Latest news with #Timaru
NZ Herald
21-07-2025
- NZ Herald
On the rise: New Consumers Price data for June shows annual inflation is up
WATCH: Does Timaru have the best tasting tap water? Timaru is representing NZ in the coveted trans-Tasman competition for the best tasting tap water. Herald NOW speaks to Water Industry Operations Group of NZ's Chair Joshua McIndoe.
NZ Herald
14-07-2025
- NZ Herald
Customs wants stronger law to seize childlike sex dolls favoured by paedophiles
That's because New Zealand's legal definition of the dolls is narrower than other countries' definitions, he said. 'Full-unit is our interpretation of 'indecent or obscene', which is what we can seize under the law: a full doll. 'We ask our frontline staff 'If this was alive, would it be a child?' 'If the doll is short but developed like an adult we wouldn't call that a childlike sex doll – just a short sex doll. Other countries do, and their [seizure] numbers are higher.' Peterson said Customs had to work with the legislation as it was written. 'We need to be careful we're not prohibiting the importation of things people would be okay with. 'We don't have legislation here that says what a child sex doll is, so we have to be quite conservative so we're not forever in court disputing people's appeals about what we've taken. Clarifications in law would be useful for that.' Peterson said since 2017 there have been seven border seizures and four post-border seizures of the high-tech, expensive and very controversial 'full-unit' dolls in New Zealand. By comparison, 47 dolls (inclusive of full and part-dolls) were seized nationally by the Australian Border Force during the 2024-25 financial year alone. Chief Customs Officer Simon Peterson said Australia has aggressive seizure laws but New Zealand Customs is limited to confiscating only 'full-unit' childlike sex dolls. Photo / NZME In 2019, a Timaru man in his late 50s became the first New Zealander to be jailed for importing one. What are they? The dolls are manufactured to resemble children in terms of size, development and perceived age. They're anatomically detailed, and made from materials that mimic human structures, flesh and skin. They're used for sexual purposes by paedophiles and their existence is extremely controversial, raising serious legal, ethical, psychological and child-welfare concerns globally. According to Customs all the dolls seized in New Zealand were manufactured in Asia. Some were bought from large, China-based online shopping sites. 'They're not cheap' Peterson told the Herald. 'At least $2000 each, plus it's expensive to ship them here.' In 2023 Customs sent an intelligence analyst to the Border Five Intelligence Conference in Canada, which included intelligence-sharing on the child sex dolls problem globally. Customs continues to talk to intelligence and investigation contacts overseas about the issue. So far in New Zealand, would-be smugglers have worked alone, Peterson said. 'We haven't seen anyone try to commercially import them or anything organised-crime related. There may have been some concern up in Europe that that may have been a trend, and they tend to be ahead of us – so we're keeping an eye on that.' Timaru man jailed for importing sex doll In 2019, Timaru man Stephen Heppleston, 58, became the first person in New Zealand to be jailed for importing a child sex doll. Customs officers found the lifelike doll resembling a young child while they were examining imports from China. Three NSW men were arrested in 2020 for the alleged purchase of these dolls. Photo / Australian Border Force Heppleston pleaded guilty to importing the child sex doll and possessing objectionable publications relating to the sexual exploitation of children. He was sentenced to 18 months in prison. 'Full-unit' dolls and the law While the dolls aren't mentioned in New Zealand law, the Customs and Excise Act 2018 prohibits the importation of 'indecent or obscene articles' – interpreted by Customs as 'full-unit' dolls. Offenders can face up to six months in prison for trying to import one. 'The legislation does work,' said Peterson. 'It could be better [but] we work really well with Police and Department of Internal Affairs and we're motivated to make it work.' By contrast, in Australia importing childlike sex dolls is a specific offence under the Customs Act. The maximum penalty if convicted is up to 10 years' imprisonment and/or fines up to $525,000 ($575,000). The UK has similar rules to New Zealand but interprets them more strictly, including seizing dolls based on height and childlike faces. 'Proportionally per capita we have similar numbers of full-unit seizures but [the UK is] seizing a lot more parts,' said Peterson. 'If you import the lower part of a sex doll, there's no way we can tell that it is childlike. 'A part might be a flesh-like kind of thing. We can't say it represents a child – but other jurisdictions do.' It's unclear whether parts have been reassembled in New Zealand into full-unit dolls. Peterson said it's a potential workaround to evade the law, but Customs hasn't seen it. Peterson would like to see a review of the various laws that oversee child sexual exploitation and abuse so that modern loopholes to do with dolls, as well as rising threats from AI and the streaming of abuse, are captured. 'Other countries have adopted 'crimes against children' legislation. Australians do it well – they're aggressive with it,' he said. A second loophole Eleanor Parkes, national director of Ecpat – a New Zealand-based NGO working to end child sexual exploitation – told the Herald importing part-dolls is not the only loophole New Zealand paedophiles have exploited in order to get a doll. She said one adult anatomical detail will be added to an otherwise-childlike doll so importers can 'make the case they're not childlike'. 'The dolls are small, they are like children in every way, their skin feels like real skin, they respond like children, they sound like children – then they point to one feature, such as breasts or pubic hair, to make the case it's not childlike – when everything else about it is clearly childlike. 'Some say these childlike sex dolls act as a safe outlet for people who have dangerous sexual preferences but that doesn't hold up to scrutiny and actually the opposite might be true. They're an indulgence and [accepting them] risks harm to real children.' Parkes said the dolls are getting increasingly realistic and numbers of them are rising overseas. 'Let's get that serious legislation in place before it happens,' she said. 'We should take the opportunity to get our systems in place because New Zealand tends to follow global trends.' Sign up to The Daily H, a free newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Otago Daily Times
10-07-2025
- General
- Otago Daily Times
Newest cadet unit impresses at competition
It has been a year of firsts for the Timaru navy cadets. Despite only being officially recognised as a sea cadet unit in early June, the unit has already made its mark. The cadets attended the Southern Area Regatta skills competition in March this year and placed first. Lieutenant Simon Liddy said the group had not expected it, and were simply happy to just be able to attend. He said it was a "remarkable achievement". "This meant we went on to the National Regatta Skills Competition in April and we managed second place overall." It was an amazing result for the newly-formed cadet unit, he said. As a sea cadet unit of the New Zealand Cadet Forces their annual focus would be the regional and national regatta competitions, he said. However, during the training year the cadets were taught everything from how to iron and care for their uniform through to how to plot a course on a chart. "There is so much in between: training in marksmanship, drill and parade formats, personal care and responsibility, history and operational capabilities of the Royal New Zealand Navy and naval history in general. "As well as seamanship and how to work as the member of a crew, knots, bends and hitches, the list goes on." The unit planned to attend various weekend activities to help educate the cadets, the ethics and values cadets were taught set them up for life, he said. The idea of forming the navy unit was floated seven years ago. Having 15 Squadron Air Training Corps acting as a sponsor meant those who selected navy could have access to cadet uniforms and apply for courses. "They did something similar when Timaru army cadets was established." The process for a potential unit to be recognised was not a fast one. He said formal paperwork to begin the process was filed towards the end of 2023. It had passed through a number of hands and review processes saw it reach the desk of the minister of defence for final sign-off, which was granted on June 3 this year. "We now have a training ship name, TS Royalist." He said, like any organisation, a cadet unit needed an efficient support committee. "The current support committee has made notable advances in sourcing funding opportunities to help the officers of the unit run parade nights and activities that will grow and benefit the cadets. "Anyone can be on the committee, you don't need to have a child in the unit. " All adults, officers and staff were police vetted.
RNZ News
08-07-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
Timaru lumberyard ordered to pay $450k after worker crushed to death
Ethyn McTier. Photo: Supplied A Timaru lumberyard and its sole director have been ordered to pay $450,000 after a worker was crushed to death. Ethyn McTier's family said the loss of the gentle soul has left a gap in their lives that can never be filled. The 23-year-old was killed in the workplace accident at Point Lumber in Timaru on 1 November 2022. Point Lumber and its sole director Sean David Sloper appeared at the Timaru District Court in May for sentencing on charges of failing to provide a duty of care to prevent exposure to risk of death or injury. At the hearing Judge Dominic Dravitzki considered fines of more than $600,000 and emotional harm reparation to McTier's family of $140,000, although the court heard the company had made losses in recent years and such a penalty would jeopardise its future. As a result, Judge Dravitzki decided not to hand down his final sentence in May to await further details about the company's finances. On Wednesday the judge fined Point Lumber $250,000, Sloper $60,000 and ordered $140,000 be paid to McTier's family. The company was previously fined $32,000 in 2020 after three-year-old Felyx Rhys Hatherley died when a stack of wooden posts fell on him while he was visiting his father at the lumberyard. McTier died after becoming trapped and crushed in a conveyor belt drive roller. The conveyor belt that Ethyn McTier was trapped and killed by. Photo: Supplied WorkSafe's investigation found there was no guarding along the length of the conveyor belt to protect workers, nor in the area where McTier was drawn in. A risk assessment had also not been done. A range of other machine safety defects were also found onsite. Point Lumber had also failed to follow a safety consultant's recommendation to safeguard the conveyor back in 2017, WorkSafe said. McTier's family said the sentence marked the end of long and difficult legal process. "We are thankful for the outcome and that Point Lumber and Sean Sloper have been held accountable for Ethyn's death. But at the end of the day, we've lost someone who was a pillar in our family and the hole that has been left in our lives is immeasurable," the family said. "Ethyn was only 23-years-old, he had his whole life ahead of him and his death was 100 percent preventable. "We just hope this serves as a warning to other employers to take workplace safety more seriously, as their decisions and actions, or lack thereof, could mean the difference between life and death for someone else's son or daughter, brother or sister and no family should ever have to go through the pain and loss we have experienced." Point Lumber. Photo: RNZ / Tim Brown During emotional and grief-stricken victim impact statements read to the court at May's hearing, McTier's family described the enormous effect his death had on their lives. "Ethyn was...a true mummy's boy," his mother told the court. "Losing my eldest son at just 23 years of age has impacted my life beyond words. He was my rock, my confidante, my ally. Not a day went by when I didn't see him or talk on the phone." She cried every day and had ongoing nightmares about her son's death. Her three youngest children's schooling had also suffered. "They've been bullied and had Ethyn's death used as ammunition by fellow kids," she said. "Ethyn was always there for me and his other siblings at an instant. Ethyn's death has opened a chasm that will never be filled. The last two-and-a-half years have been horrific for everyone. The family has really been torn apart." Ethyn's father said the call informing him of his son's death still haunted him. "It was the worst day of my life - a day I relive every day," he said. "My family and myself are all victims of his death, but the real victim here is Ethyn. He lost his life and all because of other people's lack of action. "They say time is a healer of pain, but this is not true. Time only doubles my pain and makes me feel numb." He directed his statement at Sloper and told him he hoped he did not forget about his son and the failure that led to his death. "Everyone should have the right to go home safely from work - why was my son denied this right?" he asked. McTier's sister said she wanted to recognise the most significantly impacted victim - Ethyn. "He was a kind, caring, gentle soul - always there for anyone who needed him," she said. "He was goofy and loved to make people laugh. Family was at the heart of everything he did. "He was the fibre that held our family together. He has lost the most. "He had dreams and ambitions he will never fulfill. He will never grow old. "His life was taken before he barely had a chance to live it." Outside court in May, Sloper did not wish to speak but handed RNZ a statement. Point Lumber director Sean David Sloper leaving court. Photo: RNZ / Tim Brown "Business owners should not rely on there [sic] own health n [sic] safety systems," it said. "They need to be regularly and independently audited and more importantly find competent electricians and engineers that can build robust workable safety systems." WorkSafe acting regional manager Darren Handforth said McTier's death bore similarities to that of Wesley Tomich, who was killed on a conveyor belt at Ballance Agri-Nutrients in Mt Maunganui in July 2023. "Endangering workers in this way is careless in the extreme, because these deaths were clearly preventable. In no way is it acceptable to be able to be killed at work on a conveyor belt," Handforth said. "The manufacturing sector must seize these two deadly incidents as a watershed moment for health and safety. We implore businesses to ensure their machine guarding meets safety standards. If necessary, engage a qualified expert to ensure your machinery is adequately guarded to avoid inflicting further tragedy on other families." In March, WorkSafe conducted 304 assessments in the manufacturing sector and issued improvement notices in 67 percent of cases. It signalled the progress left to be made by the industry, Handforth said. During May's hearing, Judge Dravitzki acknowledged McTier's family's "real and raw" pain and thanked them for sharing their victim impact statements. "It is also helpful for me in terms of giving life to Ethyn and gaining some tiny appreciation of the massive hole his loss has left in all of your lives," the judge said. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Otago Daily Times
03-07-2025
- Automotive
- Otago Daily Times
Positive weekend for Sprague
A fourth generation Timaru racing driver is continuing to push the limits in search of national glory. Corban Sprague, 18, is competing in the Toyota TR86 Trophy Series after securing a seat in the CareVets car via a scholarship. After a successful first round outing in May, he returned to the track late last month for round two in Taupō. Sprague immediately showed off his skills picking up P1, P3 and P2 in the three practice sessions ahead of qualifying. After qualifying fifth, he battled away to pick up fourth place in both main races and now also sits fourth in the overall series standings with two rounds to go. Sprague said it was another positive weekend. "It wasn't the overall result I had hoped for but I think we showed some great signs heading into the next couple of rounds. There were some great lessons learnt, obviously I want to be winning but it's still great learning. "Practice went really well, we rolled out off the trailer and the car was really fast. "In qualifying, we all go out on a new set of tyres and I just didn't maximise that new tyre as well as everyone else which sort of cost me for the races. "We had really good speed in the races, being one of the fastest, but with the cars being identical, if you don't qualify well it makes it really hard to pass. I put myself in that bad place, I've learned from it and I'll make sure I'm not doing it again." He said it was his first time racing on the big track at the Taupō International Motorsport Park. "I've driven around the smaller track, but that was my first time on the big track, I really enjoyed it. "It's quite a big, long track compared to what I'm used to. "It flowed really well and it's got quite a bit of undulation, so I really enjoyed it in the Toyota 86." After previously racing in the Mazda Pro 8 New Zealand series, the Toyota car was still taking a little bit to adjust to, he said. "It's taken a bit more than I would have liked to be honest. It's very different to the Mazda, so I'm having to try and get all my bad habits I learnt in it out and concentrate on the good things in the 86. "I'm starting to, and more mileage helps me get closer to where I like to be in it. "There's still a couple of thing I need to improve on, but it's all looking promising." Sprague will turn his attention to Manfeild next weekend for round three and said it was a track he was very much looking forward to racing on. "I've driven around there once but I've never raced it. I had a good first impression of the track. "It's quite an old school track, like Levels raceway, which I'm used to. It's a real flowy, high-commitment track which I'm really looking forward to. "The goal is always to battle out for wins and podiums, so I've just got to execute in qualifying and the other areas and hopefully we'll be able to do that." The action at Manfeild will take place on July 5-6 before a return to Taupō for the final round on July 26-27.
