Copyright, Brian Harmer Some occasions are worth a little extra effort, and so I made a reservation for dinner at the Cobar restaurant in Days Bay, on the Eastern side of Wellington Harbour. It was a still, but rather dark night, with clouds to the West blocking out any traces of the recently departed sun. There was no moon, so the only lights reflecting off the dark water were from the city and from various vessels and structures out on the harbour.
The road round the bays is a pretty one, even in the dark, but as driver, you really can't pay too much attention since the road is narrow and makes sharp turns to follow the shoreline. Leaving the industrial end of Petone and the oil storage tanks at Seaview behind, we passed through Lowry Bay, and contemplated once more on the balance that must be struck by home builders, between maximising the magnificent view, and having every passer-by able to see in all your windows. The road sign cautions drivers to watch out for little blue penguins crossing the road at night. I know they do cross, but in all the years I have lived in Wellington, I have yet to clap eyes on one. Out on the Water, Matiu / Somes Island looms darkly, with just a few lights near the landing at its North East end. The city glows and presents a very attractive picture. On through York Bay where the road seems perilously close to the sea, and there is no wall to prevent an inattentive driver from dropping onto the beach or rocks below. More than driver one has succeeded in this impressive feat, and had to have the car hauled up from the surging tide. If they are lucky, the tide is low, and it's just a little panel damage. If the tide is high and the car is immersed in salt water, I wouldn't want to know. Mahina Bay is next, and then Sunshine Bay where the once lonely service station is now adjacent to a multiple apartment complex. Then comes Days bay where we were to have had our annual picnic if summer had not been cancelled. Williams park is in darkness, but on the other side, a set of lights on the water indicate that the ferry has just arrived. I assume it is no longer the Evening Post ferry. Nevertheless, dapper looking commuters march along the wharf and disperse towards their homes among the bushy slopes around the bay. A few kiss and ride pickups seem to occur. I suppose in its own way, the morning and evening procession of umbrella carrying be-suited commuters is almost as impressive as a nightly parade of little blue penguins. Anyway, the Cobar restaurant is just across the road and a few yards along from the wharf, so we parked the car. The name of the restaurant is apparently taken from one of the very early harbour ferries of pioneering Wellington. Despite the unfashionably early hour, the place is already busy, and a gas fuelled imitation coal fire compensates for the wintry feel of the dark night outside the big picture windows. It is a spacious and pleasant restaurant with a very nice menu. I have to say that the Cobar is an exception to my prior experience that the quality of the food is inversely proportional to the quality of the view. Both the view and the food are great at this establishment. I enjoyed a deliciously tender spicy calamari dish to begin with, followed by a main of tender grilled venison steaks in a marvellous sauce of port wine and blueberries (with all the appropriate accompaniments). The service was also excellent. The Cobar is very high on my list places to go back to. --------- All news items (except where noted otherwise) are reproduced by kind permission of copyright owner, IRN Ltd. Any text above this point, and all subsequent material in parentheses, and concluded with the initials "BH" is the personal opinion of Brian Harmer as editor of this newsletter, or occasionally "HH" will indicate an opinion from Helen. In all cases they are honest expressions of personal opinion, and are not presented as fact. ---- This week's formatting is sponsored by Jan in the US. Thanks again Jan. On with the news: Monday, 8 July ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ NO LINK WITH PLUTONIUM SAY BRITS -------------------------------- The British High Commission says it is a complete coincidence the Royal Navy's destroyer HMS Nottingham is in the Tasman Sea, at the same time controversial plutonium shipments are due through. The destroyer has run aground near Lord Howe Island and is taking on water, while trying to land an injured crewman on the island. Environmental group Greenpeace claims the Nottingham was to act as an escort to the shipments, to protect them from terrorist attacks. The nuclear waste is being returned from Japan to Britain, who originally sent it to be used in Japanese fast breeder reactors. However, while the waste was en route to Japan, it emerged that some of its safety records had been falsified in a scandal which rocked Britain's nuclear industry. Japan refused to use the plutonium, which is now being sent back to its point of origin. British High Commission press officer, Bryan Nicholson, says the Nottingham's goodwill visit has been planned for some time, and the escort claim is just a conspiracy theory. For those trying to save the British warship, the hardest task is still ahead. The Australian government has flown heavy duty pumps and other equipment to Lord Howe, which is being transferred to the destroyer. The next priority is temporary repairs. The hole ripped in the destroyer is reportedly 'huge' and the ship will probably have to be towed to Sydney by a tug. NO SPARE MONEY FOR TEACHERS --------------------------- The Government has confirmed there is absolutely no money in the coffers for secondary teachers. Education Minister Trevor Mallard has received formal notification from the secondary teachers' union, the PPTA, that it has rejected the Government's latest offer for a short-term settlement to the pay row. He says Government negotiators and union reps will continue to negotiate over the next two days, with the help of mediators, to try to find a way forward. Trevor Mallard has reiterated though, that the Government is not in a position to increase the funding available to settle the dispute. Mr Mallard is warning that if the PPTA is not prepared to move, the talks could reach an impasse. He says the offer was a fair one. Meanwhile, rostering home of students is set to begin on the first Wednesday of term. (I note that one of the oft repeated reasons why more cannot be offered is the flow-on effect. Now why does that consideration not apply when it comes to the determinations of the higher salaries commission? - BH) FLETCHERS SELLS DISTRIBUTION ARM -------------------------------- Fletcher Aluminium has sold its Australian distribution business to Capral Aluminium Ltd. The company - a division of Fletcher Building Products Ltd - says the sale of the business will have no effect on operations in this country as all its product is sourced from third parties. Fletcher Aluminium's remaining Australian business in joinery systems will continue. The sale comes as part of a drive to exit non-core operations. MYSTERY DEATH IN AUCKLAND ------------------------- Police investigating the death of a 59 year old Auckland man, say the exact cause of death has not yet been established. A homicide investigation has been launched after Hari Hone Pou-Kahi Wiparata was found dead by ambulance officers at an address in the suburb of Glen Innes yesterday. Officer in charge of the inquiry, Detective Senior Sergeant Glen Turner, says there are injuries on the man's body, but the post mortem will not be complete until tomorrow. However, it appears the injuries are not from natural causes. Detective Senior Sergeant Turner says police would like to hear from friends of the dead man to help piece together his last movements. Meanwhile police are still conducting their scene examination where the body was found. UNITED FUTURE LAUNCHES FAMILY POLICY ------------------------------------ United Future would establish a Commission for the Family as part of its Family Policy. Party leader Peter Dunne says other key features of the policy include the establishment of family service centres, in communities where parenting and family support needs are greatest. He says in addition, United Future would ensure the tax system takes into account the costs of raising a family, including examining new approaches such as child care rebates and income splitting. A comprehensive education strategy relating to all aspects of the use and misuse of drugs is also a feature of the policy. 19 DAYS TO GO ------------- There is no love lost between the Prime Minister and National's leader, as they trudge around the country towards July 27. Helen Clark's told a meeting she has nothing in common with Mr English, and scoffed at the suggestion there could ever be a grand coalition. But it is the so-called 'paintergate' scandal that has turned up the heat on the campaign, with Act's Richard Prebble likening the destruction of the painting to the shredding of documents during America's Enron scandal. That caused great mirth in the Clark camp, with the Prime Minister saying it was the joke of the day. Helen Clark has also retaliated to Bill English after his scathing attack, accusing her of not cooperating with the police over the painting scandal. Campaigning in Horowhenua, Miss Clark said people have had enough of the issue. She says her legal advice that Mr English has defamed her is exactly the sort of thing he wants. She says he is desperate for attention and would love to be sued to get more of it. But she says she will probably deny him that pleasure. Miss Clark says her legal letter, shown to media, was important to make people realise how defamatory Mr English had been. She denies it was used to gag the media. Meanwhile Finance Minister Michael Cullen has also gone on the offensive during the announcement of Labour's economic policy. Dr Cullen says during the past two and half years, Labour has built a strong base for economic success. He says it is so much so, that National is ignoring the economy in this campaign. Dr Cullen says National is now acting like a minor party making promises it knows it will never have to keep. But National has labelled Labour's economic policy out today as bereft of vision. National's Finance spokesman, David Carter, says the economic golden weather is coming to an end and it has become clear Labour has run out of ideas. He says Labour has done nothing to support business and has imposed anti-growth policies such as increasing taxes and re-nationalising accident insurance. Mr Carter says any changes to the Reserve Bank inflation target would mean higher inflation and higher interest rates. He says if elected, Labour will resort to a high tax and spend agenda. COMMUNITY SHOWS SUPPORT AFTER SHOOTING -------------------------------------- A special memorial service is being held in Feilding tomorrow night for slain detective Duncan Taylor. He was fatally shot, and his police partner wounded, in Rongotea on Friday. A trust has been set up for his family, and residents are being asked to contribute to a fund-raising appeal. . Feilding Promotions spokeswoman Helen Warboys says the community is just starting to face the horror of what happened. She says when such things come close to home in a small community it makes people stop and think about where society is heading. The Feilding police station continues to be inundated with flowers, cards and tributes for Duncan Taylor. Helen Warboys, from Feilding Promotions says people are being asked to make a gold coin donation and buy a blue ribbon. She says it is a small way the community can show its support. (One of the blessings of living in New Zealand is the comparatively low numbers of shootings. Detective Constable Duncan Taylor is just the 26th NZ Police officer to die in the course of his duty in the entire history of policing in this country. Even fewer members of the public have been killed by armed police. Long may it remain so. - BH) NZ DOLLAR FORECAST TO REACH HIGH BY 2004 ---------------------------------------- The Bank of New Zealand believes the New Zealand dollar may reach a high of 55 US cents in the next year or two. BNZ chief economist, Tony Alexander, says the rise of the kiwi against the American currency has more to do with the over- inflated value of the US dollar. But he says our relatively high interest rates has made us an attractive place for overseas investors to park their funds while they watch what happens in the United States. But Tony Alexander says we will not be able to maintain a high of 55 cents, with our dollar more likely to consolidate into a range between 50 and 55 US cents. FAMILY FORCED TO EVACUATE ------------------------- Heavy rainfall in the central North Island has forced a family to evacuate their home. Otorohanga District Council says a drain has opened up beneath the house, undermining its foundations. Council Engineer Ian Goodin says safety concerns mean the Housing New Zealand property must be vacated. He could not say if or when they will be allowed to return. Meanwhile, State Highway 26 between Te Kuiti and Whakamaru remains closed due to flooding and slips. MetService is predicting between 30 and 50 millimetres of rain over hill country between Te Kuiti, Taupo and Raetihi up to midnight tonight. ECONOMIC POLICY INCLUDES IT FOCUS --------------------------------- Labour has released a wide ranging economic policy today. It is a continuation of its plans to try to transform the economy through an increased focus on science, technology and IT. Finance Minister Michael Cullen says Labour has established its credentials as economic and fiscal managers and constructed a successful role for the Government in the economy. He says they will promote economic transformation through support for research in science and technology and through their growth framework outlined in the budget. The policy includes plans to increase grants and scholarships in science, and build on the changes made in the commerce sector. Meanwhile, Labour has used the announcement of its economic policy today, to launch a counter offensive against National. It follows National leader Bill English's attack on the Prime Minister's integrity yesterday over the paintergate saga. Michael Cullen says if the media is looking for lies in this campaign, they should go no further than Mr English's claims about Labour's hidden tax agenda. Dr Cullen says Labour is looking at a dedicated health tax, but there will not be an increase in taxes. He says Mr English is a desperate man, trying to make an issue out of nothing. TRAINING TO THE FORE -------------------- The country's continuing strong economy will force businesses to invest more in training according to Bank of New Zealand chief economist Tony Alexander. He says the bank has revised its prediction of this year's economic growth, up from 2. 5 percent to 3. 4 percent. Mr Alexander says in the past decade businesses have grown easily by hiring more people. He says with a low unemployment rate they will now have to take a different route - such as investing more in machinery, and in training. Tony Alexander says some of the people they will be forced to hire will need training in basic literacy and numeracy. PILOTS AND AIRLINE START TALKING -------------------------------- Informal talks have begun between Air New Zealand and the Airline Pilots Association, in a bid to end a threatened strike. Air New Zealand pilots have given notice of a 48- hour strike starting on July the 19th. They say the action is over concerns that some of their work is now being done by Freedom Air. They are concerned at future job security. An airline spokesman says every effort is being made to avoid the strike. RELEASE OF LABOUR ECONOMIC POLICY ---------------------------------- Labour's economic policy, out today includes a commitment to renegotiate a more liberal Reserve Bank inflation target. Finance Minister Michael Cullen says he wants monetary policy to be sufficiently flexible to maintain price stability, while also supporting growth. He says he wants the Bank to take an approach similar to that taken by Australia. Dr Cullen says the stance is supported by most business leaders and economists. The policy also includes a pledge to look at a dedicated health tax. But Dr Cullen stresses that will NOT mean any increase in tax. He says Labour also sees no need to increase petrol tax over the next three years either - but he is not ruling it out altogether. Labour has used the announcement of its economic policy to launch a counter offensive against National in the wake of National leader Bill English's attack on the Prime Minister's integrity yesterday over the paintergate saga. Michael Cullen says if the media is looking for lies in this campaign, they should go no further than Mr English's claims about Labour's hidden tax agenda. Dr Cullen says Mr English is a desperate man, trying to make an issue out of nothing. HAMILTON MAN CHARGED WITH RAFT OF CRIMES ---------------------------------------- A Hamilton man charged following a raft of armed robberies in the North Island has appeared in the Hamilton District Court today. Thirty-three-year-old Timothy John Beale was arrested by police on Sunday morning, following an all- night stake out at a motel in South Auckland. After negotiators failed to persuade him to give up, police used tear gas to force him out. Beale is charged with ten counts of aggravated robbery, eight counts of kidnapping and four of using a firearm to commit a crime. Beale made a rude gesture to the media when he appeared in court today. He has been remanded in custody next month. MEDIATION TO AVOID ORDERLIES' STRIKE ------------------------------------ Mediation is underway, in a bid to avert a strike by orderlies and kitchen workers at the Auckland District Health Board. Two hundred members of the Food and Service Workers Union are due to walk off the job for two days on the 18th and 19th of next month over the pay rise. Greenlane, National Women's, Auckland and Starship Hospitals would be affected. But a mediator from the Employment Relations Service is attempting to broker an agreement between the board and the workers. The orderlies and kitchen workers are unhappy with an offer of two percent, and are looking for a four percent increase this year and a further two percent each year for the next three years. ANOTHER PAUA SMUGGLING BUST --------------------------- Fisheries officers have uncovered a major black market seafood smuggling operation. An Auckland man has been arrested for trafficking around $6 million worth of paua. The Ministry of Fisheries says he is already facing charges relating to an earlier nationwide sting operation. Investigator Harry Hilditch claims the main is a member of a ring of seafood smugglers, and more arrests are likely. He says the group has been processing the paua, vacuum sealing it, then mailing it to Hong Kong. Harry Hilditch says New Zealand Post is supporting the Ministry's efforts to crack down on seafood smuggling. Tuesday, 9 July ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ NO SURGICAL SERVICES FOR KAITAIA --------------------------------- The Health Minister says Northland Health has decided not to reinstate surgical services, including caesareans at Kaitaia Hospital. Kaitaia Hospital has been forced to suspend after-hours surgery, and stop performing caesareans. Kaitaia Hospital's issues are twofold - a shortage of anaesthetists, and the Health Ministry's new credentialing system which considers the hospital's facilities as well as its doctors' qualifications. The Ministry has found that Kaitaia - along with most other small town hospitals - does not have the facilities for its anaesthetists to be credentialed to perform caesareans. Annette King says the board has been considering an offer of a locum anaesthetist to work in the hospital in the meantime. It was referred to clinical experts for their advice. The board was told the arrangement was not good enough to reinstate services. She says the board listened to the advice and accepted it. MIXED REACTION TO GE REPORT DELAY --------------------------------- An anti-genetic engineering group says the delay in releasing a report on liability for GE accidents is stifling debate. The Government has decided to sit on the report, until after the election, saying it is incomplete. GE Free New Zealand spokesman, Jon Carapiet, believes the delay is motivated by a desire to avoid difficult questions during the election campaign. He says the insurance industry is generally refusing to cover a GE accident, and he says debate is needed on whether taxpayers will end up footing the bill. GE Free New Zealand had made an Official Information Request for the report's release. However, National's backing the government's decision to hold back a report on the legal liability of GM experiments. National leader Bill English says he understands the government's stance. He says it is probably a very complicated legal matter, and any government would want a thorough job done on it. FOREIGN AFFAIRS SAYS US WAS RIGHT TO DEPORT ------------------------------------------- Foreign Affairs Minister Phil Goff says New Zealander Mohammed Saffi DID break US visa laws, and was right to expect deportation. Mr Saffi's believed links to Iraqi President Saddam Hussain have been cited by the Greens as the reason behind his arrest, after he was sent to the United States for training by his employer. But Mr Goff says New Zealanders need a visa if they are going to study, and Mr Saffi did not have one. He says he does not believe Mr Saffi deliberately intended to violate the visa laws. And Mr Goff has called on the Greens to stop making political mileage out of the difficulties faced by Mr Saffi. The Greens' Keith Locke says Mr Saffi did not need a visa and the government should kick up a storm about it. But Mr Goff says a visa WAS required - Mr Saffi made an honest mistake and he is now being helped in the same way as any other kiwi. POLICE TRACK DEAD MAN'S MOVEMENTS --------------------------------- Police are trying to track the movements of an Auckland man before his death on Sunday. Hone Wiparata was found dead at a Glen Innes address with injuries to his body, prompting the launch of a homicide investigation. The address has been the subject of a scene examination since Sunday. Detective Senior Sergeant Greg Turner says they now need to work out Mr Wiparata's movements in the fortnight before his death. He says anyone who has been in contact with him during this time should contact them. CANCER WAITING LISTS SLASHED ---------------------------- Cancer treatment waiting times in our biggest city have been slashed dramatically over the past 12 months. Auckland District Health says patients are now waiting four to six weeks for treatment, on average. That is compared with 18 to 22 weeks, one year ago. Clinical Leader of Medical Services, John Childs, says the main factor is an increase in number of radiation therapists. He says that is allowed the use of an evening shift for treatment, and the extension of the number of hours treatment machines can be used. Dr Childs says the waiting time reduction means patients are no longer having to fly to Australia for treatment. CANNABIS REVIEW SUPPORTED BY ACT -------------------------------- Act leader Richard Prebble is defending a decision to place an advertisement for his party in a pro-cannabis magazine. Mr Prebble says when it comes to the cannabis laws, Act is prepared to look at all the issues. He says they would support a review, as long as proper research was carried out before any changes were made. Mr Prebble says he sees nothing wrong with the advertisement in Norml News. He says Act stands for freedom, choice and personal responsibility, but they are not saying police should not enforce current laws. Mr Prebble says they would need to know whether decriminalisation would prompt more people to start smoking marijuana. FRIGATE TE MANA NEARS STRICKEN SHIP ----------------------------------- The New Zealand navy vessel HMNZS Te Mana is expected to arrive at Lord Howe Island tomorrow morning. The frigate will join another New Zealand ship, the HMNZS Endeavour, in the effort to assist a stricken British navy warship. Endeavour has been on the scene helping the crew aboard the Nottingham by supplying water and letting them use their bathroom facilities. Salvage experts from Britain have also arrived to assess the damage done to the vessel and whether it will need to be taken to Sydney for repairs. Meanwhile, the commander of the high-tech British warship admits he could face a court-martial over the mishap. Commander Richard Farrington had just returned to HMS Nottingham after taking an injured crewman ashore when it hit well- charted rocks and nearly sank during a storm off Lord Howe Island. The Type 42 destroyer, with state-of-the-art navigation equipment following a refit two years ago, hit Wolf Rock, about two nautical miles east of the island. Commander Farrington says the fast action of his 249 crew saved the ship from sinking. None of the crew was injured. NATIONAL CLAIMS BRASH BETTER THAN CULLEN ---------------------------------------- National claims to have evidence that former Reserve Bank governor, Don Brash, has more economic credibility than Finance Minister Michael Cullen. Dr Brash is number five on the party's list and widely tipped to take over the party's finance responsibilities after the election. National has commissioned a poll asking which man was more credible on economic issues with Dr Brash scoring 46 percent compared with Dr Cullen's 24. 5 percent. But Dr Cullen is laughing off the findings, saying any poll taken by the National party cannot be trusted. He says the surprising thing is that it makes no mention of the party's current Finance spokesman David Carter. FAREWELL TO A HERO ------------------ Up to a thousand police officers have been among the mourners at the funeral for a slain colleague in Palmerston North. Prime Minister Helen Clark and Governor-General Dame Silvia Cartwright were also there to say goodbye to Detective Constable Duncan Taylor. The church overflowed with mourners. Those who could not make it inside watched the proceedings on a big screen at a nearby RSA. The hearse carrying Duncan Taylor's body was met by four rows of police standing in an "L" formation. Tributes were made by the officer's sister, wife, basketball coach and the Commissioner of Police. Mourners also heard private aspects of Detective Duncan Taylor's life. Melanie Taylor spoke of her 15-year relationship with her husband, and said their son Campbell born 11 months ago was the pride of his life. She raised a laugh when she told mourners that when it came to spending money, her husband was tight, and she had to coax every dollar out of him. Mrs Taylor said Duncan made her feel supported, encouraged and special. To the strains of the hymn "I vow to thee my country", the casket was carried from the cathedral through a police guard of honour. Police dog handlers instructed their charges to speak in a final canine tribute to a fallen officer. The wounded officer Detective Constable Jeanette Park stood on crutches as the casket was gently placed in the hearse. The pipe band led the way as Detective Constable Duncan John Taylor was slowly borne away for private internment. The president of the Police Association says officers know they are the last line of defence for society as he paid tribute to Duncan Taylor. Greg O'Connor says it was more than a case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. He describes the slain detective as a genuine hero. And Police Commissioner Rob Robinson said he believed Duncan Taylor was courageous both in life and his final moments. He did what he had to do despite the consequences and dangers, and says the death of the detective has touched all New Zealanders. Rob Robinson said that in the police family, respect is earned and once earned it persists. The commissioner said tributes to Detective Taylor have come from overseas as well as from throughout New Zealand. He said police commissioners in Australia also sent representatives to the funeral. PROSECUTION MAY APPEAL BROWN SENTENCE ------------------------------------- The nine year jail sentence for Haden Brown, who was found guilty of bashing his mother, may be appealed by the prosecution. Justice Salmon sentenced Brown to nine years jail last Wednesday for attacking his mother with a hammer, leaving her permanently disabled. The judge admitted that under the Government's new sentencing law, Brown will probably be out in three years - but says he was powerless to prevent this. Justice Minister Phil Goff insists that Haden Brown will not be released automatically after serving a third of his time, even if the nine year sentence stands. The minister says the new sentencing laws could actually extend the time Brown spends in prison beyond that under the previous law. Mr Goff says although he can not influence the prosecution to appeal, the length of the parole period is one element which any appeal might address. DISPUTE CLOSE TO IMPASSE - MALLARD ---------------------------------- The Education Minister says alternative ways of settling the secondary teachers' dispute are now being explored. Trevor Mallard's comments come as PPTA and Education Ministry negotiators sit down for more talks. The PPTA yesterday formally rejected the Government's latest pay offer. It included a 3. 5 percent pay increase and an NCEA allowance equating to $1,350 per teacher per year. Trevor Mallard says the Government has twice upped its offer, without success. He says the dispute is close to an impasse, and if so, different forms of resolution must be considered. Trevor Mallard says the PPTA claim would require an additional $60 million and the Government cannot deliver that. PUBLIC HAS SAY ON CANCER DRUG ----------------------------- More than 5,000 public submissions have been made on the future of cancer drug Glivec. Drug-funding agency Pharmac is yet to decide what level of subsidy the drug will get. Glivec has proven extremely effective in the treatment of chronic myeloid leukaemia, which currently affects 90 New Zealanders. But Pharmac says it can only afford to cover the $63,000 cost in the 20 most advanced cases. A final decision is expected towards the end of this month. SEX ATTACK RESULTS IN COURT APPEARANCE --------------------------------------- A Hawke's Bay teenager, charged with the sexual violation of a 75-year-old woman, has been remanded in custody after a brief appearance in court. The elderly woman was attacked in her Dannevirke home on June 29 after answering a knock at her door. A 19-year-old local man appeared in the Hastings District Court this morning charged with sexual violation. He also faces a further charge of breaking and entering. The teenager, who has interim name suppression, has been remanded without plea until the July 23. NEW INTERIM CEO FOR RICHMOND ---------------------------- Meat processor Richmond Ltd has appointed an interim Chief Executive who will manage the company until next April. The new appointee, Graeme Milne, has an extensive career in the dairy industry with the Dairy Board and other companies. Most recently he has been acting CEO of Bonlac Foods in Australia, after Fonterra took a 25% equity holding in the company. Richmond is currently in the middle of a legal tussle with South Island-based PPCS, which has launched a hostile bid to take it over. The Board of Richmond says it is not feasible to consider a permanent appointment until the legal wrangle is resolved, which could take several months. The outgoing CEO, John Loughlin, says he was not comfortable with the timeframe for the permanent appointment, and says the interim appointment of Graeme Milne to cover the period of uncertainty of ownership, is an excellent outcome. Richmond chairman Sam Robinson says Graeme Milne is an outstanding manager and a talented executive. GOVERNMENT WILL NOT RELEASE REPORT -------------------------------- The Science Minister claims the election has interrupted an ongoing report on genetic modification. The Law Commission report into legal liability over GM was presented to the Attorney-General in May. It has yet to be made public and the Greens are demanding the Government release it. But Science Minister Pete Hodgson says the Law Commission has been asked to continue its report. He says the election has now appeared in the middle of the process, which is being used by the Greens to suggest the Government is holding out. Mr Hodgson agrees GM is an election issue, but says Government is not in the habit of releasing unfinished papers. ZESPRI CEO STEPS DOWN ---------------------- The man who led the country's kiwifruit industry through the launch of Zespri and the introduction of the new, "Gold" kiwifruit, is stepping down. Zespri International CEO, Tony Marks, leaves the company at the end of this year when his contract runs out. The organisation says it has now launched a search to find a new CEO to lead the $800 million business. Executive chairman Doug Voss says under Mr Marks' leadership, Zespri has gone from being a seasonal marketer of fruit to a year-round marketer of multiple branded products. Mr Voss says Zespri will carry on as normal during the search for a successor for Mr Marks. Wednesday, 10 July ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ NZ MOTOR RACER IN INTENSIVE CARE -------------------------------- New Zealand motor racer Matt Halliday has been moved into the intensive care unit of a Kansas hospital, following a serious collision last weekend. Halliday was competing in the new feeder series to the Indy Racing League when his car hit a wall. At first his injuries were thought to be minor, but his manager Kenny Smith says things have deteriorated. Smith says Matt's girlfriend is at his hospital bedside, and his mother and brother will join them in Kansas tomorrow. He says doctors believe the injuries are not life-threatening, but it will take time for Halliday to recover. Matt Halliday has a collapsed lung and is in an oxygen tent, he is badly bruised, he has a broken wrist, a broken arm, a fractured ankle, broken ribs, and he is recovering from concussion. CLARK SLAMS GE ALLEGATIONS -------------------------- Helen Clark has taken a swipe at both the Greens and TV3, while refuting allegations the Government covered up a genetic modification accident. Author Nicky Hager alleges in a new book, that the Government played down the accidental release of genetically-engineered corn seed in November 2000. He claims they then allowed the seed to be planted, harvested and sold. But the Prime Minister says the allegations are completely false. She says she always knew the election campaign would get dirty, but says this is without precedent. Helen Clark accuses the Green Party of being behind the claims. She says she will sing it from the rooftops that they are part of a dirty election campaign, and that the Greens are now in the gutter with the National Party. The PM also accuses TV3 of a media ambush, when in a pre-recorded interview last night she was asked about the GM accident allegations without prior warning. Meanwhile the Environment Minister says two weeks of testing suspect corn seeds failed to establish whether they had been genetically modified. Marian Hobbs says seed importers told the government in November 2000 there was a possibility of GM contamination in a batch of imported seeds. But she says despite thorough testing the evidence was inconclusive and scientists advised that destruction of the crops could not be justified. She says the advisors also said there was no need to go to the environmental risk management authority for approval. MATERNITY SERVICES DROWNING - GPS --------------------------------- Maternity services are drowning in paperwork and bureaucracy according to a group of GPs in Dunedin. A recent tightening up of the rules has seen the amount of paperwork involved in caring for pregnant women increase. One after-hours medical service, Urgent Doctors, has had its group contract with the Health Ministry for its doctors to provide maternity services terminated. Each of its 100 or so doctors must now have individual paperwork. If a doctor provides care for a pregnant woman while working for Urgent Doctors, in theory, he could now be prosecuted. Urgent Doctors' manager, Ewan McComb, says his staff have to work out whether a woman qualifies for free treatment or has to pay for it. If they get that wrong, his organisation ends up bearing the cost. He says already, the Ministry only pays about half the cases that are claimed. And Mr McComb says the rules are often difficult to unravel - for instance, a woman is not eligible for free treatment if her lead maternity carer is available. But if her carer is NOT available, it has to be for a reason of which the Ministry approves - or it will not pay. If a woman has not registered with a lead carer for some reason, if the Ministry does not think that reason is good enough - again it will not pay. Ewan McComb says it is a minefield - and pregnant women are caught in the middle. GOVERNMENT HITS BACK OVER HAGER CLAIMS -------------------------------------- The Government is crying conspiracy theory over the GM sweet corn row. Environment Minister Marian Hobbs has been shielded from the media all day. But she has finally issued a statement, totally rejecting claims that she and Prime Minister Helen Clark were involved in an elaborate plan to cover up the fact that contaminated sweet corn seeds had been planted here. Author Nicky Hager says the GM seeds came in a shipment from the US in November 2000. Marian Hobbs says at the time, the seed importers spoke of the possibility some imported seed was contaminated. But she says the Government was advised after further analysis, that while there might be minute traces of contaminated material, it could not be reliably detected nor determined that it was GM. Ms Hobbs says the fact contamination was detected is not evidence of GM content. (I would urge people interested in this to read Russell Brown's Hard News this week at http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0207/S00091.htm and to follow the links to the interview with Dr Russell Poulter, an eminent geneticist at http://www.95bfm.com/hardnews.php One thing about Russell is that he does not pretend to be politically neutral, and knowing where he is coming from makes it much easier to decide what weight to put on his opinions - BH) AROHA FILMS CLEARED ------------------- Auckland production house, Aroha Films, has been cleared of allegations they misused public funding. The allegations prompted the Maori broadcasting funding agency, Te Mangai Paho, to audit the company. Acting Te Mangai Paho chief executive, Don Collier, says they are confident the grant Aroha Films received went towards the production of a television series. He says the audit should remind anyone seeking Te Mangai Paho funding to be robust in their accounting practices. MARCH SUPPORTS SENSIBLE SENTENCING ---------------------------------- National Party leader Bill English turned up for a march up Auckland's Queen Street this afternoon, in support of the Sensible Sentencing Trust. The march ended with a rally in Aotea Square, where between 500 and 600 people gathered to push the message of tougher sentences for violent offenders. Bill English told the crowd that National believes a life sentence should mean imprisonment for life for convicted murderers. The Sensible Sentencing Trust has organised another march and rally for Wellington next week. Meanwhile the Justice Minister is defending the Government's new sentencing and parole law reforms after criticism at today's march. Phil Goff says the reforms which came into effect this month addresses the group's concerns, which means the most horrific murderers are not eligible for parole for 17 years. He says there are also new prisons being built which will accommodate the extra inmates. LONG WORK HOURS INCREASE HEART ATTACKS --------------------------------------- New research shows people who work more than 60 hours a week and who lack sleep are most in danger of suffering a heart attack. Japanese and British researchers say the combination of stress, tiredness and being too busy can raise a person's blood pressure and cause a heart attack. The research, published in the journal Occupational and Environmental Medicine, examined hundreds of Japanese men, and found those who had had a heart attack worked longer hours and had less sleep than those who had not. Men who worked more than 60 hours a week doubled their chances of a heart attack compared with those who only worked 40. And men who had less that five hours sleep for two nights a week doubled or even tripled the risk again. However, other researchers say the study is not conclusive as there are many other factors - such as smoking and poor diet - which can also cause heart attacks. PARTY WELCOMES FINDINGS ------------------------ The National Party is welcoming the findings of the Serious Fraud Office investigation into alleged donation irregularities. The SFO has cleared the party of any wrongdoing, after investigating allegations surrounding a donation of $250,000 from Fay Richwhite in the mid 1990's. The donation had apparently been deposited in a trust account before being transferred to the party. SFO Director David Bradshaw says his office has accessed all relevant accounts and information and he is satisfied the donations were dealt with properly. Party President Michelle Boag says they were always confident of the processes used for dealing with political donations. She is pleased to have this endorsed by the SFO and happy that the matter is now at an end. SEEDS SILENCE GOVERNMENT ------------------------ The Government has gone to ground, after being accused of covering up a seed contamination scandal two years ago. Environmentalist Nicky Hagar claims Prime Minister Helen Clark and Environment Minister Marian Hobbs failed to do anything about a batch of GM contaminated sweet corn seeds which arrived here from the U. S. Mr Hagar's new book also says the Government allowed the seeds to be planted out in Gisborne, Hawke's Bay and Marlborough. But so far, there has been no response from the Government. National leader Bill English says that is a disgrace. He says the public deserves an explanation and Miss Clark cannot run and hide behind lawyers this time. The Green Party says it also want answers. Meanwhile a scheduled public meeting in Wanganui, where Cabinet Minister Marian Hobbs was due to talk about GM, has been cancelled at the last minute. The meeting organisers have been told Marian Hobbs had important business in Wellington. (I wonder whether the public interest would have been better served by having Ministers rushing to the microphones to make statements instead of having them verify their facts first? - BH) HEALTH BOARD TO CLEAR DEFICIT ------------------------------ The Hawke's Bay District Health Board plans to axe management and administration jobs, to see it out of the red. Over the next three years, the board will attempt to save $10. 4 million to clear its deficit. It includes $1. 5 million in management and administration efficiencies. WARSHIP STOPS TAKING ON WATER ----------------------------- Efforts are continuing to salvage the British guided- missile destroyer, HMS Nottingham. The Royal Navy vessel has been stuck off Lord Howe Island since hitting a rock on Sunday. Two New Zealand navy ships, the Endeavour and Te Mana, are helping. The warship is no longer taking in water but still has two flooded compartments. The Endeavour's commander says progress is being made in getting the ship's systems back into operation. Chris Hoey says there were concerns over providing diesel fuel to drive her generators, but the ship now has fuel systems working and that urgency has gone away. INQUIRY INTO POLICE SHOOTING ALMOST COMPLETE -------------------------------------------- Police investigations into last Friday's shootings at Rongotea are now almost complete. Detective Constable Duncan Taylor was fatally shot and his colleague Jeanette Park was shot in the thigh. A family was abducted, and 17 year-old Daniel Luff was arrested after tear-gas was fired into the house. Detective Dennis O'Rourke says around 100 people have been interviewed, enabling police to reconstruct events before and during the incident. He says the tear-gas clean-up inside the Cocker's house will take a couple more days. Dennis O'Rourke says the family is receiving help from victim support services. CHARGES MAY BE LAID IN KEALL CASE --------------------------------- Charges may be laid against a driver whose truck crashed into retiring MP Judy Keall's car. However, a decision will not be made until a vehicle inspection has been completed. The MP received multiple fractures to her leg while her husband Graeme suffered a broken sternum, when their vehicle was hit by the oncoming southbound truck near Otaki, last Saturday. There were no other serious injuries even though a vehicle following the Kealls also collided with the crashed vehicles. Meanwhile, Judy Keall's been shifted from Palmerston North hospital's intensive care and her husband may move into the same room today. Both are said to be making a good recovery. SOFTWARE PIRACY GROWING ----------------------- Nine out of ten software items sold on Internet auction sites are illegal, pirated copies. Microsoft has settled two cases in the last month, one against an individual dealer for trading pirated copies of the new Windows XP operating system, and one where pirated copies of software were illegally loaded on to new computers. The software giant says Internet piracy is growing almost as quickly as the Internet itself, and has the potential to seriously damage consumer confidence in e-commerce. Microsoft's anti- piracy manager for New Zealand, Anna Lumsdon, says there have been an increasing number of calls made to its anti- piracy hotline over the past 12 months. She says if nothing is done to halt the increase in software piracy, this country's chances of developing a 'knowledge economy' will be badly damaged. Ms Lumsdon says software developers must be allowed to benefit from their work if New Zealand's reputation as an innovator is to be protected. She says a lower piracy rate can pave the way for an expansion in the number of job opportunities in this country and more international investment in New Zealand's IT industry. Anyone who suspects they may have come across a case of pirated software should ring the anti-piracy hotline on 0800 747 229 SURGERY CANCELLED IN HAWKE'S BAY -------------------------------- Hawke's Bay Hospital has been forced to postpone all non- acute surgery this morning. It is because of a lack of beds in medical and surgery wards, due to an influx of admissions. Acting medical and surgical services manager, Peter Satterthwaite, says the high number of inpatients coupled with staff leave and sickness has resulted in nurses working to full capacity. He says further surgery cuts are anticipated tomorrow. Dr Satterthwaite says there were some unoccupied beds this morning but they had to be kept for emergency cases. AMBULANCE SERVICE GETS CAUGHT UP IN ROW --------------------------------------- There are fears that ambulance services in the Far North are being put under unnecessary pressure by the surgery saga at Kaitaia Hospital. Kaitaia surgeon, Peter Dryburgh, says the ban on after-hours operations means ambulances are being tied up transferring patients to Whangarei. He says on one particular day, all of the ambulances in the region were involved in transporting people. Mr Dryburgh says if there had been a major accident in the Kaitaia region, there would have been no ambulance available to attend. Health Minister Annette King is travelling to Northland tomorrow to discuss the district health board's decision to ban after-hours surgery. AIRLINE CONSIDERS LEGAL ACTION ------------------------------ Air New Zealand says it will take legal action to avert a strike by members of the Airline Pilots Association next week. It intends seeking an Employment Court injunction to halt the 48-hour strike after ALPA rejected its appeal to withdraw strike notice and continue bargaining. Air New Zealand says it hoped to achieve a return to negotiations because ALPA and its members appear to be under the misconception that job security and future promotion are at risk. It told ALPA it envisages an increase in the amount of flying available and also offered to help them find work with Freedom Air if its plans change. It says despite those assurances the pilots refused to withdraw strike notice. (The pilots have apparently reached agreement and the strike is called off - BH) HOBBS TO COMMENT LATER ON CLAIMS -------------------------------- Prime Minister Helen Clark is refusing to comment on claims the Government covered up the accidental release of genetically engineered sweet corn seeds almost two years ago. The claims are made in a book by environmental activist and author Nicky Hagar. Mr Hagar claims that Miss Clark and Environment Minister Marian Hobbs knew a consignment of sweet corn seeds from the US had been contaminated with genetically-engineered seeds. He says the Government planned to pull out all the crops which ended up in Gisborne, Hawke's Bay and Marlborough, but changed its mind. A spokesman from Helen Clark's office says she is busy campaigning in New Plymouth, but that Environment Minister Marian Hobbs will make a statement on behalf of the Government later today. Meanwhile a pro-GM lobby group says there is nothing new in the story. The Life Sciences Network says the entire saga was presented to the Royal Commission on GM at its hearings in March 2001. It says tests conducted on the sweet corn here and in Australia were inconclusive and could have been false positives. LOCAL FIRM JOINS AIDS FIGHT --------------------------- A New Zealand company is among those presenting developments in the new classes of anti-AIDS drugs at a major conference in Spain this week. Virionix is one of few companies worldwide developing a third class of AIDS treatments. The conference is hearing that, while the Third World struggles to afford the old antiretroviral drugs, developed countries are about to get second and third class drugs. Virionix spokesman Paul Young says in the last 18 months pharmaceutical companies have begun to address the gap between rich and poor by providing antiretrovirals at cost. He says political pressure, the threat of copycat drugs and the fact they have made their money from antiretrovirals are the reason. POWER PRICE CONCERNS -------------------- An electricity consumers' group says rising power prices are a direct result of lack of competition in the market. Although the wet winter has kept hydro lakes full and wholesale prices down, electricity retailers such as Genesis Energy have recently announced increases in their charges. John Noble, of the Christchurch Power Consumers' Society, says it is true that retail prices are set in advance, and smooth out the highs and lows of the wholesale spot market. But he argues that the wholesale prices are too high to start with, because there is no competition to force electricity companies to bring them down. ENGLISH FOCUS ON PPTA --------------------- The credibility of the PPTA is being called into question by National Leader Bill English as talks between the secondary teachers' union and the Government over pay and conditions continue. National is promoting a return to a style of bulk-funding for secondary schools which has been unceremoniously slammed by the PPTA and removed by Labour. However, Bill English believes the PPTA lacks all credibility in its position. He says the union got what it wanted from Labour and now claims the situation is good when obviously it is not. Mr English is making the ongoing dispute an election issue and is calling for voter support with promises his party will resolve the matter. Meanwhile, Auckland secondary teachers are prepared to send entire schools home for days on end in support of their pay claim. Auckland Regional PPTA secretary Chris Bangs says there is a hardening resolve amongst the 2,800 members he represents. He says they are prepared to take more extended strike action than the one-day rostering home and extra curricular bans already proposed for the start of the new term. SHIP ABLAZE AT NAVAL BASE ------------------------- A ship is ablaze at Auckland's Devonport Naval Base. The ship, believed to be a private pleasure craft, is in the dry dock. The fire has sparked a major call-out of up to 10 fire appliances and crew. Thursday, 11 July ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ DAIRY OWNER STABBED IN HAMILTON ------------------------------- Hamilton police are searching for a man who stabbed a dairy owner in the suburb of St Andrews. The offender, described as a male Polynesian, entered the Heath Street dairy armed with a knife and demanded money just before four o'clock this afternoon. Senior Sergeant Bruce Davies says there was an altercation, and the shop owner was stabbed. It is understood he suffered only minor injuries. Police are still looking for the offender. It is not known whether any money was stolen. TWO SUSPICIOUS DEATHS IN PARAPARAUMU ------------------------------------ Police in Paraparaumu are investigating two suspicious deaths in the township. It follows the discovery of a man's body at a house late last night, and the body of another man in a ditch on State Highway One. A 26-year-old man was found dead at a Rosewood Place house late last night. Police say he had been cut several times in the stomach. A scene examination of the property has been carried out this afternoon, and three other occupants at the house are being spoken to. Meanwhile, early this afternoon, a man's body was discovered lying in a ditch next to State Highway One north of Paraparaumu. Police say it appears the victim had been lying there for some time. MOSQUE VICTIM MORE SERIOUS THAN FIRST THOUGHT ---------------------------------------------- The condition of an elderly man assaulted in an Auckland mosque overnight is worse than first thought. He is in a serious condition, causing concern at Auckland Hospital. The 72-year-old was found with head injuries by police, who were called to the mosque in Mount Roskill, around three thirty this morning. Police say the incident is not racially or religiously motivated. A 21-year-old Mount Albert man's been charged with assault . Police say further charges may be laid. ASIC CLOSES ANSETT PROBE ------------------------ Australia's corporate watchdog, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission, says Air New Zealand may have been deceptive in the level of financial disclosure in the lead-up to the collapse of its subsidiary, Ansett Australia. However, ASIC has decided to close the investigation and says it was not willing to take proceedings against Air New Zealand any further. ASIC says Air New Zealand may have been deceptive as far as disclosing its own or Ansett's forecast losses. Ansett collapsed in September 2001, with liabilities of more than $2 billion. The collapse of Ansett at one time threatened the very existence of Air New Zealand itself, and brought about the eventual bailout of the company by the Government. Sixteen thousand Ansett staff were affected by the collapse. The airline eventually flew its last plane in March this year. AND HERE COMES WINSTON PETERS ----------------------------- And here comes Winston Peters. As the election race enters the home stretch, New Zealand First is surging from the trailing pack, and is making a strong bid for third place. Winston Peters is now neck-and-neck with the Greens, who are fading badly, according to the latest poll by TV3 and NFO. New Zealand First, in just a week, has moved from 5. 7 percent support to eight percent, while the Greens slip from 11 to eight. Based on this poll, New Zealand First and the Greens would each win 10 seats in Parliament. Labour would have 60 seats, not enough to govern alone, and National would have 30. This poll does not include the effects of corngate. (As someone observed elsewhere, this guy has been raised from the dead more times than Lazarus! His appeal seems to be primarily to older citizens who buy into the argument that much of New Zealand's trouble stems from immigration. Personally, I find it a repugnant argument. - BH) CAUTION ADVISED ON NTH ISLAND ROADS ----------------------------------- Police are advising motorists to be careful, as wet weather causes problems on several North Island roads. State Highway Three south of Piopio in the Waitomo District is down to one lane, after a large slip with boulders four metres high. State Highway 39 at Ngaruawahia has speed restrictions in place due to flooding. And the main road into Kerikeri from the south is also flooded, but remains open. Meanwhile, Transit New Zealand has re-opened state highways 30 - near Te Kuiti - and 41 near Taumarunui. LOCALS WELCOME RESUMPTION OF SURGERY ------------------------------------ There was rapturous applause for Health Minister Annette King at a public meeting in the Far North last night. Mrs King went to Kaitaia with news of the decision to restore surgical services at the town's hospital. Two specialist anaesthetists are heading there in the next 48 hours. A locum with paediatric experience will also be hired. Caesarean section services will be restored with informed consent from patients and women will be offered an appointment to see a specialist obstetrician. In addition, an independent facilitator will work through issues which led to the demise of surgical services. Kaitaia Hospital Action Group Chairman Millie Srhoj says the town is relieved with the outcome. He says Mrs King has committed herself to long term future of Kaitaia's surgical health services. HIGH INTEREST IN GM ISSUES --------------------------- Government officials concede they may have underestimated the level of public interest in GM issues following the corn crisis. A scare was sparked in 2000 when a batch of corn seeds were thought to be GM contaminated. Subsequent tests proved inconclusive but scientists agreed the likelihood of contamination was low. Greens co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons doubts whether the regulatory system can provide enough protection from GM mishaps. The chief executive of the Environmental Risk Management Authority, Baz Walker concedes more information about the scare could have been made public. He says GM has been a hot issue since the release of the Royal Commission report. Mr Walker says it is important the public is kept in the loop on ERMA's actions. He says New Zealand is in line with other countries in the way its deal with GM organisms which cross the border by accident. PUBLISHER FINED FOR FRAUD ------------------------- An Auckland publisher has been fined $20,000 dollars for fraudulent advertising practices. Anthony John Hendon admitted 55 breaches of the Fair Trading Act in the North Shore District Court. The Commerce Commission prosecuted Hendon after a number of complaints from businesses. Sales agents were falsely telling businesses they had previously agreed to advertise in his magazines. Fair Trading Branch Director Deborah Battell says it is a common scam. She says businesses need to make sure they have systems in place to properly approve invoices. A FIFTH OF NZERS DISABLED ------------------------- Figures from last year's census show a large number of disabled New Zealanders have difficulties with daily life. More than 650,000 adults and 92,000 children have physical disabilities. That is roughly a fifth of the population. More than 100,000 disabled people use public transport and a fifth of them have difficulty doing so. The most common problem is getting on or off buses or trains. Almost 10,000 people with disabilities are without special mobility equipment, mainly because of cost. Around 33,000 people report problems finding a car park, because fully mobile people have stolen them. Friday, 12 July ~~~~~~~~~~~ MEXICAN FLICK OPENS FESTIVAL ---------------------------- Film aficionados are celebrating the censor's decision to allow a saucy Mexican festival flick to be screened. Y Tu Mama Tambien - which roughly translates as "And Your Mama, Too" - will open tonight's 2002 International Film Festival in Auckland. Its screening is opposed by the Society for the Promotion of Community Standards. But their application for an interim injunction has been declined. Film Festival Director, Bill Gosden, says there's nothing exploitative or pornographic about the film. Mr Gosden says the banning of Baise Moi earlier this year set an unfortunate precedent. Celebrated US film reviewer Roger Ebert says Y Tu Mama Tambien is about two teenage boys and an impulsive journey with an older woman that involves sexual discoveries - and it is about the fragility of life and the finality of death. He says the film is too mature, thoughtful and frank for an "R" rating, but is not in any sense pornographic. CENSOR MUST SEE CONTROVERSIAL FILM ---------------------------------- The chief censor's office says the intent of a film is just as important as its content. An expectant Northland mother's willingness to have her birth filmed as part of a pornographic movie is creating controversy. Spokeswoman for the chief censor, Cathrine Austin, says her office has to consider HOW something is presented, as much as WHAT is presented. She says while the law is intended to ensure child pornography is not available, it does not specifically say you can not show babies in pornographic films. And she says her office can not make any assessment of the film until it sees it. Cathrine Austin says there has been a case before of a film which contained both explicit sex and birth scenes. It was called "Romance", and was rated R18. But Cathrine Austin says the censor must consider a film's intended purpose, and "Romance" was a different case. She says it arguably had artistic merit, and was submitted as part of a film festival. SIGNS OF PPTA BREAKTHROUGH --------------------------- There are signs of a breakthrough in the secondary school teachers' pay dispute. The Government has agreed to allow the pay negotiations to go through an independent arbitration process. Education Minister, Trevor Mallard, says the pay dispute has reached an impasse. He agrees the alternative dispute resolution asked for by the PPTA is now the best way to move it forward. He says an independent panel will be set up as early as next week, to examine the offers made to teachers by the Government. Mr Mallard says it will NOT have a dollar limit set, on what it can recommend as a fair offer. The one condition of the arbitration is that teachers call off their planned strike action. Mr Mallard says it is an unusual practice for the government to agree to such a step. But he says it is vital students do not lose any more class time through industrial action. (Apparently the PPTA has yet to consider the proposal, and the announcement is premature - BH) FAMILY MOURNS HENK'S DEATH -------------------------- Henk Bouma, the husband of Reporoa home invasion victim Beverly Bouma, has died at the age of 50. Mr Bouma passed away early this morning, after a short battle with liver cancer. His wife Beverly was murdered in a brutal home invasion of their Reporoa farm house in November 1998. Family spokesman, Reverend John Turton, says Mr Bouma's close circle of family and friends are grief-stricken. Reverend Turton says he gets a sense the wider New Zealand community is sharing the grief because they followed the case so closely. He says Mr Bouma showed the same integrity battling illness as he showed over the home invasion, but he never completely lost his anger. Mr Bouma is survived by two daughters and a son. His funeral will be held at Te Awamutu Presbyterian Church on Monday. The service is open to the public. PM DEFENDS TEACHER NEGOTIATIONS ------------------------------- The Prime Minister is defending the Government's bargaining process with striking secondary school teachers. Speaking in Napier, Helen Clark says the key thing is to keep the mediation talks going. She says it is not logical for the Government to agree to any claim that it has slapped on the table. Miss Clark says if the claim is way out of line, it can set off an inflationary spiral in wage demands. She says the Government will keep bargaining in good faith with teachers. NZFIRST RELEASES ECONOMIC POLICY -------------------------------- New Zealand First leader Winston Peters believes New Zealand can achieve six percent growth by 2006 and 2007. But he says to do that, New Zealand must treble its exports in real terms. He says the party's economic policy out today aims to achieve that by intensely promoting exporting. The policy also includes a plan to liberalise monetary policy to include export objectives, and a corporate tax cut specifically aimed at new profit in the export sector. Mr Peters says he will also look at requiring Government departments to buy New Zealand-made goods, to improve the country's balance of payments. KAITAIA COULD BE NATIONAL BLUEPRINT ----------------------------------- The Medical Association is hoping progress being made on solutions for Kaitaia Hospital, will benefit other centres facing similar problems. The Far North town has had its surgical services reinstated for the next three months, while clinicians, the Health Board and Ministry of Health work towards finding a long term solution. New Zealand Medical Association chairman, John Adams, says they welcome the fact all interested parties are working together to solve the problems. But he says the debate and discussions should be extended around the country, as the Kaitaia issues are reflected in a number of other smaller towns. TV3 WON'T GIVE CYFS INFO ------------------------ TV 3 says it will not share information with the Department of Child, Youth and Family Services on a controversial porn movie. A pregnant woman appeared on the network's '60 Minutes' programme last night, confessing a plan to be filmed while giving birth. Film company Vixen Direct wants to use the footage in a pornographic movie. Children's Commissioner Roger McClay is appalled and wants CYFS to investigate how suitable the woman is for motherhood. CYFS wants to stop the film and says it will ask TV 3 to reveal the woman's identity. But 60 Minutes producer Keith Slater believes it is not necessary for the programme makers to give CYFS the information. He says there is enough information in the show to help the agency track the woman down. Meanwhile, the man responsible for the film at the centre of the row claims the Children's Commissioner's gone too far. Vixen Direct managing director Stephen Crow says Mr McClay's being self-righteous, when the decision really belongs only to the pregnant woman. He says sex and birth are intrinsically linked and claims there is nothing wrong with showing both in a movie. FREEDOM DITCHES DOMESTIC FLIGHTS -------------------------------- Freedom Air says it is capitalising on significant potential growth in tourist travel between Queensland and New Zealand. At the end of October, Air New Zealand's cut price brand will launch a raft of new services from Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch across the Tasman to Queensland. To accommodate the expansion, Freedom is withdrawing from the New Zealand domestic market. Vice president, Wayne Dodge, says it has decided to do what it does best and build on a strong trans-Tasman base. He says Freedom was a small player in the domestic market. (Rats! I thought they had the best value deals in the country. - BH) ALLIANCE RELEASES EMPLOYMENT POLICY ----------------------------------- The Alliance's employment policy out today pledges to restructure Treasury and Reserve Bank monetary policy to ensure full employment. Party leader Laila Harre says she completely rejects the notion that unemployment is in any way natural or a necessary evil of economic equilibrium. She says they believe the long term goal of full, sustainable employment will only be possible if there is a change in macro-economic policy, to one rejecting outright unemployment. Ms Harre says unemployment happens because the government tolerates it. GUILTY PLEAS OVER DESECRATION ----------------------------- Two of the four people charged in connection with the desecration of a Christchurch grave, have entered guilty pleas in the Christchurch District Court. The charges relate to an incident last month, which saw the skull of a woman removed from the Waimairi cemetery. Eighteen-year-old Zane Benjamin Stutheridge and 22-year-old Shannon James Tuahini pleaded guilty this morning, to interfering with human remains and stealing the coffin's nameplate. Both were making no comment on their pleas on the advice of their lawyers. But Tuahini did confirm he did have regrets, when confronted by journalists outside court. Meanwhile, further appearances have been set aside for co-accused Daniel Coker, as well as Philippa Wendy Johnson, who has been charged as an accessory to the offence. TIME TO MOVE ON SAYS PM ----------------------- The Prime Minister's wanting to move on from the GM corn row. Helen Clark says companies such as Heinz-Wattie which plant corn seeds, are horrified at the false allegations made by the Greens and author Nicky Hagar. She says the claims are outrageous and she wants to focus on more important election issues. Miss Clark says the National Business Review's weekly poll out today shows that GE is a concern to the tiniest number of voters. She says the big issues are the economy, jobs, health, education, law and order, and the pension. The Prime Minister's been visiting Heinz-Wattie's factory at Hastings today. WEATHER'S WORST PASSES COROMANDEL --------------------------------- The worst seems to be over for the Coromandel Peninsula. The Metservice was predicting 30 to 40 millimetres of rain for the Peninsula earlier today. But Thames-Coromandel Civil Defence Manager Ron White says rain has eased and the high tide has passed with only minor problems. He says there was a little surface flooding, especially on one road in the Coromandel township. Mr White is now confident the worst has passed. Meanwhile, steady rain in the Waikato overnight has caused surface flooding and ponding in Mercer and the lower Waikato. There are also several rural roads closed. Meanwhile, there is a warning to people who are planning to use Waikato rivers for recreational activities this weekend. The steady rain has resulted in high levels in both the Waikato and Waipa river systems. Environment Waikato spokeswoman Linda Thompson says people who are going to be using the rivers for boating or skiing need to take extra care. She says the river is moving quickly and there are also likely to be submerged objects. BIRTH PORN FLICK OK, SAYS MOVIE MAN ----------------------------------- The man behind a controversial plan to include a child birth in a pornographic movie is defending the idea. A Northland woman has outraged the Department of Child Youth and Family Services and the Children's Commissioner by agreeing to take part in the Vixen Direct production. Both intend to try to stop the film. But Vixen Direct managing director Stephen Crow says it is all a storm in a teacup. He claims the marriage of birth and sex is a natural thing and says there is nothing wrong with including them in the same footage. (I personally think that's really sick. Porn objectifies women <and men> enough as it is, without putting something as sacred as childbirth in a movie for sexual gratification. If that movie gets the okay, I will be quite upset. -HH) (And I am pleased that Helen is willing to express such an opinion - BH) DEAD MAN'S NAME RELEASED ------------------------ Police have released the name of the man found dead at a Paraparaumu house this week. Twenty-six-year-old Damien Roy Sharp, was found dead in the Rosewood Place house on Wednesday night. Police are treating the death as suspicious. The victim's body was found with several cuts to his stomach. Police say they are not treating the death as a homicide at this stage, and it is unclear whether charges will be laid. Three other people at the house at the time Mr Sharp died, have been speaking to police about the death. TRIAL DATE SET FOR CORMACK MURDER ACCUSED ----------------------------------------- The man accused of murdering Teresa Cormack will stand trial in September. Jules Mikus was arrested in February for the 1987 killing of the Napier schoolgirl. The 43-year- old also faces charges of kidnapping, rape and sexual violation. The trial is due to start at the High Court in Napier on September 30, however an application was made by the defence to have it shifted. That will be heard on July 26. THE FINANCIAL PAGE ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Date: 11 July, 2002 Brian Dooley Wellington New Zealand CURRENCIES ~~~~~~~~~~ The currency codes given below conform to ISO 4217, which can be found at http://www.xe.net/currency/iso_4217.htm. To Buy NZD 1.00 USD 0.4928 AUD 0.8693 GBP 0.3186 JPY 58.15 CAD 0.7496 EUR 0.5001 HKD 3.8536 SGD 0.8653 ZAR 4.9504 CHF 0.7349 INTEREST RATES (%) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Call : 5.75 90 Day: 6.06 HOW TO SUBSCRIBE OR UNSUBSCRIBE ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Brian Harmer does NOT administer the mailing list. Please do not send subscription related messages to him. ALL requests to subscribe or unsubscribe must be sent to [EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe: send a one-line e-mail with the following command: subscribe nznews <e-mail-addr> To unsubscribe, the message to send is: unsubscribe nznews <e-mail- addr> In either case, omit the angular brackets. Remember, to unsubscribe, you must use exactly the same alias as you used to subscribe in the first place. New subscribers can add themselves to the WYSIWYG News E- mail list by using the enrolment form at the Akiko web site: http://nz.com/NZ/News/ -- Brian M. Harmer This message sent to: archive@jab.org
