Two a penny

.

A second prison officer working at Wellington’s Rimutaka Prison has been arrested on drug charges.

Corrections chief executive Barry Matthews said the prison guard had been arrested under the Misuse of Drugs Act. .

“This second arrest should send a very clear and strong message that corrupt and illegal behaviour will not be tolerated in our prisons,” Mr Matthews said.

In June this year, a senior prison manager, Jeffrey Mark Reid, 43, was arrested and charged with selling cannabis to inmates. There is always the possibility of corrupt practices occurring within the system, he said.

He said it was disappointing such action had to be taken, but the department was confident the overwhelming majority of officers were honest.

In August a female prison officer was suspended on full pay, accused of having an affair with a violent criminal.

TVNZ also reported more arrests were imminent, following the investigation into one of the country’s largest prisons.

She was one of five Rimutaka staff suspended at that time – two years after a spate of staff problems prompted a more than 15-month inquiry into corruption at the prison.

.

Mr Matthews said he could not provide further details on the arrest as the case was before the courts

.

A West Coast man who fled into the Grey River after a car crash today remains missing despite intensive searches.

Constable Sean Judd said Andrew David Lorimer was last seen running towards the river after the 3.30pm crash at Taylorville, 12km northeast of Greymouth.”No further contact has been made by Mr Lorimer and fears are growing for his safety as time goes on.”Shortly afterwards (he) contacted his girlfriend by cellular phone stating he was actually in the river,” Mr Judd said. .”An extensive search involving local land search and rescue teams, four dog handlers, two inflatable surf rescue boats, a kayak team, coast guard personnel, the Solid Energy Rescue Helicopter and police had failed to find any sign of him.It was possible Mr Lorimer had made it out of the river and was avoiding police.”At this stage we do not necessarily need to know where he is; only that he is safe,” Mr Judd said. Anyone with information was asked to contact the police.

.Another person in the crash also fled but was found at a nearby address

.

A 15-year-old ringleader in a vicious street bashing and robbery in Lincoln Road has been sent for sentencing in the adult court after admitting his offending in the Youth Court today.

He is heading for a lengthy prison term – a sentence the Youth Court cannot impose. That suppression will be considered again at his District Court sentencing.

Judge John Strettell declined jurisdiction for the youth, whose name remains suppressed as a result of Youth Court reporting restrictions.

“Denunciation and protection of the public are highly relevant to the sentencing process and are best dealt with in the District Court. .

At least one victim was knocked unconscious when they were attacked with lengths of wood.”

The youth was a member of the YSK youth street gang which carried out of the mugging under the Lincoln Road overbridge at 2am on Sunday April 18, robbing youths aged 18 and 19 years who were walking home together.

The police said YSK stood for Young Skuxx Klicxx, a youth gang with between 10 and 20 members. One had a broken jaw and both had bruises and cuts to the head and face needing stitches.

Tuari Damyn Karipa-Rangi pleaded guilty in June and is due to be sentenced on Friday.

A 17-year-old schoolboy visiting Christchurch from Tokoroa over the school holidays was the other ringleader of the incident.

Youth advocate for the boy who admitted the aggravated robbery in court today, Elizabeth Bulger, said a plan had been formulated and agreed for him to be sent for a crown sentencing, but the date available was in December. He was the other youth brandishing the wood.

He said it had been an unprovoked attack against two young people.

Judge Strettell said he would arrange for that to be brought forward, because the delay was too long for such a young offender.

“There needs to be a clear message given that incidents of this type are not tolerated in Christchurch and that those who take part in and are ringleaders, and carry out violence of this type can expect little sympathy from the court.

A prison term for the length likely to be imposed was not available in the Youth Court.”

He said the youth’s age would be taken into account at the sentencing.

“That applies to young people of your age as much as any others.

The boy received hugs and kisses from family members before he was led back to the cells.

He remanded the boy in custody for two weeks so that an earlier crown sentencing date could be set.

.

People have been warned to take care after reports of dog and sea life deaths on Auckland’s eastern beaches and within the Hauraki Gulf.

A dog died after visiting a Browns Bay beach last month, and a second death was reported on Cheltenham Beach, Devonport.

Two other dogs were reported to have become ill, but not die.

Over 1000 fish, as well as some penguins and seabirds were washed up dead on the affected beaches, reported the New Zealand Herald.

Various agencies are investigating the deaths to determine the cause.

The matter is considered so serious, ARPHS is warning:

* People should avoid exercising pets along Hauraki Gulf beaches;

* children should not be taken to Hauraki Gulf beaches;

* people should avoid contact with sea water and sea life in the Hauraki Gulf;

* people should not collect shellfish from the Hauraki Gulf.

Auckland Regional Public Health Service (ARPHS) said it was unable to rule out risk to the public until results were received.

Residents have been advised not to walk their dogs on the beach but North Shore District Council environmental health team leader Duffy Visser said she hadn’t heard of people being affected.

“Usually if there is a toxic algae it is more along the lines of an allergic reaction but we haven’t heard of anything yet.

“That is a big concern, but there are no reports of people suffering yet,” she said.”

Checks had been inconclusive as to the cause of the deaths and illnesses, Ms Visser said.

“Fortunately there are not many people using the beach at the moment but there are some so we are keeping an eye on that.

Yesterday North Shore City Council Environmental Protection team held a meeting with representatives from Rodney District Council and Auckland Regional Public Health.

Some test results from this week’s death have been sent away but results are not likely to be available until Friday.

North Shore City Council was working closely with Auckland Regional Public Health, the Department of Conservation, MAF and other local councils in terms of sharing information and working together.

.

Taito Phillip Field, the first New Zealand politician to be convicted of corruption, faces up to seven years in prison. . He was also found guilty of 15 of 23 obstruction of justice charges.

New Zealand’s first Pacific Islands MP, Field was granted bail by Justice Rodney Hansen yesterday, then whisked out a back entrance of the High Court at Auckland.

Field, 56, who always claimed he was innocent, will be sentenced on October 6 and could be jailed for a maximum of seven years.

Crown prosecutor Simon Moore said it was a crucial trial.

A weeping Maxine Field, his wife, had to be helped from court by family, all of whom refused to comment.

“Bribery and corruption strikes very much at the heart of who we are as a people,” he said after the verdict. “I am grateful these witnesses had the courage to stand up and be counted,” he said.

Detective Superintendent Malcolm Burgess, who led the investigation, said giving evidence was “an extraordinary harrowing experience” for some witnesses.

“I’m disappointed, but Mr Field is very disappointed,” he said.

Field’s lawyer, Paul Davison, said it had been a long and difficult trial.

‘REFLECTS BADLY ON PARLIAMENT’

Prime Minister John Key said the case was a sad affair.

It was “premature” to consider an appeal.

“Ultimately it reflects badly on our Parliament.

“Ultimately it reflects badly on our Parliament.

“I think it’s an isolated case.

He said it would be “unjustified” for this case to be taken as a reflection of the whole Parliament, he said. I think New Zealanders should see it on that basis. I think Mr Field’s been dealt with now by the judiciary and ultimately has to face whatever sentence they decide is appropriate.

“What it shows you is when you are facing a very serious issue you actually have to have a proper investigation and I don’t think the terms of reference were ever set in a way where the government of the day was look for a conclusive outcome.”

He said it showed investigations into Mr Field ordered by the former Labour government were not examining for a solution.”

. Actually they wanted to park the situation for political convenience

.

The man who rang the council and threatened to sort out Wellington Mayor Kerry Prendergast also claimed to be “mates” with councillor Rob Goulden.

During the 41-second call the man said: “We’re going to be down there to sort that bloody mayor out at one o’clock . . She better bloody well pull her socks up otherwise she’ll be gone..

Ms Prendergast’s 24-hour protection was lifted by Wellington City Council yesterday morning after police said the man posed no risk.”

When asked for his name, he said he was one of Mr Goulden’s mates. The caller was interviewed by police on Tuesday and let off with a warning.

About an hour before the call, the councillor had criticised council process during a Newstalk ZB interview and discussed his expulsion from an earlier meeting after his foul-mouthed outburst at colleagues.

The threatening call came 15 minutes before a council meeting on Friday, from which Mr Goulden was escorted by police.

Council chief executive Garry Poole said the council had acted appropriately to increase Ms Prendergast’s security.

Mr Goulden declined to comment yesterday. She listened to advice she was given [by council's head of security] and accepted that advice. “In my view, council did not over-react.

“If we hadn’t taken any action and it turned out to be a real threat .

“If we hadn’t taken any action and it turned out to be a real threat . we’d all be sitting here now probably saying, `Why the hell didn’t we do something’..

“The guy sounds .”

A spokesman from Wellington security firm Protective Services, whose clients have included Peter Jackson and former mayor Mark Blumsky, listened to the call and said the council had done the right thing… He’s probably thought about what he’s going to say . agitated… There’d be some reason to be concerned there. There’d be some reason to be concerned there.”

Wellington area commander Inspector Peter Cowan said that “through a process of Chinese whispers this matter may have been blown up more than initially intended”.