New Zealand Peters announces aid for Sudan, Nepal

New Zealand is to provide $1 million for humanitarian assistance in Sudan, and $500,000 for food aid in Nepal, Foreign Minister Winston Peters announced today. “The ongoing conflict and violence in Sudan is affecting over four million people, and the situation remains volatile. It is potentially one of the worst humanitarian disasters of our time, so it is important that New Zealand continues to do what it can to assist," Mr Peters said. ”Last year we gave $1.5 million to the World Food Programme's work in the Darfur region of Sudan. This latest contribution, which is once again made through the government's development agency NZAID, will support the Red Cross, who have a well-established programme in Sudan.

Bitter pill for vitamin industry

The billion dollar vitamin supplement industry is challenging an international study which suggests large doses of some vitamin pills could shorten your life. The study links three popular vitamin supplements with a 5% increase in the risk of death. Around 500,000 New Zealanders take supplements on a daily basis but the Danish study shows that instead of helping you live longer, too many vitamin pills may cut your life short. The study reviewed the effects of anti-oxidant vitamin use in the death of 230,000 people in 67 trials. Vitamin A performed the worst, lifting mortality risk by 16% while beta carotene had a 7% rise and vitamin E supplements had a 4% increased death risk. Otago University nutrition expert Jim Mann says the research confirms some clues that have been around for a long time. "Particularly vitamin A and beta carotene, when taken in supplemental large doses, can actually be harmful," says Professor Mann. Supplement manufacturers claim the vitamins have an antioxidant effect, eliminating free radical molecules linked to disease. But the study claims killing off free radicals interferes with the body's defensive mechanisms.

Report damns push for zero waste in NZ

By NICK CHURCHOUSE - The Dominion Post
A report damning the Government's push for zero waste in New Zealand claims the goal is unachievable and too expensive for businesses and individuals alike. The New Zealand Industrial and Economic Research report was commissioned by Business New Zealand specifically to look at the feasibility of the zero waste ideal. Business New Zealand chief executive Phil O'Reilly said the report showed the Government's waste policy was "a nice thing to think about" but was difficult to achieve. "It would massively expensive and you have to ask whether that is the best use of New Zealand's resources," he said. The report cited the massive costs of transporting glass to Auckland for recycling as an example of how it was sometimes more cost-effective to simply dump waste.

Maori Party accused of promoting anarchy

State Owned Enterprises Minister Trevor Mallard is accusing the Maori Party of promoting anarchy over land occupations in the Coromandel and Northland. It comes after the Government's decision to put on hold Landcorp's proposed sale of the ancestral sites. Mr Mallard says the occupations of the sites have highlighted gaps in policy which need to be addressed to ensure land that has significant value to the country is protected. He is suggesting Northland and Coromandel iwi can rest easy. Mr Mallard says he expects the government will come up with a set of rules to ensure that sensitive land will not go onto the open market.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Voters cool on closer US ties

By Audrey Young
Voters are not convinced that New Zealand needs a closer relationship with the United States, a Herald-DigiPoll survey suggests. Asked if the Government should work on having a closer relationship with the US, only four out of 10 respondents said yes, and 50.4 per cent said no. The question was posed when it became apparent that Prime Minister Helen Clark was expecting the White House to invite her to meet President George W. Bush - her second visit in seven years.

Oyster lovers braced for season opening

Oyster lovers will be keeping their fingers crossed for reasonable weather with the opening of the season tomorrow. The season is opening three weeks earlier this year and expectations are for a haul and quality as good as last year, Barnes Oyster Company spokesman Graeme Wright said. The fleet of 11 boats is primed for an early start, with the only concern the weather.

Rugby-All Blacks nominated for major award

The All Blacks are in the race for the prestigious Laureus world sports team of the year award for the second consecutive year. Their rivals for the awards to be announced in Barcelona on April 2 are UEFA Champions League soccer winners FC Barcelona, the European Ryder Cup golf team, the Italian World Cup soccer team, the Renault Formula One team and the world championship-winning Spanish basketball team.
When the nominations were announced in Barcelona last night, the All Blacks confirmed their status as the best rugby team in the world last year, winning the Tri-Nations championship for a seventh time, beating Ireland twice and Argentina and inflicting a record 41-20 defeat on England at Twickenham in November before twice beating France, one a crushing 47-3 victory in Lyon, and then Wales.
Fairfax New Zealand Limited 2006.

Guten tag Hamburg

The Auckland City Council's Partnerships Committee has formed an economic alliance with Germany's second largest city. It says Hamburg and Auckland face many similar challenges. Hamburg is a port city of 1.8 million people, looking to manage its growth, develop its waterfront and integrate new migrants. The committee says it is the first strategic alliance the council has established with a European city. The relationship is essentially a sister city deal. Busan in Korea has also been a sister city to Auckland for the last decade.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Mass of bands to play at St James

The duo which produced New Zealand's number one song in 2006 "Crazy" is coming to Auckland. Gnarls Barkley will play at the St James Theatre on March the 28th. They will be supported by New York multi-genre band The Rapture.The following night will be a real blast from the past, as 80s favourites Pet Shop Boys take centre stage at the St James, playing in New Zealand for the first time. To add to a huge week at the venue; punk icons The New York Dolls will play there on March 24 and dance legends Groove Armada will play on March 29.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Govt announces $4.4 billion surplus

The Government's surplus is one billion dollars ahead of forecast due to higher than expected investment income. The Crown accounts for the six-months ending December, recorded a $4.4 billion surplus compared with the $3.4 billion forecast.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Power out in central Auckland

Vector is working to restore power to 1,000 customers in central Auckland. Power was lost just after 11am to parts of the city and Ponsonby. The cause of the outage is unknown at this stage.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

NZ, Aust aid only hard evidence of monetary help in Tonga

Australian and New Zealand foreign aid agencies offering to help set up a business recovery operation in downtown Nuku'alofa have put forward the only specific money available for rebuilding private businesses in the fire-ravaged capital. The Matangi Tonga newspaper today reported there had been discussions about "soft loans" from the Tongan Government and claims for massive payouts by insurance companies "but so far they have come to nothing more than wishful thinking". In contrast, $4 million grant from NZAID and AusAID "appears to be more real", the newspaper said. "According to the New Zealand High Commission, Nuku'alofa, NZAID and AusAID representatives are expected back in Tonga at the end of the month and the business recovery facility for Nuku'alofa businesses should be implemented during March".
Source:NZPA

New law won't stop overseas spammers

The Government is confident the law now has the teeth to deal with the spam afflicting New Zealand computer users, but admits it cannot stop spam originating from overseas. Parliament passed the Unsolicited Electronic Messages, or Anti-Spam, Bill last night 118 votes to two. Communications Minister David Cunliffe says the legislation will allow New Zealand to join the global fight against spam as international co-operation is needed to block its sources. He says the Act bans people from using address harvesting software or a harvested address list to send unsolicited commercial electronic messages.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

UK praises Clark's climate change commitment

Prime Minister Helen Clark's commitment to sustainable development has won praise from the British Government's special representative on climate change. John Ashton held talks with Miss Clark in Wellington today and said after the meeting New Zealand was "a prominent and helpful voice" in the international diplomacy around climate change. "There's a huge opportunity over the next two or three years to shape the next stage of the diplomacy. . .the prime minister's recent statement about the possibility of moving New Zealand to becoming a carbon neutral country is a beacon, we all have to go in that direction," he told reporters.

Aussie netballers to play NZ in July

Australia's netballers will play five Tests in less than three weeks against major rivals New Zealand and Jamaica as they prepare for the November world championships. The Test program announced by Netball Australia on Tuesday will be staged in July during the mid-season break in the national league. World No.2 Australia will play their first series against world No.3 Jamaica on home soil - in 13 years, on July 5 and July 8, with venues yet to be decided. The two Tests will be a tasty appetiser before three Tests against arch-rivals and world No.1 New Zealand in Auckland on July 18 then in Australia on July 21 and July 24 at yet-to-be-announced venues.

Up to 160 TVNZ jobs to go

By VERNON SMALL - The Dominion Post
Television New Zealand is to axe up to 160 jobs, including about 50 from news and current affairs, as advertising revenues fall. In a memo to staff yesterday chief executive Rick Ellis said a "guesstimate" was that between 140 and 160 jobs would go - the first time the state broadcaster has put a number on the likely casualties. "I realise this is difficult news to communicate but I am committed to being open with you about this," Mr Ellis said. Redundancies would be spread across the organisation. TVNZ has about 1100 staff in total, about 350 of them in news and current affairs.

NZ troops bracing for attacks in Afghanistan

Defence Minister Phil Goff says international forces, including New Zealand troops, in Afghanistan are bracing themselves for an increased threat of attack in the coming months. There have been reports that al Qaeda fighters are gathering on the Pakistan and Afghanistan border for a summer offensive.
"We are aware that when the winter ends in Afghanistan there is likely to be a greater level of activity from al Qaeda and the Taliban, that is something the international forces take into account and brace themselves against," Mr Goff said today.
Source:NZPA

Govt Considers Ending Fee Discount For Pacific Islanders

The New Zealand Government is to consider ending a special fee discount for Pacific island immigrants. Most Pacific migrants are currently charged around 30 percent less than others from the rest of world. Applications filed in New Zealand are much cheaper than those from posts around the world. However, those filed in Sydney, Apia, Nukualofa and Suva get a special discount and pay only the New Zealand rate. The idea has been raised in a Cabinet paper, which cites increased government help for Pacific immigrants as the reason for moving them into a more expensive category. It could see fees for some Pacific migrant families jump from 700 to 1200 dollars. The fees schedule was due to be considered by Cabinet in April, however it has been deferred to June.
© NewsRoom 2006

Aussie apple growers fired up

New Zealand apples are a step closer to getting into Australia, but Aussie growers plan to fight all the way to the courts. Australian growers lodged three appeals against New Zealand growers getting access to the trans-Tasman market. All of the appeals have been rejected. New Zealand apples have been banned from Australia for decades, ostensibly because of concerns about the disease fireblight, however kiwi growers argue the ban is simply protectionism as ripe apples do not harbour fireblight. Apple industry players in Australia say they will seek a government inquiry and may take court action.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Clock ticking for Zimbabwean residency deal

Zimbabweans living in New Zealand have only one day left to take advantage of a special government policy for gaining residency. The Special Residence for Zimbabweans Policy was introduced in 2005 as a humanitarian response to the upheaval in their homeland. It was updated last year to allow those affected to submit residence applications and have health requirements waived, including applicants with HIV/AIDS. Mary Anne Thompson from the Department of Labour says 105 people have yet to come forward. Around 700 Zimbabweans have been made residents under the policy.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Cut price Fiji holidays not working

The offers may have been attractive but the Government says cut price holiday packages to Fiji following last year's coup are not working. Tourism operators are offering substantial discounts in a bid to boost the tourism industry after military commander Commador Frank Bainimarama deposed Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase. Prime Minister Helen Clark says while the marketing campaign produced significant numbers of people going to Fiji, the deals were so discounted that there was not a lot of money to be made. She says further problems are facing Fiji with the European Union poised to cut aid.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Fire break to stop forest fire

Firefighters are attempting to build a fire break to help control a forest fire burning near Bulls. Several helicopters, fire crews from around the region and the army have been battling the blaze at the forestry block site on Santoft Road which broke out late yesterday morning. The fire has been contained to an area measuring 2.5km by 400 metres.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

"Voice of romance" coming to NZ

The man billed as the voice of romance is coming to New Zealand for a two-date tour. Baritone Patrizio Buanne will play at Wellington's Michael Fowler Centre on May 31 and Auckland's Civic Theatre on June 2. Buanne's second album Forever Begins Tonight, which features a version of Robbie William's Angels sung in Italian, was released in New Zealand late last year where it achieved gold status.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

More evidence against phones in cars

New research has found using cellphones in cars may be more dangerous than first thought. Police, the Automobile Association and 85% of New Zealanders want cellphones banned while driving. Yet the government has been resisting pressure to enforce a ban, saying it is no more distracting than eating or changing a CD. But early results from a state-funded study suggest phones are in a different league to other driver distractions. Waikato University researcher Dr Samuel Charlton says using a phone while driving increases the chance of being in a serious crash by 400%. Mobile use in cars is forbidden in 46 countries, but the government has decided against banning it in favour of an education programme.
Source:One News

Pacific push for global recognition

New Zealand is playing a role in a campaign to garner more recognition for the Pacific area from the World Heritage Organisation (WHO). Pacific leaders have been meeting in New Zealand to discuss the lack of Pacific landmarks on the WHO list. World Heritage Centre spokesman, Giovanni Boccardi, says there are currently 830 historic sites inscribed on the WHO list worldwide but only one can be found in the Pacific region.
He admits this seems completely disproportional, given the area accounts for one third of the surface of the globe.
Source:One News

Chinese duo in 'amazing swim' across Cook Strait

By COLIN PATTERSON The Dominion Post
Two Chinese swimmers who had never swum in the open sea before have conquered Cook Strait - but only one will have the effort officially recognised. Wei Gang, 23, and Zhang Jie, 20, crossed from Arapawa Island at the top of Queen Charlotte Sound to Cape Terawhiti, west of Wellington, in eight hours and three minutes, coming ashore at 4.20pm yesterday. The 27-kilometre swim was originally to be from north to south but the direction was reversed to take advantage of tides and currents.

Maori Party call for migrant cutback

By DAN EATON - The Dominion Post
The Maori Party is calling for limits on immigration from Western countries, accusing the Government of trying to stop the "browning of New Zealand". Party founder and co-leader Tariana Turia said it was most concerned about traditional source countries such as Australia, Canada and Britain. The Maori Party has mooted the plan after Statistics New Zealand dashed hopes for an eighth Maori seat in Parliament at the next election because too few people, relative to overall population growth, opted to sign on to the Maori electoral roll. "What we are talking about is the number of people coming into this country and what that means for Maori political representation," Mrs Turia said. The move is reminiscent of NZ First leader Winston Peters' calls before the 1996 election for immigration to be "cut to the bone", which gained wide international attention.

Climate Change Protesters Evicted From Conference

Climate change protesters have been evicted form an Auckland energy conference by security guards. The two protesters scrambled through Auckland's Sky City Convention Centre on Monday as Energy Minister David Parker was defending the Government's policy on climate change. The pair were kept away from Mr Parker and resumed their protest outside the building. Earlier, Mr Parker cancelled a planned meeting with Greenpeace in protest at their tactics at the Huntly power station. Greenpeace entered the plant via its back entrance early on Monday and removed truckloads of coal from the site in protest at climate pollution.
© NewsRoom 2007

Landcorp stuck in middle of land row

Landcorp says it is the piggy-in-the-middle in a row between Maori protestors and the Crown.
Members of Hauraki iwi are camped out on an 11,000 hectare piece of land in the Coromandel put up for sale by the state-owned corporate farmer. Landcorp CEO Chris Kelly is aware the group plans to stay on the land, but will not be taking action against the iwi as it respects and understands its concerns. Mr Kelly says he has already offered the land to the Office of Treaty Settlements, but it elected not to purchase it. He says that indicates the office does not see it as becoming part of a settlement in the foreseeable future.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Downer firm on Iraq, Iran and Fiji

Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer has reaffirmed his country's commitment to Iraq. In Wellington, NZ for annual bilateral talks with Foreign Minister Winston Peters, Mr Downer says abandoning the Americans and the allied forces is not on the cards. He says it is a question of mate-ship. Mr Downer says Australia sticks with its mates during difficult times, just as New Zealand sticks with Australia during difficult times. Foreign Minister Winston Peters is backing Australia's decision to keep its troops in Iraq for the foreseeable future. He says the time is not right to begin pulling out. Mr Peters can not see how that would be advantageous and says Iraq would slide into total chaos.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

UK to fund work on Antarctic huts

The Government is welcoming news the British Government is to provide financial support for restoration work on historic Antarctic explorer huts. UK Culture Minister David Lammy has pledged almost $700,000 of funding to go towards work on huts used by explorers Robert Falcon Scott and Ernest Shackleton almost 100-years ago. It follows years of lobbying from the Antarctic Heritage Trust for such support.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Wind farm will save thousands of CO2s

Trustpower claims 14,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions will be offset from today, thanks to the first two wind turbines commissioned at its Tararua wind farm. The two turbines between them will also provide enough power for 2,700 homes. Another 29 turbines will be gradually commissioned over the next four months. The $185 million dollar wind farm will eventually power 42,000 homes.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Missing Nelson yacht found in Tonga

Wreckage from a yacht that vanished after leaving Nelson in June 2005 has washed up in Tonga but without trace of its two crew. The 12.6m trimaran Manoah left Nelson with two crew aboard on June 8 2005 bound for Rarotonga. It never arrived and a massive sea search found no trace of the boat or its crew, Verona Mary Hunt and Garry Cull. Tongan Police told Rescue Coordination Centre New Zealand (RCCNZ) a multi-hulled vessel with the name Manoah on it had been found on Uonuku Island, halfway between Nuku'alofa and the Vava'u islands group, in Tonga on February 7.
Source:The Press

Whaler shuns Greenpeace escort

Japan says Greenpeace is kidding itself if it thinks it is escorting the Nisshin Maru out of Antarctic waters. The whaling ship is powering under its own steam after fire broke out in its processing area, crippling the ship and threatening an ecological disaster because of the high amount of fuel on board. Greenpeace says it will escort the Nisshin Maru out of the Southern Whale Sanctuary, but spokesman for Japan's Institute of Cetacean Research Glenn Inwood says the ship is just going through trials after repairs. He says Geenpeace is sticking with the ship and no doubt will try something if the ship starts whaling again, but he says the decision on the Nisshin Maru's next activities will not be made for another two to three days.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Activists removing coal at power station

Greenpeace has entered the Huntly Power Station to take action against what it labels one of the country's biggest climate polluters. Activists are removing coal from the station and plan to return it to coal mines. Greenpeace New Zealand executive director Bunny McDiarmid says direct action is needed to avert severe climatic changes.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Hospital productivity falls

A previously secret report has shown productivity in hospitals across Auckland has fallen, despite a substantial injection of government money. An analysis for the three district health boards has found that a 13 percent increase in spending has lifted hospital output by just under four percent. National obtained the report under the Official Information Act. The party's health spokesman Tony Ryall says doctors and nurses are being stifled by endless bureaucracy and it is the patients who are missing out.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

NZ mega-mansions set to break all records

Agents dealing in prime New Zealand real estate predict that exclusive local property will soon be jostling for position on the annual Forbes list of the world's most expensive homes for sale. This year only the Waiheke Island's Cowes Bay property, with an asking price of $26.5 million, showed up on the list. But top-end real estate agent Graham Wall said the price of prime New Zealand was "about to explode". "Every single piece of coastline and harbourside in New Zealand is massively undervalued. New Zealand is the only place on earth that is advantaged by the global phenomena that is disadvantaging the rest of the world. Things like pollution and overcrowding means isolation works for us." He predicted that prime properties in places like the Bay of Islands, Hawke's Bay and Queenstown, and waterfront properties around Auckland were about to enjoy "an explosion in value, simply because New Zealand's time has come.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

MySpace New Zealand Launched on Friday

MySpace’s plans for world domination continue, with MySpace New Zealand launching officially on Friday. Fox told us that MySpace has around 500,000 Kiwi users, and the new site will focus on NZ-based bands, gigs and events. As part of the launch, New Zealand rock band Evermore will play a MySpace Secret Show at Auckland’s Studio on Friday - only MySpacers will be able to attend. The new site is at nz.myspace.com, but be warned that visiting the site sets it to your default, and you’ll need to visit the “International” page to reset it.

Government supports minor Pacific languages

The New Zealand Government says it'll do more to try to stop the disappearance of Pacific island languages but says ethnic communities must also do their part, Radio Australia reports. Concerns have been expressed that young people from the Niuean, Tokelauan and Cook Island communities are increasingly unable to speak their mother tongues. The New Zealand Government was funding several schemes aimed at boosting interest in Pacific languages, including an interactive website and radio programmes. New Zealand’s Pacific Island Affairs minister Phil Goff said the government wants to help but can't do it alone. “We have developed a language curriculum for Samoan and Cook Islands that is currently in place in schools, and this year we are launching a Niuean and Tongan language curriculum and also developing a Tokelauan language for schools,” he said
Copyright © 2006 Islands Business International |

Mystery backer of Team NZ named

By GREG FORD - Sunday Star Times
His name is Matteo de Nora, he's an international man of mystery and if Team New Zealand brings home the America's Cup this year, we'll owe him a $20 million debt of gratitude. The Sunday Star-Times can reveal that de Nora is one of a small network of wealthy international and New Zealand businessmen underwriting the team's cup challenge. He appears to live a playboy lifestyle in Monte Carlo, Monaco, and is from one of Italy's richest families. De Nora is the first of the network to come forward after Team New Zealand boss Grant Dalton decided to speak about the "team's untold story" last week on their departure for Spain because New Zealand needed to know what role the benefactors had played. "Without them we would not have a challenge - it's as simple as that.

Standing room only at Cuba Street Carnival

Even All Blacks had to stand in downtown Wellington yesterday, as thousands took to the footpaths for the sixth Cuba Street Carnival. Celebrity onlookers included Hurricanes midfielder and All Black Ma'a Nonu - who swore the pink handbag he was carrying belonged to his four- year-old niece Maya. "It's a great occasion," he said. "They should have this more often." The event is billed as New Zealand's biggest free street festival and more than 50 live acts were expected to perform until 2am today.
source:Sunday Star Times

Chinese clothes passed off as NZ-made for Commonwealth Games

NICOLA BOYES - Sunday Star Times
Kiwi athletes representing their country at the Melbourne Commonwealth Games were the unwitting centre of a clothes labelling scam. And now the clothing company which produced most of the athletes' uniform has admitted stitching "Made in New Zealand" labels into clothing manufactured in China. Industry leaders say switching has been common practice in New Zealand for years. A total of 30 clothing importers, retailers and manufacturers are under warnings from the Commerce Commission over labelling. This month Anthony Grant Botica and his company Sports Resources Ltd, which contracted to adidas for the 2006 Games uniforms, pleaded guilty to charges brought by the Commerce Commission. Botica will be sentenced on March 28.

Fire will be left to burn itself out

Emergency services say there is little more they can do to attack a major fire near Feilding. One fire appliance remains at the scene of a burning shed containing 30,000 hay bales. At its peak three water tankers and four fire appliances played a part in attempts to douse the blaze. The fire on Reid Line West has been burning since just after two o'clock this morning and is still going strong. Feilding Station Officer Glenn Davies says the flames have melted the steel shed, causing it to collapse onto the bales. He says firefighters will have to leave the fire to burn itself out over a couple of weeks.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Food miles warning does not worry Goff

The Trade Minister is unmoved by a warning New Zealand exports will take a hit from a growing environmental awareness in its traditional markets. An influential British writer has told the New Zealand Listener magazine that shoppers in Europe are waking up to the environmental costs of transporting produce long distances. George Monbiot says they are starting to see the obscenity of buying New Zealand apples, for example, when their own produce lies rotting on the ground. But Trade Minister Phil Goff says the only things saving European food producers are the subsidies and protection they get. He says New Zealand produce is grown using less energy and less carbon dioxide, and is offered at more competitive prices. Meat and Wool New Zealand is brushing aside the warning that Europe's supermarkets are increasingly looking to source goods locally.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Call To Encourage More IT Study In Schools

An IT recruitment agency says the industry is short of skilled workers because information technology is not encouraged enough at schools. The Government is asking immigration officials to actively target skilled migrants in countries like India and China to address key labour shortages in areas such as IT.
Andrew Hazelhurst, the director of specialist IT recruitment agency Agility Group, says it struggles with finding candidates to fill roles in the IT sector and has to advertise externally to fill the gap. Mr Hazelhurst says IT is not being pushed hard enough at secondary school
© NewsRoom 2006

Job scam charges

An Indian national is the fourth person charged over what officials say is the biggest illegal worker scam uncovered in New Zealand. The man, 33, previously ran a Hawke's Bay labour contracting company. He will appear in Blenheim District Court on Monday facing six charges related to helping illegal workers to stay in New Zealand.
Source:Dominion Post

Thirsty thief taps into kindy's water supply

By Wayne Thompson
Low rainfall on Waiheke Island has led to a new crime - water thefts. The contents of Waiheke Kindergarten's big tanks have been stolen four times this year and on Thursday an Ostend resident reported a full 10,000-litre tank being drained overnight. With only 2mm of rainfall this month, water tanker companies have a week's backlog of orders to refill tanks. It costs about $240 to buy 10,000 litres from a tanker company.
Copyright ©2006, APN Holdings NZ Limited

Excavation reveals secrets of 14th-century village

By SANDRA COX The Press
The remains of a large, successful village of Polynesian settlers whose inhabitants left behind good quality tools are being uncovered slowly near Westport. The 14th-century site is one of the best preserved and earliest sites of settlement likely to be found in New Zealand. Excavation co-director Richard Walter and an Otago University team have returned to the 1ha site near Carters Beach, 5km west of Westport, to add to the picture of life of the first settlers. Walter said carbon testing indicated the inhabitants created the village in around 1290 and abandoned it 50 years later. Some of the artefacts unearthed appeared to be east Polynesian.

Food safety rules to be fortified

By REBECCA PALMER The Dominion Post
Fortified foods described as "dietary supplements" will be subject to new regulations under proposals from the Food Safety Authority. The authority plans to bring the rules on the manufacture and sale of complementary foods, which have added vitamins, minerals and other substances, into line with those for other foods. They include some brands of milk and yoghurt, energy drinks, sports nutrition drinks and health bars. Ordinary foods were regulated under the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code, but complementary foods involved "little or no safety assessments", she said.

Chinese to try Cook Strait swim

By HANK SCHOUTEN The Dominion Post
Two Chinese swimmers who had never swum in the sea before this week are lining up to conquer Cook Strait.
But Beijing Sport University swim students Zhang Jie, 20, and Wei Gang, 23, are determined to succeed where many others have failed, to make what is rated as one of the toughest swims in the world. Shivering under a blanket after a brief training swim at Oriental Bay yesterday, Zhang said she was a little bit afraid, and the water was much colder than the Beijing pool where she does most of her training. If the weather is suitable they will make the attempt tomorrow.

NZ on show in Hollywood

New Zealand's film Industry will be on show in Los Angeles tonight. The Government has organised a pre-Oscars bash as a networking event, aimed at promoting the New Zealand film industry to key moguls in Hollywood. Among those attending is actor Melanie Lynskey, who stars in the TV series 'Two and a Half Men'. She says it is nice to see New Zealanders get together and be reminded they are not alone in Hollywood. Economic Development Minister Trevor Mallard says the event helps promote the country's depth of filmmaking, creativity and technological talent.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

More renewable power planned

More wind farms will be built in both the North and South Islands, as part of Contact Energy's massive investment in renewable power generation. The company has announced a $2 billion plan to develop its existing geothermal stations, and build new ones. Up to four wind farms will also be constructed. Spokesman Jonathan Hill says the company has been looking at renewable energy for some time, and needs to bring on new generation facilities by the year 2012.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

New chemical plant may generate $50m

By BRITTON BROUN The Dominion Post
A new manufacturing plant and a new direction for New Zealand Pharmaceuticals are expected to earn $50 million in years to come. Prime Minister Helen Clark opened the company's $10 million chemical plant near Palmerston North yesterday. It will manufacture carbohydrate compounds for use against a variety of cancers, heart disease and in other drugs worldwide. New Zealand Pharmaceuticals managing director Richard Garland said it was the beginning of a "new industry for New Zealand", which was expected to earn the company $5 million this year through deals with American and Japanese pharmaceutical firms. Within the next 10 years, that figure should reach $50 million, he said.

Australia turns down the lights

Australian Environment Minister Malcolm Turnball announced a new plan on Tuesday that aims to get rid of all standard light bulbs within three years. He wants to encourage a switch to fluorescent bulbs which consume just a fifth of the power that standard bulbs do. In Australia lighting represents 12% of all household greenhouse gas emissions and around 25% of all business emissions. It is estimated that this one simple measure would cut down Australia's total greenhouse emissions by 800,000 tonnes a year. It remains to be seen whether New Zealand will follow the Australian initiative.
Source:One News

Subsidies to employ beneficiaries

Employers could be offered government subsidies to help give jobs to those on sickness and invalid benefits. The government is in the process of changing social security laws with the aim of improving employment figures. Previously it has subsidised businesses to take on the unemployed. Now the Minister of Social Development, David Benson-Pope, indicates a similar initiative could be used with sickness and invalid beneficiaries.© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Key gaining ground, poll shows

National Party leader John Key is shooting up the popularity stakes. While Prime Minister Helen Clark remains clearly ahead as preferred prime minister in the latest Herald DigiPoll survey, Key is closing in. He has more than doubled his level of support to 36.2%, while Clark is on 47.7%.
Source:One News

Navy faces challenge to keep ships at sea, says admiral

The navy's top brass has warned the service is facing one of its toughest years as it struggles to find enough sailors to keep its ships at sea. Chief of Navy, Rear Admiral David Ledson, said some branches of the navy were already "in a very delicate position with only a few people being the difference between a ship having to stay alongside in Devonport or being able to go to sea and do its job". "This situation is placing the navy and sailors under real strain," he said in the latest issue of the navy magazine Navy Today.
Source:NZPA

Hihi in rare Auckland mainland release

The rare hihi, or stitchbird, returned to the Auckland mainland today for the first time in more than 120 years. About 30 hihi were today transferred from Tiritiri Matangi Island off the North Shore coast to Cascade Kauri Park in the Waitakere Ranges, west of Auckland. Once common throughout the North Island, the impact of introduced predators, habitat destruction and possibly disease forced them off the North Island mainland. They now live only on two islands in the Auckland area – Little Barrier Island, where the population is self-sustaining, and Tiritiri Matangi, where the lack of mature forest means at least half the young birds born each year die of starvation.
Source:NZPA

$188m Carisbrook stadium plan unveiled

By NATHAN BURDON The Southland Times
A $188 million vision for a new Carisbrook was unveiled in Dunedin last night – now it remains to be seen whether the ratepayers of Otago are willing to foot the bill. The Carisbrook Stadium Trust announced last night a new stadium on land adjoining the Otago University was the best of six options it had investigated. The preferred option would be a 25,000-seat, roofed stadium with the ability to provide traditional "terraces" for smaller events and scale up to 30,000 seats for big fixtures, including rugby tests, concerts, conferences and exhibitions. It would be sited on harbourside land at the bottom of Logan Park around what is now Awatea St.

Maori Childhood Education Inquiry Launched

An inquiry is to be launched into how more Maori can be encouraged to take part in early childhood education. Parliament's Maori Affairs Committee will conduct the inquiry, and is inviting public submissions. The inquiry will look at any barriers and factors affecting participation rates, including economic and social factors and family influences. It will also look at appropriate ways to increase Maori participation, and how effective publicly-funded early childhood education initiatives are for Maori.
© NewsRoom 2007

Goff takes the plunge

Defence Minister Phil Goff has demonstrated his commitment to the troops. He has parachuted into Auckland's Hauraki Gulf in near-perfect conditions. During a morning of pre-jump training, Mr Goff showed no sign of nerves, until he was told he had one minute to go. Mr Goff turned to his instructor and 15 other parachute students and said "I guess now is the time to be terrified", before jumping out of the plane.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Counterfeit money haul

Retailers in the Bay of Plenty and Hawke's Bay should check their tills for counterfeit notes. Taupo police have have arrested two men and a woman after finding $4,500 of fake notes in a car along with counterfeiting gear. Police believe the three people had been spending in Rotorua, Wairoa, Gisborne and Taupo in the past few days.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Govt to target skilled Asian migrants

The Government is looking at targeting skilled migrants from Asian countries to boost the labour market in New Zealand. Cabinet papers released to Radio New Zealand show the proposed move is part of a major overhaul of immigration policy designed to ensure New Zealand competes with other OECD countries for skilled migrants. New Zealand needed to change its approach to getting skilled immigrants in face of intense international competition and current systems would not do, Immigration Minister David Cunliffe said.
Source:NZPA

More troops may head to Afghanistan

The government is considering possible further troop deployments to Afghanistan, as fears mount that the Taliban is preparing to mount a major offensive. Australia is indicating it is prepared to commit more troops to the country. A spokesman for Defence Minister Phil Goff says the Defence Force is considering possible options for the deployment of more New Zealand soldiers and the issue will go before Cabinet for consideration. New Zealand has a provincial reconstruction team working in Bamyan province.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

New Zealand fishing crew catches rare 450-kilogram (990lb) colossal squid

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) - A New Zealand fishing crew has caught an adult colossal squid, a sea creature with eyes as big as dinner plates and razor-sharp hooks on its tentacles, an official said Thursday. New Zealand Fisheries Minister Jim Anderton said the squid, weighing an estimated 450 kilograms, took two hours to land in Antarctic waters. The fishermen were catching Patagonian toothfish south of New Zealand "and the squid was eating a hooked toothfish when it was hauled from the deep," he said. Colossal squid are found in Antarctic waters and are not related to giant squid (Architeuthis species) found around the coast of New Zealand. Giant squid grow up to 12 metres, but are not as heavy.

Maori school spreads the culture in London

By James Ihaka
New Zealand children living in London are getting an insight into Maori culture through Te Kohanga Reo o Ranana, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary. Every Saturday morning for the past decade both Maori and Pakeha parents have brought their children to New Zealand House in London for lessons in te reo, pepeha (tribal sayings), whakapapa (genealogy) and waiata (song). "They get a glimpse of what their culture is all about and they come back, which is always good," said Melissa Christie of Ngati Kahungunu, who has two sons who attend. Close to 200 children, who vary in age from infants to 7, have been through the London kohanga since its inception in 1997 and about 20 children attend at the moment.

Pacific Islanders take top spots in world fat survey

Pacific Islanders are the fattest people on the planet, according to the latest figures from the World Health Organisation (WHO). A WHO report published recently listed countries according to the proportion of citizens who were obese. New Zealand was 17th on the league table. There are more than 190 countries in the world. The top four – Nauru, Micronesia, the Cook Islands and Tonga – were all in the Pacific, and 90 per cent or more of each of their populations was defined as obese. Increasing reliance among Pacific Islanders for cheap, processed, imported foods had combined with a widespread drop in physical activity, and eight of the world's 10 fattest nations were now in the Pacific, the report said. Fiji was a notable exception, ranked 68th fattest. This made it considerably less obese than New Zealand, ranked 17th, Australia, 21st, and the United States, 9th.
Source:NZPA

Man Arrested After Demolishing Part Of Army Building With Digger

A man has been arrested after part of Gisborne's army recruitment centre was demolished with a digger. Police say the digger was driven into the army hall on Palmerston Road shortly after 8am on Thursday. Sergeant Lincoln Sycamore says the building was unoccupied at the time but thousands of dollars worth of damage was done. He says a hire company was called and asked to drop off the digger in front of the building. He says a 40-year-old local man has been charged with criminal damage and has been referred to mental health services.
© NewsRoom 2007

Earthquake strongest for 116 years

There are no reports of significant damage following a rare cluster of earthquakes across Auckland, however emergency services were kept busy dealing with alarms which had been triggered. The first quake was recorded at 8.24pm, and measured 3.7 on the Richter scale. The second and most powerful measured 4.5 and occurred at 9pm. It was the largest to hit the city in 116 years. The final was magnitude 3.8 at 11.23pm.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Rice wine slips through loophole

Police are investigating a Wellington supermarket which is still selling alcohol without a licence, despite being told to remove alcoholic drinks from its shelves a week ago. Yan's Supermarket in Te Aro is selling a brand of rice wine with 17.5 per cent alcohol, despite police forbidding it to do so a week ago. The shop is allegedly taking advantage of a loophole in the Sale of Liquor Act which does not define whether rice wine can be sold in liquor outlets without a licence.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Air NZ likely to fly long-haul to Vancouver

By ROELAND VAN DEN BERGH The Dominion Post
Air New Zealand is expected to announce a new long-haul route this week - most likely Vancouver, Canada.
New routes typically have about a five-month lead time, suggesting the first flight would be about July. Air New Zealand would not be drawn on the speculation. House of Travel retail director Brent Thomas said Vancouver would be an exciting year-round tourism destination.

$6.5m Franz Josef centre opens next month

Work on a $6.5 million tourist attraction near the West Coast's Franz Josef Glacier is almost finished, and is expected to open on March 1. The Hukawai Franz Josef Glacier Centre boasts the southern hemisphere's first indoor ice climbing wall. Up to 20 climbers can use the 10-metre-high wall at the same time, climbing in a safer, supervised environment than the glacier it aimed to simulate. The centre will use audio-visual displays to provide a complete glacier experience under one roof, including virtual rainforest, ice caves and crevasses.
Source:NZPA

New Zealand winery to market in India

A New Zealand winery will soon market its premium wines in India, traditionally a nation of tea and spirit drinkers. Marlborough winery Saint Clair Estate announced its plans to enter India Monday. Despite having a population of more than one billion, India's wine market is relatively small compared to several other Asian countries with just 635,000 cases of wine consumed last year. However, Neal Ibbotson, owner of Saint Clair, is quite optimistic. "For us it's another market opportunity and it's a market where we see significant potential growth in," he was quoted as saying by the New Zealand Herald newspaper.

4.4 quake jolts middle of NZ

An earthquake measuring 4.4 on the Richter scale jolted parts of the lower North Island and upper South Island after midday today. The quake at 12.41pm was centred 20km northeast of Picton at a depth of 50km. It would have been felt in the lower North Island and upper South Island, GNS Science said.
Source:NZPA

15 sea lions killed early in squid season

Forest and Bird is worried that an estimated 15 New Zealand sea lions have been killed in the first two weeks of the southern squid fishery season. The figures come from the Ministry of Fisheries. The government has set a limit of 93 deaths and once that figure is reached, the season will be called off. Forest and Bird says the quota is too high, given that the New Zealand sea lion only has an adult breeding population of five thousand.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Bonnie Raitt heading to NZ

Bonnie Rait is coming to New Zealand. The much-loved singer will play at the Christchurch Jazz Festival on April 13th, and the Aotea Centre in Auckland the following night. Raitt has released 18 albums in her 36-year career, with hit singles including Something To Talk About and I Can't Make You Love Me. She was made a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Fresh Norovirus outbreak in ChCh

Two wards have been shut in Christchurch hospitals due to another outbreak of Norovirus.
One ward at Christchurch Hospital has been closed and the other at Princess Margaret Hospital. Norovirus is an extremely contagious stomach bug which causes vomiting and diarrhoea.

Cricket: Aussie media roast side

There will be nowhere to hide for Australia's cricketers when they get home later today if this morning's papers are anything to go by. The media across the Tasman was united in its condemnation of their side after the Black Caps' extraordinary win over them last night - chasing down a target of 347 with three balls to spare. The Sydney Morning Herald held no punches in its assessment: "Cue the blood-curdling scream. Australia's horror tour of New Zealand ended in a violent blur of batting and human suffering last night." The paper went on to note that it was "not so much a wake-up call as a runaway road-train barrelling through the bedroom wall of Australia's World Cup planners".

Not all can afford EPMU's demands

The Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union is being warned it should not expect the earth to move for workers this year. The union is holding a rally in Taranaki today, to announce what level of pay rise it will be pushing for this year, following the success of the Fair Share campaign, which achieved five percent rises for many workers. EPMU secretary Andrew Little says they are trying to take a mature approach by giving advanced warning of how bargaining and negotiations may go later on. He says with increases in profit and productivity, businesses can afford rises.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Cancer scare leads to donation

A Dunedin businessman diagnosed with bowel cancer is donating $1 million to Otago University to research the disease. Trevor Scott's cancer is currently in remission. He says he was planning to make a smaller contribution to the University's Commerce Department. However, once diagnosed with cancer, he changed his focus and decided to help establish a Chair in Urology. The government will match the donation, taking the total to $2 million.
© 2007 NZCity, NewsTalkZB

Deadline looms for Zimbabweans seeking NZ residence

The deadline is looming for Zimbabweans to apply for New Zealand residence under a special policy to help people fleeing the Mugabe regime. The government introduced the policy in 2005 and last year made changes so that applicants do not need to meet the normal health standards, including people with HIV and AIDS. Applicants need to apply before February 28 to be considered under the policy. Minister of Immigration David Cunliffe says even if people do not have all the necessary documents together, they should at least contact the Department of Labour and submit the appropriate form as soon as possible. Mr Cunliffe says almost 700 Zimbabweans have been made residents under the policy, but another 130 who fled the Mugabe regime are yet to apply.

Hundreds of sheep stolen on Port Hills

By JANINE BENNETTS The Press
Port Hills farmers are losing hundreds of sheep to thieves. One farmer, who lost about 600 sheep last year, has hired a private investigator to try to catch the thieves and may not renew his lease because of the problem.
The Christchurch City Council has put signs on gates warning people of prosecution if they interfere with stock and urging people to contact the local ranger if they see anything suspicious. Council park ranger Scott Morrissey said Port Hills farmers from Scarborough to Cashmere had been affected, with one farmer losing 600 sheep and another losing 150 last year. Morrissey said the area was difficult to patrol, with most tracks open to the public.

How many Greens to change bulbs?

The Greens are going to demand the Government explores the feasibility of more energy-efficient light bulbs. Australia is looking at phasing out incandescent light bulbs and replacing them with fluorescent ones. Greens co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons says she has the power to direct the Energy Efficiency Conservation Authority to do some work around that. She says it is a great idea which would work by setting a minimum performance standard for light bulbs.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Feeling the heat in Auckland

Aucklanders can be forgiven for feeling hot and bothered. Humidex temperatures, which measure what the temperature feels like on your skin, have shot up. Weather commentator Phillip Duncan says in Auckland the current humidex is 32 degrees. It is almost as bad in the Waikato and Lower Hutt, where it is 31 degrees - and the humidex temperature in Wellington is 30.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Lucky escape for kayaker

Queenstown's Harbourmaster says sheer luck was all that saved a kayaker on Lake Wakatipu. Searchers turned off their engines and were about to call the search off last night when they heard a faint noise. The missing Taiwanese man was then found, wearing a life-jacket, in the water and clinging to his kayak in the middle of the lake. He was incoherent and clearly suffering from the onset of hypothermia. Harbourmaster Dave Black says the man had been in the water for two hours and probably would not have lasted another 30 minutes.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

34,000 NZ residents shifted across Tasman in 2006

More than 650 New Zealand residents a week moved to Australia last year. Statistics New Zealand figures show that 34,015 permanent and long-term residents migrated to Australia in 2006 - equivalent to 654 a week. This was slightly down on the 34,766 total in 2005. Coming back across the Tasman were 13,306 migrants - about 8400 of which were New Zealand citizens returning home - resulting in a net outflow of 20,700 permanent and long-term migrants to Australia. In the past 25 years, permanent and long-term departures to Australia have been highest in 1988 (45,100) and 2000 (38,200), and lowest in 1983 (14,500) and 1991 (15,400).
Fairfax New Zealand Limited 2006.

Company fined for spray drift

An agricultural spraying company has been fined $11,000 by the Environment Court after destroying part of a neighbouring watermelon crop in the Bay of Plenty. Eastern Bay Sprayers had been contracted to control weeds in a maize crop at Te Teko, near Whakatane. Contractors sprayed a weedkiller too close to the property boundary and the resulting spray drift was enough to destroy more than $17,000 worth of watermelons in a neighbouring property.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Clark meets with Finnish counterpart

The Prime Minister is putting a positive spin on just-completed talks with visiting Finnish President, Tarja Halonen. Helen Clark and her counterpart have discussed free trade, future contacts in research and development, as well as issues involving the European Union. Miss Clark is quick to promote working holiday arrangements between our two countries. She says New Zealand has significant seasonal work opportunities and is keen to see Finnish people take them up.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Hangi goes haywire

A hankering for a hangi (old Maori method of cooking food in the ground) will cost two Northland doctors dearly after their efforts ended up destroying 4ha. They had rented a house at Whangarei Heads and, not wanting to damage the lawn, they dug a hangi pit in a nearby bank. The paper and kindling they used, plus the long grass, led to a blaze which took a helicopter and seven fire trucks to put out. They will have to pay at least the $6000 cost of the helicopter and possibly several thousand more to cover the firefighters on the ground.

Milkshake lovers wanted for scientific study

A Massey University scientist is testing the theory that dairy protein is more filling than carbohydrates and fats, and could be beneficial for people trying to lose weight. PhD student Sylvia Chung wants 50 volunteers to drink special milkshakes as part of her research on satiety -- the feeling of fullness after eating. The popularity of high-protein diets has sparked public interest in the relationship between protein and weight loss, Ms Chung said. Volunteers will be asked to drink a milkshake before lunch on four different days, and then answer questions about how full they feel.
NZPA

Pension for NZers in UK yet to be worked out

By MAGGIE TAIT - NZPA
Britain is to consider whether New Zealanders living in the United Kingdom will get to keep government contributions to a new pension scheme or be able to transfer savings home. In New Zealand last week Work and Pensions Secretary John Hutton told NZPA that Kiwi expatriate workers would come under the scheme. Under the proposals, workers from 2012 who are not signed up for a company pension will be enrolled in the National Pension Savings Scheme (NPSS) unless they specifically ask not to join. Employees would contribute 4 per cent of their gross salary to the scheme and employers would have to add 3 per cent, with a further 1 per cent derived from tax relief. Mr Hutton said the scheme, partly modelled on Kiwisaver, aimed to complement other pension reforms and close an estimated £57 billion ($NZ160 billion) savings gap.

Hotel Ordered To Close Doors For 24 Hours

The Liquor Licensing Authority in Hawke's Bay has ordered a country hotel which broke liquor sales laws close its doors for 24 hours. The Te Aute hotel south of Hastings was one of three liquor outlets caught in a sting operation last November, selling alcohol to two girls aged 16 and 17. Malcolm Hart from the Hastings District Council says the teenagers tried to buy liquor at 12 premises, nine of which refused. He says suspending the licence of the Te Aute hotel should send a clear message that selling alcohol to underage teenagers is illegal.
© NewsRoom 2006

Xtra unsure what caused fault

Xtra Broadband should be back on in parts of the North Island by one tomorrow morning. The rural wireless network in the 06 and 07 areas has not been working for the past few days meaning some customers have been unable to connect to broadband services. A technical spokesman from Xtra says they have no idea what the problem was. He has also confirmed they do not yet know whether those who have been affected will be compensated.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Learner driver clocked at 180km/hr

A 20-year-old driver on a learner's licence has been clocked at 180 kilometres an hour by a Canterbury Highway Patrol officer just south of Woodend. When stopped, he showed the officer tickets he had already received for breaching his learner licence. He has been charged with dangerous driving.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Insulation Project For Taranaki Houses

Ten thousand cold houses in Taranaki could be much warmer within a decade due to a $15 million project to insulate older houses. Seven years ago, 100 houses in Waitara were insulated in a pilot project which saw rates of respiratory illness drop. Now the Energy Efficiency Conservation Authority, Housing New Zealand, the Accident Compensation Corporation and other national agencies have joined Taranaki District Health Board and community trusts in a more ambitious project. The first three years will see $3 million spent to insulate 1,800 houses to modern standards.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Taxis ferry bus passengers

Stagecoach bus company in Wellington is bringing in taxis to cover one of its routes and provide back-up on others due to a driver shortage. Around 70 bus services in the capital have been cancelled each day for the past two weeks because of the problem, which has caused frustration and long delays for thousands of passengers. Stagecoach Commercial Director Ian Turner says short-term measures, including the use of taxis, should mean things run more smoothly for the next six weeks, which is how long it takes to train a new driver. He says 20 new drivers start their training today and another 20 are in the early stages of recruitment.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Fine-dodgers being caught at border

Courts Minister Rick Barker is pleased about the number of fine-dodgers being caught by the government's Pay or Stay campaign. The initiative allows the collections unit of the Ministry of Justice to catch people with unpaid reparation or fines if they are travelling overseas. Mr Barker says 27 people with outstanding fines were stopped in December and January. Of those, 18 paid in full and the others are either due to appear in court, have been arrested or made arrangements to pay the outstanding amounts. He says the total owed was $123,000, of which $48,000 is reparation owed to victims.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

NZ Scientists Seek Earthquake Forecasting Centre

A group of New Zealand and overseas scientists wants to establish an earthquake and volcano forecasting centre. Representatives from international and New Zealand universities and science centres were attending a three day geological and nuclear science workshop in Wellington. A Massey University earth science lecturer, Shane Cronin, says New Zealand is producing some of the best earthquake and volcano research in the world. He says if this was combined, some serious inroads could be made into forecasting when earthquakes will happen.
© NewsRoom 2006

Cross-dressing lawyer in New Zealand hangs up his dress after guilty verdict

A male lawyer who appeared in court dressed in women's clothes as a protest against what he said was New Zealand's overly-masculine judiciary was suspended Wednesday after being found to be in contempt of court. The High Court found Rob Moodie, a 68-year-old, balding man who appeared in court in dresses and toting a handbag, was in contempt for circulating suppressed documents outside the court in one of his cases. Moodie officially changed his name to "Miss Alice" as part of his protest against the "old boys network" that he said runs the nation's judiciary, and was granted an award for the most bizarre conduct by a lawyer in 2006 by London's The Times newspaper.

Cricket-Black Caps (NZ) Clinch Chappell-Hadlee Series

The Black Caps have beaten Australia in the second Chappell-Hadlee one-day cricket international in Auckland.New Zealand had a record run chase to win and clinch the series. Australia set a new ground record of 336 at Eden Park, eclipsing New Zealand's 306-6 against Sri Lanka there in 1983. Ross Taylor top-scored with his second century for the Black Caps before being caught by the Australian captain Michael Hussey at 117 after lofting a high one in the 38th over. Craig McMillan and Peter Fulton also had decisive innings. As a result of the loss, Australia has been toppled from their perch at the top of the world one-day rankings.
© NewsRoom 2007

Asteroid coming close

An asteroid may come uncomfortably close to Earth in 29 years' time. Astronomers are monitoring an asteroid named Apophis, which has a 1 in 45,000 chance of striking Earth on April 13, 2036.
A group of astronauts, engineers and scientists says the United Nations should assume responsibility for a space mission to deflect it. Although the odds of an impact by this particular asteroid are low, the US Congress has told NASA to upgrade its tracking of asteroids to deal with the issue of other threatening space rocks in the future.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Record number for run

A record number of people turned out for today's Round the Bays fun run in Wellington. More than 10,000 people took part in the seven kilometre run around the waterfront, in fine, sunny conditions.
Despite the big field, organisers say the start this year went very smoothly, thanks to a new transponder system being used for the first time. Runners attached a device to their shoelaces that started recording their individual time when they crossed the start line.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

John Key's big leap in PM poll

Just three months after taking the helm of the National Party, John Key has leapt to within a few percentage points of Helen Clark as preferred prime minister. Key, who made his first major speech against Prime Minister Helen Clark on Tuesday, is understood to have shot up in the preferred prime ministerial ratings, polling at 27 per cent and just 5 points shy of Clark at 32 per cent in the One News Colmar Brunton poll. The poll, to be released tonight, is understood to show National on 46 per cent, Labour on 39 per cent and the Greens at 7 per cent.
source:Sunday Star Times

Terms of reference are released

It is a full three months since the government announced its intention to carry out a review of the supply of liquor to under-18s. Today the terms of reference for that review are out. The project will be carried out by the Justice and Health ministries. The project will find out how much harm comes from selling booze to minors, and come up with proposals to address it. It will look at the actual point of sale, and other means of supply such as through family members. The influence of advertising will also be taken into account.
Ministers say they want to see progress on the issue this year.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Silly time of year to teach students

Summer and school just do not go together. With the new term underway, school principals are again raising the question of why schools are operating at the hottest time of year. Principals Federation president Judy Hanna says it would make more sense to have a short break at Christmas, and a longer holiday around now. She says it is a silly time of year to be trying to teach a classroom full of sweaty pupils. Judy Hanna says uniforms are not conducive to the weather and students do not learn very well when they are overheated.
She says it would be better to start the school year in March.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Kiwis are on the move

New Zealanders are becoming more mobile. Figures from the last census show they are shifting house more than ever before. More than half the respondents to the last census had moved home in the last five years, and almost a quarter had moved within a year, up slightly on figures from the 2001 survey. The most mobile people are in the 25 to 29 age group. Eighty percent of them had shifted between the two censuses. Waikato is the most mobile region, with 60 percent of people moving house since 2001. Sixty percent of Maori have moved in the last five years, making them the most mobile ethnic group.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Death highlights need for drug

The death of an Auckland woman highlights the need for a life-saving vaccine to be available to all families, Meningitis Trust general manager Fiona Colbert says. Martina Matic-Kennar, 33, died of pneumococcal meningitis – a common strain of meningitis for which Prevenar was a highly effective vaccine, Ms Colbert said. Mrs Matic-Kennar was 19 weeks pregnant when she died, leaving behind a husband and 14-month-old son. The Trust and health professionals had been begging the government to make Prevenar available to everyone, not just those who can afford it, Ms Colbert said. Overseas studies have shown the vaccine to be 97 per cent effective, Ms Colbert said. It is Government-funded in countries including Australia, Canada, Britain and the United States.
Source:NZPA

National Leads by Two Points in New Zealand

The opposition National party is once again the most popular political organization in New Zealand, according to a poll by Roy Morgan International. 41.5 per cent of respondents would vote for National, while 39.5 per cent would support the governing Labour party. The Greens are in third place with eight per cent, followed by New Zealand First with four per cent, ACT with 2.5 per cent, the Maori Party with two per cent, United Future with 1.5 per cent, and the Progressives with 0.5 per cent.

Chinese New Year's Eve

Thousands of Chinese New Zealanders are in celebration mode today: the eve of Chinese New Year. About ten-thousand people are expected at Ellerslie racecourse in Auckland today, and Wellington's Civic Square is expected to be packed with people celebrating the new Year of the Pig. Wellington Chinese New Year programme director Linda Lim says children born in a pig year are said to be fun, loyal, honest and blessed with patience and understanding. Children born this year are also predicted to be blessed with wealth and happiness.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Antenatal Classes For Maori Women

Maori mothers to be in Hawke's Bay are the first in New Zealand to be provided with a free antenatal programme, designed specifically for them. The District Health Board has launched Whanau Mai, which offers an alternative to mainstream antenatal classes, with a focus on traditional Maori birthing practices.
The Midwifery co-ordinator Judy Sulikosky says a private Maori health provider held a successful pilot programme last year in south Auckland. And she says the classes will be held at the hospital's whare, which will make women feel more relaxed.
© NewsRoom 2006

Thousands witness Queen Mary 2's arrival

One sight is dominating Auckland's sky line this morning. The massive cruise ship Queen Mary 2 is in town for the day. Thousands of Aucklanders gathered at vantage points around the Rangitoto Channel, in a bid to watch the biggest ship ever to visit New Zealand make its grand entrance. Reporter Allan Lee was amongst the spectators at Mechanics Bay. He says the Queen Mary 2 dwarfed Rangitoto as she cruised into the Waitemata Harbour, surrounded by a flotilla of smaller boats. The Queen Mary will leave for Sydney in a blaze of fireworks tonight.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Cricket-NZ crush Australia by 10 wickets

Australia's cricket World Cup preparations suffered another embarrassing setback tonight as a Shane Bond-inspired New Zealand gleefully added to the reigning champions' woes with a 10-wicket defeat at Westpac Stadium here today. After a relative lull during the recent Commonwealth Bank Tri-Series, Bond resurrected his role as Australia's chief tormentor, taking five for 23 as New Zealand made the perfect start to their plans to annex the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy for the first time. It was Australia's first loss by 10 wickets in a history spanning 646 one-day internationals. They managed just 148 in 49.3 overs and New Zealand surpassed that total in the 27th. The second match is at Eden Park in Auckland on Sunday.
Source:NZPA

South Island Wins Internal Migration Stakes

More people have moved from the North to the South Island than the reverse in the past five years. The 2006 census reveals the South Island had an internal migration gain of 10,000 people, the second census in a row the South Island has shown an increase. Census 2006 general manager Nancy McBeth says Canterbury has benefited most from the migration, and has seen people shift there from all parts of the country.
© NewsRoom 2007

Tourists Hit By Falling Ice

Two tourists have been airlifted from Franz Josef Glacier after being hit by falling ice in two separate incidents. One of them, a 34 year old New Caledonian man, received serious leg injuries which police say could result in permanent disability. After being rescued from the glacier he was flown on to Greymouth Hospital for further treatment. The other incident involved a 61 year old Australian man who was hit in the back of the head by flying ice causing lacerations and bruising. Police say the two people were travelling independently of each other and were not part of a guided group. They say they passed safety barriers and warning signs to reach the ice, and say these actions were irresponsible.
© NewsRoom 2007

Discount for disrupted travellers

Stagecoach is again apologising to Wellingtonians for what it admits has been a poor and unreliable bus service over the past few weeks. It is blaming a shortage of drivers, compounded by the flow-on effect of cancelled trips leading to overcrowding on other services and even more delays. In an effort to make amends, Stagecoach will be selling bus passes at half price next month to all those people who had bus passes this month.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Brain may be able to repair itself - NZ research

By Martin Johnston
New Zealand scientists have discovered a cell pathway through which the adult brain may repair itself, opening a new line of research into future treatments for crippling diseases like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and stroke. This leap forward in understanding the human brain, by neuroscientists at Auckland University and at the Carlsson Institute for Neuroscience in Sweden, will be published as the cover story next week in one of the world's leading science journals, Science. "It's pretty exciting," Auckland University's Professor Richard Faull, one of the leaders of the eight-year study, said yesterday.

80 Zimbabwean nurses in NZ may have false papers

The Nursing Council is investigating whether 80 Zimbabwean nurses working in New Zealand rest homes and hospitals are using false papers. The nurses' status had been under investigation since August.
All the Zimbabwean nurses involved have been granted New Zealand registration and are still working in public and private hospitals. Council chief executive Marion Clark told The Press she received a letter from the Nursing Council of Zimbabwe in August warning that it was likely New Zealand had received "false verification" on the health workers' registration.
Source:NZPA

Births push population to highest increase in 13 years

Births outnumbered deaths in New Zealand last year by almost 31,000 – the highest natural increase in 13 years, the latest figures from Statistics New Zealand say. The increase of 30,950 has not been eclipsed since 1993, when there were 31,680 more births than deaths. It may not be repeated in the near future as demographers predict that the natural increase will decline over coming years as the bulge of "baby boomers" enter retirement and old age.
Source:NZPA

Mass Migration To NZ From Niue Feared

A union in Niue says a government plan to reduce the working week for public servants will push more Niueans into New Zealand. Niue's government is facing a budget shortfall of $1.4 million and is planning to cut services and put workers on reduced hours to compensate. The Public Service Association says if the working week is cut to four days, there may be a mass migration to New Zealand. A spokesperson, Amanda Heka, says the cost of living is increasing and less pay would make Niueans eager to leave.
© NewsRoom 2007

Fishing Contest Brings In Millions

A Far North fishing contest is now pulling millions of dollars into the region. The Ninety Mile Beach snapper contest started 26 years ago to extend the season at the local camping ground.
It has grown to become the biggest surf-fishing contest of its kind in the world. Local business owner Colin Campbell says the 970 anglers taking part this year will inject an estimated $8 million into the local economy. He says some people come from as far as the United Kingdom to take part. The big prize in the contest, which ends tomorrow, is $50,000.
© NewsRoom 2007

Pacific plagued by dengue fever

Anyone travelling to the Pacific, particularly the Cook Islands, is being warned to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes following an increase in dengue fever. There have been 29 cases reported in Auckland this year, 19 of them have been in people who have travelled from the Cooks - and a small number from other Pacific Islands. There is no vaccine for Dengue fever, which can cause a sudden high fever, headache, skin rash and joint pains that might last up to 14 days and take a long time to recover from.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Govt not keen to let whalers into NZ water

Conservation Minister Chris Carter admits the government would have great difficulty allowing Japanese whaling vessel the Nisshin Maru into New Zealand waters. The ship caught fire in the Ross Sea after an explosion early this morning. One crew member is missing, 30 stayed on board to extinguish the fire and the rest have been evacuated to three other whaling ships. The cause of the fire is still unknown, but protestors are not thought to be involved. Mr Carter says New Zealand is on stand-by to assist with sending a tug to the area where the ship is on fire, but he says it is up to the Japanese to decide what action it wishes New Zealand to take. He says New Zealand would be very reluctant to have the Nisshin Maru here, not only because it is a whaling vessel, but also because it is damaged and has a lot of very nasty chemicals on board.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

White Island could blow

There could be a minor eruption on White Island in the Bay of Plenty. Scientists have discovered the crater lake's temperature has now hit 74 degrees which is its highest ever recorded temperature.
The lake level has also fallen six metres and steam plumes are frequently being spotted above the volcano.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Howard met by protesters in NZ

By Xavier La Canna in Wellington
PRIME Minister John Howard was targeted by anti-war campaigners when he arrived for talks in New Zealand today, his political woes over Iraq following him across the Tasman. Two people were arrested as about 50 anti-war demonstrators staged a noisy protest as Mr Howard arrived in Wellington, ahead of talks with New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark tomorrow. The protesters blocked the street outside Premier House – Ms Clark's Wellington residence where she greeted Mr Howard today – capping off a week that has been full of Iraq controversy for the Australian Prime Minister.

Hacker destroys NZ websites

By Helen Twose
New Zealand internet service providers have been hit by a hacker, defacing customers' homepages with Turkish script. The hacker, operating under the name Iskorpitx, was responsible for more than 38,000 websites being replaced with the Turkish flag in 2006. Internet service provider ihug has confirmed 90 of its customers have been victims of the hacker. It is understood that several other internet service providers have also been affected by the Turkey-based hacker.

Horse riding tops danger list

By JOHN HENZELL - The Press
Horse riding is the most dangerous adventure sport in New Zealand, causing twice as many injuries as mountaineering, rock climbing, kayaking, snowboarding and skiing combined, a study shows. Horse riders were responsible for one-fifth of all Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) claims identified as adventure tourism or adventure sport by a New Zealand Medical Journal study, with an injury toll twice as high per person than mountainbiking, the next most hazardous sport. Despite media focus on deaths in mountaineering, whitewater rafting and scenic flights, by far the most dangerous adventure sports were found to be horse riding, mountainbiking, tramping and surfing. The four activities together accounted for 60 per cent of the nearly 19,000 claims lodged by New Zealanders, leading to calls to investigate regulatory intervention to tackle the injury count.

Increase In White Island Volcanic Activity

There has been increased volcanic activity on White Island off Whakatane. The temperature of water in the crater lake of the live marine volcano has reached 74 degrees - the highest ever recorded. There has also been a 6 metre drop in the water level of the lake, which GNS Science says could cause instability resulting in a minor eruption. Volcano Surveillance co-ordinator Brad Scott says there has also been a big increase in Sulphur dioxide and carbon dioxide emissions in the past 8 months.
© NewsRoom 2007

Clark urged to tackle Iraq with Howard

Green MP Keith Locke is urging the Prime Minister to tackle several sensitive issues with visiting Australian Prime Minister John Howard. Mr Howard arrives in New Zealand this afternoon and he is due to hold talks with Helen Clark at Parliament tomorrow. Mr Locke says Miss Clark should not hold back on urging Mr Howard to withdraw Australian troops immediately from Iraq. He says she should also be willing to back the call of her Australian Labour counterpart Kevin Rudd for David Hicks to be brought back from Guantanamo Bay.
Keith Locke adds that climate change, and Australia's refusal to ratify the Kyoto Protocol should also be raised.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Chch Star staff picketing

Staff at the Christchurch Star are picketing today outside their building on Tuam Street to support a collective wage agreement. The workers walked off the job at 11.15 this morning after rejecting a 2.8% pay offer plus a hundred dollar cash bonus - that superceded a previous offer of a hundred dollar Pak N Save voucher. The Christchurch staff, which includes journalists, type-setters, sub editors and printing workers are joined by their counterparts in Oamaru. Those workers rejected a 3.5% pay offer plus $200 dollars in grocery vouchers. EPMU organiser Wayne Ruscoe says the offers from owner APN, are insulting.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Westlake boys world beaters

Five Westlake Boys High School students have topped the world in Cambridge International Examination results. Three years ago the Auckland school decided to offer Cambridge as well as NCEA examinations. One of the students, Arkesh Patel, outscored the thousands of students who sat Cambridge around the world in three subjects, History, Biology and Chemistry. "I'm keeping my options open right now. I'm hoping to go on to Uni to maybe study engineering, hopefully bio-medical engineering."
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Man admits smuggling fake stamps

A Chinese man has admitted smuggling 75,000 fake stamps into the country by posting them to himself. Wai Man Li was allegedly going to sell the stamps, worth a $150,000, to legitimate stamp dealers.
Customs staff noticed the colours on the fakes were slightly off compared to the genuine articles.

Cross-dressing lawyer guilty

Cross-dressing Wellington lawyer Dr Rob Moodie has been found guilty of contempt of court and suspended from practising law for three months. The penalty comes after Moodie admitted leaking a confidential army engineering report to the media. He has vowed to quit the legal profession for good and is planning to hang up the Alice in Wonderland outfits he wore as a protest against the justice system. The Crown asked the high court at the end of January to fine him and suspend his right to act as a lawyer over his leaking of the secret document. Moodie started wearing women's clothing last year in protest at what he regards as the male dominated judicial system's treatment of the Berrymans.

Tobacco price hike unlikely

Parliament's Finance Select Committee has today been urged recommend a hike the price of tobacco. However Finance Michael Cullen says even though a price hike would see some people quitting, it would be a brave Government that would agree to the request. He says it would hit those who can least afford it in the pocket. Dr Cullen says the sad thing about smoking, other than its effect on health, is that it is hugely, negatively related to social class. He says smokers usually have lower incomes whilst the middle class have largely given up.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Tip Top icecream plant set to close

By ALAN WOOD - The Press
Tip Top's Christchurch icecream plant is likely to close, with the loss of 70 jobs. Dairy giant Fonterra, which owns Tip Top and its brands, is consulting with workers at the site. It wants to upgrade its Auckland and Perth icecream factories and centralise production. Factory workers were stunned on Monday when visiting Tip Top chief executive, Ray O'Connor, started consultations promoting closure, based on a manufacturing asset review undertaken late last year. "Our preferred option is to consolidate our operations in Auckland and Perth. This does mean the likely closure of our site in Christchurch," he said yesterday. Christchurch's manufacturing sector has been hit by several closures in the past two years. Late last year Feltex closed its carpet plant, with the loss of 170 jobs.

Auckland Florist Gets Valentines Shock

An Auckland florist had a loveless start to Valentines Day when she arrived at work and couldn't open her shop door. Milly Perkins of Milly's Flowers in Orakei got to work early this morning, but when she tried to use her key she realised the door had been superglued, or bonded, shut. She says she can't understand why anyone would do such a thing on her busiest day. Ms Perkins says she believes it was a prank, but she had to ring a builder and a locksmith to get access to her shop, and now faces a hefty repair bill.
© NewsRoom 2007

Regional art competition launched

RAROTONGA, COOK ISLANDS ---- Students in six Pacific Islands countries have the chance to win NZ$10,000(US$6,830) in prizes in a regional art competition focusing on sports and leisure, the Cook Islands Times reports. The Pacific Forum Line has launched its seventh annual regional art competition for students of all ages. It features sports and leisure to coincide with the 2007 Pacific Games in Samoa. Entries should be a visual representation of sports and leisure on the islands of Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, American Samoa, the Cook Islands, and Tonga. Australia and New Zealand are also included. These are the countries serviced by Pacific Forum Line vessels.

New Zealand aims to be greenest country

The New Zealand Prime Minister, Helen Clark, has pledged that her small nation will be the first in the world to wipe out its contribution to climate change. Ms Clark, leader of a country that prides itself on its green image, set New Zealand the ambitious goal of becoming "carbon neutral" - reducing its net emissions of greenhouse gases to zero. She did not set a deadline, but told parliament yesterday in her first major speech of the year: "I believe New Zealand can aim to be the first nation to be truly sustainable across the four pillars of the economy, society, the environment and nationhood. I believe we can aspire to be carbon neutral in our economy and way of life." They were bold words. But the South Pacific nation has a record of taking a stand on global issues. In 1984 the Labour government of David Lange introduced the world's first nuclear-free policy, banning all warships and submarines that were nuclear- powered or carrying nuclear weapons. The policy strained its alliance with the US, whose naval ships had a long history of visiting New Zealand ports. But it was popular with the voters and it has been kept in place by governments of every political shade.

Netball-Vilimaina Davu Given Green Light to Play in NZ

Netball Fiji has given the green light to national netball coach Vilimaina Davu to play in the National Bank Cup competition in New Zealand in April. Official Asenaca Waqanivavalagi said it is stated in Davu's contract that she will be released to play for the Northern Force when ever required by coach Yvonne Willering. Waqanivavalagi said Davu will leave for New Zealand in April for only three days and her absence will not effect the national team's preparation for the World Netball Championship.
© Copyright 2002 Fijivillage.com

Ancient stalactite stolen from cave

An ancient stalactite was deliberately snapped off the roof of a cave and then abandoned nearby. The 50cm, 3.5kg spike, removed from the Luxmore Cave, near the start of the Kepler Track outside Te Anau, is thought to be several thousand years old. It was found on Sunday on a nearby walking track. Te Anau police said yesterday they had been unable to lift fingerprints from the porous limestone structure.
Source:NZPA

Ten illegal workers arrested in vineyards

By DAN HUTCHINSON - The Press
Ten illegal immigrant workers have been arrested in Marlborough vineyards as the Department of Labour cracks down problem ahead of a new seasonal employment scheme. The scheme, due to start in April, could see thousands of Pacific Islanders given seasonal work permits in New Zealand. Four Czech, and several Brazilian and Tongan workers were found working on two Marlborough vineyards yesterday morning during a Department of Labour raid. A Thai overstayer was also arrested last night after being found working at another vineyard. Labour Department deputy secretary for workforce, Mary Anne Thompson, said all nine workers had breached the terms of their visitor and work permits. They would likely be deported.

Plans For International Airport For Whangarei

An Auckland-based developer has revealed concept plans for an international airport near Whangarei. Oliver Scott, who is developing a large industrial park at Ruakaka, is leading a consortium of New Zealand and overseas financiers, and wants to see the new airport built within five years. He says Whangarei's existing airport can not take large planes and is completely inadequate for a growing region.
© NewsRoom 2006

Maori Truancy Rate Rises

New figures show the rate of truancy by Maori school students is double the average for all pupils. A government report on truancy shows 7 percent of Maori students are absent from school without good reason on a weekly basis. The figures from 2006 show the Maori truancy rate has risen by 2 percent in two years.
© NewsRoom 2006

Tobacco price hike unlikely

Parliament's Finance Select Committee has today been urged recommend a hike the price of tobacco. However Finance Michael Cullen says even though a price hike would see some people quitting, it would be a brave Government that would agree to the request. He says it would hit those who can least afford it in the pocket. Dr Cullen says the sad thing about smoking, other than its effect on health, is that it is hugely, negatively related to social class. He says smokers usually have lower incomes whilst the middle class have largely given up.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Field no longer in Labour Party

Phillip Field is no longer a member of the Labour Party. Parliament's Speaker Margaret Wilson has just confirmed his status as the House begins its business session today, reading a letter submitted by the Prime Minister. "Following a decision of the Labour Party caucus today, Taito Phillip Field is no longer a member of the parliamentary Labour Party. This decision is effective immediately." Mr Field has already indicated he wants to return to Parliament as soon as possible and is deciding whether to stand as an independent or join another party.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Tongan Laws on the web

The accessibility of a whole version of the Tongan laws on the internet, and its availability on a CD, have been hailed as a major achievement by Tonga's Ministry of Justice. The Attorney General Mrs 'Alisi Taumoepeau, in launching the website and the CD on Friday February 5 said that Tonga lead the way in utilising the new technology, the first "by any of the small states in the Commonwealth and in the island states of the Pacific." "The website (www.Tonga-law.to) contains English and Tongan versions of the legislation of Tonga, in force as at the 31st December 2005. " The project was funded by NZAID with the amount of NZD $100,000.

Protestors to camp in blast zone

Anti-mining protestors are threatening to camp inside a blasting zone on Mt Augustus, north of Westport, despite the area being officially closed off to the public. Save Happy Valley protestors have occupied a site near Solid Energy's Cypress opencast mine for more than a year in a bid to save an endangered West Coast snail and in the last week they have upped the ante by setting up camp near the company's Stockton mine. This follows the Department of Conservation decision to close off a two-hundred metre strip of land next to the Mount Augustus ridgeline to allow Solid Energy to carry out controlled blasting at the mine. Protestor Francis Mountier says she is disgusted by DOC's shameful action. She says the department is supposed to protect endangered species, not help mining companies to send them into extinction.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Search For Trans-Tasman Kayaker Draws To A Close

A search for missing Australian kayaker Andrew McAuley is drawing to a close, and searchers say they have done everything they can to find him. Mr McAuley, who was trying to complete a tran-Tasman crossing, has been missing since Friday. A spokesman for the National Rescue Coordination Centre, Peter Williams says two planes searching off the Milford Coast will end their search at 7.15pm tonight.
He says after more than 70 hours in the water, the searchers believe they have exhausted every avenue they can, to find Mr McAuley.
© NewsRoom 2006

Flash flooding for Fiji

A flash flood warning is in place in Fiji after heavy rain continues to hit Fiji's main island, Viti Levu. At the height of the emergency, many resorts were cut off as floodwaters isolated areas of Nadi. Fifty 50 families were evacuated. Vijay Narayan, the news director at Fiji's 96FM says the government has met to discuss financial assistance for those evacuated.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Whalers and activists collide

Anti-whaling activists say one of their vessels and a Japanese whaling ship have collided near the Ross Sea, sparking a distress call from the Japanese crew. The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society says their vessel the Robert Hunter and the Japanese ship Kaiko Maru collided during a confrontation while the Japanese were bearing down on a pod of whales. The activists say the Kaiko Maru has issued a distress signal but refuses to tell them what distress they are in. Sea Shepherd head Captain Paul Watson is threatening to ram another Japanese whaler, the Nisshin Maru if the New Zealand and Australian governments do not enforce the Antarctic whale sanctuary by midday tomorrow. He says the Japanese are killing whales in territory controlled by the two countries and they must enforce the law.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News

Howard visiting capital

Trade and other trans-Tasman issues will be on the agenda when Australian Prime Minister John Howard visits later this week. Mr Howard is due in the capital on Friday for an annual bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Helen Clark. Trade, the CER agreement and climate change will be on the agenda. The meeting follows recent bilateral talks between Finance Minister Dr Michael Cullen and Australian Treasurer Peter Costello.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News