Thursday, March 28, 2013

Lost hunter calls mum for help

By Simon Wong
Online Reporter
An “inexperienced” hunter was rescued by helicopter from dense bush this morning after calling his mum to say he was lost.
The 22-year-old man from Te Awamutu had become separated from his two hunting companions and had travelled a significant distance from the group’s campsite in the Kaimanawa forest park near Taupo.
Taupo police say they were alerted after the man called his mum about 10am.
Police called the man, who was near Clements Mill Rd, on his cellphone, but he had no idea where he was exactly.      
The Greenlea Rescue Helicopter was called to the area with two Land Search and Rescue volunteers to help search for the man.    
He was found 2km from the road and later dropped off at the road safe and well.
Greenlea Rescue Helicopter spokesman Nat Every says while the man was in dense bush, he still had cellphone coverage and was able to remain in contact with police,  helping to direct the helicopter to his position.
It was fortunate the man was still able to use his cellphone, he says.
“If there was no coverage it would have been a mammoth task to find him.”
3 News Fri, 29 Mar 2013 4:10p.m.

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Invercargill estuary 'smells like Rotorua'

Dry conditions around Invercargill have made the area smell like Rotorua, Environment Southland says.
The smell coming from the New River Estuary has raised the ire of some residents who have complained to the organisation.
Environment Southland coastal scientist Nick Ward says he was not quite sure of the cause, but it was most likely because of the relatively warm, dry conditions in the region.
“It’s something we’ve been investigating but it’s a work in progress,” he says.
Mr Ward recommended people avoid water-based activities, stay away from areas which smell bad and where they can see black sediment. 
The New River Estuary has been experiencing excessive nutrient and sediment input from waterways in the past few years, he says.

The change in nutrient levels created good growing conditions for red and green algae, but were not ideal for fish habitat species like seagrass.
“This prolific growth results in lots of organic matter which rots down,” Mr Ward says.
The bacteria which causes the organic matter to rot eventually uses up oxygen and eventually other compounds including carbon dioxide and sulphate.
Mr Ward says the sulphate breaks down to form hydrogen sulphide which “smells like rotten eggs”.
“It’s the same smell you’ll get in Rotorua,” he says.  
Low river levels, warm conditions and lower tide levels mean more of the black hydrogen sulphide sediment is exposed and more of the gas it produces is able to disperse.
“That’s why people are picking up on the smell,” Mr Ward says.
3 News
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Wellington water usage down

Wellingtonians have been taking their water restrictions seriously which has resulted in a “much lower” daily demand, the Greater Wellington Regional Council says.
Council chair Fran Wilde says daily demand for water had decreased from 160 million litres per day three weeks ago to 130 million litres per day now.
She praised Wellingtonians for respecting the water restrictions, but says “we’re not out of the woods yet”.
“We need to take a precautionary approach and continue our water conservation efforts, at least until the next significant rainfall lifts river-flows again,” she says.

River flows were still relatively low compared to previous March norms despite recent rainfall and a total outdoor water use ban remains in Lower Hutt, Porirua, Upper Hutt and Wellington.
Council water supply manager Chris Laidlow says the recent rain around Wellington was heavier than predicted.
The downpour meant more rain soaked into the ground which kept river levels higher for longer, he says.
“The river levels are dropping more slowly than we thought, but could be back to the levels they were two weeks ago if we don’t get more rain by mid-April. Another couple of days of rain should put us in a good position to consider lifting restrictions,” he says.
The Greater Wellington Council says the 14-day weather outlook shows six consecutive days of rainfall from April 5, but it was not counting on the rain arriving.
3 News
 
 


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No brothels for Lyttleton

By Simon Wong
Online Reporter
The Christchurch City Council yesterday adopted a new bylaw meaning commercial brothels will not be able to set up in the port town of Lyttleton.
The Lyttleton community were strongly against brothels being set up in the town.
The Brothels (Location and Commercial Sexual Services Signage) bylaw also limits signage used to advertise commercial sexual services and restricts where operator-run brothels can set up.
It stops the operation of brothels from multi-unit residential complexes.
Small owner-operated brothels already in multi-unit residential complexes have been given until March 31, 2014 to relocate their businesses.
The bylaw comes into effect on April 15.
3 News

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George Taiaroa's family call for answers

As police search for clues in the murder of labourer George Taiaroa, his family have made an emotional plea asking for anyone with information to come forward.
Mr Taiaroa, 67, was shot dead on March 19 while working a stop-go sign on a one-lane bridge on Tram Rd near Tokoroa.
Police still have few leads in the case, but have spoken to numerous witnesses.
Detective Inspector Tim Anderson says a motive still had not been established.
"People out there know who this offender is and need to be brave and grow a backbone and tell use who it is."
Meanwhile, Mr Taiaroa's family, who addressed media in Hamilton this morning, described the husband, father and grandfather as the "salt of the earth" and a gentle giant who did not like conflict.
Wife Helen Taiaroa says she, like police, were unsure as to why Mr Taiaroa had been killed.
"He didn't have an enemy. He just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time."
A tearful Mrs Taiaroa said if the killer's aim was to destroy a family, they had succeeded.
Mr Taiaroa's daughter Rochai Taiaroa described her father as a family man who enjoyed spending as much time with his family as he could.
"He was just a loving man, that's why we're finding this so hard. He was an absolute hero to me.
"I wish we could give the police a lead to follow, but dad didn't like conflict. He didn't attract anger."
Mr Taiaroa's grandchildren were resilient, but were too young to comprehend what had happened, says Ms Taiaroa. As they grew up they would not have a grandfather to share their 21st birthday with or walk them down the aisle at their weddings.
Ms Taiaroa pleaded with the public to contact police with any information, no matter how insignificant they think it is.
"This person has a whanau, they've got neighbours, they're part of a community. They must have said something to someone.
"My whanau needs closure. My whanau deserves it."
Mr Taiaroa's other daughter Melanie Taiaroa says if the public could take anything away from her father's death, it was to tell their family they loved them.
"He used to tell me he loved me at the end of every conversation and I thought it was silly. Now I know how much that means."
3 News

By Simon Wong
Online Reporter Thu, 28 Mar 2013 12:59p.m.
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Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Waterfront tram future mooted

The future of Auckland’s waterfront trams will be considered during a suspension of service while upgrades are made around Wynyard Quarter.
Waterfront Auckland will also ponder the feasibility of extending the rail loop from Wynyard Quarter to Britomart while major works are done along Halsey St and Daldy St.
Upgrade work began earlier this month and is expected to take about nine months. The tram service will be suspended from Easter.
Waterfront Auckland general manager of strategy Stephen Rainbow said during the tram’s hiatus research would be done into the organisation’s long-term vision to connect the two areas.
“We’ll be looking at that link and ensuring it is part of the public transport system.”
The existing trams could be used for the service or possibly light-rail rolling stock, he said.
The width of the rails was a deliberate decision to allow the possibility of light-rail transport to use the track, he said.
Waterfront Auckland had three possible routes for the Wynyard Quarter to Britomart rail link which were a new bridge over the Wynyard crossing, along Fanshawe St and along the viaduct. 
The link could not be seen as an isolated project because it needed to fit into the larger debate over the development of Quay St, he said.
The two historic trams began the service around Jellicoe, Halsey, Gaunt and Daldy streets in 2011 on a 15-minute circuit.
Both arrived from Australia after being restored at the Bendigo Tramway Museum in Victoria.
3 News
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Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Police search for missing man

The police dive squad have searched part of the Mahurangi River north of Auckland for a 73-year-old man missing from his boat.
Warkworth Police say Donald Ravenscroft was last heard from at about 7.40pm on Sunday when he rang his wife to say he planned to drive home to Wellsford.
He had moored his ketch, named Rakiah, at the mouth of the Mahurangi River.
The alarm was raised yesterday when Mr Ravenscroft did not return home.
His 3-metre inflatable was found tied to a tree on the western side of Mahurangi Harbour with the oars missing.  
Mr Ravenscroft's personal belongings were found on the yacht, including his car keys and cell phone. His vehicle was parked at Scott's Landing.
He is described as being about 190.5cm tall, of medium build and clean shaven with grey hair. It is not known what clothing he was wearing at the time.
Police suspect that Mr Ravenscroft may have attempted to swim after his RHIB (rigid-hulled inflatable boat) after it drifted away from the launch.
Sergeant Bede Haughey, of Warkworth Police, is urging anyone who may have seen Mr Ravenscroft or the inflatable RHIB boat to contact the Warkworth Police on   (09) 425 8109 .
3 News

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