Roof no refuge for suspect

A teenager who allegedly tried to enter a walk-in freezer at a Blenheim pub climbed on to a roof to hide from police yesterday morning.

Police used a police dog to find the man perched on the roof in central Blenheim, an hour after he was allegedly seen by a staff member trying to get into the Criterion Hotel's freezer.

Constable Martin McDonald of Blenheim said cordons were set up before the man was found and arrested at 11.40am.

A 19-year-old student was charged with burglary and was remanded in custody to appear in the Blenheim District Court today.

In a separate incident around the same time yesterday, three people were allegedly caught smoking cannabis in a garage by police, who had been called to a Witherlea house by people complaining about noise and swearing.

Mr McDonald said two men, aged 18 and 21, and an 18-year-old woman were charged with possessing and consuming cannabis and released to appear in the Blenheim District Court on June 8.

Meanwhile, on Friday, a 45-year-old Renwick insurance broker was arrested and charged with possessing a firearm without a licence after police searched his house at 6pm and found three rifles, Mr McDonald said.

Also on Friday, a driver escaped without injury after crashing into a parked truck on the corner of Stephenson and Houldsworth Sts in Blenheim at 8.15pm.

On Saturday, two cars collided at the intersection of Nelson and Hutcheson Sts at 8.50pm. Mr McDonald said nobody was injured.

In a third crash, two cars collided on the corner of Maxwell and Eltham Rds at 7.15pm, causing minor damage to both vehicles. Mr McDonald said that again, nobody was injured, and the crash was caused by one driver failing to give way.

The Marlborough Express

Last updated 12:00 31/05/2010

New president, same key issues

A "change of team leader" will not mean a change in focus, according to the new Rural Women New Zealand (RWNZ) president.

Liz Evans, who was the vice-president and the national organisation's top of the south representative, was sworn in as the new president at the conference in Oamaru yesterday.

Mrs Evans, who lives at the top of the Waihopai Valley, said the focus of the organisation would still be around four key issues: rural health, education, land use and social issues.

She said some of the bigger issues for the 4000 members around the country included the Government's proposal to mine conservation land, freedom camping and the rollout of rural broadband.

Originally from Auckland, Mrs Evans studied in Nelson and then journalism in Wellington, becoming the rural reporter for The Marlborough Express between 1970 and 1974.

She said her relative inexperience with farming and rural life worked to her advantage.

"It meant I came into the farming world with an open mind, which gave me a tremendous respect for farming, farmers and the rural community."

Mrs Evans said that while she was vice-president she had more of a "regional focus", but as the new president would need to take a "broad overview" on rural issues.

She believes the role of men and women on the farm are "exactly the same in work and influence".

Mrs Evans takes over from Margaret Chapman as president. The term lasts three years and is based on nominations made by members.

By SIMON WONG - The Marlborough Express

Last updated 12:00 28/05/2010

Marlborough Express

CHANGING HANDS: Marlborough's Liz Evans has taken over as president of Rural Women New Zealand.

Aiming for a curious future

This week is Youth Week, a time to celebrate our country's young people. Reporter SIMON WONG spoke to some of Marlborough's young people about their futures and what concerns them the most.

Blenheim teen Daisy Boothman-Burrell is pondering a tough decision which many of her contemporaries and even those who are quite a bit older can relate to.

What to do with one's life?

The 17-year-old has to decide about what to do when she leaves Marlborough Girls' College later this year.

Her dream career, would be something that would satisfy her enduring curiosity.

"I'd like to do something where I can keep finding out more about it."

Despite her indecision, there seems to be a recurring theme in career choice in the Boothman-Burrell family.

Daisy's father is a doctor, her mother is a nurse and her sister is studying health science at Otago University.

She said the career choices of her family were not necessarily an indicator of where she might be headed, but she admires what her father does.

"[My dad] doesn't live for his job, it's sort of his life. The joy I've seen him go through as a doctor and just helping people – I think that could be really cool.

"[Growing up] all my other friends had plastic stethoscopes and I had a real one, so you know I'd go play doctors and nurses."

A small-town girl at heart, Daisy believes setting goals allows young people to make "proper decisions" regarding their future.

She said teenagers needed to ask themselves whether they wanted to have "loads of fun" now or look to the future "and really grab hold of that career".

Asking themselves whether they were prepared for a night out was also what teens need do, according to Daisy.

Daisy is a peer supporter at her school, and has been part of a group that launched a Plan to Party campaign recently.

The young people involved have made pocket-sized cards with advice such as remembering to eat before going out and taking money for a taxi to get home.

She said a recent double-fatality car crash near Koromiko had a major effect on teenagers in the wider community, as has the case of a 20-year-old woman who is alleged to have fled a police checkpoint in Blenheim shortly before being involved in a car crash which left a 51-year-old woman dead.

However, she was worried the lessons learnt by the wider community could be forgotten all too quickly.

"You find that all the time something like this happens and for a while you think about it and it's really shocking and then it sort of wears off after a while.

"You kind of forget about it until the next crash happens."

As a peer supporter, Daisy said helping grieving friends was at times difficult.

"We're learning from it and we're trying to help the people who are affected by it."

The Marlborough Express

Last updated 11:51 28/05/2010

Being Sadd is Katie's happy place

Seventeen-year-old Katie Grigg is proud to have introduced a programme to her high school aimed at reducing alcohol-related road deaths among youth.

The Community College Marlborough student joined the movement Sadd (Students Against Driving Drunk) this year because of stories she heard from her mother, a former nurse at Auckland's Middlemore Hospital.

"My mum used to come home and tell me these crazy stories about what happened [during her shifts] and it was really shocking."

Katie also joined because she knew several of her friends drove after drinking.

She said she initially had trouble getting the other 70 Community College students to embrace the Sadd message.

Other students, she said, thought the drink-driving message had been "shoved down their throat".

"It was quite a mission to get people to listen to me, but I had the support of all the teachers."

Now a representative for the cause, Katie attends regional Sadd meetings as well as weekly school council meetings and also organises competitions and promotional material.

Katie said Sadd members sign a contract for life promising not to drink and drive.

Aside from being a staunch advocate for Sadd, Katie has a passion for hairdressing. "People were a bit shocked when I said I'd like to become a hairdresser, but it's something that makes me truly happy. There aren't a lot of jobs I could get that kind of buzz from.

"It relaxes me; it's pretty much my dream job."

Katie, who works at Solutions '93 Hair Salon on High St, Blenheim, believes outer beauty can be a catalyst for exposing inner beauty. "Before I go into work I'm really excited about getting to meet people and talk to them. If somebody looks good on the outside, in turn they'll feel good on the inside."

Katie hopes to eventually travel the world as a hairdresser.

As a member of Sadd, she believes the biggest problem facing youth at the moment is drink driving.

But she said coverage of youth drink driving in the media was given too much emphasis, while all the good things young people did received little attention. This was unfair to the majority of young people who were generally very responsible.

"It does put a bit of a downer on the youth. You wish you could talk to these people and say: `Look, this is what the rest of the world thinks of us now'."

She said bad news took the focus away from the positive things youth did. "People don't take youth as seriously as they should because the youth are the future."

By SIMON WONG - The Marlborough Express

Last updated 12:00 27/05/2010

SCOTT HAMMOND/Marlborough Express

MAKING THE CUT: Katie Grigg hopes her enthusiasm for hairdressing will take her around the world.

"People don't take youth as seriously as they should because the youth are the future."

Career in music beckons for teen

A career in the music industry is a prospect Picton teenager Jordan Skipper is weighing up, six months shy of finishing high school.

The 17-year-old head girl at Queen Charlotte College was raised on music and is a regular contender at the annual Smokefreerockquest.

"I grew up around music, it's always been a big part of my life."

She said her father taught her how to play the guitar at age six and she began writing songs at age 12.

Jordan performed in the Nelson heat of the Smokefreerockquest last weekend and made it through to the regional finals to be held on June 26.

Before her Nelson performance, Jordan had modest expectations for the competition.

"I just keep telling myself it's about the experience. [The Smokefreerockquest] is probably one of the biggest opportunities secondary students get to make their mark on the NZ music industry."

This is the fourth time Jordan, an avid singer-songwriter, has entered the competition.

Each time she has entered, she has been placed in the top two bands in the Marlborough region.

The best thing about competitions like rockquest and her previous performances at the Marlborough Wine and Food Festival, she said, is gaining practical experience in front of a live audience.

"That's the good thing about it, you can work on your song writing, your delivery, your stage performance and just try and get rid of your nerves in front of hundreds of people."

Jordan, who has been compared to Anika Moa and Brooke Fraser, is modest too about the idea of a career in music, but said a move away from Picton would be necessary if she were to take that step.

"I do hope [I can make it a career], but if not then even something on the side would be good enough for me."

The teen, who would consider herself "old" at 25, would be happy with the occasional paid gig and likes the idea of becoming a music teacher because she thinks of herself as a "people person".

Music, she says, is an opportunity for her to escape from the real world and to share her experiences.

"I find that when I do sing I can forget everything. Just for that little bit it's just me and my guitar. It's good."

By SIMON WONG - The Marlborough Express

Last updated 13:00 26/05/2010

SCOTT HAMMOND/Marlborough Express

MELODY MAKER: Singer-songwriter Jordan Skipper is eyeing up a career in the New Zealand music industry.

Teenager shows web design initiative

Blenheim teen Logan Anderson may be the youngest executive director in New Zealand.

The 15-year-old started his own web design business, Webtek, last September after being roped into creating a website for real estate company Ray White in Australia by his brother, despite having no experience.

"My brother pretty much called and asked if I knew how to do a website and I said `yeah, I'll give it a crack'.

"I sort of just did it for a free trip to Aussie."

The Marlborough Boys' College student said "there was quite a bit of pressure" for him to pull off the website given his inexperience, but it was something he thoroughly enjoyed.

Since completing the website in January last year, business has been booming.

"I struggled [with the workload] for a bit, but I'm sort of easing into it and only taking on a couple of jobs a week now."

Logan has created websites for businesses such as QuickCash Finance and event websites including the Marlborough Marathon, the Forrest Graperide and the Moa Beer Moa Hunt.

Despite what seems to be a destined career path in web design, Logan is still unsure about where his future will take him.

"I've never really thought about it. I know I'll go to university, but I'm not sure what I'll do afterwards. Probably something IT-based, but I'm not sure yet."

Logan plans to leave Blenheim eventually, but said he would like to return to "settle down".

He said leaving was something on the minds of many other Marlborough youth.

"Most people at school want to leave Blenheim, get a degree, do a job for a while and then maybe settle down here."

Something else on the minds of Marlborough youth, he said, was the drinking culture.

Logan said a recent crash in Picton, which claimed the lives of Alick Tapp and Michael Mealings, both 17, and injured four others, had a big impact on many Blenheim teens.

"That really worried a lot of people at school. A lot of my friends knew someone that knew someone in the crash and it really just hit home for them."

The vast majority of youth drinking, according to Logan, takes place under the supervision of parents, something, he says, is "a lot safer" than going to town on their own on a Friday night.

Logan believes media coverage of youth is extremely skewed toward negative aspects.

"We're not just bludgers, we're not drunk drivers and we're not all going out and getting completely smashed on a Friday night."

As for the future of his flourishing business, Logan is taking a wait-and-see approach.

"I'll keep going wherever it takes me, really. I'm really enjoying it. It's a lot better than working shifts at New World and the money is definitely better."

By SIMON WONG - The Marlborough Express

Last updated 12:00 25/05/2010

No plea in crash case

Bail was granted for a man who is alleged to have crashed into a car which was parked up after an accident on Weld Pass and then failed to stop to check for injury just after midnight on May 16.

Beneficiary Clifford Brent Markland, 55, entered no plea at the Blenheim District Court yesterday to a charge of driving dangerously and failing to stop .

Markland will reappear on June 8. A 37-year-old Christchurch man was seriously injured in the crash.

The Marlborough Express

Last updated 12:00 25/05/2010

Unborn child death threat

A Kaikoura man threatened to kill his unborn child – by punching his former partner in the stomach – before pinning the woman to the ground and twice attempting to strangle her, a judge was told in the Kaikoura District Court yesterday.

Daniel Joseph Bailey admitted charges of male assaults female and using threatening language, both on January 14, when he appeared before Judge Tony Couch.

Judge Couch remanded the 20-year-old to July 16 for a pre-sentence report, including consideration of home detention options, and sentence.

In the written police summary of facts presented to Judge Couch, Bailey is said to have got into a fight with his three-months-pregnant former partner over whether he was the father of the unborn child.

Becoming enraged, Bailey got out of the car they were in and went to the side the woman was sitting, calming down and coaxing her to unlock the now-locked doors.

"[Bailey] then grabbed the victim by the hair, pulled her out of the car and threw her on the ground.

"He stood over her, holding her down, with his fist clenched, and told her if she did not swear on her baby's life that the child was his, he would kill it by punching her in the stomach."

When the woman said the baby was his, he let her stand up, but when she began to use her phone to get help he knocked her over, straddled her and began to strangle her, according to the summary of facts.

"This prevented the victim from breathing for several seconds. [Bailey] then let the victim breathe, but kept her pinned to the ground with his legs."

The woman tried to scream, but Bailey covered her mouth and then attempted to strangle her a second time, before she managed to free herself.

However, Bailey would not let her leave and took her to his house.

The woman, who suffered a small cut, bruising and pain to the side of her neck, but did not need medical attention, acted like everything was OK so Bailey would relax and she was able to leave the next day, according to the summary of facts.

When spoken to by police, Bailey admitted pulling his ex-partner from the car and holding her down, but denied attempting to strangle her or threatening to kill their unborn child.

The Marlborough Express

Last updated 12:00 25/05/2010

A Blenheim man turned to cannabis after being unable to find suitable medication to help the physical pain of a motorcycle accident that happened 18 years ago, the Blenheim District Court heard on Friday.

Darryl Bruce Aberhart, 37, was sentenced to 15 months' imprisonment after admitting cultivating cannabis, possessing equipment to cultivate cannabis and possessing cannabis.

A sentence of six months' imprisonment for possession of equipment and two months for possession of cannabis will run concurrently.

Judge Tony Zohrab said when police searched Aberhart's home, where his partner and several small children also lived, on December 22 they found a total of 2.1 kilograms of dried cannabis throughout the property and 90 cannabis plants, including 43 mature plants growing in a glasshouse.

Police also found a purpose-built growing room, three containers of liquid fertiliser, seedling growing trays and heat lamps.

Crown prosecutor Mike Turner said Aberhart had 18 previous convictions for drug-related matters, six of which were for cultivation.

Judge Zohrab said it was a point of contention whether there was a commercial element to the cultivation.

Defence counsel Rob Harrison said Aberhart had sometimes offered cannabis to a friend, but aside from this there was no suggestion he grew it for commercial purposes.

Mr Harrison said no medical practitioner had been able to alleviate the pain Aberhart had been suffering since his motorcycle accident in 1992.

He said the whole reason for growing the cannabis was Aberhart's chronic pain.

Judge Zohrab said personal circumstances did not usually carry weight in drug cases, but Aberhart was given the discounted sentence because of an early guilty plea. The maximum sentence was two years in jail.

The Marlborough Express

Last updated 12:00 24/05/2010

Three new JPs for Marlborough

t was standing room only yesterday as family and friends witnessed three of Marlborough's newest Justices of the Peace being sworn in at the Blenheim District Court.

James Cagney, Alistair Boyce and William Harris, took an oath before judge Tony Zohrab promising to faithfully serve the Queen.

Justices of the Peace are nominated by community groups and must be approved by the local MP before they can be sworn in.

Mr Harris, who has been involved with the Lions Club, Rotary Club and Hospice Marlborough, said he was "humbled and surprised" by his nomination.

"It's something I never thought about. I see it as an add-on to my service to the community."

He said he had been heavily involved in the community since leaving school.

Mr Harris plans to eventually take on the judicial duties of a JP.

In addressing the new JPs and the court, Judge Zohrab said the court system would not run as smoothly as it did without the involvement of JPs.

Mr Boyce, who is deputy principal of Queen Charlotte College, said he did not anticipate his new duties, which include certifying documents and witnessing signatures, would interfere with his teaching.

"I wouldn't be leaving my classroom for it. It won't take me away from my school work."

Marlborough Express general manager Roger Rose was presented with an award for his 25 years as the registrar for the Marlborough Justice of the Peace Association.

A JP since 1982, Mr Rose said he was "pretty proud" of the time he had spent as a registrar and said it was a "real honour and privilege" to be a JP.

Justices of the Peace hold their position for life unless they choose to resign.

By SIMON WONG - The Marlborough Express

Last updated 12:00 21/05/201

Drug accused spits at judge

A 47-year-old man spat at the judge after he was denied bail in the Blenheim District Court yesterday for indictable charges relating to the manufacture of methamphetamine.

Judge Tony Zohrab denied bail for Warren Antony Dell, who faces charges of possession of precursor substances to manufacture methamphetamine, possession of material for producing methamphetamine and possession of utensils to consume methamphetamine.

Dell, who has yet to enter a plea, also faces charges of driving while disqualified and breaching bail.

Dell will reappear on June 14 for an evaluation hearing.

A Blenheim woman was remanded in custody overnight to reappear in the Blenheim District Court to also face indictable charges relating to the manufacture of methamphetamine.

Ingrid Ruth Pedersen, 42, was to reappear in court today facing charges relating to the manufacture of methamphetamine, possession of cannabis and possession of the drug LSD.

She entered no plea yesterday.

Bail was granted for a 35-year-old mother of a terminally ill child who faces charges of burglary and being party to the manufacture of methamphetamine.

Lavinia May Van Duin also faces a charge of attempting to pervert the course of justice.

Van Duin will reappear in the Blenheim District Court on May 31. She has yet to enter a plea.

A Blenheim teenager facing a charge of knowingly supplying material capable of manufacturing methamphetamine was granted bail.

Chloe Pascale Ingersoll, 19, who entered no plea, was remanded on bail to reappear on May 31.

A Blenheim man facing a raft of methamphetamine and cannabis-related charges was granted bail at the court yesterday .

Brendon Phillip Roberts, 33, is indictably charged with possession of a pipe to smoke methamphetamine, possession of equipment for producing methamphetamine, possession of precursor substances for producing methamphetamine and possession of equipment to cultivate cannabis.

He has not entered a plea.

Roberts will reappear on May 31.

The Marlborough Express

Last updated 13:00 18/05/2010

Cruise liner worker takes shore leave

Twenty-year-old Marlborough woman Lucy McAdam works on a cruise ship she calls "bigger than Blenheim".

Lucy's workplace is the largest cruise liner in the world, with 16 decks and guests that include Ellen DeGeneres.

Lucy has just returned to Blenheim for a break from working on the five-star Oasis of the Seas, which is 360 metres long and 72m tall above the water.

"It's actually huge, it's bigger than Blenheim. It has over 2000 crew and about 7000 passengers. There's everything on it from rock climbing walls to the spa," Lucy said.

The ship has a casino, a 1380-seat theatre, a nightclub and 16 decks.

Lucy, a spa therapist who trained at NMIT, said the lifestyle for staff on the ship could get quite hectic.

"It's a pretty crazy lifestyle. You work really long hours, but when you get time off you get to explore the islands. You make so many friends from around the world."

She said while the guest areas were top class, the staff quarters were pretty good too.

"The first three floors are just for crew, with bars and coffee shops.

"It's like a little town at the bottom of the ship where none of the guests can go."

The ship leaves from Fort Lauderdale in Florida and travels through the Bahamas and around the Virgin Islands.

Lucy said its size restricted the number of ports it could travel to.

While working on the cruise liner, Lucy has met numerous celebrities, including comedian Ellen DeGeneres and model Daisy Fuentes.

Lucy applied for the job in September 2008 and flew to London for a month for training.

Another cruise liner, the Allure of the Seas, is being built in Finland and in October, Lucy will be flown to help set it up before it sails for America.

By SIMON WONG - The Marlborough Express

Last updated 13:00 05/05/2010

Stroke patient praises hospital staff

A Blenheim woman is singing the praises of the nurses at Wairau Hospital after a stroke left her hospitalised for two weeks.

Joan Wyatt, 62, was discharged from hospital on Wednesday after suffering a minor stroke while on a trip with her husband to Port Underwood just over two weeks ago.

She said the stroke may have occurred while she was asleep because in the morning she had trouble stirring her cup of tea.

"I'm ambidextrous, so I used my right hand to stir instead. I didn't really think too much about it."

It was her husband, who himself had a stroke 18 months ago, who convinced her to go to the hospital.

Mrs Wyatt said the first few days all she wanted to do was sleep, which doctors told her was a symptom of a brain injury.

Doctors anticipate it may take up to a year for Mrs Wyatt to fully recover and she will not be able to drive for at least six weeks depending on her progress.

She said the nurses and doctors at the hospital played an important part in her recovery.

"They're wonderful at encouraging you. When I was learning to walk again they were amazingly patient and helpful."

Mrs Wyatt hopes the stroke will not have a great impact on her life and is "working hard to overcome it".

She attributes her early release from hospital to the care and support of the nurses at the hospital.

"Their whole aim is to get you back up and running."

International Nurses Day on Wednesday prompted Mrs Wyatt to tell us her story.

By SIMON WONG - The Marlborough Express

Last updated 12:00 14/05/2010

SCOTT HAMMOND/Marlborough Express

RECOVERING AT HOME: Joan Wyatt says the care she received from staff at Wairau Hospital was invaluable in her recovery from a stroke.

Road safety refresher helps older drivers

Eighty-six-year-old Eileen Landon-Lane remembers when there was hardly any traffic on the roads and there was no need for roundabouts.

But 55 years after getting her first driver's licence, Mrs Landon-Lane thinks sometimes she and other older drivers need a little refresher on how to drive safely.

Mrs Landon-Lane often attends courses run by the Marlborough Road Safety Council aimed specifically at the older generation.

"There's always something new to learn and it's good to keep up with any changes with the road code," she said.

The free course is aimed at drivers over 50 and bridges the gap for older drivers wanting to revise their skills.

Organiser Geoff Powell said the group all have a similar outlook on driving, which makes the course more relaxed.

"Similar things have happened to them. They may have had a brush with a fence post or cars have appeared out of nowhere because they have not picked them up when they're scanning the roads."

He said road conditions had changed a lot over the years, which is something older drivers needed to take into consideration.

"There are a lot more cars on the road now. The type of traffic has changed too. There are more trucks using the roads to get to where they need to go. People need to be more aware of what's going on," Mr Powell said.

Mrs Landon-Lane, who has only had a few minor car accidents, said driving gave her a sense of independence.

"I wouldn't be able to get out very much [if I didn't have my car]. I know the time is coming for me to get rid of my car, but I'm not looking forward to it."

The next course will be held on May 25 at the Wesley Centre between 9am and noon.

Contact Mr Powell on 5788143 if you would like to attend.

By SIMON WONG - The Marlborough Express

Last updated 12:00 14/05/2010

Arrest after officer bitten

A 39-year-old unemployed woman has been arrested in Blenheim for allegedly biting a police officer on the hand yesterday morning.

Constable Michelle Stagg, of Blenheim, said the woman was charged with disorderly behaviour, resisting arrest and assaulting police after an incident on Kinross St about 8.45am.

A 56-year-old woman was also arrested for obstructing police at the incident, she said.

Six other arrests were made overnight.

A 22-year-old man was arrested at 2.50pm after allegedly stealing a Ford Courier. Miss Stagg said the man had failed to return the vehicle, which he had taken for a test drive, on May 4.

She said the man also faces two charges of theft after he allegedly drove off without paying for petrol at BP Wanaka on May 5 and Challenge Picton on May 9.

The Marlborough Express

Last updated 12:00 14/05/2010

Mums denied bail on P charges

Two 35-year-old mothers, one with a terminally ill child, have been denied bail after appearing on serious charges relating to a methamphetamine ring.

Lavinia May Van Duin, of Blenheim, and Tracy Rewa Rayner, of Spring Creek, appeared in the Blenheim District Court yesterday charged with burglary and attempting to pervert the course of justice.

Van Duin, whose terminally ill child was to be released from hospital yesterday, was also charged with being a party to the manufacture of methamphetamine.

Rayner is the former partner of Bevan John Kelly, who is facing five indictable charges relating to the manufacture of methamphetamine. Appearing for the defendants, lawyer John Holdaway pressed for bail for both women, particularly with Van Duin's daughter being so ill.

In denying bail, Judge Paul Whitehead said Rayner faced two charges of burglary which carried a maximum of 10 years imprisonment and a maximum of seven years for perverting the course of justice.

In denying bail to Van Duin as well, the judge noted that the charge of perverting the course of justice was indictable.

Van Duin was remanded in custody until May 17. Rayner was remanded in custody until May 24.

The Marlborough Express

Last updated 12:00 13/05/2010

Grower had ready drug supply

Cannabis plants found in cultivation rooms in a Blenheim garage were being grown in rotation so the owner always had a ready supply, police say.

Miles Norman Dudley, 38, a beneficiary, admitted cultivating cannabis, possession of utensils and possession of cannabis, when he appeared in the Blenheim District Court on Monday.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Steve Frost said Dudley had grown cannabis on a five-weekly cycle for years so he would never run out.

He said police found two rooms in Dudley's garage equipped with extractor fans and lights when they searched his house on March 19. The smaller room contained 19 plants about 700 millimetres tall and 31 seedlings growing in plastic incubators. The other room held 12 plants about 300mm tall.

In Dudley's bedroom, police found a coffee grinder used to shred cannabis, three pipes and 2.5 grams of cannabis.

Defence counsel Gary Sawyer said Dudley suffered from social phobias which would restrict sentencing options.

Dudley was remanded on bail for sentencing on June 21.

The Marlborough Express

Last updated 13:00 12/05/2010

Man unrepentant over cannabis use

A Seddon vineyard owner told a probation officer he had no intention of giving up growing cannabis after he was charged with cultivating the plant.

Anton Leigh Graham, 38, appeared in the Blenheim District Court on Monday, having previously admitted cultivating cannabis, possession of LSD, possession of cannabis, possession of utensils and unlawfully having a weapon.

Judge Geoffrey Ellis sentenced Graham to 80 hours' community work for cultivation of cannabis and fined him a total of $1600 for the four other charges, plus court costs.

He also ordered the destruction of the equipment.

Judge Ellis said Graham had earlier told a probation officer he had no intention of giving up growing cannabis.

Graham saw "nothing wrong with cannabis and sharing it with his partner, even with small children in the house", he said.

Defence lawyer Matthew Marshall said there was no evidence that the cannabis had been cultivated for supply, because no profit had been made.

Mr Marshall also said that Graham was an "infrequent" user of LSD, sometimes using it at parties.

The Marlborough Express

Last updated 13:00 12/05/2010

$600 fine, costs for false alarms

A 20-year-old Blenheim man who used a steel post to set off railway alarms has admitted his actions "could have ended badly".

Kyle David Powell, a truck driver, admitted a charge of creating an obstruction when he appeared in the Blenheim District Court yesterday. Judge Geoffrey Ellis fined Powell $600 and imposed $130 in court costs.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Steve Frost said Powell and two others placed a steel waratah across railway crossings along Grove Rd, setting off the alarm bells about 12.10am on May 9. Mr Frost said Powell continued to retrigger the alarm, which raised doubt whether the alarms were genuine.

Powell initially denied his involvement. Defence counsel Tane Brunt said Powell admitted things "could have ended badly" if an accident occurred.

The Marlborough Express

Last updated 13:00 11/05/2010

Bail denied in drug case

A 39-year-old man facing charges relating to the manufacture of methamphetamine was denied bail when he appeared in the Blenheim District Court yesterday.

Bevan John Kelly, unemployed, of Blenheim, is yet to enter a plea on five indictable charges: possession of precursors to manufacture methamphetamine, possession of materials to manufacture methamphetamine, possession of equipment to manufacture methamphetamine, possession of equipment to commit an offence and importing a class C drug into New Zealand.

Kelly was remanded in custody to reappear on June 8 for an evaluation hearing.

Kelly's partner, 26-year-old Shagin Celeste Cattermole, was remanded on bail until May 24 on related indictable charges.

The Marlborough Express

Last updated 13:00 11/05/2010

Driver who fled crash disqualified

A man who was tracked by police dogs after fleeing a car crash has been barred from driving for nine months.

Francis John Farnell, 32, of Blenheim, admitted charges of careless driving and driving with excess breath alcohol when he appeared in the Blenheim District Court yesterday .

Judge Geoffrey Ellis convicted and fined Farnell $900 for driving with excess breath alcohol and $300 for careless driving, as well as court costs of $130 for both charges. He also disqualified him from driving for nine months.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Steve Frost said Farnell was the only occupant of the car when he crashed into a hedge and a tree at the intersection of Rowberrys and Swamp roads on May 5. The car was written off and Farnell fled from the scene, Mr Frost said.

Mr Frost said neighbours called police who used dogs to find Farnell about 1km away from the crash. Farnell initially denied he had been the driver.

He was found to have 824 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath (the legal limit is 400mcg).

Defence counsel Bryony Millar said Farnell believed "no one was more disgusted than he was" about the event. She said Farnell had since admitted to his friends, family and employer he had a drinking problem. Judge Ellis said it would not have been a surprise to them.

Other drink drivers in the Blenheim District Court yesterday:

Juanita Terangi Rakena, 29, Riversdale, eba 1058mcg, convicted and sentenced to one year intensive supervision, disqualified for two years and subject to indefinite disqualification.Peony May Threadwell, 53, healthcare worker, Blenheim, eba 978mcg, convicted and fined $700, court costs $130, disqualified for six months.

Conan Morris, 37, US citizen, eba 773mcg, convicted and fined $600, $200 for careless driving, $130 court costs and disqualified for six months.

Selenito Totau, 17, vineyard worker, Blenheim, eba 800, 60 hours' community work, disqualified for six months, convicted and fined $200 and court costs of $130 for giving false details, convicted and fined $200 and $130 court costs for driving while disqualified. The Marlborough Express

Last updated 13:00 11/05/2010

Fight ends in four arrests

A fight in Lucas St ended with four arrests early on Saturday morning.

Senior Sergeant Ciaran Sloan of Blenheim said a 19-year-old unemployed man was charged with disorderly behaviour, and a male builder aged 24 was arrested on a warrant.

A 20-year-old female factory worker was also charged with disorderly behaviour, and a 21-year-old mother was charged with obstructing police.

The Marlborough Express

Last updated 12:31 10/05/2010

Pair guilty of abetting in fatal illegal race

A jury has convicted two men for their role in a fatal street race in Upper Moutere.

It is the first time in the Nelson region that people who took part in a street race, but were not the main participants, had been charged under new boy-racer legislation.

The jury of seven women and five men found Jacob Baird-King, 23, of Nelson, and Carl John Kempton, 19, of Richmond, guilty of three jointly laid charges of inciting, counselling or abetting the drivers of two vehicles to race, resulting in the death of one driver.

Baird-King was also found guilty of a separate charge of driving while disqualified.

The jury reached its unanimous verdicts in four hours yesterday.

The case related to a street race on the Moutere Highway on June 28 last year. Aaron Chalmers-Hill, 21, of Nelson, was killed when he lost control of his Nissan Silvia at high speed on a bend just before Upper Moutere.

Mr Chalmers-Hill had been racing two Honda vehicles from near the karting track at Redwood Valley. He had just overtaken a Honda Prelude driven by Ralph Bastian, 23, when he lost control and left the road, hitting a tree stump. He died instantly and his passenger, Sean Mortimer, was seriously injured.

Bastian has been charged with the manslaughter of Mr Chalmers-Hill. A trial is scheduled for later this year in Nelson.

The charges were laid under the Land Transport Amendment Act 2003, known as the "boy racer act", aimed at cracking down on illegal street racing and burnouts.

The Act increased the maximum penalty for killing or injuring someone while racing illegally to five years in prison or a $20,000 fine.

Detective Senior Sergeant Wayne McCoy of the Nelson CIB said he believed it was the first time that charges of abetting or counselling someone to race had been laid in the region under the Act.

Boy racers needed to be aware of their actions and that it was illegal to race or be part of a race, Mr McCoy said.

He hoped the case would highlight the risks and dangers of illegal street racing to young people.

"People don't get their arms twisted to participate in races."

Judge Stephen Harrop yesterday remanded Baird-King and Kempton on bail to July 21 for sentencing. He called for pre-sentence reports and reports on home and community detention options. Fairfax

The Marlborough Express

Last updated 13:00 05/05/2010

Police swoop on man with knife

A man armed with a knife who was allegedly threatening a woman was captured by armed police in Picton yesterday.

The police were called to the Angle St block of flats in Picton at 3.25pm.

Sharon Johnson, a resident of flats on the corner of Angle St and Wairau Rd, said she phoned 111 after she heard yelling and smashing from the property two flats away from hers. "I had just gone out on the deck to get the washing in.

"I could hear a great ruckus. He was yelling, she was shouting for him to stop. I heard things being smashed.

"I called 111. I knew it was the couple in the flat up from ours."

Mrs Johnson said she "still had 111 on her phone" when the woman occupant of the flat came towards her. "The police asked me if weapons were involved.

"[The woman] said he had a knife. I told the police. They said for us both to get away from the flats, to get out onto Wairau Rd and that the police would be there soon. We just did what they asked.

"The police arrived and bundled her into the car and took her away while other police officers surrounded the flats," said Mrs Johnson.

The man surrendered to the police soon after they arrived at the flats and was taken to Picton police station.

The police said a 47-year-old male mussel opener was held in police custody overnight and would appear in the Blenheim District Court today on charges of assault and threatening to kill.

The Marlborough Express

Last updated 12:57 04/05/2010

Ferry booking worker stole from employer

A Picton man used a computer booking system to steal $1295 from his employer, Strait Shipping.

Michael Allan Patterson, 24, admitted obtaining money by deception when he appeared in the Blenheim District Court yesterday.

Judge Richard Russel said there was some degree of sophistication in hiding the thefts, which took place between May and November 2009.

"Employers should be able to trust employees. You've badly let yourself down."

He sentenced Patterson to 170 hours' community work.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Graham Single said Patterson had been in charge of booking passengers on the ferry. He accepted cash from customers, but booked the fares using credit intended for customers whose sailings were cancelled.

Defence counsel Gary Sawyer said Patterson had since repaid the money to the company.

It was company policy to give customers credit when sailings were cancelled, which was valid for six months. Patterson used credit which was almost expired to "balance the books", Mr Sawyer said.

Patterson stole the money because he held the lease to a flat and his flatmate was temporarily unable to pay rent, he said.

The Marlborough Express

Last updated 12:01 04/05/2010

Investigation continues into cause

About 20 firefighters battled a double garage fire in Blenheim last night where flames came perilously close to damaging a neighbouring house.

Three crews from Blenheim and one from Renwick volunteer fire brigades were called to a Burleigh Rd address last night just after 7pm following multiple 111 calls about a fire.

A woman and two young children living in the house were unharmed, but their garage was seriously damaged.

Blenheim Volunteer Fire Brigade senior station officer Ross Bailey was one of the first on the scene after seeing a "very visible glow" on his way to the station.

When he arrived at the scene, flames were "substantial" and there was "quite a good plume of smoke going up".

"We were greeted with a double garage that had flames coming out the roof and out the rear – it was well involved."

Mr Bailey said the fire began in the back of the garage, which was about 10 metres from the resident's house but only "metres" from the neighbouring property.

It was fortunate the fire did not spread to either the house on the property or the neighbour's, he said.

"Luckily there was no wind, so the flames were going straight up."

Furniture, household items and a wood pile in the garage were destroyed, but a car under repair escaped major damage.

The boundary fence was also destroyed.

Blenheim Volunteer Fire Brigade chief fire officer Rob Dalton said about 20 firefighters battled the blaze, and an additional crew from Picton were on standby.

Mr Dalton said the "substantial" fire was under control within about 15 minutes but firefighters were there until 10pm dampening down hot spots and working on the investigation.

Jasmine Wilson, who lives three houses away from the fire, said she arrived home to find about 15 people standing on the street and "tons of firefighters".

Another witness said he saw "flames shooting higher than the house itself".

Mr Dalton declined to comment on the cause or whether the fire was suspicious, as an investigation was continuing.

He was unsure if the residents had insurance, but "he hoped so".

By CLAIRE CONNELL and SIMON WONG - The Marlborough Express
Last updated 13:00 03/05/2010

Arsonist hits The Blue Door

An early-morning fire was not the present staff at The Blue Door secondhand store were expecting as they celebrated its 12th birthday at the weekend.

The Blenheim Volunteer Fire Brigade responded to a call about 5.50am on Saturday after a man walking to work noticed items left outside the store were alight.

Blenheim Volunteer Fire Brigade chief fire officer Rob Dalton said it appeared the items had been set alight and the fire was being treated as suspicious.

Senior station officer Ross Bailey said the items, including a mattress, bed and carpet, had been left outside the store in Charles St after hours.

Only minor damage was done to the window, and there was some smoke damage to the exterior, because the flaming mattress was pulled away from the building by the man who reported the fire.

Blue Door manager Sandra Kirk said the items were probably worth about $150.

Mrs Kirk said items were often dumped outside the store during weekends and she was surprised that it had not happened before.

"We've seen parties around here and even people sleeping here, but never a fire."

Mrs Kirk said The Blue Door would celebrate its birthday regardless of the fire.

"You don't let little things like this get the better of you."

Senior Sergeant Ciaran Sloan, of the Blenheim police, said inquires were continuing.

By SIMON WONG - The Marlborough Express

Last updated 13:00 03/05/2010

Stallholders take control of market

The reins of one of Blenheim's pioneering markets was handed over in a short and rainy ceremony on Saturday giving stallholders full ownership of the market for the first time.

The Redwoodtown Market was set up by Blenheim South Rotary Club 28 years ago but has only now handed over responsibility and management of the market to the stall-holders, with funds going to the Marlborough Hospice.

Owner of James' Nursery and stall-holder for 11 years, Philip James welcomed the change and hoped it would further promote the market.

"We need to keep moving forward or we run the risk of becoming stagnant. Hopefully, we'll grow more working with the hospice."

Mr James said the reason he comes back every week is simple.

"We get a lot of the same people coming to the market every week – it's like a community within a community.

"The people here help each other out. You can leave money on the table and just walk away; there's a lot of trust."

In a speech to the stallholders, president of Blenheim South Rotary Cheryl West said one of the significant features of the Redwood Market was the loyalty of those who frequent it. Graeme Dowling, 81, began selling pumpkins at the market 28 years ago. A time, he says, when people thought the community market would fail.

"They thought this market would fold, but it's still going strong and still will, too. [The change] will give it a new life for another 20 or 30 years."

"I wouldn't miss [the market] for anything. I'm going to keep coming for as long as I can."

By SIMON WONG - The Marlborough Express

Last updated 12:13 03/05/2010

Award a surprise for community constable

A Blenheim policeman was the target of a covert operation in which he was awarded a fellowship for his work within the community and with youth.

Community Constable Russ Smith said he was "caught by surprise" when he was awarded the Paul Harris Fellowship by the Blenheim South Rotary at a ceremony last week.

Mr Smith, a policeman for 28 years, said he thought he was at the ceremony to give a presentation about the Cactus Programme for Youth in Marlborough – one of the many groups he is involved with.

"I don't think I've ever sweated that much in my life," he said about receiving the award.

"It's nice to receive something from the people and it's nice to see that some people appreciate what is being done throughout the community."

Mr Smith sees his role as a community constable as being a conduit between the community and the police.

He works with a number of youth oriented programmes, including the Moth Outdoor Education Programme, Marlborough Safer Communities and restorative justice programme Turnaround.

"The aim is for them to become good citizens. It's about building confidence and leadership skills as well as encouraging them to act and think outside the box."

Despite winning the award, Mr Smith strongly believes volunteers are the key to the success of such programmes.

"I can't take credit for all of these things, I couldn't do it without the help of the community.

"It's the good people who volunteer and labour away in the background that make these things happen."

Mr Smith said working with youth can be rewarding.

"Kids are really responsive, you kind of know automatically if you're making an impact. With adults it's a bit harder."

Paul Harris Fellow recognition was created in memory of Paul Harris, the founder of Rotary, in recognition of long and meritorious service to the community.

By SIMON WONG - The Marlborough Express

Last updated 12:13 03/05/2010

Retailers told to be vigilant

Marlborough businesses should let the police be their "bully boys", says community constable Russell Smith of Blenheim police.

Speaking to about 30 Marlborough business people as part of a Marlborough Chamber of Commerce and New Zealand Retailers Association police seminar on Friday morning, Mr Smith said local businesses needed to be vigilant in their security systems to lessen the chances of them becoming victims of crime.

He said the police were there to deal with people causing trouble, especially those who were violent or volatile. "Let us be your bully boys and let us take the problem away."

Mr Smith said shops could put several practices in place to deter potential opportunistic thieves.

These included rearranging the store layout so every part of the store could be seen, making sure the store was well lit, making sure customers were acknowledged as soon as they walked in, placing the till near the entrance, and installing security cameras.

"Believe me, opportunists learn very quickly if there are places they can go and get out without being seen."

Mr Smith said that if a potential thief thought they were being watched, could be seen or thought there were security cameras, it deterred them.

Mr Smith said big displays were a "mecca" for shoplifters, as staff were less likely to notice if products went missing from them. Likewise, expensive goods should be locked up.

He suggested keeping stock tidy and having a checking system so staff would know if something was missing.

Mr Smith said it was important that staff knew what to do if they suspected someone was shoplifting.

If their "spidey sense was tingling", they should call the police, he said.

But he warned them to remove themselves from the situation if a suspect became violent. In that case, the worker should either get the registration of the vehicle the suspect left in, or follow them at a safe distance and note down what the person was wearing and any distinctive features.

Mr Smith said the best idea was to follow a suspect outside and ask them to accompany a staff member back into the office, then call the police.

He offered to run free courses for businesses that wanted their staff to learn how to deal with different situations.

Farmers retail manager Anne Kenny said the seminar was very good, as it reinforced many of the business practices the department store had in place.

She said the seminar provided great ideas for businesses about how to protect themselves.

Retailers association regional manager Brian Finlayson plans to run a seminar on GST in June.

The Marlborough Express

Last updated 13:00 03/05/2010

Behind every successful firm...

They are arguably the unseen force that keeps any business running smoothly and two were recognised as the best in their field in a ceremony last week.

Debbie Elsmore and Sharon Hansen both won the Administrator of the Year award at a dinner held by the Association of Administrative Professionals.

The award caught Mrs Elsmore, who works for both Powell Contracting and Marlborough Day Spa, by surprise.

"I was pretty shocked. I just thought it was going to be a dinner and an inspirational talk."

Mrs Elsmore said she probably keeps both businesses running "on the paperwork side of things" and has never felt undervalued.

Kelly Powell, owner of the Marlborough Day Spa, believes business would not be what they are without administration staff.

"Debbie almost believes the business is hers. She went away for about a year, and to be honest, we couldn't find anyone near her standard. "

Among the prizes Mrs Elsmore won were an Air New Zealand voucher, Montana wine and a Copthorne Hotel dinner voucher.

By SIMON WONG - The Marlborough Express

Last updated 13:00 03/05/2010

Warnings 'not working'

The campaigns warning people not to drink and drive are not working, according to Blenheim police.

Senior Sergeant Ciaran Sloan said that on average, one person a day was processed for drink-driving in Marlborough, including four during the weekend.He said there was no pattern to drink-drivers.

"It's just across the board. Across the genders and across the ages."

Mr Sloan said an 18-year-old female factory worker was processed with a breath alcohol level of 761 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath late on Friday night. The legal limit is 150mcg for people under 20 and 400mcg for those over that age.

On Saturday, a 21-year-old male builder had a positive result of 597mcg of alcohol per litre of breath, and yesterday an 18-year-old male beneficiary was processed for 517mcg and a 44-year-old male supervisor was processed with 457mcg.

Mr Sloan said he hoped people would start to heed warnings by police and other organisations about the dangers of drink-driving.

The Marlborough Express

Last updated 13:00 03/05/2010