Diggs likely shielding supplier

A Crown prosecutor believes a Blenheim woman sentenced for selling LSD may have been covering for the person who supplied her the drug.

Tracey Diggs, 23, a sickness beneficiary, was sentenced to nine months' home detention, 140 hours' community work for possession of LSD for supply, supplying LSD and possession of cannabis when she appeared in Blenheim District Court yesterday.

Crown prosecutor Herman Roose said while it was "significant" Diggs admitted the 73 tabs of LSD and a small amount of cannabis found during a police search belonged to her, she was not fully co-operative with police.

Diggs would not tell police who she got the drugs except in vague terms, he said.

"It may be inappropriate to read between the lines, but it seems to me she may have been covering for someone. Her degree of assistance to police was not 100 per cent," he said.

"Police would liked to have known where [the LSD] came from other than someone passing through from Auckland."

Judge Tony Zohrab said Diggs told a friend she was in debt to her landlord, at which point the friend offered her the LSD to sell for about $30 each.

The friend would take a 50 per cent cut, he said.

About a week later on August 19, police were helping noise control officers at Diggs' house when they smelled cannabis and searched the premises.

Defence lawyer Gary Sawyer said Diggs' situation had a "certain uniqueness" in that, having only one minor previous conviction, she now faced "one of the most serious charges on the books" which had a maximum of life imprisonment.

The offending was "somewhat opportunistic" and Diggs was "not a sophisticated criminal", he said.

Diggs acted without guile when interviewed by police, was up-front about her intentions to sell the drug and was remorseful.

Judge Zohrab said Diggs was not in a situation where she was reliant on drugs, and the dealing was purely for financial gain.

Diggs was ordered to do alcohol and drug counselling as part of her sentence and an order was made to destroy the drugs.

A final warning was also recorded on Diggs' file that another commercial dealing offence would mean a prison sentence.

The Marlborough Express

Last updated 12:00 01/12/2010

Dad smuggled drugs 'under duress'

A Blenheim father blames his son for pressuring him to smuggle hashish into the Blenheim courthouse cells.

Alasdair Edward Graham Shave, 59, who represented himself in the Blenheim District Court yesterday, said he tried to smuggle the drug inside two books "under duress". The books were Edge of Reason and Pay the Devil, by Jack Higgins.

Shave, a draughtsman, admitted dealing cannabis resin and was sentenced to six months' community detention and 140 hours' community work.

Judge Tony Zohrab said Shave asked a jailer on May 31 to give two books to his son, Dallas Edward Oran Shave, who was being held in custody at the courthouse after admitting possessing methamphetamine for supply.

The jailer found 5.8 grams of cannabis resin, wrapped in tinfoil, hidden in the spine of one of the books.

Dallas Shave had put a lot of pressure on his father to supply drugs to him while in prison, Judge Zohrab said.

Crown prosecutor Herman Roose suggested that Alasdair Shave did not realise the seriousness of the charge, because he was making excuses for not doing community work in his submissions.

A sentence of community detention would not act as a sufficient deterrent, he said.

The prison system was determined but not successful in keeping out drugs, Mr Roose said.

The judge said Alasdair Shave had a long criminal history, including prison sentences for cultivating cannabis and possessing cannabis for supply, but had not been in court since 2000.

"I could make a point of sending you to prison, but I really don't think you will see it as a deterrent."

Shave might also become a burden on the state if he lost his job, Judge Zohrab said.

If Shave had problems doing the community work, he would be sentenced to prison, he said.

"I'll treat this as an isolated lapse rather than the same old same old, but if you continue with supplying, it will be prison."

Before he left the dock, Shave told Judge Zohrab he would comply with the sentence. "I do the crime, I'll do the time," he said.

The Marlborough Express

Last updated 12:00 01/12/2010

Further child porn charges against teen

A Blenheim teenager facing 21 charges of possession and distribution of objectionable material of children in sexual poses faces more charges.

Six new charges of distributing objectionable material were laid against the 18-year-old when he appeared in the Blenheim District Court yesterday. The youth has interim name suppression.

Charge sheets show the offending is alleged to have happened between February 2009 and March this year.

The teenager has entered no plea to all charges. He was remanded by Judge Tony Zohrab on bail to reappear on January 24 for an evaluation conference.Loss of tractionThe father of a girl who rode to school with Jacqueline Wyatt the day she was seriously injured after falling under a truck admitted driving with a sustained loss of traction when he appeared in court yesterday.

Andrew John Frew, 31, was fined $250, ordered to pay court costs and disqualified from driving for six months.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Steve Frost said Frew was seen by police accelerating and skidding around the corner on to Sutherland Tce.

Defence counsel Kent Arnott said the incident happened the same day as the Jacqueline's accident and Frew was going between his former partner's house and Wairau Hospital.Assaulted partnerA Blenheim shearer admitted assaulting a female after punching his partner in the face, knocking out three teeth, after she crashed his car.

John Albert Roberts, 40, was sentenced to 50 hours' community work for the charge.

Mr Frost said Roberts' partner was driving his car home through the Awatere Valley when she lost control and crashed through a fence into a paddock.

Roberts, who was drunk, became angry and verbally abused her for crashing his car, Mr Frost said.

He punched the woman in the face with enough force to knock out three teeth. The woman could not speak clearly as a result and was in considerable pain.

Defence counsel Laurie Murdoch said Roberts had no previous convictions and this was the first time he had hit his partner.

Roberts conceded it was not a good example to set for the children in the car, but he was afraid and angry at his partner's driving.Community workRodney Peter Johnson, 47, a painter, of Havelock, admitted assaulting a female and was sentenced to 100 hours' community work.Possession of cannabisWilliam Fernley Gardiner, 43, of Renwick, admitted possessing cannabis and an indictable charge of producing cannabis oil and will be sentenced on February 8.

Thomas Dirk Kattenberg, 20, a vineyard worker, of Blenheim, admitted possession of cannabis and refusing to give a blood sample. He was sentenced to nine months' supervision, 200 hours' community work, given a final warning and convicted and discharged for possessing cannabis.BurglaryShaun Duncan Victor Ormond, 20, unemployed, of Blenheim, admitted receiving and burglary and was sentenced to complete 400 hours' community work.Disorderly behaviourMax Lewis Veldkamp, 18, unemployed, of Blenheim, admitted disorderly behaviour in a public place and was fined $200 and court costs.

Luke John Roberts, 17, unemployed, of Blenheim, admitted disorderly behaviour in a public place and was discharged without conviction if he made a $200 donation to St Mark's Adult Drug and Alcohol Treatment Centre.

Raymond Leslie Anderson, 19, a painter, of Christchurch, admitted disorderly behaviour in a public place and was fined $250 and court costs. Intentional damageJames Kevin Pryce, 19, a forest worker, of Blenheim, admitted intentionally damaging a window and was sentenced to six months' supervision and ordered to pay $50 reparation.ShopliftingCristian Alejandro De Zarlo, 22, an Argentinian tourist, admitted shoplifting from The Warehouse Blenheim and was ordered to make a donation of $200 to the company for a staff morning tea.Possession of drugsFraser John O'Connor, 28, a farm worker, of Seddon, admitted possession of cannabis, LSD, methamphetamine, utensils to smoke methamphetamine, assault and threatening to kill and was sentenced to nine months' supervision and 180 hours' community work. An order was made for the destruction of the drugs.Drink-drivingJon Andrew Hallberg, 40, a fitter and turner, of Blenheim, admitted driving with excess blood alcohol of 202mg (legal limit 80mg) and two charges of breaching a protection order. He was sentenced to 200 hours' community work, nine months' supervision, disqualified from driving for 12 months and one day, a cumulative 200 hours' of community work for the first breach and for the second breach was ordered to appear for sentence if called within 12 months.

Simon Vincent Fleming, 20, of Seddon, admitted driving with excess breath alcohol of 773mcg (legal limit 400mcg) and failing to stop for the police. He was sentenced to six months' supervision, disqualified for eight months, fined $900 plus court costs and fined $200 for failing to stop.

The Marlborough Express

Last updated 13:08 30/11/2010

Truckie done for driving on drugs

A Picton man has been caught driving a 40-tonne truck and trailer unit carrying dangerous goods on State Highway 1 to Blenheim while under the influence of drugs.

Lawrence Malvin Jury, 39, admitted possessing cannabis, utensils to smoke cannabis and driving under the influence of drugs when he appeared in the Blenheim District Court yesterday.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Steve Frost said Jury, who was working as a professional driver, was seen by another driver using a bong to smoke cannabis while he was driving on State Highway 1 about 1pm on October 19.

Police stopped the truck at the Shell petrol station in Grove Rd, where they claim Jury said he had smoked cannabis that morning and while driving.

Defence counsel Kent Arnott said Jury denied smoking while driving and this was his first drug-related offence. Jury had since lost his job and did not think he needed help with drug addiction, he said.

Judge Tony Zohrab disagreed, saying Jury needed help if he was prepared to jeopardise his employment and public safety.

He sentenced Jury to 160 hours' community work and six months' supervision, and disqualified him from driving for nine months. The sentence also served to deter other truck drivers from driving under the influence of drugs, the judge said.

Tasman Highway Patrol team leader Stu Wright told The Marlborough Express more drivers were being tested for drugs as part of a programme to crack down on drugged drivers.

More police staff are being trained to detect a drug driver, he said. Blood samples could confirm whether the driver was impaired.

While Mr Wright could not comment on specific cases, driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol was dangerous, he said.

"It impairs your judgment and impairs your ability to concentrate on what's going on around you. It's not only dangerous to the driver but to the passengers, and the innocent motoring public."

Anyone who knew of a person under the influence should encourage that person not to drive, Mr Wright said.

SIMON WONG AND CLAIRE CONNELL - The Marlborough Express

Last updated 12:00 30/11/2010

Hydro opponents consider options

Save the Wairau, a group opposed to the TrustPower hydro scheme in the Wairau Valley, will meet on Wednesday to discuss their next move.

Their options include an appeal against the decision to allow the project, estimated to cost $280 million.

Chairman Ron Tannock said the group would meet with their legal adviser to talk through whether there might be grounds for another appeal on the Environment Court's decision to allow the power company to build a canal taking water from the Wairau River.

Asked whether the group would mount a protest, Mr Tannock said it was unlikely. "I don't think our group is going to chain themselves to Mayor [Alistair] Sowman's railings," he said.

The group was satisfied the conditions imposed by the Environment Court were more stringent than if Save the Wairau and other groups had not launched an appeal to the original resource consent granted by the Marlborough District Council.

TrustPower still had "major obstacles" ahead, including property rights and the safety of Wairau Valley residents if the canal ruptured, he said.

The Environment Court said its decision was "finely balanced", meaning the claimed benefits of the hydro scheme were marginally greater than the adverse effects, he said.

Wairau Valley landowner and Save the Wairau committee member Alison Parr said the decision was "not entirely unexpected but still disappointing".

The fight against the scheme took a toll on family life and was a cloud over residents in the valley, because they could not plan for their future, she said.

The group was taking stock and needed time to digest the 190-page decision [plus appendices] before deciding a course of action.

"I personally do not want to stop until I have exhausted every avenue, and after I've exhausted every avenue, I will still not sell my property to TrustPower," she said.

"We're ordinary people defending ourselves. We don't want to live under a dam – it's dangerous."

The court process was not fair because the decision seemed to be weighted heavily towards the side with the most money and expert witnesses, she said.

"We haven't produced experts, because how could we possibly produce experts to tell [the Environment Court] about our lives? We're the experts on our lives."

However, Ms Parr took solace in the fact the court acknowledged the effect of the 49-kilometre canal through landowners' properties would be significant.

SIMON WONG - The Marlborough Express

Last updated 12:00 29/11/2010

Wairau power 'to stay in province'

Electricity generated from TrustPower's hydro scheme on the Wairau River will stay in Marlborough, according to the Tauranga-based power company.

This should mean reduced electricity costs for users in the region as transmission costs fall, the company says.

The Environment Court last week upheld an amended resource consent granted by the Marlborough District Council allowing the company to divert the Wairau River through 49 kilometres of canal and six power stations to generate electricity.

The $280 million scheme would generate 70 megawatts, enough to power 30,000 homes.

TrustPower community relations manager Graeme Purches said about 15 per cent of the electricity generated by the scheme would be fed into the Marlborough Lines network and the remainder fed into the national grid, although even this portion would be used close to where it was generated.

Marlborough is powered by electricity from the Islington substation, in Christchurch, with about 19 per cent lost along the lines.

The Wairau canal scheme could mean lower costs for electricity users in Marlborough because transmission costs and losses would be reduced, he said.

"It will inherently mean [electricity] prices certainly won't go up and all things being equal they should stabilise or come down slightly."

Electricity generated in Marlborough would not be sent to the North Island because of the cost and power losses involved, he said.

Building the canal would bring "significant" employment to the region, he said.

"There are certainly people in the area able to do the work and even if it's an outside contracting firm they employ local labour – that's the nature of the beast," he said.

He could not say when construction would begin, but said there would be at least 12 months of planning. The company needed to liaise further with landowners, and engineers needed to finalise the design and geotechnical work.

The hydro scheme would make irrigation cheaper and easier and land more valuable because the water from the canal would be gravity fed, eliminating the cost of pumping, Mr Purches said.

The canal was being designed to withstand major earthquakes, he said. "They [landowners] should be comfortable about it. I mean, their houses may be down around their ears [after an earthquake] but they're not going to get flooded."

It would be difficult to find anything legally wrong with the decision that would give objectors grounds for an appeal because it was based on fact and followed the Resource Management Act.

Members of the Save the Wairau group opposed to the project will meet on Wednesday. Further details, page 3

SIMON WONG - The Marlborough Express

Last updated 12:00 29/11/2010

he Marlborough Express

Last updated 12:00 29/11/2010

DEREK FLYNN

HUGE ACHIEVEMENT: Blenheim teenagers Fleur Lovejoy, 16, and Tom Knowles, 18, will head to the New Zealand School of Dance and the New Zealand Drama School, respectively, next year.

World stage beckons

Two talented Marlborough teenagers are a step closer to the world stage after being selected into two of New Zealand's most prestigious performing institutions.

Fleur Lovejoy, a year-12 student at Marlborough Girls' College, has been accepted for the New Zealand School of Dance to complete a diploma of dancer performance, while year-13 Marlborough Boy's College student Tom Knowles got into Toi Whakaari, the New Zealand Drama School.

Fleur, 16, has studied ballet since she was five, and is a high achiever in the annual Marlborough Performing Arts competitions.

She was one of 40 performers selected to enter the Young Performer of the Year competition in Invercargill, and is working towards completing her Advanced Level Two dance examinations, one of the highest levels available.

The New Zealand School of Dance is in such high demand that hundreds audition in Australasia for just 26 spots.

"I'm so shocked and excited. It's the best place of that kind of calibre in New Zealand, and it's really the only place to go if you want a career in dance.

"It provides you with lots of career opportunities.

"I think it is going to be lots of fun, but I'm going to miss my mum. She's been a big support."

Meanwhile, Tom, 18, said he was called by Toi Whakaari and asked to audition after visiting the sought-after drama school several times. He had only a week to prepare for the audition, but was encouraged by his aunt, Kate Elliott, a former graduate.

Tom is the lead singer of band Remastered, won the 2010 Stars in Your Eyes competition and has had various roles in musical theatre.

"It means I'll end up doing something with my life, rather than just floating around. If you want to have a career in professional acting, it's the place you have to go to. I'm excited. It's a huge accomplishment."

Tom plans to complete a degree in performing arts, majoring in acting.

Fleur and Tom will study full time in Wellington, with Fleur also taking extra lessons on a Saturday, as well as completing year-13 correspondence.

The couple, who have been in a relationship for about two years, will find themselves studying next door to each other in Wellington and plan to stay together initially.

"We will just see how it goes," Tom said.

They leave in February. Several students from Marlborough have attended both schools in the last decade or so.

Rock club rolling into the future

Siblings Cade and Kottia Vercoe think the new extension to the Marlborough Rock and Mineral Club, well, rocks.

Cade, nine, and Kottia, six, were at the grand opening of the club's new $45,000 extension on Saturday, along with founding members of the club.

Club president Ron Bothwell said construction took two years, using voluntary labour, and the money was raised by selling books, hosting shows and from the commission on items sold in the shop.

Growing membership in the past few years prompted the expansion of the club's headquarters at Brayshaw Park, he said.

No decisions had been made on the eventual use of the space, but it was built to store display cabinets, books, donated rocks and minerals and maps.

Members go on regular field trips, and teach people how to carve stone and make jewellery out of it.

The clubroom has a workroom with numerous saws and drills, which members use to sharpen their carving skills, as well as an impressive collection of rocks and fossils from around the world.

Founding member Bessie Arnold said the club had come a long way since its humble beginnings in 1973, when 32 people gathered at a house in Renwick for the club's first meeting.

The clubroom was built in 1996 and was extended in 2000.

Mrs Arnold said her grandson, who is now a geographical sciences tutor at Massey University, had maintained an interest in geology that started as a young boy on the club's field trips.

"It stirred an interest in him. He always used to look around and find something."

The club is open to the public every Sunday.

SIMON WONG - The Marlborough Express

Last updated 12:12 29/11/2010

Locks shed in name of solidarity

A dozen people went into the Salvation Army hall in Blenheim yesterday with full heads of hair, but left it all behind in the name of cancer and solidarity.

Initially eight men and women signed up to have their heads shaved to raise money for the Cancer Society and support Blenheim woman Sylvie Shanks, who has stage-two breast cancer, but four others decided to join in during the festivities.

Those having their heads shaved ranged from eight to 71.

Mrs Shanks' husband, Craig, said the couple were "disgusted" by the theft of about $350 cash and $200 of petrol vouchers from the Cancer Society in Market Place in October and wanted to raise money to replace it.

More than $2200 had been pledged, about $1400 of which was raised by one woman, and more was expected, he said.

Mrs Shanks, who is undergoing chemotherapy and will soon have radiotherapy, was grateful for the "tremendous" support and prayers from the community.

"It's been hard for us, but we can still laugh," she said.

It would take time for her to get used to seeing friends without their locks, but she had seen her husband bald before.

SIMON WONG - The Marlborough Express

Last updated 12:00 29/11/2010

DEREK FLYNN

NEW DO: Craig Shanks and 11 others shaved their heads to support his wife, Sylvie Shanks, who is battling breast cancer, and to raise money for the Cancer Society.

Water quality better at swimming sites

The water quality of two of Marlborough's recreational water areas has improved compared with last year, according to a Marlborough District Council report.

Pelorus Bridge and Wairau Bar were upgraded from "poor" to "fair" compared with the summer of 2008-09.

The 2009-10 recreational water quality report found coastal water to be higher standard than freshwater.

Data is collected from 31 popular swimming sites in the region. The sites are monitored weekly between November and March and at the end of each summer data is used to update the grade of the areas.

Grading takes into account five years of data for the areas and a risk assessment for each site.

The report found 80 per cent of monitored beaches were safe to swim at for more than 95 per cent of summer.

The best water was at Marfells Beach, Whites Bay, Waikawa, Picton foreshore, Shelley Beach and Tirimoana.

Moenui and Momorangi Bay had the poorest water quality.

Just over half of freshwater spots tested were safe to swim at for more than 95 per cent of summer. The best quality water was from two rowing club sites on the Wairau River and at Ferry Rd bridge on the Wairau.

The poorest was Rai Falls. However, the median E coli number recorded at the falls has dropped during the past two years, suggesting land management in the Rai Valley was improving water quality, the report says.

Overall water quality in the region's river swimming sites has improved.

SIMON WONG - The Marlborough Express

Last updated 12:00 29/11/2010

Winter air quality failed twice

Air quality in Marlborough breached the national standard twice this past winter.

The Marlborough District Council monitors the air for PM10 particles, also known as fine particles or soot.

A report by council environmental scientist Fleur Tiernan, presented to the environment committee last week, said twice between May and August PM10 levels were higher than the national standard of 50 micrograms per cubic metre for PM10 particles.

PM10 particles are five times finer than a human hair. The two readings were 64mcg and 67.5mcg and were recorded at the monitoring site in Redwoodtown.

Last year the level was breached only once and in 2008 it was breached five times.

The report suggested the high concentrations could have been caused by outdoor burning and the lifting of the fire ban on May 19.

The wet start to winter could have made material to be burned wet and release more emissions to the atmosphere, the report says.

Despite this, the report showed a general downward trend in PM10 levels in Blenheim.

SIMON WONG - The Marlborough Express

Last updated 12:00 29/11/2010

Attack victim says youths intimidate

The victim of a daylight attack by two teenagers outside the Blenheim Library says the number of youths who congregate by the courtyard outside can be intimidating for other library users.

The Blenheim man was attacked by two teenagers about noon on Friday after refusing to give one of them a cigarette.

He told the police he did not want to press charges, but the teenagers should be warned and told not to loiter in the area.

"I don't see the point [in laying charges]. It's a waste of my time," the man said.

"The only issue is that they [youths] make it uncomfortable to use the library.

"If you're at those seats [outside the library], you've got 10 to 20 kids around you."

The man was sitting on a bench outside the library talking on his cellphone when the teenager asked for a smoke. When he told the teenager to leave, the boy took his shirt off and said he wanted to fight.

The man pushed the teenager away and made another phone call. The teenager returned a short time later with a friend.

One of the teenagers threw the first punch in the attack, which lasted about five minutes.

The man suffered minor grazes after being held on the ground and kicked several times, but was able to fight back.

The teenager who asked for the cigarette suffered a bleeding nose and mouth.

The man said while the attack was "annoying", the teenagers might have been a danger if the victims had been tourists.

Constable Michelle Stagg, of Blenheim, said the police apprehended one of the youths soon after the fight.

Both were under 17 and would not be charged over the incident, she said.

Marlborough District Libraries manager Glenn Webster said the library courtyard had become popular with teenagers during the past few months after they were moved out of Market Place.

He and police were working to move the groups away from the library, so people could use it without problems, he said.

"That sort of behaviour is unacceptable in any public space and we would not tolerate [it]."

Mr Webster said he had the power to trespass people from the site if necessary.

SIMON WONG - The Marlborough Express

Last updated 13:01 29/11/2010

War vet disappointed over claim dismissal

Bert Anscombe remembers his time monitoring the effects of British nuclear tests in the Pacific in the 1950s on the HMNZS Pukaki vividly.

"It'll never fade from my memory. Only with death will it fade."

Mr Anscombe, who was based at Woodbourne for 18 years until his retirement in 2003 and now lives in Westport, was disappointed to hear that the London High Court on Tuesday dismissed a case involving more than a thousand veterans for compensation for radiation damage.

He and another sailor were left in the open on the ship's bridge to monitor the blasts with little more than a geiger counter. "Looking back now, we didn't know what the bloody hell we were doing," he said.

Five hundred and fifty-one Kiwi sailors were on board the frigates HMNZS Pukaki and HMNZS Rotoiti during the nuclear testing at Christmas Island which began in May 1957. The sailors were used as guinea pigs and there were a lot of unknowns about the possible lasting effects of the radiation, he said.

"We didn't know what, where, how or why. We got dribs and drabs – they were all rumours but we didn't really know," he said.

"If my hair started falling out I would have just thought it ran in the family."

A lawyer for the veterans said they may yet appeal the decision. Palmerston North lawyer Gordon Paine said the legal fight may yet continue.

"I haven't read the full decision yet, but from what I gather it could well be appealable," he said.

Mr Anscombe signed up with the navy at 16 and after several tours of duty in the South Pacific he returned to New Zealand to join the police force.

He then joined the army and in 1967 found himself being sent to Vietnam, where he was exposed to Agent Orange.

In 1985, Mr Anscombe signed up to the air force and was stationed at Base Woodbourne until he retired.

SIMON WONG AND FAIRFAX - The Marlborough Express

Last updated 12:00 26/11/2010

Host sister sad to say 'sayonara'

Tears will flow when Seina Ito and Summer Gleeson part ways tonight after living together for three months as sisters.

Seina, 17, was one of 15 students from Tezukayama Gakuin, a senior high school in Osaka, Japan, on a three-month cultural exchange with Marlborough Girls' College.

The group took the ferry for a day trip to Wellington yesterday and were to fly to Auckland from Blenheim this evening to catch their flight back to Japan.

Summer, 14, whose family hosted Seina and has hosted other international students in the past at their Renwick home, said it was "strange" having another person in the family, but they soon got used to it.

The three months they spent together went quickly, she said.

"I like having her around and I will miss her."

A trip to Japan to visit her newfound sister was possibly on the cards and the pair planned to keep in touch via email, she said.

When the Express spoke to Seina when the group arrived in September her main goal was to improve her English, which she believes she has done through the college and living with her host family.

During her time in New Zealand, Seina had acquired a taste for Kiwi cuisine, stating lamb and hokey pokey icecream as her favourite foods. A night at the family bach in the Pelorus Sound and a trip to Whites Bay were among the highlights of her stay.

She planned to eventually come back to New Zealand and although she missed her family, did not want to return to Japan.

Seina has one year left at high school and then plans to study English at university.

SIMON WONG - The Marlborough Express

Last updated 12:00 26/11/2010

Journos affected by the stories

One of the worst jobs as a journalist is standing round waiting for someone to tell you what you need to know.

When those people can't tell you anything, it makes the waiting that much harder, more frustrating.

This usually happens when there is a tragedy or a disaster. Officials can't – or won't – tell you anything and the friends and families often refuse to say anything because they don't know, are too upset, or are resentful, even abusive. You can't really blame them.

Journalists are seen as the bottom-feeders, the vultures who circle, waiting to come in for the kill to get something sensational for their next story.

At least that's the perception.

Fortunately it's not usually the case with Kiwi journalists, who only want to cover the news and tell readers what's happening.

The reporters covering the Pike River mine disaster this week will have been through all those situations, and many more, and will remember the experience for the rest of their lives because of the effect it has had on them.

Not even the hardest, most jaundiced journo can cover an event like this and not be affected; nothing like the friends and families of the mine victims, but it still touches their lives.

One of my bosses in Wellington, a gruff, hardened, old-style journo, was back filing this week from the Coast, where he grew up and has friends connected with the mines. The emotion pouring from his laptop each day showed a side of him I would never have imagined.

We have had an Express reporter in Wellington all week covering the High Court trial of the businessman charged with causing the death of a fellow Blenheim man last year.

Covering court cases like this can take a toll, too, picking out the aspects of the trial that will be of most interest to the readers but still being balanced, giving equal weight to both sides of the case.

Sometimes, though, reporters get to write good news stories, as we did this week with the survival of a truck driver after his logging rig rolled 80 metres down a steep bank in Port Underwood.

He spoke to a reporter in Wellington Hospital and we also got the other side of the story about the volunteer firefighters who scrambled down the hillside to help rescue him.

It has been a tragic week of news, but there have also been some brighter moments.

Thank God for those.

The Marlborough Express

Last updated 09:46 26/11/2010

Thank God for the brighter moments

Car thief ordered to compensate couple

A Wairau man who helped to steal a car belonging to an elderly Blenheim couple has been sentenced to community work and ordered to pay reparation.

George Patrick Mason, 21, admitted taking a motor vehicle and was sentenced to 140 hours' community work and nine months' supervision and ordered to pay $500 as his share of the reparation when he appeared in the Blenheim District Court yesterday.

Judge John Walker said Mason and an associate removed the car's engine on February 28. The rest of the car has never been found.

The car was the primary mode of transport for the elderly couple, and their insurance payout was unlikely to be enough to let them buy another one, he said.

Defence lawyer Luke Radich said Mason had gone through a "bad patch" and the offending was part of a three-month stint which he described as "self-destructive".

At the time, Mason was unemployed and had lost his benefit, but he had since found a job on a dairy farm, Mr Radich said.

Mason had apologised to the couple in person and had given them money and venison as a gift.

The Marlborough Express

Last updated 12:00 24/11/2010

Blenheim family open home to brothers of injured girl

A big Blenheim family, expecting another child in three weeks, thinks nothing of taking in three boys whose parents are at their sister's side in Auckland's Starship Hospital.

Lynley Baker and husband Warren did not hesitate to look after three of their neighbour's boys, Josh, 15, Connor, 13, and Kaleb, 10, so their parents Andy and Paulette can be with their sister, Jacqueline, who is recovering after falling off her bicycle and going under a truck.

The Bakers already have five children living at home, and Mrs Baker is due to have another baby soon.

"It's just what you do. Neighbours always do things for each other," she said.

"The biggest thing [is that] they are looked after, happy and settled so they [Andy and Paulette] don't have to worry about anything back here," Mrs Baker said.

Jacqueline was seriously injured when she was run over by a six-tonne truck trailer while cycling to school six kilometres south of Blenheim on State Highway 1 last Thursday morning.

Kaleb, who was cycling with Jacqueline and her friend to Riverlands school that morning, said he wanted her home for Christmas, even if she was just transferred back to Wairau Hospital.

Before her accident, he and Jacqueline were "arch enemies", but were now pretty "close", he said.

He and his brothers have been trying to keep their lives as normal as possible by going to school, feeding their pets and watering the garden.

Mrs Baker said the two families were close: "We're sort of used to being together. The kids are always in each others' houses.

"I'm used to cooking big meals any way."

Donations from the community had helped keep their pantry stocked with food.

When asked if the family needed any more food donated Mrs Baker said: "It's hard to say. People are still bringing stuff in. There are bits and pieces arriving every night. The pantry is full.

"We are very grateful. It goes a long way."

Mrs Baker knew the Blenheim community was generous to those in need, but "it's different when it's you who experiences it".

The children would stay with her until their father, Mr Wyatt, arrived home next Friday.

BLAIR ENSOR AND SIMON WONG - The Marlborough Express

Last updated 12:00 24/11/2010

BEN CURRAN/Marlborough Express

GOOD NEIGHBOURS: Lynley and Warren Baker, at rear, with some of the children living at their home in Blenheim. They are neighbours of Jacqueline Wyatt's family and are looking after her brothers while her mother and father are with her at Starship Hospital, in Auckland. The children in the picture are: middle row, from left, Daniel, 11, Georgia, 15, Connor Wyatt, 13; front Kaleb Wyatt, 10, and Rhylee, 6.

Man kicked police

A 40-year-old Blenheim man thanked a district court judge yesterday for giving him a chance to turn his life around.

James Gardiner was sentenced to 100 hours' community work and two years' intensive supervision after he admitted resisting police, two charges of assaulting police and possession of cannabis.

Judge John Walker said the police were called to a party on September 25, where Gardiner, who was drunk, was asked to leave.

Gardiner kissed the male officer when asked for his details.

When police said he was under arrest, Gardiner tried to headbutt the officer and kicked him in the leg. He also tried to headbutt another officer when he was being processed at the station.

Defence counsel Philip Watson said Gardiner had 15 pages of convictions, most involving alcohol or drugs.

Judge Walker said Gardiner was no stranger to the court system.

"Hardly a year goes by that you're not in court and often it's many times [a year]," he said.

"At the age of 40, are you going to be in court for the next 30 years or are you going to get on with it in a meaningful way?"

Judge Walker also called for judicial monitoring, which involves a report every three months on Gardiner's progress with supervision.

As Gardiner left the dock, he turned to thank Judge Walker.

"Thank you for the opportunity," he said.

The Marlborough Express

Last updated 13:01 23/11/2010

Crime spree lands teenager in prison

Dependency on alcohol drove a Blenheim teenager's spate of burglaries, his defence lawyer said yesterday before the young man was sent to prison.

Kyle Francis Morrison, 18, was sentenced to 16 months' jail on 11 charges of burglary and obtaining by deception.

Morrison was also ordered to pay $2155.70 reparation to his victims.

Defence counsel Gary Sawyer said Morrison was under the influence of alcohol and his associates for most of his offending between March and September.

The proceeds from his burglaries were used to buy alcohol, he said.

Morrison was sentenced in relation to three separate incidents that involved charging items at Repco to another person, stealing an LCD television from a flat he and an associate were looking at renting, stealing diesel, and burglaries involving dinghies at Waikawa Marina.

Mr Sawyer said Morrison did not want to go back to prison after already spending two months remanded in custody.

Morrison "may have burned some bridges" with his parents so did not have anywhere to serve home detention, he said.

He needed to make some attempt to turn his life around before it got worse, Mr Sawyer said.

Judge John Walker said Morrison had a history of breaching community-based sentences and there was "no basis to think it would be any different in the future".

However, Morrison could apply for home detention if he found somewhere to serve it.

The Marlborough Express

Last updated 13:09 23/11/2010

Drink-driver jailed for new offences

A Havelock woman was sent to jail yesterday for her eighth and ninth drink-driving-related convictions.

Deborah Ann Buchanan, 46, was sentenced to one year's jail for driving with excess breath alcohol, refusing to give a blood sample, refusing to accompany a police officer and driving with a sustained loss of traction.

Judge John Walker said Buchanan had seven previous convictions for driving with excess breath alcohol or refusing to give a blood sample.

Defence lawyer Kent Arnott said Buchanan accepted that she had a drinking problem, and she accepted responsibility for her actions.

Her car was off the road and she was no longer the owner, he said.

Buchanan's six weeks in custody awaiting sentencing had been a "time of reflection", he said. She had never been held in custody before.

Judge Walker said Buchanan created a lot of black smoke as she accelerated away from the police after being stopped on August 6.

On October 7, she was caught driving with 911 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath. The legal limit is 400mcg.

Buchanan attended an eight-week alcohol dependency programme in 2007, but Judge Walker said she did not seem to be taking the issue seriously, because the programme had not "made lasting changes".

Long history of offending

A Picton man with a "long dependency on alcohol" and a long history of driving offences was sentenced to one year in prison yesterday.

Ronald George Bain, 37, admitted dangerous driving, failing to stop in a non-injury accident and refusing to provide a blood sample – his seventh drink-driving-related conviction.

Bain was also indefinitely disqualified, and disqualified for six months for dangerous driving.

Other drink drivers:

Johnny Harvey Wiremu Baker, 19, of Blenheim, excess breath alcohol (eba) 620mcg, 100 hours' community work, indefinitely disqualified.

Joshua Martin Svensson, 20, meat inspector, of Blenheim, eba 985mcg, driving while disqualified, 80 hours' community work, 12 months' supervision, indefinitely disqualified, disqualified for six months for driving while disqualified.

The Marlborough Express

Last updated 12:08 23/11/2010

Witnesses heard head hit street

On the night he was thrown or dropped outside a Blenheim pub, Matthew Heagney's head hit the concrete so hard people across the road heard it, the High Court has been told.

The 24-year-old Blenheim man died just hours later on August 23, 2009, at Wairau Hospital, in Blenheim, from a severe head injury.

Accused of causing Mr Heagney's death is former Shapeshifters bar owner Kevin Robert King, 50. He stood yesterday in the dock of the High Court in Wellington just metres from Mr Heagney's family sitting in the public gallery. He has pleaded not guilty to manslaughter and is on trial before Justice Jillian Mallon and a jury. The hearing is estimated to last two weeks.

The Crown alleges King put Mr Heagney in a headlock before carrying him outside with two bouncers and dropping him, unconscious, on the footpath where he suffered the fatal head injury.

But defence lawyers Mike Turner and Bryony Millar say he acted with reasonable force to defend himself and his staff.

Tasman Crown prosecutor Mark O'Donoghue said Mr Heagney arrived after 2am when the bar no longer let people in, but he sneaked past a doorman. That doorman, Cameron Wright-Munro, grabbed Mr Heagney as he was leaving a short time later.

King put Mr Heagney in a headlock as Mr Wright-Munro tried to lock his arms together, and female bouncer Dewy Zuidema grabbed his legs. Mr O'Donoghue said they carried him out about 2.40am, and a witness reported seeing Mr Heagney being punched on the ground.

"He was either thrown or dropped outside," he said. "He was no longer struggling or resisting. His feet were off the ground and he was limp, unconscious and floppy."

People across the road heard his head hit the concrete "because it was with such great force".

Mr Heagney's brain stem was so damaged nothing could be done to save him, Mr O'Donoghue said.

In her opening statement for the defence, Mrs Millar said Mr Heagney pushed his way into Shapeshifters and a scuffle broke out when Mr Wright-Munro confronted him.

King put Mr Heagney into a headlock and they fell to the ground, with Mr Heagney on top, Mrs Millar said. Ms Zuidema grabbed his legs, but stumbled and let go as King did. Mr Heagney landed on the footpath.

Mrs Millar said King had to restrain Mr Heagney to protect his doorman and did not punch him or hold him in a way that would render him unconscious.

Matthew Heagney had hosted a party the night he died, witnesses told the High Court in Wellington yesterday during the first day of the trial for the man accused with his death.

The 24-year-old Blenheim man died on August 23 last year from a severe head injury a few hours after being thrown out of Shapeshifters bar in central Blenheim.

Former bar owner Kevin Robert King, 50, is charged with manslaughter.

Mr Heagney's girlfriend, Ema Arnold, and close friends Scott McDermid, Helen Griffen and Jesse Grant gave evidence yesterday that Mr Heagney had hosted a large gathering at his house in Holdaway St, Blenheim, to watch a rugby test and welcome a new flatmate.

Mr Heagney had been drinking but was not excessively drunk, they said. None of them had ever seen him act aggressively.

Miss Arnold headed into town and Mr Heagney and a small group stayed behind to clean up. He talked to Miss Griffen about problems he and Miss Arnold had in their relationship. When his friends left, he took a taxi to find Miss Arnold at the Loft, the upstairs section of Shapeshifters.

Miss Arnold said they danced, then he followed her into the ladies' toilet to tell her he wanted to leave, but she wanted to stay. Mr Grant said he saw Mr Heagney walk from the toilets with a "distant" look on his face and leave the bar. Miss Arnold told the court she thought he was fine.

Soon after, he text messaged Miss Arnold that he was sorry he came into town, but he wanted to see her and told her to have fun.

Under cross-examination, Miss Arnold was shown security camera footage showing Mr Heagney leaving Shapeshifters before he sent the text message, then walking back inside. Six minutes later he was ejected from the bar. Miss Arnold was aware Mr Heagney was missing when she returned home, but did not learn what had happened until much later.

The Marlborough Express

Last updated 12:30 23/11/2010

Dark Harry Potter almost-finale does not disappoint

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1

Top Town Cinema last night

Reviewed by Bonnie HarrisonAfter millions of dedicated fans worshipped the six past movies, it has all come down to this. The end of the Harry Potter saga. At least, half of it.

Armed with popcorn and fizzy drinks, people came from all over Marlborough to be some of the first to glimpse the first half of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

The Dark Lord, the One Who Must Not Be Named – Voldemort – and his evil disciples have conquered Hogwarts, and vanquished the great and bearded Albus Dumbledore from its halls.

Determined and resilient, Harry Potter, the chosen one, along with his loyal companions, Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley, must embark on a pilgrimage to defeat Voldemort, although it will not be easy. With the advantage of wit and sly cunning, Voldemort has devised a plan to make himself almost immortal.

With dementors and Death Eaters waiting around every corner, lurking behind every doorway, allegiances will be betrayed and friendships vexed. With the acting of ever-dramatic and motherly Emma Watson (Hermione Granger), supported by the love-drunk Rupert Grint (Ron Weasley), there was a perfect contrast in personality for the courageous and arrogant Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter) to form the most effective screen trio in the history of goodies and baddies. The well-practised actors' roles shone out as if they were their own.

But what is a blockbuster motion picture without special effects? These little things spice up a movie, and this is the most effective use of them I have seen yet. I found myself wondering how they can manipulate a film so much to make you doubt the laws of nature.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows reintroduced the lovably awkward Dobby, a house elf. Time and skill must have been poured in to create such an almost lifelike being on the screen. This movie has also brought something new to the legacy of the Harry Potter saga – true animation. Potter moviegoers will be entranced and creeped out by the storybook cartoon.

I recommend seeing this movie in daylight, because I expect dreams of brooding dementors, magic swords and elves tittering along in my dreams.

The Marlborough Express

Last updated 12:00 19/11/2010

SCOTT HAMMON

SPELLBINDING: Harry Potter fans were among those who flocked to Top Town Cinema in Blenheim yesterday. to see Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1, the first of two movies from the final book in the hugely popular Harry Potter series, which opened in Blenheim yesterday.

Bacchus Highs and lows for revamped Blenheim restaurant

What you see is not what you get when it comes to making television, according to the owners of a Blenheim restaurant featured in a reality show this week.

Bacchus owners Ross and Penny Heywood and their staff appeared in an episode of the New Zealand series The Kitchen Job, which aired on TV3 on Tuesday night.

The series revolves around restaurateur John Palino, who takes failing restaurants and makes them successful.

Waitress Flora Matyas said that the following night, the restaurant was three times as busy for a normal Wednesday night.

Mr Heywood said he was now recognised on the streets of Blenheim.

Mrs and Mrs Heywood have since put the restaurant up for sale because of health reasons.

However, the couple, who bought the restaurant in April last year, said they were not desperate to sell, because some of their other ventures had sold, leaving them less stressed.

Mrs Heywood said filming for the episode took place in April, over about three days, and the schedule pushed her and the staff to their limits.

Filming began about 8am each day until the restaurant closed late at night.

Mr Heywood said the restaurant was made out to be in a worse financial position than was shown in the programme.

Mrs Heywood said scenes of her and the staff emotional and in tears, used during the middle of the show, actually happened at the end of the shoot.

"We weren't completely fairly portrayed in the right light, but someone had to be the ogre," she said, gesturing to herself.

She conceded that the show needed to have some drama, and said the staff had to sign a contract saying the footage could be used however production company Top Shelf Productions wanted.

Mrs Heywood said she emailed Mr Palino directly to ask for advice, because Bacchus had become "stale". Within weeks, the film crew was in Blenheim filming the episode.

She said the restaurant had kept most of the changes, including the new Italian-style menu and decor, but other ideas such as a "passport" – which saw customers receive stamps, earning them a prize – had not been taken on board.

The Heywoods were not paid for their appearance on the show, but the production company paid for the renovations and new kitchen equipment.

Head chef Gabor Rozsos said the show was important because the restaurant needed a new personality and a new style after 16 years.

SIMON WONG - The Marlborough Express

Last updated 12:00 19/11/2010

Accident will not hasten cycle lane

Plans for a cycle lane through Blenheim will not be fast-tracked after a 12-year-old girl was seriously injured biking to school yesterday.

Jacqueline Wyatt is in Starship Hospital in a critical condition after she went under a truck on State Highway 1 near Duncannon Backpackers, just south of Blenheim.Bike Walk Marlborough co-ordinator Robin Dunn said construction of a 1.65 kilometre gravel cycle path which follows the rail corridor through Blenheim is expected to begin around March next year.

Mr Dunn is employed by the Marlborough District Council.

The cycle lane was in the design process and the project would be up for tender in the new year, he said.

Yesterday's crash involving the Riverlands School pupil would not speed up the planning process.

"We can't go any faster than what we are," he said.

"It's [the design process] well underway and if we tender the contract and they can start immediately then that [finishing earlier] may be a possibility."

The installation of the cycle lane was expected to take about two or three weeks.

Mr Dunn said the National Government had switched focus on its transport funding, making it less likely projects like the cycle path would get funding.

Marlborough roads manager Frank Porter said a council-funded cycleway would be to a much lower standard – gravel, not sealed – than if it received New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) funding. However, having the cycleway in place and being able to show the NZTA how many people were using it would likely help secure future funding, he said.

Mr Porter said he expected work on the cycle path, budgeted to cost about $700,000, to start early to middle 2011.

He could not comment on whether yesterday's crash would speed up the process or change the project's priority.

Bike Walk Marlborough former chairman Paul Millen said the deaths of five cyclists around the country this week and the incident yesterday would renew fears about cycle safety.

"There is a right for people on bikes to use the roads safely. Changing the attitudes of drivers is half the battle, the other half is road infrastructure."

SIMON WONG - The Marlborough Express

Last updated 12:00 19/11/2010

Former traffic officer found guilty

A moped is not a bicycle and cannot be used to circumvent driving bans, the Blenheim District Court has found.

Former Blenheim traffic police officer Anthony Dale Bridgman has been found guilty of driving while disqualified after he was caught riding a moped in September last year.

Judge Geoffrey Ellis returned his guilty verdict on Tuesday after a defended hearing in July.

Although a sentencing date has not been set, Judge Ellis said in his decision he would "impose a small fine" and order him to pay court costs, but Bridgman would not be disqualified from driving further.

Bridgman would also be convicted and discharged for failing to display a current licence if police amended the original charge of driving an unregistered vehicle.

Bridgman was disqualified from driving for a year on May 29, 2009 after being found guilty of two charges of dangerous driving causing injury in the Buller Gorge in 2007.

The latest charge was laid in September last year when police stopped him riding a motorised scooter on Alabama Rd about 7.30am.

Defence lawyer Mike Hardy-Jones argued that what Bridgman was riding was a vehicle classed by the Land Transport Safety Authority (LTSA) as a type of bicycle and he therefore did not need a licence or to be registered.

Senior Constable Roger Ewers, of Nelson, gave evidence that Bridgman was adamant he had done the proper checks on the bike and did not need a licence.

Bridgman told police he used it to drive the seven kilometres to work as a dry goods storeman at a vineyard.

Mr Hardy-Jones said the vehicle was a "power-assisted pedal cycle", which was part of the definition of a bicycle under LTSA rules.

At the hearing, a distributor in Nelson who sold the scooter to Bridgman described the machine as an "electric bicycle" and believed the importer ordered the model with a smaller engine to comply with LTSA regulations.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Steve Frost, of Blenheim, said the vehicle was classified as a moped because the main source of power was the motor, not human power.

Pedals could be fitted but when Bridgman was stopped these were stored in a compartment.

Judge Ellis suggested the hearing was a test case in relation to the Ezi-Rider scooter Bridgman was riding, however other cases involving similar vehicles had reached the same verdict.

SIMON WONG - The Marlborough Express

Last updated 12:23 18/11/2010

Big crowds expected as Harry casts his spell

Muggles in Marlborough will once again be under the spell of Harry Potter tomorrow as the penultimate film in the series that has captivated the world for almost a decade hits the big screen.

Blenheim's Top Town Cinemas owner Duncan Mackenzie said pre-bookings were high for part one of the film adaptation of the final book in the series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

The book has been split into two movies, with the second film due for release next year.

Mr Mackenzie said audiences would be interested to see how the 784-page book would be split in two.

The first movie of the series, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, was released in 2001.

Opening day in Blenheim would likely be busy, especially the first of the four sessions because year 9 students would probably take advantage of a planned secondary teachers' strike, Mr Mackenzie said.

The film reels will arrive in Blenheim in several parts as a security measure early tomorrow morning – a measure reserved for the biggest of blockbuster movies.

Top Town Cinema's head projectionist would spend up to four hours splicing the film ready for the first screening at 10am.

Mr Mackenzie predicted Blenheim muggles would dress up as their favourite wizards and characters from the franchise for the premiere as well as the first week after it's release.

"You can always count on Harry Potter to be a busy occasion ... It's more than just a movie, it's a whole culture."

The movie series is based on the seven Harry Potter books written by JK Rowling.

SIMON WONG - The Marlborough Express

Last updated 12:00 17/11/2010

No action on widely sprayed bank

The Marlborough District Council is not taking any action against an overzealous landowner who sprayed more grass on a stopbank than agreed.

District council rivers and drainage engineer Brin Williman said the landowner had resource consent to spray as part of a larger plan to move the stopbank near the O'Dwyer's and Thompson's Ford Road Bridge slightly.

The council and the landowner agreed on what could be planted in the area, including flax, which Mr Williman said would be just as good, or better, in the long term than grass.

"The manner in which he [the landowner] has prepared the ground by spraying a large section to kill all the grass, we're not happy with and are disappointed," he said. It is understood the work was done several weeks ago to plant shrubs.

The council will ask the landowner to resow grass where other plants have not been planted, he said.

The Marlborough Express received a letter from Blenheim man Keith Adams, who lives close to the stopbank and said he was "astonished" after seeing the bare bank and questioning why the spraying had been done in the first place.

Mr Williman said rock under some of the ground would limit any erosion, but understood Mr Adams' concerns.

SIMON WONG - The Marlborough Express

Last updated 12:00 17/11/2010

Term based funding a problem for principals

A change in Ministry of Education funding for secondary schools next year will make budgeting and planning difficult, according to Marlborough's principals.

Marlborough Boys' principal Wayne Hegarty said the change from annual funding to term-by-term based on roll numbers meant there was no certainty about what the total budget would be for the year.

In his speech at the Boys' College prizegiving on Wednesday, Mr Hegarty said the school's roll at March 1 this year was 976 – 24 less than the school budgeted for and 49 less than the ministry projected.

The school was also expecting a smaller roll of 938 students for Term 1 next year, which meant less funding, he said.

According to the ministry website, the change will affect all state and state integrated schools with students in years 9 to 13, but will not affect how school staffing entitlements are calculated.

Each student was funded for about $1000 from the ministry for the year, but varied depending on whether they were senior or junior students.

The retention rate for students at Boys' College was quite high (93 per cent in Year 13 between March 1 and September 10 this year) and students left the college for various reasons, including families moving or students going into employment. The college was preparing its 2011 budget and some cuts would be made, but Mr Hegarty did not want to pre-empt what those would be.

Marlborough Girls' College principal Karen Stewart said the change in funding would be difficult because the school still had fixed costs such as power, rates and paying for support staff.

"It makes it difficult for text books and big ticket items – you can't order 29 books and expect them to be there tomorrow," she said.

Finding employment or apprenticeships for students was part of the school's effort to provide ongoing education, but now the ministry wanted to keep students in school until the end of the year, she said.

"If they [the students] get NCEA Level 3 and that's what they need to get into a course and that's their goal, they'll leave if the right job comes up."

Queen Charlotte College principal Tom Parsons said a funding cut did "seem like a punishment" for schools working hard to get students into good employment. However, he also acknowledged the viewpoint of the Minister of Education, Anne Tolley.

"I can understand the minister when she says `I'm not going to pay for students you don't have' – that does make sense," he said.

Mr Parsons used an example of a school which had an influx of students throughout the year and would get no funding for them, but would on a term-by-term basis.

SIMON WONG AND FAIRFAX - The Marlborough Express

Last updated 13:39 12/11/2010

Improved pass rates forecast

More Marlborough Boys' College students should get improved pass rates in exams this year, principal Wayne Hegarty said at the college prize-giving ceremony yesterday.

Mr Hegarty said he expected more students to achieve merit or excellence in NCEA exams this year compared with 2009.

In his year at the college, Mr Hegarty said he had been developing the values of pride and respect and on raising expectations and academic achievement.

One per cent of students in level 2 achieved excellence in 50 or more of their credits last year and 3 per cent in level 3, he said.

Eleven per cent achieved merit in year 11, and 12 per cent in year 13.

The college loan repayment to the Government was frustrating and was compounded by reduced roll numbers, which meant less funding, he said.

However, he acknowledged the support the school had received from the Ministry of Education.

"While our loan to them is a millstone, they have and will continue to support us to act on the Education Review Office recommendations designed to increase student academic achievement."

College board chairman Phil Robinson said a separate charitable organisation had been set up to raise funds for the school and will be launched early next year.

The organisation would focus on raising money, which left more time for the board and staff to focus on academic achievement.

The Marlborough Express

Last updated 12:51 11/11/2010

Dux has eye on studying in US

Marlborough Boys' College financial problems were unsettling but did not stop students achieving academically, the 2010 dux says.

Byron Marvin, 18, was named dux of the school for 2010 at the school prizegiving yesterday afternoon, with Thomas Flaherty, 17, awarded proxime accesit to the dux, or runner-up.

Byron was also first in year 13 chemistry and won the Daniel Cup for senior mathematics and the George Spence Prize for overall excellence in year 13 biology. He plans to study mathematics at Auckland University next year.

Byron said he had enjoyed his five years at the college, but it had "been a bit rough at times", referring to the school's financial troubles.

The college had to take a loan from the Ministry of Education in 2008 to cover its failing finances, and is still paying it back.

"We lost a lot of teachers but it's just one of those things you have to struggle through," he said.

Students just had to put their heads down and get through that period, he said.

After completing his degree, he would like to do post-graduate work in the United States.

Year 13 is a stepping stone to university because students learn how to study for themselves and there are a lot of distractions, he said.

"When you've got study periods, not everyone wants to study."

Thomas, who came first in year 13 design and photography and second in painting and graphics, planned to put his skills towards a Bachelor of Design at Massey University in Wellington next year.

He was not yet sure where his four-year degree would take him, but in the meantime was planning to spend his summer working fulltime at Mitre 10 Mega to raise money for student life.

"I'll miss Blenheim but I'm quite keen to go somewhere new and a change of direction."

Thomas said his time at the college had been great, especially under new principal Wayne Hegarty.

"The school's changed a lot. The new principal has made it a lot better."

He would most miss the people, he said.

"You really make some good friends and the ones you stick with through (year 13) are your true friends because you sort of go through a few."

Thomas' favourite subject this year was photography, which included the challenge of preparing a portfolio that not only told a story but showed a range of photographic skills.

"People think it's pretty easy but it's a lot of work, it's really hard to get a good mark. I think I might just have got there."

The prizegiving was punctuated with performances by the college jazz band and haka.

Year 12 student Luka Velebit was appointed head boy for 2011.

Luka said the prospect of being head boy would not distract him from exams beginning next week and he would use the appointment as motivation to do well.

Prize list – page 9

SIMON WONG - The Marlborough Express

Last updated 12:26 11/11/2010

DEREK FLYNN

Top honours: Marlborough Boys' College Dux 2010 Byron Marvin, right, with proxime accesit Thomas Flaherty.

Teenager in court after long car chase

A Blenheim teenager admitted multiple charges relating to a 200-kilometre police chase when he appeared in the Blenheim Youth Court on Wednesday.

The 17-year-old, who cannot be named, admitted stealing petrol, burglary, unlawfully getting into a car, resisting police and taking a car, but denied another charge of taking a car.

He was remanded on bail to reappear on November 30 for a social worker's report.

Two other Blenheim teenagers, aged 15 and 16, had charges of unlawfully entering a motor vehicle withdrawn and no longer face court action.

It is understood that the charges relate to a police chase from Blenheim south along State Highway 1 on September 21.

Police used road spikes to stop the car near the Hurunui Bridge in Canterbury.

The Marlborough Express

Last updated 12:00 05/11/2010

New classrooms open doors

Riverlands School has opened the doors to three new classrooms.

The school is holding an open afternoon for family and neighbours on Wednesday from 12.30pm to 4pm to show off the new resources.

The school's development process, which began in 2007, involved building three new classrooms and moving four existing classrooms. While that was happening some classes were held in the library and the school hall, but those classes were able to move into their new classrooms at the start of term four.

Former principal David Petrie sold his neighbouring property to the Ministry of Education to be used to increase the school's size after the ministry deemed it to be smaller than required under its guidelines when its roll, classroom space, land and other factors were considered.

Riverlands has a roll of 220 children.

Principal David Parsons said despite the ongoing disruption throughout the school, the children coped well with the changes and enjoyed watching the builders and heavy machinery at work.

The relocation of the four classrooms gave students extra space to play and a community trust grant also allowed the school to install an all-weather court, he said.

The school was given about $500,000 by the ministry to fund new buildings as part of the School Property Guide Deficiencies Programme in 2007.

Mr Parsons said shortly after the grant was announced, Mr Petrie and his wife offered to sell their adjacent home to the school to increase the school's size.

The school was already planning new classrooms, but plans were put on hold until the property was sold, he said. Although the major work had been completed at the school, there was still minor work which needed to be completed such as laying the new court surface, he said.

The next major project was to turn the orchard on Mr Petrie's old property into an edible garden.

SIMON WONG - The Marlborough Express

Last updated 12:00 04/11/2010

BEN CURRAN

New digs: Riverlands School is celebrating the opening of three new classrooms. Principal Dave Parsons with Room 6, front row from left, Alicia James, 8, Kaito Berry, 9, Henry Aitken, 9, Henry Cosgrove, 8, Emma van Helewijn, 8, and back row from left, Adam McKenzie, 9, Andre Heebard, 8, Bayley O'Hagan, 9, Ethan Delamare, 8, and Ryan Palmer, 8, outside the new classroom

Slick flick in top 20

A five-minute movie inspired by Disney's Alice in Wonderland about a polluted Renwick in 2210 has landed Renwick school in the top-20 entries in a national sustainability film competition.

The film, Malice in Wonderland, was written, shot and directed by Room 5. The movie was filmed on a small digital camera and was entered into the TVNZ 6 The Outlook for Someday film challenge.

Room 5 teacher Michelle Moran, students George Murray, 8, William Hammond, 8, and William's mum, Vanessa, will fly to Auckland next Thursday to collect their prize, which includes subscriptions to magazines and items from EcoStore and Trade Aid.

Public voting for the audience favourite award is still open until next week, with the winning team receiving a new laptop computer.

Miss Moran said the film was originally 22 minutes long and was made as a classroom exercise to show the rest of the school, but she found out about the competition online and decided to enter.

The film had to be cut to five minutes and reshot by pupils, because teacher involvement was restricted.

Cutting the original film was a difficult decision for the class, because many of the characters had to be left out, she said.

"It's hard when you've got 27 different opinions," she said.

The story revolves around Wallis, played by George Murray, who falls down a rabbit hole and finds himself in a very polluted Renwick in the year 2210.

The judges commented on the well-constructed story, good humour and the local, down-to-earth perspective of the film.

Miss Moran said neither she nor any of her pupils had experience in movie-making or editing, but film-making was a way for the children to learn.

Pupil Jackson Wilson, 7, said the experience allowed the children to learn about the film-making process, including acting and voice-overs.

To see or vote for Malice in Wonderland, see theoutlookforsomeday.net

SIMON WONG - The Marlborough Express

Last updated 12:00 04/11/2010

BEN CURRAN

LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION: Room 5 at Renwick School are celebrating their top-20 placement in a national sustainability film competition. Student George Murray, 8, holds the camera his class used to film their movie, Malice in Wonderland.