Epuni: Police seeking help over robbery of Mini Market

A shop owner was knocked to the ground while his mini-mart was robbed of tobacco and cigarettes.

Police are looking for three Maori men who robbed the Epuni Mini Mart in Oxford Terrace, Lower Hutt, at 6pm on Tuesday.

One attacked the owner and knocked him down, while the two others grabbed cigarettes and tobacco before running away.

One man wore a black hoodie with a white pattern on the sleeves.

The second wore black shorts and a white and black hoodie.

The third man wore a white hoodie and black trousers with white shoes.

 

Taita: Police investigating childs death not suspicious

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.

Pomare: Tenants of Farmers Cres lose out to Housing NZ

In March this year Housing NZ served 90-day notices to three women living in a Farmer Crescent state housing block after neighbours complained about intimidation, threats and burglary.

Police arrested and charged several Mongrel Mob members as a result of investigations, some of whom were partners of the tenants in question.

The tenants refused to adhere to the eviction notices and the case ended up in the tribunal’s hands.

Housing NZ argued at the Wellington hearing this month that it was simply seeking possession of its units, as it – and any other landlord – was entitled to do as long as correct procedures were followed.

A lawyer for the tenants, Robert Lithgow QC, argued the evictions were discriminatory and breached the Bill of Rights Act.

In a reserved decision, the tribunal ruled in favour of Housing NZ, but Mr Lithgow told NZPA his clients would appeal against the decision to the District Court.

He said that while technically they could be evicted pending an appeal he would be “very surprised” if Housing NZ did that.

Lower Hutt Gracefield Warehouse Fire

A fire that broke out in a Lower Hutt warehouse has been extinguished.

The blaze began around 4.15pm in an oil-fired furnace at Monroes Springs on Hutt Park Rd in Gracefield.

Five fire engines and their crews went to the scene, and police diverted traffic around the area. The fire was contained in an oil tempering bath inside the spring factory. A large column of smoke was visible from surrounding areas but the fire itself caused minimal damage to the factory.

There are no reports of injuries, a fire communications spokesman said.

Petone: Bomb Scare at NZ Racing Board Headquarters

Police cordoned off part of Petone this morning after a beeping package was delivered to the New Zealand Racing Board building.

The army bomb disposal unit was called and searches undertaken of the NZRB National Office to establish whether to destroy the package there or take it away and deal with it, said Inspector Mike Coleman of police central communications.  Police bomb dogs were used to search the NZRB building.

The package was about A4 in size and was beeping. It was delivered about 8.15am.  Traffic between Jackson St Victoria St and Hutt Rd was closed to traffic.  By 11.00am the incident had been identified as non threatening the offending object identified as a cellphone couriered to the NZRB and the situation was down graded with roads re-opened.

Nearby businesses Briscoes and The Warehouse were also evacuated.

Evacuees at the time were taken to the Petone railway station.

 Photos of incident from Edna_Phillips here Thanks Edna

Lower Hutt: More redundancies hit Hutt Valley

Announced late today two Lower Hutt firms, laundry powder manufacturer Unilever will make 33 people redundant, while furniture maker Formway will shed 50 staff.

Formway chief executive Alan Buckner says the company, which opened in the 1950s, and recently won design award has decided to outsource its manufacturing and focus on design, sales and marketing.

Formway hopes 15 to 20 people will be offered jobs with the company it is outsourcing to but does see overall job losses.

Hutt Valley Rail: Outage again TransRetro rather than TranzMetro

Again people who use the Hutt Valley Rail line suffered in their return home last night as travel plans were thrown into chaos yet again as the TransMetro services were disrupted from 4pm yesterday.

A power fault about 4pm yesterday forced the cancellation of half the peak hour trains (about 100 services) scheduled to leave Wellington railway station last night. Thousands were left waiting on Platforms for non existent trains, and choas rained at peak travel time after 5pm.

Thanks to Mike for the photo taken at 5pm at Wellington Station.

27-07-09_1708 by Kiwi Frenzy On Location.

Hutt Rail has had repeated problems in the last month (July 10) and earlier in June, beside the major problem with derailment only last week  at Maymorn Upper Hutt, and commuters are reaching breakpoints with many saying that they are looking at alternatives. (Snapper anyone!)

Several people have expressed their concerns to HuttNZ and again I suggest that these should be forwarded to TranzMetro email. It was equally noted that the TranzMetro information txt service did not inform anyone of delays yesterday, and when they do of late, it has lost its relevance. (Realtime please!!)

KiwiRail chief executive Jim Quinn apologised to affected passangers.

“We take this service incredibly seriously and we feel gutted whenever the public are letdown….even when its something outside of our control”

Transport woes continued again this morning for Hutt Valley train commuters, with a service from Taita being cancelled due to mechanical problems.

KiwiRail spokesman Kevin Ramshaw says the cancellation did not cause big problems, as it was an early service.

“There are trains going through there all the time because it’s on the Hutt Valley line, so there were alternative trains to take,” he said.

“I don’t think that had any material effect on the network. Everything else is running fine.”

It shows clearly that this service is on its last legs, and the apathetic approach Kiwirail have toward current problems, roll on 2010 when the new trains are due. But equally expect further disruptions to integrate this new service as the closing of Epuni Station for six weeks illustrates. Just Hurry Up Kiwirail!

 

 

Upper Hutt: Missing 84yr old man found

The 84-year-old man missing in the Upper Hutt suburb of Trentham has returned home safe and well.

 Police had just begun widening the search for the man who went for a walk Sunday night at 9 o’clock thinking it was morning and failed to return. There were concerns he may have become confused.

Searchers scoured the area overnight on foot, bicycle and by car. The man was fairly fit and had carried out a 10 kilometre walk last week, so rescuers believed he could have wandered quite a distance.

 The man returned home this morning.