Police News June 07.indd - New Zealand Police Association

New Zealand Police AssociationThis column is written by a frontlinepolice officer. It does not representthe views or policies of the PoliceAssociation.by Ricky CollinsA look at MartinboroughOne of New Zealand’s most popular winefestivals is held each year at Martinborough, asmall boutique wine region in the Wairarapa. InNovember each year, thousands take the trip fromWellington over the Rimutakas to spend the dayenjoying the region’s wine and food. So far I’venever made it up to this showpiece of the region,but I recently spent a few days at the Association’snew holiday home at Greytown, so took the opportunity to visit a fewMartinborough vineyards and taste a few of their recently released wines.Martinborough wineries are well known for their superb but often pricey PinotNoir. On this trip I was keen to see what other varieties did well there, andhopefully find some interesting wines at everyday drinking prices. So, here aresome notes on three, $20 or under wines, I really enjoyed, plus one slightlymore expensive but stunning Pinot Gris.2006 Te Kairanga Martinborough Sauvignon Blanc RRP $17I often struggle with the big, pungent gooseberry flavours of MarlboroughSauvignon Blanc, but sometimes find the more subtle tropical nature ofHawke’s Bay Sauvignon Blanc a little ho hum. If you can relate to that, thengive this Martinborough example a try. It has vibrant tropical aromas, andintense passionfruit and gooseberry flavours. The palate is crisp, withoutattacking your taste buds, and there is good length. This is definitely my kindof Sauvignon Blanc.2006 Palliser Estate Martinborough Riesling RRP $18I’ve been a keen follower of this wine for a number of years, and this latestvintage didn’t disappoint. It has its traditional spicy, citrus nose and cleanlemon and lime flavours. There is enough acid there to carry it for some years,and it has excellent length. It’s an off dry style of wine that should appeal toboth dry and medium Riesling followers. Pair this up with an Asian stir-fry toget the best out of the wine.2006 Ata Rangi Lismore Pinot Gris RRP $28I’m not normally a big fan of Pinot Gris, but this wine is one out of the box.It has enticing aromas and luscious nut and tropical fruit flavours with a hintof spice on the finish. It has a beautiful creamy palate, with no suggestion ofalcohol heat. It’s a seamless wine that I would rate as the best example of NewZealand Pinot Gris that I’ve tried. Be warned, once opened it won’t be goingback in the fridge.2006 Burnt Spur Russian Jack Pinot Noir RRP $20It was great to find a number of examples of Martinborough Pinot Noir aroundthe $20 price bracket, although a number were quite simple and light bodied.However, this wine from the Burnt Spur Vineyard is a very appealing wine. It’sa medium bodied Pinot, deep crimson in colour and with a vibrant hue. It hasspicy plum and berry fruit flavours and fine tannins on the finish. While it’sprimarily a fruit driven wine, there is enough oak there to add complexity. Itoffers more than the price suggests and is well worth a try.Ar#e about face!!!We’ve witnessed more tragedies over the last month or so with madmen(generically speaking) behind a steering wheel committing atrocious offences and,on occasions, killing themselves or others in the process.Maybe it’s time we reviewed some of the vehicles we let our youngsters drive?Maybe we should also have a look at who the focus should be on and where theblame really lies as they do in many international jurisdictions?Now, I’m not saying we don’t need to be careful but the law obliges you to stop forthe Red and Blues and if you don’t and cause some carnage along the way it isthe offender who should be held accountable and feel the full weight of the justicesystem. It’s the driver’s decision to run, for whatever reason, and I am hopeful(forever) that we will soon see the courts saying enough is enough!What’s in a measurementWell everything really. I see and hear (particularly from the north) we still havesome of our commanders not wanting to engage resources in gangs, drugs andbugging the villains as it doesn’t fit their performance criteria. Now I can see veryeasily why you wouldn’t focus on the aforementioned if you don’t get measuredon it, so this says to me (and a few of me mates, not all being constables either),that we need to have a wee squizz at what we are measuring.One for the ‘Broad Sword’ and his holiness ‘The Pope’ methinks. They are bothgood southern men who have been around the block often enough to know thesethings matter in our crime fighting and the odd rumour would suggest that some ofthese things can drive other crime – “Ya don’t say!” - I hear a few of you yell.A sad dayWell, you heard it here first folks. Looks like this fella is going to have to sit downwith the Mrs and discuss the ‘power imbalance’ in our relationship. No guessesfor which way it goes fellas!Anyway, with me soulmate a rank or two above (thank goodness as someone hasto bring home the real bacon) then prohibition is on the way. Tongue-in-cheek youmay think but let’s hope someone with commonsense gets hold of this one!!!Storm warningDon’t ya get the feeling that our friends from Africa are starting to up the ante withthe oval ball. The first step was some outstanding performances in the Super 14and now we are gearing up for the Tri Nations. She’s gonna be a very interestingmonth or two. And never write off the Ockers. Maybe they should get the Pontingboy on the field to sort out a few issues and that would make them a tricky hurdlecome September.Either way, it all makes for a delectable sixmonths. – See ya!New SAR and SSGallowance ratifiedSearch and Rescue members along with Specialist SearchGroup members, recently ratified a variation to the sworncollective agreement.A superable allowance equal to 3% of total remuneration isnow payable. A superable allowance of 1.5% can be retainedif a member leaves his or her respective squad with fouror more years service and remains available to assist whererequired. Members welcomed the change by solidly votingin support of it.June 2007115