America's plan to invade NZ
By EDWARD GAY

Source: http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3734892a4560,00.html

The United States planned to invade Auckland almost a century ago if the emerging superpower had gone to war with Japan, then a British ally, a US intelligence document reveals.

The document includes intelligence reports on North Head, Fort Takapuna and Mt Victoria. It recommends the Manukau Harbour as the best invasion point.

The plan involved landing heavy guns on Rangitoto Island
to shell forts on the North Shore.

Although the document was declassified by US authorities
in 1972, little has been reported up to now. Military
historian Peter Corbett has published an article in the February 2002 edition of Forts and Works, a specialist military historian journal.

"To the best of my knowledge it hasn't been reported by
the media, probably because they don't know about it," says Mr Corbett, who is convinced of the document's authenticity.

The document - titled: Naval War Plan for the Attack of Auckland, New Zealand - includes information on the water supply, public transport network and climate.

Mr Corbett says the intelligence report was compiled by
the US at a time when Great Britain and Japan were allied by a treaty.

The US and Japan had potentially conflictig interests in the Pacific, he says.

"They realised that if it had come to war then they would have had to fight in these regions," he says.
And if the US had gone to war with Japan, Great Britain could have been dragged in on the side of Japan. The ports of New Zealand and Australia would then be important strategic bases, Mr Corbett says.

Intelligence for the report was gathered during the visit of the Great White Fleet to Auckland over six days in August of 1908.

The fleet included 16 state-of-the-art battleships and visited Auckland, Sydney, Melbourne, Manila and Yokohama during its time in the South East Pacific.

"Basically it was a classic `stick this in your face'. It was a demonstration to the Japanese," he says.

Conservation Department historian and archaeologist David Veart says the document was produced at a time when there was a fear of the "Yellow Peril".

"A conflict in the Pacific between Japan and America was going to happen at some stage.

"The Americans were playing out war game scenarios with the British all over the globe."

Mr Corbett obtained the document from a US military historian after coming across references to the report in other documents.

"I've always been fascinated by warships and I grew up as a boy in Devonport and I suppose it had to get to me in the end," Mr Corbett says.

The American Consulate General's office was contacted to verify the document but said it does not have "any historical expertise in this area".

The North Shore Times has now contacted the Naval Historical Centre and National Archives and Records in the US and is awaiting a reply.

More sex 'equals $50,000 pay rise'
By BECK ELEVEN

Source: http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3721498a4560,00.html

What will it be, folks – more money or more sex?
English economists reckon having more sex can be as beneficial to lifelong happiness as an extra $50,000 in the pocket.

The study, done by no-sex-please-we're-British economists and titled Money, Sex and Happiness: an Empirical Study, said that increasing the frequency of sex from once a month to once a week caused the same amount of happiness as getting a $50,000-a-year pay rise.

Researched by Dartmouth College economics professor David Blanchflower, along with Warwick University's Andrew Oswald, the study took 1990s American data of about 16,000 people and generalised the results for males and females of all ages.

"The most interesting thing this study shows is that money buys happiness, but not as much as you would think," Blanchflower said in his summary.

Sex Therapy New Zealand director Robin Salisbury said she would like to have the money and more sex. "I have worked for clients who are far wealthier than me and I have found that wealth doesn't buy happiness," she said.

"If having sex more frequently means a better relationship then, absolutely, people should have sex more frequently. It certainly fits with my rationale of how important sex is in life."

Lorelai Jones, a retail assistant at Christchurch adult store Peaches and Cream, said sex definitely made her happier.
"If I had to make a choice between money and a life-time of orgasms, I'd have to quote the Beatles: 'Money can't buy you love'. You can't take materialistic stuff with you in the end."

MENZ medical doctor Rob Williams said he had no idea how economists could make those calculations, but "certainly $50,000 would put a my smile on my face – even if I was celibate".

It seems money is the sweeter temptress.
An unscientific poll on The Press website last night showed that by a wide margin both men and women would choose the cash.

Stolen car back and better than ever
By JOANNA DAVIS

Source: http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3719306a4560,00.html

A Christchurch woman has found a silver lining to the theft of her car after the vehicle was recovered complete with a new battery, wheels, steering column and glove box.

"It's going like a charm," the woman told police yesterday, saying the 20-year-old car's mechanical performance was also much improved.

Christchurch police communication centre shift supervisor Jed Oskam said the woman no longer had problems starting the car in cold weather.

"She also said she usually has to tickle the accelerator when she gets to an intersection to keep it going, but now it runs beautifully," he said.

The car was taken from a St Albans address on about June 23 and recovered by Rangiora police a week later.
Inspector Michael Coulter said police were pleased to hear of the improvements to the car.

"We do recover quite a few (stolen cars) after a period of time but generally they're in a worse state of repair, not better," he said.

Christchurch mechanic Colin Grey said the parts could be worth as much as $450 second-hand.

"But if they flogged it in the first place, they probably had the bits on hand," he said.

A person has been charged in relation to the car's theft and will appear in the Rangiora District Court.

And a little bit of something else…

City stops for the steak and onion special
By NICK CHURCHOUSE

Source: http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3723648a4560,00.html

A train driver brought Wanganui to a standstill when he could not get enough pies for lunch.

State Highway 3 traffic was backed up in both directions at a crossing on Victoria Ave and London St when the driver stopped the single engine in the middle of town to get his daily fix.

The driver had a habit of stopping at The Big Bite takeaway shop in London St while taking the engine across town, but when he had to wait, so did Wanganui.

After picking up six pies on Monday, the driver told staff he would be back for more the next day. However, when he arrived there were not enough of his favourites – steak or steak and onion – ready to go. "He had to wait for a while while we warmed them up in the oven, because he wanted 10," staff member Janine Hart said. "That was what the holdup was."

The train had activated the barrier arms on the crossing and traffic was left waiting for about 20 minutes. One woman had to pay twice the normal taxi fare due to the traffic jam.
Residents and motorists could see the funny side of the incident, but were not impressed with the train driver's attitude.

Toll NZ spokeswoman Sue Foley said the company was investigating the incident.

She was unable to say if the train driver had been stood down, but Toll would certainly be speaking to him.