Dangerous painkillers to stay on shelves.

A popular range of painkillers will stay on pharmacy shelves, despite earlier warnings that the drugs could be dangerous for some people. Drug safety agency Medsafe announced yesterday that "strong arguments" from patients and doctors using Cox-2 inhibitors had helped persuade them not to ban the drugs, despite "a number of unanswered questions" about their safety. Medsafe's Medicines Adverse Reactions Committee said the drugs – used by 60,000 New Zealanders to ease pain and inflammation – would remain available, but must carry stronger safety warnings.
Source: The Dominion Post.

Ulmer decides to hit the road.

Olympic cycling champion Sarah Ulmer need look no further than one of her closest adversaries for proof that she can transfer her world beating form from the track to the road. Ulmer, the world and Olympic 3000m individual pursuit champion, ended months of speculation about her future yesterday by announcing that she would switch to the 20km to 30km individual time trial. BikeNZ high performance director Michael Flynn said Dutch great Leontien Zijlaard-Van Moorsel was proof Ulmer could succeed. "If you go back to Sydney 2000 Zijlaard-Van Moorsel won the individual pursuits and the road time trial. In Athens she was first in the time trial and third in the pursuit, so both can be done.
Source: The Dominion Post.

Hotel log: Samuels not sober.

Staff at the hotel where Te Tai Tokerau MP Dover Samuels urinated in a corridor had noted in a log that he was "not sober". The log entry was confirmed last night by a Government spokesman after 3 News reported that Mr Samuels was aggressive and yelled at hotel staff.
Source: The Dominion Post.

More babies at risk.

More premature babies could be at risk following the reduction of neo-natal services after a superbug outbreak at Wellington Hospital, nurses warn. The five other neo-natal units in New Zealand are almost full and experts are concerned about the pressure caused by babies being turned away from Wellington. The bacteria – Gentamicin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus – has killed three babies, and strict infection-control measures are in place.
Source: The Dominion Post.

Kiwi to head anti-cluster bomb campaign.

A 25-year-old New Zealander has been appointed to lead the international campaign against the use of cluster bombs. Thomas Nash is the first coordinator of the Cluster Munitions Coalition, formed last year by 150 international groups. Its aim is to secure an international treaty banning the manufacture and use of cluster bombs, which have killed and maimed thousands of civilians in war zones around the world
Source: The Dominion Post.

Hunt in for a penny, in for a pound.

Former Speaker Jonathan Hunt, who earns at least $125,000 a year as high commissioner to London, has asked about his entitlement to a British pension worth $125 a week. As high commissioner, Mr Hunt is paid between $125,700 and $162,700 a year, on top of his $77,000 annual parliamentary pension. Mr Hunt, 66, is also entitled to nearly $13,000 a year in New Zealand superannuation, but not while he is living overseas. Instead, he could be entitled to a British pension.
Source: The Dominion Post.

Hawke's Bay prison expands.

The first unit of 493 new prison beds nationwide was opened in Hawke's Bay yesterday. It was the first step in a prison expansion programme expected to cost more than $800 million. Corrections Minister Paul Swain said the 40-bed unit was the first of the new beds planned for existing prisons in the next 12 months.
Source: APN Holdings NZ Ltd

Students may get help with debt.

The Government has indicated the budget will contain measures to ease student debt. "We know more needs to be done and we are progressively improving student loan and allowance rules," Associate Education Minister David Benson-Pope said in response to a report showing new teachers owed an average $23,187.
Source: APN Holdings NZ Ltd

Tax levels too high - poll.

Nearly two out of three taxpayers believe they are paying too much tax, a new poll shows. A National Business Review-Phillips Fox poll published today shows 62 per cent of people believe they are paying too much tax - 11 per cent more than two years ago. Treasury figures show personal income tax collected by the Government has risen by 40 per cent in the past five years, corporate tax by 57 per cent, and GST 16 per cent, the NBR reported. The overall tax take, including GST, had risen 34 per cent - from $34 billion to $45.7 billion.
Source: NZPA

Govt signals more defence spending in budget.

The Government has signalled there will be more spending for defence in next month's budget. Defence Minister Mark Burton said the Government had recently undertaken a defence capability and resourcing review, which would be released soon. "New Zealanders will see the response to this important review in this year's budget," he said in a statement
Source: NZPA

NZer upsets academics with Oxford revamp plans.

New Zealander John Hood has upset Oxford University academics with his plans to revamp the way the famous 800-year-old English institution is run. Dr Hood took over as vice chancellor at Oxford in September after holding the same position at Auckland University. A former business leader, he has angered dons with his plans to overhaul governance and working conditions at the university, British newspaper The Independent reported. Academics are so concerned they have referred the issue to the university's 3552-strong governing body, Congregation, of which all academics are members.
Source: NZPA

Prison population hits record.

New Zealand's prison population has reached 7000 for the first time and is set to rise further as Labour and National pledge to lock up more criminals. Figures issued by the Corrections Department show there were 7005 sentenced and remand prisoners on Tuesday – 600 more than on the same day last year.
Source: The Dominion Post.

Samuels caught short after party.

Senior Labour MP Dover Samuels has admitted urinating in the corridor of an Auckland hotel after he was locked out of his room following a party fundraiser. The Te Tai Tokerau MP said his plastic key card had not worked on his door, and he had called the duty manager. But he was unable to hold on till the manager could open the door, and had to relieve himself in front of him in the corridor.
Source: The Dominion Post.

Concern over bacterial outbreak.

There has been an outbreak of a new strain of Staphylococcus Aureus at Wellington Hospital. The bacteria has already killed three infants since its emergence in November. Another eight babies and 15 staff nurses have also contracted the bug. Hospital Microbiologist Mark Jones says the strain is particularly aggressive, and strict control measures have been imposed to help eradicate the bacteria.
© 2005 NZCity, IRN

NZ third worst in world cancer table.

International research shows New Zealand men and women have the third highest cancer rates in the world. Male cancer rates are higher only in the United States and Hungary. The countries with the lowest rates are Niger, Gambia and the Congo.
Source: APN Holdings NZ Ltd

Beach Property Aims For Price Record.

The impending sale of Highgate Estate in Poverty Bay looks set to break all local records. A beach-front property at Wainui Beach sold for $1.7 million last month, but rural manager for Harveys, David Egan, says the sale of Highgate Estate near Young Nick's Head should blow that out of the water. He believes the market value of the property is between $6 million and $10 million.
©2005 Xtra Limited.

Celebration Of Kiwi Innovation.

New Zealand's biggest-ever celebration of Kiwi innovation and entrepreneurship, the 2005 NZ Innovation Festival, has launched at Te Papa. The two-week nationwide Festival showcases more than 120 innovation events and exhibits, in sectors ranging from film, fashion and gaming, to environmental science, biocommerce and agri-technology.
©2005 Xtra Limited.

Soccer player nearly freezes to death during New Zealand match.

A teenage soccer player almost froze to death during a New Zealand club match as the temperatures dropped to below the freezing point at Featherston, 70km (50 miles) north of the capital Wellington on Sunday, a newspaper reported in its Wednesday edition. Azim Sheikh, 19, suffered severe hypothermia and had stopped breathing when he reached hospital after the match between Wairarapa United and Featherston, The Wairarapa Times-Age newspaper reported. The match was called off in the second half when Wairarapa management noticed several of its players were affected by the cold. Sheikh, who moved to New Zealand from Fiji two years ago, made a quick recovery after being rushed to hospital and was released late Sunday
Copyright (C) english.eastday.com.

Rugby World Cup outgrowing some nations.

Countries as small as New Zealand will find it increasingly difficult to host the rugby World Cup, Rugby Union chairman Jock Hobbs says. Hobbs will convene an "update" meeting today of those looking into the feasibility of New Zealand hosting the 2011 tournament and whether the union should proceed with its bid. While he gave little away, Hobbs eventually conceded "there is a sufficient amount of good news to keep the process moving forward". But he warned the four-yearly tournament, which was first held in New Zealand in 1987, had outgrown many of the countries who would like to host it – including New Zealand.
Source: The Dominion Post.

Deal looks almost done for Spencer.

English rugby club Northampton is desperate for a first five, and Carlos Spencer looks set to sign on the dotted line in the next few days, if he has not already. Spencer arrives back in Auckland on Friday, after being shown around the Northampton Saints club.
© 2005 NZCity, IRN

Most like smokefree pubs.

New smokefree laws put in place last December appear to have been given the thumbs up, even by smokers. A survey commissioned by the Asthma and Respiratory Foundation shows that 70 percent of people now support the ban on smoking in pubs and bars. Support from non-smokers has increased from 66 percent to 75 percent. Possibly the most surprising result, was an increase in support from smokers. Forty-two percent of smokers now support the ban, compared with 22 in the last survey in November.
© 2005 NZCity, IRN

Kiwi company advised to move overseas.

Government agency Trade and Enterprise has told a successful Levin outdoor clothing company it would be financially better off moving its manufacturing overseas. Swazi Apparel owner Davey Hughes said a senior Trade and Enterprise account manager told his company, which employed 71 people, it would be better off having its clothing made overseas. Mr Hughes rejected it, saying his main priority was supporting the local community.
Source: The Dominion Post.

Bail denied for Kiwi despite $5m bond.

A New Zealander charged with a massive swindle has suffered a setback with a United States judge refusing to bail him with a $US3.7 million ($NZ5 million) bond. Derek Turner, 56, has been held in a maximum-security New York jail since his arrest on April 16, awaiting trial on charges of defrauding hedge fund investors of more than $US1 million. Prosecutors plan more charges that will lift the total to more than $US4 million.
Source: The Dominion Post.

Fiji chili peppers find growing Kiwi market.

SUVA, Fiji Chili peppers grown in Fiji have found a growing market in New Zealand, with increased exports in recent years. Last year, for the first nine months, Fiji exported 27.7 tons of chillies to New Zealand, an increase of 8.5 percent over the 25.3 tons exported in 2003. At wholesale, green chillies in New Zealand are selling for NZ$7 per kilogram

NZ to provide further aid to Sudan refugees.

WELLINGTON, Apr 26, 2005 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand would provide an additional 4.3 million NZ dollars (3.1 million US dollars) this year to assist displaced people in the Sudan. Aid Minister Marian Hobbs, announcing the aid package Tuesday, said the aid will also help fighting against polio, malaria, TB and HIV/AIDS in Sudan.

From Matamata to Microsoft.

New Zealander Chris Liddell has performed the business equivalent of Peter Jackson winning an Oscar or Sarah Ulmer winning an Olympic gold medal. Mr Liddell, an Auckland University graduate who was born in Matamata, was appointed yesterday to the third most powerful post at the world's third largest company – Microsoft. The 47-year-old former boss of Carter Holt Harvey has been named chief financial officer. He will now rank behind only Microsoft founder and chairman Bill Gates and chief executive officer Steve Ballmer at the firm, which itself ranks behind only Exxon Mobil and General Electric.
Source: The Dominion Post.

Drop in biz confidence could mean early election.

Plunging business confidence could lead the Government to call an early election, the ACT Party says. The latest National Bank Business Outlook survey released today shows 48 per cent of firms expect business conditions to deteriorate over the next year - up from just 19 per cent a month ago. It reflects political opinion polls which have recently shown a dip in general confidence in the economy, although Labour has maintained a lead of up to 10 percentage points over National.
Source: NZPA

Canterbury Museum revamp knocked back.

Opponents of a controversial plan to alter parts of the historic Canterbury Museum in a $35m revamp have lauded a planning decision knocking back part of the plan. Consent commissioners yesterday released a decision in which they refused Canterbury Museum permission to alter historic facades and open cafe and retail outlets inside its building.
source: The Press

Jackson restores 1915 Gallipoli film.

Peter Jackson's cutting-edge, hi-tech film-making – used to great effect on The Lord of the Rings and King Kong – has been employed to restore the only film taken of the Anzacs at Gallipoli in 1915. The Sydney Morning Herald reported on Anzac Day that the restored film – held by the Australian War Memorial in Canberra – was as good as when it first screened in London in 1916. The 20 minutes of footage included soldiers from the Wellington Battalion in a trench. The original nitrate film was destroyed in 1967, and the best print that remained was scratched, fuzzy and low in contrast.
Source: The Dominion Post.

Ex-police commissioner may sue PM.

Prime Minister Helen Clark may face legal action from former police commissioner Peter Doone after he abandoned a defamation case against the Sunday Star-Times today. Mr Doone today withdrew proceedings against the newspaper in the High Court in Wellington, saying he had seen evidence in the past two weeks which identified a prominent New Zealander as the apparent source of alleged defamatory statements run by the newspaper. Mr Doone would not identify the source, but Sunday Star-Times counsel Peter McKnight told NZPA outside the court today that it was a matter of public record that the prominent New Zealander was Miss Clark.
Source: NZPA

Women rugby brawlers banned.

Spectators were a greater problem than the players during a fight at a women's rugby match in Hastings, according to a club captain. Maori Agricultural Club lock Tessa Flowers and Western Suburbs No 8 Noaveid Heather were given two-week bans yesterday for their part in the dust-up on Saturday.The players were both sent off.
Source: The Dominion Post.

NZ population ageing and growing more slowly.

New Zealand's population is is getting older and is growing more slowly due to less migration, Statistics New Zealand (SNZ) said today. Population growth was estimated to be 38,600 in the year to March 31, down from 56,800 in the year to March 2004. Natural population increase -- the excess of births over deaths -- was down 200 to 28,600. The excess of long-term arrivals over long-term departures fell from 28,000 to 10,000, a SNZ statement said. The total population was estimated to be 4,092,900 at March 31.
Source: APN Holdings NZ Ltd

PM Confronted By Tattoo At ANZAC.

Eyebrows have been raised over the official Maori welcome given to Prime Minister Helen Clark at ANZAC Day commemorations at Gallipoli. Miss Clark was welcomed to the ceremony by a Maori warrior from the New Zealand Army whose tattooed buttocks were exposed. Newstalk ZB's political editor Barry Soper says the Prime Minister appeared uncomfortable about the sight. Afterwards, Miss Clark said that although she has been welcomed by Maori parties before, none ever had bare bottoms.
©2005 Xtra Limited.

Winds fan Wanaka bushfire for second day.

North-westerly winds are fanning a bushfire near Makarora, north of Wanaka today, with about 50ha of native bush and vegetation affected. Four fire brigades, Department of Conservation (DOC) workers and two local helicopters using monsoon buckets worked yesterday to contain the fire, which spread over Makarora River Ranch land and threatened public conservation land 65km north of Wanaka.
Source: NZPA

8000 overdue for surgery.

Thousands of patients are being given unrealistic surgery expectations because of poor waiting-list management, the Health Ministry says. The number of patients told they would definitely be treated but waiting more than the prescribed maximum six months for surgery has grown steadily since last August, from 6790 to 8251.
source:The Press

Defence chief defends Anzac speech.

GALLIPOLI: The country's top military man has defended his heavy Anzac Day criticism of British army officers whose Gallipoli strategy caused the deaths of 44,000 Allied soldiers 90 years ago. Chief of Defence Force Air Marshal Bruce Ferguson told the dawn service at Anzac Cove on Turkey's Gallipoli Peninsula yesterday that the mission was a combination of extreme tragedy, gallantry, occasional inspired leadership at lower levels, gross incompetence at higher levels, and of endurance, cruelty and compassion. Air Marshal Ferguson also told the dawn service there was no glory to Gallipoli 90 years ago. It was rather a folly of high command and joint warfare at its worst from the British side.
Source: NZPA

Couples in race for first Civil Union.

The race is on to be the first ground-breaking couple in New Zealand to seal their love with a civil union. The Civil Unions Bill, allowing same-sex and heterosexual couples to gain legal standing on a par with marriage, becomes law today. A three-day registration period means Friday is the earliest opportunity for a couple to earn themselves a place in the history books but at present it is uncertain whose union will have that spot.
source:The Press

Maori alarm at gene project.

An ambitious project to trace the origins and movements of the human race through blood samples from indigenous peoples is setting off alarm bells among Maori. Dr Paul Reynolds of Auckland University's Maori research centre, Nga Pae o te Maramatanga, urged Maori to boycott the project because it implied that people's origins could be traced in their genes. "This type of research is colonisation as usual," he said. "Indigenous people will be saying we already have our stories about our origins, so we don't need a scientific rationale to justify our origins.
Source: APN Holdings NZ Ltd

Warmth of Anzac spirit melts icy cold dawn.

Despite the wintry conditions, New Zealanders turned out in huge numbers around the country today for the Anzac Day dawn services commemorating the 90th anniversary of Gallipoli landings in World War 1. Christchurch RSA spokesman Pat Duggan said numbers were "excellent" despite a dismally cold drizzly morning, with between 800 and 1000 marching and several thousand spectators in support. Whangarei, Hamilton, Rotorua and Nelson, all reported record attendances with Palmerston North, Nelson, Hastings and Taupo, having excellent turnouts. Around 3000 people turned out in Palmerston North, while the turnout in Nelson was described as the biggest in more than 20 years.
Source: APN Holdings NZ Ltd

Arahura loses power in storm.

Emergency services were put on full alert when an Interislander ferry lost power with 676 people on board at the entrance to the rocky and narrow Tory Channel. The Arahura broke down about midday yesterday after battling high winds and mountainous seas in Cook Strait. It limped into Picton under tug escort more than three hours late just before 4pm, having been diverted through the northern entrance to Queen Charlotte Sound.
Source: The Dominion Post.

Vicious storm swipes Wellington.

The storm, in the early hours of yesterday, led into the coldest day of the year in New Zealand so far, with snowfalls in many areas, hailstorms turning towns white and roads made treacherous. Wellington struggled to 10C, while Palmerston North and Napier fared only one degree better. Masterton also copped hailstorms and was never warmer than 8C. Snow fell in much of the South Island, with two centimetres lying on the ground at Tekapo and falls in Queenstown, Dunedin and the Port Hills above Christchurch.
Source: The Dominion Post.

Who'll help God defend New Zealand?

Almost a quarter of New Zealanders would refuse to fight if an invading army landed on our shores. On the eve of Anzac Day, a Sunday Star-Times/BRC poll has found 24 per cent of New Zealanders would not take up arms - assuming they were fit and able to do so - even if another country was invading. Seventy-two per cent said they would. The pacifist instinct extends evenly across the age groups, with only 3 per cent more people aged 60 and over prepared to go into battle than those aged 18 to 59.
source: Sunday Star Times

Alarm bells over trainee teacher drop-outs.

Teacher trainees at Victoria University are dropping out of their programme in droves, alarming education groups who say teacher shortages will worsen. Figures given to the Sunday Star-Times show that more than half the students enrolled in the university's three Bachelor of Teaching degrees failed or quit less than half way through their studies. Of the 154 students who started the new four-year degree programme in 2003, only 59 (38 per cent) returned last month for their third year of study. Only 44 per cent of the students who started last year have returned for a second year.
source: Sunday Star Times

Cave Creek survivors to reunite.

The four Cave Creek survivors are to reunite to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the tragedy. They were among 17 Tai Poutini Polytech outdoor recreation students on a West Coast viewing platform when it plummeted 30 metres on April 28, 1995. Thirteen students and a Conservation Department (DOC) officer died. The four survivors, Carolyn Smith, Stacy Mitchell, Sam Lucas and Stephen Hannen, will meet up again at a ceremony to mark the 10th anniversary of the tragedy at DOC's Punakaiki field centre, northeast of Greymouth, on April 28.
Source: NZPA

Many areas of the country hit by snow.

Snow is turning parts of the country into a winter wonderland. The Port Hills overlooking Christchurch were blanketed overnight, as was the Desert Road. Another five centimetres of snow fell on the Milford and Lindis Pass Roads this morning. MetService says the southern slopes between Manawatu and Wanganui are due for a dusting this afternoon. It says snow showers will fall on State Highway One north of Hunterville, on the higher parts of Gentle Annie near Gisborne and along the Napier-Taupo Road.
© 2005 New Zealand City Ltd

Super 12 results.

Blues thump Stormers 37-24; Bulls beat Chiefs 29-26; Crusaders beat Cats 40-36; Reds beat Sharks 30-25
© 2005 New Zealand City Ltd

Ulmer wavers on biking future.

Gold medal-winning Olympic cyclist Sarah Ulmer has given her strongest hint yet that she may quit competitive cycling. Ulmer said yesterday she was at a crossroads as she decided whether to resume training to defend her Olympic cycling crown or quit to pursue other opportunities. But she had real doubts whether she could ever repeat that golden moment in Athens. "I truly don’t believe last year will be topped."
Source: APN Holdings NZ Ltd

India, New Zealand sign education pact.

INDIA and New Zealand on Wednesday signed an Education Cooperation Arrangement (ECA) that entails exchange of research materials, educational literature and teaching aids, as also organisation of joint research programmes and publications.The ECA was signed by Mr Arjun Singh, Minister for Human Resource Development, and Mr Trevor Mallard, Minister of Education, New Zealand.
© 2005, The Hindu Business Line

Turkey bans Maori war dance for WWI Gallipoli ceremonies.

Turkish authorities have banned the traditional Maori haka war dance from ceremonies marking the 90th anniversary of the ill-fated World War I Gallipoli battle, deeming it "obscene", local media reported Saturday. "Overzealous", read the front-page headline of the daily Vatan, which condemned the decision by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to bar Maori performers from doing the haka at Monday’s ceremonies.
© Copyright KurdishMedia.com

Kupe gas field bigger than expected.

Taranaki's Kupe gas and condensate field is substantially bigger than originally thought. The field's owners said yesterday they had revised upwards by 16.5 per cent Kupe's estimated recoverable reserves.
Source: NZPA

Proportion of Asian Kiwis set to double.

The face of New Zealand is set to become sharply less European and more Asian. The latest projections from Statistics New Zealand forecast that Europeans will drop from 79 per cent of the population in 2001 to 70 per cent by 2021. The proportion of Asians will double from 7 per cent to 15 per cent. There will also be smaller increases in Maori and Pacific Islanders.
Source: APN Holdings NZ Ltd

Australia make error-prone Kiwis pay.

BRISBANE: Australia convincingly underlined their world dominance of international rugby league with an efficient 32-16 disposal of the Kiwis in a predictable Anzac test clash at Suncorp Stadium. The Kangaroos ruthlessly pounced on a spate of Kiwis' handling errors to build a 22-10 lead at halftime in a contest the Australians dominated throughout to retain the Bill Kelly Memorial Trophy.
Source: NZPA

Maori prayer plea rejected.

A former soldier is upset over a failed attempt to have a gesture of recognition for Maori servicemen at an Anzac Day service. Moa Larkins said he wanted the dawn parade at the Browns Bay waterfront to include a prayer and a hymn in Maori. But he said the East Coast Bays Returned Services Association dismissed his request for a second time. "The Maori part would only take seven minutes," he said. "But it would mean a lot to me whose Ngapuhi grandfather [Arthur (Whare Moa) Harris] went to World War I and cleared minefields ahead of the British soldiers.
Source: APN Holdings NZ Ltd

Disappointed Tanczos drops down Greens' list.

The Green Party list has seen the demotion of one of Parliament's most colourful MPs, Nandor Tanczos, to potential danger territory which could see him failing to make it back into Parliament. Mr Tanczos, who fronts the Greens' controversial cannabis reform policy, has fallen from fourth to seventh on the party list released this morning. The danger comes if the Greens' party vote is just over the all-important 5 per cent threshold, entitling the party to only six MPs. Vaulting ahead of the rastafarian MP on the list are Metiria Turei, Keith Locke and Sue Kedgley.
Source: APN Holdings NZ Ltd

330 police in porn probe.

An embattled New Zealand police force has taken another hit with 330 staff under investigation for viewing sexually explicit images on their computers. Police will not say who they are, but the superintendent is likely to be one of the country's 12 district commanders. Canterbury has the most – 61 – followed by Wellington with 44.
Source: The Dominion Post.

Picketing miners hit Christchurch.

Solid Energy miners in the South Island moved their picketing to the company's head office in Christchurch this morning, where they drummed up noise as Solid Energy bosses arrived. "We're making a lot of noise for when they arrive at work," Engineering Printing and Manufacturing Union representative Harold Gibbens said. The first national coal miners strike in more than a decade kicked off yesterday with 700 miners walking off the job for 48 hours at four Solid Energy mines in the North and South Islands.
Source: NZPA

NZ guns not the problem in PNG - study.

A crackdown on the export of firearms and ammunition from New Zealand and Australia has dramatically reduced the availability of guns in Papua New Guinea, says a new report on gun-running. Sydney University associate Professor Philip Alpers - formerly a gun control advocate in New Zealand - said the study found that most of the guns being used illegally in PNG came from the country's police or military. "We discovered that despite the rumours of large numbers of guns being smuggled into Papua New Guinea, that is largely mythology," he told ABC Radio. "Very few of the guns we saw - and we were shown quite a lot of firearms, illicit firearms - almost all of them came from two sources: the police and the military within PNG
Source: NZPA

3700 bankers take industrial action.

Thousands of ANZ and National Bank staff are taking industrial action today to push for the same compensation for evening and weekend work as their Australian counterparts. The 3700 workers from about 300 branches were holding stop-work meetings this morning to discuss further action, union Finsec said.
Source: NZPA

NZ short film wins award at US festival.

The New Zealand short film Boy has won an award at a film festival in the United States. Boy won the Best Short Narrative Film award at the 2005 Cinequest Film Festival in San Jose, qualifying it for consideration for next year's Academy Awards. Directed by Auckland's Welby Ings and produced by Nic Finlayson for Room 8 Productions, the non-dialogue short film tells the story of a young male prostitute living in small-town New Zealand, who tries to expose the truth behind a fatal hit-and-run accident.
Source: NZPA

Nurses wait two months for pay rise.

Thousands of nurses are being forced to wait two months longer than planned for the first instalment of their pay jolt. Nurses Organisation members in February ratified a deal with district health boards covering 20,000 nurses, midwives and healthcare assistants. Most of the nurses and midwives will receive pay rises of around 20 percent in the 2½-year deal. Of the country's 21 district health boards, only the central Auckland and Otago boards have started paying the new rates, which took effect on April 1.
Source: NZPA

330 police staff investigated over objectionable emails.

Police Commissioner Rob Robinson announced this afternoon that 330 staff are under investigation over objectionable material on the force's email system. Mr Robinson said the investigation did not involve child porn, but some of the material was such that if police were legitimately exposed to it in the course of their jobs they would receive a psychological debrief after seeing it. The staff have been caught misusing the police email system by sending, receiving, and storing inappropriate and potentially offensive images. A superintendent and three inspectors are among those involved. A mixture of police officers and other staff are under investigation and all those under scrutiny will receive a letter and then an interview with superiors.
Source: APN Holdings NZ Ltd

Pope will surprise critics, NZ cardinal says.

New Zealand's Cardinal Tom Williams says he agrees with American bishops that the new pope is gracious, humble, holy and open to discussion. Cardinal Williams was among 115 cardinals who chose Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger at a conclave in Vatican City yesterday to succeed Pope John Paul II.
Source: APN Holdings NZ Ltd

Enforced DNA tests urged in paternity.

Men should be forced to take DNA tests to settle paternity disputes, the Law Commission says. The "New Issues in Legal Parenthood" report said that intentional non-compliance with DNA test orders should be met with fines of up to $2500 and three months in jail. The legal presumption of fatherhood should also be extended to include de facto and civil union partners living with the mother at time of conception, the report said. The report contains 30 recommended law changes designed to reflect changing family structures and developments in new birth technology and DNA testing.
Source: APN Holdings NZ Ltd

Net migration loss largest in four years.

New Zealand experienced a brain drain in March not seen on a similar scale for over four years, latest Statistics New Zealand migration figures released today show. Permanent long-term departures from New Zealand exceeded arrivals by 1440 in March. The last time New Zealand experienced such a net migration loss was in early 2001, SNZ said. In the year to March, New Zealand had a net 10,000 migration gain. That is down 64 per cent from the 28,000 net inflow in the previous March year. Permanent arrivals in the month of March totalled 5300 and for the year, came to 78,100. Departures came to 6800 in March and 68,100 in the year. New Zealand is still experiencing reasonably strong immigration from other countries but New Zealand citizens are quitting the country in greater numbers, particularly for Australia.
Source: NZPA

Creative NZ has trouble accounting for grants.

The Act party says it is unacceptable that arts funding body Creative New Zealand (CNZ) handed out more than $1 million of funding but cannot say how the grants were spent. Act leader Rodney Hide was reacting to figures showing that artists who got 96 grants totalling $1.03 million had not reported back to say how the funds were used and whether projects were finished. The New Zealand Herald reported that CNZ said it could not find artists, artists' companies have gone into liquidation, or artists have said they have sent reports but they have never been received. Its chief executive Elizabeth Kerr said that since January 2000 there were 220 projects where no reports had been received, yet at least 124 of the projects had been completed. In two cases the artists had died.
Source: NZPA

Water quality overtakes air pollution as big worry.

New Zealanders are now so worried about the quality of rivers, streams and lakes, that water quality has overtaken air pollution as the nation's leading environmental worry, researchers say. In a biennial survey by environment specialists at Lincoln University, 19 per cent of respondents ranked water quality as their main environmental concern -- with one in four rating waterways as being in a bad or very bad condition -- compared with only 10 per cent in 2002.
Source: APN Holdings NZ Ltd

Thai Free Trade Deal Signed.

Thailand and New Zealand have signed a free trade deal. Prime Minister Helen Clark formalised the pact with her Thai counterpart Thaksin Shinawatra in Thailand. Miss Clark says it will make both countries more competitive in the global marketplace by encouraging Thais and New Zealanders to pool their expertise, ideas, technology and resources. The Greens are outraged the Government has signed the free trade agreement before the deal was even been debated in Parliament. Greens co-leader Rod Donald says all significant international treaties are voted on in Parliament. He says this deal has not been through that scrutiny nor has it been fully considered by the Foreign Affairs select committee.
©2005 Xtra Limited.

Miners call nationwide strike.

Solid Energy miners will begin a 48-hour nationwide strike tomorrow as they up the ante in their fight for pay parity between mines.
Source: NZPA

Goff sets out NZ's position on Myanmar.

New Zealand will not impose economic sanctions on Myanmar but will continue to be a strong critic of the military regime's human rights abuses and suppression of democracy, Foreign Minister Phil Goff said today. "New Zealand will continue to work with others to apply pressure for change in Myanmar, although so far neither direct punitive action through sanctions nor positive inducements to change have had any effect on the behaviour of the military rulers," he said in a statement after meeting exiled political leaders who are visiting Auckland.
Source: NZPA

Taupo throws hat into ring to host round.

Taupo has thrown its hat into the ring to host a V8 Supercar series round from next year. Private company MIT Development has been in talks with V8 Supercar rights holders Avesco since last year to host a round at Taupo. The success of the MIT bid rests on the redevelopment of the Taupo Car Club track. "The ball is in Avesco's court. They have preferred a street race but if that cannot be met, Taupo is certainly an option as a venue," spokesman Chris Abbott said.
Source: The Dominion Post.

Awatere-Huata ordered to pay costs.

Former ACT MP Donna Awatere-Huata has been ordered to pay $17,000 in costs following a court decision allowing the party to expel her. In a written decision released today, the Supreme Court ordered Mrs Awatere-Huata pay $15,000 to her former ACT colleagues Richard Prebble, Ken Shirley, Rodney Hide and Muriel Newman, plus $2000 to cover court fees and photocopying costs. The costs were in relation to the Supreme Court's ruling in November that ACT could invoke party-hopping legislation to have her removed from Parliament, overturning a Court of Appeal decision.
Source: APN Holdings NZ Ltd

NZ degrees among world's most expensive.

University study in New Zealand is among the most expensive in the world, says a North American-based research institute. New Zealand came in second, behind Japan, in cost rankings by the Educational Policy Institute (EPI) released at the weekend, which showed a university education was most affordable in Sweden, followed by Finland and the Netherlands. "The United Kingdom and New Zealand are near the bottom of the ranking because of high costs and low national incomes," the institute said.
Source: NZPA

Mehrtens on the move.

Andrew Mehrtens appears to be on his farewell tour around Super 12 stadiums, as reports in Britain are mounting about his departure to London. Yesterday, The Times in London reported that Mehrtens has signed for the Harlequins. The Press earlier this month reported that the London club claimed to have secured Mehrtens' signature, but the Crusaders first five-eighths has continued to deny any agreement.
source; The Press

Haka promotes aggression in young Maori - academic.

A Maori theologian has questioned the cultural role of haka, saying it promotes an aggressive identity for young Maori males. Auckland academic Jenny TePaa made the comments on TV3's 60 Minutes programme last night in a segment on Maori crime which quoted statistics showing Maori were arrested for 90 per cent of all thefts in Rotorua in 2003. Dr TePaa, of the College of St John the Evangelist, said the use of haka gave a frightening impression of young Maori to non-Maori people. It was a dance of aggression. In the push for more Maori culture, young Maori males needed less aggressive ways to express their cultural identity, she said.
Source: NZPA

Number of prostitutes rises 40pc.

A 40 per cent leap in the number of sex workers, along with a sharp rise in those working the streets, is concerning critics of the law decriminalising prostitution. The Prostitution Law Review Committee's benchmark report on the state of the sex industry in New Zealand, tabled in Parliament yesterday, will be used by lawmakers to decide whether changes to the act are necessary in 2007 or 2008. The review committee's report estimated there were 5932 sex workers operating in New Zealand in April last year, 10 months after the act was passed – up nearly 40 per cent from the 4272 identified in a 2001 police survey.
source: The Press

Brash rules out Maori Party as coalition ally.

Don Brash has put the boot into the Maori Party, distancing National from potential coalition talks and instead painting it as Labour’s sidekick. He raised the prospect of a "dangerous" Maori Party and Labour coalition Government, saying it would spell goodbye to "any hope of ending race-based separatism".
Source: APN Holdings NZ Ltd

Public has little trust in Parliamentary process, survey shows.

Most New Zealanders have a low level of trust in the parliamentary process believing it has little influence over what the Government does, a survey indicates. Most people - 87 per cent - rated New Zealand's version of democracy at five out of 10 or better, but only 10 per cent said they believed it was working "very well". Only 10 per cent of New Zealanders belong to a political party and only 30 per cent have attended a political meeting or rally.
Source: APN Holdings NZ Ltd

Offical Reassures On Flu Vaccine.

Influenza shots now are available, but many GPs have not yet received the vaccine. Healthy people under the age of 65 can be injected with the Vaxigrip product which is available this week. The vaccine, which it was hoped would cover three flu strains, was found to be not effective for one of the varieties. The full-strength vaccine, which is recommended for people aged over 65 and those with chronic conditions, will be available from April 26
©2005 Xtra Limited.

Peter Jackson kips and calls in 'backup'.

Two of Hollywood's most successful directors have visited Wellington in a tongue-in-cheek effort to help "an exhausted" Peter Jackson complete King Kong. Bryan Singer, best known for The Usual Suspects and X-Men, and Frank Darabont, who directed The Shawshank Redemption and The Green Mile, feature in Jackson's latest video diary pretending to direct scenes in King Kong. In an earlier video diary, Jackson fell asleep in a meeting because of the long hours he had spent on King Kong. Jackson pokes fun at the incident in the latest video by having the directors travel to Wellington to take over shooting if he falls asleep.
Source: The Dominion Post.

Morning of losses for NZ stocks.

New Zealand stocks were down nearly two per cent in early trade today, once again taking their cue from grim offshore sessions on Friday. By 11.30am the benchmark NZSX-50 gross index had lost 55.99 points or 1.86 per cent to 2954.80, its lowest level since November last year. The NZSX all capital index was down 16.20 points or 1.68 per cent to 951.22.
Source: NZPA

Airport closed after illness hits traffic controllers.

Four international flights to Wellington had to be diverted after a shortage of air traffic controllers last night closed the airport. The Dominion Post understands illness meant not enough air traffic controllers were available to keep it open. Air New Zealand flights from Sydney and Melbourne and two Qantas flights from the same cities were affected, along with about three flights from Auckland and Christchurch.
Source: The Dominion Post.

Tamihere for prime minister?

John Tamihere may have blown his Cabinet career with his outburst against his Labour colleagues, but he's boosted his popularity as a potential prime minister. A One News Colmar Brunton poll last night shows Mr Tamihere is the fourth most preferred prime minister with 3 per cent support – a more than six-fold increase on the 0.4 per cent he registered in March. Till yesterday, Mr Tamihere had failed to register above 1 per cent in the preferred prime minister stakes. The result appears to be a show of support for Mr Tamihere's decidedly blokeish attack on political correctness in the Labour Party, including his claims it is too heavily influenced by unions, women and gays.
Source: The Dominion Post.

Kiwi cardinal at 100-1 to become Pope.

The odds on New Zealand's cardinal Tom Williams becoming the next pope are 100-1, according to online bookmaker Paddypower.com, which has Joseph Ratzinger of Germany as favourite.
Source: The Dominion Post.

Maori Party accepts poll only 'indicative' but backs polling.

Although a weekend poll showing that Labour would lose five of the seven Maori seats was based on a small sample it reflected her party's own polling, Maori Party co-leader Tariana Turia said today. The Marae-Digipoll survey showed that only Maori Affairs Minister Parekura Horomia and Tainui MP Nanaia Mahuta would win their electorates. Labour Party president Mike Williams has described the poll as "snake oil" because of its small sample size.
Source: NZPA

National would look at axing Maori land court - Brownlee.

National would change the foreshore law to prevent the Maori Land Court hearing customary rights cases and investigate axing the court altogether, says deputy leader Gerry Brownlee. The party also appears set to sideline several government agencies managing the coastal marine area, giving the job to a newly created body instead.
Source: NZPA

Army bridge report website shut.

The battle between the Defence Force and lawyer Rob Moodie has entered cyberspace with moves to block the internet publication of an army report suppressed by the High Court. Dr Moodie's website was closed by his internet service provider yesterday, two days after the document was posted on it, after the solicitor-general claimed that its contents were illegal. At the centre of the battle is the army's report on a farm bridge it built in 1986. The bridge collapsed in 1994, killing Mr Richards, an Inglewood beekeeper. King Country farmers Keith and Margaret Berryman lost their farm because of the costs incurred defending themselves in a subsequent prosecution and coroner's court hearing. They have been repeatedly blocked from citing in their defence the army report, which allegedly details serious errors in bridge design and construction.
Source: The Dominion Post.

The price isn't right for Prime's flagship show.

Prime Television is imploring advertisers to give it more money and has admitted that programming around its flagship current affairs show Paul Holmes is not working. In a departure from his normally bullish stance, Prime chief executive Chris Taylor last week said the show before Paul Holmes' slot was "rather soft" and would be dumped in the next few weeks. Despite the industry theory that current affairs shows should run on from news - as they do on TV3 and TV1 - Prime will stick with its early news slot, but replace The Price is Right, which currently runs before Paul Holmes.
source: The Sunday Star Times

Poll shows strong challenge to Labour in Maori seats.

The Maori Party is running neck and neck with Labour in the Maori seats, according to the most comprehensive survey of Maori voting intentions for the election so far. A Marae-DigiPoll survey of 1100 voters in the seven Maori seats found both parties picking up around 42.7 per cent of the vote. But Labour is ahead 48 per cent to 33 per cent when the voting intentions of Maori on the general roll are added.
Source: APN Holdings NZ Ltd

Strikes bring work to halt.

Several Waikato industries are at a standstill as workers down tools in support of substantial pay rises. And more walk-outs are looming as employees seek better deals in a booming economy just months before a general election. Yesterday 238 coal miners walked off the job at the Huntly and Rotowaro mines just days after a strike by more than 400 Waikato District Health Board clerical and administration workers. Nationally, up to 2000 workers covered by the Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union's (EPMU) Metals collective contract also struck yesterday in support of their five per cent pay claim
source: The Waikato Times

ACT MP gives up politics.

ACT MP Deborah Coddington is quitting politics, robbing the party of one of its highest-profile candidates in the general election. "For me, it's a positive move," she said yesterday of her decision not to put her name forward for a place on the ACT list. "I have loved every minute of it. I have no regrets, I just want to go back to writing." Ms Coddington, 52, a former North & South magazine writer, was once ACT's brightest star and touted as leadership material.
Source: The Dominion Post.

Senior clinicians issue health warning.

Sixteen senior Christchurch clinicians have taken the unprecedented step of hiring a public relations firm to distribute nationwide an article warning that an overstretched health system is compromising safe patient care. In the article, the Christchurch Hospitals Medical Staff Association warned that overworked specialists and underfunded tertiary hospitals threatened patient safety. It added that public criticism of doctors left carrying the can when systems failed was driving some to retire early or consider leaving the country.
source: The Press

Traders dump the Kiwi dollar.

Currency traders dumped the Kiwi dollar yesterday after weaker-than-expected inflation for the first three months of the year. The dollar slumped about US1c from the day before, to US71.37 in late afternoon. During the day it was trading largely between US71.3c and US72.2c It took a hit against the Australian dollar as well, falling A0.39c to A93.14c. Wholesale 90-day interest rates took a bit of a knock, falling 0.05 per cent to 7.03 per cent.
Source: The Dominion Post.

$300m windfarm proposed for Hawke's Bay.

A $300 million wind farm with potential to power over 90,000 homes has been proposed for hill country northwest of Napier. Hawke's Bay Wind Farm Ltd (HBWF) plans to lodge a resource consent application with the Hastings District Council next month for between 60 and 80 turbines near Te Pohue on the Napier-Taupo Road. If the project goes ahead as proposed it would be bigger than any of the current wind farms in New Zealand
Source: NZPA

$300m windfarm proposed for Hawke's Bay.

A $300 million wind farm with potential to power over 90,000 homes has been proposed for hill country northwest of Napier. Hawke's Bay Wind Farm Ltd (HBWF) plans to lodge a resource consent application with the Hastings District Council next month for between 60 and 80 turbines near Te Pohue on the Napier-Taupo Road. If the project goes ahead as proposed it would be bigger than any of the current wind farms in New Zealand
Source: NZPA

Number of people on dole drops 27pc in a year.

The number of people on the unemployment benefit now stands at less than 55,000 - a 27 per cent drop in one year and the lowest figure in nearly 20 years, the Government said yesterday. Employment Minister Steve Maharey said the latest quarterly figures showed the overall number of working-aged people on benefits was down to 292,000 - 21 per cent fewer than in 1999 and the first time the figure had dropped below 300,000 in 16 years. "The huge drop in numbers on the unemployment benefit has saved taxpayers more than $1.2 billion since 1999," Mr Maharey said in a statement.
Source: NZPA

Women can now be convicted for sex with minors.

Sweeping changes to modernise sex crime laws - including outlawing sex between women and boys under 16 - have been passed. The Crimes Amendment Act (No 2) introduces changes, including removing the general presumption that sex crimes are committed only by men. It is now illegal for women over 16 to have sex with boys younger than that - a move brought in after an affair between a 21-year-old Wellington swimming coach and a 13-year-old boy.
Source: The Dominion Post.

Anti-smacking campaigners hail sentence.

When Pieter Donselaar's four-year-old son soiled his pants, the New Plymouth father told him off, pulled his trousers down and smacked him so hard he left bruises. In a decision hailed by anti-smacking campaigners, Donselaar, 34, was sentenced yesterday to 360 hours' community work and to pay $500 reparation after being found guilty of assault. The judge also issued a warning: touch anyone else and you go to jail. The case was sparked after a doctor saw the boy's injuries and suggested his mother go to police. Donselaar has previous assault convictions.
Source: The Dominion Post.

Tau Henare in line for return to parliament as Nat MP.

Former New Zealand First MP Tau Henare could be a National MP after the general election, with party sources tipping him to gain a high list place at the party's Auckland regional conference this weekend. Mr Henare was National's candidate for Te Atatu at the last election, but failed to win the seat. He received a high list placing, but did not enter Parliament after a collapse in National's party vote. Party sources today said Mr Henare was in line to gain the top list placing of candidates in the region who did not already hold a seat.
Source: NZPA

Citizenship wait extended under urgency.

Parliament has passed legislation which makes it more difficult to gain citizenship, removes the automatic right to citizenship of a child born here and shortens the life of a new passport. The Identity (Citizenship and Travel Documents) Bill also allows a passport to be refused or withdrawn, under ministerial order, for reasons of national security. The legislation increases from three years to five years the period of residence needed before citizenship can be granted. The period of validity for a passport has been reduced from 10 years to five years. From next year, a child born in New Zealand will only be a citizen if at least one parent is a citizen or a permanent resident.
Source: NZPA

Scientist loses limbs to meningococcal disease.

A British scientist struck down with meningococcal disease has had both legs, her left hand, and some fingers on her right hand amputated. Jeannette Adu-Bobie is recovering in Wellington Hospital after surgery on Sunday. Ms Adu-Bobie became critically ill with the disease 2-1/2 weeks ago. Ms Adu-Bobie, an experienced researcher in her 30s, had been working for three weeks at Porirua's Environmental Science and Research (ESR), in an antibody testing laboratory that handles meningococcal bacteria.
Source: APN Holdings NZ Ltd

NZ to protest Japanese whaling increase.

The Government will oppose Japan's plans to expand its "research" whaling catch in the Antarctic Ocean because of threats to New Zealand's ecology and its tourism industry. Reports this week have said the Japanese government intends to expand the scope of its research whaling in the Antarctic Ocean to humpback and fin whales from late this year, as well as nearly doubling its catch of minke whales.
Source: APN Holdings NZ Ltd

Bosses put on notice over job stress.

A court decision to fine a Nelson firm $8000 for not doing enough to help an overworked employee should be seen as a wakeup call for employers, says the Department of Labour. National operations manager Mike Cosman said employers were now going to have to recognise stress as a legitimate hazard. Yesterday, engineering firm Nalder and Biddle became the first company in New Zealand to be convicted of failing to provide a safe working environment, after an employee broke down from work-related stress. It was also ordered to pay reparation of $1300 for medical bills.
source: The Nelson Mail

Big dairy farms set to jump ship from Fonterra.

A grouping of Fonterra's bigger corporate milk suppliers plans to announce later today that they are setting up their own processing operation. Synlait Investments Ltd says it represents one of New Zealand's largest dairy farming operations, with total assets of $80 million including 2800 hectares of land and an 8500-strong herd. It will divert milk from the 3.75 million kg of milksolids it was expected to supply to Fonterra Co-operative Group Ltd in the next season, which begins on June 1, industry sources said today.
Source: NZPA

Grand slam on for All Blacks.

Wales have given the All Blacks a chance to achieve their first grand slam in 27 years and the New Zealand Rugby Union a tidy financial windfall after agreeing to a November test match in Cardiff. The test against the Six Nations champions was added yesterday to the All Blacks' end of year tour of Britain and will be played at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium on November 5. It will be the first of four tests for the New Zealanders, who also play Ireland (November 12), England (November 19) and Scotland (November 26), making it the first time the All Blacks have played the four home nations since 1978.
Source: The Dominion Post.

Royal patron for Kiwi charity.

A charity dedicated to helping people in wheelchairs walk again has been given the royal stamp of approval with Zara Phillips becoming its overseas patron. Ms Phillips – the Queen's granddaughter – has agreed to take on her first patronage role by becoming the face of CatWalk Trust. The trust was set up by former international equestrian Catriona Williams who has been in a wheelchair since a horse riding accident in 2002.
Source: The Dominion Post.

NZ beef used in $146 London hamburgers.

Hamburgers made with New Zealand meat are being sold by a London restaurant for £55 ($NZ146) each, it was revealed yesterday. The 200g 'burgers, made from meat from cattle of the Japanese wagyu breed, come with fries, and are being sold at the Zuma restaurant in fashionable Knightsbridge, the British tabloid Daily Mail reported. Zuma owner Rainer Becker said he introduced the burger after a request from James Bond star Pierce Brosnan, who ordered wagyu beef while the two dined in Japan. The burgers work out at $10 a bite, or the equivalent of $600kg for the beef, and have been labelled London's most expensive burger.
Source: NZPA

GPs slam flu vaccine hold-up.

GPs have attacked the Ministry of Health for not starting flu vaccinations earlier, after learning that supplies started arriving in the country at the end of last month. But the ministry says it will not bring forward the programme, which is due to begin next week for some groups, as it wants to ensure there are sufficient stocks of the vaccine. It also wants to make sure GPs are prepared, but doctors are demanding the vaccine immediately. "If it's been gazetted today I would expect it to be delivered to my surgery tomorrow," said Dr Peter Foley, chairman of the Medical Association's GP Council.
Source: APN Holdings NZ Ltd

Nitrous oxide dens banned.

The Government has ruled that selling or buying nitrous oxide to inhale is illegal, but promoters of the gas are already planning to sidestep the ban. Associate Health Minister Jim Anderton said yesterday that following a legal review, authorities would now warn people that "nos" was illegal. He said nitrous oxide was a prescription medicine and its unrestricted sale was illegal under the Medicines Act. Christchurch bars selling nitrous oxide as a recreational drug have drawn criticism from school principals, local body politicians and residents.
Source: APN Holdings NZ Ltd

PM feared for life in mid-air scare.

The Prime Minister's plane made an emergency landing this morning after a mid-air scare. Helen Clark said she wondered whether she would "live or die" when a door on her chartered aircraft came open during turbulence above the Kapiti coast. The Piper Aztec reportedly lost altitude rapidly after the door flung open and diverted to Paraparaumu Airport, near Wellington, where it landed at 9am.
Source: APN Holdings NZ Ltd

Chinese military delegation visits NZ.

A delegation from China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) Naval Academy is in New Zealand this week to visit Defence Force training facilities and discuss training issues. Vice-Admiral Wang Yucheng, the navy's deputy commander, is accompanied by five PLA officers and Chinese deputy defence attache Colonel Hu Jihui, who is based in Wellington
Source: The Dominion Post.

Afghan deployment to cost $80m over three years.

The three-year deployment of New Zealand's troops to Afghanistan will cost $80 million. The money was well spent, said defence minister Mark Burton, who has just returned from Afghanistan where he met the 121 New Zealand troops stationed in Bamyan Province, 150km north west of the capital Kabul. Earlier this year, the Government announced New Zealand's military commitment to the reconstruction of Afghanistan would be extended to September next year.
Source: NZPA

Govt won't underwrite fine for any canned cricket tour.

The Government would not underwrite any fine that might result from a cancelled cricket tour to Zimbabwe as that would set an unfortunate precedent, Deputy Prime Minister Michael Cullen said yesterday. There have been calls for the Black Caps to pull out of their five-week August tour on moral grounds. Prime Minister Helen Clark on Monday said she "wouldn't be seen dead" in Zimbabwe but did not tell the New Zealand cricket team to stay home. Miss Clark said it was her personal view that the tour should not go ahead in Zimbabwe, a country she has described as a pariah.
Source: NZPA

Zaoui won't be deported, Crown vows.

The Supreme Court has been given an assurance that Algerian refugee Ahmed Zaoui will not be deported in breach of international law. Solicitor-General Terence Arnold, QC, gave the assurance yesterday during persistent questioning by judges who said the law appeared to allow Mr Zaoui's deportation despite him being a recognised refugee. Chief Justice Dame Sian Elias said the Immigration Act allowed the Government to make a deportation order immediately, if the certificate stating Mr Zaoui is a security risk is upheld after a forthcoming review.
Source: The Dominion Post.

Parts of Wellington without power for about half hour.

Power was cut to a large area of southern Wellington and part of the central business district this morning after a transformer tripped at a substation in the southern suburb of Brooklyn.
Source: NZPA

Politicians race for grey vote.

Labour is promising to scrap compulsory driving tests for the over-80s and will give rates relief of up to $500 a year for pensioners as the battle for the grey vote builds. Prime Minister Helen Clark told Grey Power's annual meeting in Rotorua yesterday that the regime which forces drivers to take tests every two years from the age of 80 would go, with the timetable announced in June. Pensioners with no income other than superannuation would be the most obvious beneficiaries. A single superannuitant on $16,645 a year and paying more than $1000 in rates would qualify for the full $500. A couple receiving $25,276 and paying $1500 in rates would get $234 back.
Source: The Dominion Post.

Hawke's Bay unscathed after storm warning.

Hawke's Bay residents who last night braced themselves for a repeat of the March storms that toppled palm trees and washed away a house escaped unscathed today. The Met Service yesterday warned homeowners along the Haumoana, Te Awanga and Clifton coast of heavy seas and 3.5m swells, yet little damage was reported this morning.
Source: APN Holdings NZ Ltd

NZ moves closer to Asia trade block.

New Zealand has moved a step closer to inclusion in a major trade bloc after the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) decided to include it in an inaugural East Asian Summit. Asean decided Australia, New Zealand and India should be part of the talks to discuss the creation of a new trading block. Asean comprises Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
Source: APN Holdings NZ Ltd

Israeli media blast Tamihere.

Israeli reaction to John Tamihere's Holocaust comments has been swift, with one newspaper quoting the director of a Nazi hunting organisation as saying the MP needed psychological assistance. Mr Tamihere is on stress leave after making inflammatory remarks about colleagues in Investigate magazine but yesterday it was revealed he had also said that while he was revolted by the Holocaust, he was sick of hearing about Jews being gassed and killed in order to make him feel guilty. The comment outraged the New Zealand Jewish Council and now the story is making headlines in the Jerusalem Post.
Source: NZPA

Super rise the key to power deal says Peters.

NZ First leader Winston Peters has reinforced his pitch for the grey vote with a promise to make increased superannuation a coalition bottom line. Mr Peters promised yesterday to increase superannuation next April to 68 per cent of the net average wage for married couples – an immediate rise of $18 a week for couples and $10 a week for singles. He also pledged to increase the super rate incrementally to 72.5 per cent. He made it clear the policy was a bottom line for NZ First entering any coalition after the next election.
Source: The Dominion Post.

Truck rolls with radioactive load.

A truck carrying radioactive material rolled on SH1 north of Tirau last night, blocking the road until early today. An Auckland-based adviser monitored the clean-up with a geiger counter as firefighters worked wearing nuclear, biological and chemical protective suits. Hamilton's hazardous materials unit was called to the crash and chief fire officer Roy Breeze said isolating the 30kg container of radioactive material was a time-consuming task.
source:The Waikato Times

Government resumes fight against Zaoui.

Algerian refugee Ahmed Zaoui will today appear in the courtroom where he has become a cause celebre. Mr Zaoui, an alleged security risk, plans to be in the Supreme Court in Wellington to hear the Government argue that his human rights should not be a concern in the stalled review of his security status. At previous court hearings, his supporters, including MPs, reporters and members of Amnesty International, have overflowed to the foyer to watch proceedings on closed circuit television.
Source: The Dominion Post.

Four critically injured in school blast.

Four people are critically injured after this afternoon's explosion at Kaitaia College in the Far North. It is believed an oxy-acetylene cylinder, used for welding, blew up in a metalwork class about one o'clock. Seven people in total received injuries, six 15-year-old pupils and a teacher. Two are being airlifted to Auckland Hospital and another two are being flown to Whangarei Hospital. The remaining patients have less serious injuries and are being taken by road for treatment in Whangarei.
© 2005 NZCity, IRN

$1m state house rented for $75.

New Zealand's most valuable state house is worth more than $1 million and its tenants pay just $75 a week. Housing New Zealand Corporation figures show that the 10 most valuable state houses are all in Auckland and worth more than $800,000, and that some of their tenants have been living there for decades. In Wellington, the most valuable state house is worth $515,000, with six bedrooms, where 12 tenants pay $97 a week. One tenant has lived in a $495,000 Wellington house, paying $96 in rent a week, for 30 years.
Source: The Dominion Post.

Christchurch's urban sprawl carries massive bill.

Hundreds of millions of dollars will have to be spent on infrastructure for greater Christchurch if the city's current development trends continue. A report released today by the Greater Christchurch Urban Development Forum shows the city and outlying districts face massive costs if they allow "business as usual"– subdivisions spreading across the plains, and councils pursuing independent strategies to deal with population growth. If development is allowed to continue as it is currently the region will require open space the size of 26 Hagley Parks, traffic congestion will increase by 320%, a 30-minute trip today will take 47 minutes by 2041, and $2 billion will be needed for roading improvements on top of the $3.9 billion spent each year on motoring costs.
source: The Press

Latest comments could be Tamihere's end.

John Tamihere's political career is all but over after stretching Labour's patience too far with fresh revelations about his views on the Holocaust, women in power, and one of his best mates. Mr Tamihere was put on extended stress leave last night and there is mounting expectation he will resign. He will have been left in no doubt during the weekend that any hope of a Cabinet comeback has died. His latest comments came from the same interview with Investigate magazine – published less than a week ago – in which he criticised the influence of "queers", women and unions in the Labour Party.
Source: The Dominion Post.

Plea for more women on Stewart Island works.

Stewart Island man Doug Beck's quest to get single women to come to the island seems to have gained momentum after a plea in Friday's edition of The Southland Times. Mr Beck said on Friday the shortage of women on the island was so bad a lot of blokes couldn't even be bothered going to the pub. "There can be easily 20 guys to two or three women. And they're taken anyway." But the weekend proved to be a feeding frenzy of sorts for the single males on the island, as Invercargill women and tourists saw the story and headed south in search of romance.
source: Th e Southland Times

Pressure To Call Off Zimbabwe Tour.

The Black Caps are being urged to pull out of this winter's cricket tour to Zimbabwe. Greens co-leader Rod Donald has written to the players, asking them to walk - before the umpire gives the tour out. He says the players should withdraw on moral grounds, given the human rights atrocities he says surrounded last month's election.  Black Caps captain Stephen Fleming says he is yet to receive the letter.  Fleming says Snedden will make a decision which is in the best interests of the team, and a decision on whether the Black Caps will tour Zimbabwe this winter will be made on safety rather than moral issues.

 ©2005 Xtra Limited.

New grandstand costs ARC $1 million in losses.

 Auckland Regional Council is facing potential losses of nearly $1 million after only selling half the corporate seats for Ericsson Stadium’s new grandstand. Despite an extensive marketing campaign, just 50 per cent of the 1000 corporate seats at the council-owned East Stand at Ericsson have been sold for the 2005 Warriors season. The stand cost about $23 million to build, with the loan to be paid back from sponsorships, stadium use fees and ticket sales.

Source: APN Holdings NZ Ltd

 

Immigration clampdown after fraud revealed.

 Immigration Minister Paul Swain is signalling changes in the way immigration fraud is handled, following revelations fake degrees, sham marriages and bogus job offers are being sold to Asian migrants.
A Herald on Sunday special investigation last week uncovered widespread academic and immigration fraud, the details of which have now been passed on to police. Mr Swain is promising tougher laws, more investigators and a new "immigration czar". A two-week investigation found the Chinese community was being offered an easy way into New Zealand through buying university degrees, marriages and fake "jobs".

Source: APN Holdings NZ Ltd

 

Lazy Aucklanders urged to get moving.

 Fat, lazy and increasingly unhealthy. That’s the worrying picture being painted of Aucklanders - now dubbed the laziest people in the country. New research shows that, apart from 16 and 17-year-olds, activity levels for Aucklanders are below the national average. The most worrying figures relate to the Pacific Island population, where 51 per cent of young Polynesians are "active" for less than 2.5 hours per week - while 23 per cent do no physical exercise at all. There are similar figures for the Asian population.

Source: APN Holdings NZ Ltd 

 

Fire destroys food warehouse.

 A huge fire has destroyed a Foodstuffs warehouse in Auckland overnight. More than 20 appliances were called in to deal with the blaze at Davis Trading’s premises in Carbine Road, in Mt Wellington.

Source: APN Holdings NZ Ltd

Trendwest snaps up top spots.

The world's biggest real estate franchiser and hotel operator is poised to open four new tourist resorts here after taking over part of a Rotorua resort two months ago. Timeshare operator Trendwest South Pacific, part of the New York Stock Exchange-listed Cendant Corp, is planning to build resorts at Waipu Cove in Northland, Pauanui on the Coromandel and at Queenstown. It hopes they will open within 18 months. In a fourth deal, it has a management agreement with The Residence at Lake Tekapo, a resort under construction and due to open later this year.

Source: APN Holdings NZ Ltd

Bulls down Crusaders

PRETORIA: The Bulls produced 80 minutes of intense rugby to down The Crusaders 35 to 20 in their Super 12 match in Pretoria on Sunday.

 

Kakapo's sale causes concern.

The curiosity of a huge stuffed kakapo being sold by the New Zealand High Commission in London began with a cultural question mark and ended with queries over misleading advertising. The kakapo - a 60cm 19th century bird which sold last month for about £ 9000 ($23,700) - mentioned the New Zealand High Commission in London in the promotional catalogue.It was promoted by London antique dealer Finch & Co.That raised questions with Maori Party cultural affairs spokeswoman Atareta Poananga who said such "taonga", or treasures, should not be used for profiteering.
source:The SundayStarTimes

Audit into 'crony' contracts.

The auditor-general has decided to investigate Health Ministry contracts worth more than $1 million that were awarded uncontested to two former employees.The announcement yesterday – in response to a Dominion Post report last week giving details of 21 untendered contracts – coincided with Health Minister Annette King's release of a report showing 18 other untendered contracts were awarded to Wellington policy and regulations consultants Allen and Clarke.The company is owned by former Health Ministry employees Matthew Allen and David Clarke.
Source: The Dominion Post.

Maori seek Chinese backing.

Western Bay of Plenty Maori are seeking cash-rich Chinese partners to back a range of million-dollar aquaculture schemes. Ngati Ranginui chairman Brian Kawe and deputy Alf McCausland will present the joint venture proposals during a sister city visit to Yantai in Shandong province next week. "We want to get some of our initiatives moving by setting up partnerships and attracting capital and technical expertise from China," said Mr McCausland.
Source: The Dominion Post.

Lomu Signs On With North Harbour.

Jonah Lomu has signed a two year deal with North Harbour for the Air New Zealand NPC. Lomu has played his previous NPC rugby with Counties-Manukau and, more recently, Wellington.
©2005 Xtra Limited.

Labour stretches lead over Nats.

Labour has increased its lead over National to 13 points in the latest opinion poll, published today. The Phillips Fox poll of 750 voters published in the National Business Review put Labour support at 45 per cent, up two points since early March, and National down two points to 32 per cent. New Zealand First is down two points to 7 per cent, and the Greens are steady on 6 per cent.
Source: NZPA

Mowat likely to go in shake-up.

Veteran host Wayne Mowat is likely to lose his afternoon show in a radical programming shake-up at Radio New Zealand. A 30-page National Radio "proposals for change" document outlines 83 changes. Most shows from 1pm on will be revamped. National Radio will move away from its programme-based format and retain only "some standalone specialist programming", the document says.
Source: The Dominion Post.

University staff vote to strike.

Auckland University staff today voted in favour of strike action after vice-chancellor Stuart McCutcheon refused last month to show up at a meeting to negotiate a national employment agreement. The university last month wrote to the Association of University Staff (AUS) offering a 4.5 per cent pay increase that matches the offer it made earlier to all its non-union staff
Source: NZPA

Kedgley's employment bill gets first reading.

Legislation which would give employees the right to ask for reduced or flexible working hours passed its first reading in Parliament yesterday. Green MP Sue Kedgley's Employment Relations (Flexible Working Hours) Amendment Bill has been sent to a select committee for public submissions. Ms Kedgley said. "This bill is a practical way of making life a little easier for parents of young children who work in paid employment."
Source: NZPA

Liquor ban fines go to charity.

Thousands of dollars in fines paid by dozens of people caught breaking the liquor ban are being used to help feed struggling Bay families. The scheme, started by Tauranga police to keep liquor ban cases out of the court, means fines are donated to Tauranga Community Foodbank, three surf clubs and two Night Owl groups. Liquor ban infringements generally cost offenders $200. The foodbank received the first of the money on Monday – and already has amassed about $6600.
Source: NZPA

Labour Shortage Major Concern.

Auckland needs to find more skilled workers to prevent the economy flailing. The Auckland Chamber of Commerce's quarterly survey shows 50 percent of business owners find it difficult to employ the right people with the right skills. The survey also shows a sharp decrease in business confidence in the wider business community.
©2005 Xtra Limited.

Govt hopeful to restore military ties with Indonesia.

The Government supports Indonesia's efforts to resolve problems in the provinces of Aceh and West Papua and is hopeful bilateral military ties will one day be restored, Prime Minister Helen Clark said yesterday following a meeting with Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudoyono.
Source: NZPA

Suicide rate lowest since 1985.

Suicide has dropped to its lowest rate since 1985 but is still the leading cause of fatal injuries, eclipsing even the road toll, new figures show. Issued yesterday, the figures for 2002 show that 460 people died by suicide, compared with 405 who died on the roads that year. The number of suicides compared with 507 in 2001 and 458 in 2000
Source: The Dominion Post.

Kiwi soldiers destroy tonnes of weapons in Afghanistan.

Army explosives experts have blown up another cache of weapons, ammunition and bombs which were handed to them in Afghanistan. The New Zealand provincial reconstruction team (NZPRT) was handed six tonnes of weapons and ammunition last month by people in the Darrahe Jalmes Valley about 30km from the New Zealand base.
Source: NZPA

Employers offered wage deal.

The country's largest union says it will back down on its 5 per cent pay claim where employers can prove they cannot afford it. About 2000 unionists turned out at Addington Raceway yesterday to support the Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union's (EPMU) Fair Share 5 in 05 campaign for a minimum 5 per cent wage rise. Fresh negotiations start today over the metal trade's multi- employer contract agreement (Meca) between the EPMU and employers after months of growing industrial unrest.
source:The Press

Russia arrests suspect in NZer's beheading.

MOSCOW: Russian security forces said yesterday they had arrested a suspect in the 1998 murder of New Zealander Stanley Shaw and three Britons, who were kidnapped and beheaded in the violent Chechnya region. The suspect, Adam Dzhabrailov, told police under questioning he was a member of the armed gang that killed the four, General Ilya Shabalkin, spokesman for Russian security forces' command in Chechnya, told Reuters by telephone. Mr Shaw and Britons Darren Hickey, Rudolf Petschi and Peter Kennedy were abducted while on a contract to install a mobile telephone system in Chechnya. Their severed heads were found on a road in Chechnya. Their bodies were not recovered until weeks later.

Bus tour operator in liquidation.

Feilding-based bus tour operator Wonderful Kiwi Tours has been put into liquidation owing thousands of dollars to staff and stranding travellers.
Source: APN Holdings NZ Ltd

Thousands of liable parents have fled to Australia - Nats.

Thousands of liable parents have fled to Australia to avoid paying child support and the Inland Revenue Department has lost track of them, the National Party said today. The party's welfare spokeswoman, Judith Collins, cited official figures showing 11,366 liable parents were believed to be living in Australia while 5197 were confirmed as being there. Ms Collins obtained the figures from Associate Revenue Minister David Cunliffe through written parliamentary questions.
Source: NZPA

Kiwi held in Ivory Coast dies.

New Zealand authorities are trying to determine what caused the death of Hawke's Bay man Hamish Sands, who died in an Ivory Coast jail cell. The 36-year-old, whose full name was Brian Hamish Thomas Sands, was being held by rebels in the African country on suspicion of being a mercenary. He had been moved to a different prison just a few days ago. The Red Cross in Ivory Coast confirmed last night it had seen Mr Sands' body and been told by the rebels he had died of "natural causes".
Source: NZPA

Room for Dame Silvia at Pope's funeral.

Accommodation may be tight in Rome with millions expected for Pope John Paul II's funeral on Friday, but a room could still be found for New Zealand's Governor-General Dame Silvia Cartwright. It was announced yesterday that Dame Silvia - travelling with husband Peter, a personal assistant, and a military aide-de-camp - is to represent this country at the funeral on Friday (8pm NZT). She will then travel to London, where she and Mr Cartwright have accepted an invitation from the Queen to attend a service of prayer and dedication at Windsor Castle for the marriage of Prince Charles and Mrs Parker Bowles
Source: NZPA

'Desperate' shortage of brain surgeons.

A quarter of New Zealand's brain surgery posts are vacant, fuelling fears of a looming crisis. Auckland and Wellington hospitals are both one surgeon short and Waikato Hospital needs two surgeons for its new neurosurgery unit. Any recruits will almost inevitably come from abroad because there are only 17 neurosurgeons registered in New Zealand.
Source: The Dominion Post.

Wellington's frontline police crisis.

Police numbers in Wellington have reached crisis point but the Government has ignored pleas for more frontline officers, city officials say. Mayor Kerry Prendergast and city council chief executive Garry Poole said crimes were being ignored as stretched resources struggled to deal with the city's extra policing needs. The Police Association says Wellington City, with about 280 staff, is about 90 short. Police chiefs say, however, that frontline numbers in the district have remained the same.
Source: The Dominion Post.

Nearly 900 striking bus drivers stop work for 24 hours.

Auckland bus commuters have been forced to find other ways to get to work and school as an industrial dispute took 600 buses off the roads. Stagecoach drivers in Auckland began a 24-hour strike today in their push for a 15 per cent wage increase. The company said it had offered 14.8 per cent over three years and it was very disappointed nearly 900 drivers had rejected the offer and left the negotiating table in favour of a strike
Source: NZPA

Man, 74, charged after stealing lolly from nine-year-old.

It wasn't quite taking candy from a baby, but it was almost as easy for a 74-year-old Hastings man yesterday - until he got arrested. The man was sitting outside the Parkvale Dairy on Hastings' Windsor Ave yesterday when he grabbed a nine-year-old child walking past, and pulled her towards him, before stealing her lolly. He then let the child go, but was later arrested for assault.
Source: NZPA

NCEA papers 'too hard' for one in five pupils.

One in five school pupils dropped out of an NCEA paper last year because they found it too hard and workloads too heavy, a Qualifications Authority survey has revealed. The survey of teachers and pupils has revealed further criticism of the NCEA exam system, including that many pupils pulled out of certain standards. The authority has come under fire after it admitted its elite Scholarship exams were flawed. Huge variability in other levels of NCEA was also found and government inquiries have begun.
Source: The Dominion Post.

Tamihere burns his bridges.

Former Cabinet Minister John Tamihere has all but ended any hope of a political comeback and is under pressure to decide his future after an extraordinary outburst against his colleagues and the Labour Party. Mr Tamihere was placed on stress leave yesterday and effectively cut adrift by Labour after an interview in which he labels one of Prime Minister Helen Clark's closest advisers, Heather Simpson, "butch" and "very dangerous"; says Miss Clark "goes to pieces" in confrontations; calls Social Development Minister Steve Maharey "smarmy"; slates the union influence in Labour; and hits out at its "queer" MPs, Chris Carter and Tim Barnett.
Source: The Dominion Post.

Experts judge NZ's best cheeses.

Forty judges in the Champions of Cheese competition in Auckland are considering 500 of New Zealand's finest cheeses this week. They include international Master Judge John Greeley, celebrity chefs, food writers and technical experts. Mr Greeley says the key to making very good cheese is to have very good milk. He says New Zealand cows are not fed on grain as they are in America, so their milk is higher in nutrition and has more body, which produces a superior product. He says the competition has highlighted the very high degree of cheesemaking skills in New Zealand
© 2005 NZCity, IRN

PM Seething Over Tamihere

The Prime Minister is said to be seething over the latest outburst from former cabinet minister John Tamihere. Mr Tamihere has given an interview to "Investigate" magazine in which he turns on many of his colleagues, including the Prime Minister. He describes Helen Clark as being no good with emotions, saying 'she goes to pieces.' nvestigate's five-page spread has the Tamaki Makaurau MP calling Chris Carter a "tosser" for lobbying him to vote in favour of Civil Unions, arguing he has a right to think sex with another male is unhealthy and violating. He also described Steve Maharey as having no substance, was quoted as saying the Labour Party is anti-men, and rubbished the hold the union movement has on the party.
©2005 Xtra Limited.

Businesses back bid to ban liquor in city.

Hastings businesses, fed up with violence, drunken youths and gangs on the streets, are backing a bid to have a liquor ban in the central city. Hastings police are leading the push for the liquor ban. It follows several serious assaults and growing community fears about safety at night.
Source: The Dominion Post.

Tongan govt 'considering lifting ban on NZ journalist'.

The Tongan government has indicated it could reconsider its long-standing ban on New Zealand journalist Michael Field, Radio New Zealand International reported. The acting secretary to cabinet, Paula Ma'u, was quoted as saying that his government was expecting to receive a letter from the Tonga Media Council requesting the ban on his visits be lifted. Auckland-based Pacific journalist Field was first banned from entering the country in the mid 1990s and it was reconfirmed by the government just prior to this year's general election.
Source: NZPA

Ellis inquiry delay 'helped cause heart attack'.

Stress over a bid to quash child-abuse convictions is likely to have contributed to Peter Ellis's heart attack, his mother says. But Christchurch Central MP Tim Barnett, who heads the select committee looking into the Civic Creche case, has defended the 21 months so far taken to weigh the call for an inquiry. Chest pain and sweats struck Ellis, 47, while he was reading at home in North Canterbury on Thursday night. In 1993 the creche staffer was found guilty of abusing seven children in his care (one complainant later said she had lied, and the relevant convictions were quashed).
source: The Press

'People's Pope' mourned at services.

New Zealanders have mourned the passing of the "people's Pope" at church services throughout the country. For the thousands of Catholics who had flocked to mass to celebrate the second Sunday of Easter, the Pope's death added extra poignancy. The Government has asked that flags flying on public buildings be lowered to half-mast today, and again on the day of the Pope's funeral. It is expected special requiem masses will be held throughout the country this week to mark his death. A decision on who will represent New Zealand at the funeral will be made soon.
Source: The Dominion Post.

Stem cell recipient playing golf.

Rotorua woman Willie Terpstra has returned home from controversial surgery in China and within hours of her arrival played nine holes of golf. The 64-year-old, who suffers from motor neurone disease, had stem cell surgery in a Beijing hospital on March 21. Mrs Terpstra and her husband Rein arrived in Auckland on Friday and returned to Rotorua on Saturday. Mr Terpstra said his wife enjoyed playing nine holes at Springfield Golf Club yesterday.
Source: NZPA

Skateboarders have desecrated the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior.

Less than five months after the tomb was unveiled in Wellington as a monument to New Zealand's war dead, skateboarders have ridden over its brass cover, causing deep scratches and nicks in its granite platform. "I would like to get my hands on the cretins who did this," National War Memorial assistant curator Martin Thompson said yesterday. "They are brain-dead cretins. They have no respect. Obviously the person below us died so they could skate all over him."
Source: The Dominion Post.

Flags on public buildings half mast following death of Pope.

The prime minister has ordered flags on public buildings lowered to half mast, following the death of the Pope. They will stay that way today and tomorrow, and will be lowered again on the day of his funeral.
© 2005 NZCity, IRN

"I love deadlines. I especially love the whooshing sound they make as they fly by"( Douglas Adams)

More news tomorrow. Stay tuned.

Floods' path of destruction.

The scale of devastation caused by monsoon-like rain across Wairarapa is only now becoming apparent, with floods estimated to have cost coastal and rural communities millions. The 24-hour deluge, in which 100mm to 200mm of rain fell in less than three hours in some areas, cut a path of destruction from the coastal areas in the south to farming valleys east of Masterton. Hundreds of metres of roads are gone, fences and bridges have been washed away and dozens of houses extensively damaged. Four days after the flash floods struck, residents of two coastal settlements remain cut off, and road access to dozens more is extremely marginal.
Source: The Dominion Post.

McDonald's quits Starship amid mixed feelings.

Eight years ago McDonald's opened at Auckland's Starship Children's Hospital sparking controversy and claims it sent mixed messages to children about healthy eating. This week, years before its lease was due to expire, McDonald's golden arches slipped quietly out of the hospital. Yesterday, McDonald's spokesman Liam Jeory said the outlet simply was not doing good business. The store had originally been near the main entrance to Starship but when Auckland City Hospital was rebuilt that changed.
Source: NZPA

West Coast loses only full-time surgeon.

Greymouth Hospital's only full-time general surgeon has resigned after 19 years, leaving the West Coast with only locums. The West Coast District Health Board yesterday announced the "retirement" of Michael Sexton as head of general surgery from April 12. The Press understands that he will take up a new appointment in Wellington as adviser to the Medical Protection Society for three days a week. The health board's general manager of operations, Ebel Kremer, said that with locum cover he did not expect any reduction in acute general surgery, although elective surgery would be disrupted in the short term.
source: The Press

Labour to mount old-style campaign.

Labour will go back to the old ways of campaigning as it strives for a third term in office at this year's general election, party president Mike Williams said last night. He told delegates and candidates at Labour's congress in Wellington they had a big task ahead because National was well funded this time and would stop at nothing to gain power.
Source: NZPA

NZ objects nuclear waste shipment through Tasman Sea.

The Government has asked that a shipment of radioactive nuclear waste, expected to pass through the Tasman Sea this weekend on its way to Japan, not enter New Zealand waters. The British Nuclear Fuels shipment was carrying containers of vitrified nuclear waste which Japan sends to France for reprocessing, a spokesman for Environment Minister Marian Hobbs said yesterday.
Source: NZPA

TV3 banned from Parliament for a week.

TV3 cameras will be banned from Parliament's debating chamber for one week for breaking Parliament's rules earlier this month by showing film of Associate Education Minister David Benson-Pope asleep in Parliament. Under Parliament's rules, only an MP who is speaking can be filmed and cameras are not allowed to catch others who might be doing other things - like sleeping.
Source: NZPA

Labour stretches its poll lead.

The Labour Party will begin its election-year congress in Wellington today quietly buoyed by the latest Herald-DigiPoll survey, which would translate to nine more Labour MPs in its caucus, putting it on the verge of an outright majority. Prime Minister Helen Clark has also increased her popularity as preferred Prime Minister from 54.9 per cent to a thumping 61.7 per cent. The gap between the two major parties has widened from 9.5 to 13.2 points in the latest poll, taken soon after the Orewa speech of National leader Don Brash.
Source: APN Holdings NZ Ltd

Prices at petrol pumps hit record high.

Petrol prices are at a record high today after the Government lifted its tax take by 5.63c a litre overnight - and more increases are feared. A 5c rise in petrol excise and an average 24 per cent increase in road-user charges for light diesel vehicles are expected to yield an extra $207 million a year for new roads and public transport infrastructure.
Source: APN Holdings NZ Ltd

Organic apple orchardists facing bleak future.

The weight of an unfavourable exchange rate has taken its toll on Marlborough's organic apple export industry, with the sole remaining organic grower choosing to concentrate on the local market. As recently as two years ago there were eight growers in the region exporting organic apples, but with the decision of Awatere Valley grower Geoff Swift to convert his orchard to cabernet sauvignon grapes, there is only one major grower left.
Source: APN Holdings NZ Ltd

Capill Guilty: Child Indecent Assault.

Graham Capill was close to tears this morning when he pleaded guilty to indecently assaulting a child. Name suppression was lifted for the former head of the Christian Heritage Party when he appeared in the Christchurch District Court this morning. Capill was visibly upset as he admitted indecently assaulting a girl under the age of 12.
©2005 Xtra Limited.

Government Joins NZRU's World Cup Bid.

he New Zealand Rugby Union has gained government support as it pushes on with its bid to host the 2011 Rugby World Cup. New Zealand's potential bid to host the tournament took a major step forward on Friday when the NZRU announced details of a joint bid office established to oversee the assessment and development of the country's capability to lodge a competitive bid. New Zealand is in a three-way race to host the tournament with South Africa and Japan.
©2005 Xtra Limited.