News Thursday, October 31, 2013
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■ HUTT FAMILY REUNION
Ashburton Guardian 9
In brief Balloon report due A report to be released today into the Carterton hot air balloon crash will help put the matter to rest, a witness says. The Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) is to release its final report into the January 2012 tragedy. Eleven people were killed when the balloon caught fire and crashed to the ground after colliding with powerlines near Carterton. The horror scene was witnessed by Geoff Walker, who had photographed all the passengers before take-off, and was a close friend of pilot Lance Hopping. He said the release of the report, which was expected to be closely followed by the coroner’s report, would help those involved to move on. - APNZ
Correction In one of our recent rural pages we referred to Chris Lindsay as the Carr Group’s general manager and auctioneer in a photo caption. This is incorrect. He is the general manager and auctioneer of Circle Auctions. photo supplied
Reunion attracts 100 descendants The Hutt family reunion attracted about 100 descendants, young and old, of Joseph Thomas Hutt, who farmed at Mt Alford (background), over Labour weekend. Mr Hutt was one of 12 children of Thomas Joseph Hutt, who came to New Zealand from
Britain 150 years ago with his wife and his first six children. His mother died in childbirth and his father remarried. He did not get on with his stepmother and ran away from home. He ended up in Burnham Industrial School where he
learned carpentry. He mustered in the high country and leased the Mt Alford run along with his brother-in-law, using his carpentry skills to mill trees and build his own house. His grandson, Jim Harmer, took over the lease, which re-
mained in the family until the 1990s. Mr Harmer’s daughter, Joy Hydes, the oldest of 10 children, still lives in Ashburton today and organised the reunion. “We like to think that we still have a wee spot of pioneering spirit in us,” she said.
■ ASHBURTON DISTRICT COURT
manded on bail until November 13 to allow time for it to be assessed. A suitable address for an electronically monitored sentence was also proving elusive for Junior Hawi Philamel Ripia, 32, a labourer of Ashburton, who appeared for sentencing on twice breaching an intensive supervision sentence, and illegally entering a yard. His mother had declined a request for Ripia to serve the sentence at her house. Judge Maze said a short custodial sentence would deal with the matters, but Ripia would lose his job as a result. His work supervisor was in court to vouch for him. Noting the original supervision sentence had broken down; Judge Maze cancelled it and sentenced Ripia to complete 75 hours of community work on the breach charges. Cory Rangi Tahiri Bates, a herd manager, of Ashburton, appeared for sentencing for breaching community work and a supervision sentence – and an application to cancel that sen-
New Zealand Oil and Gas shareholders voted strongly yesterday not to pay reparation of $3.41 million to the Pike River families. NZOG was the largest secured shareholder in the mine when the disaster occurred. In July, Judge Jane Farish said the award was being made in spite of the Pike company’s parlous financial state, in the hope that the directors or shareholders might contribute. But at New Zealand Oil and Gas’s annual meeting yesterday, the vast majority of shareholders voted against the proposal. - APNZ
Ambassador named
Serious injuries inflicted on mother Maria Pukehuia Thompson, also known as Aranui, 21, of Netherby, appeared in the Ashburton District Court this week for sentencing on a charge of assault with intent to injure. Referring to the victim impact statement, Judge Joanna Maze said the injuries inflicted on an Allenton mother in June were serious. The woman was attacked at her home by a group seeking retribution on her daughter following an earlier altercation. The victim was hospitalised with a broken nose, had clumps of hair pulled out and was left with grazing and bruising. Judge Maze told Thompson’s lawyer Paul Bradford the starting point for the offending was imprisonment, saying if sentencing was to proceed at Monday’s sitting, a custodial sentence with leave to apply for home detention was on the table. Thompson’s existing address had been found unsuitable for a home detention sentence, however an alternative address had been found, and she was re-
‘No’ to reparation
tence. Bates had made inroads into the community work sentence since his last appearance, and his employer had provided a letter saying he had recently been promoted to a herd manager’s position. Judge Maze dismissed the application to cancel because the supervision sentence had already expired, and accepting that Bates had made a serious effort, sentenced him to 40 hours community work on the breach charges to be served concurrently with the hours remaining on his existing sentence – before congratulating him on his promotion. Allanah Jayne Welsh, 22, a farm worker of Orari, had a sentence of community work commuted to six months of community detention with a 7pm to 3am curfew imposed. Bridget Materau Waimoana, 37, a freezing worker of Hampstead, was convicted and ordered to come up if called if she offends again within six months. It was Waimoana’s
fourth count of breaching a community work sentence and she was warned another breach could trigger a term of imprisonment. Nathan Jordon Forbes-Ross was convicted of driving while suspended – he was fined $200, ordered to pay court costs of $130 and disqualified from driving for six months. Reagan Rogers was charged with assaulting a police officer, after kicking an Ashburton sergeant in the knee, he pleaded guilty. The court was told the 31-year-old reacted badly while an associate was being arrested – he was convicted and sentenced to complete 40 hours of community work. Kelly-Anne Lammas-Foster, 34, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to obtaining services by deceit. Lammas-Foster stayed at a local motel for six days and left without paying the $780 bill or a $10 internet charge. She was convicted and ordered to pay reparations of $790.
The next United States ambassador to New Zealand has been named as Mark D. Gilbert, a former professional baseball player, banking executive and Democratic Party fundraiser. He was nominated by President Barack Obama. According to the State Department, Mr Gilbert played major leagues baseball with the Chicago White Sox in 1985. He is a director at Barclays Wealth, formerly Lehman Brothers, in West Palm Beach, Florida. - APNZ
Guilty to kidnapping A man who led police on a chase through Hastings with a baby in the front seat of his car has pleaded guilty to all charges stemming from the incident. Charlie Ngapera, 32, appeared in Napier District Court yesterday where he entered guilty pleas to charges of kidnapping, assault, reckless driving, threatening to kill, endangering life, failing to stop and wilful damage. Ngapera was remanded in custody until next month. - APNZ
Body found in house Police are investigating after the body of a man was found at a house in Wainuiomata, Wellington, yesterday. The 24-year-old’s body was found at a house in Puriri St about 3pm, prompting a sudden death investigation, police said. A scene examination and postmortem examination would be done today. - APNZ