Christchurch rocked by big quake

04/09/2010 08:12

Facades of buildings have collapsed in central Christchurch following a 7.4 magnitude earthquake this morning.

The quake struck at 4.30am, with it's epicentre 33km west of the city.

Christchurch hospital has been inundated with patients but only minor injuries have been reported so far.

Looters are also trying to take advantage of Christchurch's emergency situation. But, district commander Superintendent, Dave Cliff, says police won't tolerate it.

Eye witnesses have been describing the scene to Newstalk ZB this morning, Graeme Price in New Brighton says petrol pumps have literally been ripped out of their forecourts. He says a nearby petrol station looks like it's in the process of being dug up. While the initial quake has been described like a runaway train.

Several strong aftershocks have been felt in the area.

Doctors: strike comprises patients

03/09/2010 16:40

Doctors at Auckland Hospitals says radiographers striking for three days are compromising patient care.

There'll be just four radiographers at each Auckland hospital this weekend instead of around 60.

Radiographers have begun three days of industrial action following ongoing pay disputes.

Auckland DHB spokesman Mark Fenwick says people should only visit the emergency department if it's absolutely necessary.

He says people who need care should visit their GP or local medical centre.

Bank claims protestors have wires crossed

03/09/2010 16:32

ANZ National claims a group of protesting workers have their wires crossed.

The workers are picketing in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch as their union Finsec says the bank is proposing a pay reduction.

But ANZ National says it's actually offering employees a pay rise.

The company says it thinks the offer to staff of a 2.5 percent pay increase this year and 3 percent next year is very good.

ANZ National says it's proud to have consistently offer rates above what any other bank pays.

Masterton police calling for public help

03/09/2010 15:44

Police in Masterton are calling for the public's help to solve an aggravated robbery and a suspicious fire overnight.

Three masked men armed with rifles burst into a Workshop Road property where children were sleeping, stealing cash, wallets and alcohol from the occupants.

In the second incident, police believe a fire at a house in Carterton in the early hours this morning was deliberately lit.

The Belvedere Road house was unoccupied, but was also subject to a fire in July which caused extensive damage.

Detective Senior Sergeant Sean Hanson says it appears the two incidents are unrelated.

Emergency departments coping with strike

03/09/2010 12:48

Emergency departments at Auckland hospitals are coping with strike action so far.

Radiographers walked off the job around 8 o'clock this morning limiting x-ray services for the next three days.

All elective surgery at Auckland City and Starship Children's Hospital has been cancelled.

Auckland District Health Board Director of Child Health Dr Richard Aickin says at the moment things are running smoothly.

He says the workload in the paediatric emergency department usually picks up in the afternoon and evening so staff are bracing themselves.

Dr Richard Aickin says anyone who needs medical care over the weekend should visit their GP.

Powell gallops to second

04/09/2010 08:48

New Zealand's Caroline Powell has made a brilliant start to the prestigious Burghley Horse Trials in the UK.

Powell and her horse Lenamore are in second place after scoring 38.7 points in the dressage phase.

Britain's Ruth edge and Two Thyme lead on 38.3.

Fellow kiwi Andrew Nicholson is also in good shape in seventh place while Annabel Wigley is tied for 23rd and Mark Todd is 29th equal.

Warriors left with slim hopes

04/09/2010 07:16

Gold Coast has all but shut the door on the Warriors hopes of a top four finish to the NRL's regular season.

The Titans have beaten West Tigers 21-18 at Skilled Park, to seal home advantage in the first round of the finals next week.

For the Warriors to now make the top four they would need to thrash Parramatta by a hefty margin in Sydney tonight and Penrith would need to suffer a similarly heavy defeat to Cronulla later in the evening.

Meanwhile, Canberra has confirmed a spot in the playoffs with an 18-16 win over Brisbane at Suncorp Stadium.

Mixed fortunes for NZ Sailors

04/09/2010 07:08

A mixed day for the New Zealand sailors at the Laser World Championships in England.

Andrew Murdoch has picked up a 20th and a fifth in the day's two races to move up to second overall.

However, fellow kiwi Michael Bullot was black flagged in one of the races after being over the start line too early and has slipped from third to 10th.

Josh Junior remains eighth overall and Andrew Murdoch is ninth.

Canterbury wins SBW's debut

03/09/2010 21:24

Sonny Bill Williams has celebrated his debut match in the ITM Cup with a win as Canterbury proved too strong for Bay of Plenty 28-9 at AMI Stadium in Christchurch.

Williams made an early entrance when second five Ryan Crotty left the field in the 18th minute with an ankle injury.

The former NRL star made a number of deft touches, off-loading at will and making a couple of half breaks. A try-saving tackle on his own line on Lelia Masaga was probably his best moment of his debut match.

The red and blacks were scratchy in the first spell as the game lacked any fluidity but clicked into the gear in the second half, running in three tries to none and holding the visitors scoreless in the second half.

Bay of Plenty will rue kicking away a lot of ball with the wind behind them in the first spell and were unable to find any penetration in the final quarter once they tried to keep the ball in hand.

Canterbury has a number of injury concerns coming out of the game with Crotty?s ankle issue and a shoulder worry for winger Tu Umaga-Marshall the most serious.

Canterbury 28: Nasi Manu, Matt Todd, Robbie Fruean tries; Stephen Brett 2 conversions; Brett 3 penalties.
Bay of Plenty 9: Mike Delany 3 penalties.

Nicholson best placed Kiwi at Burghley

03/09/2010 12:36

Kiwi eventers are slightly off the pace but still in a handy position after the first day of the Burghley Horse Trials in the UK.

Andrew Nicholson, who has just been named in the team to head to the World Equestrian Games later this month, aboard Armada is the best of the New Zealanders.

The combination are sitting in 14th position, with Bruce Haskell on Kiwi Smog in 17th position and Dan Jocelyn on Special Attorney in 19th position.

Nicholson's fellow WEG team-mate Caroline Powell and Mac MacDonald have chosen not to start due to the closeness of the games.

Leading the field after the dressage phase of the three day event are British WEG team-mates Mary King on Apache Sauce and William Fox-Pitt on Macchiato on 46.8 penalties.

There are a raft of Kiwis still set to compete including Craig Nicolai on Just Ironic, Caroline Powell on Lenamore, Annabel Wigley on Black Drum, Mark Todd on Major Milestone, Andrew Nicholson on Avebury and Dan Jocelyn on Special Advocate.

The trials run through until Sunday (NZ time), with the winner pocketing UK$50,000.

T.I. and Tiny arrested for drug possession

Rapper T.I. and his wife were arrested in Los Angeles on Wednesday night on suspicion of possessing marijuana.

The pair's car was pulled over by cops in West Hollywood and officers became suspicious when they allegedly smelled marijuana smoke coming from the vehicle.

T.I. - real name Clifford Harris, Jr. - and his wife Tameka Cottle - former member of R&B group Xscape - were booked at a nearby sheriff's station and bail was set at $10,000, according to Los Angeles deputy sheriff Mark Pope. Celeb Mug Shots

The hip-hop star was released from prison in December following a six-month stint behind bars for possession of unregistered machine guns and silencers. As part of his probation, he is reportedly subject to drugs counseling and random testing.

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Bieber enjoys the fair

Justin Bieber has honored his promise to return to the New York State Fair in Syracuse after scrapping his performance there on Sunday.

The teen pop sensation was too ill to hit the stage on Sunday and rescheduled his performance for Wednesday night.

And he wasn't about to disappoint fans again.

Taking to Twitter.com after the concert, Bieber wrote, "Had a great time in Syracuse 2nite. We dont cancel shows...thanks for everyone's patience while i got healthy. good time at the fair."

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Sparks recovering from Broadway fall

Singer Jordin Sparks' Broadway dreams have come to a temporary halt after the "American Idol" winner injured her hip in a fall onstage at the weekend.

Sparks made her Broadway debut in In The Heights earlier this month, but she's currently recovering from a nasty fall and was forced to pull out of performances on Sunday and Monday.

The singer, who will lead the cast of the hit show until November 14, is expected to return to the stage later this week.

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Snoop to fight cyber crime

Snoop Dogg is joining the war on cyber crime - he's signed up to front a campaign to crack down on internet fraud.

The rapper is teaming up with anti-virus company Norton to launch a promotional competition called 'Hack is Wack'.

Fans and hip-hop wannabes can submit videos of their own anti-cyber crime raps and the lucky winner will be handed two tickets to a Snoop Dogg gig, as well as a meeting with the rapper's management to discuss business issues for upcoming stars.

Snoop insists he's sick of seeing internet fraudsters exploit the web and he's happy to help spread the word about online safety to youngsters.

He says, "I'm here spreading the awareness of cyber crime. I don't tolerate it. I'm not with it."

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Kanye West & Justin Bieber collaborate after Twitter exchange

Rapper Kanye West has followed through on his promise to work with Justin Bieber - teaming up with Raekwon to remix one of the teenager's songs.

The pair struck up a friendship on Twitter.com earlier this month after a series of praising messages.

West told Bieber: "Maybe we can do something together. Me, You and Raekwon."

Bieber was stunned by the proposal, replying to the star, "Me, u, and the chef 2gether (sic) on a song = EPIC. Haha. Might sound crazy 2 u (sic) but even having this convo (conversation) is living the dream."

And West has made the teen's dreams come true by remixing his track Runaway Love with fellow rapper Raekwon.

In a post on his Twitter.com page, the Stronger hitmaker writes, "Finishing Justin Bieber Runaway Love remix too.. don't know when they gonna drop it but Raekwon's verse is crazy!!!"

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