Two a penny

.

LATEST:
An Air Force helicopter loaded with searchers has taken off for the Tararua Ranges as the hunt for missing Te Papa chief executive Seddon Bennington his and female tramping companion Marcella Jackson continues.

Police earlier today released the name of Mrs Jackson, known as Rosie Jackson.

The pair set off from Otaki Forks on Saturday for Kime Hut, about 10 kilometres into the range, but failed to return on Sunday afternoon as planned. Mrs Jackson is also from the Wellington area, and is described as a long standing family friend of Mr Bennington.

The search resumed at first light today – but early efforts to send in extra rescue teams were far been hampered by heavy rain, low fog and mist. .15am carrying five searchers.

Taking advantage of a break in the weather, an Air Force Iroquois helicopter took off from Levin Showgrounds at 10.

Four or five more teams could either be flown in or hike in from Otaki Forks later in the day. The rescuers were heading for Penn Creek, close to Kime Hutt.

She said it was “still very challenging” weatherwise, although there was some suggestion it could clear this afternoon.

Police spokeswoman Kim Perks told Radio New Zealand some searchers had remained in the ranges overnight. They may not be able to get our personnel right to the very top but they’ll certainly be able to look for opportunities to get them in as high as possible.

“It’s not all doom and gloom.

Teams today have to contend with low cloud, strong wind and heavy snow, with an overnight low last night of about -2 degrees Celsius.”

More teams are likely to be deployed this afternoon.

There had not been any contact or sign of the missing pair but police were still hopeful they would be found alive and well. Snow is waist-deep in some areas.

A freezing southerly is due to sweep up the country and hit the area today, however the MetService has cancelled a weather alert for severe gale-force winds about exposed areas of Hawkes Bay and the Tararua District.

Ms Perks added that there had been cases in the past of people being trapped in the area for extended periods and getting out safely.

In all, four search and rescue teams comprising 14 people started searching, but stopped about 6pm when it got dark.

The initial search and rescue operation was launched yesterday morning when teams were carried into the ranges by the Square Trust rescue helicopter.

. Heavy cloud had prevented the use of a helicopter

.

National’s senior whip Nathan Guy has been appointed as Internal Affairs Minister to replace Richard Worth, Prime Minister John Key said today.

Mr Guy will be a minister outside Cabinet and take up Dr Worth’s portfolios of Archives NZ, National Library and associate justice minister.

Maurice Williamson, who temporarily looked after Dr Worth’s portfolios after he lost his ministerial positions, will retain Land Information.

He will also hold the new position of associate transport minister. .

Mr Guy is the MP for Otaki and first entered Parliament in 2005.

“He has proven himself to be an able senior whip and member of the National Party caucus,” Mr Key said.

Mr Key said he looked forward to welcoming Mr Guy to the executive.

“I was rapt to receive a phone call from the prime minister offering me the opportunity to become a minister outside Cabinet, which of course I accepted.

Mr Guy said the appointment was a huge honour.

The transport role is a new position and as a local MP he has come out strongly in favour of the Transmission Gully motorway route between Wellington and the Kapiti Coast.”

Mr Guy said he was looking forward to the internal affairs role and other associate jobs, though he did know his delegations yet.

The Wellington to Otaki road is one of the designated routes, but the Transmission Gully motorway is not dfairs role and other associate jobs, though he did know his delegations yet.

The Wellington to Otaki road is one of the designated routes, but the Transmission Gully motorway is not defined as a solution to the region’s traffic congestion.

Mr Guy said he believed the transport appointment was a sign that the portfolio was a large one and Mr Key wanted to make progress on the designated routes of national significance. .

“There is a lot at stake for the Otaki electorate. but it is just one area around the country. .

A second allegation was also made against Dr Worth by a member of the Labour Party.”

Mr Guy gained the jobs after Dr Worth resigned as an MP late on Friday after earlier being asked to resign as a minister when it emerged that he was under police investigation over allegations of a sexual nature involving a Korean business woman.

In a public statement she also said Dr Worth offered her jobs in his ministerial capacity.

The woman involved, Neelam Choudary, alleged that between November and February, Dr Worth sent dozens of text messages, some sexually explicit, and called her numerous times.

–

Sharing his joy with mum

– National Homepage -

.

Adventure and experience of other cultures were the main motivators for New Zealanders moving overseas, rather than earning more money, a new study has found.

Massey University department of management and international business PhD student Kaye Thorn conducted the study, called Flight of the Kiwi, for her thesis.

She asked 2608 highly educated emigrants, including doctors, lawyers, bankers and scientists, why they left and whether they would come back.

Ms Thorn said economics as the third priority was contrary to popular analogy that more money was drawing New Zealanders overseas.

Respondents said their key motives in where to live were, in order of priority, culture and travel opportunities, career, economics, relationships, quality of life and political environment.5 percent, with career second at 22.

For people living in Britain, who made up half the respondents, cultural and travel opportunities was the top reason at 36. .

For those in Australia (21 percent of respondents), more than 30 percent said career was the driver, with economics second at 21.6 percent.3 percent.2 percent and quality of life third at 17.

Some of the emigrants’ motives were very specific.

Under 35s were concerned about making enough money to pay back their student loan faster, she said.

“Some people were keen to meet others in a larger gay community, one person wanted to find a Jewish partner and another woman said there was a man drought so she had left for London,” she said.

“Some people were keen to meet others in a larger gay community, one person wanted to find a Jewish partner and another woman said there was a man drought so she had left for London,” she said.

She anticipated that departures to Britain may also decline over the next few years, as people delayed their OE until casual employment there increased.

Ms Thorn said the economic crisis appeared to have resulted in a slowing of the movement of New Zealanders overseas, particularly to Australia.”

–

Ad Feedback –>
loadAd(’300×250′,’STORYBODY’,300,250);

.

“There is very little a government can do to prevent that mobility, but perhaps the Government could consider creating a cultural visa that allows a person to travel and or work overseas for up to two years with their job held open and appropriate recognition for their international experience on their return

.

A “pirate” charter operator has been ordered off the water after taking groups on illegal fishing trips out of Auckland, and legitimate operators say the case is just the tip of the iceberg.

Bond Fishing was slapped with a discontinue notice two weeks ago after Maritime New Zealand inspectors found it had been offering illegal fishing trips, charging about $120 a person for a day.

The business was not licensed and did not comply with maritime regulations or safety requirements.

Such operators are considered “pirates” because they operate outside the law.

The trips used a privately owned boat and were still advertised on Chinese-language websites as recently as January, more than a month after Maritime NZ became aware of the operation..

Sharyn Forsyth, general manager of maritime safety systems for Maritime NZ, said the operator was “advised . .

Operator Eric Jiang denied he had been running illegal trips. that as a result of investigations, legally he was unable to operate that vessel until he obtains a safe ship management [certificate]“. We are just a private boat.

“No, no, we’re not for fishing charter at the moment.

Maritime NZ was told of Bond Fishing in December.”

He said his boat did take trips “sometimes just for friends and family”. Advertisements obtained by The state that trips for a maximum of eight people leave from Half Moon Bay marina on a “private luxury yacht”. Advertisements obtained by The state that trips for a maximum of eight people leave from Half Moon Bay marina on a “private luxury yacht”.

The agency is also aware of an illegal charter operating out of Great Barrier Island, however, it says its investigations are often curtailed because the skipper is regularly tipped off that investigators are about to visit.

Maritime NZ has investigated eight formal complaints against “pirates” in the past year, resulting in at least two discontinue notices..

“He simply replies with a total denial of his charter operation . it does come down to resource, cost and practicality at the end of the day,” an email from a Maritime NZ staff member states..

One source said: “The potential is there for a disaster.

Legitimate operators say pirates are costing them thousands of dollars in lost earnings and their unregulated operations could result in tragedy.

“Vessels are invariably recreational craft, operated by pleasure craft skippers who don’t have any qualifications of any sort, and they are doing it for cash under the table. Do we have to wait for a disaster to happen before something is done?”

Ad Feedback –>
loadAd(’300×250′,’STORYBODY’,300,250);

Keith Ingram, publisher of Professional Skipper magazine and a marine assessor for the Transport Accident Investigation Commission, said Maritime NZ was failing to enforce its rules. Maritime NZ are bloody useless. Maritime NZ are bloody useless.”

Ms Forsyth, however, said taking action against pirates was difficult, given there were more than 400,000 recreational boats in New Zealand. Most charters were legitimate and legal.

“We have to go through quite a lengthy process to investigate and gather evidence that will stand up in court,” she said.

– Sponsored links –
add_batch_ad(‘adSPONSOREDLINK1′, ’310x16_SPONSOREDLINK’,'SPONSOREDLINK1′);
add_batch_ad(‘adSPONSOREDLINK2′, ’310x16_SPONSOREDLINK’,'SPONSOREDLINK2′);
add_batch_ad(‘adSPONSOREDLINK3′, ’310x16_SPONSOREDLINK’,'SPONSOREDLINK3′);
add_batch_ad(‘adSPONSOREDLINK4′, ’310x16_SPONSOREDLINK’,'SPONSOREDLINK4′);
add_batch_ad(‘adSPONSOREDLINK5′, ’310x16_SPONSOREDLINK’,'SPONSOREDLINK5′);
add_batch_ad(‘adSPONSOREDLINK6′, ’310x16_SPONSOREDLINK’,'SPONSOREDLINK6′);
add_batch_ad(‘adSPONSOREDLINK7′, ’310x16_SPONSOREDLINK’,'SPONSOREDLINK7′);
add_batch_ad(‘adSPONSOREDLINK8′, ’310x16_SPONSOREDLINK’,'SPONSOREDLINK8′);

– Next Crime story: –
Lawyer loses battle in drink-drive case

– National Homepage -

.

Taxpayers do not want further tax cuts if they mean more government borrowing, a new survey shows.

The survey comes as social welfare campaigners say tax cuts failed to help those most in need.
The New Zealand Business Council for Sustainable Development survey found that while most people wanted tax cuts planned for 2010 and 2011, they did not want them if it meant further borrowing.
Christchurch City Missioner Michael Gorman said the tax cuts missed many poor people.
The first round of tax cuts were introduced last week and were worth between $10 and $18 extra a week to most people. People earning less than $14,000 a year were worse off because of the higher Accident Compensation Corporation levy, he said.
“I think there is a whole sector of society that the tax cuts have missed and they are mostly the people that come to the mission,” he said.
The survey found most people would spend the tax cuts on living expenses, while others looked to credit-card debt and mortgage payments.
Business council chief executive Peter Neilson said the traditional fear that tax cuts would lead to less social spending and more borrowing had lingered.
Households with incomes between $100,000 and $150,000 a year were the least keen on new tax cuts, with 70 per cent opposed. .
“This sensitivity does not seem to have changed with the economic downturn,” he said

.

The shape of the proposed Auckland super-city has been unveiled – but plans to shake up the councils and governance of the country’s commercial capital is set to have a big impact on the rest of the country too.

In the wake of the report by the Royal Commission on Auckland Governance, released on Friday, the whole country could pay for Auckland to have its own minister, Cabinet committee and auditor.

The period of office for all New Zealand councils could be stretched to four years instead of three.

The long-awaited report, intended to do away with Auckland’s jumbled, unco-ordinated local government structure, suggests a single, unitary Auckland Council ruling the region, with six local councils implementing its decisions. And other regions – such as Wellington – may follow in Auckland’s footsteps and have their rates, transport and water services similarly thrown into one basket.)

The report recommends Auckland get its own minister again – a job the previous government set up, then dropped – plus its own Cabinet committee. (Currently there are seven territorial councils plus a regional one, and they are often at odds with each other.

Auckland Regional Council’s chairman Mike Lee says this is unnecessary. All the ministers have responsibilities that relate to Auckland. “I don’t think you need an Auckland minister.

The commissioners say a four- year term would allow more time for the council to deliver on election promises and make long-term decisions. .

Wellington’s mayor Kerry Prendergast said yesterday talks were already under way about combining the Wellington region’s councils. And they say it wouldn’t work for Auckland to have a local election every four years without the rest of the country following suit. There was a “clear message” that whatever came out of the Auckland report would have implications for the rest of the country, she said. There was a “clear message” that whatever came out of the Auckland report would have implications for the rest of the country, she said.

“Instead of having one voice coming out of Auckland, we could have a cacophony,” Lee says. Rather than advocating a London-style mayor with sweeping powers to unilaterally pass pet policies (such as Ken Livingstone’s central London congestion charge), the commissioners suggest the mayor should need a majority from 23 councillors to get policy through.

Auckland would also get an independent auditor, paid for by the government, to check all council services are reliable and affordable.

Of the 23, 10 “super councillors” would be elected across the region – which could lead to rivalry with the super mayor, Lee says.

Murray Gibb, chief executive of Water New Zealand, says the same reforms should be rolled out across the country – including making people pay for water consumption.

Water and wastewater services would come under a single entity, controlled by the Auckland Council. Gibb says user-pays motivates people to use less. Just 11 of 73 territorial councils currently charge per unit.

Ad Feedback –>
loadAd(’300×250′,’STORYBODY’,300,250);

* www. Auckland uses a per-capita 200 litres of water a day, Kapiti Coast 650 litres and Queenstown 700.govt.govt.nz

.
Worst rain over for most – but not all

and CLIO FRANCIS – Friday, 20 February 2009

/
DRIVING RAIN: Eden Terrace in Auckland after a downpour this morning.

Photo 1 of 3

/
SPLASH: Motorists in Auckland contend with the hazardous driving conditions.

Photo 3 of 3

MetService posts severe weather watch

Severe rain soaking much of the country today,disrupting traffic and causing surface flooding,is expected to gradually ease in most places this afternoon.

Photo 2 of 3

LEON BALDOCK
DISGUSTING DISCHARGE: Untreated sewage flowed onto the corner of Tory St and Courtenay Pl in Wellington this morning. It had already begun to clear in Nelson, Taranaki and the tip of Northland, he said.
MetService forecaster Peter Smith said the band of rain sweeping New Zealand was expected to ease gradually this afternoon in much of the country, though less intense showers would remain. The West Coast is also expected to be stuck with consistent heavy rain.
However, the rain would continue in parts of the country including the lower South Island from Canterbury to Balclutha.5mm in just one hour.
The falls had been the heaviest around Mt Taranaki which had received 277mm since 9pm last night including 41. .
The Hutt Valley had recorded 67mm and the Wellington suburb of Kelburn 62mm.
Commuters walking close to the intersection of Courtenay Pl and Tory St in Wellington reported untreated sewage overflowingin the street.
A rush-hour delugein Wellington this morning caused surface flooding and sewage overflows and slowed traffic to a crawl.
"Essentially, a narrow band of heavy rain has come through Wellington this morning, unfortunately coinciding with rush hour traffic," he said.
MetService severe weather forecaster Allister Gorman said Wellington Airport had received 20 millimetres of rain over a four-hour period this morning."

The torrential rain also caused traffic woes in Auckland.
"This band is slowly moving north and will probably weaken as the morning goes on, however there is a chance of a few more heavy falls through to this afternoon. The Southern Motorway, in the city bound lane, also experienced serious congestion.
The Northern motorway – from Albany to the Harbour Bridge -camea standstill this morning.
A number of slips have also plagued the Rimutaka Ranges today, with police saying the Featherston side was particularly affected.
Police said there had been 12 minor car accidents around the lower North Island but there had been no serious injuries.
Police said motorists needed to take care when driving today and to watch their speed and following distances. Police are advising motorists to be careful when using the road. It advised users to try again when traffic was lighter for fuller forecasts. It advised users to try again when traffic was lighter for fuller forecasts.
– with The

.
Regional council to freeze fares

The Wednesday, 11 February 2009

Bus and train fares throughout the Wellington region look set to remain frozen this year in a bid to encourage more commuters to ditch their cars.
A Greater Wellington regional council staff report to its transport and access committee recommends no price increases during the coming year to help keep fares affordable.
Public transport usage in Wellington was lagging behind Auckland for the 2007-2008 year, there was a 1.4 per cent rise in Auckland.8 per cent increase in the capital, compared with a 4.
The council introduced an average 10 per cent increase in fares last September, sparking an outcry from the community, although patronage did not drop off.
The committee will vote on the recommendation today. .
In the past three years there had been a steady rise about 3 per cent a year in public transport use across Wellington, and the council was aiming for a 4 per cent increase this year.
Council divisional transport manager Wayne Hastie said the drive for no fare increases sought to balance costs with the desire not to discourage passengers by making public transport significantly more expensive than taking a car.

.
Strewth – A Kiwi kid who’s mad on Aussie

By KATHERINE NEWTON Tuesday, 27 January 2009

/The
FAIR DINKUM: Australian music, gum trees and a barbecue set the scene for Australia Day, and Daniel Johnson enjoyed it all except for this prawn which got a thumbs-down.

With the Australian flag printed on his T-shirt, cap, jandals and even his undies, Daniel Johnson could be mistaken for a true blue Aussie. But his disgust for prawns would surely disqualify him from any fair dinkum barbie.
Grandmother Judy Johnson said Daniel was desperate to join the celebrations in the Australian Garden after developing an obsession with Australia during a recent visit.
The Miramar seven-year-old was one of several curious Kiwis who joined 50 Australian expats to celebrate Australia Day with a barbecue and Australian folk music in Wellington's Botanic Gardens yesterday."
Daniel said the best part of his trip was seeing sharks at an aquarium. "He just loves it. "There were heaps of them.
Artist Heidi Threlfo, who moved to Wellington from Wollongong, New South Wales, a year ago, said hearing Australian music among the banksias and gum trees made her think of home."
However, he was not so keen on Australia's beloved prawns, screwing up his face after being coaxed into trying one straight off the barbie."
Acting Australian high commissioner Frank Ingruber said the day was special for Australians all over the world. . It's an opportunity to look at ourselves and celebrate where we've got to and the things that we still need to do and achieve as a country.
"Together with Anzac Day, it's an iconic day for us."

.
Strewth – A Kiwi kid who’s mad on Aussie

By KATHERINE NEWTON Tuesday, 27 January 2009

/The
FAIR DINKUM: Australian music, gum trees and a barbecue set the scene for Australia Day, and Daniel Johnson enjoyed it all except for this prawn which got a thumbs-down.

With the Australian flag printed on his T-shirt, cap, jandals and even his undies, Daniel Johnson could be mistaken for a true blue Aussie. But his disgust for prawns would surely disqualify him from any fair dinkum barbie.
Grandmother Judy Johnson said Daniel was desperate to join the celebrations in the Australian Garden after developing an obsession with Australia during a recent visit.
The Miramar seven-year-old was one of several curious Kiwis who joined 50 Australian expats to celebrate Australia Day with a barbecue and Australian folk music in Wellington's Botanic Gardens yesterday."
Daniel said the best part of his trip was seeing sharks at an aquarium. "He just loves it. "There were heaps of them.
Artist Heidi Threlfo, who moved to Wellington from Wollongong, New South Wales, a year ago, said hearing Australian music among the banksias and gum trees made her think of home."
However, he was not so keen on Australia's beloved prawns, screwing up his face after being coaxed into trying one straight off the barbie."
Acting Australian high commissioner Frank Ingruber said the day was special for Australians all over the world. . It's an opportunity to look at ourselves and celebrate where we've got to and the things that we still need to do and achieve as a country.
"Together with Anzac Day, it's an iconic day for us."