The Star: March 09, 2017

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18 Thursday March 9 2017 Latest Christchurch news at www. .kiwi The Star Viewpoint Emergency alerts on your mobile phone THIS week I announced a new emergency alerting system that broadcasts to mobile phones is on track to be up and running by the end of the year. Launching a cell broadcast alerting system is a priority for the National Government and will help New Zealanders respond to the natural disasters we experience all too often. Cell broadcast alerting is a new way of sending information to mobile phones in a defined geographical area without people needing to download an app or subscribe to a service. The alerts will look similar to text messages and are received automatically – for free – by all cell broadcast-enabled mobile phones in the area. Discussions with New Zealand’s major telecommunications companies are progressing well and we expect to have contracts signed in the coming weeks. As no technology is 100 per cent fail-safe or able to reach everyone in all circumstances, multiple channels will continue to be used to send alerts when emergencies Gerry Brownlee happen. These channels include radio, television, websites, various social media, smartphone apps, sirens and others. In Christchurch, we have warning sirens along the coast from Brooklands to Taylors Mistake and the other channels are used as local authorities determine appropriate. It is important to remember cell broadcast alerts don’t replace the need for people to pay attention to natural warnings. This is particularly important in the case of earthquakes and potential tsunamis. Cell broadcasting will get information about an emergency to people faster and more reliably than ever before. Additionally, cell broadcast technology works separately from text messages, so even when the networks get busy after a disaster, alerts can still be sent quickly. The system is already well established elsewhere in the world, in countries such as the United States, Japan, Israel and Chile. We said: Cantabrians’ access to non-emergency surgery is now the worst in the country. The Canterbury and South Canterbury district health boards were ranked worst for elective surgeries – which includes everything but emergency surgery You said: Simone Kuhlmann – Maybe that has something to do with the fact that they overwork and underpay their new young doctors? I mean I wouldn’t want to work 17-hour days either . . . let alone operate on someone! Besides they’re on strike at the moment anyway aren’t they? My mother needs surgery on her ankle again after it was broken an operated on 1.5 years ago and it’s been impossible to get in. Graeme Palmer – Just as well I have made the decision to stay in Dunedin with the great specialist team that I have around me rather than move home to Christchurch. Amy Kennedy – Only took six months to get surgery on my badly broken ankle. Albert Read – This needs to be fixed now. We said: All is not well between Lyttelton residents and their local police. Residents want local police on patrol after hours and on weekends, and are taking matters into their own hands with satisfaction surveys. Even a former detective has laid a complaint about police performance You said: Marianne Allison – We have the same in New Brighton, I feel so sad for so many people here getting their cars broken into and having to pay a $500 excess on insurance. Sally King – And it’s a similar story in many small New Zealand towns. Too many cut backs and lack of funding and misguided use of current precious funding. Small towns matter too. Amy Coursey – Nah. They know, the little town police officers are quite stretched. We live in a small town where the police have a huge area to cover and can’t get to everything. Jake Ranginui – It’s election year, we need to change the Government. Police are far too underfunded! Deborah Kavanagh – . . . and if the crims didn’t know before . . . they do now. Proud installers of Get a Mitsubishi Electric GE50 5.8kW Heat Pump including FREE installation* for just $2,699* *includes cost of back to back install only, conditions apply Call now for a free quote - 0800 324 678 www.dcis.co.nz
` • Turn to page 4 The Star Latest Christchurch news at www. .kiwi Thursday March 9 2017 19 Young scapegoats We said: The city’s most dangerous intersections have been revealed after city councillor Aaron Keown hit out at his council colleagues for not putting aside $800,000 to fix the contentious intersection of Harewood, Breens and Gardiners Rds in Bishopdale Lynley Jenkins – A lot of it would be solved if lights stayed green for longer, and there were more right-turning arrows. Also hefty penalties for red light runners. People have forgotten orange means prepare to stop. Simon Rutherford – This is just a list of intersections! Where is the journalism that tells us why newly upgraded intersections are considered dangerous like QE II and Marshland Rd. We said: Selwyn Sounds had Lincoln rocking at the weekend, with more than 7500 people at the concert. The bands included Mi-Sex, the Jordan Luck Band and Dragon You said: Maree Reveley – Awesome bands and great venue. Same complaints as above though. Took far too long to get in and queues for ladies toilets were absolutely ridiculous. Men’s urinals ended up overflowing onto the ground. Paula Fisher – Great day and music, but yes more toilets required and entry queue a bit long but expected when allowed to bring food an drink in. Alan Hane – Great day, big toilet queues, though, need more toilets and men’s urinals. Jackie Ryan – Was absolutely awesome day fantastic music and delicious food, bring on next year. Tania Adams – hope they have more loos next year, the queues where ridiculously long. BILL English’s comments last week that local workers and particularly the young fail drug tests, and this was the reason we were having to bring in overseas workers for these roles, made my blood boil for a number of reasons. First, it’s simply not true on the scale alleged. The Government’s own figures show that just 150 people a year either failed or refused to take a drug test out of the 30,000 people a year who were tested. Our prime minister cynically scapegoated a group of people who need the Government’s backing rather than being thrown under the bus like this in response to the reporting of all-time high migration figures. Instead of an intelligent debate about employment, he decided to use anecdotes that had not been fact checked. But facts matter, and in this country we expect our prime minister to use them. A country’s young people are one its best resources, so for him to marginalise and blame them unfairly is shameful. While the prime minister and his party are busy taking pot shots at our young people, Labour has been forming plans to make sure all our young people are ready for work. Currently, there are 74,000 young people not in education, employment or training and, last year, Andrew Little announced policy to fix this problem. Andrew did not shy away from the fact that there are some young people who occasionally need a kick up the backside to get them out the front door, but he also laid out a plan to help them into work. For a period of six months, young people would be offered employment on community and environmental projects and paid the minimum wage. Mentors will help them make the most out of this time and make sure that they learn important skills like punctuality. This further adds to our intention to pay the equivalent of the dole to employers who take on apprentices. Labour is not prepared to throw our young onto the scrap heap, we want a future where our young people have hope and opportunity, not a prime minister ready to use them as political fodder. TALE WITH A TWIST EDINBURGH ON SHOW Roles reversed in Sherwood Forest classic production Work up sweat on the Scottish streets P3 P42 P62 Thursday, January 26 , 2017 • By Andrew King CANNABIS, methamphetamine, firearms and cash were found on the rural property yesterday of a family member of a high-profile deceased businessman. Police raided the property about 20km south of Christchurch yesterday morning and took the middle aged man into custody for questioning. He was interviewed for several hours by detectives at the Christchurch central police phetamine, and firearms charges. has gang connections. station and is expected to face He is scheduled to appear in Police were yesterday releasing charges relating to possession of the Christchurch District Court few details of the raid near Lincoln but The Star has learned the cannabis for supply, cultivating on January 31. cannabis, possession of metham- The Star has learned the man firearms found included pistols. SPORT, P49 WICKETKEEPING ROLE FOR LATHAM? READY TO ROCK? Check out the Gig Guide in the entertainment section Tips to get you back in the growing mode GARDENING - P35 Armed police were used in the raid. Detective Sergeant Chris Power confirmed firearms, 30 mature cannabis plants, 110 seedlings and a small amount of methamphetamine was taken from the property. “The cannabis was being grown in a shipping container,” he said. Police also seized about $20,000 in cash believed to be linked with drugs. The deceased businessman whom the arrested man is closely related to was well known throughout New Zealand. He died with a fortune worth more than $100 million. He was also a benefactor for many charities and organisations, both nationally and in Canterbury. Family member of well known businessman nabbed in raid DRUG STING: Police found drugs, firearms and cash at an E lesmere property on Wednesday. PHOTO: ANDREW KING SHIFTING POPULATION BEAUTIFUL BANANAS RED-HOT REPUTATION P7 P13 P15 Thursday, January 5, 2017 •For a timetable and tickets, visit http://www. world buskers festival.com/ Zara makes a splash The buskers are back bringing fun, laughter and even some vegetables. Canadian busker Mike Wood performed a the Arts Centre’s North Quad yesterday where he caught a cabbage on his head, catapulted by Liz Williams. Inset: Fellow Canadian Mighty Mike wowed the audience as he juggled with fire. The World Buskers Festival has been running for a week, returning to the streets and the Arts Centre for the firs time since the February 2011 earthquake. It will wrap up on Sunday. PHOTOS: GEOFF SLOAN In spite of a few drizzly patches so far this summer, let’s hope we can all continue to have fun in the sun just like Zara Harrison, 4, of Halswell, as she tip-toes through the water feature at the Margaret Mahy Family Playground. The rest of January is looking like a bit of a mixed-bag weather-wise, but there will still be a few cracking hot days, according to the MetService. PHOTO: GEOFF SLOAN starnews.co.nz Rise Up Christchurch Be in to win a $100 prize pack GARDENING - P19 Rise in number of motorists running red lights • By Gabrielle Stuart CHRISTCHURCH’S growing red light-running problem is leaving dozens of injuries in its wake. In the past year, there were 65 crashes which left people injured after drivers ran red lights, up from 42 the year before. At the city’s top 10 worst intersections this month, almost 5400 drivers ran red lights in a single day. That was up 31 per cent from last year, and 64 per cent more than in 2014. They do not include people turning right across an intersection on a red light. The worst for red light-runners was the intersection of Blenheim Rd and Mandeville St, where 652 were detected on a single day on Thursday, December 1. Police figures have also grown. In the last year, 1491 people were ticketed for running red lights in Christchurch, up from 1316 the year before and 1266 in 2014. Canterbury road policing manager Inspector Al Stewart (left) said he was disappointed to see the rise. “It puts people at risk. They may get away with it 99 out of 100 times, but it is that one time which could leave someone injured or killed,” he said. He said police had a focus last year on bad driving at intersections, which included red light-running, and that would continue until the numbers improved. People often had different excuses when ticketed for running red lights, but there was no acceptable reason, he said. “A lot of people are simply focused on other things and don’t see it, but that is just as unacceptable as running a light deliberately, because when driving you should be focused on the task at hand,” he said. •Turn to page 4 TRUMP-FUELLED DUST-UPS GIFT FOR ILLUSTRATING P3 P23 City politicians go toe-to-toe Drawing the latest runway looks PHOTO: GEOFF SLOAN Thursday, February 2, 2017 FUEL TAX IDEA You’ve got to be joking – motorists • By Bridget Rutherford MOTORISTS HAVE slammed an idea to introduce a regional fuel tax in Canterbury to fix earthquake-damaged roads. Last week, The Star revealed city councillors Aaron Keown and Phil Clearwater were pushing for a fuel tax. But The Star has received said she would be “very disappointed” if a fuel tax was intro- numerous readers’ responses – with all but one saying they did duced. not want a regional fuel tax (see “We’re paying more for fuel pages 16-18). here in Christchurch. I fee like They said petrol was already there’s so many other ways to expensive including the fuel contribute to the roads. excise, and the city council “A lot of people can’t afford to should find money within its run cars as it is.” budge to repair the roads. Auckland Mayor Phil Goff It comes as Energy Minister asked for a 10c per litre fuel tax Judith Collins signals an inquiry for Auckland to plug the $4 into rising petrol margins. million funding gap it has for a Petrol was currently about 30c list of transport projects over the more in the South Island and next decade. Wellington compared to places Mayor Lianne Dalziel said she such as Levin and Masterton. would be interested to see what Cr Keown said he expected happened there before making opposition to the idea – but in any decisions on asking the Governmen to look at Canterbury. paying extra on fuel tax to fix the roads, it would save money Canterbury University transport expert Simon Kingham said in the future. “Rather than pay a little bit the idea was feasible because it more on fuel, they’d rather was user-based. damage their cars and take more He said if the city council was time travelling. to find money in the budget for “They are assuming the council can just juggle the numbers or take it from another project. repairs, it would have to up rates, around and fix the roads.” Motorist Helen Logan (left) Aaron Keown Phil Clearwater March 19 2017 14km 6km ENTER NOW $25 Online PakNSave • New World • The Athletes Foot • YMCA Children 10 years old and under fr e choose cool & comfortable on a luxurious natural wool mattress You can have the best nights sleep on a Dreamwool Pocket Spring or Natural Latex mattress with 100% natural fillings. 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The Star: March 09, 2017

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