Marlborough Weekly - 20 August 2019

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Tuesday 20 August 2019

Hi-tech help for hospital

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Police investigate pensioner

Mako in hot form

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Paula Hulburt A Picton pensioner is being investigated for alleged inappropriate sexual behaviour with two young boys he befriended. The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is being investigated by police after a complaint was made from a worried member of the public. He has denied any wrongdoing, saying the incident was a misunderstanding. The boys, both members of a community group the man was involved with, are both under 16-years-old. The man is alleged to have asked to sleep in the same hotel room as the pair, but not the same bedroom, in his capacity as self-appointed youth liaison leader. Yesterday, the mother of one of the boys, says their family had trusted the man. She says the matter has affected her whole family. “He’s a groomer. We put our trust in him and all the he was grooming our son behind closed doors. “I had no understanding what a groomer was before this and now I know, that’s what he is,” she says. A spokesman from the community group, who asked not to be named to protect the identity of the children involved, says police have been investigating the claims for six months. “The parents and the children are both getting counselling, but all we keep hearing from the police are excuses,” he says. Asked by the Marlborough Weekly about the

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Wira Stafford, 87, was at Wairau Bar for the opening of Whitebait season. Wira has been whitebaiting at the Wairau Bar for 80 years. Photo: Matt Brown.

Whitebaiters off to a slow start With the sun shining down and barely a breath of wind, keen whitebaiters have been making the most of the start of the season. Wira Stafford, 87, from Blenheim has been white bait-

ing at the Wairau Bar for 80 years. The keen fisherman says he tries to come down as often as possible. “I got four or five pound a day here last year but nothing

at the moment. I come down when I can I suppose, see if the nets are going,” he says. The season opened to a slow start on Thursday. Department of Conservation ranger Rob Avery, says he

may have caught enough for a single pattie. “A dozen is the most I’ve got in one go,” Rob says. “It’s good pre-season training, when they do start, I’ll be ready,” he says.

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www.marlboroughweekly.co.nz


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