Saturday, September 12, 2009

Day OneHundredAndOMGYourBack of being Aflickionless...

Well this is the end of the road for the blog. It's Saturday morning and your back in the country (well should be, I haven't heard from you).

It's been a fun 120 (what was meant to be 119) days, writting random stuff, news, trying to make something to make you giggle while you've been away. I hope you have enjoyed it!

But before we say adios...

DID YOU KNOW!!!

121 blogs have been written
The Haydn Returns Song has been used 11 times
32 Sideswipes have been written
News has been in 80 of the 121 blogs
When copy & pasted into word all of the blog take up about 256 pages
60,640 words have been written
and 285,477 characters (no spaces) have been written

So chur for reading, can't wait to hear all about your trip, we have missed you.

60,686 WORDS

Friday, September 11, 2009

Day OneHundredAndWhatTheFuck of being Aflickionless...

DAY 120...OMG!

Maz spent the day packing, moving and working on a head piece for Mel. Ginger Minx Spring Party is tonight should be an awesome night!

Short blog today when it comes to what's been happening, but that purely because well...busy, busy, busy!

Thousands of Auckland commuters could have their travel plans disrupted, after nearly 98 per cent of workers rejected an offer by NZ Bus today. A union meeting today saw NZ Bus drivers and cleaners vote by almost 98 per cent against a pay rise by their employer in a secret ballot. NZ Bus and their unionised staff have been in negotiations over pay rates. The talks broke down last week and a work to rule notice was issued by the unions before the company responded with a lock-out notice. NZ Bus operates the Metrolink, North Star, Go West, Waka Pacific, the Link and the City Circuit bus services. NZ Bus operations manager Zane Fulljames said it was "bitterly disappointing" that the offer - of a 10.4 per cent pay rise over three years - had been rejected.

North Island firefighters commemorated the September 11 attacks of 2001 with a memorial climb up the BNZ Tower in Auckland's CBD this morning. About 60 firefighters from as far north as Kamo and as far south as Upper Hutt took part in this morning's event. Firefighter Tony Scott said the event was also to commemorate firefighters who had lost their lives while serving in New Zealand. "It's a time to reflect and pay respect," Mr Scott said. A list of the 50 firefighters who have died while serving since 1872 was read out before a prayer by the Dean of Auckland, Ross Bay. Bagpipes then accompanied firefighters with Amazing Grace as they gathered in groups and adjusted their equipment. Donned in full kit, including oxygen bottle and full face masks, the firefighters left in small groups to climb the 26 floors of the BNZ tower. At the top they were rewarded with a bottle of water.

A giant TV screen costing about $1.75 million is to be put up in Aotea Square. Auckland City Council's Citizens and Ratepayers group has voted for a 60-70 sq m screen to be erected in the square in time for the Rugby World Cup in 2011.

AUCKLAND FORECAST TODAY
N/A but the showers and the bad weather has started to kick in

CURRENT WEIRDNESS
Your back tomorrow, has the time already been & gone?

DAILY FOF MOMENT
The crappy weather just when Maz is about to move house. FAIL!

Thursday, September 10, 2009

Day OneHundredAndNineteen of being Aflickionless...

So thread.co.nz wrote this article about Style Pasifika and it was a tad wrong...

"MAC did an outstanding job of painting men and women alike in a wide array of “attire” in a multitude of colours and designs"...WTF? MAC? So Maz wrote an email to the editor (ie. how she felt ripped off seeing somebody else get credit for her hard work, and things like "your writing about the fashion industry you should know your A's from your B's; after all it would be terrible if you got a designers name wrong and mislead the public").
Anywho because of Maz's wee email the article has been fixed and they have asked her to write a piece about her effots as a make-up artist or about my piece and what I went through for this year's Style Pasifika.

Maz & Russell moved a few boxes to the new house today, Maz had stacked about 3 or 4 boxes before she noticed something sitting on the bench. To her surprise the something sitting on the bench was a box of chocolates, a bottle of white wine & a note that basicially read "Welcome to your home. Hope you have a happy & long stay" from the landlady. How awesome is that?!?!

Ginger Minx was on the board for last night, since Maz forgot her paints & stuff after painting yesterday. It was also the last chance to try the menu as you currently know it. Today is the Spring Party and it also means that Ginger Minx is launching some new drinks. YAY!

SJ on the other hand was at the Ed Hardy VIP Party looking at hot guys...hmmm...lucky girl!

Bidders have ramped up the auction for a home-made, interisland amphibious van to $6200 overnight. Yesterday the Trade Me auction had reached $5000, with 118 bids but during the past 24 hours another 19 bids pushed the price up another $1200. The matt black DIY boatvan, called Roofliss by its builders Adam Turnbull and Dan Melling, crossed Cook Strait on Sunday. It took 10 hours for the 65km journey from Waikawa Bay Marina to Mana Marina. The pair of aeronautical engineers, both 23, dreamed up the interisland voyage to keep busy and out of Blenheim's bars. They completed the conversion of the Toyota Townace for about $2000. Their auction description attested to the power of the "only van you can't get done DIC in". The van could end up alongside other great New Zealand sea-faring vessels in the New Zealand National Maritime Museum in Auckland. Museum chief executive Paul Evans said the museum, which also housed NZL32, Black Magic, which won the 1995 Americas Cup, was interested in adding the van to its collection. "It's something we think is very unique and it's something that the public of New Zealand will be interested in learning more about," Mr Evans said.

MOTAT’s historical Pumphouse, Beam Engine and Engineer’s Cottage have had a stunning success, scooping a 2009 UNESCO Asia-Pacific Heritage Award of Merit for the Culture Heritage Conservation programme. The Waterworks buildings and Engineer’s Cottage are the only New Zealand buildings to have received the Award of Merit, announced at UNESCO Bangkok. The awards recognise the achievement of individuals and organizations within the private sector, and the public-private initiatives, in successfully restoring structures of heritage value in their region. MOTAT received the prestigious award for its part in meticulously restoring the Waterworks buildings and Engineer’s Cottage, and therefore revitalising an important part of the city’s past, and capturing the memory of the community.

SIDESWIPPING IT...
This ad in the Whangamata paper appealed to Jo: "Free to good home, two mature sheep. Prefer vegan or vegetarian family."

In Britain, Simon Simpkins complained about the packaging of a German lolly called Haribo Maoam, which he said looked sexual. "The lemon and lime are locked in what appears to be a carnal encounter. The lime, whom I assume to be the gentleman in this coupling, has a particularly lurid expression on his face," he told the Daily Mail.

Surviving examples of Queen Victoria's underwear, including a pair of bloomers with a 50-inch waist, have been designated as important parts of Britain's hertiage. The garments have been given heritage status by the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council - an award exclusively given to items of both national and international significance. The bloomers are stored at Kensington Palace in West London and form part of the Royal Ceremonial Dress Collection, which is made up of 12,000 items that were once worn by royalty and courtiers who lived any time from the 17th century until the present day. (Source: telegraph.co.uk)

AUCKLAND FORECAST TODAY
N/A however the day was cloudy, bit windy with a few showers

CURRENT WEIRDNESS
After being the same for almost 6months, the Ginger Minx drinks menu is changing...

DAILY FOF MOMENT
Thread.co.nz fucked up an article about Style Pasifika FAIL! It's been fixed now, thanks to Maz...WIN!

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Day OneHundredAndEightteen of being Aflickionless...

Maz went to Ginger Minx to do some painting. Your going to see it all when you get back. It's Spring so Minx is changing it up a bit, they also have the spring party on Friday night.

Maz & Russell got the keys for the new place today, EXCITING!!! Now they can start to move their SHART! So guess what they will be doing for the rest of the week.

Hope you can make it on Saturday night for the Welcome Back party...would be a bit pointless if you weren't there, it would just be people getting pissed for the sake of getting pissed...come on give us a reason!

SJ is currently a bit damaged, but who knows why. Is it fractured or not?!?! The lucky girl is also off to the Ed Hardy VIP Party!!!

Hopefully we make it to the final blog, I'm sure we will find away. But with the whole moving thing, it may be a hit and miss, as to if we get them all done. Wish us luck!


LOUD
SHIRT DAY is on Friday 18th September. Just thought we would give you a heads up, so you can pull out those bright shirts of yours.

When Albie the cat didn't come home for his tea, his owners Andrew and Lyn Beale assumed the two-year-old tabby was busy exploring. They had no idea Albie was recovering from a brush with death and a 20-odd kilometre ride wedged into the front of Gail Tomlinson's car. Ms Tomlinson was driving past the Beale's Ormiston Rd, Manukau, property on August 20 when she felt she might have hit a cat. But seeing no evidence, she continued on to work at Auckland Airport, a 20-minute trip driving at speeds of up to 90km/h. When she arrived, she heard a "meowing" from the front of her Holden Commodore. A quick check revealed Albie tucked up in "a perfect little cubby hole" in the chassis of the vehicle, behind the number plate. Afraid to move him herself, a distraught Ms Tomlinson got a workmate to drive her car - "carefully" - about 2km to the Mangere SPCA, where a vet extricated Albie. X-rays revealed he had a broken back leg."I was devastated. I was just beside myself," said Ms Tomlinson. Fortunately for the Beales - who distributed flyers in the hope of finding Albie - the SPCA kept the cat in the hope his owner would turn up. Word eventually reached the Beales that a cat matching Albie's description was being held at the SPCA, on painkillers for his injuries. Albie subsequently had surgery, running up a final bill of about $2000. Now he is up and about, recovering at home. He is able to put weight on his back leg, which has two pins in it, and should suffer no long-term consequences. Vet Craig Hunger said Albie should be fine, as long as the Beales keep up his physiotherapy. "To be stuck in a grill and not fall off is a very lucky thing ... there's a good chance they could have had a dead cat." Mr Beale said that when Albie turned up on their doorstep about five months ago, they named him LB, short for Lost Boy, which morphed over time into Albie. "I think now it might be Lucky Bugger."

Fleetwood Mac have added a second concert to their visit to New Plymouth in December after the first one sold out in minutes. Having played a 55-date, sold-out tour in North America, the band had committed to a single New Zealand show on December 19 at the Bowl of Brooklands. Promoter Andrew McManus Presents said demand for tickets at the 18,000 seat venue was overwhelming and the second show had been scheduled for the following night.

A judge has jailed a Northland man who kicked his partner and baby after an argument, saying society has had enough of such abuse. Michael Luke, from Whangarei, was sentenced in Whangarei District Court to 12 months imprisonment after attacking his partner at his home on July 9, the Northern Advocate reported. (Well I thought that was going to be more interesting, especially since the headline was "Man who kicked partner, baby jailed".)

A complaint will be made to the Independent Police Conduct Authority after a Wellington student allegedly had his neck broken by a police baton as a party was shut down. Police were called to a Khandallah party last Friday after gatecrashers began fighting outside, Fairfax Media reported. Although the gatecrashers fled when police arrived, 18 officers entered the house and used batons to drive the remaining 40 guests from the house, the partygoers claimed. Jakob Christie, 19, said the end of a police baton was jabbed into his neck, causing a vertebrae to break. He woke on Saturday unable to move his head and X-rays showed a lower neck vertebrae had broken.

Just a third of students going into secondary school are numerate, says a maths lecturer from the University of Auckland. And because secondary schools focus on algebra, trigonometry, geometry and statistics rather than basic number problems, they may never get a chance to learn the essentials - in fact, numeracy can worsen. (Yes, we are a nation of STUPID RETARDS!)

The demise of fuel storage at the Tank Farm means cruise ships and large cargo vessels in Auckland will be refuelled directly from a new tanker, the Awanuia. The 80m vessel can hold the equivalent of 25,000 barrels of fuel which it will ship directly from the Marsden Point oil refinery. It will replace a smaller barge which used to take on fuel at Wynyard Quarter and then supply visiting ships. The Awanuia was built in Turkey for around $20 million for Seafuels, a joint-venture company involving Ports of Auckland and Pacific Basin Shipping and is under charter to Shell.

The future of a subdivision intended to save tribal land from being mortgaged off is hanging in the balance. The Maori Land Court appointed interim administrator Kevin Gillespie eight years ago to control the affairs of Matauri X, a land incorporation which had amassed a $2.5 million debt after a water bottling deal went bust. But debt levels have risen to $16 million because of a refinancing deal with Strategic Finance to complete a two-stage, 139-section subdivision. A critical point for Maori landowners was that the sections were not freehold, instead they were subject to 52-year lease terms. But of the 81 sections, which have been on the market for 18 months, only eight of 25 sales had been settled, with many buyers trying to back out of their deals because of the economic climate, Mr Gillespie said. No houses have been built yet.

NEW STYLE PASIFIKA PHOTOS


SIDESWIPPING IT...
Margaret Wong of Epsom writes: "I was walking around One Tree Hill when I spotted a lone paddock of black sheep and lambs. The white sheep and lambs were gambolling freely all over the rest of the park. It was all a bit District 9 ... No doubt someone will be able to enlighten us." (you know the South African's are going woohoo)

Two girls lost in a stormwater drain in Adelaide updated their Facebook status via their mobile phone rather than ringing emergency services. A Fire Service spokesman said the 10- and 12-year-old girls were lucky another young friend was online and was able to call for help for them. Walking through drains is known as "urban caving", is popular in many major cities, despite the danger of flash floods.

A reader writes: "In 2001, my wife went for a precautionary mammogram because of a 4mm lump. We never heard any more about it but were delighted to receive the x-rays today (eight years later) with a letter to say that there is nothing to worry about. Except maybe the Health Service?" (SJ...SEE...YOU AREN'T THE ONLY ONE!!!)

AUCKLAND FORECAST TODAY
Max: 17°C
Min: 10°C (overnight)
Humidity: 83%
Cloud increasing. Northeast breeze. (Translation: Nice sunny day, YES sun again, but its about to all turn to shite)

CURRENT WEIRDNESS
"What is & isn't photography over mai tai's Yay" - check it out FB

AND the morpork still doesn't have Swine Flu...bwahahahaha!

DAILY FOF MOMENT
People not knowing if SJ's foot is really fratured or not. X-ray people say "yes, fractured" 'experts' say "Nope...nothing wrong" FAIL!


Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Day OneHundredAndSeventeen of being Aflickionless...

Maz did some painting at the Ginger Minx with the assistance of Russell. SJ drove past & saw everybody behind the lock down, but it was too late by time she realised and she was on her way back to work. Otherwise she would of popped in to say "Hi".

Blog has to be really short today, since this is a catch up one (stupid internet going on the blink *grumble* *grumble*)

AUCKLAND FORECAST TODAY

N/A because the internet CRAPPED ITSELF!!! BUT it was sunny ALL DAY! WOOT!

CURRENT WEIRDNESS
It hit midnight and the internet died!

DAILY FOF MOMENT
The internet dying at about midnight, more than likely some server thing...FAIL!

Monday, September 7, 2009

Day OneHundredAndSixteen of being Aflickionless...

Have to say that things were a bit of a non-event today.

Maz watched 300 and Perfume: The Story of a Murderer. Other than that just going over idea for Wellington in her head and trying to find some music th
at will inspire her for the theme and possibly be something that she will use.
Maz is meant to be working tomorrow, but still hasn't heard anyth
ing about a call time. How annoying.

One thing that didn't happen today...well one thing that we found out is that your not back till Saturday now, which means that the whole 119 days thin
g, no longer applies...I think we might make it 119 days + 1...hahaha! No matter which way, CAN'T WAIT for your return!!!

Before we get into the news for the day, guess who was in the news on Sunday???
"...
University of Auckland business student Sarah-Jayne Chamberlain, 23, had her fourth endometriosis operation at the Greenlane hospital in January. Several weeks afterwards she says a MercyAscot nurse called her saying "there had been cases of bugs within the hospital and that I needed to go and get my bloods done". She was found to have an infection and prescribed antibiotics, but an examination showed her wounds were clean. "I think it would be good if they were open about it," she said. "It's not fair that people think the public system is crap ... when in fact the private hospitals are having the same issues."..." Read the full article here. Now on to the news...

More than a thousand Auckland bus workers who face being locked out in a row over 10 cents an hour say they will report for work as usual on Wednesday morning. Infratil-owned NZ Bus has told the workers, including 875 drivers, that they will be barred from 4am on Wednesday - a move likely to plunge Auckland's public transport system into chaos. The lock-out will affect staff at the Metrolink, Go West, Waka Pacific, North Star, Link and city circuit bus services.

A Whangarei man is appearing in court today facing charges of sexual grooming and one charge of unlawful sexual connection with a minor after throwing a paper dart at school girls. The charges come after Whangarei police were alerted to a man who had thrown a paper plane out his car window at high school girls two weeks ago. The paper plane had a cellphone number on it. The girls sent a text message to the number asking the dart thrower to leave them alone. A 45-year-old man was arrested on Friday night, and appeared in Whangarei District Court on Saturday. He was remanded in custody to reappear again today. Police have asked anyone with information about other similar incidents is call them.

McDonald's might have made it to Gore but high school students will have to wait until outside of school hours for a feed - unless they a have a pass. The Southland Times reported that the town's two secondary schools - Gore High School and St Peters College - had asked that pupils in uniform not be served during school hours. Franchisee Simon Rhind said he and partner Cherie Edwards had previously have a McDonald's in Matamata and ran a similar policy, at the request of schools. Pupils soon got the message and he believed that would happen in Gore.

A harbour bridge designed to ease congestion was packed end to end at its opening yesterday as more than 15,000 locals marked its completion with a bridge walk. Tauranga and Mt Maunganui residents took advantage of spring sunshine to cross the second harbour bridge, which was opened for foot traffic for the day by the Transport Agency. A temporary on-ramp was to be installed overnight, allowing drivers to begin using the bridge this morning.

Unruly late-night scenes at downtown Auckland taxi stands have sparked plans for a permit scheme to restore some semblance of order before the 2011 Rugby World Cup. Auckland City's transport committee has endorsed in principle - subject to consulting the taxi industry - a regime designed to exert peer pressure on rogue drivers. "We have an important time ahead of us in terms of demonstrating what kind of city we are," parking services acting group manager Rick Bidgood told the committee. The scheme, backed by a parking advisory board including transport industry representatives, will target inner-city trouble spots before possibly being rolled out to areas such as Ponsonby Rd and Eden Park. Violations by individual drivers such as double-parking at council-owned stands will bring down demerit points on their companies or cooperatives, which will have permits suspended if they accrue too many black marks. That means all of their drivers will be banned from using the stands until their permits are restored, a system which has been pioneered at Auckland Airport.

Brave children have been dared. New Zealand's largest - and arguably scariest-looking - insect is taking up residence in the Auckland Airport precinct. The giant wetapunga normally lives and breeds only on Little Barrier Island. However, 16 of the endangered creatures have been moved to Butterfly Creek in Mangere as part of a captive breeding programme. The spiny insects will be on display to visitors with tarantulas, giant centipedes, mantids, native and introduced cockroaches and other creepy-crawlies.

MAZ'S KITTY...

You thought it was the jackpot edition when you read "Kitty" huh? Hahaha...no! Just some photos that Maz took of Florida this afternoon.

AUCKLAND FORECAST TODAY
Max: 16°C
Min: 4°C (overnight)
Humidity: 99%
Fine. Light winds. (Translation: It was another nice day...OMG! Thursday & Friday looks like rain though)

CURRENT WEIRDNESS
Maz is meant to have work tomorrow and doesn't have a call time yet...hmmmm

DAILY FOF MOMENT
Your not back till Saturday now...FAIL!

Sunday, September 6, 2009

Day OneHundredAndFifteen of being Aflickionless...

So the blog has been a bit slack this week with the inpending doom that was Style Pasifika. But now that is over and done with things will be pretty much back to normal, besides the moving part. YES, Maz is moving house this week.
Maz is also deciding if to road trip to Wellington for this years Body Art Rocks competition, interested?
It's on Sunday 25th October at Basin Reserve. Let us know! Need to come up with an idea for the theme "Magic & Mystery", can also provide your own music for this one, so thats a bonus.


Today was a pretty non-event day. Last night Maz & Russell went to Ginger Minx after having dinner at a Chinese place on Dominion Road. Suppose rolling in the door at 3.30am had something to do with the whole non-event Sunday thing.

On Friday Ginger Minx has a partay happening. If your not too jetlagged you should come along, let us know if you want to come, we are more than happen to pick you up on our w
ay if you want.


SJ & Maz have been organising Willkommen Zurück (Welcome Back). So let us know if you would like to be picked up for this one as well. Just because your back in the country doesn't mean the hangovers have to stop...haha.

FACEBOOK FUNNY

posted by one of Russell's friends

AUCKLAND FORECAST TODAY
Max: 16°C
Min: 4°C (overnight)
Humidity: 79%
Fine. Light winds. (Translation: NO RAIN...YAY!)


Looks like winter is on it's way out!!! Although at the moment they say it is meant to rain on Thursday so don't get your hopes up for returning to good weather.

CURRENT WEIRDNESS
Matt & Tina have moved most of their stuff, so it is just Maz & Russell at the house now

DAILY FOF MOMENT
Your back in 4 days and we don't know what time you get back...FAIL!

Saturday, September 5, 2009

Day OneHundredAndFourteen of being Aflickionless...

Well where to start. After all the disco balls, hot glue and feathers Style Pasifika finally arrived yesterday.

This year Maz had both Russell & SJ helpping her out, and of course as you know JayJay was the model. Maz was overly calm throughout the whole day, so she isn't sure if it was a good day or not. She spent a total of 11hours painting, it took about 7 layers of blue to create the final blue tone of the piece and 3 different glitters.

Maz never placed, which was disappointing, although she recieved a lot of comments about the tail and the head piece she made. Maz believes that the piece that got second should of won, rather than the one that did. But that's how competitions go.

Corey stopped in after work and took photos of the piece, Maz is glad she could get some photos taken of the piece, although she hasn't seen them yet.

At the after party JayJay & Maz were photographed by Express and also met a person from Pasific Blue (they were a sponsor) and could possibly have some work for them at some point doing body art.

STYLE PASIFIKA 2009 PHOTOS




First & Second place


JayJay's buns

AUCKLAND FORECAST TODAY
N/A

CURRENT WEIRDNESS
How calm Maz was yesterday during Style Pasifika...it was scary.

DAILY FOF MOMENT
Second place in the body art section of Style Pasifika should of recieved first place...FAIL!

Friday, September 4, 2009

Day OneHundredAndThirteen of being Aflickionless...

Style Pasifika 2009 was today. Which means that Maz was tied up all day with that. Blog update tomorrow...And since it is Friday it all means...

ONE WEEK TILL YOU GET BACK...YAY!

"6 more days till Haydn gets back, 6 more days till he returns, wake up one day and fuck around, 5 days till Haydn gets back"

Thursday, September 3, 2009

Day OneHundredAndTwelve of being Aflickionless...

Style Pasifika is tomorrow...so Maz hasn't had the time to write a blog

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Day OneHundredAndEleven of being Aflickionless...

Maz has been super slack and super busy getting ready for Style Pasifika. A full blog will be written a.s.a.p

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Day OneHundredAndTen of being Aflickionless...

First she destroyed disco balls, now she has destroyed a peacock pelt. Yes Maz has been working hard on her Style Pasifika stuff. Only a few more days to go now, two more rehearsals before Friday and then it's time to sparkle and dazzle. SPARKLE & DAZZLE!!!

Jim Bolger is the biggest spender on domestic travel perks available to former prime ministers and governors-general, racking up $36,000 in expenses in 2008. An Official Information Act request from NZPA has revealed that five former prime ministers and four former governors-general had taxpayer funded domestic travel. Former National prime minister Jim Bolger spent $27,191 on chauffeur-driven cars, $5562 on self-driven cars and $3400 on domestic airfares. Mr Bolger has a number of high profile roles including chairing New Zealand Post. Sir Paul Reeves was the most expensive former governor-general with $28,100 in expenses - $22,794 in chauffeur-driven cars and $5306 on domestic flights The second most expensive governor-general was Dame Cath Tizard with $14,083 on chauffeur-driven cars and $2707 on airfares. Sir Michael Hardie Boys spent just $1404 on air travel and $4646 on chauffeur-driven cars. The second highest former prime minister was Sir Geoffrey Palmer with $26,055 made up of $14,187 on chauffeur-driven cars, $10,078 on domestic airfares and $1791 on self-drive cars.Police have been called in after a group of youths armed with a baseball bat allegedly barged into an Auckland high school and beat a student while he was in class, TVNZ news is reporting. The assault happened yesterday at Lynfield College. The report claims a 14-year-old boy was attacked in front of his classmates and their teacher, possibly over a dispute about comments on social networking website Bebo. The report went on to say the victim of the attack, who was not seriously injured, did not turn up for school today.

A quake measuring six on the Richter scale has struck off the Bay of Plenty coast. The quake struck just after mid-day, 60km north of White Island. It had a focal depth of 250km and, according to the GNS website, was felt around the lower half of the North Island and upper South Island. Computer users as far south as Nelson and as far north as Napier reported feeling the quake.

Auckland City Council is planning a $23 million upgrade of Fort St which will turn the street into a shared space where vehicles and pedestrians will share the road. Details revealed yesterday show Fort St 's history as part of Auckland's former foreshore will be incorporated with markers to show where the sea was before reclamation began in 1859. Artworks and trees will be added to the area, as well as lighting features to make it safer for pedestrians at night. Stone paving will be laid over the street, kerbs and private vehicle parking removed and vehicle loading times will be limited. The council said shared spaces combined the functions of a street so there would be more space for pedestrians, creating an attractive space for people to spend time without the need to ban vehicles.

Auckland's new laboratory company is blaming an administrative error after a GP was kept waiting 16 days for the results of tests he ordered for a cancer patient.

Police officers will get a 2 per cent pay rise this year. Police Association president Greg O'Connor said he was happy with the result of the arbitration, which was announced yesterday. The 2 per cent pay rise for the association's 8500 members, or about 98 per cent of sworn officers, would meet or exceed most members' expectations, Mr O'Connor said. The starting salary for a constable will rise to $51,000.

It's not global warming, it's just good weather - last month was the warmest August New Zealand has seen since temperatures were first recorded 155 years ago. New Zealanders could thank strong westerly winds coming off Australia for an average temperature almost 2degC warmer than usual, said Auckland climate scientist Jim Salinger. The average temperature for New Zealand last month was 10.4degC, which gave the normally wintery month the kind of temperatures usually seen in spring. Regions that registered the highest temperatures above average were areas such as Central Otago and inland Canterbury, where the Australian air kept both days and nights relatively warm. Auckland and Tauranga shared the title of the warmest main centre for August, while Wellington was both the sunniest and wettest, Dunedin the driest, and Christchurch the coolest. Niwa's outlook for spring said New Zealanders c ould continue to expect warmer weather than usual throughout September, although there was likely to be a change mid-spring. (FUCK ME it was still cold though)

QUESTION OF THE DAY??
New Zealand's biggest secondary school has banned school balls after parents helped students to organise a boozy after-ball function. Rangitoto College principal David Hodge said the school had been deceived when about 150 Year 12 students were taken by bus from the North Shore to a disused Onehunga warehouse for the August 13 bash. The college, in Mairangi Bay, had heard about plans for the party, but parents and students, when confronted, had assured staff it would be cancelled. "We were deceived, we were lied to," Mr Hodge said. Should high school after-ball parties be banned?

SIDESWIPPING IT...
A reader writes: "I was taken aside for a random security check at Auckland Airport - to my shock, my handbag (which goes everywhere with me) tested positive for explosives or fertiliser residue. My bag was tested again but the machine refused to give any result at all ... Still, a sniffer dog was brought out to investigate my bag (he was more interested in the carpet), and the contents were searched, all to no avail. My main concern, though, is that before I was let go to board my flight, I was asked to write down my name, occupation, home address and phone number ... then I was free to leave. If I had been a terrorist working with explosives, I'm glad they knew how to reach me when I got home again!"


An underwhelming number of worms included in this Bay of Plenty Times classified ad.

AUCKLAND FORECAST TODAY
Max: 17°C
Min: 8°C (overnight)
Humidity: 93%
Cloudy spells, chance shower in the west.Northwesterly. (Translation: Cloudy and a little chilly)

CURRENT WEIRDNESS
Today is Random Acts of Kindness Day...BE NICE!!!

DAILY FOF MOMENT
Maz was woken up at 3am by a Facebook status update (wonder who that could of been). Lucky she could get back to sleep, but still...FAIL!