Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Christopher Finlayson spoke today at the announcement of a major original exhibition by Weta Workshop which will tour China later this year.


"As Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage, I want to congratulate Weta for another great coup - taking this exhibition to China, one of our most significant trading partners and, we hope, a partner in an increasing number of audio-visual production projects," Mr Finlayson said.


The exhibition will feature the work of New Zealand artist Greg Broadmore, who worked on District 9, King Kong, and The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. It is based on his ‘fictional universe' of Dr Grordbort's and Dr Grordbort's Infallible Aether Oscillators - described as "antique styled sci-fi hand weapon props, evoking the nostalgia of a lost age of exploration and discovery". Weta Workshop has developed the ray-guns as a line of art collectibles. The remainder of the exhibition will be made up of other props from Weta Workshop's collection.


The exhibition grew out of discussions between head of Weta Workshop Richard Taylor, and Gavin Crombie - founder and Chief Executive of IDF Global and Green Leaf Film Studios in Chengdu. Richard Taylor was among the New Zealand business leaders that attended the signing of the China/New Zealand Free Trade Agreement last year.


All ticket profits from the exhibition will be donated to the Sichuan Quake Relief Organisation for victims of the earthquake in Chengdu on 12 May, 2008.


It will run from 5 December 2009 to 14 January 2010 at the Sichuan Provincial Museum in Chengdu.

On 28 November, we will run a special train that will be collecting foodbank donations for The Salvation Army.

You can donate food at any of the special donation bins (found at all Tranz Metro ticket offices) from Monday 23 November, or hand your donation to the team on the bright red train on Saturday 28 November.

Check the timetable to see when the train will be stopping in your area (trains will stop for approx. 5 minutes at each station.)

                                                               

Johnsonville line

On 28 November the Goodwill Express will be at Wellington Station at the following times:

- 8:47am to 9:07am

-12:41pm to 1:02pm

- 4:57pm to 5:05pm

- 6:45pm to 7:05pm.

Come down and make a donation.

This promotion is proudly supported by:

The Salvation Army

Admark

Clemenger BBDO

Converga

New World

Police commissioners from across Australia and New Zealand gathered in Perth today for the launch of a united stand against drunken violence.

Police in New Zealand will be highlighting the work they do to tackle alcohol-fuelled crime and antisocial behaviour during the blitz on the weekend of the 11th and 12th of December.

The crackdown - codenamed Operation Unite - will be a first of kind, comprehensive and coordinated action by police forces in all states and jurisdictions.

It will demonstrate the united resolve of commissioners to change Australia and New Zealand’s culture of binge drinking in public places, and challenge the drinking public to take greater responsibility for their conduct.

The commissioners believe that enforcement can only ever be one part of the solution – and that further actions are needed from a range of stakeholders if we are to successfully confront the causes and problems associated with alcohol misuse.

Announcing the initiative at a meeting in Perth this morning, the commissioners warned that police have 'had enough' of dealing with Australia and New Zealand's dangerous culture of binge drinking in public places.

Commissioner Howard Broad said alcohol is a major driver of problems police have to confront.

"Alcohol, particularly in combination with drugs, impacts on many aspects of policing, including violent offending, homicides, drink driving, family violence incidents, accommodating intoxicated people in police cells and incidents or offending involving young people.

"While legislation and enforcement are key to, changing the drinking culture is crucial.

"The 'drink to get drunk’ culture cannot continue, or become the norm, and that is why we are taking decisive action. While we cannot arrest our way out of this problem, we agree there is a need for stronger policing."

Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Simon Overland agreed: “In addition to stronger enforcement, we acknowledge that there is a need for cultural change and better licensing regulations.

"We all share the belief that more can, and must, be done to tackle the dangerous binge drinking culture which has developed among our younger generations.

“Alcohol fuelled violence is one of the most pressing social challenges of our time. No state or territory is immune to this problem. It is costing us millions of dollars each year and shattering many, many young lives."

Commissioner Broad said the crackdown was making people safer and more secure and sending a clear message that enough is enough. "We are not out to curb the enjoyment but instead tackle this problem with a heightened sense of commitment and urgency.

“All the Commissioners firmly believe that it is not just a case of stopping the violence. We need to find out why it is happening in the first place and start looking at the long term issues to ensure that these factors don’t influence future generations.”

In New Zealand the total crime cost due to harmful alcohol and drug use is estimated at $1.1 billion. This includes costs to the victims of crime, the use of police resources, court related costs and prison.

The total social cost of harmful alcohol and drug misuse for the year 05/06 was estimated at $6.881 billion.

The Independent Chairman of Hanover Finance, Mr David Henry, today stated the suggestion that Hanover’s major shareholders are “relieved of the Shareholder Support package obligations” under the Allied Farmers’ Proposal is manifestly incorrect.

“It’s important to note that as part of the Allied Farmers Proposal the Hanover Shareholder assets - agreed and voted for by investors as part of the DRP (Shareholder Support Package) - are required to transfer to Allied Farmers.

“This means approximately $10 million cash in escrow, all issued shares in the Axis Companies and the mortgage over the Matarangi Beach Estates property will be transferred to Allied Farmers. These assets transferred to Hanover for $76 million at the time the DRP was agreed to by investors, on the basis that the shareholders would only be paid for them if investors were fully repaid. In effect the Allied Farmers Proposal, if agreed, requires Hanover Shareholders to write off the subordinated debt of $76million due to them” said Mr Henry.

Mr Henry was responding to wildly inaccurate media comment attributed to Mr Bruce Sheppard, which he had asked to be corrected yesterday. Unfortunately the inaccurate comment has been picked up by media.

Full details on merits of the Allied Farmers Proposal will be provided to investors, and to media, once the Grant Samuels’ independent expert report has been finalised.

The Local Government Commission will hold a briefing for media in Auckland at 10.45am on Friday 20 November on the Commission’s proposals on the boundaries and representation arrangements for the new Auckland Council.

The proposals specify boundaries for the Auckland Council, wards and local boards, ward and board names, and the number of members per local board.

Only accredited media will be able to attend the briefing.

The details for the briefing are:

Date: Friday 20 November, 2009
Timing: 10.45am
Venue: The Hyatt Regency Hotel
Cnr Waterloo Quadrant and Princes Street
Auckland

For further information contact:

Jonelle Cooper (09) 353 6623 or 021 262 6281

Wellington Police have arrested more than 50 people over the past seven days in efforts to disrupt criminal activity. 

The focus has been on drug offending with detectives and general duties staff deployed to execute search warrants and make arrests in Wellington City, Lower and Upper Hutt, Kapiti Mana and the Wairarapa in a major operation codenamed Cobra.

Detective Inspector Darrin Thomson of the Wellington Metro CIB says, "We have caused significant disruption amongst those people involved in the drug trade and I am sure this operation sends a clear message that we are actively policing this offending."

People arrested are facing a variety of charges including:
•    Manufacturing Methamphetamine
•    Manufacturing Heroin
•    Possession of Morphine for Supply and Supplying Morphine
•    Supplying Methamphetamine and Possession for Supply of Methamphetamine
•    Producing Cannabis Oil
•    Cultivation of Cannabis
•    Supplying Cannabis
•    Firearms Offences
•    Theft and Receiving of stolen property

Over 200 charges will be laid in respect to the alleged offending.

"We also targeted a number of people who appeared to have acquired assets beyond their income and as a result we have restrained $200,000 in bank accounts and are investigating the finances behind several properties with Proceeds of Crime legislation being utilised."

Detective Inspector Thomson also says, "Our community can be reassured that we are proactively involved in the receipt and analysis of intelligence on a regular basis and will continue to Police this area of crime. This operation has been three months in the planning and has involved more than 80 staff."