HuttNZ

Malcolm Ngeru, 44, unemployed of Taita, had pleaded not guilty to murdering Mihi Tuhoro on July 20 2008. He admitted killing her but said he did not have the intent to do so because he was so drunk, and was instead guilty of manslaughter.

A jury in the High Court in late October 2009 took more than 10 hours to find him guilty of murder. He remanded in custody to and today his sentence was past.

Hutt Valley man Malcolm Ngeru, 43, was jailed for life with a minimum non-parole period of 12 years when he appeared for sentence at the High Court in Wellington after being found guilty in October of murdering his partner Mihi Tuhoro, 48.

via Stuff

Please read the article in Stuff to gain a perspective on this mans actions which are abhorrent. I mentioned in a previous post about the attitude and outcomes of the disenfranchised that seen to be placed in Taita / Pomare by social agencies.

I for one am over the disrespect certain types in our society have toward others. This is a perfect example. Again I hope life, was the true term of his sentence, but feel again that I it won’t be (12 years non parole) I like many others move stronger toward what the Sensible Sentencing Trust advocates, sentences that stand up to their terms, life means life.

A fun Christmas market featuring arts and crafts, cafe, wooden toys, jewelry, pre-loved clothing, toys, sausage sizzle, BBQ, music and much more is happening tomorrow. Pop in, if you are around.
Venue: Taita Community Hall, Taine Street, Taita, Lower Hutt
Time: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Well next Saturday 5 December the Christmas Spectacular will be held at Fraser Park. It has moved from Avalon Park this year, as Fraser Park provides better viewing and security.

Remember no Christmas Parade this year, so this is the only chance to get to a family orientated event to celebrate Christmas as a community.  

The non-alcoholic event is being organised by Hutt Impact and has a variety of acts culminating in a fireworks display between 9.30pm and 10pm.

Visit the site to gain an appreciation of the entertainment and view last years video

Not to be a Grinch but I’m away next weekend, the dogs in the kennel, so looking forward to readers contributions if you attend.

I have been following this story for some time awaiting the outcome of the Trial. Against this is the current situation occurring in Farmer Cres at present and it seems to me the presence of a mentality of those that live there, or by circumstances made to live there.

A man who battered his partner to death then stuffed her body into a wardrobe has been found guilty of murder.

The woman’s family now want an apology from her killer.

Malcolm Ngeru, 44, unemployed of Taita, had pleaded not guilty to murdering Mihi Tuhoro on July 20 last year. He admitted killing her but said he did not have the intent to do so because he was so drunk, and was instead guilty of manslaughter.

A jury in the High Court at Wellington yesterday took more than 10 hours to find him guilty of murder. He has been convicted and remanded in custody to December 11 for sentence.

Ms Tuhoro’s brother, Manuel Tuhoro, who sat through every day of the 2 1/2 week trial, was overwhelmed with emotion.

“A sorry or something would be nice,” he said outside court. “Not even his family is present.”

The jury was told Ngeru and Ms Tuhoro were alcoholics who lived in Lower Hutt’s Farmer Cres in a Housing New Zealand flat.

via Stuff

From my perspective it appears that those that live there are alienated from other social norms, expectations and society in general. I am no bleeding heart liberal in fact I side with quite a bit of what the Sensible Sentencing Trust advocates.

Has the area become such a gang enclave, that without adhering to the gang’s mentality there is no alternative, or is it because they respect that value system more, because it provides individual respect,  income and the chance to get ahead.

In the case of all these indivduals both male and female is their self-esteem so low that they see no alternative to the life they lead? or conversely do our social agencies just place them back into the areas that are familiar to them, I think not in this case alternatives were provided, not accepted, as is the case with the current situation of the residents fight against Housing NZ.

I’m not here to present answers, there are many vastly more qualified than me, but when was the last time you looked at the area around Farmer Cres, Pomare?

To be polite I would call it low socio-economic area, in another term perhaps a ghetto of disenfranchised individuals. I hate the housing that was presented as a solution to low-cost accommodation in the 60s when the Hutt needed low skilled labour. I always felt that the solution with State Housing whether state or local should be spread around amongst other areas rather than high-rise towers and feel it was a British import that was not needed given the ample supply of land at the time. Brixton London, and its problems come to mind.

Where am I going with all this, I don’t know the answers (neither does any of the government agencies) but I am going to walk around Farmer Cres this weekend and see how I feel, rather than drive past without thinking about it.

The inspiration for a new play area at Walter Nash Park in Taita came from a passionate group of community-minded young people.

The children and their parents presented their idea for a new playground during the annual plan process and work has now begun at the park.

Mayor David Ogden says “the young people made a really compelling case for the park when they spoke to the Community Plan Committee. They even brought along their own pictures of what they’d like to have in their area. It’s great to see their ideas coming to life”.
The community has been involved in the park design, which includes a deck, picnic tables, chairs, and a playground with a fort, slide, merry-go-round, and swings.

New garden areas are being created and the park will be fronted by feature poles up to three metres high. The recycled hardwood telegraph poles will feature carvings created by Taita locals.
Next Wednesday, school children and members of the Taita community will join local councillors and Council staff at 10am to plant the new garden areas. The kids will be kept entertained by activities including a bouncy castle and all the volunteers will enjoy a barbeque lunch.

The playground equipment will be installed in November and the feature poles will be in place by Christmas.

Two people are due to appear in the Lower Hutt District court next Friday following an assault on Wednesday night at an alcohol checkpoint at Wingate Crescent Taita.

Police say the car was stopped for a routine breath test at Wingate overpass about 7pm. They say the driver 22 was arrested on a fines warrant and his passenger 17 was detained after punching one of the arresting officers several times. Firearms & ammunation were also found in the vehicle. Both men were remanded and will appear on a variety of charges relating to assault, drugs and offensive weapons.

Several other related incidents occurred as the result of the strong Police present, including drink driving evasion resulting in cars being pulled over at NaeNae Shopping Centre. (see below)

Update

All occupants uninjured after fire at 48 Moleswoth St Taita

Photos below of damage

The fire started in the Kitchen
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Emergency services are at the scene of a house fire in Lower Hutt.

Police said all occupants of the house on Molesworth St in Taita were believed to be accounted for.

Molesworth St was closed to traffic and pedestrians between Cooper St and Tocker St.

Update

The death of a two-month-old girl in a Taita house this morning is not being treated as suspicious.

Acting Senior Sergeant Steve Braybrook said an autopsy would determine the cause of death.

It was not believed to be suspicious.

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Lower Hutt police are investigating the death of a child at a Taita house this morning.

No details were available on the age or sex of the child and Lower Hutt CIB were not available for comment.

Police, ambulance and firefighters were called to the Taita house just after 1.30am.

It will take $11.1 million for an upgrade to Walter Nash Stadium. That will incorporate a 3 court extension for netball, seating for 3000, and see a new Taita Community Hall become part of the complex.

The proposal is one of the largest and biggest financial decisions placed in front of councillors in recent years.

The future of the stadium has been debated for more than a decade without any progress being made.

The current proposal requires sponsorship funding $4.4 million. Council will require to fund $6.7 million.
If the $4.4 million isn’t found the deal is off.

If the council goes forward with this proposal several other projects are in jeopardy like refurbishing the Eastbourne Bus Barn and upgrading the McKenzie Pool in Petone.

The council has some hard decisions over the future use of this complex, but to put at jeopardy other projects hardly seems warranted given that $4.4 million sponsorship money in the current economy is but a pipedream.

This issue needs to be resolved, there is no doubt the popularity of the Taita Netball courts and the interest in this area on any winter Saturday, the contentious issue is that is the Walter Nash stadium a go forward project for the Hutt and beneficial to the community at large. $4.4 million of sponsorship money is a tad rich I feel.