At least four more “convicts” executed on NZ death roads within hours

Sri Lankan farm worker killed in New Zealand

When his mother brought him into this world, did she know where he would meet his violent end?

Pradeep Edirisinghe, a 44-year-old dairy worker from Sri Lanka, was killed in a violent crash in Northern Southland Friday morning.

The Nissan vehicle he was driving collided with a campervan, at a blackspot, which has claimed several more lives in the past, according to a report.

To ensure another deadly encounter, “a wooden sight rail at the intersection, which served as a warning to drivers to slow down, had been vandalised in recent weeks and had not been repaired.”

“Riversdale fire chief David Stevenson predicted the next crash at the intersection would be a fatal – and sadly he was proved correct.”

“Stevenson, who had attended ‘three or four fatal crashes’ at the intersection before Friday’s, told Stuff of his dire prediction after attending a crash at the crossroads in July, when a driver drove through a compulsory stop sign on Two Chain Road and hit another vehicle.”

The male driver and female passenger, both Italians aged in their 20’s, who were traveling west in a Toyota Hiace van along Two Chain Road, were airlifted to the Otago hospital, the female having serious injuries, police said.

Yet another sordid kiwi affair why the *&^%#$#@ authorities haven’t fixed the deadly blackspot.

Road crash-fatality – Hall St Hamilton

Waikato Police say last night’s fatal crash, which happened about 11.30pm, on Waikato roads was preventable.

District Road Policing Manager said: “It has been a terrible two days, with a serious crash in Te Awamutu on Wednesday afternoon which has left the rider of the motorcycle dead, and now this second crash last night where another person has lost their life. These are tragedies that have long term effects for the community and the families of all those involved.”

Victim of fatal crash near Mt Cook named

Canterbury Police have named the teenage passenger who was the victim of a fatal crash on the Tasman Valley Road on the 24 August 2015. She was 18 year old Rebecca Louise Townshend from Dunedin.

Two people have died in separate crashes in the upper North Island
https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/two-dead-in-waikato-and-counties-manukau-crashes-q05230.html

Deadly 12 hours in Waikato and Counties with three people killed in separate vehicle crashes
https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/three-dead-in-separate-north-island-vehicle-crashes-q07909

Three people were killed in crashes on the nation’s roads since late Thursday and a fourth has been killed in a quadbike incident. – http://www.newzealandnews.net/index.php

Other Violent Deaths

Victim of Linwood house fire named

Canterbury Police have named the victim of the fatal house fire as 38 year old Kara Sibley.

As per usual, police are not treating the death as suspicious and are not seeking anyone else in relation to this incident. [Slam, bam, thank you ma’am!]

Hotel deceased named

Police investigating the sudden death of 58 year-old Mark Lawrence Ivil, recently of Tauranga, who died early this afternoon [25 August 2015] after an incident in the Grand Chancellor Hotel on Hobson St.

Mr Ivil’s death is not being treated as suspicious, police said (!)

Mark Lawrence Ivil, 58, had been accused of living off others’ fortunes for decades to the tune of $4.28 million and was facing numerous charges laid by the Serious Fraud Office (SFO).
http://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/71429149/man-dead-in-auckland-hotel-room-was-facing-multimillion-dollar-fraud-charges

Mechanic killed at a truck repair yard in Oamaru

The mechanic killed at a truck repair yard in Oamaru on Thursday afternoon has been named as 58-year-old Robert George Wallace.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/timaru-herald/news/71533672/man-who-died-in-workplace-accident-named-as-robert-george-wallace

“**ck the Chinese, they wouldn’t know the difference”

Chinese workers exploited in NZ: Union

The Rail and Maritime Transport Union (RMTU) claims more than two dozen Chinese engineers are most likely being exploited in New Zealand, reported Newstalk ZB.

RMTU wants the Employment Court to decide whether foreign workers are subject to our employment laws [or else near-slavery conditions would be perfectly legal?]

It comes after recent revelations that 20 Chinese workers were being paid $4 by KiwiRail last year, and living in “cramped conditions”.

[Note: “cramped conditions” is a gross understatement. At $4 an hour, it would take 10 Chinese engineers, working for KiwiRail and paying half of their combined wages, to afford a two-bedroom flat in NZ’s larger cities. Moderator K.]

https://www.newzealandnow.govt.nz/living-in-nz/housing/renting-a-property

Land of tainted milk, cow manure, Mānuka honey, homeless and censorship

Updated on 21 August 2015

The following article has since been reinstated by NZ Herald
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11500365

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15,000 “severely housing deprived” people live in Auckland: Council report (2014)

“Pregnant women are among the rising number of homeless people on city streets, with some sleeping rough just weeks out from giving birth,” says Lauren Priestley, an NZME News Service reporter.

The following article was posted at NZ Herald [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11500365] but was removed shortly after publication. The page was cached by a reader and sent to the blog moderators.

http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:pIjvfVf5XM8J:www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm%3Fc_id%3D1%26objectid%3D11500365+&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=en

It was Reprinted on this blog for educational purposes! See blog’s Fair Use Notice. NO copyright infringement intended.

‘Pregnant women among rising number of homeless in NZ cities’

8:52 PM Thursday Aug 20, 2015 – [cached on Aug 20, 2015 at 14:13:30 GMT.]

By: Lauren Priestley, an NZME News Service reporter.

Pregnant women are among the rising number of homeless people on city streets, with some sleeping rough just weeks out from giving birth.

National Women’s Hospital Maori midwifery adviser Mahia Winder said she was currently looking after three “streeties” who are pregnant.

She has been treating pregnant homeless women at parks, roadsides, brothels and rehab centres for about 10 years – the only one in Auckland doing the job.

An Auckland Council report released in 2014 showed there were about 15,000 “severely housing deprived” people in Auckland, but there are no official figures recording the number of pregnant women in the group.

Ms Winder said the number of pregnant women might be rising, but only in line with the steady increase of homeless people year on year.

And the main concern for the soon-to-be-mums is not usually the impending birth, but survival.

“Usually having the baby is probably about the last thing on their minds. There’s more stress in the fact they’ve got nowhere to live and are usually cold and hungry and broke and often have addiction problems.

IMAGE: A pregnant woman is holding her tummy with both hands. Caption: National Women’s Hospital Maori midwifery adviser Mahia Winder said she was currently looking after three “streeties” who are pregnant. Photo / iStock / Getty Images. http://media.nzherald.co.nz/webcontent/image/jpg/201534/iStock_000060373600_Medium_300x200.jpg

“I probably am the only one who looks after homeless pregnant people [in Auckland]. For me, I’m looking after three streeties at the moment who are pregnant and there’s probably a couple more out there seeking midwifery care.”

The lack of emergency housing set up for pregnant homeless women in Auckland was part of the issue, Ms Winder said.

She said new mothers also had difficulty finding housing or emergency accommodation once they gave birth.

“There is nowhere specifically for pregnant women, we haven’t got places for women with mental health issues either, or lots of people that need specialist care.”

Emergency housing provider Danielle Bergin, of Island Child Charitable Trust which usually takes in homeless families, said living on the street or in temporary accommodation was particularly hard for pregnant women.

She was currently housing a mother with a 4-month-old baby who had been pregnant when she applied for a home.

About a year ago, Ms Bergin took in a 28-year-old woman who was heavily pregnant. The woman had the baby and then was forced to return to the emergency housing room in Pt England.

“Here we are a year later, has anything changed? I’m finding it so hard to get the houses now. For families or mothers with babies I’m finding it incredibly hard, there are such long delays.

“There are some serious delays in people having their applications completed and they think they’re on the [social housing] waiting list but they’re not.

“It’s very worrying for women who are so close to birth, there is a nesting instinct. I do think it causes undue stress.”

Lifewise service manager Corie Haddock said the sector was seeing an annual increase in homelessness and marginalised groups, including pregnant women, were the hardest hit.

The organisation was currently looking after one pregnant woman and has helped women who were more than 8 months’ pregnant in the past, he said.

It was “hard to quantify” whether more homeless women were becoming pregnant or more pregnant women finding themselves without a home, he said.

“I think they all want to be good mothers so that pressure of not having somewhere safe and secure to live and for their baby to live must have a detrimental impact on them.

“[We help] anyone and everyone that comes through the door needing support. We’ve had situations in the past where we’ve had young women that are pregnant and I guarantee we’ll have situations in the future as well.”   – NZME. Copyright the author and/or the relevant media/ syndicator.

Carnage continues on NZ roads

DO NOT allow learner trees on State Highways!

Another Fatal Crash in Bay of Plenty of Deaths?

Tuesday, 11 August 2015  –  State Highway Five, Tapapa, South Waikato

“A truck has collided with a tree on State Highway (!) near Waiohotu Road. One person is deceased as a result of the crash,” police said.  http://www.police.govt.nz/news/updates/38396

Fatal car crash in Pollok

Tuesday, 11 August 2015 –  Counties Manukau

A car has left the road and travelled down a bank on Awhitu Road near Douglas Road, Pollok. The male passenger of the vehicle is deceased, the female driver sustained injuries.  http://www.police.govt.nz/news/updates/38397

Fatal crash in Oamaru

A fatal crash has occurred on Oamaru-Alma Road in Oamaru where a truck and car  collided killing the driver.

Another person, believed to be a young boy, is currently being transported to hospital by helicopter in a serious condition.  http://www.police.govt.nz/news/release/fatal-crash-oamaru

Update on fatal truck crash in Birkenhead

Tuesday, 11 August 2015 – Waitemata

Police have released the name of the young woman killed in a fatal truck crash in Birkenhead yesterday.  She was Jane Lee Devonshire, aged 19 years old, of West Harbour.

The victim was an employee of the sanitation truck company and was working on the waste removal round at the time of the crash.  http://www.police.govt.nz/news/release/update-fatal-truck-crash-birkenhead

Investigation underway following death of a child

Tuesday, 11 August 2015 – Bay of Plenty of Deaths

An investigation is underway in Taupo following the death of a three-year-old boy, police said.

The boy was admitted to Taupo Hospital with critical injuries at approximately 3pm yesterday afternoon (Monday, 10 August). Preparations were underway to transfer him to Starship Hospital but he died last night before that transfer could occur.

http://www.police.govt.nz/news/release/investigation-underway-following-death-child

Death in Naenae, Lower Hutt
A male was found dead at an address in Naenae this afternoon. Police say it is “too soon to say whether the death is suspicious.” [sacré bleu! a suspicious death in New Zealand?]

Man who was killed in avalanche named

Tuesday, 11 August 2015 – Queenstown

Police have confirmed the 58 year-old man who was killed in avalanche yesterday was Roger Greville of Sydney, Australia.  The cause of his death is still unknown and has been referred to the coroner. A post-mortem is scheduled to occur this morning,  police said.
http://www.police.govt.nz/news/release/man-who-died-after-avalanche-named

Fatal crash on SH1 Orari-Rangitata Highway

Monday, 10 August 2015   –   Canterbury

At about 6.15am this morning a two vehicle crashoccurred on SH1 between Rangitata and Orari., in which a south-bound Suzuki Swift collided with a north-bound Ford Ranger.  “The driver and sole occupant of the Suzuki, a 55 year old female living in Timaru, was confirmed as deceased at the scene.”

The death has been referred to the Coroner.  No further details of the deceased female has been released.   http://www.police.govt.nz/news/release/fatal-crash-sh1-orari-rangitata-highway-0

Name release – investigation into the death of a child in Onehunga

Sunday, 9 August 2015 –  Auckland City

Auckland City Police released the name of the child who was found dead in Onehunga on Friday morning.  She was Maggie Renee Watson, aged four years old. Her Malaysian mother was injured in an undisclosed incident.  http://www.police.govt.nz/news/release/name-release-investigation-death-child-onehunga

Homicide Investigation in Hamilton

Tuesday, 11 August 2015 –  Waikato

Operation CARDINAL SIN.  A homicide investigation is underway after the discovery of a man’s body in a central city public toilet. Police said they have arrested two people. “They will appear in the Hamilton District Court this afternoon to face charges of Assault, Unlawfully Taking a Motor Vehicle and other charges.” http://www.police.govt.nz/news/updates/38387

Fatal Crash – Hawkes Bay

At 11.38pm on Saturday, 8th August 2015, a serious motor crash occurred on Farndon Road, Clive, police said.

Four males were in a motor vehicle which left the road and rolled, killing one of the occupants, and injuring the three others, who were taken to Hawkes Bay Regional Hospital, one in a critical condition and the other two with moderate injuries, police said. http://www.police.govt.nz/news/release/fatal-crash-hawkes-bay

Avalanche kills ‘Australian’ skier

Heli-skier killed by avalanche near Queenstown

A 58 year-old man, believed to be an Australian national, was killed by an avalanche near the Devil’s Staircase (!) at around 2.45pm today (10 August 2015).

The cause of his death is unknown at this time, and it has been referred to the coroner, police said.

Police also said they are working to advise the next of kin. No further details are available at this time.

More mayhem and carnage in New Zealand

Man killed in fatal crash [Probably the most used news headline in NZ]

Friday, 7 August 2015 – 7:44am – Counties Manukau [southern area of Auckland, New Zealand]

A man was killed after a car left the road in Puke-kohe just before 7am today, police said.

“The Police serious crash unit is investigating the crash.” [Has anyone ever seen the result of one of these so-called investigations?] http://www.police.govt.nz/news/updates/38317

Operation West — update to murder victim’s name

The murder victim found at Taieri Court on Thursday 6 August, 2015 has now been formally identified as 26-year-old Samuel Peter Culling, is also known as Samuel Whatuira and Samuel Badawi (!) of Palmerston North.

Police said: “A post mortem conducted yesterday revealed Samuel died a violent death, and we are unable to provide any further details on the nature of the injury or how it was inflicted as this information is sensitive to our ongoing inquiries.”
http://www.police.govt.nz/news/release/operation-west-%E2%80%94-victim-named

Update on investigation into child’s death [Murder mystery?] in Onehunga
Saturday, 8 August 2015 – 12:25pm – Auckland City

Police are “investigating” the death of a child in Onehunga on Friday morning. They said they were awaiting further test results to establish how the child died.

“Police still have no clue what killed the young girl. The woman who had called police was taken to hospital for treatment of some minor injuries,” according to a report.

“Neighbour Des Gilmore said a mother and her daughter, who were from Malaysia, had lived in the house for about two years and were lovely.”

“They were friends of ours, they went over to Malaysia for a holiday and I haven’t seen them since they got back,” she said. “We’re a close community, we actually looked after her house while she was away.”

http://www.police.govt.nz/news/release/update-investigation-childs-death-onehunga

Child’s Death
Friday, 7 August 2015 – 7:53am – Auckland City – Onehunga

All media queries relating to the death in Onehunga should be made directly to the Auckland City District Communications manager Noreen Hegarty. That’s very useful indeed! You can’t have “news salvation” unless you go through the me-dia.

http://www.police.govt.nz/news/updates/38318

Fatal crash – SH27 Matamata

Thursday, 6 August 2015 – 9:17pm – Waikato

Waikato Police and other emergency services have “investigated” a fatal crash on State Highway 27 (SH27) near Matamata. The crash involves a truck and a motorcycle, the rider of the motorcycle was killed.  http://www.police.govt.nz/news/updates/38313

Pedestrian killed by train

Thursday, 6 August 2015 – Walters Road, Takanini, Counties Manukau (AGAIN?)

The fatality has occured in the vicinity of the Walters Road rail crossing. The pedestrian has been struck by a Southbound train. http://www.police.govt.nz/news/updates/38312

Operation Owens – Man murdered in Christchurch

Tuesday, 4 August 2015 – Canterbury

Canterbury Police have confirmed the identity of the victim whose death is the subject of a homicide investigation in Owens Terrace, Christchurch. He was Harold Richardson. The victim’s body was discovered in his home address on Sunday 2 August 2015. “There are currently 18 police staff involved in the investigation (!) The Police have interviewed a number of people who are known to the victim. One of them, a 16 year old, has been charged with murder.”
http://www.police.govt.nz/news/updates/38241

Fatal crash, Castle Cliff beach – Wanganui

At about 5pm on 30 July, 2015, a 29 year old Wanganui man was involved in a motorcycle crash on Castle Cliff beach. As a result of the incident the man suffered serious injuries and died at the scene. http://www.police.govt.nz/news/updates/38207

Slovakian man assassinated by NZ police

NZ police murders another foreigner

Slovakian national David Cerven, 21, was shot dead by Police assassins in Myers Park, Auckland, Sunday evening at about 7.45pm.

The victim came to New Zealand in March this year, police said.

Police have alleged that the victim had robbed a Dairy at knifepoint on Saturday night and that he was a suspect in two earlier robberies at liquor stores over last week.

The blog moderators are advised by “police insiders” that the victim did not carry a firearm and that the police team who assassinated him was fully aware at the time that he had NO firearm in his possession.

posted at https://www.police.govt.nz/news/release/myers-park-update

Auckland City District Commander, Superintendent Richard Chambers has so far failed to provide any evidence that the alleged suspect was indeed carrying a firearm, or how the victim could  have possibly come into possession of one, other than the one police might have planted on him, in a space of a few hours,  immediately after he had allegedly robbed the Dairy at knifepoint on Saturday.

posted at https://www.police.govt.nz/news/release/police-looking-locate-david-cerven

The victim could have easily been disarmed by the police. Failing that, the police marksmen could have easily immobilized him by shooting him in the leg, or arm, instead of shooting to kill.

Related Links

• Police Cleared in Murder of Briton, Lee Jane Mettam Posted by te2ataria on April 15, 2010

“Serial pooper defecates in police bagpipes”

Sent by a reader

The following news comes from a “police insider” who heard details of the alleged incident from a senior colleague. We are unable to confirm the authenticity of this report [names and locations withheld. Moderator N.]

“Serial pooper defecates in police bagpipes, wipes himself with the band’s new tartan“

News of a “serial pooper” relieving himself in police bagpipes, and wiping himself with their new tartan, comes shortly after the police announced that the New Zealand Police Pipe Band was setting off in its new tartan to compete in the World Pipe Band Championships in Glasgow on 14-15 August.

The new tartan was piped in by Pipe Major Emmett Conway, appropriately playing the air Macleod of Mull, at the ceremony at Police National Headquarters. Police file.

The band’ new tartan, which replaces the King George VI tartan and meant to pay tribute to its Police heritage, is the McLeod Centenary tartan.

The new tartan was piped in by Pipe Major Emmett Conway, appropriately playing the air Macleod of Mull, at the ceremony at Police National Headquarters, police said.

‘Natural selection’ working at its best? Examples 3, 4 and 5

Sent by a reader, edited by moderator N.

More than 99,000 dog bites in ten years (WTF)

Dog bites are causing increasing numbers of people to be hospitalised every year, according to a new study.

More than 99,000 dog bites were reported in New Zealand in the last 10 years, according to data released at the New Zealand Association of Plastic Surgeons annual scientific meeting. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11490903

Correction: A French and a British tourist receive official NZ welcome

Two male tourists were attacked at the Vagabond Backpackers Hostel in Christchurch.

Blood covers the driveway at a central Christchurch backpackers where two tourists were attacked by a group of people.

The tourists were attacked by up to eight people in the driveway of the Vagabond Backpacker Hostel on Worcester St between 2.30am and 2.45am on Saturday.

Both men have been admitted to hospital. One suffered a broken jaw, while the other has serious eye injuries.

The tourists were believed to be from France.

A Belgian tourist who is staying at the hostel, said he was asleep last night during the attack but had heard what happened from other backpackers.

He said a French man had been waiting for a taxi outside the hostel when a group of locals walked past.

“The guy was getting harassed and yelled and his mates came out [of the hostel]. They tried to help him, but I think they didn’t helped.

“There was a lot of blood this morning.”

Another French tourist said “a lot of people were talking about it this morning” at the hostel.

It is not known what nationality the other hospitalised tourist was.   http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/70746770/tourists-assaulted-by-up-to-eight-people-at-backpackers

Freedom campers terrorised at Caroline Bay, Timaru

Two French tourists have been harassed by strangers as they slept in their campervan at Caroline Bay.

Francois*  and Fanny* spent eight months travelling around Australia without incident. They arrived in Queenstown on Tuesday and stopped in Invercargill and Dunedin before making their way up to Timaru on Saturday. Everything went smoothly until they parked their campervan  at the Timaru freedom camping spot overnight on Sunday.

“Only here we have a problem,” Fanny said.

At 3.45am they were rudely woken by someone opening the side door of their campervan and screaming at them to wake up.  http://www.stuff.co.nz/timaru-herald/news/70550344/freedom-campers-terrorised-in-caroline-bay-timaru

Police car rolls after third car chase of the night in Northland

Three police chases in Northland ended with one patrol car sliding off the road and rolling, police said.

Police said the first chase began at 12.25am on Sunday when a car failed to stop for officers on Western Hills Drive in Whangarei.

The chase was abandoned for safety reasons but police began chasing the car again after it was spotted in Hikurangi, 20 minutes north of Whangarei.

The driver fled on foot at Waiomio Rd, 36km north of Hikurangi, but he was soon located by a police dog handler.

At 1.10am, there was another pursuit of a car stolen from Marsden Point, on the coast south of Whangarei.

The third dramatic chase occurred about 2.20am when an officer from Dargaville, who had been assisting with the second chase, spotted a 4WD vehicle towing a trailer without tail lights.  http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/70750597/police-vehicle-rolls-after-third-car-chase-of-the-night-in-northland

Credit: MAARTEN HOLL/The Dominion Post.  The new police car came to an early end as the driver wrapped it around a streetlight in central Wellington August 2009. Figures issued to The Dominion Post under the Official Information Act show that 734 police cars crashed in 2009, including 61 that crashed while pursuing speeding vehicles… About 100 police cars were written off in the five years to January 2010 at a cost of more than $3 million.

A death a day from police chases

In the U.S., more than 5,000 bystanders and passengers have been killed in police car chases since 1979, and tens of thousands of others were injured as officers repeatedly pursued drivers at high speeds and in hazardous conditions, often for minor infractions, a USA TODAY analysis shows.

“The bystanders and the passengers in chased cars account for nearly half of all people killed in police pursuits from 1979 through 2013, USA TODAY found. Most bystanders were killed in their own cars by a fleeing driver.”

In the state of Arizona [pop: ~ 6.8 million,] some 354 people were killed in police chases between 1979 and 2013, about 3 percent of the 11,506 deaths nationally, according to the report.

Based on information acquired from various sources,  the blog moderators believe that the rate of kill in police chases is probably higher in New Zealand than in the U.S.

Do the authorities cook the casualty figures?

At least 11,506 people, including 6,300 fleeing suspects, were killed in police chases from 1979 through 2013, most recent year for which [National Highway Traffic Safety Administration] NHTSA records are available. That’s an average of 329 a year — nearly one person a day.

But those figures likely understate the actual death toll because NHTSA uses police reports to determine if a crash was chase-related, and some reports do not disclose that a chase occurred.

Kansas, Michigan and Minnesota state records all show more chase-related deaths than NHTSA shows for those states.

“It’s an embarrassment,” said Geoffrey Alpert of the University of South Carolina, a leading researcher on police pursuits who has done numerous Justice Department studies. NHTSA records “are the only national database we have on these fatalities, and it’s been consistently wrong.”

The number of innocent bystanders killed is impossible to pinpoint because hundreds of NHTSA’s records fail to show whether a victim was killed in a car fleeing police or in a car that happened to be hit during a chase.

Analyzing each fatal crash, USA TODAY determined that at least 2,456 bystanders were killed, although the death toll could be as high as 2,750. The newspaper found that 55% of those killed were drivers fleeing police. They ranged from armed-robbery suspects to a 10-year-old boy chased as he drove a pick-up truck 85 mph on a county road before hitting a tree, killing himself and his 7-year-old passenger.

“Injuries are even harder to count because NHTSA keeps records of only fatal crashes,” said the report. http://www.azcentral.com/longform/news/2015/07/30/police-pursuits-fatal-injuries/30187827/