Strikes to continue

Service and Food Workers Union members at the Sanford mussel processing plant in Havelock will continue strike action after pay talks between the parties stalled again.

Union spokesman John Cumming said the company was being ''arrogant and dismissive'' and ''refused to back down'' on wanting to scrap the $1.50 an hour night allowance.

About 80 workers marched through Havelock on Friday in protest over pay talks in which Mr Cumming said the company was offering about $12 per week more before tax.

The company offered nothing to piece workers and planned to remove the night allowance, he said.

Sanford's Havelock manager Wayne Macdonald has said the company was always open for more pay talks.

- The Marlborough Express

SIMON WONG

Last updated 16:00 20/10/2011

No disruptions expected

Few will be affected by the closure of a section of the Pelorus River for filming the first of the Hobbit movies, agencies say.

Marlborough Mayor Alistair Sowman announced yesterday that production company 3 Foot 7, a subsidiary of cinema giant Warner Brothers, plans to film a scene of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey at the river near Pelorus Bridge, 60 kilometres west of Blenheim. The filming, due to take place between December 6 and 16, will mean part of both the river and the Department of Conservation (DOC) campground at the bridge will be closed.

DOC Marlborough Sounds area visitor assets programme manager Mark Nelson said the shooting would be in the campground's off season and he did not think the closure of the river would affect many people at that time of the year.

The biggest effect would be on campervans, he said. "It's not a big imposition on us. The upshot for us, it's not only good for our campground at Pelorus, but it's good for Marlborough as well. The long-term spinoff is getting more to come visit us."

DOC Sounds area manager Roy Grose said this morning 3 Foot 7 would compensate the department for lost revenue.

The amount would most likely be based on earnings from previous years, Mr Grose said.

The powered sites across the bridge would still be open, but were not as scenic as the campground on the Kahikatea Flat.

Marlborough Roads manager Frank Porter said the traffic management plans were yet to be finalised, but he did not foresee any problems.

There would be some trucks and support vehicles parked on State Highway 6, which runs through Pelorus Bridge, during filming.

There would also be some days when the road approaching the bridge would be limited to one lane, but exactly when that would happen was not yet known.

Marlborough District Council resource consents manager Anna Eatherley said the resource consent application was received on September 30 and was still being processed.

The consent was needed because the company wanted to build a temporary wooden structure for the film equipment and that was a non-complying activity.

The structure would be removed once filming finished.

The council had a pre-application meeting with the Queenstown-based Resource Management Act consultant working for 3 Foot 7 to outline what would need to be included, Ms Eatherley said. The consent was non-notified because no-one was really affected by the shooting, she said.

People will not be able to watch beside the set, but it would probably be visible from the walkway of the Pelorus Bridge.

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Meanwhile, Destination Marlborough general manager Tracy Johnston was buzzing at news of the filming.

"It is fantastic news. Not only do we have the fabulous Marlborough Sounds and world-class wines but we are a location for The Hobbit. That is magic."

There would be long-term tourism opportunities by linking into The Lord of the Rings locations circuit, Ms Johnston said.

The Hobbit films are prequels to the Lord of the Rings trilogy, also filmed in New Zealand.

Tours of The Sound of Music scenes in Austria were popular 46 years later, Ms Johnston said.

"A really strong precedence has been set for tourism. Location guide books were compiled following the Lord of the Rings trilogy that are still really strong sellers.

"People make the pilgrimage to visit the locations of the movies for themselves, as well as going on visitor experiences and daily tours."

- The Marlborough Express

MICHAEL BERRY AND SIMON WONG

Last updated 11:30 21/10/2011

he managers of the Pelorus Bridge camping ground hope the secret of their whereabouts will become public knowledge after the river it is built near features in the first Hobbit film.

Campground manager Stephanie Neal hoped more people would learn about the camping ground's location after seeing the "beautiful river", which will be used as part of Middle-earth in the two-part film being shot by Sir Peter Jackson.

A scene from the first of the two films, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, will be shot near Pelorus Bridge, 60 kilometres west of Blenheim, over 10 days in December.

The river will be the setting for a number of barrels concealing 13 dwarfs, along with the film's main character, Bilbo Baggins.

Most people from Nelson who stay at the camping ground had only just found out about it, Mrs Neal said.

She hoped the exposure would be good for business after a terrible 2010-2011 summer in which the camping ground was severely flooded and bookings fell.

The filming would be exciting for the community, especially around Havelock and Rai Valley.

Filming was scheduled for December 6 to 16, just before the peak camping season begins on Boxing Day, she said.

Manager Nobby Neal said the production company 3 Foot 7 had contacted the couple, who run the Department of Conservation-owned campsite, about July, saying that they were scouting for locations.

The campsite, which is closed only on Christmas Day, will close during some of the filming period.

The couple will use that time to paint their house.

They will also hold a staff Christmas party during the day, which is something they have never

- The Marlborough Express

Come camping at Middle-earth

SIMON WONG

Last updated 16:00 21/10/2011

DEREK FLYNN

On scene: Pelorus Bridge camping ground manager Stephanie Neal stands on the bridge near where a scene from The Hobbit movies will be shot in December. She hopes the exposure will attract mo

Lawyers worry about changes

Criminal lawyers in Marlborough are concerned over a proposed flat fee for legal aid lawyers.

Marlborough Law Society president Bryony Millar said the proposed changes by the Justice Ministry to pay legal aid lawyers a flat fee instead of an hourly rate would create a two-tiered system.

The ministry is proposing the change as one of many fixes to the system, which received a damning report in 2009 by Dame Margaret Bazley.

The report estimated up to 200 lawyers were abusing the system by delaying cases and racking up legal aid bills on the taxpayer.

Mrs Millar said the fixed fee seemed to be "dumbing down the system" and would encourage legal aid lawyers to do less work on a case.

That means people who could afford their own lawyer would get better service, she said.

Legal aid helps pay legal fees for those who cannot afford a lawyer. The fees differ depending on the seriousness and type of crime and also include flat fees.

Law society Marlborough branch members met on Monday to give their feedback and these would go to the national body to be included in its submission to the ministry on the changes, Mrs Millar said.

People should be concerned because the flat fee would eventually be rolled out into other courts including family and civil courts, she said.

While some may not think they would end up in court, if they were charged with careless driving causing death they would want to choose their own lawyer and hope the lawyer would put the work into preparing for the trial.

A flat rate of $1200 for that case was not enough for the amount of preparation needed for a trial, she said.

"When you're meeting with witnesses, watching the client's interview, preparing cross-examination and the opening argument it doesn't take long to see that's not a large amount to be paid [for the amount of work]."

In November last year, those applying for legal aid lost their ability to choose which lawyer they wanted to represent them in court.

- The Marlborough Express SIMON WONG

Last updated 11:13 19/10/201

Pay offer based on local issues

The managing director of seafood company Sanford says pay negotiations are localised to separate branches of the company and can not be driven by the company's overall profit.

Service and Food Workers Union members at the Sanford mussel processing plant in Havelock have rejected the company's latest pay offer and walked out on strike on Friday and early Saturday.

Managing director Eric Barratt said the negotiation process was an issue for the Havelock plant, but he said the company had to "make the best decisions for everyone".

An interim report to shareholders for the six months to March 31 this year showed a $13.1 million net profit, which was about $7.7m more than the same time last year.

The report also said sales were up 17 per cent.

Mr Barratt said it was not as simple as equating profit with pay rates because different branches of the business would be returning different earnings.

A union spokesman said the company offered about $12 a week before tax and nothing for piece workers, who are paid by the number of mussels they open.

The company would also look at cutting the $1.50 hourly night shift allowance, which would mean a net loss of about $55 a week for some workers.

- The Marlborough Express

SIMON WONG

Last updated 16:00 19/10/2011

Tonga's victory 'a sign'

The historic upset by Tonga over France in the Rugby World Cup on Saturday is a sign that they should not be underestimated, according to two Blenheim supporters who were at the game.

Finau Heuifanga Limuloa said the atmosphere in Wellington and the Wellington Regional Stadium was "electric".

Tonga beat France 19-14, but will still bow out of the tournament after two wins and two losses.

Limuloa said it was a milestone in Tongan rugby. "We weren't expecting to win, we were just supporting the team."

The atmosphere in Wellington was "crazy" after the match, with even French supporters remaining upbeat.

"I don't think anyone went home that night."

When she and sister Mo'unga 'Ulufeholoi Limuloa went to the airport early in the morning, people were still tooting their horns and chanting, she said.

The Marlborough Express caught up with the pair when they arrived back at Marlborough Airport yesterday morning.

They were extremely tired and were still sporting the Tongan flag painted on their faces from the previous night.

Mo'unga said the win was a boost for all Pacific Island rugby nations, and other teams should not underestimate them. It showed they could deliver and play good rugby, she said.

- The Marlborough Express

SIMON WONG

Last updated 11:17 03/10/2011

A spot of sun, sea and peace

Being a born and bred Aucklander I'm not used to being able to get anywhere in 15 minutes, let alone away from civilisation in that time.

But that's all it takes to get from Picton to the Mistletoe Bay eco village in the Marlborough Sounds by boat.

It's an overcast Saturday morning in Picton with a slight breeze – perfect conditions for my first trip into the Sounds. I'm meeting the chairman of the Mistletoe Bay Trust, Simon Heath, their new programme and marketing director Jonathan Collier and his family to have a look around the village they have built from the ground up from a former DOC campground over about seven years.

Skipper Chris George demonstrates his vast knowledge of the Sounds by pointing out the different bays we pass by.

Surprisingly I still have fully functioning sea legs after years as a land lubber.

On arrival at the village, just off the Queen Charlotte Track and frequented by those walking it, it's immediately clear why the Sounds are the jewel in Marlborough's crown – quiet, serene, beautiful.

There's no room here for people in a hurry, that's for sure, but why would you be?

Aside from getting back to nature, visitors to the bay can go mountainbiking, walk the Queen Charlotte Track, or do a multitude of water activities like kayaking and sailing.

The village hosts both school and corporate groups in eight huts, known as whare, as well as families, campers and backpackers in a neighbouring campsite and a self-sustaining cottage.

It prides itself on being self sustaining and a beacon of sustainable living in the Marlborough Sounds.What can be recycled is and all food scraps go to the pigs or the worms – not a drop of waste goes into the bay.

Talking to the caretaker of the village Chris Knowles, he is quick to point out all the work is done through volunteer labour. German tourist Alessia Ruiu, 38, and Maria Kalmari, 29, from Finland, both said they camped at the bay and loved it so much they decided to stay.

The pair do general maintenance around the site in exchange for food and a bed.

The sight and sound of donkeys and alpacas are not quite as synonymous with camping as nesting and feeding tui are, but donkeys Willow and Polly and alpacas Raymos and Yani play their primary role in the upkeep of the site by helping reduce the fire risk.

The four-legged foursome graze the terraces above the campground, removing the need for motorised lawnmowers that could start a bush fire.

I imagine they keep the children entertained as well, but they probably don't mind the attention – it's a small price to pay to live in one of the most tranquil bays in the Marlborough Sounds.

- The Marlborough Express

Model of sustainable living in Sounds

SIMON WONG

Last updated 12:00 21/01/2011

SIMON WONG/Marlborough Express

RELAXED: The Collier family, Jonathan, Joe, Sarah and Lucy, take a moment to look out over Mistletoe Bay in the Marlborough Sounds.