NEWS HR
January 17, 2020
A mother reported her own daughter to authorities after she became suspicious of her sudden luxurious lifestyle. The bizarre story began in January 2018 when former model and fashion designer to the stars Emily Evans-Schreiber, was asked to look after her elderly grandmother Rosina Evans. The woman, aged in her 90s, had been diagnosed with dementia, and Evans-Schreiber moved into a house nearby to help out. At the time Evans-Schreiber – who was previously a fashion designer for Cara and Poppy Delevingne – was broke with just £40 ($A75) in her bank after recently losing her job. But between April and December that year, Evans-Schreiber made 42 transactions from her grandmother’s bank account into her own after the older woman authorised a mandate allowing her granddaughter to take over her finances. Soon the socialite and mother-of-one began jetting off on holidays across the globe, including to Los Angeles, and splurging on fancy hotels, designer outfits and cosmetic treatments. Evans-Schreiber’s mother Clare grew “concerned” by the sudden change in her lifestyle and reported her to police who found a slew of transactions going into the woman’s account under labels such as “bills”, “care”, and “savings”. They also uncovered a number of “luxury products” such as designer clothing, shoes and accessories. Authorities found Evans-Schreiber had stolen a total of £230,251 ($A434,805) from her grandmother, leaving her with just £5516 ($A10,416). Evans-Schreiber faced Northampton Crown Court last week where she pleaded guilty to one count of theft. In the end, the judge gave her a two-year sentence, suspended for 20 months. Evans-Schreiber must also complete 150 hours of community service and attend an alcohol rehab program for six months.
January 15, 2020
A Rotorua retirement village resident has died in hospital after being hit by a car last week. Emergency services were called to Hilda St in Fenton Park on Wednesday about 1.50pm. One patient was taken to Rotorua Hospital and died the following morning. The person was a resident of Glenbrae Village Resthome and Hospital, which is owned by Arvida. Police are investigating and the rest home “will conduct an investigation once the initial grieving process is over,” Arvida group spokesman Tristan Saunders said. The victim, who lived in a serviced apartment, died with family at their bedside, Saunders said. He said “the vehicle wasn’t going fast, but the resident was hit and injured” on the afternoon of January 8. “It’s a tragic event. We are very sad to have lost one of our residents.” He said Arvida chief executive Bill McDonald visited the facility on Monday to express his condolences.
January 15, 2020
A female paramedic has been taken to hospital after being kicked unconscious by a burglar breaking into a St John ambulance station north of Auckland. The woman had just returned alone to the Warkworth ambulance station on Brown Rd at about 11.30pm last night after finishing treating a patient. St John director of operations Norma Lane said the intruder then attacked her and kicked her unconscious. “The paramedic was able to signal for St John Clinical Communications and police support before being rendered unconscious,” Lane said. She was taken to North Shore hospital in a moderate condition before being discharged this morning. “This is a despicable and unacceptable act on our colleague,” Lane said.
December 16, 2019
Ngāi Tahu Holdings board member and former Tainui Group Holdings Chief Executive Mike Pohio (Ngāi Tahu and Ngāti Pikiao) has been appointed Chief Executive of Ngāi Tahu Holdings. Ngāi Tahu Holdings chair Mark Tume made the announcement today. Pohio will stand down as a Ngāi Tahu Holdings board member and start in the chief executive role on 6 January 2020. Pohio’s appointment comes after Ngāi Tahu Holdings’ chief executive of seven years, Mike Sang, announced in August that he was stepping down. Sang will step back from the role but remain with the company until 20 March 2020 to support a smooth handover. Ngāi Tahu is a major investor in Ryman Healthcare.
November 27, 2019
Chapman Tripp has announced the appointment of three new partners in its Auckland and Christchurch offices, effective December 1, subject to meeting Law Society requirements. Chapman Tripp chief executive partner (Hoa Rangapū Whakarae) Nick Wells said the trio, “all have a long-standing length of service at the firm and bring in-depth knowledge and expertise to their fields, as well as contemporary outlooks on the growing sectors they specialise in.” In the Auckland office, Lauren Curtayne becomes a corporate and commercial partner and Tessa Baker is a new property and real estate partner. In the Christchurch office, Nick Letham will be a corporate and commercial partner. Nick Letham, corporate and commercial, has been with the firm for 12 years after starting as a law clerk in 2007. Letham will continue to specialise in retirement village and aged care and the agribusiness sectors.
October 29, 2019
The manager of Dunedin’s Women’s Refuge has resigned after investigations revealed a raft of serious issues. But the centre will be allowed to keep its government accreditation, albeit under close scrutiny, the Ministry of Social Development has confirmed. Issues at Te Whare Pounamu Dunedin Women’s Refuge became public earlier this year after investigations found it fell short of three Social Sector Accreditation standards. Women’s Refuge New Zealand chief executive Dr Ang Jury said an independent assessment essentially highlighted the same issues as other investigations, primarily workplace culture and some people “being a little bit loose with donations” of things like food and clothing. She confirmed the centre’s manager had resigned.
October 18, 2019
An Oamaru retirement village remains closed to visitors after a mystery bug swept through the facility last week. Observatory Village Lifecare, in Stoke St, was put into lockdown last Wednesday after the first cases of the yet-to-be-determined virus were reported the previous day. Symptoms among the unconfirmed number of residents and staff who had been affected included vomiting and diarrhoea. Specimens had been sent away for testing but Observatory Village Lifecare general manager Rosie Dwyer said the nature of the bug was yet to be determined. It was hoped the facility would open to the public by the weekend at the latest.
September 9, 2019
Two people have been injured after a car hit a house on Hennessy Place in a retirement village in the Christchurch suburb of Spreydon a short time ago. Emergency services were called to the scene just before 6.30pm, Fire and Emergency NZ South Island communications shift manager Lyn Crosson said.
