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Police puzzled by escape motive
– Thursday, 22 January 2009
Police are baffled as to why a long-term prisoner has done a runner when he was close to parole eligibility, calling his actions "bizarre and of concern".
Arai Hema, 30, disappeared from a work party at Auckland Prison yesterday. Police dogs tracked his scent to a close toby road where they believe he was picked up by a waiting vehicle.
"The decision by any long-term inmate to escape from custody and thereby jeopardise the prospect of achieving parole is a rare occurrence.
Detective Inspector Steve Wood, of Waitemata police, said Hema, a long-term inmate, had reached the point where he was under consideration for parole.
He was due to be eligible for parole in September next year. This inmate's behaviour indicates a degree of instability," he said.
Hema is serving an 11 year sentence for the rape of a 16-year-old Napier girl and the attempted murder of 76-year-old Bruce Butler, who attempted to intervene.
He was also serving a further six years for attacking prison guards in 2004. The Crown requested preventative detention, calling Hema a "smouldering keg of powder waiting to blow".
Police were now speaking with Hema's family and known associates throughout the North Island to try and track him down.
However, he was regarded as a minimum security prisoner prior to his escape.
Police warned the public not to approach Hema and to contact them with any information on his whereabouts.
Mr Wood urged Hema to contact police, saying the longer he was on the run, the longer his released date would be extended. .
Hema's escape is the third by prisoners this week
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Police interview 140 prostitutes in Manning murder probe
By JO McKENZIE-McLEAN – Tuesday, 13 January 2009
Police have spoken to about 140 prostitutes and 40 minders in their hunt for the murderer of a Christchurch woman. .
Her body was found in the Avon River in Dallington.
Williams said police had spoken to a man they were seeking. She had been strangled, stabbed in the chest several times and beaten about the head and legs with what appeared to be a piece of reinforcing steel.
"At this stage in the investigation we still believe it is likely that Mellory has been picked up from her corner by a vehicle around 10.
He was in the area the night of Manning's murder, driving a silver Ford Focus.45pm, and the telephone inquiries definitely indicate that all is not well by 11.
"This also seems to fit with her watch stopping at 10.30pm as she failed to reply to the next set of texts that were sent to her," Williams said."
The violent attack would have caused considerable blood loss where she was attacked, in any vehicle that she was in or anything she might have been wrapped in, Williams said.58pm.
Police had still not identified the vehicle or driver of the XR6 or XR8 Ford Falcon that Manning was seen in.
He appealed for information on anyone who might have changed their behaviour since December 18, who were reluctant to use their vehicle, had suddenly sold it, cleaned or altered it, or said they had sold it.
Police had identified about 100 cars and had sent out about 20 inquiries to other towns, Williams said.
Police had identified about 100 cars and had sent out about 20 inquiries to other towns, Williams said.
Also of interest was a man in a blue 4WD possibly a Toyota Hilux who approached a prostitute about 10.
Men had been driving four-wheel-drive vehicles in the Manchester Street-Peterborough Street area in central Christchurch about the time Manning must have been picked up, including a dark-coloured one either black or blue with chrome wheels and tinted windows, he said.
He is described as European, slim, with grey stubble, balding at the front and greying hair at the back.35pm and asked for prices.
Williams asked that person or anyone knowing him to contact the police.
He was described as "rough-looking" and was wearing a blue jersey with holes in it.
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Joust a bit of good, clean medieval fun
The Thursday, 08 January 2009
/The
JOUST GOOD CLEAN FUN: Caroline Egemalm of Sweden battles to maintain her balance on her mount after taking a hit during a jousting practice session, ahead of a world invitational jousting tournament in Upper Hutt this weekend. .
"You just feel a big impact.
Although it all seemed like a bit of fun, there was nothing pretend about the horses, armour, or the lance blows that jousters aimed to inflict, organiser Callum Forbes said."
While serious injuries nowadays were rare, jousters who fought in medieval times when the head was considered a fair target were more likely to feel pain. If it's off-target it can hurt you.
Competitors were not the only ones examining forward to the tournament, Mr Forbes said.
The 12 competitors taking part in the tournament will all face one another during the weekend, with the person with the highest total points score crowned the winner..
"The horses . really love it..45am on Saturday and Sunday."
Re-enactment clubs The Company of the Dragon, based in Brooklyn, and the Order of the Boar, based in Upper Hutt, will take part in foot combat and archery displays during the tournament, which kicks off at 9.
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Police on guard for tagging verdict
Saturday, 13 December 2008
The grandfather of a South Auckland teenager fatally stabbed after tagging a garage door wiped tears from his eyes as he sat next to the dead boy's grave and said his killer had been found guilty of manslaughter.
It was not the message he had wanted to deliver to the grave of 15-year-old Pihema Cameron, who died from a single stab wound to the chest. .
Emery's lawyer, Chris Comeskey, told the court Pihema had lunged toward Emery intending to attack him, and had pushed into the knife.
The Crown alleged Emery stabbed Pihema in angry retaliation.
"We're devastated, we're not happy," said Pihema's great-aunt, Lovie Hohepa.
Following the verdict in the High Court at Auckland yesterday, Pihema's grandfather, Brian Cameron, said the family had been looking for a murder conviction.
"His mother [Leanne] is very shocked, so is Pihema's father [Clifford]."
Despite their disappointment, the family managed to "keep everyone together" for the duration of the week-long trial and had not erupted over the verdict as police had anticipated.
"But we just have to accept it.
They filed into the courtroom, took their seats and waited in tense silence.
Having kept vigil outside the courtroom since the jury retired almost 24 hours earlier, the family were surprised when told the jury was about to come back with a verdict.
Justice Hugh Williams urged everyone to restrain themselves when the verdict was announced.
But the jury was kept in an adjoining room for almost 30 minutes while a van load of uniformed police could be brought to the courthouse and be placed around the courtroom and near the jury box.
"Some people will be pleased, even elated with the verdict, some will be disconsolate.
"Some people will be pleased, even elated with the verdict, some will be disconsolate.
But Mrs Cameron gasped when she heard "not guilty" to murder and sobbed when she heard "guilty" to manslaughter."
Emery took a deep breath as he walked, under guard, to the courtroom but showed no emotion when the jury foreman read out the verdict.
Once the sobs subsided, she and the others donned green "RIP" T-shirts and filed out of the courtroom.
Leaving the courtroom, she walked with family to a private area, the sound of her cries still audible. They declined to comment on the verdict.
Emery's wife, sisters and other family members remained inside the courthouse till all Pihema's supporters had dispersed.
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Emery will return to court next Wednesday for a bail hearing before being sentenced on January 13
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Call to take stand on racism in Christchurch
– Saturday, 29 November 2008
JOHN KIRK-ANDERSON/
ANGERED: Christchurch woman Christine Delos Reyes whose daughter has been racially abused by strangers three times in three months.
A racist attack on an 11-year-old girl has prompted a Christchurch mother to voice her anger at life in the city.
The attack comes in the same month as the Human Rights Commission released a report saying complaints have risen 5 per cent in the past year.
Christine Delos Reyes, 35, who moved to New Zealand from the Philippines eight years ago, said her daughter was on a bus when she had stones thrown at her, was called a "bloody Asian" and told to go back to her own country by three teenage boys.
The girl caught a bus to her aunt's house at 3pm on Monday and was travelling with two white friends of the same age.
Delos Reyes spoke to on the condition it would not reveal her daughter's name or school. One stone hit the girl on the forehead. The boys singled out Delos Reyes' daughter, throwing stones at her, along with racist insults. .
"She was hysterical telling me what happened," Delos Reyes said."
It is the third time in three months that her daughter has had racial abuse from strangers. It took me a lot not to break down because I didn't want her to see how much it affected me.
"You don't think anything like this will apply to you when you come to Christchurch, but I don't want to wait until my daughter comes home with a bleeding lip or a sexual assault before I do anything," she said.
Delos Reyes said she knew her examples of racial abuse were far from the worst suffered by the migrant community, but she wanted people to stand up if they heard anything similar so the comments did not become "like wallpaper". People make out like it's this fair city, but I think it's getting worse.
"Christchurch is called the Garden City. "It is hard for her to comprehend the anger coming from other people."
Delos Reyes said her daughter had begun questioning whether she belonged in New Zealand.
Christchurch City Council community development manager Lincoln Papali'i said racial abuse was under-reported."
This month's Te Rito report from the Human Rights Commission said race-based matters made 40% of all complaints in the year to last July, up 5% on the previous year.
Three months ago, a website was set up by the council and Canterbury and Lincoln universities to enable foreign students to report racial abuse.
"Adults think it's not worth reporting it because they can handle it, but children will tell their parents, and some parents like Christine will stand up against it," he said.
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Free study on offer if job goes under
Saturday, 29 November 2008
Government-owned polytechnic UCOL is offering free study next year for anyone who loses their job as a result of the economic crisis. .
The initiatives show UCOL's "commitment to its local communities and to the health of the regional economies UCOL serves".
"Anyone who doesn't find employment in their study area within 13 weeks of successfully completing a UCOL programme started in 2009 can then apply to enrol on another programme without paying further tuition fees in 2010," chief executive Paul McElroy said.
"There is still uncertainty about the impact on the New Zealand job market of the recession and slowdown in the global economy," McElroy said.
The offer is available to anyone made redundant after September 1 and includes normal tuition fees on certificates, degrees and diplomas offered at its campuses in Palmerston North, Wanganui, and the Wairarapa."
. "All of this means that many people are anxious about the security of their jobs and their ability to adapt to a changing employment environment
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UK travel tax could hit rugby cup crowds
– Thursday, 27 November 2008
A British move to increase the tax paid by airline passengers on flights to New Zealand could dampen an anticipated boost in tourist numbers during the 2011 Rugby World Cup.
The cup will be the biggest international sporting event to be held in New Zealand, with 60,000 to 70,000 international visitors expected to attend the matches.
However, the British Government is about to increase taxes on long-haul flights to help reduce the amount of carbon emissions from highly polluting jet aircraft.
England, Wales and Scotland are automatic qualifiers for the tournament, and organisers had expected the three teams to be accompanied by many fans.
With half of the World Cup visitors expected to come from Britain and Ireland, any possible disincentive to travel was a concern, Tourism Industry Association chief executive Tim Cossar said.
The duty on a flight to New Zealand will be $155 from next November, with a second increase to $240 in November 2010.
The tourism sector is worried the tax increase will hurt visitor numbers from Britain New Zealand's largest source of holidaymakers after Australia and is concerned other countries will follow Britain's move.
"It doesn't do anything to prime the market or send positive signals to the market," he said.
"We don't want to see our price competitiveness as a destination damaged," he said. . As a country, we have done a lot to try to be a responsible tourism destination.
"It seems to me they are always incentivising short-haul travel by penalising the long-haul markets."
Prime Minister John Key raised New Zealand's objections to the tax changes during his meeting in London with British PM Gordon Brown yesterday.
"We were given an award in Britain for responsible tourism.
"We just indicated we were concerned about it, we didn't think it was fair and we'd like to progress the issue further if we can," he said.
Key said he told Brown there were efficiency differences between airlines and aircraft, and some airlines, including Air New Zealand, were trialling biofuels.
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Officials to limit resits of NCEA internal tests
Tuesday, 11 November 2008
Education officials are poised to announce changes to NCEA to curb the number of times pupils can resit failed tests.
The Qualifications Authority is preparing guidelines for schools to make reassessment policies more consistent.
Critics of the secondary school qualification – the National Certificate of Educational Achievement – say some schools let pupils attempt failed tasks repeatedly till they pass – artificially boosting pass rates.
The Government announced changes to NCEA last year to improve pupil motivation and fix perceived credibility problems.
This is said to make comparisons between schools unfair.
Secondary Principals Association president Peter Gall said the authority was about to release draft guidelines for the reassessment of failed internally assessed work.
Changes included endorsing certificates with "merit" or "excellence" and introducing random sampling of teachers' marking to ensure work was marked consistently.
"At the moment there are variable practices between schools and within schools. . Some schools allow several reassessment opportunities in a subject, others don't. Changes were likely to be introduced from next year."
He said that, anecdotally, the number of resits allowed by some schools ranged from "none to several".
"Because there's a lack of consistency, people will always worry as to the credibility that's going on.
Qualifications Authority deputy chief executive Bali Haque said reassessment opportunities had to involve new teaching or learning, not just resitting the same test. We need to make sure there's consistency around the country. We need to make sure there's consistency around the country
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Thousands watch baretop ride
Saturday, 08 November 2008
/The
ON DISPLAY: Steve Crow and his topless troupe pose in the grounds of Parliament.
Boobs at Parliament
(nudity)
The city's leaders called it "sleazy and cynical" but about 8000 Wellingtonians turned out to see the Boobs on Bikes parade.
At its first appearance in the city yesterday, the motorcade of more than 20 topless porn stars atop Harley-Davidsons roared from Post Office Square down a crowded Lambton Quay before the stars walked on to Parliament's grounds. .
The largely male audience ranged from businessmen to gangs of wolf-whistling construction workers, mixed with curious mothers and smirking teenagers – all clicking away on their cameras in lines sometimes four-deep. Dylan, 4, sat in her arms pointing and saying, "Naked ladies, Mum.45pm."
"I'm not offended at all," Mrs McRae said. Kids don't have any preconceived ideas, it's adults who tell them it's wrong. "Women's bodies are beautiful and I don't see why children can't join in the fun."
IT specialist Chris Slade, 24, said: "It's great entertainment. It's not hurting anybody. I think it's all in good taste. No one's forced to be here."
As promotion of the Erotica Lifestyles Expo this weekend, it seems to have worked."
As promotion of the Erotica Lifestyles Expo this weekend, it seems to have worked.
The parade was barred from Parliament's grounds because it was seen as a commercial venture, but organiser Steve Crow said it was about "freedom of expression" and vowed to reach the steps. We never get to explore this side of life in New Zealand, we're too modest," Mr Slade said. American porn star Evan Stone walked up to "admire" the Parliament building before being escorted back by three security guards.
Though the bikes were banned and a barrier kept the porn stars and their entourage a good 10 metres from the steps, they were allowed to walk up to the statue of Richard Seddon, surrounded by more than 100 shouting fans. Obviously anyone involved with the adult film industry isn't allowed to visit Parliament," he said.
"I'm a tourist. Family First spokesperson Bob McCoskrie said it was "an absolute disgrace" the parade had been allowed on Parliament's grounds.
Wellington Mayor Kerry Prendergast was unavailable for comment yesterday but a council spokesperson said she found the parade "sleazy and really cynical", with little public support."
. "Maybe the parliamentary security and police were blinded by the porn stars
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Tears flow at embassy bash
Thursday, 06 November 2008
An oceanand several time zones divided them from the action, but American voters cried in Wellington as Barack Obama swept their election.
"When they said he had been elected, I felt every nerve in my body just explode," dual citizen Andrew Cooper, 39, said from the US embassy election bash at the Michael Fowler Centre.
While hundreds of people watched the results, hot dogs were served, badges – for both tickets – were handed out and partygoers were quizzed on their knowledge of American politics.
Next to him, tears rolled down the face of another American businessman – and that was before Mr Obama even appeared to give a characteristically stirring victory speech. .
Another dual citizen, Mark Chambers of California, confessed he had not voted because the result was so sure in his state – but could not suppress his joy as he stared at the screen.. This is America's Mandela moment . The Republicans all laughed at him, but they're not laughing anymore.. Adam Clauss, 24, an Ohio resident in the army reserves, said he had been inspired by John McCain's courage as a prisoner of war."
Not everyone was quite so happy.
Jamie Hunt, 21, a student from Ohio, said she voted for Mr McCain because she had conservative political leanings.
"I'm not that much of a politics fanatic though," he said as the bleak results for his candidate rolled in."
American ambassador Bill McCormick's preference might have been assumed – given President George W Bush gave him his job – but he stayed above the fray as he absorbed the results. "It wasn't so much the person as the party. Asked if the result might tempt him into switching citizenship, he replied: "I feel like a New Zealand citizen.
"From an electoral standpoint, clearly he will be the winner," he said of Mr Obama, but said he was simply "happy to be a witness" to democracy and history.
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Despite having just two months left in his term, he and his wife had made the ultimate dramatic statement by buying a bach on the Kapiti Coast, he said