Auckland councils are currently making a last ditch effort to limit the power new unelected agencies will wield in the super city.

The councils are finalizing their submissions to the Auckland governance select committee before Friday’s deadline. Many fear that the elected super city council will lose control of some of the most important aspects of local government.

This is the council’s last chance to persuade MPs before the Super City blue print is locked into law.  Read more... (322 words, 1 image, estimated 1:17 mins reading time)

North Shore residents apparently shouldn’t be concerned about property values if a cell phone tower goes up next door,  according to a new study conducted by an Auckland University property lecturer.

Last year a North Shore family came home from a trip to Australia to find a cellphone tower outside their Torbay property.

Richard Andrews wrote a letter to cellphone company 2degrees and the North Shore City Council when they were informed of the proposal to put in a tower four metres from their property in 2007.  Read more... (508 words, 1 image, estimated 2:02 mins reading time)

By Claire Ahuriri

This Thursday the Breakers, the only New Zealand basketball team entered in the Australian National Basketball League, are playing the Blaze from the Gold Coast.

Watching a live game of professional basketball is great fun for the whole family.

The game starts at 7pm and takes place at the North Shore Events Centre (Silverfield, off Porana Road, or Argus Place, off Sunnybrae Road, Glenfield).

Tickets are available for $20 Adult, $10 Child in the Silver Zone, or $15 Adult, $10 Child in the Bronze Zone.

To book or for more information phone 443 8199 or visit http://www.nzbreakers.co.nz

By Claire Ahuriri

North Shore City Council are trying to promote the use of bicycles for commuters, and there are two opportunities for people keen to give cycling a go.

On Thursday 11th February, 6pm to 8pm at North Harbour Stadium, Albany, there will be a Beginner Bike Session for Adults – and it’s free!

This will be an opportunity for beginners to learn the basics of cycling and road safety in a safe and supportive environment, with bikes and helmets available for those who do not have access to them.  Read more... (167 words, 1 image, estimated 40 secs reading time)

Waiheke’s Cass Chapman, who for the last nine months has been a volunteer  with Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos (www.nph.org) which has orphanages and hospitals in the Dominican Republic and Haiti, is leading her organisation’s efforts to raise  money from round the world for supplies they can ship into devastated Haiti.

Cassandra Chapman with Rosalina, a three-year-old of Haitian descent, in the orphanage in the Dominican Republic. Cass is a Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos (www.nph.org) volunteer from New Zealand currently working in the Dominican Republic.  Read more... (1095 words, 3 images, estimated 4:23 mins reading time)

A kiss and a hug from his victim’s widow helped drunk driver Phillip Kirkwood Hamilton avoid jail for killing a cyclist, the Christchurch  Press reported today.

FORGIVING: Andrea Krueger leaves court after she had comforted the driver who was drunk when he drove into her husband who was cycling home last year.

After reading a heart-rending victim impact statement to the Christchurch District Court, widow Andrea Krueger kissed and hugged the forlorn looking Hamilton standing in the dock.

Hamilton had admitted careless driving causing the death of Jens Richardon, 34, who was cycling home on a rural Canterbury road last August.  Read more... (688 words, 1 image, estimated 2:45 mins reading time)

Close to home, there is growing pressure for the identity of an Auckland primary school teacher facing sex charges to be made public, to lift a cloud over other men.

The Shore teacher appeared in North Shore District Court on Friday facing six charges relating to indecent acts on young boys. His name and that of the school he is employed by, were suppressed.

Last week a “prominent” Manawatu man was granted permanent name suppression in a pornography case. On Saturday the Manawatu Standard editorial, on  name suppression, canvassed the case of a “prominent” Manawatu man sentenced for a raft of pornographic offending. He was charged with 25 counts of possessing objectionable material and one count of distributing pornographic images on the internet after an FBI investigation led to his arrest last year.  Read more... (339 words, 1 image, estimated 1:21 mins reading time)

Krys from Devonport  – TOP TEN @ Marbecks

Valentines Day Heartstopper

Krys from Devonport Marbecks has the top ten in store as well as some very cool ideas for Valentines Day.  Read more... (155 words, 1 image, estimated 37 secs reading time)

1. Susan Boyle – I Dreamed a Dream
2. Gin Wigmore – Holy Smoke
3. England My England – Choir of King’s College, Cambridge
4. ACDC – Black Ice
5. Them Crooked Vultures – Them Crooked Vultures
6. Glee 2 – Various Artists from the hit TV Series
7. The Great New Zealand Song Book – Various Artists
8. Stan Walker – Introducing Stan Walker