Dispute at wildlife sanctuary
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An ongoing debacle between the councils and landowners over the access to a piece of land at a wildlife sanctuary situated south of Cambridge might jeopardize a fated funding of more than $1 million.
Five landowners have already hindered access to fencing at Maungatautari Ecological Island despite the fact that it is being monitored. This was what Waikato Regional Council chief executive Bob Laing told the councilors yesterday. He added that it might take some time before they can legally out up a fence.
Mr. Laing was giving answers to questions thrown by councilor Jane Hennebry of whether the council is putting their money in the right cause by giving support to the sanctuary.
The discussion came during his submission on the council's draft long term plan, in which he recommended the council pay $300,000 towards the project in 2012-13, $275,000 the next financial year, $250,000 the year after and a provisional $200,000 in 2015.
Ms. Hennebry also asked the Waikato Regional Council chief executive the assurances that the money that they have allotted for the wildlife sanctuary is being spent for all the right uses.
From Twitter...
Dispute puts sanctuary cash at risk A stoush between landowners and councils over access to land at a wildlife sanctuary south of Cambrid
— propertyhubnz (Property Hub) (@propertyhubnz) Wed May 16 2012
Mr. Laing, though, had provided some reassurances that the council should still continue to fund the project despite the problems that are posed by some of the landowners.
From YouTube...
Related Stories:Maungatautari Ecological Island | Our Vision
Maungatautari Ecological Island
Skate park assault suspect pleads guilty
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The man that was involved in the physical dispute that took place at a skate park in Auckland pleads guilty to two assault charges.
Craig Platt, 48, was featured in a video in March during the Skinny & Serenity National Grom Skate Comp at Victoria Park where he appeared to shoulder-barge a teenager at a skating competition and then later grabbed a man, later named Leighton Dyer, around the neck.
The video went viral and has created quite a stir in the country. This prompted the authorities to further do some investigation on the matter as well as for the Auckland mayor, Len Brown, to also be involved in.
From Twitter...
Guilty pleas over skate park assault http://t.co/vCD0NskR
— ECPATChildAlert (ECPAT Child Alert) (@ECPATChildAlert) Mon May 14 2012
The assailant was supposed to only be facing a single charge over the assault. This was of the teenage boy that took place on March 25 at the skate park. However, the police felt the need to slap in a second assault charge for also assaulting Mr. Dyer at the same affair.
Today, he appeared at the Auckland District Court and admitted to the charges against him.
Platt is due for sentencing on September 7. John Armstrong, his lawyer has earlier said that he will apply for a discharge without conviction.
From YouTube...
Related Stories:Skate Park Assault and bully in NZ -Craig Platt the bully - YouTube
Guilty pleas over skate park assault - National - NZ Herald News
Bringing Beauty to Your Yard with Teak Furniture
Yes, a lovely lawn needs decoration, especially when it’s in front of your house. And if you haven’t started towards that path yet, then the highest recommendation that can be given to you is to use teak furniture. Teak furniture distributed by Design Warehouse is tasteful and elegant and the pieces you pick out will ultimately define your yard or lawn. Teak is a very good option and investment because of its durability as well as its low maintenance cost.
Police operative takes down drug ring leaders
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After leading the largest drug syndicates in New Zealand, Feng Chih “Daniel” Hsu—the man behind it all—has been sentenced to jail for 17 years and three months. His right-hand man, Aenoy Bouavong, has been sentenced to a slightly lighter sentence though not by much, with 16 years to serve.
The New Zealand Police had been working for ten months on a covert drug operation called Operation Acacia, designed to bring the two men in. The drug bust spanned the underworld drug network of Auckland, Waikato and the Coromandel.
Operation Acacia, wherein law enforcers intercepted the drug ring’s communication channels, revealed how the network relied on special codes and the use of various cellphone numbers to avoid detection.
According to the New Zealand Herald, Justice Kit Toogood described the group during sentencing, as "a sophisticated, structured large scale operation'' that manufactured, sold and distributed the Class A drug.
While the sentencing resulted in a definite number of years the men will spend behind bars, Hsu has other legal problems to think about.
From Twitter...
Drug ring boss jailed for 17 years - New Zealand Herald http://t.co/FeALHdNa
— nzboards (New Zealand Boards) (@nzboards) Fri May 4 2012
For instance, the police are currently searching for the funds from Hsu’s sale of his BMW X5, his house, and an extra $985,000 in cash. The operation is under the Proceeds of Crimes Act, wherein Hsu will be subject again to a future hearing
From YouTube...
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HP 13.3" Folio Ultrabook – The Forerunner in the Ultrabook Race
The beauty in an Ultrabook is seen through its lightness, thinness and long battery life, reviewers agreed. Presenting HP 13.3" Folio Ultrabook, a super lightweight notebook, that makes it a worthy contender in the Ultrabook wars. This particular Ultrabook is aimed for the on the go businessman. However, that doesn’t mean it’s only limited to them. Everyone who appreciates the HP 13.3" Folio Ultrabook is welcome to take a closer look.
Sickly dog rescued, dies at vet’s
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In New Zealand, it may be legal to kill dogs humanely to be eaten, but this one pet’s owner’s didn’t have food in mind when they abused it.
During the later part of the previous week, a couple from Whakatane came across a dog that had been abused to near death.
Upon closer inspection, they found that the extremely gaunt dog had head injuries. Its ribs were also sticking out. Not only had it been starved and abandoned, it was also beaten.
‘"It was immediately obvious it was in huge distress and I made my husband turn back,"’ the wife said during an interview with Katee Shanks of the Whakatane News.
She further said that the dog was “shaking like a leaf” and compared it to someone with Parkinson’s disease.
The couple immediately took the dog with them and brought it to a veterinarian. They were later advised that it would not live long, and that it had to be euthanized.
Police and council staff were then called in to the clinic to investigate the dog. A dog ranger of the council then said that he recognized the dog, and that it had been in good condition the last time they saw it in the owner’s house.
From YouTube...
Teens queue up at libraries for hit book
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After the widely successful film adaptation of the post apocalyptic teen novel, Suzanne Collins’ The Hunger Games is making waves in libraries as well.
The Auckland libraries are no exception, as currently 2610 people are currently in line to borrow the book.
As of this writing, the novel tops a list of the most requested titles. Although the Auckland libraries collectively house 229 copies of the book, and four more are on order, a three month waiting period is set for readers looking to borrow a copy, according to Louise LaHatte, Auckland libraries regional resources manager.
From Twitter...
Library readers hunger for hit book - Books - NZ Herald News http://t.co/Ve8MMGCr
— AbacusEduBooks (Abacus Edu Books) (@AbacusEduBooks) Tue May 1 2012
The book, by American Suzanne Collins, heads a list of the most requested titles. Even with 229 copies available and four more on order, readers are waiting up to three months for a copy, Auckland Libraries regional resources manager Louise LaHatte said.
According to a report by the New Zealand Herald, in the capital 226 people are queuing for city libraries' 51 copies and in Christchurch 365 people are waiting for 75 books.
The book follows 16-year-old Katniss Everdeen and her experience at being chosen to participate in the Hunger Games, along with 12 boys and 11 other girls who are expected to fight for their lives until only one is left.
The story is about 16-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who is selected by lottery to take part in an annual event in which 12 boys and 12 girls battle for their lives until only one is left.
From YouTube..
NZ military bands scrapped due to budget cuts
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The New Zealand military band is no more.
Calling it a “national scandal”, the secretary of New Zealand’s oldest band has frowned upon the decision to scrap the band in an effort to deal with some budget cuts.
The decision came when the Defence Force decided to cut funding for seven out of ten military bands by the end of June. The plan is expected to reel in savings of $520,000 per year.
From Twitter...
Scrapping of military bands a 'national scandal': http://t.co/tzOFNnpu
— KezzaFree (i want a change ) (@KezzaFree) Thu Apr 26 2012
http://t.co/2MV1V2jz Scrapping of military bands a 'national scandal'
— alecerickwant (Alec Erickson) (@alecerickwant) Thu Apr 26 2012
In a report from the New Zealand Herald, Band of the Royal Regiment of New Zealand Artillery secretary Bob Davis said the timing for the cuts was poor because military bands would be in demand for major events in the next few years - the World War 1centennial and the 75th commemoration of World War 2.
A larger figure of $3 million in savings was originally planned by the Defence Force before they agreed to settle for $520,000 annually.
Three remaining bands are expected to play music for events across New Zealand, namely the Navy Regular Force Band, Air Force Territorial Force band, and the Army Regular Force Band.
From YouTube...
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Minister Dismisses Moerewa Board of Trustees
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In a move that has gained a lot of attention, Minister of Education Hekia Parata sent an emphatic message by dissolving the board of trustees of Moerewa School. The school opened for term two today, in direct defiance of a Ministry edict to have their senior students enroll in other schools instead.
Countering the move, school principal Keri Milne-Ihimaera backed her staff. An audit finding however, revealed that they failed to see that student work was copied verbatim from Wikipedia in NCEA papers.
According to the New Zealand Herald, Ms Parata said an NZQA audit of Moerewa School found work was copied from Wikipedia, exemplars were not altered and some of the work was completed by other students.
As a result, the school’s rating was changed to ‘not achieved’, due to the results serving as evidence that the grades awarded did not meet the national standard.
From Twitter...
Minister dissolves school board after it ignores edict - Education - NZ Herald News http://t.co/AYiuORtz via @nzherald
— oliva4mangere (oliva4mangere) (@oliva4mangere) Tue Apr 24 2012
The satellite education program was to have ended after the debacle, where seventeen students enrolled in Auckland High School Kia Aoroha College but taught in Moerewa, had to look for different schools.
Ms Parata’s decision to dismiss the board of trustees came after Milne-Ihimaera opened the school for senior students this morning.
Milne-Ihimaeria, however, remains steadfast in her claim that the Ministry of Education had misunderstood the findings, and that students were “doing well” in their school.
From YouTube..