Super city's shape revealed today

11/03/2010 05:36

Aucklanders are about to find out what final shape the proposed super city will take, while a specialist in local government management sends out a warning.

The Local Government Commission has been considering proposals on the boundaries since submissions closed in December and is due to present its final determination in Auckland this morning. It has to deliver its determination this month in order to have time to prepare for the local elections in October.

However, Andy Asquith, from Massey University, contends that today's announcement heralds the end of local democracy in Auckland.

"I think we're going to be in a position where we have far fewer elected representatives, the community voice will vanish and I don't think it's good for democracy."

Dr Asquith says evidence shows that once councillors are elected for merged cities, they spend all their time inside the town hall and have little profile within the community.

Teens jailed for "cowardly" killing

10/03/2010 11:52

A Christchurch teenager will spend at least 15 and a half years in prison for killing a taxi driver.

Shannon Boyes-Warren, 17, last month admitted murdering Abdulrahman Ikhtiari in December 2008. The father of five, a refugee who brought his family to New Zealand from Afghanistan, was stabbed to death in his taxi in the central city.

Boyes-Warren's accomplice, Randell Brown, has been sentenced to five and a half years jail for manslaughter. He held Mr Ikhtiari from the backseat while Boyes-Warren attempted to rob him and inflicted the fatal stab wound.

Both received concurrent sentences for charges of assault with intent to rob.

In sentencing, Justice French told the court she had read the victim impact statements of Mr Ikhtiari's family and employer.

"These reports make for very sad reading indeed. The man killed in this cowardly and senseless attack was a man who had sought refuge in New Zealand in the hope that he and his family could live a safer life."

Hero doesn't like the title

10/03/2010 08:28

The New Zealand soldier being hailed a hero for saving the lives of two of his colleagues does not believe he deserves the recognition.

Prime Minister John Key is looking into whether British Army rifleman James McKie can be awarded for grabbing a hand grenade that had been thrown at his feet by Taliban fighters in Afghanistan and hurling it back as it exploded mid-air.

The 29-year-old soldier, originally from Wellington, does not feel as if he has done anything exceptional. He says the word hero is the wrong term to use.

"I don't really like the word. I wouldn't use the word to describe myself. I'm trained, I get paid to do this. This is my job and I enjoy it."

Mr McKie says while he got shrapnel hit his face, he has had worse cuts from shaving.

Prime Minister John Key says the Government is considering whether it is able to give Mr McKie official recognition for his actions.

"He's obviously a New Zealander but enlisted in the British Army so we'll need to take a look and see what happens there, but I wouldn't rule that out."

Mr Key is commending Mr McKie for his courage.

Shake up welcomed by industry trainers

10/03/2010 08:24

The Industry Training Federation believes the tertiary sector is long overdue for a shake up.

Tertiary education funding will be performance linked under a raft of proposed changes announced by new Tertiary Education Minister Steven Joyce. If an institute has students who record high failure rates, it will lose some of its funding and students who fail will find it hard to get student loans.

Mr Joyce says the government is concerned that there are a large number of tertiary programmes, particularly below degree-level, that have course pass rates as low as 30 percent. He says some of the programmes fail to properly equip students for the jobs they want. Mr Joyce says the new funding model will provide incentives for institutions to continually improve the educational performance of their students.

"We need to know that the money we are spending on tertiary education is being well used and is giving young people the skills that employers demand and that will lead to productive, meaningful employment."

From 2012 onwards, tertiary education organisations that are not performing will run the risk of losing funding.

Industry spokesman Jeremy Baker says the changes will separate the truly useful courses from the rest.

"There are simply too many qualifications, over 6,000, so it is very difficult to be clear about which are of value."

Mr Baker says sorting out the mess will naturally make training more industry relevant.

Family stunned about expulsion

10/03/2010 06:28

A New Zealand family expelled from Morocco on religious grounds is struggling to come to terms with the situation.

For the past 18 months the Broadbents have been working at a Christian children's home in the Middle Atlas mountains. They and other staff at the orphanage were forced to leave the country yesterday after officials claimed their religious views were no longer acceptable.

Chris Broadbent says the workers were given just an hour to pack up their belongings and head to the nearest port. Talking from Spain, he says the group is in shock, as the centre has been operating for ten years without any issues.

"We're not missionaries, we're not here to convert people from Islam. The parents who were looking after these children were all Christians so there are now 33 children who have once again been abandoned."

Mr Broadbent says the children at the orphanage were like his own and their cries when staff left will haunt him for the rest of his life. He says one boy, who is severely handicapped, will now probably be dumped at one of the state run institutions.

Barker happy despite losing start

11/03/2010 05:36

A bit of homework for Team New Zealand skipper Dean Barker after his latest win in the Louis Vuitton Trophy on Auckland's Waitemata Harbour.

Barker and his crew rattled up their second win in as many races yesterday, beating Italian syndicate Mascalzone Latino by four minutes and 43 seconds.

However, the numbers do not tell the real story. A mistake at the start saw Team New Zealand trail by 22 seconds around the top mark, before a spirited fight back saw Barker claim the lead on the second leg.

Mascalzone Latino then suffered gear failure which effectively ended its race.

Barker says he is thrilled to be undefeated after two races, but there is definitely room for improvement.

"It's nice to be able to come out on the right side after having made a mistake and I'll certainly spend a fair bit of time debriefing the start to work out how I can do that better, but all in all I'm happy with the way things are going".

Barker says the strength of any really good team is to be able to pass when they are behind, so it was a good sign that his team was able to get around the Italian boat before it broke down.

Team New Zealand faces its toughest test of the regatta today, taking on the highly fancied British crew Team Origin, skippered by Ben Ainslie.

Barker says it is likely to be a stiff challenge.

"They know the boats just about as well as we do - a lot of the guys on board have sailed them before when they were part of Team New Zealand in the past. We will have to lift our act and sail a good race to come out on top".

Team Origin has one win and one loss at the regatta to date.

Peter Ingram likely to be dropped

10/03/2010 16:36

Peter Ingram may be a casualty of a reshuffled Black Caps batting line-up.

Black Caps coach Mark Greatbatch has made it clear there will be changes to the side for tomorrow's fourth one-day international against Australia in Auckland.

Greatbatch says the selectors are looking at their options and hints that patience with Ingram and Neil Broom is running out.

"You've got to give players opportunities, that's what it's about. But you also have to balance it with your best players too. We had a few injuries last game, we'll bring those guys back in if they're fit. Just with a little tinkering of that batting order."

Commentator Bryan Waddle says Ingram is set to be the first casualty of the Black Caps top order, which has failed to fire. He says Ingram's lack of footwork has been severely exposed by Australia's attack.

"The likely demotion of Ingram will be hard on the Central man, whose season has been full of runs at first class level. But sadly his technique has been found wanting against the extra pace of the Australian bowlers, after the modest pace of Bangladesh and the domestic teams."

Waddell says he needs to modify his technique to make the most of his undoubted strike power. He believes Martin Guptil will move back to opening with Brendon McCullum, Ross Taylor at number three in the order, Neil Broom at four, Scott Styris batting higher at number five and Daniel Vettori rounding out the top six.

Daryl Tuffey and James Franklin will undergo fitness tests this afternoon.

Court date set for Lauaki

10/03/2010 15:48

Chiefs number eight Sione Lauaki will appear in court to face an assault charge later this month.

Hamilton police are refusing to comment further on the incident, which took place at Coyotes Bar in the city early on Friday morning. They have confirmed an assault charge has been laid against the former All Black, but will not say if further charges are likely.

The 28-year-old is due to face the charge at Hamilton District Court on March 23.

Neither the Chiefs or Lauaki will be commenting on the alleged incident until after the matter has been through the courts. He will also face Chiefs and NZRU disciplinary processes.

Lauaki has been left out of the team to play the Crusaders on Friday night, a decision Chiefs coach Ian Foster says is for the best.

"Spoken to Sione and we've both decided that he won't be involved in this game in light of the week that he's had.'

Foster says the Chiefs will fully support Lauaki over the next few weeks.

Team NZ continue strong form

10/03/2010 15:48

Team New Zealand have continued their dominant start to the Louis Vuitton Trophy with victory over Mascalzone Latino.

They have smashed the Italians by 4 minutes and 43 seconds, to remain unbeaten in the regatta.

Britain's Team Origin have beaten Germanys All4one by over a minute.

Speculation grows on V8 Supercars change

10/03/2010 15:44

For 15 years the V8 Supercar Championship has been a two way war between Holden and Ford.

Now, there is growing speculation the sport's governing body is about to relax regulations, that would give the green light to other manufacturers.

Aussie motorsport writer John Fogarty believes Mercedes, BMW and Toyota are also interested in joining the series.

V8 Supercar boss Tony Cochrane is refusing to comment at this stage, saying they will make an announcement about the future direction of the championship later this month.

Ke$ha: 'I deserve more respect'

Pop sensation KE$HA wants "a little more respect" from her music industry peers - because she's sick of her "party girl" label.

The 'TiK ToK' hitmaker fears she has become more well known for her active social life than for her music, but she's determined to be taken seriously - insisting her success is down to hard work.

She tells Britain's Sunday Times newspaper, "So many people say, 'So, what, are you a party girl?' And I say, 'I'm a walking good time.' Do I sometimes go out and drink? Hell, yes. But could I have a number one song if I wasn't also working hard? Maybe that needs a little more respect.

"Also, the phrase 'party girl' implies someone who is out at a club, maybe doing some guy in the back who you've just met. Then you get in your car and you flash your vagina at the paparazzi. And I'm none of the above.

"I have been working on realising this dream, my path, my mission, for years. I've really invested a lot of thought, time and effort into it. The last thing that makes me is a victim. I think it's a bummer when people don't represent that properly, when they portray me as purely one-dimensional."

And Ke$ha is not ashamed of her pop style, insisting more music lovers should admit to liking mainstream songs.

She adds, "This is nothing to be embarrassed about. People like to have fun. And sure, there's my deepest, darkest hipster side that wants, for whatever pretentious reason, to hate pop music. But I'm just trying to give people a way to think, it's cool, you can not hate my record. You know - it's okay."

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Copyright World Entertainment News Network 2009

Lil Wayne sentenced to one year in jail

(Reuters) - After whirlwind goodbyes to fans, diminutive rapper Lil Wayne was sentenced to one year in jail on Monday after he pleaded guilty on a gun possession charge in a 2007 incident.

Lil Wayne, 27, whose real name is Dwayne Carter and who also goes by the moniker "Weezy," appeared in New York State Supreme Court wearing jeans and a grey hooded sweatshirt.

Justice Charles Solomon passed the sentence for attempted criminal possession of a weapon after a plea agreement in which Carter gave up his right to appeal over a case in which a gun was found in his tour bus in July 2007.

Carter remained silent during the hearing and nodded solemnly when led to jail in handcuffs. His sentencing had been postponed twice in the last month, once so he could get dental surgery and then because a fire shut the courthouse for four days.

Carter, whose album "Tha Carter III" was the biggest-selling U.S. release of 2008 and won him best rap album and three other prizes at the 2009 Grammy Awards, also recorded numerous videos in anticipation of jail time.

He was accompanied by rapper and Cash Money records co-founder Bryan "Birdman" Williams and a barrage of fans and media gathered outside the lower Manhattan courtroom.

Carter is headed to Rikers Island jail, where he will be held in protective custody and could be released in eight months with good behavior, said his lawyer, Stacey Richman.

"Because of who he is, the department of corrections would not have it (protective custody) any other way," Richman said.

In the lead-up to sentencing, Carter sent a six-part series of videos on his life to MTV.com. "Road to Rikers" shows Carter before and after dental surgery, shooting music videos and relaxing at his home. MTV News reported that he filmed nine music videos in anticipation of his jail term.

"Even if he wasn't going to jail, his work pace would be the same," said Jermaine Hall, chief editor of Vibe magazine. "Wayne (Carter) feels like he's a bottomless pit of great music."

Carter also started a Twitter account last month. His most recent tweet, posted on Monday, said: "Law is mind without reason ... I'll return."

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Copyright 2010 Reuters

Cyrus gives Poison star a boost

Miley Cyrus has given rocker-turned-reality TV star Bret Michaels a big career boost by agreeing to appear on his upcoming solo album.

Cyrus asked the Poison star to join her in the studio for her reworking of the band's classic Every Rose Has Its Thorn, and Michael's used the opportunity to play the teen pop star a bunch of new tracks.

The 'Climb' singer fell in love with one of the tunes, 'Nothing To Lose,' and asked if she could perform with the rocker on the track.

Michaels tells Billboard.com, "When we were in the studio, I said, 'Do you want to hear some of my new tracks?' She said 'I'd love to,' and I played her Nothing to Lose and she fell in love with it and said she'd love to sing on the song. I was like, 'That'd be killer!'"

And the rocker admits he was impressed with Cyrus' Stevie Nicks-style vocals: "One of her heroes is Stevie Nicks. I produced and recorded Stevie before, so I said, 'OK, let's take that approach...' She ended up having a great time doing it."

'Nothing to Lose' will appear on Michaels' upcoming Custom Built album.

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Copyright World Entertainment News Network 2009

T.I. headed home this month

Rapper T.I. will be a free man on March 26 - the hip-hop star will be allowed to return home following a three month stint in a halfway house.

The 'Live Your Life' hitmaker, real name Clifford Harris, Jr., began a 366-day sentence last year for charges of weapons possession following his arrest in 2007.

He was transferred from a prison in Arkansas to a halfway house near his home in Atlanta, Georgia in December, after serving seven months behind bars.

And now home is in sight for the star - he has just three weeks left until he is allowed to return to his family property on March 26.

His lawyer Steve Sadow tells MTV.com, "That date is correct. T.I. is now serving the remainder of his sentence in home confinement under the supervision of the U.S. Bureau of Prisons."

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Copyright World Entertainment News Network 2009

Gaga rules Echo Awards

Lady Gaga was the toast of the German music industry on Thursday night - dominating the annual Echo Awards in Berlin.

The outlandish singer scooped three of the night's main prizes - Best Newcomer, Best International Rock or Pop Act, and Hit Of The Year for 'Poker Face' - even though she did not attend the ceremony to pick up her trophies.

Other big winners included Depeche Mode, who landed the title of Best International Pop/Rock Group, and British singer Robbie Williams who received his seventh Echo Award after he was named Best International Pop Artist.

Rock band Silbermond and hip-hop artist Jan Delay were also honoured at the German Phonographic Academy's ceremony, while reggae/rap artist Peter Fox landed the coveted Best Album award for Stadtaffe.

The night saw performances from Rihanna, who danced with giant Transformers-style robots on stage, Ke$ha, Robbie Williams and Sade.

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Copyright World Entertainment News Network 2009

Madden explains album axing

Rocker Benji Madden scrapped Good Charlotte's latest project, insisting it lacked "the magic" of their previous albums.

The guitarist has revealed he dumped the band's follow-up to 2007's Good Morning Revival, because he was unhappy with the way it sounded.

Madden admits he was worried about voicing his concerns to his bandmates but knew they had to start over from scratch.

He tells Kerrang! magazine, "(The) Good Charlotte vibe just wasn't there.

"On every record we've made there has always been a clear moment where I just felt like we had captured the magic. But this time around I just didn't get that feeling. I loved the songs, but that moment never came.

"Music is not like building furniture. There's an X factor, an undetermined thing that makes it come together and, thankfully, that feeling has come back."

The rockers are now back in the recording studio and planning to dedicate their long-awaited new release to their loyal fans.

Madden adds, "(Frontman and brother) Joel (Madden) and I sat down before we started this record and decided we needed to really reconnect with our fans on this record.

"Our fans have really stuck by us through thick and thin and put up with all the s**t that's out there and the whole rollercoaster we've been on. This record is for them. It's going to be a moment between us and them and I think it's the most personal and soulful record that we've made."

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Copyright World Entertainment News Network 2009