Two a penny

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The New Zealand navy team trying to find the wreckage of the sunken Princess Ashika faces a “challenging environment” with depths of up to 800m, commanding officer Lieutenant Commander Andrew McMillan says.

A 15-strong team, comprising 12 drivers and a three-member remote search team, spent a second day today searching for the Tongan inter-island ferry, which sank on Wednesday with 149 people on board.Police say the final number of missing could be higher, and they were continuing to analyse information about unrecorded people on board the vessel, whose official manifest showed only 79 passengers and crew.Two bodies and 54 survivors have been found, while 93 people remain unaccounted for.However, nothing was found.

Mr McMillan said the team today focused on a 50-110m deep site where an oil slick and debris had been seen, and where the Tongan Defence Service’s echo sounder had appeared to detect an object. It ranges from 35m down to 110m down to 800m,” he said.”The topography of the seafloor is a very challenging environment here.”The New Zealand equipment had a limitation of 100m -”or, if we’re very lucky, 115m”.”You don’t have to travel very far and the depth can change very quickly.”But we’ll certainly do our best.”So with the topography, with the uncertainty of where the vessel has gone down, we have to face the realisation that we might not even be able to find it.Those members who remained in the capital Nuku’alofa tonight attended a multi-denominational remembrance service which attracted about 1000 people.”The team would spend tonight aboard Tongan patrol boat and resume their search tomorrow.Earlier he said a complete manifest was held by a crew member on the ferry when it sailed but that had been lost in the sinking.Tongan police commander Chris Kelley gave those there an update on the situation.Survivors have described how they saw the ferry hit by a 1m wave which swept the cargo to one side, resulting in the vessel to overturn.”What we are faced (with) is that people are telling us is they put people on the boat and they weren’t on the manifest that was supplied here,” he said.Mr Kelley said police and government support teams were visiting families throughout the kingdom “to try to confirm the exact number and identity of people on board”.”The ferry sank so quickly that no one was able to do anything, and I think the passengers inside just couldn’t make it out in time because the ferry just overturned and sank so quickly, in a minute,” survivor Viliami Latu Mohenoa said. .Efforts were also under way to identify foreign nationals among the passengers.

.”The two bodies recovered were of a British national who had been living in New Zealand and a Tongan woman

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Police found 5000 unissued hapu membership certificates and $40,000 in cash when they searched properties connected to Gerard Otimi, the man behind a scheme in which fake passports and visas were allegedly sold to overstayers.

Police also found certificates in people’s names, but were unable to say tonight how many.

Otimi was arrested today and will appear in Manukau District Court tomorrow on three charges of deception.

Under the scheme, people paid up to $500 for residency papers issued in the name of a Maori hapu.

Detective Inspector John Tims from Counties Manukau police said further charges could follow.

Mr Tims said three properties associated with Otimi were searched by police today. Overstayers, mainly from the Pacific Islands, were allegedly told the documents meant they could stay in New Zealand under the hapu’s protection. .

Police wanted to hear from anyone who had dealings with Otimi. He was unable to say how many signed certificates were found.

A colleague, Detective Senior Sergeant Dave Pizzini, said Otimi had been cooperative in his dealings with police.

“There are other people out there, who have given money or attempted to give money to Mr Otimi, and we would like to hear from those people,” he told Radio NZ.

The Immigration Advisers Authority said today it was investigating whether Otimi was giving immigration advice without a licence.

“He is very passionate and he believes in his cause,” Mr Pizzini said.

All immigration advisers need to be issued a licence to operate and those without one could be fined up to $100,000 and/or imprisoned for seven years.

All immigration advisers need to be issued a licence to operate and those without one could be fined up to $100,000 and/or imprisoned for seven years.

Licensed advisers were required to meet competency standards, participate in continuing professional development programmes and comply with a code of conduct. We are cooperating with the police who are leading the investigation,” the authority said.

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A “white supremacy”-themed after-ball party organised by Mount Aspiring College students for this weekend has shocked and outraged Wanaka parents.

Tickets for the party, at Wanaka’s Outlet camping ground, went on sale two days ago but angry parents have already called a halt after being shocked by the racial overtone. .

One parent said her daughter was as surprised as she was when she brought the ticket home.

“My question is, how did it get through staff before printing?

“It was marketed as all white but you don’t use that wording.

She said he told her it was an innocent mistake, but admitted he didn’t know anything about it before the tickets were printed.

Tickets were pulled from sale last night and new ones were being printed with the name “White Out”. The name is just completely inappropriate for any school project,” she said.

Manager Mark Watson said he had no idea the $7. But many students have already got their costumes organised after depleting all the stocks of white coveralls from Wanaka’s Mitre 10 hardware store.

An organising committee student told they had absolutely no intention to offend anyone.98 clothing item had been so popular when contacted last night, but after a quick check of his database confirmed he had only large sizes of the boilersuit-type clothing left. The way it is written, ‘White Supreeemacy’, was supposed to be like white supreme white the dominant colour of the night. “When we were deciding on the name it didn’t even cross our minds.

Another girl spoken to said a separate group organised the after-party and admitted they did things in secrecy. But once it was pointed out to us we thought we’d better change it,” she said. I only realised what the name was when I bought the ticket. “It’s not even related to the school, really.”

The angry mother believed the students must have known it was going to cause a reaction because they waited until the last minute to put the tickets on sale. I was shocked. They were hiding them until the last minute.

“Last year they went on sale two weeks earlier and this year it was only a few days before.”

But principal Bosley said last night the students involved were “absolutely gobsmacked” and had now realised they made a big mistake.

“Those kids are not as dumb as the principal is making out. It was never their intention and there was no maliciousness involved. It was never their intention and there was no maliciousness involved.”

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He admitted they got things wrong but stood by their word that it was an honest mistake. “You have got to believe me. But if anybody has taken offence we apologise to them,” he said.

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South Africa’s ruling ANC has won a sweeping election victory and party leader Jacob Zuma pledged that as president he would work with unions and business to ensure stability amid global turmoil.

“There will be no surprises in the next administration’s programme of action,” Zuma said in a victory speech.

“The electorate has endorsed our call for an equitable, sustainable and inclusive growth path that will bring decent work and sustainable livelihoods,” Zuma, who is due to be sworn in as president on May 9, said.9 percent of the vote, a big victory but just short of the two-thirds needed to ensure a parliamentary majority big enough to make constitutional changes unchallenged.

Official results of Wednesday’s election gave Zuma’s African National Congress 65. Despite some market concerns over whether the ANC would get the two-thirds majority, the party repeatedly has stressed it has no intention of changing the constitution.

The margin that would let the ANC change the constitution is largely symbolic.

Although a newly formed party of ANC dissidents failed to make a dramatic impact, the ruling party has seen its share of the vote fall for the first time since the end of apartheid in 1994.

Political analyst Steven Friedman said the result meant the ANC now had to worry more about the opposition than it had since the party took power 15 years ago. It won close toly 70 percent in 2004.

“The ANC has to worry more about the opposition now than it has had to do since democracy.

“The effect of them not getting the two-thirds, despite the euphoria, really underlines that there has been a drop in the ANC vote,” he said.

RECESSION THREAT

But Zuma has done all he can to emphasise that there will be no dramatic change, particularly as South Africa faces its first recession in 17 years as a result of the global financial crisis and cannot afford to discourage investment.”

Financial markets wary of a policy shift to the left under a Zuma presidency may welcome a limit on the party’s power. .

In his speech, he addressed both business interests and the leftist allies who helped his rise to power during eight years of struggling against corruption charges, which were dismissed early this month on a technicality.

Zuma, who said he was not disappointed that the ANC did not achieve a two-thirds majority, also called on South Africans to get over the divisions of the past. We will work with all stakeholders, especially business and labour, to find ways to prevent and cushion our people against job losses and other difficulties that may arise,” he said. We must enter a period in which South Africa reclaims its position and image as a thriving nation, which can overcome all its difficulties, and which is able to put the country first above sectional and party political interests.

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“It is now time to put it all behind us.

The Independent Electoral Commission said the ANC will be allocated 264 seats in South Africa’s 400-seat parliament after it won 11.”

He said South Africa will continue with its efforts to find lasting solutions for political stability in neighbouring Zimbabwe and other flashpoints in Africa.68 million valid votes cast in the April 22 election.65 million votes out of 17.

Zille’s DA was the ANC’s closest rival with 16.

The ANC also lost control of the Western Cape province, centre of the tourist industry, to the official opposition Democratic Alliance (DA), led by Helen Zille, a white woman. The Congress of the People (COPE), formed by politicians who broke from the ruling party, stood at 7. The Congress of the People (COPE), formed by politicians who broke from the ruling party, stood at 7.42 percent. The DA will get 67 seats in parliament and COPE 30.

Inkatha Freedom Party support waned to 4.56 percent, giving it 18 parliamentary seats, of the vote from 6.97 percent in 2004. The ANC also made inroads into the IFP’s traditional support base in KwaZulu-Natal province, home to South Africa’s Zulus — the biggest tribal group, of which Zuma is a member.

Electoral officials said the turnout was 77.3 percent, a little higher than in 2004.

The rand currency firmed well over 2 percent against the dollar to a new 6-1/2-month high late on Friday, aided by a strong euro and higher stocks as well as the smooth election.

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Somali pirates seize another ship

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A Wanganui rest home resident has complained to the Health and Disability Commissioner after bandages were left on her ulcered legs so long that maggots grew in the wounds.

Christine de Roo, 50, from Marton, but now living at Wanganui’s Aubert Home of Compassion, said her dressings should be changed two to three times a week but they were left untouched for 13 days the previous month.

Ms de Roo is wheelchair-bound with multiple sclerosis and has serious kidney problems and lymphoedema.

When the bandages were finally pulled back, her legs were crawling with maggots, she told the Wanganui Chronicle.

Small cracks in her skin mean there is a high risk of infection and fluid leakage, requiring both legs to be heavily bandaged from her knees to her feet.

The lymphoedema means her legs are often swollen due to a build-up of fluid.

“I was left until March 21.

Ms de Roo said her bandages were changed on March 8 but not again for almost another two weeks. . . By then my legs had become so itchy it was painful and I was desperate to have them done. it was a Saturday afternoon.

It was “the worst kind of nightmare anyone could ever have”, she said.”

A nurse removed the bandage from one leg and discovered the maggots. They were in shock.

Ms de Roo said she would never forget the look on the faces of the nurse and caregiver.

“I never thought I’d ever be fly-blown like an old sheep. .”

She demanded a specimen jar to scrape the maggots into. There were dozens of them – it was revolting. .

“I told her if she didn’t get me one I would scrape them into a cup. and I would’ve too, believe me. . Maggots were found under them too, she said. Maggots were found under them too, she said.

Ms de Roo has complained to the Health and Disability Commissioner and is now awaiting his report.

A Ministry of Health investigation and an internal investigation are also being undertaken.

Home of Compassion nurse manager Ruth Portland told the Chronicle that she would not comment on Ms de Roo’s case until the investigations were not completed.

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Finger cut off over $170 and Fairmont car

Thursday, 26 February 2009

Two men have admitted cutting part of a flatmate's finger off over a dispute about $170 and a 1976 Ford Fairmont.
Roger Johnson, 46, and Shayne Fryer, 37, both unemployed of Waipukurau, appeared in Napier District Court yesterday and pleaded guilty to maiming with intent to cause grievous bodily harm to Lee Walter. The court was told Johnson and Fryer had been drinking large quantities of alcohol when they woke Mr Walter at 1.
Mr Walter, 49, had been staying at the men's house for a few days. They bailed him up in a corner of the living room while Fryer threatened him with a 30-centimetre-long butcher's knife.30am on October 2 last year.
While Fryer discussed where he was going to cut Mr Walter, Johnson told him to cut his little finger off and grabbed the knife from Fryer.
Mr Walter said he was going to give Fryer his Ford Fairmont car and $170 cash for letting him stay at his house, but he had been unable to raise the cash. . He demanded Mr Walter hold out the little finger on his left hand.
"I thought they were joking at first but I started getting worried when they started talking about which part of me they were going to cut off.
Fryer forced Mr Walter's hand on to a mantelpiece and Johnson severed the finger at the knuckle closest to the fingertip.
He walked from the room, covered his bleeding finger with a towel and asked Johnson for his finger back. He cut my finger off, said, `The car's mine, pay the rent tomorrow or else,"' Mr Walter said. Mr Walter waited in the house a short while then sneaked out and sought help at a close toby service station. Johnson laughed, then handed it to him.
"It's a lot shorter than it was before. An ambulance took him to hospital but attempts to reattach the finger were unsuccessful. I get pain in it now and again. I can't play guitar any more. The car, which remains in Mr Walter's possession, was worth less than $500, he said. It's just not the same," Mr Walter said. Fryer, a sentenced prisoner, will appear on the same day.
Johnson was remanded in custody for sentencing in May.

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Economic crisis keeps Kiwis close to home

By KATHERINE NEWTON Thursday, 05 February 2009

Kiwis who might once have headed overseas in search of work or play are hunkering down to weather the economic storm at home instead.
Overseas visitors have no such qualms yet, with 322,200 short-term visitors arriving last December a record for any month.
The number of Kiwis and long-term visitors who left for any period of time in that month dropped to 165,700 from 176,100 in December 2007, a decrease of 5.
That included a 16 per cent fall in the number of New Zealanders heading to Britain permanently or long term.9 per cent. Overall, the number of New Zealanders heading overseas last year was steady compared with 2007, dropping only 0.
There were fewer trips to all top 10 destinations for New Zealand residents, including Fiji, down 18 per cent, the United States, down 13 per cent, and Britain, down 8 per cent.3 per cent.
"One of the economies that's been hardest hit is the UK and you're now getting mass job layoffs in that sector," he said.
However, ASB chief economist Nick Tuffley said December's fall in departures was likely to continue this year as moving overseas, especially to Britain and the United States, became less attractive. . "People are now becoming more aware that their prospects of going over to the UK and getting a job are diminishing.
Departures to Australia steadily rose last year, but now appeared to be levelling off, it said.5 per cent from December 2007. "The Australian labour market has recently become more difficult and . "The Australian labour market has recently become more difficult and . net outflows across the Tasman may start to ease..
Tourism New Zealand chief executive George Hickton said that month had been unexpectedly strong, but he expected the number of visitors to start to fall in the next few months."
Despite record visitor numbers to New Zealand in December, tourism officials are bracing themselves for a tough year."
Tourism New Zealand was predicting long-haul visitor numbers to fall by up to 15 per cent between January and March, he said, but an expected small rise in Australian numbers could help to offset that.
"We're going to get through the summer a little bit better than some people imagined [but] there will be a reduction over the next year.

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Experts at a loss to explain Airbus tragedy

By ANTHONY HUBBARD, ADRIENNE BOURGEON – Sunday, 30 November 2008

The rescue efforts continue to be hampered by poor visibility stirred up by heavy seas.

Eefforts toexplain the mystery crash of the Air New Zealand Airbus in France may take months as experts rule out the most likely causes for its abrupt plunge into the Mediterranean Sea.
No hope is now held that any of the men survived the impact of Friday's crash.
Air New Zealand chief executive Rob Fyfe is due in Perpignan today with a support crew and relatives of one of the five New Zealanders killed, vowing to "bring our team home". Civil Aviation Authority inspector Jeremy Cook, 58, was the fifth New Zealander to die. The Air NZ staff who died were captain Brian Horrell, 52, and engineers Michael Gyles, 49, Murray White, 37, and Noel Marsh, 35.
Bad weather yesterday hampered the recovery and only two bodies, still unidentified, have so far been recovered. Two German pilots also lost their lives. Gendarme Pierre Renault said once they were found they could be handed over to families "so they can start mourning".
The head of the rescue operation in France said the most important job was finding the remaining five bodies.
"Normally the sea should be clear blue, and authorities should be able to see the plane in the sand on the seabed, but today this is not possible.
The rescue efforts, involving a rotating team of divers, helped by a robot aboard an anti-mining navy vessel, continued to be hampered by poor visibility stirred up by heavy seas. Debris that has already been recovered includes a shoe, lifejackets and fuselage insulation."
Signals from the two flight recorders have been detected and a team of 10 specialist divers were due to go back into the water at 8pm last night to retrieve them.
Air NZ group general manager Ed Sims said 75 French personnel were involved in the recovery efforts. Part of one wing was found floating but has not yet been recovered.
A message from the pilots to the air control tower at Perpignan airport just minutes before the crash gave no hint of any danger. He said confirmation that the victims were presumed dead was "difficult and devastating news for the families of all concerned".
The plane appeared to nosedive into the sea, breaking up into fragments now strewn over a wide area, dispersed by sea currents for dozens of kilometres along the French coast.
There was no mayday and the aircraft was already in the "corridor" lined up to land at the airport before it crashed four nautical miles off the coast..
"Nobody saw exactly what happened. it is like a puzzle that we have to piece together," said Renault, who predicted the technical investigation would take months..
Fernand Ejnes, director of EAS Industries, said the work was mainly decor and paintwork.
Fernand Ejnes, director of EAS Industries, said the work was mainly decor and paintwork. Everything was simply put in order to enable it to receive New Zealand licensing.
Leading New Zealand aviation writer Rob Neil agreed the crash remained "extremely mysterious". The Pacific Wings magazine editor said news reports did not point to any obvious cause.
Neil told the Sunday Star-Times that bird-strike was unlikely to be the cause, and in any case the crew would have time for a mayday call.
Horrell, who was sitting in the jump seat behind the two German pilots, was an "incredibly meticulous pilot, absolutely professional in everything he did", Neil said.
He and the Air NZ engineers would have checked the maintenance done on the plane and if they were not happy with it, they would not have flown in the aircraft.
Horrell, although he was not flying the plane, was in effect one of the flight crew and would have immediately communicated with the others had he had noticed anything amiss.
The Airbus 320 was one of the two workhorses of the world's airlines. Even Boeing, maker of the other most popular narrow-bodied airliner, the Boeing 737, conceded that it was a safe aeroplane.
The plane was relatively new and the maintenance firm, EAS Industries, was a reputable company.
The Airbus was reportedly about 300m above the sea and it was very lightly loaded. It would therefore have "plenty of performance" and was extremely unlikely to suddenly plummet. That was likely only in a violent thunderstorm or during what was known as a microburst, a highly concentrated and localised downward wind associated with thunderstorms. News reports did not suggest such weather.
THE MISSING KIWI CREW
BRIAN HORRELL, 52, Auckland Air New Zealand captain
Southland-born Horrell grew up on the family farm at Te Tua close to Tuatapere in Southland. His love of flying began with hang-gliders, representing New Zealand at the world championships in France.
After working as a pilot for Water Wings in Te Anau, he joined Air New Zealand in Christchurch his 22-year career taking him from Friendships to Boeings, from the South Island to Auckland, where he became a training captain for Airbus.
Family described Horrell as a dedicated family man to his wife Shelley and their teenage children Olivia, 19, and Logan, 17. His parents, Herbert and Moira, who are both in their 80s and live in Tuatapere, are said to be "shattered". Air New Zealand sent support staff to be with them, and also his wife and children, in Auckland.

NOEL MARSH, 35, Christchurch Air New Zealand engineer
A heavily-pregnant Tracy Marsh kissed her husband goodbye in France last week and flew home to Christchurch with their two young children.
Noel Marsh, 35, died in the crash just two weeks before he was due to come home for the birth of his third child and on the day his five-year-old son should have been starring with the rest of his classmates in his school's end-of-year production. But instead of flitting around the stage as a sandfly, Leon Marsh was at home with his mum in Rolleston, south of Christchurch, struggling to understand why he wasn't going to see his dad again.
Marsh, an engineer with Air New Zealand for the past six years, was in France for the handover of the A320 from German XL Airways but had organised for his wife and children to fly over for the family holiday of a lifetime. Family said Marsh, who had been with Air New Zealand for six years, relished the opportunity to travel to Europe to be involved in the acceptance process for the A320. They were extremely proud of the man who they said loved his job.

MICHAEL GYLES, 49, Christchurch Air New Zealand engineer
The father of two teenage boys, Gyles has been described as a dedicated family man. He had 30 years' service with Air New Zealand, starting as an apprentice and working his way up. A quiet man with exceptional skills, Gyles was reported as being well-liked by colleagues. Some of his family were yesterday on their way to France while the remainder were gathering in Christchurch to mourn a man they say loved his family and his job.

MURRAY WHITE 37, Auckland Air New Zealand engineer
White lived in Pakuranga, Auckland, and had been with Air New Zealand for the past 19 years.
He was acting as an observer on the flight and was said to be a highly skilled engineer.

JEREMY COOK, 58, Wellington Civil Aviation Authority inspector
Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) staff have been in shock over the death of Cook but are continuing to provide support to his wife Sally and children.
CAA staff said Cook was a popular and respected engineer. Acting director Graeme Harris said Cook was an aviation enthusiast with a long career dedicated to enhancing aviation safety standards.
He joined the CAA as airworthiness inspector in April, 2005. He was a licensed maintenance engineer with an extensive background in aircraft maintenance.
Cook had worked for Air Niugini in Papua New Guinea, Ansett New Zealand and the Christchurch Engine Centre. In his role at CAA he processed the entry of aircraft into the New Zealand civil aviation system, assessing applications for the issue or change to aircraft airworthiness certificates. Harris said Cook was a valued member of the CAA's Aircraft Certification Unit and was widely respected in his field.
It is understood members of the Cook family flew to Europe last night.

Timeline to disaster 2am Friday (NZ time): Plane handed back by EAS Industries, which had carried out light technical work on the aircraft. 2.43am: Take off at Perpignan Airport. Flight plan is filed and plane flies south-west towards the coast. 3.46am: Last call by crew to air traffic control. Authorities describe a banal exchange, there is no sign of alarm. 4.45am: The crash. Onlookers say it appeared the aircraft was trying to approach the airport when it made an unexpected turn followed by a steep climb. Then it nosedived into the sea. They say it appeared the pilot did everything possible to avoid crashing into the coastal town of Le Canet en Rousillon, the seaside town 10km east of Perpignan.

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Nia might have survived, doc tells court

‘If she was seen within the first few hours .. she would have lived’

By Wednesday, 05 November 2008

NIA GLASSIE: Died in hospital with head and body injuries..
He said because Nia was not seen by doctors till almost two days after she first suffered the head injury, doctors "missed the boat".

Witness: Nia ‘slept three days’ before going to hospital

My head’s sore, Nia told relative

‘Best guess’ Nia in dryer for 20 mins, says witness

‘She was ugly and didn’t listen’ – Nia’s mum

Nia died from brain bleed, trial told

Force killed Nia, says pathologist

Nia’s aunt to accused: Did you do it?

Nia Glassie might have survived if she had been admitted to hospital sooner, Auckland Starship Hospital paediatrician Patrick Kelly has told a court today.
Under questioning from prosecutor Fletcher Pilditch, Mr Kelly said Nia had been in a coma for 36 hours when she was admitted to Rotorua Hospital on Sunday morning, July 22, last year.
Mr Kelly has been giving evidence in the High Court at Rotorua this morning.
Mr Kelly said brain swelling, caused by bleeding, had fluctuated during the previous two days and Nia had gone into a coma on the Friday evening, July 20.
She was transferred to Starship Hospital that afternoon.
Most of the brain damage had already occurred and the pressure inside the brain had reduced, he said.
When he saw Nia on Sunday afternoon she was over the “over the worst,” he said.
“If she was seen within the first few hours it was most likely she would have lived.
There was no guarantee she would have lived if treated earlier but she had survived 36 hours before being examined and was passed the worst, he said.
"If the injury came from the clothesline fall, she would have suffered concussion within an hour.”
Mr Kelly believed Nia’s brain injury most likely occurred on Friday, though not from falling off the clothesline two days before on July 18.
Mr Kelly said he was told by Nia’s mother, co-accused Lisa Kuka, that Nia had acted normally till early Friday evening."
Nia displayed no symptoms of concussion between Wednesday and Friday evening, the court heard.
Nia slipped into a coma and did not wake again. .
Cross examination of Mr Kelly’s evidence continues this afternoon.
The Crown allege Nia was kicked in the head that Friday evening sometime between 7pm to 8pm,by co-accused Michael and Wiremu Curtis.