Helicopter pilot formally identified

Monday, 11 March 2013, 9:03 am
Press Release: New Zealand Police

The body of a pilot has been recovered from the Omaru Valley in the Central North Island high country after his helicopter crashed.

Mark Duncan Didsbury, aged 39, from the Wairarapa, was located at approximately 11.30 this morning. This afternoon his body was airlifted out of the valley and he has now been formally identified.

Police staff have remained at the scene throughout the afternoon working alongside inspectors from the Transport Accident Investigation Commission who will lead the investigation into the cause of the crash.

ends

Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines

NEW ZEALAND POLITICS > >

Full Scoop Coverage: NZ Budget 2013

"Unlawful, Unjustified And Unreasonable": Report Into Urewera Raids Finds Police Acted Unlawfully

Independent Police Conduct Authority Chair Judge Sir David Carruthers said today that the decision by the then Commissioner of Police to undertake the operation in Ruatoki Valley and elsewhere on 15 October 2007 was reasonable and justified.

“However, the road blocks established by Police at Ruatoki and Taneatua were unlawful, unjustified and unreasonable... Police had no legal basis for stopping and searching vehicles or photographing drivers or passengers,” he said...

The report also showed that the detention of the occupants at five properties examined by the Authority was unlawful and unreasonable. More>>

The Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security has completed an inquiry into potential breaches of the Government Communications Security Bureau Act (2003). More>>

ALSO:

Labour - Only a full inquiry will restore confidence in GCSB
Greens - Report shows GCSB inquiry needed before law change
NZ First - GCSB Case Bungled by Prime Minister
9 April NZ Govt - John Key: "the results of the review will be made public after its completion."
OASIS - Panel Discussion: The GCSB And The Lives of Others
Out-Link - US Govt Word Games When Talking About NSA Domestic Spying | EFF

Roy Morgan State Of The Nation: All About Attitudes

As the latest Roy Morgan State of the Nation New Zealand reveals, the different attitudes of Kiwis around the country offer a fascinating glimpse into its varied population. More>>

ALSO:

Roy Morgan Research - Wellington wild for smartphones : RMR State Of The Nation NZ - Buses, trains and traffic jams: Wellington vs Auckland vs NZ - State of the Nation New Zealand: home is where the money is
Image Out-Link - Auckland vs Wellington vs The Rest of NZ - Roy Morgan Research State Of The Nation - YouTube

Various Deadlines: Make Sure You Can Vote In The Ikaroa-Rāwhiti By-Election

“You can only vote in the Ikaroa-Rāwhiti by-election if you are eligible and correctly enrolled,” says Sue Braybrook, Registrar of Electors for the Ikaroa-Rāwhiti electorate. More>>

ALSO:

Electoral Commission - Enrol for Ikaroa-Rāwhiti By-Election (English and Te Reo)
Labour - Extended Closing Date For Nominations In Ikaroa-Rawhiti
Labour nomination race - Broadcaster To Seek Labour Party Candidacy - Hayden Hape seeks Labour candidacy in Ikaroa--Rawhiti - Meka Whaitiri tol seek Labour selection Ikaroa-Rawhiti
Mana Party - Te Hamua Nikora Named MANA Candidate for Ikaroa Rawhiti - Te Hamua Nikora gets a big smile from MANA in Ikaroa Rawhiti - Yeeeeeehaaaaaa! - Te Hamua Nikora is “In it to win it”
Maori Party - Na Rongowhakaata Raihania announced as candidate
Greens - Green Party to Contest Ikaroa Rāwhiti By-Election

Unsold Energy: Government "At War With Solid Energy Board"

Despite having known the scale of Solid Energy’s troubles for years the Government was prepping the company for sale just days before it cut 400 jobs and revealed it was in serious trouble, says Labour’s SOEs spokesperson Clayton Cosgrove. More>>

ALSO:

NZ Treasury - Release of Solid Energy Information from Treasury
Hamish Cardwell - PM Post-Cabinet Press Conference - 20 May 2013

Special Schools: Salisbury Stays open After Court Ruling, Community Pressure

The Minister of Education Hon Hekia Parata met with Salisbury School students and the Board this morning and confirmed that Salisbury will remain open as part of the delivery of service within the new Intensive Wrap-Around Service, along with the other two residential special schools. More>>

ALSO:

Labour - Minister finally sees sense over Salisbury
Greens - Minister Backs Down Over Salisbury
NZ First - Follow Salisbury’s Lead Says NZ First
Public Service Association - Salisbury School decision a hard-fought victory
Image Out-Link - Salisbury School - Visitors to the School

Gordon Campbell: On The Government’s Trampling On The Rights Of Family Carers

Don’t want to be unduly alarmist about this, but we seem to have an outlaw government on our hands – if by that we mean a government willing to suspend the ability of citizens to seek the courts’ protection if and when the government violates freedoms set out in our Bill of Rights. More>>

ALSO:

Pundit.co.nz Out-Link - Andrew Geddis: I think National just broke our constitution - Claire Browning: Kicking the tyres from beneath New Zealand
Out-Link - What Andrew Geddis Said, But Shorter and With More Swearing • OnPoint • Public Address
No Right Turn Out-Link - Worse than I thought - No Right Turn: Another abuse of urgency
Dim-Post Out-Link - Johnyongyang?
Hamish Cardwell - PM Post-Cabinet Press Conference - 20 May 2013
Parliament Today - Parliament Ends Long Urgency Session - To The Midnight Hour - Parliament Resumes To Pass Budget Bills - Urgency Progress - Urgency Motion - House Goes Into Urgency
Labour - Minister's Arrogance Makes Bad Law Making Worse - Government to extend protest ban - Govt’s power hungry approach a threat
Greens - Govt abuses urgency to extend Anadarko Amendment - Green Party Response to Family Care Legislation
NZ First - Law Discriminates Against Disabled Adults and Family
Radio New Zealand Out-Link - No breach of international law in minerals bill - minister

Wellington Local Government Survey Results: "Support For Change"

Almost 2000 submissions have been received by the four Wellington councils consulting on possible change to the region’s local government, demonstrating support for change. More>>

ALSO:

Wellington City Council - Wellington Residents Support Big Single-tier Council with Mayor and 29 Councillors

Wellington.Scoop: Derailment Stops Wellington Train Services

A morning derailment stopped all Wellington train services for most of the day Monday. A KiwiRail spokesperson said the derailment had involved the 7.43am train from Porirua and there were no reported injuries. More>>