No More Survivors – Rescue Stops, Recovery Continues In Christchurch

By ETHAN Markoff

NEW ZEALAND NEWS – Last Tuesday one of the largest cities in New Zealand and business hub, Christchurch struck by earthquake of magnitude 6.3 and shook the nation with great devastation. After one week, relief officials have declared that there were no more survivors likely to be found and the task left now was recovery. The official toll of causalities is now 161. However, officials say the final estimated toll could be raised to 240.

The city is badly damaged and authorities contemplate that it would take long time to rebuild the whole, though already power, transport and sewage systems are gradually being restored.

The Civil Defence national controller John Hamilton declared to focus on recovery than rescue with a strong heart and put aside sorrow and frustration. He said that they had to face the reality and got rid of false hope as there was no chance that anyone could have survived for this long.

There are two Israeli foreign nationals are found in the bodies and identification of dead bodies has been proceeding slowly. Two Israelis found in the debris are identified as Ofer Levy, 22, and Gabi Moshe Ingel, 23. There are number of foreign students from Japan, China, Thailand and elsewhere are found in rubble but identification are yet to be done.

There are about 90 bodies found so far were pulled from the Canterbury TV building and that helped families to identify their kin. There are three major buildings - the cathedral, the Grand Chancellor hotel and the Pyne Gould Guinness building where large numbers of bodies are believed to be trapped inside the rubble.

"They've now started taking away beams and things from the bell tower, so we are at last going to see some movement in that area," said Superintendent Russell Gibson.

A large number of areas are still out of power and sewage systems that trouble the citizens. The rescuers are also scaled back in Lyttelton, the harbour town near Christchurch in search of recovery.

The historic Timeball Station in Lyttelton has faced significant damage and authorities have put their effort to restore the structure.

Rebuilding costs are put at billions of dollars. It is believed that majority of city’s buildings are demolished.

New Zealand Suffers The Worst Earthquake Since 1931

By ETHAN Markoff

NEW ZEALAND NEWS – Tuesday’s tremor in New Zealand is the worst natural disaster since 1931 quake in the Hawke's Bay on the North Island, which killed 256 people. Last September the country had witnessed similar earthquake that shook much parts, but analysts say the present tremor is much more energetic event.

The night that shook the city Christchurch devastated buildings, which killed at least 65 people and 100 more feared buried in collapsed edifices. The earthquake was recorded 6.3 magnitude and struck at a shallow depth of 5 km on Tuesday afternoon, the busiest time in Christchurch.

The second time natural disaster in the South Island city’s is believed to be the country’s worst natural disaster in 80 years.

The whole night rescue team with sniffer dogs worked on a cold and wet night to find people under the collapse building and anxious relatives kept vigil outside. The mayor has already declared a state of emergency and ordered immediate evacuations.

The devastation have already stricken city of nearly 400,000 people and there are mass destruction of infrastructure where power and telephone lines out of order and water mains are damaged, deluging the district.

The city’s main cathedral lost its spire and the tall Canterbury TV building was reduced to dust.

A dozen of Japanese students are reported missing and many are still buried under the collapsed building.

New Zealand Prime Minister John Key said that they paid a hefty price and it was darkest day of the country.

The military has been appointed to help the rescue teams and the government has already accepted helping hands from the neighbor Australia.

New Zealand Claims Of Seeing UFO

By ETHAN Markoff

NEW ZEALAND NEWS - There are numerous science fiction movies based on aliens. Human imagination about outside world is not just confined to imagination but also proving the unknown by its own limited capacity. In a recent quest to solve the unsolved mystery of outside world, New Zealand's military has released detailed documents, dating from 1954 to 2009, which claims of sightings of unidentified flying objects (UFOs).

The most remarkable of all documents are drawings of flying saucers and samples of "alien writing". It also includes details the popular alleged UFO sighting when in South Island town of Kaikoura in 1978 some sort of strange lights were filmed. It was believed to an accident due to some natural phenomenon.

It was a great scoop for national and international newspapers, but at that time New Zealand military had reasoned out that it could be lights from boats reflected in clouds or unusual view of planet Venus.

New Zealand Air Force spokesman Kavae Tamariki, however, said that military did not have enough resources to investigate into the matter and would not comment on the relevancy of document's contents.

The reports have been released after officials erased names and identified materials. The files run to about 2,000 pages, documenting accounts of public, military personnel and commercial airline pilots stating close encounters with the third kind.

South Korea Ship Sinks, Fearing 17 Fishermen Missing In Antarctic

By MALILA Harris

SOUTH KOREA NEWS - At least seventeen fishermen are feared missing in Antarctic, following a crash of a South Korea vessel in the Southern Ocean. It has been reported that at least five of the 42-man crew died and 20 were rescued after a ship sank about 2,000 km south of New Zealand.

The search team have scaled back as they believed it was impossible to survive for long in the ocean. The crew consisted people from various nations such as South Korea, China, Indonesia, the Philippines and Russia.

According to South Korea's foreign ministry, a 614-tonne ship, the Number One In Sung dipped at around 0430 South Korean time on Monday (1930 GMT on Sunday).

A rescue fishing boat rescued twenty sailors, the ministry spokesperson said.

There is still doubts about the carnage of boat, while New Zealand rescuers was unable to clarify why the ship was suddenly sank. It was reported that the environment was calm, and moreover, no SOS was sent.

In the ocean a person can survive10 minutes without life jacket or immersion suit, so rescuers scaled back the search.

"It (is) becoming increasingly unlikely further survivors (will) be found," rescue controller Dave Wilson told AFP news agency.

OED Made New Zealand the Father of Pavlova

By GAUTAM Jha


NEW ZEALAND NEWS - The origin of the dessert Pavlova has been the matter of research and discussions in southern hemisphere for years is over. The oxford English Dictionary (OED) has put a full stop to a long-running tug of war between New Zealand and Australia over the origin of Pavlova dessert. Interestingly, the dessert- meringue with fruit and cream- has Russian name after the Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova, who visited New Zealand and Australia in the 1920s. Both the countries agree about the Russian name but has drawn the diggers over the origin-land of the dessert.

The origin-issue has made the taste of Pavlova bitter and salty. To remove it from the bitterness, OED has done extensive research over the years and found New Zealand to be the father of Pavlova dessert. In its relaunched online edition, OED proclaims the first recorded pavlova recipe has found in New Zealand in 1927 in a book called Davis Dainty Dishes which was published by Davis Gelatine company. Stressing on the fact, New Zealand also claims the meringue version originated there and found in several publication in 1928 and 1929.

Pavlova expert Dr Helen Leach from New Zealand's University of Otago said I can find at least 21 pavlova recipes in New Zealand cookbooks by 1940, which was the year the first Australian ones appeared. The Australian claim centres on a recipe by Bert Sachse, a chef in Perth, Western Australia, but that is believed to date from around 1935.

The OED is the only English dictionary that aims to trace the first known use of every sense of every word in the English language. And decisively, it found the first written evidence of pavlova in New Zealand. But, still the storm has not been settled down despite the ruling of OED that credits New Zealand to be the father of contentious dessert.

NZ Mine Mishap: All Trapped Miners Confirmed Dead

By ONE Liners Agency

NEW ZEALAND NEWS - Last week 29 miners were trapped in a mine in New Zealand following an explosion. After much zest and zeal authorities are unable to rescue a single life. An another massive explosion underground has confirmed that there are no more survivors in the mine. The official in charge of the rescue attempt announced Wednesday.

Gary Knowles, superintendent of Tasman Police Command told reporters that he was there when second explosion took place. The massive blast was as disastrous as the first one. He further added he did not and would not speculate on the cause of the blast.

New Zealand Prime Minister John Key announced a national tragedy and sympathize with men's families, for their work mates and friends, for their community and the nation.

He said New Zealand was a small country and the government played a role of brother's keeper. So, loosing so many brothers at one blow was indeed a pain. He paid his utmost condolences to the families of the miners and said to stand shoulder to shoulder with them.

The rescue attempt by mechanical robots broke down inside a tunnel ran into more problem. During the rescue attempts, drilling of mine caused ejection of carbon monoxide and methane and depleted the oxygen level. The build up methane gas is believing the cause of explosion.

Late Tuesday, a closed circuit television video showed the rescue work and mine's entrance. The video showed the thick sheet of dust flying and white screen flapping back and forth and eventually blown up.

‘Home And Away’ Too Vulgar: The New Zealand Broadcasting Standards Authority

Home and Away

By ONE Liners Agency

NEW ZEALAND – TV watchdog in New Zealand ruled an episode of ‘Home And Away’ too vulgar and sexually charged. The New Zealand Broadcasting Standards Authority defended a complaint against the popular Australian TV series that it showed passionate scene in an episode. According to authority, the scene was too “sexually explicit”.

In a scene Liam Murphy (Axle Whitehead) was seen kissing and undressing Martha Mackenzie (Jodi Gordon).

However, broadcaster TVWorks defended in saying the scene didn’t contain any raunchy substance.

There is no problem with the scene in U.K but there are some murmurs in the media about the scenes. In New Zealand, the soap opera has gor G-rating, which means it can broadcast at any time.

"We have considered the nature of the scene complained about. In our view, the scene was raunchy and sexually charged.” BSA said.

In the statement the authority objected about the scene where Martha’s bathrobe removed, showing her in a bra followed by passionate kiss. They said it was well beyond the level of sexual activity that should be included in a G-rated program. Also, they blamed broadcaster that they didn’t standard of decency.

There is no penalty imposed because of first time complaint.

New Zealand Ranks Third In The World In A Survey Of Economic Freedom

By MALILA Harris

NEW ZEALAND – In a recent survey of economic freedom, New Zealand has surpassed United States and Australia, ranking third in the world. In the survey conducted by the Fraser Institute in Canada, Hong Kong and Singapore have earned first and second place respectively, and New Zealand the ranking behind it.

The 2010 report is based on data from 2008, and based on the parameters of economic policies and institutions of the countries whether those are supportive of economic freedom or not.

Business Roundtable executive director Roger Kerr says the freer economy, the more the growth and per capita income. He further adds NZ though retained the rank but overall economic development has been slipping since mid 90s.

The African nations scored the lowest where Zimbabwe slipped down the bottom, followed by Myanmar and Angola.

The average economic freedom index rose from 5.53 out of 10 in 1980 to 6.74 in 2007, but fell back to 6.67 in 2008.

The analysts say the highest level of economic freedom of countries result a better lifestyle for the people living there. The level of satisfaction, and individual freedom and greater life expectancy are more than poor economic freedom countries.

The people living in the greatest economic freedom get a life satisfaction of 7.5 out of 10 while in the bottom quartile report a life satisfaction as low as 4.7.

International rankings

1. Hong Kong
2. Singapore
3. New Zealand
4. Switzerland
5. Chile
6. United States
7. Canada
8. Australia
9. Mauritius
10. United Kingdom

Storm the Size of Australia Bears Down On New Zealand

By ETHAN Markoff

NEW ZEALAND NEWS – Even before New Zealand recovers from the recent tremor, another natural disaster threatens the island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean. People are warned to stay away from the beaches as a huge storm as large as the size of neighboring Australia heading towards the country.

The weather is wild and expected to bring extreme conditions over the next 48 hours. The temperature is cold and adding insult to the injury, gale force winds and heavy rain have caused major problems.

The meteorological department said that the storm would cover a large centre, at least 1000 km south of New Zealand.

The meteorological department has already warned a few areas such as Wellington, Wairarapa and the Marlborough Sounds for severe wind. There is a possibility of harsh gales in North Island, Marlborough and also north Canterbury.

The weather condition is gradually getting worse in many places as Philip Duncan, forecaster for WeatherWatch.co.nz, said the condition was due to the largest storms on the planet, which was churning away about 1000km south of New Zealand.

Several places like Fiordland, Westland south of Otira, of Westland north of Otira, Buller, northwest Nelson and about Mount Taranaki are already bore the wrath of heavy rain. There is also possibility of heavy downpour in coming days.

However, the weather is not devastating such as cyclone or hurricane because the low pressure is spread over a large area rather concentrates around a small area. Several safety councils have advised people not to go for trips or outdoor adventurous sports until the condition become normal.

"We strongly recommend people defer any trip into the outdoors in the worst affected areas until weather conditions have improved," Mountain Safety Council manager Chris Tews said.

He advised people planned for outdoors to stay in patience and watch the weather before venturing out.

World Firefighters Games 2010: SCDF Officers Returned Home With 20 Medals

World Firefighters Games 2010, Daegu, South Korea

By ONE Liners Agency

SINGAPORE NEWS/ SOUTH KOREA NEWS - In the World Firefighters Games, Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) won 20 medals, including 8 golds. This is the second time the SCDF participated in WFG held in Daegu, South Korea. Only eight officers of SCDF took part and half of the gold medals are brought by the team leader Captain Ellena Quek in her outstanding performance in hurdles, triathlon, high jump and cycling.

The eight SCDF officers participated in total of twelve events, including badminton. In 2006, Singapore could only grab five medals.

Sixty countries, including Hong Kong, Brazil and New Zealand, fought hard in South Korea for medals with about 10,000 participants.

Captain Ellena Quek, returning back home, said: "It was a very good experience. What we won exceeded our expectations." She added further that meeting firefighters from different countries and swapping stories was something to take home for her.

Before the competition, the SCDF team practised for more than three months amidst their busy day-to-day schedule.

The next World Firefighters Games is to be held in 2012 in Sydney, Australia.

New Zealand Earthquake 2010: Massive, But Only Two Injured

Christchurch Earthquake Picture

By ONE Liners Agency

NEW ZEALAND NEWS - A 7.0 magnitude earthquake hits Christchurch Saturday early morning causing widespread damage. The force of the quake was one of the most powerful in New Zealand earthquake history. It is said to be one of the biggest earthquake in New Zealand.

New Zealand quake was of magnitude 7.1 estimates New Zealand Earthquake Commission and GNS Science as agianst the earlier estimation of 7.0 magnitude by U.S. Geological Service.

Earth in New Zealand did bring some massive destruction to buildings in Christchurch, but the casualties are surprisingly low so far.

According to New Zealand time, the earthquake took place at 4:30 a.m.

Christchurch earthquake pictures in different media shows it rocked the city heavily collapsing buildings and crushing cars on the streets. The wire reports there were power cut out in the city and airport website announces of the shutdown of Christchurch airport. Passengers are also adviced not to travel to Christchurch International Airport (CHC) until further notice.

Christchurch Earthquake Video

11 Whales Rescue In New Zealand, Fear Heavy Casualty

By MALILA Harris

A large number of pod of pilot whales are stranded on the Karikari Peninsula, part of the Aupouri Peninsula in Northland, New Zealand. With much effort already eleven whales have been rescued and refloated. However, doctors are concerned about four of them who are in critical condition. At least 58 whales are reported to be killed.

There are large numbers of rescuers including volunteers from different organizations involved in rescue attempt. Although they were compelled to call off the day last night but from morning they are continuously attempting to refloat the endangered ocean species. Most of the whales have transferred to Maitai Bay on the northeast coast.

A prayer was organized before the transportation operation began. There are around 100 people helping in the rescue mission.

"Eleven have been refloated, of these, seven have swum out to the middle of the harbor but four of them look pretty sick," Department of Conservation spokesman John Hatton said.

He lamented that most of the whales were injured and future lives uncertain. He said whales were given enough time to reorient themselves.

PM: It's okay to give light smacks

Published: December 7, 2009

NEW ZEALAND: Prime Minister John Key says a new review gives parents the go-ahead to lightly smack their children without the fear they will be investigated and prosecuted for doing so.

Mr Key yesterday presented the findings of the review into how the anti-smacking law is being used, ordered after a referendum heightened calls for the legislation to be repealed.

The review panel - child psychologist Nigel Latta, Police Commissioner Howard Broad and Ministry of Social Development chief executive Peter Hughes - found police and social workers were acting proportionately and one-off complaints about light smacking were not investigated unless other circumstances were at play.

Mr Key said it showed parents were still able to lightly smack and he personally believed it was already acceptable, despite the strict letter of the law. If that changed, he said, he would change the law, as he had promised.

"Lightly smacking a child will be in the course of parenting for some parents and I think that's acceptable. It is up to individual parents to decide how they're going to parent their children ... Some people will continue to lightly smack their child for correction, some will not. It is up to them to decide."

Dr Latta was given access to all police and social welfare files for the cases the Family First lobby group used in its bid to overturn the law. It had claimed the parents in the cases were inappropriately investigated.

However, Dr Latta said although some seemed at first glance to be an overreaction, after viewing all the background information he believed investigation was justified.

All had aggravating factors, such as a history of domestic violence, that Family First might not have known about because it had no access to the files, he said.

Other features included a child giving a different version from a parent's of the scale of violence - such as a case where a father said he smacked his 13-year-old once on the leg, but she said he hit her on the head with a telephone book and punched her.

Said Dr Latta: "In all the cases, there wasn't once where I thought the only reason they investigated was because of the law change. In every case, when I looked at the police file, it was blindly obvious why they had."

He said one-off complaints about light smacking were not enough to trigger an investigation unless there were other circumstances. Most cases, if not all, would have been investigated under existing abuse provisions, whether or not the smacking law existed.

While there was potential for overreaction, that had always been the case and it was safer for police to err on the side of caution when making decisions about the safety of children.

Family First spokesman Bob McCroskie said the review was a "government-funded sales pitch" that ignored the real concerns about the law. It required too many "compromises, guidelines, helplines, reviews and parental education", he said, and he urged the government to adopt Act MP John Boscawen's private member's bill, which would specifically allow light smacking.

Mr Key said the government would adopt the recommendations in the report, including a helpline for parents facing investigation.

source: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/