Kiwi inventor of "planking" accused of Aussie death...

A Kiwi credited with inventing the game of planking is now being blamed for death of an Australian who performed the stunt drunk on a balcony railing.

Acton Beale, 20, fell to his death after falling from a seventh-floor railing in Brisbane on Sunday morning.

A message left on Dunedin man Paul Carran's internet site claims his game is fatally irresponsibe.

The message posted on Carran’s YouTube planking clip from 2009 reads: “Your video killed a friend of mine. You seriously should take this down”.

Planking is an internet fad which involves being photographed lying face down, with your body as straight as possible, in a random place.

The game became popular in the UK in 2006 but has recently enjoyed resurgence in Australia after NRL player David Williams attempted the stunt after scoring a try.

Photos have also emerged this week of a former Australian AFL player and TV show star Sam Newman "planking" on the railing of a 40-storey balcony, taken hours before the Queensland man fell to his death.

But Carran told 3news he is not to blame for any deaths.

"It’s not like anybody, or me personally, made him (Beale) do it,” he said.

More than 7000 people like the Planking New Zealand Facebook page.
 
http://anzacbloggersunite.co.uk/

http://theblogfrog.com/Users/home.aspx

Trans-Tasman police crackdown on violent drinkers in early Dec...

Kiwi and Aussie cops to cooperate on police action against violent drinkers...

Trans-Tasman crackdown on drinking:

Thousands of extra police on both sides of the Tasman including riot squad officers will crack down on binge drinking and violence

New Zealand and Australian police are cooperating on an unprecedented attack on binge drinking and violence.

They are focusing on two days of action, on December 11 and 12.

The plan was due to be announced this afternoon, but New Zealand police have confirmed a report in a Sydney newspaper on the issue. However, they will not reveal details of the plan of action in New Zealand until later in the day.

The Daily Telegraph says thousands of extra police including riot squad officers will flood the streets of Sydney and regional towns in New South Wales to declare war on hooligans.

Don't quite understand this story yet. Is this a joint action or will there be action on both sides of the Tasman at the same time for publicity reasons?

Acknowledgements: NZCity, NewsTalkZB

Former NZ PM Helen Clark appointed to UN post...

Former NZ PM Helen Clark appointed to UN post...


Helen Clark wanted to be the first prime minister to win four three year terms in the NZ parliament and government. She fell at the last hurdle after three terms.

She is arguably one of the best and most successful Kiwi PM's of all time. The NZ voters wanted change and her party was swept from power last November,2008.

Is it the end of Helen Clark? No way Jose!

She has just been appointed to the third highest diplomatic post in the world - administrator of the UN's Development Programme. The programme employs 8,000 people in 166 countries, has a budget of $5 billion , and is the UN's global development network, providing training, advice and support for developing countries.

The little farmgirl from the North Island has come a long, long way in the last few decades. She is also the first woman to hold this important post.