Victims receive only 3% of reparations

From NZ herald
Victims of crime are getting less than 3 per cent of reparation payments owed to them and the system needed an overhaul, National law and order spokesman Simon Power says.

Mr Power obtained court figures that showed 97 per cent or $57 million of reparation owed to victims had not been paid in the 2004-05 financial year.

In 2003-04, 97 per cent or $51m was unpaid, in 2002-03 it was 98 per cent or $47m and in 2001-02, it was also 98 per cent or $43 million.

Mr Power said the figures were a scandal and victims of crime were being violated twice by not getting their reparation.

"They suffer the original crime at the hands of criminals, and then salt is rubbed into their wounds when money owed to them by way of reparation is not paid."

Yeah so a judge orders a the convicted criminal to pay $3000 damages to their assault victim.
But those repayments are never enforced? Why doesn't the court have the authority to take the money directly out of any wages? Or benefit payments? Its pathetic and been going on for years.

I'M OUTRAGED!

John Cleese

I had the pleasure of seeing the final night of his show in New Zealand. Its was lovely. A very intimate show with humour and sadness. A disappointing audience however, there was so much room for audience participation yet no takers. The gentleman sitting next to me actually lent over to his wife about half way through the show and said..." I don't get it." AAAaaarrrgh!
Despite that I was on a high for the rest of the weekend, I had got to see my favourite comedian up close and personal like, and hear anecdotes about his past trip to New Zealand. I'm not sure its a show that could travel the world, it was a bit parochial just like New Zealand really and maybe that's why I loved it so much.
The pictures of his ranch were charming and did you know he names all his cats after cheeses?

Telecom lauches online shopping....and it's shit

I dont like it.

What about this guy!

As police chases ending in deaths are becoming a weekly occurance in this country, I thought that this latest incident was pretty minor, but amazing unlucky.
A man with a broken leg on crutches was in his front garden with his wife when an out of control car came around the corner. It swerved to miss an oncoming car and ended up in their front garden. The wife was able to leap out of harms way, but the man was unable to get out of the way in time and was hit by the car breaking his leg. Again.
Sucks for the weekend bro.