Group aims to make fatherhood fun

First-time dad Chris Goodman hopes a new group for dads in Marlborough which encourages them to get more involved with their children will catch on.

Mr Goodman is a member of Active Dads Marlborough, run through the Marlborough branch of Barnardos.

The group was a forum for dads to talk, swap parenting advice and to ask questions, he said.

"A lot of dads get a bit scared. The traditional thinking is mums always look after the children."

He and wife Chloe have a six-week-old son, Jack, and had a lot of questions before he was born.

"One thing this group is good for is for new people in Blenheim. If you don't know many people, you can't really ask questions and compare notes."

Mr Goodman, who works for Sport Tasman, is originally from Nelson and spent the past four years in living in Canada.

Part of his job was working with parents, teachers and children at early childhood centres, so being around children came easy to him.

However, he could see how being around children and looking after them could be difficult for some dads.

"You don't have to be so careful you don't interact at all."

Promoting the group would hopefully encourage other dads to join, go to events together with their children, meet people and have a support network, he said.

It would not be difficult to entice other dads to join if the group held events they would actually enjoy going to.

"Men shouldn't be afraid of taking their kids out and hanging out," he said.

Check out the Active Dads Marlborough website

- The Marlborough Express

SIMON WONG

Last updated 16:00 29/02/2012

Fatherly advice: Chris Goodman, of Blenheim, with his six-week-old son, Jack. Mr Goodman is part of the new group Active Dads Marlborough and hopes more fathers will join to talk, swap advice and hang out.

Goody #4 07:38 pm Feb 29 2012

Cheers! That's a good idea! I'll suggest it to the organiser.

Moriarty #3 06:11 pm Feb 29 2012

Go Chrissy! Such a good photo of you two....but mainly of Jack because he's just so damn cute!

Anna #2 04:57 pm Feb 29 2012

this is such a good idea .. even dads need support! have you thought about starting a facebook group as well?

Anna #1 04:57 pm Feb 29 2012

this is such a good idea .. even dads need support! have you thought about starting a facebook group as well?

Committed to doing their duty

Marlborough people are committed to performing their civic duty on trial juries compared to the rest of the country, according to the Justice Ministry.

The information, released through the Official Information Act, shows almost one-third of those called up in Marlborough appear for jury service in the Blenheim District Court or the High Court at Blenheim compared to 21 per cent nationally.

Nearly twice as many people nationally do not turn up to be part of the jury pool compared to Marlborough. About the same percentage of people are excused from sitting on the jury panel.

District courts general manager Tony Fisher said anyone who is registered to vote is eligible to serve on a jury within the district that they live in.

Prospective jurors are picked at random and names are scanned by the ministry's Jury Management System to exclude people who may be ineligible including those who may have a criminal history.

People in certain jobs, including lawyers and police officers, are not eligible to be called.

Those who are identified as having a criminal history are checked by court staff and either excluded from the pool or put back in the list of people summoned for jury duty, he said.

Those who receive the call for jury service can adjourn their appearance for another time within 12 months if the time is inconvenient.

Potential jurors who do not turn up to court without a reasonable excuse can be fined up to $1000 by the court, but are given a chance to explain first.

None of the 349 people in Marlborough who failed to show up last year were fined.

Mr Fisher said there was no reason why people were called for jury service several times a year, despite some anecdotal evidence.

"The selection is purely random."

In January, a chosen juror for a rape trial at the Blenheim District Court was stood down because she stated out loud that the accused man was guilty.

The ministry said it did not keep formal records of incidents such as this, but it would be "uncommon".

- The Marlborough Express

SIMON WONG

Last updated 16:00 01/03/2012

Wallet returned

Wallet returned

To whom it may concern.

Thank you for handing my wallet in to the Blenheim police station on Saturday.

IDA FORTUNE, Blenheim

Rodeo rides for all sizes

Eight seconds is a long time when you're riding a bucking bronco or a raging bull – just ask the competitors at the Tua Marina Rodeo and vintage machinery field day yesterday.

About 3000 people gathered to watch the spectacle and the organisers say they had more entrants in the events than previous years.

The rodeo was an annual fundraiser for Tua Marina School, the township's vintage machinery club and residents' association and the Tua Marina Cowboys.

Jacinta Sheridan, who competed in the second division steer and bull ride, said her ride yesterday was the best she had done.

She had started at about three years old riding sheep and then graduated to calves and steers, she said.

There was a lot of mental preparation involved beforehand, but it helped to try and not think about the ride.

"It's easier to just get on and do it."

Among the other competitors was first-time rider Tom O'Sullivan, of Awatere Valley, who said he had been wanting to ride for a long time.

A workmate had been bullriding in Australia and talked about it all the time, he said.

The eight seconds which was the time required for each ride felt like a long time, he said.

Before his ride he went over what he needed to do in his head and also got tips from his workmate and from other riders, he said.

Competitor Robert Sheridan said he had only received bumps and bruises since he began riding about nine years ago.

The goal of many competitive riders was to break into the Australian or American rodeo circuit because there was more money involved, he said.

Another novice, Zhen Schruers, from Greymouth, rode a bull for the first time at a rodeo in Reefton the weekend before the Tua Marina Rodeo.

He was keen to carry on bull riding and other riders had been helpful and given him pointers, he said.

Mr Schruers did not stay on for the full eight seconds, but said while riding the bull he "zoned out" and just tried to hang on for as long as he could.

"[The time] goes way slower. It seems like you're on there for ages."

President of the organising committee Grant Sheridan said entries were up on previous years including 14 entries in the under 45kg calf ride which normally attracted about seven riders.

Twelve bronco riders had also entered this year compared with about six in previous years.

- The Marlborough Express

IMON WONG

Last updated 11:30 27/02/2012

Robert Sheridan in the bare back event

Diving at farms may end in tragedy

New Zealand King Salmon is warning that unauthorised diving and filming at their farms in the Marlborough Sounds could end in tragedy because of the underwater hazards.

But the man behind the incident that prompted the warning says he had no intention to dive near the farm in the Tory Channel and the warning was unnecessary.

The company has put out a public safety notice which says no-one should be diving near the farms without authority to make sure the company's health and safety standards are met.

King Salmon chief executive Grant Rosewarne said the notice was prompted by the actions of French Pass man Danny Boulton who was seen heading toward the Tory Channel farm with filming equipment on Tuesday.

Mr Rosewarne said Mr Boulton had been in contact with the company about organising a tour of a farm with potential for a dive and to film.

The company welcomed the dive and filming, but only if all safety issues were addressed beforehand, he said.

Mr Rosewarne said Mr Boulton was seen heading toward the farms on Tuesday without the company having seen his diving certification and equipment.

The major hazards under and on the water included nets, mooring lines and weighted ropes, he said.

"We have a specialist diving team who train to the same level as the New Zealand Navy and we do not allow them to go below 30 metres," Mr Rosewarne said.

"We don't want someone with lesser qualifications going further than that."

There was "no mystery" about what lay underneath the farms which was mostly worms and micro-organisms, he said.

The company was open to diving at the farms as long as it was planned in the right way.

Mr Boulton told the Express he and several other people were at the top of the Sounds early last week doing an underwater survey in Tory Channel.

He called the King Salmon office while on the boat to say he only wanted to put a drop camera down to have a look underneath and did not want to dive.

Mr Boulton was then told the company needed more notice and a supervisor needed to be present.

They later stopped at one of the farms to take a photo and talked to a worker to ask when a supervisor would be at the farm.

Mr Boulton said they did not put the camera down during that trip because there was no supervisor present.

He was concerned further aquaculture development in the Sounds would degrade the marine environment further.

The warning was unnecessary because he was the only member of the public who had asked for permission to dive at the farm, he said.

SIMON WONG

Last updated 11:30 27/02/2012

Student leaders

Last updated 15:13 23/02/2012

EMMA ALLEN

STUDENT LEADERS: Back row from left, Daniel Goldthorpe, Logan Kerwin, Billy Rayner, Piers Dashfield, Luis Francia, Braedon O'Brien and Alex Bowen. Third row, from left, Corey Hebberd, Hugh Gilchrist, Glenn Wallace, Bevan Moody, Peter Crampton and Hayden Beavis. Second row, from left, Jared Silcock, Mick Boon, Luke McCulloch and Ollie Baker. Front row, from left, Sean Murray, Kenneth Hill, deputy head boy Alex Garvan, head boy Jack Keown, deputy head boy Logan Anderson, Andrew Jeffries and Scott Webley. Absent are: Kieran Raemaki, Leatham Landon-Lane, Ryan Tucker and Tom Murray.

The 2012 Marlborough Boys' College prefects

Killer is denied freedom

A Blenheim man who murdered his wife with a hatchet more than a decade ago has lost another bid for release from prison.

John Frederick Ericson was convicted of his wife's murder in April 2000 and sentenced to life in prison after admitting the charge.

In July 1999 he struck his wife Sandra in the back of the head 22 times with a hatchet while she slept.

He phoned police after the attack and admitted killing his wife, but later claimed he had no memory of it.

Ericson has been denied parole multiple times and in 2010 asked for a royal pardon.

On February 17 he appeared in the High Court at Wellington and applied for release from prison, arguing he was being held illegally because not all evidence was released to his defence team before he made his plea.

Justice Denis Clifford declined the application on the day, and a written decision outlining the reasons was released on Monday.

Ericson's application was based on habeas corpus which is a legal action through which a prisoner can be released from unlawful detention because of a lack of sufficient cause or evidence.

Ericson made the application because he believed the Crown had not provided full disclosure to him and his defence counsel before he pleaded guilty.

He outlined four statements and reports which he had obtained after his conviction which were two statements to police, a report by a clinical psychologist and blood tests taken while he was detained at Sunnyside Hospital after the killing.

Withholding the documents was a basis to challenge the guilty plea and conviction, Ericson argued.

All the documents relate to what Ericson believed showed the effects of medication he had taken the day he killed his wife.

Justice Clifford denied the application because it was a challenge to his conviction, not his unlawful detention. While this application was declined, Justice Clifford told Ericson he could apply to the Court of Appeal to appeal the conviction on the grounds of non-disclosure.

The decision says Ericson raised other issues during the application which did not relate to the non-disclosure, including the destruction of blood taken from him without him being given the chance to have the blood analysed.

The axe which the Crown believed was used in the killing had also been destroyed.

- The Marlborough Express SIMON WONG

Last updated 11:30 23/02/2012

Checkpoint escape near beer festival site

A Blenheim man who fled from two police alcohol checkpoints at speed has been denied bail.

James Frederick Lance Baker, 23, unemployed of Blenheim, was returned to custody by Judge Tony Zohrab after making a bail application when he appeared in the Blenheim District Court yesterday.

He admitted two charges of failing to stop, failing to stop for police, dangerous driving, a third or subsequent charge of driving while disqualified and breaching community detention.

He will be sentenced on March 26.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Graham Single said Baker was driving north along Howick Rd about 7pm on February 4 when he was signalled to stop at a police alcohol checkpoint.

He instead swerved and turned on to Maxwell Rd and drove through another checkpoint, reaching speeds of more than 100kmh.

Baker passed A&P Park on Maxwell Rd where he overtook a car. At the time, people were leaving Blues, Brews and BBQs event and the street was lined with parked cars.

Police pursued Baker as he drove along Alabama Rd at speed. He turned on to Howick Rd then Cleghorn St, parked his car and ran away, Mr Single said.

Arson admitted

A Kaikoura fisherman has admitted his role in an arson at the Fisheries Ministry building in Kaikoura.

David John Timms, 44, changed his plea to guilty over the fire in April when he appeared in the High Court at Blenheim yesterday. He will be sentenced in the High Court on May 9.

A summary of facts was not read in court, but his charge sheet says the incident occurred on April 20 last year.

Disorderly behaviour charges

Two men who jumped in front of a moving car on McLauchlan St, scaring the driver, have been fined.

Darryl John Boyce, 23, a fisherman of Blenheim and Joshua Thomas Smith, 23, a dairy product maker of Richmond both admitted disorderly behaviour.

They were each fined $200 and ordered to pay court costs.

Police prosecutor Graham Single said Smith and Boyce were on McLauchlan St about 11.30pm on February 4.

Smith went out onto the road in front of a car which caused the driver to stop; Boyce then came out of the bushes and approached the car. The driver feared for their safety and drove home to call police, Mr Single said.

Judge Tony Zohrab said many of Smith's previous convictions involved alcohol. He asked Smith, who represented himself, what he was doing about alcohol other than drinking it.

Smith said he did not think he had a drinking problem.

Boyce, who also represented himself, told the judge he was sober during the incident.

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"I'm not sure if that makes it better or worse," Judge Zohrab said.

Festive gift

A Blenheim man who made cannabis resin as a "Christmas treat" for himself will be sentenced in May.

Brady Denzil Green, 42, admitted manufacturing cannabis oil, cultivating cannabis and possession of utensils for cannabis.

He was granted bail and will be sentenced on May 8.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Graham Single said police searched Green's home on an unrelated matter on December 22.

They found cannabis oil, utensils, traces of cannabis resin and cannabis seedlings growing in a chilly bin.

Green told police that the cannabis belonged to him and the resin had been made as a Christmas treat.

Further charges acknowledged

A Blenheim teenager has admitted a further series of charges relating to taking motor vehicles.

Reuben Joseph Roberts, 17, unemployed, yesterday admitted nine charges including theft, interfering with vehicles and taking vehicles when he appeared in the Blenheim District Court.

His bail was continued and he will be sentenced on March 12

On a previous appearance Roberts admitted 28 charges of theft, unlawfully interfering with motor vehicles, unlawfully taking motor vehicles, burglary and wilful damage.

The charges relate to a spate of thefts and break-ins around Blenheim between December 30 and January 20 this year.

Urinating in public, assault

A Picton man seen urinating in public tried to pick a fight with a group of tourists, police say.

Robby William Power, 26, unemployed, yesterday admitted assault, urinating in public and unrelated charges of possessing an offensive weapon, disorderly behaviour likely to cause violence and breaching community work when he appeared in the Blenheim District Court.

He was granted bail until his sentencing on April 11.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Graham Single said Power and an associate were in Picton about 9.30pm on January 12.

Both had been drinking and were walking along Main St when Power began to urinate near a shop window.

A group of tourists yelled at Power from across the road and told him there were public toilets he could use on their side of the road.

Power and his associate crossed the road and confronted the group where they got into an argument and Power tried to incite a fight, he said.

A physical altercation broke out in which Power was pushed and the victim received a punch to the face causing a small cut to the lip.

Backpack taken

A Blenheim woman who picked up a hitchhiker before speeding off with her backpack was remanded on bail for sentencing when she appeared in the Blenheim District Court yesterday .

Moana Herewini, 29, admitted a charge of theft before Judge Tony Zohrab and was remanded on bail for sentencing until April 23.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Graham Single said the victim became concerned at Herewini's driving and asked her to pull over in Peketa about 12.20pm on February 7. Herewini accelerated and took off with the victim's backpack. Police stopped her about 20 minutes later near Kaikoura.

Other cases

Matthew Te Wapanamu Apiata, 27, an orchard worker of Blenheim, admitted shoplifting from United Video, Blenheim and was sentenced to 60 hours' community work and ordered to pay $360 reparation.

Anthony John David McKenzie, 24, a mechanic of Picton admitted a third or subsequent charge of driving while disqualified and was sentenced to 80 hours' community work and disqualified for 12 months.

Gregory Maurice Surgenor, 42, admitted disorderly behaviour and was fined $200 and ordered to pay court costs.

Thomas Beau Cooze, 22, unemployed of Blenheim, admitted intentional damage and will be sentenced on April 11.

Bevan Gregory Kenny, 30, a builder of Christchurch, admitted driving while suspended and was ordered to complete 40 hours' community work and disqualified for six months.

Hannah Francis Lee Dillon, 29, of Blenheim admitted sustained loss of traction and failing to stop for police and was fined $550 and court costs.

- The Marlborough Express Last updated 16:00 21/02/2012

Crash 'the making' of over limit man

A Havelock panel beater driving with more than twice the legal breath alcohol limit spun out on Queen Charlotte Dr after failing to take a corner, police say.

Lyndon Adam Griffiths, 24, yesterday admitted careless driving and driving with excess breath alcohol when he appeared in Blenheim District Court.

A charge of interfering with a motor vehicle was withdrawn.

Griffiths was fined $1250, court costs, sentenced to six months' supervision and disqualified for eight months.

Griffiths was found to have 1018 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath. The legal limit is 400mcg.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Graham Single said Griffiths was driving a Nissan car between Havelock and Picton, about 1.55am on February 4.

Griffiths lost control on a moderate left-hand bend about two kilometres from the start of Queen Charlotte Dr, spun 180 degrees and came to a stop in vegetation.

Defence counsel Mike Hardy-Jones said Griffiths was undertaking alcohol and drug counselling with his father. The family accepted there were alcohol problems in the family and were taking steps to deal with it.

"This is a personally difficult time for him, but this is the thing that is the making of him."

Judge Tony Zohrab said Griffiths had no criminal history, but many people would find it difficult to find their cars at that level of intoxication and Queen Charlotte Dr was difficult to drive even when sober.

Other drink drivers in court:

Maurice Douglas Garrett, 60, a contractor of Blenheim, 191 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood (legal limit is 80mg), a third or subsequent charge, was ordered to complete 250 hours' community work, nine months' supervision, ordered to pay medical fees and disqualified for 18 months.

Callum Mark Simmons, 19, a forestry worker of Blenheim, 633mcg, fined $600, court costs and disqualified for six months.

Matthew Thomas Deason, 20, of Blenheim, 578mcg, fined $500, court costs and disqualified for six months.

Ben Jeffrey Ellis, 19, of Picton, 564mcg, fined $500, court costs and disqualified for six months.

Nathan John Dredge, 29, unemployed of Blenheim, 1050mcg, a third or subsequent charge, will be sentenced on April 11.

- The Marlborough Express Last updated 07:20 21/02/2012

Men get jail term, detention for assault

A Blenheim man narrowly escaped a prison sentence, but his co-offender was sent to prison for his part in an aggravated assault.

Brendon Daryl Morrell, 30, and Rory Charles Wright, 28, a labourer, appeared in the Blenheim District Court yesterday before Judge Tony Zohrab, facing charges of common assault and assault to injure.

Morrell was sentenced to 15 months in prison.

Wright was sentenced to seven months' home detention and 120 hours' community work.

Judge Zohrab said Wright and Morrell entered a Ranui St house, in Picton without permission and assaulted two victims about 1am on September 18.

Both victims were punched and kicked.

One received a black eye and suffered swelling to the head, and the other received a fractured cheek bone.

Morrell's lawyer, Kent Arnott, said Morrell accepted his part in the attack, but he insisted he did not deliver any blows to the victims.

"Mr Morrell found out his brother had been arrested and admits he got angry.

"He has pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity and is engaged in alcohol and drug counselling."

Morrell had a partner of 11 years, and four children.

Wright's lawyer, Bryony Millar, said Wright was horrified by his actions that day and had undertaken steps to significantly change his life to prevent any repeat offending.

"He is making efforts to completely change his lifestyle and has even given up smoking," she said.

"Mr Wright is someone who can obviously contribute to the community and his employer is prepared to work around his sentence, because he doesn't want to lose his employee, who is very valuable."

Judge Zohrab said he accepted the pair were grossly intoxicated at the time, but said that did not excuse or mitigate the offending.

"This was effectively a revenge type of attack with two attackers," he said.

"I appreciate each of you had different roles, but it couldn't have happened without you both being part of it, as neither of you would have been bold enough to enter the property by yourselves," Judge Zohrab said.

He took into account Morrell's previous convictions and gave both credit for their guilty pleas.

- The Marlborough Express Last updated 07:19 21/02/2012

Joy as mum becomes a citizen too

Becoming a New Zealand citizen was an emotional experience for Ting Thompson, bringing a lot of happiness and a few tears.

Mrs Thompson, with her husband Craig, and daughters, 6-year-old Jasmine and 4-year-old Tara, celebrated with friends and family after Mrs Thompson swore an affirmation to become a citizen.

She said her two little girls became citizens the easy way – they were born here. "There is only me in the family who was not a citizen.

"I'm so pleased to become a citizen.

"Something just makes me cry when I am singing the national anthem."

Mrs Thompson was one of 23 people receiving their New Zealand citizenship from Mayor Alistair Sowman at a ceremony at the Marlborough District Council chambers on Friday afternoon.

The nationalities of the new citizens ranged from British, South African and American to Tongan, Russian, Ukrainian and Chinese.

Mrs Thompson, originally from Nanjing in China, spent 15 years as a journalist in China and Japan, before meeting her Kiwi husband and moving to New Zealand seven years ago to get married and start a family.

Now living in Picton, she works part-time at Picton Library, and assists the local tourism effort by helping out with Mandarin and Japanese translations for visiting tourists.

"We live on the hill in the bush. Most Chinese, they are from big cities, and they find the bush a bit frightening, but I'm pleased to be living here.

Mrs Thompson said she was still very proud of her Chinese culture and heritage, but she did love Kiwi culture.

"The more I stay here, I feel I am a New Zealander.

"In New Zealand, I have found my home."

- The Marlborough Express

CATHIE BELL

Last updated 14:51 20/02/2012

Citizen Ting: Ting Thompson at the Marlborough District Council chambers after the ceremony with her family, from left, daughters Tara, 4, Jasmine, 6, and husband Craig Thompson

LM #2 03:39 pm Feb 20 2012

Congratulations and WELCOME!

congratulations #1 03:28 pm Feb 20 2012

well done Ting congratulations on becoming a citizen you have fitted in well into picton and always so friendly

Employers urged to do careful checks

Businesses should be rigorous in doing pre-employment checks on potential employees, especially if they are working with money or people, according to the Marlborough Chamber of Commerce.

General manager Brian Dawson said businesses, regardless of size, should have stringent human resources processes which included reference, conviction and credit checks on possible employees.

"Some organisations perceive less risk so wouldn't [do some checks], but for the sake of a small amount of cost and time it should be an important part of the recruitment process."

The comment follows the sentencing of Blenheim man Samuel Wiremu John Edmonds, 28, in the Blenheim District Court on February 10 where it was revealed he worked for a furniture removal company and who helped move his victim into her home months earlier.

He was sent to prison for seven years after admitting two charges of sexually violating the woman and one charge of burglary.

The name of the company was suppressed. Furniture removal companies spoken to by The Express after the sentencing said they vetted all potential employees through the Justice Ministry.

Mr Dawson said the thoroughness of checks depended on the industry and on who people would be working with or for.

Small businesses should ideally follow the same processes as large corporations when hiring staff, he said.

"Their [smaller businesses] nature is to be trusting and take people at face value, and while they're good at doing reference checks, the next step is doing police and credit checks."

Criminal history checks on potential employees are done through police or the ministry.

However, people who meet the criteria of the Criminal Records (Clean Slate) Act 2004 can have minor criminal convictions concealed.

Among the criteria are that the person must not have received a conviction in at least seven years or received a custodial sentence.

Police vet for organisations such as schools, hospitals and any other groups that deal with vulnerable members of the community.

The New Zealand Police website says the police database is searched for any information about the person and the information issued could include a conviction history and the sentence imposed for any crime.

A family violence report can also be part of the search and could include violent or sexual behaviour that may not have resulted in a conviction and any interaction with police.

Police vetting is not a complete background check and should be part of a "robust" recruiting and screening process, the website says.

Any other employer, organisation or individual will be referred to the ministry, which does similar checks with the consent of the person being vetted.

A spokeswoman for the ministry said the potential employee needed to fill out a form to give consent if the employer wanted to do a ministry check on them.

The Criminal Records Unit provides conviction information about the person to the employers, taking up to 20 working days.

- The Marlborough Express SIMON WONG

Last updated 14:49 20/02/2012

concerning #1 04:01 pm Feb 20 2012

Mr Dawson's idea is fine if the person concerned has been convicted of a crime. There has been a case (and i am sure a few others) where a person had no prior police convictions for the crime therefore police check didnt pick up any problems. The person although had committed a prior crime (never charged) was able to continue to steal until finally found out,charged,convicted and made to pay.

Scholarships for nine students

Nine Marlborough secondary school students have received scholarships after sitting their exams at the end of last year.

Seven Marlborough Girls' College students received eight scholarships while two from Queen Charlotte College, in Picton, received three.

No Marlborough Boys' College students received scholarships.

Last year's Queen Charlotte College dux and head girl Alora Johnson achieved an outstanding scholarship pass in classical studies and a scholarship pass in English.

Principal Tom Parsons said he was delighted with the outcome and said no student during his time as principal had received an outstanding scholarship pass.

Student Jake Watson did not receive a scholarship, but his design board project was chosen as one of the best in the country and will be part of a national roadshow showing other art students what kind of work is expected of them, he said.

Jude Young, Marlborough Girls' College deputy principal and curriculum leader, said she was proud of the eight scholarships which were awarded to seven students.

She was pleased the scholarships were awarded across a range of subjects including English, art design and biology.

It was sometimes difficult to convince students to study for scholarship exams because it was a lot of extra work.

Scholarships were worth $500, which they could earn with a part-time job, she said.

Marlborough Boys' College principal Wayne Hegarty said he had hoped some students would gain scholarships, but major improvements in marks in the past few years had been at NCEA Level 1 and Level 2 and not at higher levels.

Scholarships needed to be a focal point and the school needed to "raise the bar", he said.

A total of 2302 students out of 10,276 who participated in the New Zealand Scholarship exams in 2011 received a scholarship.

These students will receive almost $3.7 million over the next three years.

English was the most popular New Zealand Scholarship subject last year in which 1887 students entered and 426 of them gained a scholarship.

In 2010 statistics and modelling was the most popular subject.

SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS

Scholarships for Marlborough secondary school students:

Marlborough Girls' College: Lisa Rolston – English, classical studies Lucy Ellis – classical studies Kaylie Gleeson – classical studies Renee Buckley – biology Hannah Middleton – biology Hannah Walsh – painting Hannah Teonea – art design

Queen Charlotte College: Alora Johnson – English and outstanding scholarship for classical studies Libby Donovan – visual arts and design

- The Marlborough Express SIMON WONG

Last updated 16:00 20/02/2012

Veronese trio here to brush up on English

riplets from fair Verona, Italy, have come to study at Marlborough Boys' College to improve their English.

Brothers Luca, Giacomo and Gioele Panato Planzi, 14, will spend the term as year 9 students at the college as part of an eight- month family trip to New Zealand.

The three arrived with their parents in October last year and have been travelling around the country sight-seeing and spending time at English language schools.

During their stay in Marlborough they are living with family friends on a vineyard in the Awatere Valley.

Their parents are sheep farmers from Verona, in northern Italy, which is known for being the setting for William Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet.

Luca said it was their parents' dream to travel to New Zealand because of the natural environment and they believed it was a safe country with helpful people.

The family have travelled all around the country and have tried a range of novel activities including fishing and walking on Fox Glacier.

A trip to Paeroa was also a highlight where the brothers tried L&P for the first time.

After the term finishes the family will travel to Tauranga before returning to Verona about May.

Boys' college international dean Hamish Blair said short-term international students were becoming more common because parents could sometimes not afford to pay for the whole year.

- The Marlborough Express

SIMON WONG

Last updated 11:30 20/02/2012

EMMA DANGERFIELD

Three's company: Italian triplets, from left, Luca, Giacomo and Gioele Panato Planzi, 14, have come to New Zealand with their parents to improve their English and will spend the rest of this term at Marlborough Boys' College.

Man denies threats to kill

A former Blenheim man living in Australia since 2003 is on trial at Blenheim District Court for threatening to kill his former partner.

Andrew Wilkinson Bailey, 48, denied two charges of threatening to kill when he appeared in court for his jury trial which began yesterday before Judge Chris Tuohy.

The trial is expected to finish today.

Crown prosecutor Sophie O'Donoghue said Bailey threatened to kill his former partner on two occasions on September 27, 2010, over the custody of their three teenage children.

Defence counsel Philip Watson did not make an opening statement.

- The Marlborough Express

Last updated 13:13 14/02/2012

Costly exercise as man 'relives youth'

A 39-year-old man "relived his youth" when he did donuts in his car and then drove away from police, his lawyer says.

Bruce Andrew Johnstone, 39, of Blenheim, admitted failing to stop for police, dangerous driving and driving with a sustained loss of traction when he appeared in Blenheim District Court yesterday.

He was fined $1200, court costs and disqualified for 12 months.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Graham Single said Johnstone was driving in the KFC car park on Grove Rd with a female passenger and a child in the back seat about 7pm on February 11.

He revved his engine and did a burn-out in the car park causing a large amount of tyre smoke which was noticed by a member of the public who called police.

While in the drive-through queue, Johnstone was approached by police and asked to drive into the car park so they could speak to him.

Johnstone accelerated away through the car park and back onto Grove Rd without slowing down.

He went through the Nelson St roundabout and turned left at the Alfred St roundabout where he hid his car behind a building.

Johnstone took off his white singlet and put on a blue top and was later found by police trying to hitch-hike home.

Police did not follow Johnstone because of his speed and the passengers inside, Mr Single said.

He told police he was in Nelson the whole day and someone else must have been driving his car.

Defence counsel Bryony Millar said Johnstone had been at a car show in Nelson and had a "rush of blood" and was "reliving his youth".

He had no previous driving convictions.

When he drove onto Grove Rd he was not going more than 60kmh and did not see any other cars on the road.

Johnstone had just started a job which involves driving trucks which would now be jeopardised because of his convictions.

Judge Stephen Harrop said fleeing from police was a national issue and why a number of people had been killed in police chases.

"The police did not follow you, but your driving was just as dangerous as if they had been."

The offending was out of character and was something associated with men "much younger" than him, he said.

- The Marlborough Express

Last updated 13:13 14/02/2012

Time in custody lowers sentence

Time spent in custody and on curfew while waiting to be sentenced lowered the final penalty for a Blenheim teenager who supplied cannabis to friends.

Wayne Stretch, 17, was sentenced to 175 hours' community work, 12 months' supervision and ordered to pay reparation when he appeared in the Blenheim District Court yesterday.

He previously admitted 18 charges of offering to supply cannabis, burglary and receiving.

Stretch was originally charged in relation to a spate of car break-ins with stepbrother Ryan Stretch, 19, also know as Ryan Weavers, and other teenagers. Police later withdrew 12 charges of theft and interfering with motor vehicles.

Defence lawyer Nikki Utting said Wayne Stretch was held in custody for about two months, which was the equivalent of a four-month prison sentence.

Once released on bail he was also on a curfew for several months awaiting his sentencing, she said.

Ms Utting said Stretch was the only person among his group of friends who had a fulltime job, money and the means to buy cannabis. He offered the cannabis to his friends.

"That's a criminal offence and that's why he's pleaded guilty."

There was no commercial or large-scale supply of cannabis, she said.

When Stretch did not have enough money to fund his habit, he would resort to other ways of getting money, including two burglaries and selling stolen Xbox games. He made the most of his time in custody and completed NCEA level 3 and also got a forklift licence, a fire safety certificate, a first aid certificate and also completed a level 1 carpentry course, she said.

Ryan Stretch/Weavers had "led him astray" and was serving a 22-month prison term for offences relating to the car break-ins, she said.

Wayne Stretch developed a cannabis habit, which he wanted to address and had not used cannabis since he was released on bail, she said.

Judge Stephen Harrop said Stretch's time in custody would have been a "significant penalty on anyone".

"You went from someone being fined [on previous charges] to being held in custody with much more serious criminals."

The curfew after being released on bail was equivalent to two months' community detention, he said.

Stretch had not breached his bail, which showed he followed rules set by the court and did not want to go back to prison, he said.

"To some extent you've served two sentences already so I can reduce the sentence to reward [your] reaction to being held in custody and being drug-free."

- The Marlborough Express Last updated 13:15 14/02/2012

Drainlayer keeps licence

A Christchurch drainlayer was sentenced to 200 hours' community work for drink-driving.

Robert Dunn, 50, admitted the charge of drink-driving, third or subsequent, when he appeared in Blenheim District Court before Judge Stephen Harrop yesterday.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Graham Single said Dunn was stopped on Tainui St, in Greymouth and was found to have 684 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath. The legal limit is 400mcg.

Dunn was stopped by police about 5.15pm on October 24, 2010.

Dunn's lawyer, Patrick Winkler, of Auckland, asked the judge not to disqualify Dunn because he was needed to rebuild Christchurch. It would be difficult to work without his licence, Mr Winkler said.

Judge Harrop expressed his disappointment that the case hadn't been dealt with sooner, but told Dunn he was impressed with how he had used his time since being stopped.

"While I accept that the other two offences were a long time ago, it's (drink-driving, third and subsequent) a charge that carries two years' imprisonment, and I am taking that into consideration.

"It's unsatisfactory that it has taken this time to resolve, but you have used your time effectively Mr Dunn, travelling to Auckland for courses and completing the advanced driving skills course, approved by the AA – and that weighs heavily in your favour."

Mr Harrop said he accepted there was greater benefit in keeping Dunn's licence active, and agreed not to impose a disqualification.

"However, I have to set down a penalty that balances out the disqualification fairly."

Dunn was sentenced to 200 hours' community work.

Other drink-drivers dealt with yesterday:

Hiria Puha, 18, of Blenheim, 277 milligrams of alcohol per litre of blood [legal limit for under-20s is zero]; fined $250, ordered to pay court costs and disqualified for three months.

Blair-Lisa Elliot, 20, a shop assistant from Blenheim, 725 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath [limit 400mcg]; will be sentenced on April 2.

Wiremu Tainui Reeves, 28, a fisherman of Waikawa, 627mcg; fined $1000, ordered to pay court costs and disqualified for nine months.

Patrick Neal Williams, 31, unemployed of Blenheim, 165mg [legal limit is 80mg]; will be sentenced on April 2.

Boutu Obetaia, 28, a Blenheim food processor, 852mcg; will be sentenced on April 2.

- The Marlborough Express Last updated 13:05 14/02/2012

Bracelet shoplifter foiled

A woman who tried to steal two bracelets from a Blenheim jewellery store believed she would have got away with if an off-duty policeman was not in the store, police say.

Astra Fleur Sunbeam, 34, admitted two unrelated theft charges when she appeared in Blenheim District Court yesterday and will be sentenced on April 2.

Her bail was continued by Judge Stephen Harrop.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Graham Single said Sunbeam was in Avalon Jewellers on Market St about 3pm on January 16.

She gained access to one of the locked glass cases and placed a bracelet in her handbag and tried another on.

She took the bracelet out of her bag when confronted by store management and an off-duty policeman.

Sunbeam told police she tried stealing the items "because she could" and knew how to unlock all the cases in the store. She also said she would have got away with the theft if the off-duty policeman was not in the store. The other theft related to items taken from Countdown.

DNA nabs burglar

DNA evidence from the scene of a burglary at a Marlborough Sounds bach led to the arrest of the burglar more than two years later, Judge Harrop said.

Edward Phillip Watkins, 20, yesterday admitted the 2009 burglary and was sentenced to 50 hours' community work and ordered to pay $485 reparation.

Mr Single said the bach in Kenepuru Sound was broken into between May 1, 2009 and October 7, 2009. Access to the bach was by walking a kilometre from Kenepuru Rd.

Watkins and two others broke a window to get inside and lit a freestanding fire and drank liquor and ate food inside. Among items taken were two rugs from South America, a television and some glasses.

Watkins told police he remembered drinking at the bach, but his recollection of events was vague.

Judge Harrop said the burglary was "particularly annoying" for the owners of the bach, who were in their 80s and lived in Christchurch.

They spent four days cleaning up after the burglary and the rugs were irreplaceable and had sentimental value, the judge said.

If Watkins and the other two co-accused had been sentenced at the same time a significant emotional harm payment would be ordered, Judge Harrop said.

Watkins did not have any convictions at the time of the offending where he left the DNA, so had to be dealt with as a first offender despite having since received later convictions, he said.

Shearer strikes officer

A Blenheim shearer struck a female police officer at the Blues, Brews and BBQs festival, the court was told yesterday.

Peter Bruce, 46, admitted assaulting police, disorderly behaviour and breaching a protection order when he appeared before Judge Harrop.

Bruce was fined $300 for disorderly behaviour, $250 for the assault, and ordered to pay $150 reparation and court costs.

Mr Single said police saw Bruce fighting with another man at the festival on Saturday, February 4.

He said Bruce held the victim's shirt and was extremely intoxicated.

"Bruce was told to calm down, before he struck the female constable in the back with an open hand, causing her to fall down and break her watch.

"He was arrested and refused to co-operate with police."

Bruce breached a protection order imposed on January 31, by texting the victim on Monday, February 6, Mr Single said.

Defence lawyer Matthew Marshall said the text message was sent to organise for some work equipment to be picked up and was non-threatening.

Bruce required his equipment for work purposes, he said.

Mr Marshall added Bruce drank to excess at the festival, which was out of character.

"His friends convinced him to go to the festival and he accepts the reparation costs sought."

He pleaded guilty at the first opportunity, Mr Marshall said.

Judge Harrop agreed the text message was non-threatening or abusive, but told Bruce protection orders are put out because their victims fear for their safety or any contact. Breaching the order carries consequences that you may not intend, he said.

"As for the assault, it's the sort of thing the court hears all too often after these festivals and the police have better things to do with their time. Of course, the assault on the female police officer is totally unacceptable."

Other charges:

Joshua Love, 21, a fisherman of Picton, admitted assault and was fined $350 and court costs.

Robert Aaron Sowman, 40, of Blenheim, admitted disorderly behaviour, assault and failing to answer bail and was sentenced to 70 hours' community work.

Logova Tafa Asiata, 27, a vineyard worker of Seddon, admitted theft and was fined $800 and ordered to pay court costs.

Winston Akauola, 23, a vineyard worker of Blenheim, admitted disorderly behaviour likely to cause violence and was given a six-month suspended sentence.

Venus Kawa Te Ngahue, 18, of Blenheim, admitted disorderly behaviour likely to cause violence and was sentenced to six months' supervision.

- The Marlborough Express

Last updated 13:16 14/02/2012

Furniture movers vetted before being employed

Furniture removal companies which operate around Marlborough say they screen all potential employees for criminal convictions before hiring.

The comments follow the sentencing of Blenheim man, Samuel Wiremu John Edmonds, 28, who broke into a woman's home and sexually assaulted her on November 13.

During his sentencing in the Blenheim District Court on Friday it was revealed he was an employee of a furniture removal company who helped the woman move in several months earlier.

He was sentenced to seven months in prison after admitting two charges of sexual violation and one charge of burglary.

On Friday Judge John Walker suppressed the name of the company Edmonds worked for at the time of the offending.

However, the company's co-owner told the Express it contracted another company in Marlborough to help shift furniture for the woman.

"In that case when we take staff on from other companies to unload for a few hours there's no vetting done, but we presume it would have been done by that company," he said.

Employees of the company sign a form which says a police check will be done on them before they are hired. However, there were still cases where companies had issues with employees even though they had been screened, he said.

The Edmonds case was the first of its kind he had heard of in 40 years in the furniture moving business, he said.

The company owner who employed Edmonds on a casual basis said he had every employee screened.

"[But] you can never judge a character by what you see and what you read ... that's a lesson. ... if it said [the employee] was a rapist I wouldn't hire him; if they're a petty thief or have some misdemeanour you've got to use your common sense and say, `let's hope he's learned'.

"[Edmonds] went there as an opportunist and that's what he is."

Another removal company said it ran a police check on every potential employee. Workers would not be considered for a job if they had any convictions regardless of what they were.

The company had a memorandum of understanding with a labour force supplier that workers had been police-checked, he said.

- The Marlborough Express SIMON WONG

Last updated 10:37 13/02/2012

School's 'murder house' reopens

It used to be called the murder house, but the old Whitney St School dental clinic in Blenheim has taken on a life less morbid.

The building has been reincarnated as a base for Marlborough literacy resource teacher and was officially opened on Friday afternoon.

Principal Alan Straker said the building was called the murder house by pupils because of the drills, pain and fear associated with visiting the dentist.

The school dental clinic closed about June last year after the centralised school dental clinic opened near Marlborough Girls' College in April.

Work on converting the building began just before Christmas and is unrecognisable as a former dental clinic.

Resource teacher of literacy Helen Wilkie will use the room as a base for reading material and other resources.

She travels to other schools in Marlborough on a needs basis to work with pupils who have fallen behind in their reading skills.

She works for Whitney St School, and also trains teachers and teacher aides.

As a former pupil of the school and later a teacher she remembers the building had come from Marlborough Boys' College and pupils still referred to it by its macabre moniker.

The room was far removed from the "dark corner" she used to work from in one of the classrooms, she said.

"There's a lot of natural light," she said.

"It's nice to have an area I can come to and where I can bring in other staff."

- The Marlborough Express

SIMON WONG

Last updated 07:27 13/02/2012

Roaming horse stops cricket match

A roaming horse disrupted play between Celtic and Wairau Valley in a second grade Twenty20 cricket match yesterday at Horton Park, Blenheim.

Resident Suzie Harris, who lives near the park, phoned police about the horse roaming free about 5.30pm.

She was concerned the horse would bolt onto Redwood St and cause an accident, she said.

Sergeant Bill Talbot, of Blenheim, confirmed police had taken Blenheim man Richard Hayden to the police station for detoxification. The horse reportedly belongs to Hayden.

Animal control were dealing with the horse, Mr Talbot said.

Police had received about a dozen phone calls about the roaming horse.

An onlooker told The Marlborough Express the horse was chasing a small white, brown spotted dog across the field.

Play was stopped for about five minutes, until police could stop the shirtless Hayden and his horse.

A woman who was on her way to feed her own horses, managed to bring the horse to a standstill, luring it with a bucket of feed and a bag of hay.

Police and animal control rangers were able to secure the horse and play resumed.

It is unlikely charges will be laid at this stage, Mr Talbot said.

- The Marlborough Express SAM MORTON AND SIMON WONG

Last updated 11:30 10/02/2012

1 of 8

A cricket game between Celtic and Wairau was disrupted as a horse ran through the no1 pitch.

Sex assailant sentenced

Last updated 09:28 10/02/2012

LATEST: The Blenheim man who broke into a woman's house and sexually violated her has been sent to jail for seven years.

Samuel Wiremu John Edmonds, 28, was this morning sentenced in the Blenheim District Court by Judge John Walker.

Edmonds had previously admitted two charges of sexual violation and one charge of burglary. He was sentenced to concurrently serve seven years for one of the sexual violation charges, four years on the other and four years for burglary.

Edmonds broke into an Eltham Rd house early on November 13 and sexually assaulted a middle-aged woman in her home.

He was arrested on November 20 following a police investigation and was held in custody until his sentencing.

- The Marlborough Express

Man steals hat from police car

A 29-year-old male factory worker was arrested yesterday afternoon after he was found with 35 cannabis seedlings in the Waihopai Valley, police say.

Constable Michelle Staag, of Blenheim, said the man was arrested for cultivating cannabis. He was due to appear before the Marlborough District Court today.

A 30-year-old unemployed male opened all four doors of an un-attended police patrol car in Blenheim and removed a police cap from within while police were dealing with his associate at 2.10 today, Miss Staag said.

The man was arrested for unlawfully interfering with a motor vehicle at 2.10am, minutes before police arrested his associate, a 42-year-old male contractor who was charged with disorderly behaviour after an incident on Hutcheson Street, Blenheim.

A 31-year-old unemployed Picton woman who allegedly burgled a neighbour's address was arrested at 9.35pm yesterday for burglary and cultivating cannabis.

A 54-year-old unemployed woman was arrested at 7.05pm after hitting her 69-year-old partner over the head with a spade at a Kaikoura address, Miss Staag said. Police arrested her for assault with intent to injure. She is due to appear before the Blenheim District Court today.

A 15-year-old male labourer was arrested for assault and wilful damage, namely four incidents of tagging at 4.50pm. He will appear before the Blenheim Youth Court on February 15.

- The Marlborough Express

Last updated 11:46 10/02/2012

Language a life experience

Making foreign languages relevant to students is one of the best ways to encourage learning a language, according to the new head of languages at Marlborough Girls' College, in Blenheim.

Hilary Hunt started in the role this year and said languages do not exist on their own, but in the context of ordinary life.

"I'm trying to make it an everyday experience. If I find a French restaurant with French-speaking staff, I'll set up conversation assessments where students order food in French."

Inviting guests to classes, food and immersing students in the language were also ways to bring the languages alive for students.

Year 9 French students were learning basic instructions and if they needed to go to the toilet, they had to ask in French, she said.

Formerly the head teacher of French at Mt Maunganui College, Mrs Hunt also spent three years teaching at Paris-Sorbonne University and a year at a kindergarten and cram school in Taiwan.

As the head of languages, she oversees the French, Spanish and te reo language staff at the college.

At Paris-Sorbonne, Mrs Hunt taught English for a range of degree subjects that all required students to learn another language.

Being in a classroom seems to run in her blood as a fourth generation teacher, albeit reluctantly.

"My mum was a head of department of languages and taught French." Each generation said they would not get into teaching, but always found their way there, she said.

"I was planning to be a lawyer."

Mrs Hunt studied for her masters in French politics at Auckland University, has a certificate in Arabic studies and also a graduate diploma in teaching and a diploma of law from Waikato University.

- The Marlborough Express

SIMON WONG

Last updated 16:00 10/02/2012

New role: Marlborough Girls' College's new head of languages Hilary Hunt

Attacker helped woman shift

The Blenheim man who broke into an Eltham Rd house and sexually violated a woman in her bedroom worked for a furniture removal company that helped move her into her home months earlier.

Samuel Wiremu John Edmonds, 28, this morning was sentenced to seven years in prison for the crime when he appeared in the Blenheim District Court.

He previously admitted two charges of sexual violation and one of burglary and this morning also received a warning under the three strikes legislation.

The name of the moving company Edmonds was working for when he offended was suppressed.

The woman read her victim impact statement at the sentencing hearing and revealed Edmonds had worked for a day moving furniture into her home on Eltham Rd.

''This has made me fearful of contractors who come to my home,'' she said.

She had since moved out of Blenheim, said she had lost confidence and was undergoing counselling ''in an effort to understand what happened''.

''Not to feel like a victim is a constant battle.''

The attack was ''truly frightening'', but she thanked police for their help and support.

Crown prosecutor Hugh Boyd-Wilson said the attack had a high degree of violence and the home invasion was ''at the most extreme end it can be''.'

''There is no place where you can expect more privacy than in the bedroom of your own home,'' he said.

The attack was premeditated and the motive of breaking in to the woman's home was the sexual attack because Edmonds did not take anything from the house, he said.

Edmonds had written a letter of apology to the woman, but she told Judge John Walker in court she did not want to read it.

Defence counsel Philip Watson said Edmonds had no recollection of helping the woman move into her home.

His lack of memory highlighted his drinking patterns, where he would black out, he said.

''He is extremely remorseful and said there is no explanation for what has happened.

''He feels bad for the person and there is no way he can put it right.''

However, pleading guilty went some way in putting things right, Mr Watson said.

Edmonds had no history of sexual offending and saved the victim from reliving the experience through a trial.

Judge Walker said the impact on the woman was profound and she had showed ''great dignity and courage'' by reading her statement in front of her attacker.

''The place where she should have been safest was invaded by you, a stranger. Her own bedroom became the scene of a serious attack.''

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The probation report said Edmonds was extremely drunk when he broke into the house early on November 13, had been smoking cannabis and had a mild concussion from a game of rugby the day before.

Judge Walker said Edmonds may have been drunk, but he was aware of what he was doing.

''You knew the victim's house because you'd been there through your employment; you sought out the house, which was a considerable walk from the centre of town. You did not go there by chance - it was not on your way anywhere.

''You thought about this house and selected the victim. You went straight to the bedroom. It was not a case of being a disturbed burglar.

''Your ability to select the house is inconsistent with being so intoxicated you were unaware of what you were doing. You were very much in control.''

The report also said Edmonds did not qualify for a treatment programme for sex offenders, but Judge Walker hoped the Corrections Department would let him do the programme ''to reduce or eliminate the risk to the community'' when he was released.'

Judge Walker said he believed Edmonds was genuinely sorry and remorseful.

- The Marlborough Express

Last updated 12:30 10/02/2012

Fairfax NZ

JAILED: Samuel Wiremu John Edmonds, who man who broke into a Blenheim woman's house and sexually violated her, has been sent to jail for seven years

Police busy with 43 arrests

Three people were arrested at the Blues, Brews and BBQs festival held at A and P Park on Saturday, Constable Michelle Stagg of Blenheim police said.

A 31-year-old unemployed male was arrested for offensive language 2.30pm; A 21-year-old unemployed male was arrested for wilful damage after he allegedly damaged a pair of sunglasses at 7.30pm and a 46-year-old male shearer was arrested for assaulting a police officer and disorderly behaviour after an incident at 6.45pm.

Police arrested 43 people from Friday to Sunday, and put seven people in police cells for drunkeness, Miss Stagg said.

The other arrests included:

A 53-year-old female beneficiary was arrested for disorderly behaviour after an incident at Work & Income, Blenheim at 11.10am on Friday, and a 39-year-old unemployed female was arrested for assault after she allegedly assaulted the security officer at WINZ at 11.15am on Friday.

Two men were arrested in Picton at 11.55am on Friday. A 39-year-old beneficiary was charged with theft, burglary and unlawful possession of explosives namely shot gun carriages, and a 36-year-old unemployed male was arrested for burglary, theft and unlawful possession of explosives namely shot gun carriages.

A 26-year-old male logger and 17-year-old male students were arrested for fighting in a Maxwell Road, Blenheim at 1.50am on Saturday.

A 52-year-old male manager was arrested for unlawful possession of a pistol after an incident in Havelock at 5am on Saturday.

A 20-year-old unemployed male was arrested for males assaulting a female and wilful damage after a domestic related incident in Springlands at 5.55pm on Saturday.

A 61-year-old male beneficiary was arrested for offensive behaviour after an incident at a Muller Rd house at 7pm on Saturday.

A 25-year-old male father was arrested for obstructing police after an incident at a Redwoodtown address at 7.05pm on Saturday.

A 28-year-old woman was arrested for possession of cannabis, manufactures cannabis oil, cultivates cannabis and possession of utensils after police found seven cannabis plants growing in the garden at a Redwoodtown address while there on an unrelated matter at 7.50pm on Saturday.

A 23-year-old male dairy worker and a 23-year-old unemployed male were arrested for disorderly behaviour after they were allegedly trying to stop vehicles on McLauchlan Street, Blenheim, at 11.45pm on Saturday.

A 34-year-old male labourer was arrested for offensive behaviour after an incident on Maxwell Road, Blenheim, at 12am Sunday.

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A 17-year-old male shop assistant was arrested for theft after he allegedly stole alcohol from a Springlands address at 12.35am.

An 18-year-old male vineyard worker was arrested for disorderly behaviour at 2am on Sunday.

A 17-year-old male student and a 19-year-old unemployed male were arrested for fighting in Scott Street, Blenheim, at 2am on Sunday.

A 16-year-old male student was arrested for resisting police after an incident on Scott Street, Blenheim at 2am on Sunday.

A 17-year-old male labourer was arrested for disorderly behaviour after an incident on Kinross Street, Blenheim, at 2.10am on Sunday.

A 16-year-old male was arrested for breaching the liquor Ban on Main Street, Blenheim, at 2.15am.

A 27-year-old male vineyard worker was arrested for theft after he allegedly stole a cellphone out of a hand bag at a licensed premise at 2.40am on Sunday.

A 42-year-old male forest worker was arrested for breaching a protection order at 11.30am on Sunday.

A 32-year-old woman was arrested for shoplifting after she allegedly stole grocery items from Countdown, Springlands, at 1.35pm on Sunday.

A 34-year-old male bar manager was arrested for disorderly behaviour and breaching a police safety order after an incident on Waikawa Road, Picton, at 6.30pm on Sunday.

- The Marlborough Express

Last updated 12:21 07/02/2012

Supermarket defends booze policy

A Blenheim man who has a limp because of back surgery says he was discriminated against when Countdown staff refused to sell him alcohol because they believed he was drunk.

Progressive Enterprises, which owns Countdown, says staff were only doing their job and took the responsible selling of alcohol seriously.

John Fast returned to Blenheim from Christchurch by bus on Tuesday night. He and his wife went to Countdown in Seymour St just before it closed so Mr Fast could buy some beer to help him relax after the trip.

Mrs Fast stayed in the car while he went inside without his walking stick, which made him walk with a limp.

He says supermarket staff refused to sell him the beer because they thought he was drunk.

"I've had a few close calls before, but I've never been refused service."

He had not had any alcohol to drink that day, he said. "What I'm trying to say is I'm not a bloody idiot, but I got treated like that.

"I could have argued, but she [the staff member] humiliated me and totally embarrassed me in front of a bunch of other people."

Mr Fast usually buys his beer at Countdown in Springlands, where the staff know him.

A Progressive Enterprises spokesman confirmed Mr Fast had been refused service because the supervisor believed he was drunk.

"From a retailer's point of view we take responsible selling of alcohol very seriously. While we may not always get it right, we always err on the side of caution."

Deciding whether to sell someone alcohol was a tough process for staff members and they had just been doing their job when they dealt with Mr Fast, he said.

Staff always ask for identification if a customer looked under 25 and would also refuse service if a customer seemed intoxicated or if they believed the alcohol might be supplied to minors.

"Sometimes it can be a challenging situation and customers may not be happy when they are refused service, but it is much better to refuse than for a staff member to be fined."

The Seymour St Countdown had its liquor licence suspended for eight days in February after it sold alcohol to a minor on a police sting.

A spokeswoman from the Human Rights Commission said the staff behaviour seemed to illustrate that "making an assumption based upon a particular characteristic can be misleading or incorrect".

If Mr Fast made a complaint, the commission would assess the situation to decide whether mediation was necessary.

- The Marlborough Express SIMON WONG

Last updated 16:00 03/02/2012

Car break-ins on the increase

Have you locked your car today?

Reported vehicle break-ins are on the rise in Blenheim and more than 70 per cent of those were unlocked or had windows down, according to police.

Community Constable Russ Smith, of Blenheim, said police had noticed an upsurge of break-ins in the past few years and many were avoidable.

"Regardless of where your car is and how long you leave it, roll your windows up and lock your doors. Never leave items that might be attractive to a thief."

Mr Smith said it was rare for vehicles that had no valuables inside to be broken into.

People in Blenheim suffered from a false sense of security and believed the town was safe, although it had the same amount of crime as other towns, he said.

He was surprised by the apathetic attitude of car owners who left items like laptops and music players in plain view.

The thieves, who were typically males in their teens and early 20s, were opportunistic, organised and often stole small electronics items to sell or trade for drugs, he said.

They were more active between October and January, possibly because of the warmer weather, and sometimes had distribution chains with people ready to take the stolen goods, Mr Smith said.

In previous years after police had arrested people behind the break-ins the number of reported thefts would decrease for a few months, but another group would pop up in its place shortly afterward.

The thieves worked day and night, targeting vehicles parked on the street, in driveways and in certain areas where there was a higher chance of finding valuable items, he said.

One Blenheim couple have learnt the hard way not to leave their valuables in view. Scott and Leanne Palatchie had both their cars broken into about two weeks ago while parked in their driveway.

"Our doors were left ajar, but we thought nothing of it as we were crazy busy with wedding plans," Mrs Palatchie said.

Her husband's car was locked, but Mrs Palatchie forgot to lock hers that night because of the stress of planning their wedding.

The couple's iPods were stolen, but other items including CDs, tools and iPod cables were untouched.

Mrs Palatchie said they no longer left valuables in their cars and that just because your vehicle was in the driveway did not mean it was safe.

At least three teenagers have appeared in Blenheim District Court since last month charged with theft from vehicles around Blenheim.

Step-brothers Wayne Stretch, 17, and Ryan Stretch, 19, also known as Ryan Weavers, started a crime syndicate that broke into cars around Blenheim and took items to sell for cannabis.

Ryan Stretch was sentenced to 22 months' prison i last month and Wayne Stretch will be sentenced on February 13.

Another teen, Reuben Joseph Roberts, 17, on Monday admitted more than 20 charges of theft from a vehicle, unlawfully interfering with motor vehicles and unlawfully taking motor vehicles. He will be sentenced on March 12.

- The Marlborough Express

SIMON WONG

Last updated 07:54 03/02/2012

EMMA ALLEN

Lesson learnt: Blenheim couple Leanne and Scott Palatchie no longer leave valuables in their cars after they had items stolen last month.

3 comments

Burgled #3 02:46 pm Feb 03 2012

Our car got broken into the other night outside our house - smashed window, iPod stolen... yet the cash sitting in the ash tray was untouched. We heard the window smash, but thought it was a car backfiring. Police couldn't get any prints. Let's just say we've learnt our lesson...

Alex #2 11:10 am Feb 03 2012

Losing small items is much better than having the whole car stolen.

Al #1 08:49 am Feb 03 2012

Who would have guessed that leaving valuables in a car not in a locked garage is a bad idea eh?

You may as well leave the doors unlocked and the windows down. That way they won't damage the car while breaking in.

SIMON WONG

Last updated 11:30 01/02/2012

Visiting party: Staff and students from Marlborough Boys' and Girls' Colleges, front row from left, head boy Jack Keown, principal Wayne Hegarty, Ben Christian, Mark Rainbird and Sione Niupalau.

Memorable start to new school year

A former head boy, a banker and a first-time teacher were among the new teaching staff from Marlborough Boys' and Girls' Colleges welcomed with a powhiri in Blenheim yesterday.

The new teachers gathered at Omaka Marae for the official welcome – or, in some cases, welcome back – to Marlborough.

Boys' College former head boy Eli Briasco has returned to the college as an English and ESOL teacher.

Mr Briasco was the head boy in 1995 and said coming back to Boys' College was a motivating factor in returning to Blenheim.

"It's nice to come back and see some familiar faces," he said, referring to the 14 or 15 staff who taught him while at college.

Mr Briasco has taught in Auckland, Brisbane and Brunei and said the main reason for coming back to Blenheim was to raise his son.

"Having grown up in Blenheim I knew it was a good place for him to enjoy the outdoors."

Boys' College te reo Maori teacher Ben Christian said he was looking forward to boosting the level of te reo at the college and possibly making its use more widespread through the school.

He wanted to get staff on board and have the language used more in every day situations.

Mr Christian will teach te reo at all year levels and will also be a music teacher to junior students.

He finished teachers college in Christchurch last year and said he had been overwhelmed with information since school started this week.

He was busy preparing and looked forward to his first class on Friday, he said.

Boys' College accounting and economics teacher Barry Stevenson worked in finance and banking for 20 years before training to become a teacher.

Boys' College principal Wayne Hegarty said the combined powhiri at the marae was an effort by both colleges to work with the Maori community to continue to improve the achievement of Maori students.

- The Marlborough Express SIMON WONG

Last updated 11:30 01/02/2012

NCEA pass rates improve

Principals at Marlborough's three colleges have reported better NCEA pass rates in 2011 and all have plans to keep improving.

Marlborough Boys' College principal Wayne Hegarty was pleased with the results for NCEA level 1 and 2, which were better than in 2010.

However, he was disappointed with level 3 pass results, which dipped from 66 per cent to 64 per cent.

The participation-based percentages refer to the pass rates only among full-time students who sat NCEA. Previously, roll-based percentages showed pass rates among all the young people in the year group, some of whom may not have been sitting NCEA.

Mr Hegarty said the college's annual plan focused on increasing the pass rate for year 13 students and would include more teaching time for subjects and a dean for year 13 students to provide more academic support and mentoring.

In previous years the college had one dean for year 12 and 13 students.

This year's year 13 students had performed well in NCEA over the past two years and were used to the expectations, he said.

Level 1 and 2 results for 2011 increased to 83 per cent and 87 per cent respectively, from 60 per cent and 72 per cent respectively in 2009.

"We want to be in the 90s ultimately.

"We can't keep increasing at the rate we have – there's got to be a consolidation phase and slow steps forward," he said.

The improvements year on year reflected the programmes the college put in place as well as changing expectations of students and their parents, he said.

Queen Charlotte College, in Picton, had pass rates across all levels which were higher than the national average and also in comparison to other decile 4 colleges.

Principal Tom Parsons was "very happy" with the results and said they were a credit to staff, students, the community and even Mayor Alistair Sowman.

Mr Sowman's attendance at college events including prizegivings showed how important a successful school is to a community, he said.

Mr Parson preferred to use the national average as a yardstick as opposed to other decile 4 schools.

Students sitting NCEA Level 3 also blitzed the national average for endorsement passes with merit and excellence, with 40 per cent compared to 26.4 per cent. An endorsement requires students to pass a subject with 14 or more credits at merit or excellence.

The college did well with top and struggling students, but this year's focus would be on improving marks for the middle band of students, he said.

Marlborough Girls' College deputy principal and curriculum leader Jude Young said she was also pleased with the results, especially with pass rates for level 1 and 2 in the 90 per cent bracket. Hard work from staff and students understanding what they needed to do to pass contributed to the high pass rate, she said.

Staff were unsure how changes to the level 1 exams would affect the results, but the pass rate had improved about 4 per cent from 2010. This year the school planned to improve the number of students who received endorsements, she said.

- The Marlborough Express SIMON WONG

Last updated 16:00 02/02/2012

Malandra #2 05:20 pm Feb 02 2012

It is easy to pass NCEA as some of the tasks include picking up rubbish off school grounds/playing fields. Bring back School Certificate and UE and Bursary. Oh I suppose that is not PC because half of pupils failed SC, UE and Bursary which is the reality of life - competition! NCEA does not equip pupils with real life skills or the reality of life beyound school! No wonder so many NCEA students fail at university!

Wilbur #1 04:15 pm Feb 02 2012

This article higlights beautifully everything that is wrong with our Secondary School System. It is an absolute joke! Is it really an improvement in education when pass rates go up (to 90 percent no less) or are the schools and the Education Ministry simply making it a hell of a lot easier to pass these levels? Is this why so many generation Ys enter the work force with unrealistic expectations, the wrong attitude and lacking most of the skills they require? You bet it is! Its all part of the rubbish our schools are spouting. According to them there is no such thing as failure, only delayed success! No wonder youngsters are struggling when they reach the real world! National Standards need to be introduced ASAP! As do standards that vet teachers and the work they actually do to achieve these ridiculous results! Great teachers would be rewarded accordingly while rubbish teachers will be very quickly found out.