The Star: February 08, 2024

Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz
NEWS 3
Mosque terrorist abandons review of conditions
THE Christchurch mosque
shooter has abandoned his
application for a judicial review
of his prison conditions.
The matter was heard yesterday
morning at the Auckland
High Court before Justice Geoffrey
Venning, where the mass
murderer, who killed 51 people
at the Al Noor mosque and
Linwood Islamic Centre in 2019,
was set to challenge his designation
as an at-risk prisoner.
His lawyer Todd Simmonds
started the hearing by seeking
an order barring media and the
public from being present.
Simmonds said his client
was concerned any publicity of
the application could affect his
treatment at Auckland Prison,
where he is held in the prisoners
of extreme risk unit.
He was also concerned about
the public airing of the personal
subject matter of the application,
which would cause intense
embarrassment or distress, Simmonds
said.
The application for a closed
hearing was opposed by Austin
Powell, representing the Department
of Corrections and the
Attorney-General.
Powell said publicity would
not affect the terrorist’s treatment
in prison, where his status
as an at-risk prisoner means
he is already under constant
surveillance.
Justice Venning declined the
application and allowed the
media and public to remain in
court.
The judge said open justice
should prevail over the concerns
of the terrorist regarding the
publication of his lawyer’s
Thursday February 8 2024 The Star
submissions regarding how he is
detained.
“The fact that aspects of it
may be humiliating or embarrassing
for him is not sufficient,”
Justice Venning said.
After a brief adjournment,
Simmonds told the court he had
received firm instructions to
abandon the application.
The judge dismissed the
proceedings. – NZ Herald
• By Dylan Smits
ON SUNDAY, Sumner
Longboarders Club will
celebrate the tenth anniversary
of SURFable Sessions as they
guide disabled people among the
waves on Scarborough Beach.
“Some just float on boards
and others get to stand up, but
they all feel like they’re surfing,
and the enjoyment and sense of
achievement they experience is
magic,” said event organiser Pete
Mannix.
The event mostly caters to
youth, but also includes some
adults.
Each of the 48 attendees registered
need at least seven supporters
in the water with them,
said Mannix.
“We couldn’t do this without
the huge army of volunteers
from the club, the wider community
and a core group of
sponsors.”
Connor Duncan-Caley was
one of last year’s participants.
The 14-year-old has dealt with
motor-function issues since he
had a brain tumour removed
when he was 8.
“Being out on the board gives
me lots of joy. SURFable gives
me the opportunity to do something
I can’t normally do and I
love it,” said Connor.
The event is fully booked and
SURFable sessions:
Making waves accessible
HELPING HANDS: Grita Stowell enjoying the waves with
the help of volunteers at the 2023 SURFable Sessions
event.
PHOTOS: BELEN RADA
Mannix said every year there are
more people interested than can
be accommodated for.
The session in Scarborough
will run from 10am to 3pm.
Gary Butt, the originator
of the event, said he is “pretty
stoked” the sessions have now
continued for a decade.
“The idea was to make it
sustainable, so that’s why we
hooked up with the surf clubs.”
After witnessing a similar
event in Hawaii, Butt returned
to New Zealand in 2012 with the
idea to create surfing events for
disabled people.
“It’s just a really
great way to
give back, and
you get a lot out
of it too,” said
Butt.
Mannix said
past years’
events have been
rewarding with
smiles, laughter
and tears of happiness coming
from all involved.
“Many have never had the opportunity
to experience being in
the ocean before,” he said.
“It is a huge event for the surfers,
their families and the army
of volunteers who give up their
day.”
Surfers register through
schools and community support
groups. They have a wide range
of disabilities from blindness to
autism.
After finishing their 30 minute
session the surfers will be
treated to a BBQ.
“That warms them up when
they get out,” said Mannix.
The longboarders surf club has
about 50 members from across
Christchurch, ranging significantly
in age and ability but all
with a passion for surfing and
friendly competition.
They celebrated their thirtieth
anniversary in September.
Connor Duncan-Caley with
volunteers at last year’s event.
In Brief
Civic ceremony to mark
quake anniversary
A civic memorial ceremony
at the Oi Manawa Canterbury
Earthquake National Memorial
will be held on February 22 to
mark the 13th anniversary of
the 2011 earthquake. Mayor Phil
Mauger will lay a wreath and the
names of the 185 people who lost
their lives will be read aloud. A
bell will be tolled, once for each
person. The ceremony starts at
12.45pm with a minute of silence
to be observed at 12.51pm, the
time the earthquake struck.
Extreme care urged
with fire risk very high
The fire risk remains very high
across Canterbury with Fire
and Emergency New Zealand
Canterbury district commander
Dave Stackhouse urging people
to exercise extreme care when
undertaking any activities with
the potential to cause sparks
including mowing, welding or
driving vehicles through long
grass. Firefighters have been busy
this week handling vegetation
fires in Kirwee and Glasnevin,
north of Christchurch.
Aggravated robbery at
Hei Hei dairy
Police are hunting for a person
who allegedly robbed a Hei Hei
dairy at gunpoint on Tuesday
afternoon. Police were called to
the Wycola Dairy on Wycola
Ave, around 4.05pm after
reports a person disguised with
a balaclava entered the store and
threatened an employee.
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