how much danger he put himself and others in.
"He didn't look that happy when we saw him.