Police arrest drunken Sevens fans 2012-02-04

There have been another 29 arrests in Wellington overnight, as Sevens fans headed to the central city to party.Most were for breaching liquor bans and disorderly behaviour.Eight people were arrested at the stadium yesterday, and...

Drunk mum drives with kids in back 2012-02-03

A mother nearly three times over the drink-driving limit had her two young children strapped in the back seat of her car when she drifted to the wrong side of the road and hit an oncoming car, a court has been told."The oncoming...

Why is Steinlager much cheaper overseas? 2012-02-03

A major New Zealand beer costs almost three times as much here than in the United States or Britain.A six-pack of Steinlager Pure typically sells for about $16 in New Zealand. But travel 10,000km from where it is brewed, to America,...

Badly burned man's father jailed 2012-02-02

The father of a man who suffered horrific burns when he struck high-voltage power lines in a cherry picker late last year has been jailed for nearly running over a police officer while drunk.John Paul Hall sped through a police...

Man admits his part in $5000 booze raid on local bar 2012-02-01

A Hastings man has admitted stealing $5000 worth of alcohol from Diva Bar in Havelock North.Kahu Takura Dixon, 22, appeared in Hastings District Court yesterday and admitted the January 2 burglary, where bottles of alcohol were...

Whale Oil | Is Sugar Bad? 2012-02-04

Image via Wikipedia Tony Falkenstein wants a tax on sugar. He is very vociferous about it and we have discussed his position before. The MacDoctor explained the fallacy of a tax on sugar quite well too. Still there is a clamour for such silliness and so at every opportunity such silliness must be rebutted. There are now calls for sugar to be treated and taxed in the same way as alcohol because it is alleged that sug

Whale Oil | Child Abuse 2012-02-03

This is nothing short of child abuse: A mother nearly three times over the drink-driving limit had her two young children strapped in the back seat of her car when she drifted to the wrong side of the road and hit an oncoming car, a court has been told. “The oncoming drivers must have been scared witless, let alone the effect on your children,” Judge Michael Crosbie told solo mother Joanne Tracy Oates, 41

Whale Oil | Top Totty banned in Parliament 2012-02-03

It looks like the wowsers are out in force in the UK. If top totty is banned does that mean only beers that feature Darien Fenton and Sue Moroney on the label would be appropriate? A beer called Top Totty has been banned from the Strangers’ Bar in the House of Commons because its pump plate, featuring a half-naked woman, offended female MPs. Shadow equalities minister Kate Green was left ”disturbed&rdqu

Tactical Ninja | Deploying secondary grape stabilisation mechanism now. 2012-02-02

My wee coffee machine needs a coat of looking at. This makes me sad. It's a Krups model, entry level espresso maker like this one, but older. I bought it second hand on TradeMe for $16 in 2008, and it's made me a coffee most mornings since then without fail (and without a service either). It's a good morning coffee maker - you put the coffee in, you put the water in, you push the button and voila!Bu

Whale Oil | More about the Mayoress 2012-02-01

The tip line and commenters have pointed out that the story about her office is true, and she shares the executive wing with the Mayor, the Deputy Mayor and the CEO. Councillors apparently are not welcome. Several people have pointed out that the Mayoress not only occupies an office funded by ratepayers she seems to think she is entitled to perks. Christchurch mayoress Jo Nicholls-Parker said it was “perfectly