The Press back issues from February 2008:
FOREAL This Time?
Feb 01, 2008; ... The Tim Butt/Phil Anderson stable has a focus on features on eachside of the Tasman this weekend. Foreal is in what some describe as "the race for her to lose" inthe Group One $100,000 Metropolitan Breeders' Stakes at Addingtontonight, while on Sunday Report For Duty has drawn an ...
NAME THE FACE
Feb 01, 2008 ... Who is this prominent harness racing driver? Answer in Off ...
TRACKWORK
Feb 01, 2008 ... RICCARTON PARK Big trial grass -- fast (Thursday). Wingatui-bound Benelli and Coup Christchurch were smart workers. Sent over 1000m together, Benelli and Coup Christchurch finishedin 59.3s and home in 34.9s. Envy Me 1.03.4 for her 1000m and home in38.0s. Asmahan 800m ...
Friday FORUM
Feb 01, 2008; ... Every punter knows a likely outcome can become a disastrousresult through freakish luck. The unwritten headline of the Premiersale on Monday shows you are not alone. The news story in waiting was that the Irish horse and businessmagnate, John Magnier, was finally going to buy and ...
Off TRACK
Feb 01, 2008 ... * QUICK QUIZ: The first New Zealand-owned winner of the HunterCup in the mid-1960s was: Caduceus, Cardigan Bay, Garry Dillon,Great Adios, Lordship, Robin Dundee, Waitaki Hanover? (Answerbelow.) * * * * QUOTE OF THE WEEK (1): "My best ever result at the saleswas in the 1980s ...
That's BIZARRE
Feb 01, 2008; ... Many years ago race meetings around the Canterbury district werea community highlight and even today the passing of many is stillmourned. However sometimes hindsight provides a golden glow wherethere was once only tedium. A typical example was an Oxford meetingin North Canterbury of a ...
Fritzy Boy thrives on southern trip; OTAGO PREVIEW
Feb 01, 2008; ... Masterton galloper Fritzy Boy is jumping out of his skin goinginto the Dunedin Guineas tomorrow, says co-owner and trainer AlbyMacGregor. "He thrived down here before the Gore Guineas and he has done atleast as well since. I can't get over how well he does down here,"MacGregor ...
Wazawatsyn firing to repeat magic
Feb 01, 2008; ... A late change of plan has meant Riccarton mare Wazawatsyn beingset to repeat last year's win in the $55,000 1200m Eclipse Stakes atWingatui tomorrow. Wazawatsyn upset the hotpots in the Timaru Stakes last week,coming with a late rush in the skilled hands of Danielle Johnson ...
Dairy downsize on Govt agenda?; Dairy downsize on agenda?
Feb 01, 2008; ... The Government may downsize dairy farms and limit herd sizes inorder to protect New Zealand's clean, green image. Farmers in Canterbury and Southland have been identified as majoroffenders in a 10-year stocktake of the environment that shows NewZealand's pure image is under ...
'Tearless' onions
Feb 01, 2008 ... What will they think of next, for crying out loud? New Zealand scientists have completed the testing of "tearless"onions, which could make stinging eyes a distant, misty-eyed memoryfor cooks. Crop and Food research scientist Colin Eady said the onions werestill in the ...
Farmers, minister assess drought; THE BIG DRY [ed 1: DRY SPELL WORSENS]
Feb 01, 2008; ... A national drought meeting will be held as the dry spell worsensand Marlborough farmers struggle to cope. The meeting, set for February 12 in Wellington, will involveAgriculture Minister Jim Anderton and sector leaders. Anderton plans to make regional visits to assess the ...
National changes its stand on student loans; POLICY ANNOUNCEMENT; NATIONAL U-TURNS
Feb 01, 2008 ... Once labelled an election bribe, interest-free student loansappear to be here to stay after another National Party U-turn onLabour policy. National leader John Key said yesterday that the party wouldmaintain interest-free student loans if it won power this year. The ...
Correction
Feb 01, 2008 ... Wednesday's Press incorrectly stated that developer CalderStewart had bought 17ha of land from Christchurch InternationalAirport and the land-use designation had changed since the land wasbought. In fact, the land was ...
Strong rips, high tides and hidden rocks spell danger
Feb 01, 2008 ... A dangerous summer of strong rips and hidden rocks at Sumner hasled to more than four times the usual number of rescues. Sumnerlifeguards have rescued 35 people since November, compared witheight for all of last summer. Fine weather, which has attracted morethan 1000 people to the beach ...
Elliott to leave
Feb 01, 2008 ... AMBERLEY -- Hurunui District Council financial services managerGrant Elliott is leaving to take up a job as ...
Attack with bat
Feb 01, 2008 ... NELSON -- Nelson police were yesterday hunting for a man after avicious baseball bat attack on two teenagers in an inner-city park.The victims, two 19-year-old men, had stopped at Pioneer Park totalk with a couple about 4am when they were approached by a man whoaccused ...
Bedtime chat on your cellphone can spell end to sweet dreams; RADIATION LINK
Feb 01, 2008; ... Using your cellphone before bed may stop you from getting adecent night's sleep. A new study, funded by cellphone companies, suggests theradiation from mobile phones can cause insomnia, headaches andconfusion. Talking on the phone before bed caused people to take longer ...
Plough contest
Feb 01, 2008 ... MOUNT HUTT -- Sixty contestants from 30 countries are expected atthe 57th World Ploughing Contest, to ...
Blackout threat over North Island when station shuts down POWER SHORTAGE
Feb 01, 2008; ... North Islanders face the threat of blackouts today if theiralready creaking electricity system fails to cope with the shuttingdown of a major power station. The 60-day scheduled shutdown of Contact Energy's 380 megawatt(MW) Taranaki combined-cycle power station from this morning ...
Suppression continues
Feb 01, 2008 ... A geologist found guilty of negligence in a 2006 West Coastmining accident that killed Robert McGowan, 39, has had namesuppression extended while he appeals against the verdict. Mine owner Black Reef Mine admitted two charges ...
Carter wavers on contesting Selwyn
Feb 01, 2008; ... The long-running Selwyn electorate saga looks like claiminganother casualty, with frontrunner David Carter hinting he may stepaside from next month's selection battle. Carter, a senior front-bench National MP, was selected unopposedto represent the party in the new blue-ribbon ...
Security threats can boost number of troops; NZ IN AFGHANISTAN
Feb 01, 2008; ... The Government is willing to consider boosting the number of NewZealand troops in Afghanistan to respond to growing securitythreats. Defence Minister Phil Goff said yesterday he was awaiting aDefence Force assessment of whether more soldiers would be required. His comments ...
Gay-sex assault alleged
Feb 01, 2008 ... A 57-year-old Christchurch man says he was the victim of a gaysexual assault in a darkened park toilet block on Wednesday night. Police said the man was travelling past Burwood Park on NewBrighton Road when he stopped to "urgently use the toilets" between11pm and midnight ....
Detention for deadly role
Feb 01, 2008 ... A Lone Legion gang member has been sentenced to six months homedetention for his part in a confrontation that led to the fatalshooting of a Blenheim man. Gregory Ferguson Cleland, 36, admitted possessing offensiveweapons, possessing methamphetamine, possessing a ...
Affirmation to open council meetings in future
Feb 01, 2008 ... Legislation is responsible for the Hurunui District Council doingaway with its prayer at the start of meetings, Mayor Garry Jacksonsays. "But it is not in any way saying we are not a Christianorganisation," he said at a council meeting yesterday, when thecouncil voted to say an ...
Clients of male prostitute urged to visit doctor
Feb 01, 2008 ... An Australian male prostitute who faces charges in Canberra forknowingly passing on a sexually transmitted disease to a client,spent a week in New Zealand late last year. The Ministry of Health is urging people who had unsafe sex withthe 41-year-old man, who operated in Australia ...
Hotel can again sell alcohol; LIQUOR LICENCE
Feb 01, 2008; ... A historic South Island hotel has been the pub with no beer fornearly four decades, but that has now changed. The Tophouse Hotel, near St Arnaud, where the present 1877building replaced one built in 1859, has a chequered and murderoushistory. The hotel has been dry since ...
Government buys high-country Central Otago farm
Feb 01, 2008; ... The Government has bought a high country Central Otago farm fromthe pastoral lessee for $4.8 million in its bid to build a networkof 20 high country parks throughout New Zealand. Land Information Minister David Parker made the announcementyesterday at Twinburn Station, a 7861ha ...
Soldier spared
Feb 01, 2008 ... A soldier has escaped a conviction after punching a man outside aChristchurch restaurant. Lawyer Richard McGuire told the Christchurch District Court thatJonathan Quigley, 21, who had been drinking in central Christchurch,got involved in a dispute outside a restaurant. He ...
Foreign trawlers under fire after dolphins killed
Feb 01, 2008 ... The practices of foreign charter fishing boats are under fire,with accusations of fish dumping and the killing of seabirds anddolphins. New Zealand Federation of Commercial Fishermen president DougSaunders-Loder said the December deaths of 22 common dolphins injack mackerel ...
Greasy problem
Feb 01, 2008 ... Grease from discarded takeaways is staining new paving stoneslaid as part of the City Mall revamp. The bluestone paving stones need to be steam- cleaned every sixweeks rather than the planned three months. Christchurch City Council project director Sean Whitaker said ...
Doesn't understand
Feb 01, 2008 ... Mark van Zoest (Jan 30) is probably one of the reasons the HumanRights Commission is investigating the rights of transgender people.Van Zoest has decided that all the qualified psychologists in theworld are wrong in identifying people with gender identity disorderbut, as he marches out ...
Demerits work
Feb 01, 2008 ... Regarding the article "Plans to extend demerit points system `amockery'" (Jan 9), this Government is committed to reducing deathsand injuries on New Zealand roads. That is why we are proposing totake more dangerous drivers off the roads by increasing the numberof demerit points attached ...
Hopes for peace
Feb 01, 2008 ... The violence in Kenya stepped up another notch this week when anopposition member of Parliament was gunned down in the capitalNairobi in what was clearly a targeted professional assassination.At the same time, in a move that brought the slightest wisp of hope,long-delayed talks between ...
IN A FEW WORDS
Feb 01, 2008 ... I am appalled that John Key, if so elected, would not hesitate touse our armed forces as an agent of social policy. When a country'sarmy is commanded to enforce what is likely to be unpopular policywe shall have real problems. Fiji and Kenya are examples. ROY HOLMES The ...
Postie minus
Feb 01, 2008 ... I acquired my lavender bush with the house. I nurtured it and wasproud of it, in the naive assumption I was doing what the locals do -- that is, to present their homes in the best light of Christchurch,the Garden City. It never occurred to me that the bush or the beescould be a hazard to ...
Lynch-mob comment
Feb 01, 2008 ... I admire the work local body politicians do for our community,but Corbett's comments concern me greatly. Tagging is a crimeagainst property. It is insidious and undermines a property owner'sright to enjoy his or her home. But to respond to it by killing ...
We now have Corbett's rule of mass retaliation
Feb 01, 2008 ... Cr Barry Corbett brings great tidings (Jan 30)! No more shall youhave to stand helpless as atrocities are committed to your property.Barry's mass retaliation rule will be the new No. 1, replacing dounto others as you would have them do unto you. No more shall wecitizens have to put ...
Right attitude
Feb 01, 2008 ... Stick to your guns, Barry Corbett. Don't let the PC brigadeinfluence your attitude. Many of us think ...
Key fails
Feb 01, 2008 ... I found the two major leadership speeches most revealing. Mr Keyhad the opportunity to steal the show with positive, innovative andforward-looking policies. The Prime Minister likewise. Sadly for MrKey, most of his "innovative" ideas are largely already in practice. The ...
Clark fails
Feb 01, 2008 ... If the opening political speeches for the year were school exams,John Key's reference to cutting benefits for 16 and 17-year-olds whorefuse to attend training, go to ...
Le Grew's legacy
Feb 01, 2008 ... When the then University of Canterbury Council made the ludicrousdecision to adopt departed Vice-Chancellor Daryl Le Grew's proposalfor administrative change, everyone knew the cost of running theuniversity would increase. In reply to the question of where themoney would come from, Vice- ...
The demand for respect in Africa
Feb 01, 2008; ... The time is well overdue for African leaders to account to theirpeople instead of grasping for power at all costs, writes MANDLAAKHE DUBE. The Kenyan election fiasco that sadly has cost about 700 livesand left nearly a million homeless mirrors that of Zimbabwe. Can it be ...
Classics descend on Ruapuna; HOW TO GET THERE; THE SKOPE CLASSIC 2008
Feb 01, 2008 ... This season's fantastic summer of motorsport continues thisweekend with the Southern Festival of Speed Skope Classic -- NewZealand's foremost historic and classic motor racing event -- at thePowerbuilt Tools Raceway at Ruapuna Park. More than 200 cars representing the vintage, ...
Kenya vows tougher action to stop killings
Feb 01, 2008 ... Kenya said yesterday it would act tougher to rein in post-election violence threatening to spiral out of control in the eastAfrican nation's darkest moment since independence in 1963. Protests over President Mwai Kibaki's disputed re-election in theDecember 27 vote have ...
Kennedys for Clinton; COMMENT; RACE FOR THE WHITEHOUSE
Feb 01, 2008; ... This is a wonderful year for Democrats. Our party is blessed withthe most impressive array of primary candidates in modern history.All would make superb presidents. By now you may have read or heard that our cousin, CarolineKennedy, and our uncle, Senator Edward M. Kennedy, have ...
Club part of Kiwi motorsport history; THE SKOPE CLASSIC 2008
Feb 01, 2008 ... Since its formation in 1946, the Canterbury Car Club has beenpart of the lifeblood of Kiwi motorsport and a touchstone for racingenthusiasts across the South Island. As well as being a principle founder of Motorsport New Zealand,the CCC is also the largest and most active ...
Vintage vehicles add to appeal; THE SKOPE CLASSIC 2008
Feb 01, 2008 ... While the many vintage vehicles on display at the Skope Classicwon't be setting any lap records around the Ruapuna circuit thisweekend, they will certainly be adding to the overall crowd appealwhich attracts spectators and enthusiasts of all ages to this event. Lesley Murray from ...
MFS NZ put in trading halt; Australian parent still struggling
Feb 01, 2008; ... Trading in MFS New Zealand shares has been halted amid increasingsigns its Australian parent is struggling to stay afloat. MFS NZ, 38.5 per cent- controlled by Queensland's MFS Ltd, saidyesterday it had requested a halt in trading "while the companyassesses the uncertainty ...
Arbuckle couple set to compete with Arbuckles; POSTIE PLUS GROUP
Feb 01, 2008; ... The Arbuckle family has no interest in buying back the manchesterchain it founded 35 years ago, and will instead go into directcompetition with it. Vicki Arbuckle, who helped her husband, John, build up Arbucklesbefore they sold it to Postie Plus in 2003 for $9.5 million, ...
Mortgage rate hike could break the bank for some
Feb 01, 2008; ... Most Kiwis are upbeat about meeting their mortgage repayments,although trouble could occur for those with fixed interest ratesthat are about to expire, a mortgage trends report shows. A survey, commissioned by financial services firm GenworthFinancial, found 77 per cent of 1000 ...
Takeover back to court; THE WAREHOUSE GROUP
Feb 01, 2008; ... The Commerce Commission will get its day in the Court of Appealto fight either Woolworths or Foodstuffs taking over The Warehouse. But wrangling over when that day will be has already started. The commission may yet be forced to fight its appeal as soon asnext month -- much ...
More visit the Antarctic Centre; [EDITION 1: Antarctic Centre visitors rise]
Feb 01, 2008; ... Christchurch's International Antarctic Centre has recorded itsbusiest month, with more than 36,000 visitors in January. That is more than 1100 each day and was 16 per cent more thanJanuary last year when 31,080 visited, centre director RichardBenton said. The privately ...
Triple split may go; TELECOM
Feb 01, 2008 ... Communications Minister David Cunliffe says he will considerjunking Telecom's plans to split itself into three business units,after critics slammed the proposal. Cunliffe said in a statement he is now considering submissions onTelecom's amended separation plan. He said while he ...
Dairying lifts trade surplus
Feb 01, 2008; ... Record dairy exports have contributed to the biggest Decembertrade surplus in a decade. Statistics New Zealand (SNZ) data for exports and imports inDecember showed a big 25 per cent increase to a record monthly $3.7billion in exports. Milk powder, butter and cheese exports ...
New $212m plant at Edendale
Feb 01, 2008 ... One of the world's biggest dairy factories is expanding. Fonterra said yesterday it planned to build a new $212 millionmilk powder plant in Southland. Fonterra chief executive AndrewFerrier said the new milk dryer will be at the co- operative'sEdendale plant, 35km from ...
When being boring pays
Feb 01, 2008; ... The final verdict is in. And it's a damning one. Yes, it is true.New Zealand really is a boring country. The last five or more years have seen fantastic global economicconditions. This has been the time for building businesses, takingover businesses, selling businesses, making ...
NZOG celebrates Tui development; NZ OIL AND GAS
Feb 01, 2008 ... New Zealand Oil & Gas (NZOG) has one word to describe itsDecember quarter -- outstanding. While fears about the United States economy triggered a flightfrom risk globally, the small listed energy explorer was buoyed bycrude prices and its Tui development off the Taranaki coast ...
TrustPower profit hit by low inflows, spot prices
Feb 01, 2008 ... Weak hydro inflows and lower than average electricity spot priceshave caused TrustPower's nine-month result to fall. The listed Tauranga electricity generator and retailer posted anafter-tax profit of $78.9 million for the nine months to December31, compared with $87.6m for the ...
Investors may get 60% back; CAPITAL + MERCHANT FINANCE
Feb 01, 2008; ... Capital + Merchant Finance investors will get, at most, 60 percent of their money back, the firm's receiver says. The finance company failed in November, owing $165 million toabout 7000 investors. Receiver Grant Thornton has said it hopes topay secured debenture holders back 59c ...
Anzo's half-year profit increases 41% to $26.6m
Feb 01, 2008 ... Rent increases and an occupancy level above 99 per cent helpedAMP NZ Office Trust (Anzo) report an increase in interim tradingearnings. The listed commercial property investor reported that net tradingprofit rose 41% to $26.61 million, from the same 2006 December half-year ....
Fisher sets line to catch trading; LYTTELTON PORT OF CHRISTCHURCH
Feb 01, 2008; ... Business connections do not just mean transport and logistics toRodger Fisher -- recently named chairman of Lyttelton Port ofChristchurch (LPC). Fisher "retired" from a mainstream managing director role aged 52but has since taken on a second career as a professional director ...
Grande design
Feb 01, 2008 ... Grande Energy Exploration and Production, of the US, says it willuse part of $US3m ($NZ3.9m) it has raised to proceed with an oilsearch off the West Coast. Texas' Grande was granted ...
Daimler ends
Feb 01, 2008 ... A German court sentenced a former Daimler finance manager to 5years in jail for embezzling more than C22m ($NZ42.5m) from thecarmaker over five years. The ...
dDub
Feb 01, 2008; ... dDub's musical medicine men and women have a little something forwhat ails you, writes VICKI ANDERSON. . Splash, kerplunk. Derek Browne, lead singer of Auckland band dDubis sitting in his boat in Kawhia Harbour dangling bait. He's OK totalk, he says, because ...