NZ@9am:19/01/11: Most popular stories online at 9am on Wednesday

The most popular story online on Wednesday is the predicted wild weather which caused less damage than expected, stunt tricycles careering through Christchurch, Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban's "secret" baby and Ricky Gervais performance at the Golden Globes.  Most web sites lead with reaction to a damning report into police conduct, with finance company boss Rod Petricevic's bid for legal aid and a complaint against MP Hone Harawira from inside his own caucus also featuring. 
The Google New New Zealand lead story is a stuff.co.nz story which has the headline "Broad hits back at damning police report."  It says Police Commissioner Howard Broad has hit back at a damning report into police culture, and says the overly negative focus could mean a setback for police. It carries a Reuters story saying the return to Haiti of former dictator Jean-Claude "Baby Doc" Duvalier adds to the country's burdens, the US State Department said on Tuesday, saying his fate is a matter for Haiti's government and people to decide. And it features an RNZ story saying Police in Christchurch have received a number of complaints about a new craze involving adult-sized trikes being ridden downhill at speed. The most popular story is from TVNZ and says the forecast wild weather overnight has not impacted the country as heavily as predicted, with the fire service reporting "very little activity".
 
The nzherald.co.nz lead headline online says "Petricevic's legal aid bid 'a joke'."  The web site says former finance company boss Rod Petricevic was yesterday denied taxpayer legal aid, but his fraud case has been postponed to give his lawyer time to decide whether to appeal. It says the Auckland man charged with murdering his estranged Kiwi girlfriend and running from police for almost 24 years is Grant David Mitchell - a virtual recluse nicknamed "Badges" by locals in a northern Queensland town. ANd it says Police Commissioner Howard Broad says the force has turned a corner towards blanket intolerance of poor performance and sexual misconduct, despite a report criticising its bosses as lacking courage and - according to one officer - living in "bullshit castle". And the most popular story says Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban have become the proud parents of a baby girl.
The Stuff.co.nz top headline says  "Broad hits back at damning police report." The web site says Police Commissioner Howard Broad has hit back at a damning report into police culture, saying it looks "like a huge slapping".  It says in the most popular story stunt tricycles careering through Christchurch at more than 100kmh are putting lives at risk, police say.  And it says a virtual recluse, on the rare occasion he did integrate, the New Zealand bloke they dubbed ''Badges'' would mumble about killing someone in a previous life - one far removed from the old mining town of Irvinebank in tropical North Queensland.
The Radio New Zealand lead headline online says "Maori Party MPs lodge complaint against Harawira."  The web site says Maori Party President Pem Bird has received a complaint against MP Hone Harawira from inside the caucus.  Another top story says three opposition ministers have quit a new coalition government in Tunisia because of the inclusion of members of the party of ousted president, Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali.  And it says Police in Haiti have escorted former dictator Jean-Claude Duvalier from the hotel where he has been staying since making a surprise return on Sunday after 25 years in exile.
The 3 News top story online has the headline says "Change in sexist culture needs to start at top."  The web site says women in the police force face an uphill battle for respect by their peers as well as feeling unease about inappropriate sexual relationships in the workplace, a report into the New Zealand police has found. It says strong winds and heavy rain battered the country last night as a large area of low pressure crossed New Zealand. And another top story says as Victoria's flood disaster continues, Queensland has begun to count the huge cost of theirs.  The most popular story says Ricky Gervais scythed through the usual Hollywood schmaltz with a Golden Globes opening speech that not only skirted the boundaries of good taste, but leapt right over.

The One News lead headline says "Policewomen subject to 'inappropriate' behaviour - report."  It says women in the police force face an uphill battle for respect by their peers as well as feeling unease about inappropriate sexual relationships in the workplace, a report into the New Zealand police has found. It says in the most popular story the forecast wild weather overnight has not impacted the country as heavily as predicted, with the fire service reporting "very little activity".  And the web site says a Bridgecorp investor has described former director Rod Petricevic's request for legal aid as a joke.

The Newstalk ZB lead headline says "Police attitudes to change - Collins."  The web site says a critical report in police moves to adopt culture changes recommended in 2009 has been released and Police Minister Judith Collins says attitudes of police will change.  It says Official Information Act figures show there are 31 police officers suspended on full pay and 11 before the courts.  And it says the South Island, especially the West Coast, is experiencing heavy rain causing surface flooding and slips in some areas.
NZ@9am reports the top stories in New Zealand media online at 9am each business day and can be found at hbtoday.co.nz.