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The following can be regarded as a follow up to my previous post here about the Privy Council's decision to quash...


The following can be regarded as a follow up to my previous post here about the Privy Council's decision to quash David Blain's conviction for murdering his family in 1994 at Dunedin, New Zealand.



Why the Privy Council decided the way it did
By KEVIN NORQUAY - NZPA | Friday, 11 May 2007



A combination of nine key factors persuaded the Privy Council convicted murderer David Bain was the victim of a "substantial miscarriage of justice".
MORE INDEPENDENCE IN NZ JUSTICE SYSTEM NEEDED - LAWYER
STRONG DUNEDIN SUPPORT FOR BAIN DECISION


While none alone would have compelled their decision that Bain's convictions should be quashed, the nine taken together were compelling, the five Law Lords said.

That was a slap for the New Zealand Court of Appeal, with the Privy Council decision clear in its opinion that the court erred in its judgments.

A miscarriage of justice occurs if credible new evidence is admitted that might have persuaded a jury to reach a different conclusion.

While the Crown challenged the detail and significance of the nine points, the issue of guilt "is one for a properly informed and directed jury, not for an appellate court," the Law Lords said.

"Even a guilty defendant is entitled to such a trial," they said.

The issue was whether there was new evidence upon which a jury might reasonably decline to convict, they said.

No blame could be attached to the jury or judge in the initial Bain trial, in 1995, the Law Lords said.

"It is, however, the duty of the criminal appellate courts to seek to identify and rectify convictions which may be unjust," the Privy Council said.

"In the opinion of the board, the fresh evidence adduced in relation to the nine points ... compels the conclusion that a substantial miscarriage of justice has actually occurred in this case."

The nine points were: 1. Robin Bain's mental state: At the jury trial Robin Bain was characterised as a "balanced, devout" school principal, with David Bain painted as more likely to carry out a frenzy of killing.

PRIVY COUNCIL: New evidence indicated Robin Bain's mental state was such that he may have lost touch with reality.

2. Motive: At the trial no plausible motive for either Robin or David Bain was established. Evidence from Dean Cottle that Robin Bain had been having sex with his daughter Laniet, who was working as a prostitute, was rejected as unreliable. Subsequently three new witnesses independently gave similar evidence.

PRIVY COUNCIL: Had the jury found Robin Bain to be deeply depressed, and facing public revelation of having sex with his teenage daughter, the jury might have concluded he had a motive for the killings.

3. Sock prints: At the trial a 280mm-long bloodied sock print found outside the murdered mother's bedroom was regarded as that of David Bain, as it was too big to be that of his father.

PRIVY COUNCIL: Fresh evidence throws "real doubt" over who made the print. Had the jury known that it could "reasonably infer ... it was about the length of print Robin would have made".

4. Computer switch on time: Trial evidence was that the family's computer was switched on at 6.44am, after David Bain returned home from his early morning paper run.

PRIVY COUNCIL: The jury should not have been given a precise computer switch-on time, as new evidence showed it could have been earlier, or later. While the Court of Appeal said that did not show David Bain could not have committed the murders, there was no onus on David Bain to prove that anyway. A jury might have considered "David's argument ... to be strengthened, had they known the full facts".

5. Time David Bain came home: The jury were told to treat an eyewitness account by Denise Laney of seeing a man resembling David Bain near the family home at 6.45am, as "at best approximate".

PRIVY COUNCIL: Fresh evidence might have led a jury to infer her identification was not in doubt and her estimate of time reliable. Instead the jury never heard her full evidence, nor was Mrs Laney cross-examined.

6. Glasses: An optometrist at the trial said glasses found in David Bain's room, minus a lens found in his murdered brother Stephen's bedroom, belonged to David Bain. David Bain said in court they were his mother's. After the jury trial the optometrist saw a photo of Mrs Bain wearing the glasses, and accepted he was mistaken.

PRIVY COUNCIL: David Bain was cross-examined on the glasses in a way that questioned his credibility. As the jury could not know the optometrist would revise his evidence they may have reasonably drawn "an inference unfairly adverse to David".

7. Left-hand lens: one lens from the glasses was found in Stephen's room, covered in dust and under other articles on the floor. Evidence presented to the jury placed the lens in the clear, in a visible and exposed position, consistent with the Crown case that it was dislodged in a struggle.

PRIVY COUNCIL: While the third Court of Appeal accepted the jury had been misled about the location of the lens, it said it did not matter as the misleading was not deliberate. This was not the case, the Law Lords said. "What mattered was what the trial jury made of the incorrect evidence ... and, even more importantly, what they would have made of the correct evidence".

8. Bloodied fingerprints on rifle: The jury trial assumed that David Bain's fingerprints on the rifle forearm were in human blood.

PRIVY COUNCIL: While there was human blood on the rifle, fingerprint material gave no positive test for human DNA, and the blood might have been from a possum or rabbit shooting, months earlier. The jury did not get to consider this, or other "highly contentious" related issues. Nor could the Court of Appeal resolve such matters, without hearing cross-examination of witnesses who gave contradictory evidence.

9. Laniet Bain gurgling: The trial jury was encouraged to regard David Bain hearing his sister gurgling as an indication of his guilt, as only the murderer could have heard her death throes. Court of Appeal hearings examined the phenomenon of post mortem gurglings, being told they can take place without the body being moved.

PRIVY COUNCIL: The Court of Appeal dismissed evidence supporting David Bain "without hearing any of these witnesses, and without giving any reason for discounting the evidence of the witnesses relied on by David, the court found it possible to regard the issue as concluded in the Crown's favour...

"The court assumed a decision-making role well outside its function as a reviewing body concerned to assess the impact which fresh evidence might reasonably have made on the mind of the trial jury.

The Privy Council in London has quashed the conviction of New Zealander, David Bain. for the murder of his family...

The Privy Council in London has quashed the conviction of New Zealander, David Bain, for the murder of his family in 1994. The lawlords claim a substantial miscarriage of justice has actually occurred.

David Bain has served 13 years for the murder of his parents, sisters and brother in Dunedin, New Zealand in 1994, at his trial in 1995. New Zealand's Court of Appeal was rebuked for not accepting new evidence in 2003. They claimed there was not enough to outweigh the "overwhelming" evidence of guilt.David Bain has always maintained his innocence, blaming his late father of murder and suicide.

The Crown in New Zealand would face significant problems holding a retrial because some witnesses were now dead.They would also have to put all of the evidence before a new jury - not just the evidence they wanted in the first trial.

Bain's lawyer said that David Bain should not be put through another trial because of the cost to the country; he should be released and pardoned.

The New Zealand Government has already abolished the right for future applications to the Privy Council - they have already created a new Supreme Court of New Zealand. But the question is now asked if they actually acted hastily, and has NZ enough experienced judges to act on their behalf. Questions are now asked about the quality of justice in New Zealand, considering the impact of previous trials and the actions of the NZ Police Force in recent times.

Or is this all part of a political attack against the ruling left of centre government?

Read story here

Clean green image under fire. The Global Warming Debate:





May 4, 2007

After years of stark warnings about the pace of global warming, the world's top scientists have now agreed that saving the planet is possible.

But the meeting of climate change experts in Bangkok coincides with new figures released by the government that show gas emissions in New Zealand are still heavily on the rise.

Latest figures show that in 2005 NZ's total greenhouse gas emissions exceeded 77 million tonnes - two million more than previous years.

"It just makes a farce of the government's commitment to this notion of carbon neutrality...they're going up and they're going up faster than they ever have in New Zealand's history and they're going up faster than any of the countries in which we would want to be compared," says National MP Nick Smith.

But the government says '05 was a particularly dry year and more coal and gas was used to generate power because of empty hydro lakes.

"Since 1990 the main increases have been divided between energy and agriculture and that's why the government says every sector should do their bit to reduce emissions," says Climate Change Minister David Parker.

New Zealand contributes 0.2 of the world's greenhouse gas emissions.

Scientists gathering at the summit in Thailand say if something is not done now, the planet is in strife. But they say it can be done through more renewable energy, more energy efficiency and greener transport - all of which are available and affordable now.

The leading experts from around the world have put together a master plan that they say will limit global warming to 2 degrees this century - a key threshold.


Source: One News
Headlines

More parents may be charged according to Helen Clark.


May 3, 2007

More parents may be charged with assault for hitting their children when the new anti-smacking law is passed.


Police admit there may be more prosecutions but say a last minute amendment to the bill means parents who only lightly smack their child will not be pursued.


A Canterbury woman was in court this week facing charges of assaulting a teenager, and two years ago she was prosecuted two years ago for hitting a child with a horsewhip.


"Parents should be allowed to physically discipline their children where and when is appropriate," the woman says.


She was acquitted after arguing she had simply used reasonable force.


But the bill removing that defence will be passed in two weeks. Police will have the power to prosecute, but under a new amendment can decide against doing that if the offence is inconsequential.


"I think now they'll be able to prosecute those cases with good confidence they'll get a result," says Prime Minister Helen Clark.


Deputy Police Commissioner Rob Pope says the bar has been lowered. "And I think there is public acceptance around the fact that family, domestic violence will not be tolerated."


Police admit that may see more parents in court for hitting their children. But as a guide, they will only be pursuing those who hit a child hard enough to bruise or use wooden spoons or jug cords, not those who give a light smack.


Pope says there won't be a witchhunt. "And secondly people can have some confidence they won't be prosecuted for trivial or inconsequential uses of force."


The inclusion of that description in the bill was part of an unprecedented deal between two political enemies, both initially giving each other credit, although hours later their MPs were fighting over who had caved in.


National admits they didn't get exactly what they wanted. "I'd be the first to admit I don't think the law is perfect . It was a compromise," says Key.


But it's a compromise that will take the troublesome issue off the political agenda at least for now. And even the final vote in two weeks time should go smoothly with almost every MP now promising to support it.


Source: One News
Headlines

Today is Anzac Day in Australia and New Zealand. This is the day we honour and remember our fallen heroes from all wars, and especially recall how the legend of Anzac began on April 25 1915 when members of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps were dropped off on the beachs of Gallipoli on the Turkish coast as part of the British campaign to invade Turkey. The place is known as Anzac Cove today.

From the ships thousands of Australian and New Zealanders disembarked into the shallow waters under heavy gunfire, machine gun and rifle fire. Many were killed instantly,others made it to the beaches and were killed, others fought in the campaign during many months before being repatriated. Thousands were killed and wounded on both sides, Anzacs and Turks. Thousands were left behind to be buried in military cemetries. The campaign was a disaster; the Anzacs were landed on the wrong beach. The British High Command had failed dismally. The campaign involved British and other Empire troop, including Indians.

The Gallipoli campaign was to create not only the legend, but begin the journey of nationhood for Australians and New Zealanders, from British dominions to the self governing nations within the Commonwealth of today.

Today from Darwin to Perth to Brisbane to Melbourne and Sydney and the bush; from Auckland to Napier to New Plymouth to Wellington to Christchurch to Greymouth and to Invercargill,and scores of other towns and even at Gallipoli itself, will hold dawn parades to remember the fallen, and to retire later to RSL's and RSA's for a meal, a quiet drink and a chat with former comrades, friends and families and continue the spirit of Anzac which actually grows stronger with every passing year.

Lest we forget; we will remember them. The spirit and legend wll never die!

From the latest New Zealand Business Council for Sustainable Development newsletter:

Overwhelming acceptance climate change is happening and action needed
The case for cap and trade
Special Sustainability Learning Group workshops
Welcome to a special edition of Sustain.
We thought you would appreciate an immediate update on the latest ShapeNZ polling on what New Zealanders think about climate change and policy options.
The Business Council has also published its submissions to Government on climate change policy options.
Overwhelming acceptance climate change is happening and action needed
While the International Panel on Climate Change's report at the weekend reignited the debate over whether or not it is happening, the latest ShapeNZ poll, taken April 4-7 shows new Zealanders have moved on. Seventy seven percent think climate change is a problem to be dealt with now or urgently.
Being published in The National Business Review today, the survey shows New Zealanders strongly support making emitters buy carbon credits, and rewarding those who cut their emissions with carbon credits.
They overwhelmingly back managing climate change with policies to insulate homes, fund research into alternative energy sources and cutting animal emissions. However, support starts to weaken for policies to impose new taxes, like putting up registration fees for cars with the largest engines. Read the media release on the poll and the more complete report.
The case for cap and trade
In its submissions to the Government on climate change policies, the Business Council says the most important message relating to climate change is that there'll be a price on carbon, and multi party support is needed on it. The Government is advised to introduce a scheme to cap and trade emissions - and make sure it does not keep any revenue it might raise from climate change policies but rather use it to support climate friendly changes or reduce taxation.
The Business Council for Sustainable also says:
Stable long term policy is needed to manage climate change and this should be achieved through cross-party agreement
A price needs to be placed on carbon and it should eventually apply to all sectors
Moves are needed to stop the emission problem expanding, and major emitters should face the full cost of the additional carbon they emit above 2006 levels
Emitters like the dairy industry, which does not yet have an emissions solution for methane, could be provided with credits for their 2007 level of emissions (produced at world's best practice levels) for say 10 years. This would expose the dairy sector, for example, to a price on carbon on additional output, but give it time to develop a solution for its methane problem (the largest emissions source in New Zealand)
Confer both carbon liabilities and credits on forest owners. This will be the most effective way decisions are made on future land use at the margin
Do not use any increased revenue from climate change to increase the overall tax burden. The introduction of GST in the 1980s came with major tax cuts, and climate change can be managed so any revenue is recycled into emission reduction research and incentives to take up low-emission technology.
The full submissions are available on our website.
Special Sustainability Learning Group workshops
A reminder that the first of 14 special workshops on implementing sustainable practices and benefiting your business is about to start next week. This special series is FREE to Business Council member companies as we have provided financial support for the programme as in past years.
The workshops are the best introductory course for organisations wanting to become more sustainable. They are practically focused and help share best practice across New Zealand organisations.
The half-day workshops will cover most aspects of sustainability including reporting, supply chain, stakeholder engagement, new market opportunities, risk assessment, ethics and assurance. Anyone may attend. A discount is available for individuals attending more than seven workshops and for organisations participating in the full learning group programme. For more information contact Whit ian.whitehouse@xtra.co.nz, phone 027 433 6092; Lyn Mayes lynmayes@madworld.co.nz 021 471 261 or visit our website .
Please feel free to forward Sustain to your friends or colleagues.If you do not wish to receive Sustain, simply email us back and ask to be removed from the list. If you have received this from someone else, click here to subscribe.











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Lets chill out a little today, friends. A little humor can be the elixir of life. Lets laugh at ourselves!

Keeping to my desired intention to add a little humor once more and deciding to kick political correctness all the way to the toilet of the American White House, not the old white house around the corner down by the park with all those overgrown trees and bushes - lets have another joke dear friends!

There were three Indian squaws, probably related to the chief in last weeks story. One slept on a deerskin, one slept on an elk skin and the third slept on a hippopotamus skin. All became pregnant and the first two had a baby boy. The one who slept on the hippopotamus skin had twin boys.

This goes to prove that sons of the squaw on the hippopotamus are equal to the sons of the squaws on the other two hides.

As the chief said in my story of last week,the thong has long ended but the malady is still lingering on.

But later the chief rushed into the tent of the medicine man and shouted, "I'm shrinking!" The medicine man replied calmly, Now settle down. You'll just have to be a little patient."

In the morning the chief, the medicine man, the squaws and their sons all rode off to the Little Big Horn!

From East Polynesia to the New Zealand mainland - a historical view:

The following story is from the internet; I acknowledge the work of the writer(s) and hope all New Zealanders will be able to enjoy its historical value.

An oyster-shell fishing lure shank

Haast’s eagle attacking a moa

A gourd used by Māori
A homeland region
At the time of New Zealand settlement there was a voyaging and trading sphere in East Polynesia where ideas and cultural traits were shared and spread. All the available evidence of artefacts, language, biology and tradition suggests that this was the Māori homeland. It consists of the Society Islands, the southern Cook Islands and the Austral Islands in French Polynesia.
Even so, specific archaeological evidence is scarce. The shank of a fishing lure of black-lipped pearl shell, found at Tairua in the Coromandel, is one of a very few items from New Zealand archaeological sites that were actually brought from Polynesia.
It is unlikely that the ancestors of Māori came from only one particular location. DNA from New Zealand’s Pacific rat shows diverse lineages from the Society and Cook Islands. This suggests that several canoes came from a number of sources. They may have come over several generations, or even centuries. A study of human DNA also suggests that there was a minimum of 70–100 women as founding ancestors. Several canoes, possibly coming from several locations, would be needed to bring this number of people.
Return journeys
For a time, the Kermadec Islands and Norfolk Island were occupied as stopover points for canoes returning to East Polynesia. There is also evidence of direct New Zealand–Norfolk connections. But when voyaging slowed, these stepping-stone islands were abandoned. They became part of the group of ‘mystery islands’ that showed evidence of habitation, but were empty when Europeans arrived. Once they stopped returning to Polynesia, the settlers in New Zealand were cut off from the outside world.
A temperate land
Polynesian ancestors of the Māori arrived to a vast, cool archipelago covered in forest, with abundant wildlife. There were moa species (weighing from 20 to 250 kg) and other now extinct native birds including a swan, a goose, and Haast’s eagle (the world’s largest), probably a predator of the moa. Sea mammals, particularly seals, were plentiful on the coast, as were fish and shellfish.
Polynesians introduced the dog and the rat; if pigs and fowl had been on the canoes they did not survive. The settlers also brought with them taro, yam, paper mulberry and the Pacific cabbage tree (Cordyline fruticosa). The kūmara (sweet potato) and gourd were imports from South America via East Polynesia. It was too cold for plants such as coconut, breadfruit and banana.
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Related stories from Te Ara
Canoe navigation
First peoples in Māori tradition
When was New Zealand first settled?
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ARCHAEOLOGY
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The Story
In this story
The world’s first seafarers
Ancient voyaging in Near Oceania
Into Remote Oceania: Lapita people
From West to East Polynesia
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Māori ancestors
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More stories about...Māori New Zealanders
1)window.location.href=this.url[this.url.selectedIndex].value;return false;" action=/ENZ/Pages/Redirect.aspx method=get> More... ------------------------- Canoe navigation Canoe traditions First peoples in Māori tradition Hauraki tribes Hawaiki Ideas of Māori origins Māori creation traditions Māori overseas Marutūahu tribes Moriori Muaūpoko Muriwhenua tribes Ngā Puhi Ngā Rauru Kītahi Ngāi Tahu Ngāi Tūhoe Ngāti Apa Ngāti Awa Ngāti Kahungunu Ngāti Maniapoto Ngāti Porou Ngāti Raukawa Ngāti Rongomaiwahine Ngāti Ruanui Ngāti Toarangatira Ngāti Tūwharetoa Ngāti Whātua Rangitāne Tāmaki tribes Taranaki Tauranga Moana tribes Te Arawa Te Āti Awa of Taranaki Te Āti Awa of Wellington Te Whakatōhea Te Whānau-ā-Apanui Tribal organisation Tūranganui-a-Kiwa tribes Urban Māori Waikato Whakatū tribes Whanganui tribes Whāngārei tribes When was New Zealand first settled?


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How to cite this page: Geoff Irwin. 'Pacific migrations', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, updated 21-Dec-2006URL: http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/NewZealanders/MaoriNewZealanders/PacificMigrations/en
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The following story is from the national news and suggests a chilling echo of the prison van murder of 17 year old Liam Ashley some months ago. There has to be a shake up of the Corrections Department after this latest controversial act as reported below. The National Party when in government, formed the Corrections Department from the Justice Department some years ago. Whether that was a short sighted decision is hard to say, but it is obviously not working satisfactorily at present and needs an enquiry. There have been a variety of criticisms about the department, and the running of prisons in its care - we would believe that drugs are rampart in New Zealand prisons. So Prime Minister Helen Clark and her Cabinet will have to hold an enquiry very soon, and John Key and his cohorts will have to be very retrospect in their criticisms of the running of the Corrections Department. Time will tell, no doubt! Please read on:


Police are investigating the alleged rape of a minimum security prison inmate by a notorious double-rapist gang member after the two men were put in the same cell.
The case chillingly echoes the prison van murder of teen Liam Ashley.
The victim of the Waikeria Prison alleged rape is a slightly built European man in jail on dishonesty offences, including credit card fraud.
His attacker is said to be Black Power gangster William Wii Katipa, 41, who has been convicted of two rapes, aggravated robbery, threatening to kill and assault. He has spent much of his adult life in prison and committed a number of the offences while on parole or bail.
A prison source said: "They never should have been put in the same cell. (The alleged victim) was a minimum security prisoner but was put in a cell with a dangerous prisoner who had a high-medium security rating the second-highest security rating in the system.
"(The alleged victim) had asked to be transferred from Waikeria to (lower security) Rangipo Prison but was told by prison staff that he was facing more charges and he had to stay at Waikeria."
He learned later - after the alleged rape - that there were no more charges, said the source.
The minimum security inmate - understood to have been suicidal since the alleged attack - had said he was raped by Katipa in the cell on two separate occasions last October, according to the source.
The fraudster said the gang member - jailed for raping a teenager and now serving an indefinite sentence for raping a woman in front of her young daughter - blocked the peep-hole into the cell before sexually assaulting his cell-mate.
He said while he was being raped, a prison guard doing rounds challenged the Black Power member about the blocked peep-hole but continued his patrol when told the gang member was going to the toilet.
"The bottom line is, somebody didn't do their job and put this guy in harm's way," the source said.
"It's like another Liam Ashley."
The jail rapes allegedly happened less than six weeks after 17-year-old Liam was bashed and strangled to death in the back of a Chubb prison van by hardened 25-year-old criminal George Charlie Baker last August 24.
Liam was placed in a compartment with the violent Baker, despite explicit Corrections regulations designed to keep adults and youths apart.
The source said the alleged rape victim, a 27-year-old from a middle- class background, made an official complaint to prison staff and police. He was examined by a nurse and swabs were taken for DNA evidence.
"When he went back to the prison, the staff put him in another wing. He was suicidal at one stage and didn't like mixing with other prisoners because he was scared."
The alleged victim, also understood to have written to the Parole Board, the Ombudsman and the Inspector of Prisons, has since been transferred to Rangipo.
Cambridge police detective Rob Woolerton confirmed an investigation had begun into the prison rape allegations.
"We did receive a complaint, which is still under investigation," Woolerton said. "We hope to complete it in a couple of months."

Just who was the sucker in this story from Down Under?

A tannery worker in New Zealand was accidently overpaid by his employer, receiving $201.00 per hour instead of the normal $13.00 per hour.

The error was discovered when another worker told management that his workmate was bragging about being overpaid.He was called in by his boss and was asked to repay the money. He agreed to repay the overpayment of $3620.00 at $75.00 a week, but then quit the job and refused to contine making repayments!

His employer made a claim to the Employment Relations Authority, who not only ordered the former worker to repay the money,but also ordered him to make a $500.00 contribution to legal costs.

Just who was the sucker?

We are now a team: Kiwi Riverman, Pete's Kiwi forum, and now Huttriver8.

Each blog will concentrate on different subjects. You will soon find out what's what!

Now I have an additional blog to go with this one - "Pete's Kiwi Forum".

I hope to post weekly on that one, and make it special. My problem is I have too many blogs, but half of them are to promote Adsense income.

Now I have some others you may like:

Http:// huttriver.21publish.com is actually my publishing site. You can go to http:// huttriver.21publish.com/kiwipete and read my posts on this blog. This blog is actually a selection of some of my better posts. Please visit and read them.

Another of my blogs is: http:// huttriver1.wordpress .com " A story from New Zealand". You are invited to visit and read that one too!

Bye for now,

The Kiwi Riverman

I am actually feeling my way in the blogging world and still not yet that experienced. What other way other than a blogroll can I promote all my blogsites at once? I will actually write up a complete list one day.

If you are a male your cellular/ mobile phones could make you infertile, if you use them often!
If you spend four or more hours a day on your phones your sperm count could be reduced by 30% in comparison to a male who doesn't.
Is this a devious scheme to reduce the world's population? Sires may be on the decline!
Males who use their phones for more than four hours a day could produce fewer and poorer sperm, according to results from a study released by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine Conference in New Orleans recently.
London's Daily Mail reported that doctors think that electro- magnetic radiation emissions might damage sperm counts.
The Independent said that the case study suggested that microwaves from mobile phones appear to reduce the number, mobility and quality of sperm by up to 50%, to the point that males may become infertile.
The findings come at a time when many countries are concerned about a drop in male fertility rates. Almost a billion people use mobile phones, and in some cases increasing by 30% a year.
The Guardian said the study was too preliminary to prove an unequivical link between mobile usage and declining sperm counts.
However, scientists wanted to look at other factors such as age, weight, smoking, stress and whether people have sedantary jobs. It has not been proven and more research is needed

What shall I say in my first post?

It is winter where I live in New Zealand; it has been wet, cold and snowing in parts of the South Island. In South Canterbury the power has been off for three days because of the snow!
I am a little envious of the northern hemisphere at present!