News / Profiles
recent News/Profiles
by | 3:17 am, 17/10/2011
John Stansfield worked for a number of non-profit organisations including the Problem Gambling Foundation and sustainability projects on Waiheke Island, he even founded and headed a Department of Non-Profit Studies at Massey for a number of years, before picking up his position at Oxfam New Zealand. An international relief and development programme, Oxfam takes a regional approach to hunger and political rights. The New Zealand office is heavily involved in development and sustainability projects around the Pacific, for example. Georgie Fenwicke talked to John about the response to the drought currently plaguing several Pacific populations and his favourite Oxfam Christmas gift.
by | 4:39 am, 10/10/2011
by Georgie Fenwicke | 3:43 am, 03/10/2011
Dai Henwood is a man of stock, stocky. His now familiar face and 5”5 frame are common to our television sets streaming in as they do every Friday night on 7 Days. Henwood is a member of the “new wave” of New Zealand comedy. He started out in Wellington before migrating to the big smoke and then overseas where he cut his teeth with the big boys in Melbourne, Edinburgh, Montreal and Tokyo. Having returned to these shores a few years ago, he is being kept busy by a number of interesting projects, acting included. But ,as he tells Georgie Fenwicke, he just needs to find time for that final episode of Entourage.
by | 3:25 am, 12/09/2011
by Georgie Fenwicke | 5:05 am, 11/08/2011
The population of sheep in New Zealand currently sits at around 43.1 million. They double the number of cows and yet have a better environmental reputation. What springs to mind when you hear natterings of a fart tax? Yes, Dairy farms. Sheep, on the other hand, are a bit overlooked by the general population, but not to those at AgResearch Invermay, just outside of Mosgiel. In fact, for the past two years, Dr John McEwan and his colleagues have been investigating the production of Greenhouse Gases (GHGs) such as methane in ruminant ovine (sheep) populations with funding from the Pastoral Greenhouse gas Research Consortium and the New Zealand Agricultural Greenhouse gas Research Centre. Georgie Fenwicke talked to him about his research, past and present, in the area.
Simon Moore SC
by Georgie Fenwicke | 3:30 pm 11/07/2010
Simon Moore SC is a real-world Denny Crane -- without the mad-cow.
A Crown Prosecutor for Auckland since 1994, Moore has appeared in a number of New Zealand's most prolific criminal trials. Animated and knowledgable, he spoke to graduating Law and Commerce students over the weekend. Critic caught up with him last week to discuss his career, those cases and the New Zealand legal system.
What attracted you to prosecution over other branches of the law?
Nothing... I fell into it and it was at a time, as it is now, when law jobs were very difficult to get. I [think I] would have been much more interested in defending, but what I have found with prosecuting is that, in fact, you get much closer to people who are adversely affected by crime. I have found it extremely rewarding. But it would be fair to say that I fell into it.
You have appeared on behalf of the Crown against a number of notably violent offenders – Antonie Dixon, William Bell, Malcolm Rewa – how does one go about approaching the prosecution of such crimes?
I think you go about prosecuting those crimes with exactly the same kind of approach that you go about prosecuting any crime. The enormity of some of these crimes means that there are different sorts of pressures on you in terms of some of the aspects of the prosecuting, but it doesn’t change the core way you would approach the presentation of the case or anything like that.
What case are you working on or preparing for at the moment?
On Monday [today], I start a five week murder trial for the killing of Sgt. Don Wilkinson who was shot and killed after he and another had been discovered putting a tracking device on a car in Mangere.
As one who is wholly involved and invested in the New Zealand legal system, do you believe it is effective?
I think that we have a really good reason to be reassured and very positive about our justice system. There are problems which emerge from time to time, but the fact that we do confront them when they do arise, I think is something that should make everyone pleased.
What areas do you view as the most in need of improvement?
I think that one of the real issues confronting the criminal justice system is the delays in getting criminal trials to court. But that is a problem that is being examined at the moment and already, we are seeing improvements being made.
You are speaking at the ceremony for Graduating Law and Commerce students over the weekend, what is the key message you hope to convey to your audience?
One of the things I am going to say is that life is full of surprises and nothing, nothing is what you expect it to be and nothing will remain as you expect it to be. Essentially, be adaptable and be prepared to change when you need to.
