Local News

 

A tragic accident killed a five-year-old boy while playing yesterday afternoon.
 
The boy died while playing among felled trees on the grounds of Motukea High school and a log rolled onto him.
 
Sergeant Rob Crawford of Motueka police says the accident happened around 5.45 pm.
 
They’re now investigating the incident on behalf of the coroner.

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Unemployment in the top of the south rose slightly at the end of 2011.
 
Figures released yesterday show that in Nelson and Tasman, along with the west coast and Marlborough, it went from 4.6 percent in December 2010 to 4.9 percent last year.
 
But it also shows that the number of people employed rose by one of the highest rates in the country – going from 87,700 people in work in 2010 to 98, 500 in 2011.
 
Nationally, unemployment has fallen from 6.6 percent to 6.3 percent in the last quarter of 2011.

But economists are sceptical of the figures, and say many new jobs are only part-time and that the world cup could have been a factor on figures.

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Nine year old cancer sufferer Phoenix Stafford took to the skies yesterday…jumping out of a plane with an American celebrity chef.
 
The Nelson schoolboy is on alternative treatments for a rare form of cancer after conventional medicine ran out of options.
 
His family are running a fundraising campaign to help find the money for his medicines.
 
But yesterday afternoon he was flying high with chef Aaron Carotta, himself a cancer survivor.
 
Aaron is in the region filming for his TV show Catch and Cook, and says he was delighted to be able to share the experience with Phoenix.

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And a widow’s wish to create a healing space in Nelson has inspired a local man to take part in the country’s most gruelling race.
 
Sallie Thornalley’s husband Carl died of cancer last June aged just 41. She says one thing missing in his care was a space to relax, meditate and help heal the mind.
 
Now, one of Carl’s close friends, Karl Parker is doing this weekend’s Coast to Coast to raise funds for her vision.
 
He’s kayaking 67 kilometres, running 36 kays and cycling 140 kays from the west coast to Christchurch.
 
Karl says Sallie’s idea is already supported by local tradesmen.