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Wednesday, 18 August 2010
Recidivist drink drivers are the target of a new high-tech police programme tracking their movements and stopping them getting behind the wheel when they have been drinking.
The year-long trial in the Kapiti-Mana area north of Wellington will monitor 10 drink drivers in the area using police cars fitted with global positioning systems.
The navigation systems will be programmed with the drink drivers' home and work addresses and other relevant information and will alert patrolling police when near an area of interest.
Recidivist drink drivers will also be offered help by police and the Accident Compensation Corporation through alcohol support groups.
Road policing manager, Inspector Pete Baird, said in the latest issue of the police magazine Ten One, the trial was an attempt to rehabilitate the worst recidivist drink drivers in Kapiti-Mana.
He said the GPS systems would allow police to "carry out observations and hopefully act as a deterrent to the person, preventing them getting behind the wheel of a car and driving under the influence of alcohol".
"It is an innovative approach to actively monitoring recidivist drink drivers. We are not only using the GPS units but offering people support and assistance to sort their drinking out."
He said Kapiti-Mana was chosen for the trial because of its high level of recidivist drink drivers and the excellent alcohol support programmes in the area.
Tuesday, 17 August 2010
Looking ahead: Angela Ryan talks with Tanvi Gandhi about her future. Photo: Jennifer Gilchrist
Education shake-ups have marked the current government’s reign, but Gateway workplace transition has survived and Tanvi Gandhi is an example of its success in Porirua.
The Aotea College Year 13 student is on a Gateway placement at the Mana Education Centre and already has tertiary study planned for next year.
The Gateway Programme, helps the planning and transition from secondary school to the eventual workplace.
Angela Ryan, manager of the centre, has been impressed with Tanvi.
“Tanvi is self-motivated and demonstrates a strong work ethic and was more than willing to work at the centre during the holidays,” Angela says
The programme is so effective and popular at Aotea College that it is seen as a privilege to gain a place, with 105 students applying this year and 75 being accepted.
While National’s Youth Guarantee Scheme had replaced the former government’s Youth Apprenticeship programme, Gateway had survived and thrived according to Anne Taylor who administrates the programme at Aotea College.
She explained the Youth Guarantee scheme bypassed secondary schools and has gone straight to Polytechnics and private training institutions.
“The Gateways Programme is about getting students into apprenticeships as well, but the programme is designed to cater for a wider range of ability,” Mrs Taylor says.
Students on the programme are divided into three groups and spend a period a day in class working on activites such as team building and first aid training. Some students begin to work on papers specific to careers such as hairdressing.
For example, Tanvi has been applying her computer skills by working on Mana Education Centre accounts and helping to plan a conference for teachers in the April school holidays.
She plans to go to Whitireia Polytechnic next year to study for a Bachelor of IT.
Making Gateway work
Gateway staff members Anne Taylor and Sue Roberts work hard to maintain strong links with the Porirua business community and make class work relevant.
Mrs Taylor secures job placements while Mrs Roberts organises the class programme.
Mrs Taylor and Mrs Roberts maintain the business networks by attending cluster group meetings and business meetings regularly, which helped the programme through the recession.
“When the recession was in full flight employers were reluctant to take on Gateway students when they had to make some permanent staff redundant as well as contemplating a shorter working week for their staff,” Mrs Taylor says.
However, the situation has changed and they are regularly approached by employers from trades who are looking to recruit young people into their industry.
They also said there was a positive relationship between the college and Whitireia.
Mrs Taylor and Mrs Roberts have a easy working relationship, which dates back to the latter teaching the former at secondary school.
The Gateway Programme is funded by the Tertiary Education Commission.
GATEKEEPERS: Sue Roberts, left, and Anne Taylor at Aotea College. Photo: Jennifer Gilchrist
Tuesday, 17 August 2010
Intent on curbing the amount of drunk and disorderly behaviour confronting police at night, Porirua City Council is set to widen the scope of its liquor ban bylaw.
A number of areas around the city are covered by bylaw Part 23 - Liquor in Public Places, but a report to the strategy, finance and regulatory committee on August 5 said police were facing increasing numbers of anti-social behaviour offences. The bylaw, which already covers the central city, Titahi Bay Beach and Ngatitoa Domain, may soon include Cannons Creek shopping centre, Broken Hill Rd, Calliope Cres playground and the suburbs of Ranui and Waitangirua.
The ban is enforced between the hours of 5pm to 7am.
All councillors, bar one, were in agreement over the proposed amendments. Ken Douglas said he had "considerable difficulty with this whole proposition", saying the police were getting the council to do their work. He argued that if PCC was serious about getting tough on drinking in public in Porirua, then all liquor outlets should be prohibited.
"What is not addressed is the questioning of policing of the existing law. There are problems in this city of public drunkenness by young people and we can't overcome this by having 'no go' zones."
Councillor Litea Ah Hoi said youth binge-drinking was an issue for the entire country and local councils had an obligation to address it. Extending the areas covered by the liquor ban was a start, she said, but they could not do it alone, and needed to work with local groups, police and central government over the best solutions. Better signage was needed, telling people where the liquor ban areas actually were around the city, she said.
The proposed amendment to the bylaw will go out for public comment from next Tuesday until September 24. A decision will be made in December.
Tuesday, 17 August 2010
Porirua Vikings and Northern United confirmed on the weekend what most folks already knew - Porirua has the best senior footy teams in the region.
T
he Vikings were first off the rank, overcoming a spirited Wainuiomata 18-10 in the Wellington Rugby League grand final at Fraser Park on Saturday.
David Lomax, in his first year in charge, will have first choice of sausages at the next family barbecue, defeating his brother Johnny.
The following day, a blue-and-white army cheered Norths on as they completed the Swindale Shield/Jubilee Cup double with an outstanding 24-5 victory over Poneke at Westpac Stadium. Poneke were the only team to defeat Frank Rees' boys during the regular season but had no answer for them in the final.
Norths scored three tries to one and defended like demons in the second half.
The weather for both fixtures was not the best, with Norths and the Vikings preferring hard grounds to unleash their skilled backs, but each played to a superb gameplan for the conditions. Support was strong for both teams, with Porirua voices often drowning out their rivals'.
Celebrations were hard and long, Norths rejoicing their third title in five years, and the Vikings three premierships in a row.
KRIS DANDO - Kapi-Mana News