The Press back issues from March 2002:
Cowboy shootout
Mar 01, 2002 ... Kiwis and Aussies will be gunning for each other when the DuelDown Under international cowboy shootout gets under way in the hillsbehind Hokitika today. The third annual match ...
Skateboard park
Mar 01, 2002 ... Plans are rolling along for a skateboard park in Westport. Thecourse is earmarked for the north-west corner of Victoria Square. Acommittee will deal with fundraising, design, and construction.Buller District Council regulatory services ...
Boat show popular
Mar 01, 2002 ... The third annual antique and classic boat show to be held on LakeRotoiti at St Arnaud tomorrow and Sunday has attracted almost 50 percent more entries than the 70 in last year's show. The regatta isopen to ...
Road upgrade
Mar 01, 2002 ... Safety improvements will be made soon to a notorious intersectionon State Highway 60, just west of the Appleby Bridge between Nelsonand Motueka. Transit New Zealand has called ...
Pest species found
Mar 01, 2002 ... Search teams have found more unwanted koi carp and mosquito fishin the Nelson region, but none elsewhere in the South Island ....
Council work destroys trout-spawning grounds
Mar 01, 2002 ... Ashburton District Council workers have destroyed trout-spawninggrounds and tampered with a tributary to the Maori Lakes in anincident being investigated by Environment Canterbury (ECan) and Fishand Game. Fish and Game officers were at the scene above the Ashburton ...
Council votes to end fluoridation
Mar 01, 2002; ... Ashburton's town water supply will no longer be fluoridated fromApril on the casting vote of Mayor Murray Anderson. With his council tied six votes all at its meeting yesterday, MrAnderson said he could not be sure that fluoridation benefited allresidents, and cast his vote to end ...
Mussel-harvesting ban still in place
Mar 01, 2002 ... It is business as usual in Marlborough's marine farm industrydespite a ban on harvesting mussels in Port Underwood, saysMarlborough shellfish quality programme manager Helen Smale. The ban remains in place after marine biotoxins above theallowable limit were confirmed in the area ...
Forest and Bird join stone row
Mar 01, 2002 ... Forest and Bird has joined the row about commercial stone-collecting from West Coast beaches. It has appealed to the West Coast Regional Council to refuse aresource consent over 1.4km of Southside beach, at Hokitika, becauseit believes the stone removal will degrade the beach ...
No holds barred at restored Oxford jail
Mar 01, 2002 ... Oxford's old jail has housed everything from drunkards andvagrants to bales of hay and starlings. The lock-up, built in 1876, has stood the test of time, and thanksto the efforts of members of the Keep Oxford Beautiful committee itnow stands proud in Main Street. The ...
Hospitals' bill tops $1 billion
Mar 01, 2002 ... WELLINGTON -- The cost of running New Zealand's public hospitalshas increased to more than $1 billion per quarter. Figures released yesterday by Statistics New Zealand show theseasonally adjusted operating costs incurred by the hospital andhealth service (HHS) provider function of ...
Scrap scheme, Hide says
Mar 01, 2002 ... The Government has spent $1.2 million on an export guaranteescheme that has accepted no applications since it started last July. The export credit office has cost $800,000 to set up and $400,000in running costs, figures issued to ACT NZ MP Rodney Hide show. He wants the ...
SPORTS RESULTS
Mar 01, 2002 ... STATE CHAMPIONSHIP Scoreboard from day three of the State Championship cricket matchbetween Northern Districts and Central Districts at WestpacTrustPark, Hamilton: NORTHERN DISTRICTS First Innings 322 Second Innings J Marshall c Ingram b Marshall ...
Boutsianis hearing scrapped
Mar 01, 2002 ... AUCKLAND -- The Con Boutsianis saga has taken anothercontroversial twist, now threatening the outcome of this season'sAustralian National Soccer League (NSL). In an amazing about-face, the Soccer Australia board scrapped lastnight's planned tribunal hearing at which the Football ...
Mum relives heart grief; Daughter had two funerals
Mar 01, 2002; ... "You're not allowed to rob a grave. How can they be allowed to doit to a baby?" Christchurch mother Julianne May yesterday relived the trauma ofdiscovering her dead baby's heart was sent to Greenlane Hospital forresearch purposes in 1989 without her consent. Her daughter ...
Truckers escape price rise
Mar 01, 2002; ... Motorists and owners of light diesels will pay more to fill upfrom today, but truckers have escaped the fuel-price rise. The Government last night rammed through legislation to bump upthe tax on petrol by 4.7c a litre from midnight last night, to fundits transportation package ....
Grumpy males may be short of testosterone
Mar 01, 2002 ... LONDON -- Moody male teenagers and irascible husbands now havetheir own medical condition on which scientists said yesterday theycould blame bad- tempered behaviour: irritable male syndrome. Akin to premenstrual tension in women, the typical symptomsinclude temper tantrums, ...
NZ scientists first with squid
Mar 01, 2002 ... WELLINGTON -- New Zealand scientists have become the first tocapture live specimens of the giant squid that is the world's largestinvertebrate. But National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (Niwa)marine biologist Steve O'Shea yesterday said the squid -- neverbefore ...
Blakie's departure recalled
Mar 01, 2002; ... Hitch-hiker Lisa Blakie was reportedly seen alive two days afterthe time the prosecution claims she was murdered by Timothy DavidTaylor, the High Court in Christchurch has been told. West Melton mother Michelle Mary Columbus said she had spotted awoman whose identity closely ...
SummerTimes ends with sparks
Mar 01, 2002; ... Christchurch residents love their annual picnic under the stars tostirring classical music and a stunning fireworks display. More than 70,000 people are expected to pour into North HagleyPark tomorrow night for the evergreen Rick Armstrong Motors ClassicalSparks Concert ....
Minister's letter shows he knew of prisoners' payouts
Mar 01, 2002 ... WELLINGTON -- Corrections Minister Matt Robson knew last yearabout compensation payments to prisoners, despite saying he onlyfound out about them this week. Mr Robson told Parliament yesterday that since September 1999there had been 10 settlements for unlawful detention ....
Kakapo additions
Mar 01, 2002 ... Seven kakapo chicks have been added to the fragile kakapopopulation on Whenua Hou near Stewart Island, the Department ofConservation said yesterday. This takes the world population of theendangered kakapo species to 69, nearly all of ...
Dalai Lama itinerary
Mar 01, 2002 ... The Dalai Lama will visit New Zealand for five days in May, histrust said. He is scheduled to arrive in Wellington on May 27 andleave from Auckland on May 31. He will speak at a public forum inWellington the day he ...
Dead couple named
Mar 01, 2002 ... A couple found dead in their Otara, South Auckland, home onMonday, after an apparent murder-suicide, have been named by police.They were Dion Takiari, 31, and Evo Samaeli, ...
German tourist hit
Mar 01, 2002 ... A German tourist needed eight stitches, after he was bashed whiledrinking at a central Wellington bar about 3am yesterday. DetectiveSergeant Mark Chenery said Zebos Bar staff told police the man, 30,had been hit ...
Woman critical
Mar 01, 2002 ... An Otara woman is on life support at Middlemore Hospital, afterbeing attacked several times last night. Police said the woman, 42,was attacked outside ...
DIARY
Mar 01, 2002; ... Just charming DISCUSSION IN a Year 1 class at a Christchurch primary schoolcentred on the visit of the Queen. Who was accompanying her? No, notthe King. Yes, a prince, but what was his name? After much thought,one five-year-old came up with the delightful response that it mustbe ...
First-hour-free parking wins reprieve to June 30
Mar 01, 2002; ... Christchurch city centre shoppers will get their first hour'sparking free till June -- despite the scheme potentially costingratepayers $500,000 more than expected. The Christchurch City Council yesterday decided to continue thepilot first- hour-free parking scheme until June 30, ...
Golfer needs iron resolve
Mar 01, 2002 ... Spying a poster at his golf club has earned Christchurch man JeffLouwman a crack at a world title with a difference. Louwman leaves in two weeks to play in the world ice golfchampionship in Greenland, in conditions like nothing he will everstrike on his home course, Coringa ....
City council diverts plan on irrigation
Mar 01, 2002; ... Christchurch City councillors have side-stepped a decision onwhether to commit more ratepayers' money to a controversial schemefor irrigating Canterbury's plains. After three hours debate, the 25-strong council voted 13 to 12 torefer Central Plains Water's (CPW) application for ...
Boy racers like 'pack of hoons'; Pair gets six months PD for assault
Mar 01, 2002; ... A mob that grievously injured a taxi driver had behaved like a"pack of hoons" in response to what was an everyday irritation tomotorists, a judge has said. Nathan Paul Drennan, 19, and Joel Allan Trevor Williams, 19, whowere found guilty of assault after a pack attack on ...
Heart inquiries flood in
Mar 01, 2002; ... More than 250 people have demanded answers from Greenlane Hospitalon whether their children's hearts are among the 1334 the hospitalhas collected. Nigel Wilson, the Greenlane Hospital cardiology pediatricdirector, said answers would not be available for days or maybe evenweeks ....
Service marks actor's life
Mar 01, 2002 ... AUCKLAND -- Actor Kevin Smith's life was celebrated yesterday bythe country's acting community and more than 1000 mourners inAuckland's Aotea Centre. Auckland-based Smith, 38, known internationally for his roles inXena: Warrior Princess and Hercules, died of head injuries almost ...
Parents advised to keep children home for strike
Mar 01, 2002 ... Most schools have recommended that parents keep their children athome as teachers strike today. Few classes will be taught but schools will stay open and in mostschools non-union teachers will supervise any children that do turnup. The strike was forecast after teachers ...
Sailor search today
Mar 01, 2002 ... A search will be mounted this morning for a man sailing a boatfrom Lyttelton to Oamaru who, police say, has done all the wrongthings. The man set off on his 12m wooden wind-powered boat at 6am onWednesday, and was last heard from last night when he called a friendin Oamaru by cellphone ....
Police warn elderly
Mar 01, 2002 ... Police are warning elderly Christchurch people to be careful aftera man described as an "unscrupulous fraudster" was involved in twoincidents. In one incident a Stanmore Road resident, 86, let the maninto her house, after he pretended to have met her before. She gavehim a glass of water, ...
City and peninsula councils to explore closer ties
Mar 01, 2002; ... Christchurch City councillors have voted to explore closer tieswith their neighbouring council, despite an accusation that it is"amalgamation by the back door". Christchurch Mayor Garry Moore yesterday told councillors thatBanks Peninsula District Mayor Bob Parker had approached ...
ECan woos city over smog plan
Mar 01, 2002; ... Environment Canterbury (ECan) has delayed a plan to tackle smog inChristchurch in an effort to bring the Christchurch City Council "onboard". ECan's air plan was ready to be passed at its meeting yesterdaybut fell at the last hurdle. Under the plan, ECan would: * ...
Pre-birthday bash ends in cell spell
Mar 01, 2002 ... The night before his 25th birthday, Shane Kyle Barlow went intoChristchurch city to celebrate with his mates. He got drunk, and the high jinks got out of hand. At 11.30pm last Saturday, the police intervened to speak to thegroup of friends in Colombo Street about their ...
Future of buildings uncertain
Mar 01, 2002; ... A public auction and a $200,000 council pledge have failed tosecure the future of two of Christchurch's landmark buildings. The Christchurch Methodist Central Mission was last night lockedin negotiations with potential buyers for the McKellar (1912) andFleming (1926) houses in ...
English teachers hard to find
Mar 01, 2002; ... High schools are having as many problems finding teachers forEnglish as they are in traditionally hard-to-staff subjects such asmathematics and science, the latest teacher survey shows. The Government's annual survey shows 237 teaching positions wereunfilled when students arrived ...
National picks Chch Central candidate
Mar 01, 2002 ... Christchurch businesswoman and entrepreneur Nicky Wagner has beenchosen as the National Party candidate for the Christchurch Centralelectorate. Mrs Wagner, the chief executive of e-Marketing Ltd, willstand for the constituency and list vote. National's Christchurch Central ...
Hewitt puts shoulder into child advocacy
Mar 01, 2002 ... Former All Black hooker and ex- Hurricanes captain Norm Hewitt hasthrown his weight behind child advocacy, Commissioner for ChildrenRoger McClay announced in Kaikohe. Hewitt will help to promote theOffice of the Commissioner for Children's Advancing Child Advocacytraining programme, ...
Workplace deaths to be marked
Mar 01, 2002 ... Union representatives will plant 500 white crosses on the lawn infront of Parliament today as a "sober reminder" of workplace deaths,Labour Minister Margaret Wilson says. "The crosses will highlight themore than 500 work-related deaths which take place in New Zealandevery year," she said ...
Fly By Wire expects to ride again today
Mar 01, 2002 ... Adventure tourism operator Fly By Wire expects to get the nod torestart rides today, after a shutdown and overhaul of its Queenstownoperation. Occupational Health and Safety (OSH) shut the self-powered rocket ride when a Swedish tourist suffered multiple ...
Lundy visit to house described
Mar 01, 2002 ... PALMERSTON NORTH -- Mark Lundy's only question when he stood atthe door of the bedroom where his wife had been murdered 2 1/2 weeksearlier was "where's the jewellery box?" That was in spite of almost everything moveable in the bedroomhaving been seized as police exhibits, the High ...
Protesters disrupt meeting
Mar 01, 2002 ... WELLINGTON -- About 100 unruly protesters disrupted an AucklandCity Council meeting last night by crowding into the council chamberand behaving in what Mayor John Banks called an "abusive anddisgusting" manner. The council was forced to adjourn its scheduled February meetingwhen ...
Stroke of luck saves worker
Mar 01, 2002 ... Danny Foster reckons only a stroke of luck saved him from beingcrushed to death by a plummeting steel weight. As it was, the 20-year-old painter came away with four breaks tohis foot and a heck of a fright. The heavy steel ball, part of the mechanism suspending Mr Fosterand ...
NZ Post faces hearing for Parliament address
Mar 01, 2002; ... New Zealand Post will be hauled before Parliament's privilegescommittee after Speaker Jonathan Hunt ruled it had a case to answeron claims it misled a parliamentary select committee. Parliamentary officials could not confirm yesterday if it was thefirst time a Government-owned ...
Transsexual for trial on assault
Mar 01, 2002 ... INVERCARGILL -- An Eastern Southland transsexual charged withindecently assaulting his niece over an eight-year period wascommitted for trial after a depositions hearing in the District Courtin Gore. The 53-year-old man, who has name suppression, appeared on eightcharges of ...
IN A FEW WORDS
Mar 01, 2002 ... * I have figured out how donating 4c a litre to ease Auckland'straffic woes benefits the whole country. Less congestion = moretraffic = more pollution = more deaths = fewer Jafas. Surely everyonesouth of the Bombays will rejoice. NIVEN AVIA * The violent offender who ...
Irrigation
Mar 01, 2002 ... Sir--Whatever the actual financial and employment benefits theCentral Plains irrigation proposal may deliver, they will come at aprice. Local electricity prices may be affected as a result of the hugepower demands of on-farm irrigation pumps and the gigantic lift pumpsat the ...
Irrigation
Mar 01, 2002 ... Sir--I believe the effluent from one cattle beast equals that ofsix people (although some have quoted more like 10 to 14, so pleaseaccept my figures as a very modest estimate). Irrigation is said to benefit 300 farmers averaging 1000 head ofcattle each (although going by local ...
Irrigation
Mar 01, 2002 ... Sir--Can Doug Marsh tell us how many interested parties arewilling to sign on the dotted line instead of hands in the air tocommit themselves to $1500 per hectare upfront, then 4230 per ha forthe next 20 years? Add a small levy of $5 per ha payable now, forinvestigation, to assist the ...
Fishermen
Mar 01, 2002 ... Sir--Hats off to those hardy men who put up with danger,discomfort, and adverse weather to ensure a continuing supply offresh fish for those people who cannot catch it themselves, and whocontribute hugely to the overseas export dollar and the employment ofthousands of follow-on jobs ....
Criminal payout
Mar 01, 2002 ... Sir--Again we have the situation with our inept justice systemwhereby the criminal's well-being is given greater priority than thepoor victim's (Press February 27 ), involving the horrific beating ofthe Dunedin hairdresser. What a system where a rat-bag violentoffender can be kept in ...
Short stories
Mar 01, 2002 ... Sir--We are used to a better standard of literary review in ThePress than Hannah McKay's self- absorbed and misleading account ofFrankie McMillan's The Bag Lady's Picnic and Other Stories (February16). In reducing this book to fit into her ill-informed generalisationsabout New ...
Christchurch transport
Mar 01, 2002 ... Sir--Surely South Island Road Transport Association area managerMark Kunnen is exaggerating when he refers to the "massive" trafficcongestion in the north and advocates making changes to the roadingnetwork now (February 25). Comparatively, by world standards, we do not have a ...
Royal visit
Mar 01, 2002 ... Sir--Ngai Tahu must be congratulated for the magnificent welcometo the Queen and to the Duke of Edinburgh at the Rehua Marae. There was formality, yet no rigid protocol was evident. It was also a credit to Christchurch that there wasn't onediscordant note. The singing and the ...
Shooting the messenger
Mar 01, 2002 ... Justice Panckhurst has taken the media to task because of itshandling of a Christchurch name suppression case. Hearing the appealagainst the continued suppression of the name of a businessmanconvicted of trying to buy sex from a 12-year-old, the judge said themedia had not let the facts ...
Goon but ne'er forgotten
Mar 01, 2002 ... Spike Milligan, famous for his lunatic sense of humour, was aBritish institution. AUDREY WOODS recalls the last Goon. . Spike Milligan, who died on Wednesday at Rye, on England's south-east coast, aged 83, was a comedian, author, gadfly, and lastsurviving member of The Goon ...
Ying Tong Kiwi connection
Mar 01, 2002 ... Great memories of Spike Milligan live on in Wellington, wherethere is a strong local connection to his famous Ying Tong Song. Peg Edgington, of Stokes Valley, is widow of one of the comedian'soldest friends, Harry Edgington. She says he came to Wellington to see them several ...
'Before I died ...'
Mar 01, 2002; ... Spike Milligan wrote his own obituary in July 1990. A t last a journalistic enterprise, the ultimate ego trip. Writeyour own obituary! Well, I've actually seen mine, by seducing anoffice girl from the Brisbane Courier-Mail. It went like this: Spike Milligan was born Terence ...
Meridian: keeping the pain to a minimum
Mar 01, 2002 ... A number of myths and incorrect assumptions are circulating aboutthe role and performance of Meridian Energy in the electricitymarket. Some commentaries, including yesterday's Press editorial,have failed to grasp the significant context in which recentdevelopments have occurred, argues ...
Anyone for a political adventure?
Mar 01, 2002 ... Politics and adventure may sound like mutually exclusive concepts,but a panel discussion hosted by The Press as part of the AdventurePlayground fesitval that kicks off in Christchurch today hopes tochallenge that perception. The Press Political Adventure is a panel discussion that ...