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Monday, April 30

Government plans to help home-buyers

The government has a plan to help homebuyers by paying for and owning part of a house. The government’s share, which will be around 25%, will then be paid back when the house is re-sold. Called shared equity it is already in place in Australia and England. The pilot scheme would be initially be small and targeted at areas where house prices are out of control such as Auckland.
Copyright © - CanWest TVWorks Limited



Baby girl for Castle-Hughes

New Zealand actress Keisha Castle-Hughes has become a mother. The 17-year-old Whalerider star gave birth to a daughter on Anzac Day. She has named her baby Felicity Amore. Castle-Hughes, who was nominated for an Academy Award for her role in Whalerider, announced last year she was pregnant to boyfriend Bradley Hull.
Source:One News



Otago wind farm would be biggest

The green light to build the world's biggest wind farm in Central Otago hinges on consent hearings which got underway on Monday. Meridian Energy wants to erect more than 170 giant turbines many as tall as a 45-storey building in an area opponents say is too beautiful to be spoiled. The Project Hayes wind farm planned for Central Otago's windswept Lammermore Range would produce enough electricity for more than quarter of a million homes. It would cover up to 92 square kilometres of land near Middlemarch.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News



NZ weighs into nuclear debate

NEW Zealand has weighed into the nuclear debate, with one political party saying a nuclear industry in Australia would put its trans-Tasman neighbour at risk. Co-leader of the New Zealand Green Party, Russel Norman, said moves in Australia to allow more uranium to be mined and enriched was bad news for New Zealand. "It is entirely possible that if there was a serious accident on the east coast of Australia that we could cop some of the fallout, like with Chernobyl across Europe," he said. "An accident can have a very large impact," he said. His party was opposed to Australia expanding its nuclear industry because of nuclear waste and the "inevitability" of nuclear material making its way into the weapons trade. New Zealand has been nuclear-free since 1987 and bans warships that will not declare whether they are nuclear-armed or powered from entering its waters.



Medals for East Timor veterans

Police and soldiers who have served in East Timor are to receive a medal recognising their achievements. The Government has announced personnel who were stationed in the nation between 1999 and April 2006 will be recognised with the East Timor medal. Those who have been stationed in East Timor since outbreaks of violence last year will receive the New Zealand General Service Medal.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News



Daylight saving extended

The Government has announced daylight saving will be extended by three weeks. It will now run from the end of September through until the first Sunday in April. It is the first change to daylight saving in 17 years. The earlier start will avoid a clash with the start of the fourth school term, which has been disruptive to families.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News



New Zealand group believes Prince shouldn't go to Iraq

The Monarchist League of New Zealand believes the publicity surrounding Prince Harry's deployment to Iraq makes it too dangerous for him to go. The third in line to the throne is due to be posted to Iraq within weeks and public debate is raging about his safety.
Militant groups in Iraq have threatened to kidnap or kill Prince Harry. Monarchist League chairman Noel Cox says the plea for a media blackout has been ignored.
Copyright © - CanWest TVWorks Limited



Kiwi tourist attractions likely to be sold to Aussie

Iconic kiwi tourist attractions could be headed for Australian hands. Listed Australian tourist company MFS Living and Leisure Group has launched a full takeover bid for Tourism Holdings Ltd. The group owns a raft of tourism operations, including Auckland's Kelly Tarlton's Underwater World and the Waitomo Glowworm caves.
Copyright © - CanWest TVWorks Limited



Maori Perspective On Volunteering

The Office for the Community Voluntary sector has released a report on the Maori perspective on volunteering. The 2001 Census data showed that Maori were more likely than non-Maori to have been involved in unpaid activities outside the household. But the office says until now little has been known about why Maori volunteer so much more than others. The Minister for the Community and Voluntary Sector, Luamanuvao Winnie Laban, says the report shows that it is a part of the Maori culture. She says volunteer work, including fixing marae and helping family members, is customary and part of the beliefs handed down through the generations.
© NewsRoom 2007



Couple walks away from $350,000 yacht with nothing

A German couple who leapt into the water from their burning, uninsured, $350,000 cruising yacht last month, has gone home with nothing. Christa and Sigi Haimerl returned to Germany with only few possessions after a suspected gas leak turned their 16-metre steel cruising yacht into an inferno at Mahurangi, north of Auckland, on March 29. The couple leapt over the side and were rescued from the water by a boatie as the yacht was engulfed by flames. They recovered only a few possessions, including some documents and were understood to have gone back to Germany after the fiery end to their world sailing trip.
Source:NZPA



Cautious optimism over miscarriage study

Groundbreaking research out of Auckland University appears to be helping women who have had multiple miscarriages carry their babies to full term. The research is looking at how two drugs; aspirin and the anti-clotting agent heparin, affect the development of the placenta. Lead researcher Claire McLintock says together, the two drugs tackle complications believed to cause miscarriages - blood clotting and inflammation. Dr McLintock says the five women involved in the trial in New Zealand have all passed the danger period of their pregnancies. She says while the results are good, it is early days yet, as the effectiveness of the treatment will not be clear until the results of UK trials come in.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News



Coal Protestors Removed From Trains

The lines company Ontrack says two people who had locked themselves onto the train track south of Christchurch have now been removed. The pair, from the Save Happy Valley Coalition, and had locked themselves to the tracks to prevent coal trains getting to the Lyttelton Port, as part of a protest against coal mining. A spokesperson for Ontrack, Kevin Ramshaw, says the protest delayed one train by three hours, but now all services are running smoothly.
© NewsRoom 2006



Iranian Men Had Fair Hearing

The Department of Labour says four Iranian men being held at Mt Eden prison have exhausted all avenues to stay in New Zealand. The lobby group, Global Peace and Justice Auckland, has criticised the immigration system as being unjust in its treatment of the men, who have been refused refugee status. The group's spokesperson, John Minto, says the men, who are refusing to sign passport papers, fear persecution if they return to Iran. The Department of Labour has confirmed that four Iranian nationals are being held under the Immigration Act for refusing to sign passport applications. But the deputy secretary for workforce, Mary-Anne Thompson, says they have received a fair hearing and have exhausted all avenues to stay in New Zealand.
© NewsRoom 2007



Sunday, April 29

Anderton hopeful of FTA

New Zealand stands on the brink of a free trade agreement with South Korea. Agriculture Minister Jim Anderton has signed an agricultural cooperation agreement with the Korean Agriculture Minister in Seoul. It is the first agreement of its kind between the two countries. Mr Anderton says the total two-way trade between the two nations is worth $2.2 billion.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News



Australia-Rain falls on dry farmlands at last

Welcome rain has been falling in parts of New South Wales, South Australia, and Victoria after up to two years of drought. Sky News reports it is a good soaking, 31 millimetres at Ivanhoe, similar at Dubbo and Tamworth. Some farms have been transformed from parched territory to a bog in a day. Farmers are delighted. They say the rainfall has provided a good base for winter crops. Many areas missed out, but forecasters predict more rain on the way.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News



Boy on mission for burgers

A two-year-old Auckland boy had the organisers of a birthday party worried yesterday afternoon. They were holding the party at McDonald's in New Lynn about four o'clock when they noticed one of their young guests was missing. They could not find him anywhere.
Meanwhile, on the North Shore, a bus driver noticed that after his passengers had got off the bus, a toddler was left behind. It was the missing two-year-old. It seems the adventurous tot had wandered out of McDonald's and boarded a bus unnoticed for a 90-minute ride across the city, arriving at the Burger King bus stop in Takapuna. Police were able to reunite him with his very relieved family.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News



Maori Party says survey result fantastic

The Maori Party is buzzing on the back of this month's Marae Digipoll survey. It found support for the party across the seven Maori electorates has grown significantly. Co-leader Tariana Turia says it is a fantastic result, and endorsement of the work her MPs have been doing. She says what she is really excited about is the huge jump in support from people in the South Island. She says the extra numbers have made a fifth seat a real possibility. Mrs Turia says her main focus is for the Maori Party to be a strong and independent voice with influence.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News



Saturday, April 28

Howard goes nuclear

In what is being billed as John Howard's attempt to show himself a forward thinking Prime Minister, the Australian leader is going nuclear. Mr Howard has launched a policy clearing the way for a nuclear power industry in Australia. He told a conference in Melbourne he wants to encourage nuclear power stations and waste management centres, and push for uranium enrichment. Mr Howard has pledged to remove unnecessary constraints on new uranium mines, saying when it comes to reducing greenhouse gases the nuclear option needs to be considered.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News



Giant spider makes NZ home

By DAN HUTCHINSON - The Press
A large Australian spider is setting up home in New Zealand in increasing numbers. Lorrie Griebel's Marlborough backyard is home to a golden orbweb spider – the latest found in New Zealand in recent months. Eleven discoveries of the tropical spider have been reported to the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry this year. The Marlborough spider is one of just three confirmed sightings in the South Island since 1975. Measuring over 5cm in length, the spider was thriving on a generous diet of bumblebees and other garden insects. The spiders are known to catch small birds.



Judge's comments disputed by Ritalin advocates

An advocate for a drug used to treat people suffering Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is worried that a judge's comments about the medication will cause undue concern for users. Judge Paul Conlon from New South Wales claims doctors are being irresponsible in freely prescribing Ritalin to children with the disorder. Mr Conlon claims the powerful drug could cause mental health problems. But Charles Harrison, the chairman of ADHD support group Advocate New Zealand, says children who use Ritalin do better in society than those who do not. Mr Harrison says there are at least 200,000 children in New Zealand with the behavioural disorder and up to 5,000 use Ritalin.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News



Health advice for Fiji holidaymakers

A trip to the doctor is being recommended for anyone planning a trip to Fiji. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a warning about an outbreak of typhoid after flooding in the northern provinces of Cakaudrove and Macuata on the island of Vanua Levu after flooding.
People going there are being advised to boil drinking water, wash hands thoroughly and make sure their vaccinations are up to date before they leave. Travellers suffering symptoms of fever, headache, muscle or abdominal pain associated with constipation or diarrhoea are advised to seek medical attention.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News



NZ refuses visas to some Fijian students

A decision by New Zealand to refuse visas for some Fijian students because they are the children of soldiers has drawn fire from Fiji's military ruler. The school children were preparing to make a field trip to Auckland. Fiji's Interim Prime Minister, Commodore Frank Bainimarama, said the students were "innocent people". "They should not be targeted in any way, regardless if they have relatives in the military or not," he told the Fiji Times newspaper. The New Zealand government imposed the travel ban on all those closely connected to the military and the interim government to mark its strong opposition to the military overthrow of Fiji's democratically-elected government in December last year.



Pacific ministers meet in Cook Islands

Energy ministers from around the Pacific have gathered in the Cook Islands to discuss critical energy security challenges facing the region. The two-day Pacific Energy Ministers' Meeting, hosts 12 Pacific Island Ministers, more than 60 regional energy officials and observers and Australian and New Zealand government representatives. Director of the Pacific Islands Applied Geoscience Commission, Cristelle Pratt says Pacific economies are the most vulnerable to rising world oil prices. But she says Pacific nations can reduce this vulnerability through exploring alternative renewable energy sources, energy efficiency and conservation.



NZ ranks terribly for use of public transport

New Zealand has landed an abysmal ranking in an international survey rating people's use of available public transport. The survey from recruitment agency Kelly Services ranks us 22nd out of 28 countries. It shows around 30 percent of New Zealand workers who have access to buses and trains, choose to drive to work. Kelly Services operations manager Wendy Hewson says the cost of public transport and a lack of convenient access to services are putting commuters off.
Copyright © - CanWest TVWorks Limited



Earthrace captain finally admits defeat

The captain of the Earthrace trimaran now admits there is no way his crew can set a new record for circumnavigating the world. Captain Pete Bethune says replacement parts for the boat's starboard engine have been delayed on their way to Palau, where the boat has broken down. Even with a perfect run in the days ahead, he says the vessel would not make it to the final port of Barbados on time. Earthrace started from Barbados on March 10th, but it has lost nearly four weeks through several mechanical problems and a collision with a fishing skiff off Guatemala.
Copyright © - CanWest TVWorks Limited



Auckland event hopes to highlight Ugandan crisis

Beginning at 6:00pm this evening an overnight event called Displace Me is being held in Auckland's Aotea Square to raise Kiwi awareness about the civil war in Northern Uganda and its effects on the Ugandan people, particularly those who have been removed from their homes as a result of the conflict. The event hopes to emphasise the plight of people forced to live in Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps around Uganda, a number which the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre places somewhere between 1.2 million and 1.7 million. Displace Me New Zealand co-ordinator Sarah McElwain said displaced people face desperate and dehumanising conditions including lack of food and water, alcoholism, sexual abuse, HIV/AIDS, inadequate sanitation and lack of education.
Copyright © - CanWest TVWorks Limited



Sir Ed Released From Hospital

Sir Edmund Hillary has been released from Auckland Hospital and has returned to his home. The 87-year old mountaineer and explorer was taken to hospital on Sunday after returning from a trip to Kathmandu with his wife, Lady June Hillary. Lady Hillary says Sir Ed is doing well but won't say why he was admitted to hospital.
© NewsRoom 2007



Friday, April 27

Bolger talked to Queen about views on NZ as republic

By MAGGIE TAIT - NZPA
Former prime minister Jim Bolger told the Queen that he believed that at some point New Zealand would elect its own head of state. Speaking at the Seventh Parliamentary Conference – The Bolger Years, organised by Victoria University's Stout Research Centre and the Former Parliamentarians Association, the long-time advocate of republicanism revealed that on several occasions he had aired his views with the Queen. Mr Bolger told the conference about a speech he gave after the 1993 election in which he said New Zealand should have its own final appeal court, drop knighthoods and elect its own head of state and become a republic within the Commonwealth. "Very many across New Zealand, especially within the National Party, thought this was at best totally ill-conceived and at worst an Irish Catholic plot." Eventually a New Zealand honours system and Supreme Court were established.



Sleepyhead plans move to China

New Zealand's biggest bed manufacturer Sleepyhead is looking at moving manufacturing to China. It come a day after Fisher and Paykel's announcement it is to move washing machine and dryer manufacturing from Auckland to Thailand, shaving 350 jobs. Sleepyhead owner Graeme Turner says it is getting too costly to manufacture in New Zealand, and that is compounded by red tape and compliance costs. He says it is not feasible to expand in New Zealand because the costs are too high.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB New



Experts See Dementia As Growing Issue

Experts in the field of dementia say the disease will become a major health issue in New Zealand as the population ages. Alzheimer's New Zealand is holding its biennial conference in Wellington to discus latest research and issues around the neuro-genetic disease.
Dr Jean Gilmore told the conference that the government made a mistake by not including dementia as one of the 13 population health priorities in the New Zealand Health Strategy in 2000. The Massey University health lecturer said that is despite overwhelming evidence that dementia is a growing health issue given the increasing numbers of older people and the higher risk of developing dementia with age.
© NewsRoom 2006



NZers hooked on internet, mobile phones - survey

Two-thirds of New Zealand homes have access to the internet, a Statistics New Zealand survey shows. Results from a poll on technology use in households show just over half use broadband, while the rest use the slower dial-up service for the internet. Auckland, Wellington and Canterbury have higher than average broadband access, with Auckland topping the list at 43.1 per cent. Manawatu/Wanganui trails with just 22.7 per cent of households using broadband. In the year ending December 2006, the survey found 2.2 million New Zealanders used the internet
Source:NZPA



Snails prove costly for Solid Energy

Solid Energy expects to lose $25 million as a result of the disruption caused to its West Coast coal mining operation from having to move native land snails to another location.
The company developed a series of "work around" mining plans for the Mt Augustus ridgeline area of the Stockton mine when the Powelliphanta Augustus snails were discovered in 2003. Solid Energy sought wildlife permits then started collecting the snails so they could be moved to another habitat. Chief Executive Don Elder says 1,000 snails were predicted to be in the area but the number has reached 5,000, slowing the removal process.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News



Report claims pregnancy screening dangerous

A report from the Ministry of Health's National Screening Unit urges the Government to change the way it screens foetuses for Down Syndrome. An advisory group set up to investigate current methods says present practice is unsafe and should not continue. Group Chairman Dr Paul Harper believes screening methods used in New Zealand are not as reliable as other types used overseas and too many women are given amniocenteses, which carry a risk of miscarriage. He says the group is yet to come up with a solid alternative, but believes all women who are screened should also be offered counselling. Dr Harper says a national screening programme is needed and a change to a different screening method.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News



Many saved from blindness with new drug

Thousands of New Zealanders at risk of going blind could have their vision saved with a new drug, thanks to successful trials. Macular Degeneration, or MD, is the leading cause of blindness in New Zealand, but until now there has been no effective treatment. However a new family of drugs called anti-VEGF is now available for sufferers of 'wet' MD, which accounts for 90 percent of vision loss from the disease. The new treatment, which is already being used overseas, is injected into the eye stopping the growth of abnormal blood vessels which lead to vision loss. Tauranga-based Ophthalmologist, Dr Michael O'Rourke, says the drug treats a condition that was otherwise fairly hopeless and means someone who was destined to go blind can now keep enough vision to read and drive a car.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News



Suspect over NZer missing in Florida

The family of a New Zealander who went missing in the United States believe US police have a suspect in his disappearance. Leonard Taku, 45, has been missing in Florida since December last year. Mr Taku's sister Dolly Niemi has recently returned from the US, where she met with police and her brother's friends. She says the police were very helpful and are following some strong lines of inquiry. She says police did not want to divulge too much information, but she was told they were questioning someone.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News



Pilot escapes crash landing with minor cuts

A microlight aircraft has crash-landed at Tauranga airport and the pilot has walked away with minor injuries. Airport Manager Ray Dumble says the plane tipped over on its side and broke a wing. He says the pilot is at the airport's medical centre with cuts to his face.
Mr Dumble says the airport is open.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News



Thursday, April 26

Fisher & Paykel to move some work offshore

Fisher and Paykel is moving some of its Auckland manufacturing to Thailand.
It is believed it will mean the loss of up to 350 jobs. Factory bosses are outlining the bad news to staff.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News



School orders teachers to smarten up

By Martha McKenzie-Minifie
A secondary school has ordered teachers to smarten up, banning jeans and sports shoes - and prompting the secondary teachers' union to suggest other schools should follow suit. Mount Hutt College in Methven has imposed "office-standard dress" with collared shirts and no sports shoes or denim to school. Principal Don McLeod - former New Zealand Secondary Principals Council chairman - said the rule was introduced because some teachers dressed too casually and in at least one case that was "detrimental to a young teacher's ability to manage students".



Shortage of nurses will be big headache

By RUTH HILL - The Dominion Post
A shortage of nurses is set to reach epidemic proportions, with up to 25 per cent of new graduates heading overseas and half the workforce set to retire in the next 15 years. Massey University researcher Annette Huntington said an aging workforce would create a headache for district health boards. "We have a small window of opportunity to address the issues before the shortage becomes acute." The average nurse was now aged 45 and many were approaching retirement. Meanwhile, other countries, including Australia, are aggressively poaching Kiwi nurses.
About 1000 nurses a year head across the Tasman, lured by better pay and conditions.



Outcry over South Pole tourism plan

By MATTHEW TORBIT - The Dominion Post
A travel website promoting a sightseeing tour along Antarctica's South Pole road has angered those who believe the world's last wilderness should remain untouched. The 10-day tour, proposed for 2008, is being touted by an extreme adventure group on their website drivearoundtheworld.com. Canterbury University senior fellow of Antarctic studies Alan Hemmings said the proposed tour by the San Francisco-based group was hugely concerning, and he urged American authorities - who built the road - to place an immediate ban on tourists using the route.



Killer superbugs invading NZ

by DAVE BURGESS - The Dominion Post
Antibiotic-resistant superbugs which have killed hundreds of people overseas are silently marching through New Zealand. The ESBL (Extended-spectrum B-lactamases) superbug is an enzyme byproduct of bacteria naturally found in the body, such as E.coli and klebsiella. It causes a urinary infection resistant to multiple antibiotics. A 2006 Institute of Environmental Science and Research (ESR) survey recorded 89 cases in New Zealand inr four months. A similar survey in 2000 recorded two cases.



Quake strikes Hawke's Bay

This morning's quake in Hawke's Bay measured 4.5 on the Richter scale. It struck about 30km southeast of Hastings at 2.40am, at a depth of 33km. There are no reports of damage.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News



Dentists sink teeth into centenary plans

Plans are underway to celebrate a hundred years of dental training in Dunedin. The University of Otago's Faculty of Dentistry will celebrate its centenary over Queen's Birthday weekend in June and organisers of the event say they are working hard to make it appeal to the public. Professor Tom Kardos says it is really important to involve the public, as dentistry is one of the few university faculties that deals with locals on a daily basis. Plans for the celebrations include a public lecture on forensic dentistry, an open day at the School of Dentistry, and a dental versus medical debate.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News



Wednesday, April 25

UK media slammed for NZ berries mistake

Kiwi strawberries have wrongly become the latest casualty in the row over carbon footprints threatening New Zealand exports. A British media report, which quoted the food miles cost of a small punnet of strawberries, has been slammed after it was revealed no Kiwi-grown berries are exported to Britain. The report, published on the website timesonline. co.uk, said the cost of flying a 225-gram punnet of New Zealand-grown strawberries to a British household fridge generated the same volume of carbon dioxide as driving the kids to school 11 times. Horticulture New Zealand spokeswoman said Britain was not a market for New Zealand strawberries, therefore no carbon was emitted in the non-existent export journey there. She said British growers and environmentalists used the food miles argument as a trade barrier and marketing tool to promote local produce over exported goods. Agriculture Minister Jim Anderton will again write to British media asking them to get their facts right.
Source:Dominion Post



Sri Lanka Routs N.Z. to Reach Cricket World Cup Final

Muttiah Muralitharan claimed three wickets in six balls as Sri Lanka crushed New Zealand by 81 runs to reach its first Cricket World Cup final since winning the title in 1996. Sri Lanka will play defending champion Australia or South Africa, who meet in St. Lucia tomorrow, in the April 28 final. New Zealand has now reached five semifinals at one-day cricket's premier tournament without ever progressing to the showpiece. New Zealand lost captain Stephen Fleming and Ross Taylor to the new ball before recovering in a 73-partnership between Scott Styris and Peter Fulton. Fleming said he was standing down as one-day skipper after the match.



Drought-struck farmer astounded by green grass in nz

The first Australian farm family to benefit from a free holiday offered by New Zealand farmers has just returned home. In a good season, Vicki Foster and her family grow crops and wool on their 8000 hectare property near Wudinna in South Australia, about halfway between Sydney and Perth, but lately, the place has only been producing dust. Ms Foster told ABC Radio she could not get over the generosity of New Zealand farmers shouting her a holiday, let alone the bright green grass that was growing in their paddocks. "We'd have five sheep and over there they'd have 500 in a paddock and see them on a carpet of feed, where ours have to pick through the dirt to find another blade of grass," she said. In a happy coincidence, Ms Foster's parched property received 65 millimetres of rain while the family was away.
Source:NZPA



Aucklanders to be hit by 10c fuel tax

Aucklanders will be hit with a 10 cent tax on every litre of petrol to pay for the regions roads and trains, it was tipped today. The Auckland region will be given the go-ahead to introduce a fuel tax in an announcement understood to form part of the Government's Budget, the New Zealand Herald reports today. A third of the tax, 3.5c, would be used for the electrification of Auckland's suburban trains. The rest of the tax would help pay for Rodney District Council's link-road between Whangaparaoa Peninsula and the Northern Motorway, and for completing the Manukau-Waterview western ring route.
Source:NZPA



Thousands attend Anzac Day dawn services

A new generation and a new approach to New Zealand's military past. Thousands are turning out for Anzac Day dawn services, and as with previous years there has been a strong turnout of younger people. Prime Minister Helen Clark believes it is down to a generational difference. She says in the past the war was not talked about by those who served, so we did not know much about what they went through. Helen Clark says it is a shame the experiences of those who served at Passchendaele, the Somme and other World War One battles were not better captured, as those memories are a real treasure.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News



Tuesday, April 24

Number Of Immigrants On Benefits Falls

The number of immigrants receiving a benefit is falling. Figures released by the Government today show last year 2.3 percent of migrants who had been in New Zealand for less than two years received a benefit. That is down from 6.7 percent in 2001. The Immigration Minister, David Cunliffe, says the drop is a result of immigration policy focusing on skilled migrants through the introduction of the Skilled Migrant Category in 2003. But he says some migrants, particularly refugees, need financial support while they build their new life in New Zealand.
© NewsRoom 2007



Sir Ed in hospital after fall

Sir Edmund Hillary is in hospital after suffering what is thought to have been a fall. The New Zealand Herald understands the 87-year-old had a fall at the start of the weekend, but did not immediately seek treatment. He is thought to be in a comfortable condition after being admitted to Auckland Hospital later in the weekend. Sir Edmund is being kept in for observation, although his injuries are not life-threatening. His family has declined to talk about his condition.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News



Study to gauge rise in sunbed use

A four-fold rise in sunbed use across the Tasman in the past decade is worrying the New Zealand Cancer Society. It has commissioned an investigation into whether there is a similar trend here, and how it might be affecting young New Zealanders. The Cancer Society's skin cancer prevention advisor Dr Judith Galtry says many people believe sunbeds are safe. But she says the risk of getting potentially fatal melanoma increases by a massive 75 percent if people use sunbeds before the age of 35.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News



Warnings of Turkey terror attack

Australia has issued a warning about a possible terrorist attack in Turkey. It comes ahead of Anzac Day ceremonies at Gallipoli. Australian Foreign Affairs officials say the risk of an attack in April or May is "high" and the reports are credible. The New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs is urging travellers to Turkey to exercise caution. It says there is a strong likelihood of terrorist activity in Istanbul, Ankara, and major tourist areas. It is advising travellers to exercise a high level of security awareness.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News



Wine exporters feeling pinch in US markets

The wine industry is worried the high dollar will cause exporters to lose ground in the important United States market. The New Zealand dollar is trading at about 74 US cents.
Winegrowers CEO Philip Gregan says wineries are already feeling the pinch. He says if the dollar stays at the extreme levels for any period of time it could undermine export growth. He says the US takes about 25 percent of New Zealand wine and it is not a market that can be ignored.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News



Clark announces $11m for Memorial Park

Prime Minister Helen Clark has announced an $11 million funding grant for Memorial Park, which will occupy land adjacent to the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior In Wellington.
The National War Memorial was begun in 1932 and the funding will allow its completion. Miss Clark says the park will be available for the construction of memorials, particularly by other nations wanting to commemorate their relationships with New Zealand.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News



Nurses ageing warns study

A new study claims New Zealand is staring down the barrel of a critical nursing shortage. The Victoria University research shows many nurses are nearing retirement age, with the average nurse aged 45. Author Dr Annette Huntington says it is because New Zealand nurses are very desirable on the international market and many young nurses are lured overseas by higher salaries. She says nurses' pay rates need to be addressed before the issue gets too serious.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News



Monday, April 23

NZ salad bar owner has big plans overseas

A New Zealand salad bar owner is setting up a chain of 100 "healthy fast food" stores in the United Kingdom and Ireland, which he says will turn over $1 million per store. The South Island-based Reload chain will make its first foray into Europe when it opens a store in Glasgow, Scotland, this week. It says it will be the first of 100 stores, each with a turnover of Stg350,000 ($NZ950,570). Reload, registered with the Companies Office in Dunedin in 2001, is owned by New Zealander Conrad van de Klundert. Stores have been started in Australia and China as well as New Zealand, while further stores are being opened in Singapore.
Source:NZPA



NZ criticises UN over using Fiji troops

New Zealand's opposition foreign affairs spokesman Murray McCully has criticised the United Nations for allowing Fijian peacekeepers to remain in its forces. Before last year's coup, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan had said that Fiji would be asked to withdraw from international peacekeeping operations if a coup took place. But Fiji still has about 300 troops in Iraq, guarding the United Nations compound in Baghdad. Mr McCully says that the continued use by the UN of military personnel who have overthrown their own government is unprincipled and wrong. He also says the lack of leadership shown by the UN during the recent Fiji coup was a serious disappointment.



Men in late 20s most at risk of herpes

Men in their late 20s and early 30s are in the most danger of contracting genital herpes. A study from Otago University that has followed a group of people for the last 35-years shows men aged between 26 and 32 have about twice the risk as women of the same age. Dr Nigel Dickson from the University's School of Social and Preventive Medicine says in part, the higher risk is because once people contract herpes, they have it for life. Therefore, as people get older and their sexual partners get older, there is an increased likelihood they will be infected.
Mr Dickson says people in their late twenties should get tested to find out if they are carrying the herpes virus.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News



Discovery Of Dolphin Bacterium Raises Fears

The Department of Conservation says it fears for the future of the world's rarest marine dolphin. An autopsy on a newborn Maui dolphin, found at the mouth of the Waikato River in November, has revealed the presence of the bacterium Brucella, which creates the disease brucellosis. Brucellosis causes abortions and reproductive failures in livestock. The dolphin was born alive but never made it to the surface to take its first breath. The department says the discovery of the disease is a real concern and requires further investigation.
© NewsRoom 2007



National 10 points ahead

National has a 10 percentage point lead over Labour in the latest poll. The TV One-Colmar Brunton poll has National on 49 per cent support and Labour on 39 per cent, both up slightly from the previous poll. The Greens are on 6 per cent, New Zealand First and Maori Party on 2 per cent with Act and United Future on 1 per cent. Prime Minister Helen Clark's support as preferred Prime Minister is up 5 points to 37 per cent and National leader John Key is steady on 29 per cent.
Copyright ©2006, APN Holdings NZ Limited



Peters to represent govt at Gallipoli on Anzac Day

Foreign Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at this week's Anzac Day commemorations in Gallipoli. Mr Peters' first engagement is tomorrow morning (NZ time) when he will speak at the Turkish International Service before attending separate French and British services. Anzac Day begins with a speech at the Dawn Service at Anzac Cove, followed by the Australian service at Lone Pine, the Turkish National service and the New Zealand service at Chunuk Bair. "As the resting place for so many of our war dead, Gallipoli has become a sacred place for New Zealanders," Mr Peters said today. "It is widely regarded as a milestone in our passage to nationhood, and the bravery and the losses suffered there have become an indelible part of our history and our psyche." Mr Peters said the battle for Chunuk Bair encapsulated the heroism and courage of soldiers in the face of overwhelming odds.
Source:NZPA



Book blood donations online

By REUBEN SCHWARZ - The Dominion Post
New Zealand's 140,000 blood donors will be able to go online to book times to give blood by the end of the year. The Blood Service's national information services manager, Tony Carpinter, hopes the online booking facility will encourage people to donate when it's convenient for them. It will also cut down on administration, he says. Online booking is a spin-off of a new donor management software system, which the Blood Service is installing at its 11 offices.



New Teaching Standards Make It Tougher For Trainees

Some teacher trainees may not make it into the classroom under new national standards for graduating teachers. The standards, being released on Monday by the Teachers Council, come after several years of concern about the quality of teaching graduates. The council says there will be an agreed national benchmark that students will have to reach in order to qualify as a teacher. Trainees will have to show proficiency in reading, writing and maths, and in information technology - a new requirement.
© NewsRoom 2006



Youngest Female Conquers Cook Strait

A 13-year-old Wellington girl has become the youngest female to swim Cook Strait. Stephanie Bennington left Ohau Point south of Makara Beach in Wellington on Sunday morning. She took 8h 10min to reach Perano Head in the South Island. The Wellington Swim Club member says she got very cold and the tide was against her near the end, but she never thought of giving up.
© NewsRoom 2007



Astronomers Push For NZ Heritage Park In Sky

Canterbury astronomers are pushing to have the Mackenzie District designated as the world's first United Nations' Heritage Park in the sky. The UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation already offers world heritage status to buildings and natural areas. But if the proposal, if successful, would be the first time an area of sky is officially recognised. An astronomy professor at Canterbury University, Phil Butler, says there are already measures to protect the university's Mt John Observatory from light pollution. But Professor Butler says world heritage status would bring greater publicity to the study of astronomy and also economic benefits in the form of star gazing tourists.
© NewsRoom 2007



Peters hints at taxcuts linked to Kiwisaver

Personal tax cuts are back on the political agenda after hints by New Zealand First leader Winston Peters during a TV interview over the weekend. Mr Peters indicated on TV One's Agenda Programme, that next month's budget would reveal that employees involved in the Kiwisaver scheme could get an effective tax cut. He describes the move as a step in the right direction and not too far off what his party wanted in 1997 when it spearheaded a drive for compulsory superannuation.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News



Peace group wants action on Mugabe

There will be a push tonight to get the Government to take a tougher line on Zimbabwe. The group Global Peace and Justice Auckland has brought former Harare MP Munya Gwisai to New Zealand, who wants Zimbabwe to get rid of Robert Mugabe. Global Peace and Justice spokesman John Minto believes Prime Minister Helen Clark could be doing more to help. He says it is two years since the Government promised to act but little has been done. He believes New Zealand should do more to push for boycotts to be imposed.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News



Healthier pies for schools

School canteens around the country will now be able to sell a healthier range of pies. Hawke's Bay-based Goodtime Food has produced a pie which has gained the Heart Foundation's tick of approval. Company director Phil Pollett says each pie has less than 13 grams of fat compared with the current industry average of more than 23 but he says making a healthier pie has not been easy. The Heart Foundation has strict criteria limiting the amounts of fat and sodium, while requiring a certain amount of fibre. The company's range includes New Zealand's favourite mince and cheese pie. Mr Pollett says the pies will not be available in supermarkets in the short term as the company's commitment is to supply schools at a competitive cost. More than 150,000 of the pies are expected to be sold to schools each week.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News



Sunday, April 22

Single Australasian market closer

Australia and New Zealand are edging closer to a single economic market despite traditional sensitivities between the two neighbours. Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer has been speaking at the opening of the Australia-New Zealand Leadership Forum in Sydney today. He says the two economies are already benefiting from close relations, but a single market would make them both stronger. Mr Downer says bearing in mind New Zealand's GDP is about one-fifth of the size of Australia's, New Zealand proportionately has a lot more investment in Australia than Australia has in New Zealand. He says it is a true win-win relationship.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News



Rugby: Baby Blacks on top of the world

The Baby Blacks have won the under 19 Rugby World Cup in Ireland this morning, smashing South Africa 31-7. They have erased last years result, where they finished runners up to Australia. Skipper Chris Smith could not be happier.
Copyright ©CanWest TVWorks Limited



FSANZ Considers Drinking During Pregnancy Warnings

Food Standards Australia New Zealand is considering an application to include warnings for pregnant women on all alcohol labels. The Alcohol Advisory Council of New Zealand has put forward the application, suggesting labels should advise that alcohol is not suitable for pregnant women. Lydia Butchman from Food Standards Australia New Zealand says it is a complex issue. She says several years ago the agency rejected an application to put warnings on alcohol bottles for the general population.
© NewsRoom 2007



Locals support Bluff festival

Southlanders have come out in force at Bluff's annual oyster festival after talk the iconic event might be moved to the queen city. After posting a $40,000 loss last year the Bluff festival has looked a bit shaky but talk of a shift to Auckland fired up locals. But Auckland may play a bigger role in the future of the Bluff oyster. "I can see that the launch of the oyster season may happen in Auckland but the oyster festival itself will always happen in Bluff," says Invercargill mayor Tim Shadbolt.
Source:One News



Anzac Day anthem 'a surprise'

Wellington city has been surprised by a special guest arriving to commemorate Anzac Day on Wednesday. Singer Hayley Westenra will give a special performance at the dawn service in the capital. Wellington RSA spokesman David Moloney says Ms Westenra's agreement to appear has come as a great surprise. He says she will be singing the national anthem in Maori at the National War Memorial museum in Lambton Quay, and will perform again shortly afterward at nearby Pipitea Marae. Mr Moloney says Ms Westenra will appear for the dawn anthem at 6.15.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News



School orders teachers to smarten up

By Martha McKenzie-Minifie
A secondary school has ordered teachers to smarten up, banning jeans and sports shoes - and prompting the secondary teachers' union to suggest other schools should follow suit. Mount Hutt College in Methven has imposed "office-standard dress" with collared shirts and no sports shoes or denim to school. Principal Don McLeod - former New Zealand Secondary Principals Council chairman - said the rule was introduced because some teachers dressed too casually and in at least one case that was "detrimental to a young teacher's ability to manage students". However, it was a decision made "by consensus not decree", he said. Teachers set an example for children in several areas, and the standard of dress was one.



No-child families becoming more common

By Nicola Shepheard
Move over Married-With-Children: childless couples could overtake you as the main New Zealand family type as soon as 2012. At last year's census, couples with children numbered 447,894, or 42 per cent of all families, a runny nose ahead of the 425,973 couples without children (40 per cent). Another 193,635, or 18 per cent, consisted of one parent with a child or children. Statistics New Zealand defines a family as a couple, with or without children, or a sole parent with offspring, who usually live together. Childless couples include those whose children have left home, and those who've never had children. Statistics New Zealand chief demographer Mansoor Khawaja said latest projections put childless couples as the most common family type in five to 10 years.



Almost 100% Pure images show NZ's not picture-perfect

By RACHEL GRUNWELL and LEIGH VAN DER STOEP
Tourism New Zealand admits its latest images in its 100% Pure New Zealand campaign are not 100 per cent pure New Zealand shots - they're digitally enhanced pictures of scenic Kiwi spots.
Tourism NZ released its latest images for its 100% Pure New Zealand advertisement campaign on Friday, which they hope will accompany tourism stories about New Zealand and ultimately entice international tourists to this country. The two images, one of Mt Cook and another of Glenorchy, feature people enjoying the beautiful landscapes - "an experience that can happen any day in our country", said Tourism NZ spokeswoman Simone Flight in an email. She said the shots were digitally altered for technical reasons. "Technically, an image that has been shot at a wide angle may need to be altered and reformatted to fit all the features we want to show in the format it will appear. "We do not have the budget to wait forever for the perfect image and sometimes we will need to take features from one frame to complete the full image," Flight said.



Skink discovery excites scientists

Hollywood has its dinosaur-infested lost islands, now one of New Zealand's last unspoilt wildernesses can boast a few reptilian surprises of its own. The Sinbad Valley, tucked away in a corner of Fiordland, has revealed a range of weird and wonderful new species over the years, including wetas and other insects. But now a handful of never before seen lizards – distant relatives of dinosaurs – have set scientists' pulses racing. Landcare Research biologist Trent Bell went into the lost valley last month aiming to find a species first discovered by a group of rock climbers in 2004. He returned with more than he bargained for – three previously unknown species of skink. Many of the small lizards were found on rocky outcrops at high altitude, with some proving difficult to catch, including one goggle-eyed beast which had since been dubbed "the little Sinbad skink".
Source:Dominion Post



Pukekohe farewells V8s

Motorsport fans are giving Pukekohe a big send off today - the last day V8 supercars will run at the iconic raceway. The event is scheduled to move to Hamilton next year.
Motorsport commentator Bob McMurray says it is sad Pukekohe is losing such a major meeting. Mr McMurray says even though it will be a totally different atmosphere in Hamilton, street races have an appeal all their own. He says it is always harder to fit as many spectators around a street circuit as can fit into the grandstands at Pukekohe.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News



Saturday, April 21

Cricket-Hayden leads Australia to 348-6 against New Zealand

ST GEORGE’S (Grenada): Matthew Hayden hit 103 off 100 balls on Friday to lead Australia to a dominating 348 for six wickets against New Zealand in the teams’ final World Cup Super 8s match. Australia’s status as the overwhelming tournament favourite. Australia won the toss and batted aggressively despite both teams already having reached the semi-finals and New Zealand supposedly being one of the leading contenders for the title. Ricky Ponting hit 66 and Shane Watson 65 off 32 balls as the only unbeaten team in the competition set an imposing target for the Black Caps.



Hitler party 'distasteful and offensive'

White supremacists are holding a rock concert in Wellington tonight to commemorate Adolf Hitler's birthday. The plan has appalled Jewish and anti-racist groups but they say, though the event is offensive, it is not illegal. The concert, organised by local branches of skinhead gang Hammerskins and neo-Nazi organisation Blood and Honour - which has been banned in parts of Europe, will bring Australian "viking rock" band Blood Red Eagle to play in Wellington tonight. Adolf Hitler was born on April 20. Race Relations Commissioner Joris de Bres said the plans, while offensive to many, were not illegal. "Mercifully, there aren't many people in New Zealand happy to celebrate Hitler's birthday. I don't think it's going to be a very big party."
Source:NZPA



Cullen dismisses Key common currency suggestion

Finance Minister Michael Cullen has dismissed a suggestion by National leader John Key that a common currency between New Zealand and Australia is worth exploring further. "Anyone with even a passing acquaintance with the Australia government could tell Mr Key that a joint currency has never been on the table at any point," Dr Cullen said. Mr Key said yesterday he thought the idea of a shared currency was worth exploring further, although he acknowledged there were political difficulties with such a move. But Dr Cullen said he was surprised Mr Key was suggesting currency union with Australia. "Australia has made it clear that if New Zealand wishes to adopt its currency, it is by and large a matter for us," he said.
Source:NZPA



Woman killed in dog attack

There has been a fatal dog attack at Murupara, near Rotorua. A woman in her 50s has died after being attacked by two dogs while out walking early this morning. Neighbours tried to intervene and an ambulance was called, but the woman has since died.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News



New rules for packing houses

Apple packing houses will get a new list of rules and regulations following the conclusion of a Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry investigation into a contaminated shipment to Taiwan. The discovery of a codling moth larva in a consignment halted the $40 million apple export trade to Taiwan. The orchard involved, which is believed to be in Hawke's Bay, has been suspended and cannot rejoin the Apples for Taiwan programme until next year. Pipfruit New Zealand says it does not intend to name the orchard involved but says it will be widely known within the industry who has been affected.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News



NZ uni gets cancer research funds

Massey University has been awarded $140,000 by the US National Institutes of Health for Cancer Research. The University's centre for Public Health Research has been given the money to investigate risk factors of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The disease is among a group of cancers which can develop in any organ associated with the lymphatic system and around 600 New Zealanders are diagnosed with it every year. Study leader Dr Andrea Manntje says both its incidence and deaths have been increasing worldwide for 20 years but nobody knows why. She says the study will help to uncover possible links between occupation and the disease.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News



Honour for legendary golfer

Sir Bob Charles is to receive an honorary degree from Lincoln University. The first New Zealander to win one of golf's major titles and the only left handed player to ever win the British Open, will receive an honorary Doctor of Natural Resources degree today. The degree citation says Sir Bob's "long combination of golf and farming means that for the bulk of his life he has earned his living outdoors."
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News



Friday, April 20

Cricket-Dress rehearsal for final?

GRENADA, (Reuters): For an Australian team that has come to this World Cup hell bent on settling scores, the prospect of Friday's match against New Zealand will be making some of their players drool with anticipation. Ricky Ponting's boys have a serious bone to pick with the Kiwis, who had thrashed them 3-0 in Chappell-Hadlee trophy in February, reducing Australia's aura in world cricket and contributing to toppling them from the number one world ranking. Both teams have already qualified for the semi-finals but there will be no let-up in the final Super Eights match in the intense rivalry between two countries who compete fiercely at cricket, both rugby codes and netball.



Maori accused of ripping off fisheries

New Zealand First MP Pita Paraone claims Maori are exploiting the sea for profit. Citing figures released today, Mr Paraone says although Maori comprise of only 14.6 percent of the population, they represent 28 percent of people apprehended for poaching and black market fisheries offences. Mr Paraone says the figures are particularly saddening as Maori have a responsibility to act as protectors of the nation's kaimoana (seafood), which is a resource that has sustained them for generations. "It is a great disappointment that Maori are vastly over-represented amongst those exploiting and otherwise abusing something so precious to both Maori and all New Zealanders.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News



Busy time for travel agents

Travel agents are having a busy time. 133,400 people took a short overseas holiday last month, a seven percent increase 8,800 on March last year. They were heading to Australia, China, New Caledonia, the Cook Islands, Fiji and Samoa. The increase to Fiji is the first since last September when compared with the same month the previous year. In the year ended March 2007, 1.879 million people went overseas for a short period of time, up on 1.868 million departures for the previous March year. Five percent more visitors came to New Zealand in March 2007 compared with arrivals in March 2006. More came from Australia (up 43,300), the United Kingdom, China and South Africa. Fewer people from Japan and the United States visited.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News



Square closure hoax

The Christchurch City Council says an advertisement in this morning's Press advertising temporary closures within Cathedral Square tomorrow is a hoax. The advertisement states the Cathedral Square will be a backdrop for three scenes for the feature film set in the garden city during the 1800s and will be closed tomorrow and at times next week for a film shoot. However a council spokeswoman says the square will not be closed.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News



Comings and goings across the Tasman

There was an increase in the number of New Zealanders quitting the country for greener pastures across the Tasman last month. 2800 made the jump in March, an increase of 1700 on March last year. However for the year ending March, 12,000 more people entered the country to live than left, an increase in immigration of 2,400 on the year ending March 2006.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News



Quake in North Canterbury

A small earthquake has rocked North Canterbury. The quake measured four on the Richter scale and was centred 50km east of Amberley at a depth of 20-kilometres. It struck at 12.59pm.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News



IRD has 'lost' 106 computers

The Inland Revenue Department doesn't know where 106 of its computers are. National Party MP Gerry Brownlee revealed the IRD's plight yesterday, releasing an official response to a parliamentary question: "Inland Revenue holds 8488 desktop and laptop computers. As at April 2006, 106 (1.2 per cent) of these computers could not be located, 32 of these were deemed to be obsolete. This number is expected to reduce in the future due to the implementation of additional tracking software." Mr Brownlee said he wanted to know what security protocols were loaded on the computers, whether there was the potential for a wider compromise of the IRD system, and how much personal and private information was at risk.
Source:NZPA



Ban on communion wine in prisons raises ire

United Future leader Peter Dunne will complain to the Human Rights Commission over a ban on communion wine in prisons which he says is "political correctness gone mad". Wine, which is classed as a banned drug under the 2004 Corrections Act, is not allowed in prisons – outraging Catholics who say it is a denial of religious freedom. From 1999 Catholics were granted an exemption to bring communion wine into prisons, the NZ Catholic newspaper reported. But that was recently revoked as it was deemed to be inconsistent with the new Act.
Public Prisons Service head Harry Hawthorn said the Act allowed no discretion. But United Future leader Peter Dunne told the publication the ban appeared to be "another appalling example of political correctness gone mad".
Source:NZPA



Reward for capture of bird poisoner

The SPCA in Wellington is putting up a $1,000 reward in a bid to catch the person responsible for poisoning birds in a Lower Hutt Park. Forty-two birds died at Avalon Park a week ago. Six birds survived and have been released into the wild. It is not yet known what substance caused the deaths and a virus is being ruled out because too many species were affected. The SPCA suspects it is a copycat attack after a similar poisoning in Auckland last month, when up to 80 birds died in Western Springs when poisoned grain was distributed.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News



Kiwis flock to born again churches

By EMILY WATT and DAN EATON - The Dominion Post
Growing numbers of New Zealanders are turning to "born again" and fundamentalist churches, drawn by the conservative moral codes, slick marketing and rock music. Advocates of the new faiths say New Zealanders are kicking back against rapid social change, but some warn the trend represents a step backward in social gains such as sex equality, sexual liberation and acceptance of ethnic diversity. Census figures show the number of Christians in New Zealand has dropped overall, with Anglicans and Presbyterians taking a 5 per cent and 7 per cent hit respectively since 2001. But evangelical, born again, and fundamentalist religions have increased by 25.6 per cent. Pentecostal religions, such as Elim Church and the Assemblies of God, also grew, by 17.8 per cent.



Kayaker Starts Auckland Is Attempt

A New Zealand kayaker is making good progress in his attempt to be the first person to circumnavigate the sub-Antarctic Auckland Islands. Jack Finn, 23, who suffers from mild haemophilia and hepatitis C, is making the 220km journey to raise awareness of haemophilia. A Haemophilia Foundation spokesperson says he started paddling on Tuesday. Chantal Lauzon says though the first two days were difficult, a tailwind has now helped Finn. Finn is accompanied by a support vessel on his trip, expected to take up to two weeks to complete.
© NewsRoom 2007



Growers fear impact of interest rate hikes

The group representing growers claims more people will be walking off the land if the dollar continues to rise, crippling their export earnings. Horticulture New Zealand wants the Reserve Bank to hold off on what is widely expected to be another interest rate rise next week as it would wipe out millions of dollars from the rural economy. CEO Peter Silcock says the Reserve Bank's attempts to dampen inflation and control the housing market are not working, and are having a damaging effect on export industries. He says some growers already have production offshore, spreading their risk by operating in Chile or Italy and he can see them leaving the country if the currency continues to rise.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News



Thursday, April 19

Australian Govt warns of serious disease outbreak in Fiji

The Australian government has issued a travel advisory warning after reports of an outbreak of serious disease in Fiji. Fiji's northern island of Vanua Levu is said to be affected by an outbreak of Typhoid, while a number of islands may be affected by the mumps. The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is advising travellers to Fiji to vaccinate against both and avoid drinking unboiled water. The overall level of advice to travellers since the military-led coup in December has not changed, with Australians warned to exercise a high degree of caution.
Copyright © - CanWest TVWorks Limited



New Zealander involved with Wolfowitz World Bank controversy

A New Zealander is reported to be playing a leading role in calling for the troubled head of the World Bank to resign. World Bank managing director Graeme Wheeler has told his Vice Presidents that Paul Wolfowitz should resign in the interests of the World Bank.
Wolfowitz has been under fire since it emerged he helped his partner win promotion and a pay rise. Wheeler joined the World Bank from the New Zealand treasury. He was one of the first people Wolfowitz employed in his management team when he took over at the World Bank two years ago.
Copyright © - CanWest TVWorks Limited



NZ Population More Ethnically Diverse

New Zealand's population is becoming more diverse, with Asian and Pacific Islanders the fastest growing ethnic groups. Statistics New Zealand has released a summary of New Zealand's cultural statistics, showing the country's Asian population increased by almost 50 percent in the five years to 2006. Those who identify as Asian now make up more the 9 percent of New Zealand's population and almost 20 percent of Auckland's. The number of Pacific Islanders rose by just under 15 percent in the same period. The results also show a change in New Zealanders religious affiliations, with the number of Sikhs, Muslims and Hindus all increasing by more than 50 percent.
© NewsRoom 2007



Concern About Hair Test For Alcoholism

The Council for Civil Liberties says it is horrified by a new product which tests hair to reveal a person's history of alcohol use or abuse. An Auckland company is offering the new technology and says the test can be used to vet employees, identify alcoholics and determine if someone is fit to be a parent. The test works by detecting permanent chemical markers in a person's hair which are triggered by alcohol consumption. But Council for Civil Liberties president Tony Ellis says it raises serious privacy issues.
© NewsRoom 2007



Floating loo for yachties

A floating public loo will be launched in the Bay of Islands this year. Mounted on a barge, the sea-borne drop toilet with holding tanks is aimed at providing relief for visiting international yachties seeking to enter New Zealand through Opua. The water-based comfort stop will be available for crews of incoming boats waiting for Customs and biosecurity clearance. More than 400 vessels cleared customs at Opua during the past 12 months.
Staff Reporter, NZPA



Warning over risky Chinese medicines

By REBECCA PALMER - The Dominion Post
The Health Ministry is warning people not to take five Chinese medicines found to contain undeclared prescription drugs for weight loss and erectile dysfunction. The ministry's medicines safety body, Medsafe, began investigating the products after a consumer complained that one was being sold by an Auckland shop. Medsafe compliance team leader Derek Fitzgerald said that led to four other medicines being investigated. The products had been removed from shelves but it was possible they were being sold by other shops.



Brewery worker charged over theft of jet fighter canopy

Police have charged a 26-year-old man with one of Christchurch's more unusual thefts. Joseph Alfred Bernard, a brewery worker, has been charged with stealing a MiG fighter jet cockpit canopy worth $2000. The canopy was said to have been taken on April Fool's Day while the MiG was on display outside a bar at the entrance to His Lordship's Lane on Lichfield Street, in the central city. The police say it was recovered on April 12, from the back of a car after a tip-off from a member of the public. A $500 bar tab had been offered for its safe return.
Source:NZPA



Toxic shellfish alert in BOP

A health warning has been issued for part of the Bay of Plenty coastline, where high levels of toxic shellfish poisoning have been found. The area affected by Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning runs east from the Maketu Estuary to the Whakatane River Mouth. Bay of Plenty medical officer of health Phil Shoemack says the warning applies to all shellfish; including mussels, pipi, tuatua, and scallops. Dr Shoemack says symptoms of the poisoning include numbness and tingling around the mouth and dizziness. The toxins can be fatal.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News



Claims Kyoto debt has hit $1.7 billion

National claims New Zealand's Kyoto Protocol debt has exploded by a billion dollars. Climate change spokesman Nick Smith is citing official Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry papers on deforestation which show levels are higher than anticipated, meaning the country's carbon deficit has increased from 41 million to 59 million tonnes. He says on those figures the country's Kyoto deficit is not $656 million, but $1.7 billion. Dr Smith is accusing the Government of deliberately understating the figures and is asking the Auditor General to conduct an independent review.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News



Hotel in trouble over meal deal

Mt Cook's iconic hotel is in trouble with the Commerce Commission.. The four-star Hermitage has admitted breaching the Commerce Act with a package that linked a night at the hotel with compulsory dinner and breakfast. The commission says that as the only provider of accommodation in Mt Cook Village, the Hermitage has a great deal of market power. The dinner, bed and breakfast rate impacted on the only other eatery in the village, The Old Mountaineers, and also limited consumer choice. After a call from the commission, the Hermitage dropped the deal.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News



Beacons aid boaties' rescue

Rescuers say technology played a big role in a text-book rescue off the Fiordland coast. Four people were rescued from heavy seas off Puysegur Point just before 12.30am after their vessel, Solander, hit a reef and sank. The crew got into a liferaft and activated their emergency locator beacon, which was picked up by the Rescue Coordination Centre. It directed a nearby fishing vessel to the men.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News



Newspaper sub-editors learn their fate today

Journalists at the New Zealand Herald and regional newspapers will learn this afternoon if their jobs will be outsourced. Around 70 sub-editors employed by APN will face redundancy if the publishing giant goes ahead with its plan to centralise the sub-editing of some of its titles to the Australian firm Pagemasters.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News



Wednesday, April 18

Kiwis on mercy mission to Manilla

A team of New Zealand doctors and nurses will fly to the Philippines on Thursday with a special mission that looks set to change the lives of 60 children. The medics are donating their time free of charge to operate on Filipino children with a life-threatening facial disfigurement. The children have cleft lip and palate which if untreated leaves them deaf, unable to speak and unable to eat. The doctors say the surgery is a wonderful and relatively inexpensive gift. "For a relatively small sum of money we can literally change the life of a child in one day of surgery," says Operation Restore Hope surgeon Tristan de Chalain. The operations will cost just $200 per child but have an incredible payoff. Asia suffers from the world's highest rate of cleft palate. Doctors suspect that it is due to genetic factors and a poor diet during pregnancy.
Source:One News



Virginia scientist chose life in NZ

A former Virginia scientist living in Central Otago moved to New Zealand to "lessen the chance" of being involved in a shooting. Brian Connor, a research scientist at the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (Niwa) in Lauder, lived in Virginia for eight years and said it was likely one of his three children would have been at Virginia Tech University if the family had not moved to New Zealand. "I would have almost certainly been in Virginia and one of my children would have still been at that university." Dr Connor, 55, who has lived in New Zealand for 11 years, said yesterday he felt helpless about the situation in his home country.
OTAGO DAILY TIMES



More Brits eyeing up NZ property market

"Healthy, funloving and affordable" New Zealand is drawing more British people into the property market here, according to a new survey by British currency transfer specialist HiFX. The company's latest monthly overseas property survey found 5 per cent of Britons looking to buy overseas were choosing New Zealand, making it the fifth most popular destination. France was in top spot at 27 per cent, ahead of Spain (25 per cent), Bulgaria (8 per cent) and Australia (6 per cent) Mark Bodega from HiFX said the number of British people wanting to move to New Zealand was rising, www.aboutproperty.co.uk reported
Source:NZPA



Thousands hit by broadband outage

A router in Auckland is suspected to be the cause of a major outage for Telecom broadband users today. Several thousand customers were hit by the overnight fault when Telecom was upgrading its systems. The router has now been changed but that did not stop a second outage after 11.15am. That lasted 20 minutes and was thought to be due to the system being reset. The mishap affected Xtra and other wholesale ISPs.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News



Early school leaver numbers

National is alarmed at the number of students who have been given exemptions to leave school before they turn 16. Education spokeswoman Katherine Rich says the number has risen 42 percent to 3,900 since Labour came to office. She says it is worrying that the rate is so high because leaving school early is linked to poor outcomes later in life. Mrs Rich says back in 1997 when there were 1,700 exemptions Labour was outraged, claiming most of the students who were given permission to leave early were truants.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News



Dollar hits all time high

The dollar has hit its highest level since it was floated in 1985. It has been spurred on by inflation figures showing prices rose 0.5 percent in the first three months of the year. At one point this morning the New Zealand dollar was worth 74.76 US cents, before coming back a little.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News



Antarctic once warm and inviting

Scientists say new evidence shows there is a history of major climate fluctuations at the South Pole. It is the first release of findings from scientists who took samples from Antarctica using the giant Christchurch-made drilling machine Andrill this summer. A global fraternity spent the time gathering core samples from the ice and below the Ross Sea - they have taken them away to assess climate variations over time. Results released by Northern Illinois University show climate fluctuations over the past five million years have been extreme. They say the Ross Ice Shelf, a floating slab of ice the size of France, has changed in size dramatically, and perhaps even disappeared completely for periods of time.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News



Fiji warns of typhoid outbreak

As many as 9,000 people may be at risk of catching typhoid on Fiji's second island of Vanua Levu, after a 32-year-old man died of the disease. Villages in the Northern division were recently hit by flash flooding and Cyclone Cliff which left water sources contaminated. Dr Chandra says the situation is serious with 65 known cases of typhoid, 34 cases of dengue fever and 22 victims of leptospirosis.



Rugby-All Black fans get five home chances

All Blacks fans will have only five chances to see the the team play at home this year, with the first batch of tickets going on sale next Thursday. Tickets for the All Blacks' three test matches against France and Canada will go on sale from 9am on April 26. New Zealand play France at Auckland's Eden Park on June 2 and at Westpac Stadium in Wellington on June 9.
A third match will be played against Canada in Hamilton on June 16. Tickets for the three tests will range from $10 for a child at Waikato Stadium to $130 for a platinum covered seat at Westpac Stadium. The other home tests this year will be during the Tri-Nations series against South Africa in Christchurch on July 14 and Australia at Eden Park on July 21.
Source:Dominion Post



Tuesday, April 17

China petition politely ignored in Christchurch

By IAN STEWARD - The Press
A call for Christchurch City Council (CCC) support in protesting Chinese human rights abuses has fallen on deaf ears. Amnesty International protesters carried a dancing Chinese lion into the council yesterday, asking the council to use its sister city connections in China to condemn "massive" human rights abuses. Though not ejected as they were by the Dunedin City Council, the protesters were stopped by security guards and were then met by an unelected official who accepted their information but declined to comment for the council. Council general manager of regulation and democratic services Peter Mitchell told the group Mayor Garry Moore, who was unavailable because he was on mayoral duties in China, had made his position on the issue clear in the past. "He does not discuss human rights issues when he is in China," Mitchell said. When asked if council staff could sign the Amnesty petition, Mitchell said he "did not think it would be appropriate".



Strong-performing Tainui paying millions in bonuses

By YVONNE TAHANA - Waikato Times
Tainui's books are looking so good the tribe is to distribute $7 million in bonus payments to its 67 marae. Each will receive a one-off grant of $50,000 to commemorate the late Maori Queen, Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu, in addition to the annual grant which is based on marae population. The tribal board, Te Arataura, made the announcement at the weekend sitting of its parliament, Te Kauhanganui. Chairman Tuku Morgan said the funding came on the back of management savings and continued strong performance by the tribe's commercial arm Tainui Group Holdings. From 2002 to 2006 the company's total assets more than doubled, from $146.8 million to a record $312 million last year.



Rare 'Maori head' jug fetches $34,000

By MICHAEL FIELD - Fairfax Media
A rare Royal Doulton character jug said to be modelled on a Maori head reached $34,000 in auction in Auckland today but was below the reserve and may not sell. Made in 1939, the jug is one of about six made in Doulton Studio for approval and was never put into production - due to the arrival of World War Two. Auctioneers John Cordy Ltd last year sold a slightly different version for $58,000.



NZ Exchange Student In Virginia Safe

A New Zealand student on exchange at Virginia Tech University, the scene of a mass shooting on Monday, has been confirmed as alive and well. Thirty-three people are dead after a gunman went on the rampage at the university's campus in the town of Blacksburg, southwest Virginia. It is the worst mass shooting at a United States educational facility. At least four New Zealand tertiary institutions have exchange arrangements in place with Virginia Tech.
The University of Canterbury will not name the forestry student, but it says he is fine, although a bit shaken. His mother told the university that his student residence was close to where the first of two shootings took place.
© NewsRoom 2006



New clam fishery expects $30m annual harvest

By Jonathan Dow
Tuatua and six other species of "surf clams" will be harvested from the Hawke's Bay seabed from next year as a new multimillion-dollar fishery is established. A consortium of fishing companies, Surfco, which owns the quota for seven species of clam in Hawke's Bay, has estimated each kilometre of the coastline could yield 16 tonnes of clams a year. The clams are buried in sand, 2m to 6m below the low-tide line. The National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research will begin three months of research next month, from Westshore to Bay View and from Marine Parade to Haumoana. The results of the study into the surf clam populations in Hawke's Bay will be presented at a public meeting.
HAWKE'S BAY TODAY



Ethics of pig cell trials to be debated

An application to resume pig cell transplant trials for diabetes patients will now go before an ethics committee. Trials by Living Cell Technologies were originally started in the 90s but were canned in 1996 because of fears the procedure could transfer a pig virus to humans. It involves replacing dead insulin cells with similar pig cells so type-1 diabetes patients do not have to inject themselves with insulin. Scientific approval has now been given for the trials in eight patients to resume.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News



Orchards a 'soft touch' for people smugglers

By Jarrod Booker
New Zealand is seen as a "soft touch" for Asian crime syndicates smuggling in illegal workers, a researcher says. Labour-starved areas such as the top of the South Island and Hawkes Bay are prime targets for syndicate bosses, known as "snakeheads", who smuggle in workers to meet the demand in orchards and vineyards. However, the thousands of illegal workers may end up anywhere in New Zealand where there is work available. Criminologist and former Nelson policeman Andrew MacDonald researched the problem in the Tasman area after police identified it as a priority. He warns that it will only get worse unless addressed. There are believed to be 20,000 illegal immigrants in New Zealand.



NZ faces 'climate refugees' as seas rise

By PAUL GORMAN - The Press
South Pacific people fleeing from climate change are likely to turn to New Zealand if their islands slip beneath the waves or drinking water is contaminated. In the latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report, the islands of the South Pacific are singled out for their vulnerability to climate change, along with the Arctic, Africa and densely populated Asian river deltas.The report says the South Pacific's reputation as a tropical paradise is under threat from climate change and that small islands are already experiencing the effects of it. One academic believes the worst-case scenario could see hundreds of thousands of displaced islanders –"environmental refugees" – end up in New Zealand. British environmental scientist Norman Myers has predicted that up to 150 million people may become refugees by 2050 because of rising sea levels.



Immigration hurts Maori - economist

By PAUL EASTON - The Dominion Post |
Immigration is harming Maori and pushing house prices beyond reach of first-home buyers, says a Massey University economist. Greg Clydesdale has made public the results of a study on the economic effects of immigration. He says it shows Maori are being harmed by large numbers of unskilled or low-skilled immigrants allowed in on humanitarian and family reunification grounds. "They made up 40 per cent of the annual total of immigrants and compete with Maori for jobs, state housing and social services. "Limited resources are being split between Maori and Pacific Islanders." In February, Maori Party co-leader Tariana Turia called for immigration from Western countries to be limited and accused the Government of trying to stop the "browning of New Zealand".



Speight's pub to give Kiwis overseas a taste of home

The Southern Man is about to broaden his horizons. Or at least his pub is. Lion Nathan said a $300,000 Speight's Ale House will be freighted to London on a 70m-long chartered container ship in July. The journey will take an estimated 70 days, with the ship going via Samoa, Panama, the Bahamas and New York on its way to London, the Otago Daily Times reported today. The pub, which leaves Dunedin on July 24, will be temporarily moored on a barge in the upper Thames, before a permanent home is found.
Source:NZPA



Rocks may pose danger to shipping

An investigation continues to find out why a barge capsized in Wellington Harbour, spilling 300 tonnes of rock onto the seabed. The 28 metre Kimihia was being towed by a tug at the weekend when it overturned just north of Barrett Reef. The rocks were destined for stop-bank work on the Hutt River. Harbourmaster Mike Pryce says the rocks are sitting in a large pile nearly two metres high. He will see if they pose any danger for deep draught ships in bad weather conditions.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News



Telstra shelves wireless network

TelstraClear says it has been forced to shelve plans for a $50 million wireless network in Tauranga because of a u-turn by Vodafone. The project, known as Unplugged, had been due to launch in July. It would have delivered a converged mobile and broadband service to homes and businesses in the city and was expected to lead to New Zealand's third mobile phone network. Head of corporate services at TelstraClear Matthew Bolland says they are stunned at Vodafone changing its mind over a roaming agreement. He says that decision means his company cannot deliver the service they had been hoping for.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News



Emergency service shake-up

The Government is poised to unveil its proposed new framework for New Zealand's fire and rescue services. It has been more than three years since George Hawkins, who was Minister of Internal Affairs at the time, announced existing regulations would be reviewed and a single framework developed. Several models have been investigated. They include the possibility of merging all the organisations into a single national body, maintaining the status quo, or developing a national-regional model. Internal Affairs Minister Rick Barker will release the draft framework at the Tawa Fire Station this afternoon.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News



MPs should expect scrutiny

Ross Robertson says MPs should be open to the same sort of scrutiny the police force is about to be under. The Bazley report into police conduct recommended a code of conduct be introduced immediately. The Labour MP says he cannot see why if police are being ordered to lift their game, politicians should not be as well. He says MPs are predominantly in the public eye and their actions influence society's perceptions of what is acceptable and what is not.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News



Monday, April 16

Petfood imported from China sent back

New Zealand has stopped a shipment of petfood from China and sent it back over concerns about contamination. The NZ Food Safety Standards Authority said the petfood contained contaminated gluten, The New Zealand Herald reported today. But New Zealand standards director Tim Knox told the Herald a consignment of the raw product had arrived at NZ ports and the authority would be testing the gluten. Mr Knox said that the product would be released into the market and available for use in various types of food if it was found with no problems. Chinese food exports had also been rejected at United States' ports after authorities found them to be contaminated. Foods stopped included pesticide-laden pea pods, drug-laced catfish, filthy plums and crayfish contaminated by salmonella.
Source:NZPA



Historic Building Demolition Defended

Ngai Tahu Property is defending its decision to demolish a 130-year-old Christchurch building to make way for a subdivision. The building is the administration wing of the old Sunnyside Hospital in Hillmorton, a site now owned by the South Island iwi. A local property consultant, Steve Langridge, says the gothic-style building has been deteriorating but is structurally strong and could be refurbished for about $500,000. But Ngai Tahu says there has been debate over the building's heritage values. It says it is planning a memorial garden on the site and the demolition will also be used as a training exercise for archaeology students.
© NewsRoom 2007



$40m apple ban moth traced to Hawkes Bay

By Sarah McDougall Of NZPA
A moth larva which has disrupted New Zealand's $40 million apple export industry to Taiwan came from an orchard in Hawkes Bay. Taiwanese media reported the discovery meant a shipment of 1029 boxes of apples had been stopped at the border and sent back to New Zealand for destruction. Pipfruit New Zealand chief executive Peter Beaven said one codling moth larva, a pest in Taiwan, was discovered in a fuji apple in Taiwan last week. The apple came from an orchard in Hawkes Bay, he said. He would not identify the orchard. On Friday, Biosecurity New Zealand received formal notification that the discovery had prompted the Taiwanese Government to stop all apple imports from New Zealand, Mr Beaven said.



Librarians come to aid of book-starved Fiji children

Thousands of Fijian children who lack books will benefit from the bright idea of a Tauranga librarian. The office of Tauranga libraries manager Jill Best is overflowing with at least 5000 children's books after she made an email appeal to colleagues in other public libraries. Her initiative followed a visit to Fiji last November at the invitation of the Fiji Local Government Association to assess the state of Fiji's libraries and make recommendations for the future. She left dismayed at the run-down state of libraries caused by years of under-funding. The worst example was the Suva Public Library, which had been starved of any money to buy books for at least 10 years. Six cubic metres of books, all in very good condition and mostly about five years old, will be loaded into a container this week and shipped to Fiji, with costs met by the Commonwealth Local Government Fund.
BAY OF PLENTY TIMES



Govt looks at re-sale royalties for artists

The Government is exploring ways to ensure visual artists receive the financial benefit which follows the re-sale of their works. It is looking for feedback on the idea of introducing a royalty payment scheme for artworks sold on the secondary market, also known as an artist's re-sale right. It would see artists receive a royalty payment each time an original art work is resold.
Minister for Arts Culture and Heritage Helen Clark says the arrangement is in place in about 50 countries. She says a re-sale royalty right helps address the limited access to economic benefit which visual artists derive from creating an original work.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News



Kiwi continuing to soar

More bad news for exporters, with the dollar busting through the 74 US cent mark. The kiwi has traded as high as 74.05 US cents this morning before falling back to its current level of 74.02 US cents. New Zealand's high interest rates are driving the rise, which have pushed the dollar to two-year highs against the greenback. However it is at 17-year highs against the Japanese currency, with one New Zealand dollar now buying 88.25 yen.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News



Sunday, April 15

Poppy Day on Friday

The annual RSA Poppy Day fund raising appeal be launched on Tuesday in the grand hall of Parliament House. Last year the RSA gave more than $2 million worth of assistance to returned servicemen and women; $1 million of that was raised on Poppy Day. Spokesman for the RSA Bill Hopper hopes New Zealanders will be just as generous this year.
Poppy Day will see sellers on the streets around the nation this Friday. The money raised is available to all New Zealand war veterans and is not restricted to those who are members of the RSA.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News



Trike for sale

Billy Connolly's famous trike is up for auction. The three-wheeler which featured in his televised New Zealand road trip will be auctioned for charity during the opening dinner at the Vector Arena on Thursday night. The Scottish comedian travelled 8,500 kilometres across New Zealand on the custom-made Harley Davidson during his visit here in 2004. Master of ceremonies for the evening, Frankie Stevens, says he is looking forward to seeing how generous New Zealanders can be.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News



Sydney school opens Aboriginal-only campus

SYDNEY: A private school will open a campus exclusively for Aboriginal children on its main campus when the new term starts next week. The decision follows a long and fruitless search for a suitable site close to the indigenous population of the city's Redfern suburb.
St Andrew's Cathedral School head Phillip Heath, who came up with the idea for the new school in an effort to help turn around education standards among indigenous children, has faced plenty of criticism of the plan. But he said the intention of the Gawura campus was to be inclusive rather than divisive. "In an apartheid system the children are kept completely apart but this school encourages them to get as involved as they possibly can, especially in cultural activities," he said. The new CBD school will have a focus on Aboriginal language and culture as well as numeracy and literacy and students will be sponsored by members of the community, World Vision-style.
Sun-Herald



Ratings drive losing viewers

TVNZ's desperate quest for ratings is one of the main reasons it is losing viewers, according to one media commentator. The state-owned network has dropped 60 staff this week, mostly from its news and current affairs operation, whose shows have historically pulled in the biggest audiences. Former broadcaster Brian Edwards says the operation has completely lost its way. He says the crucial six o'clock evening news is a prime example of what has gone wrong.
Brian Edwards says the TVNZ programme is often sensationalised, when it should be driven by solid news values.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News



1000 walk for charity

There are still around 200 weary walkers who have yet to cross the finish line in a million dollar charity event in Taupo. A thousand people have been taking part in the Oxfam Trailwalker, which is a 100-kilometre off-road course. Some 50 teams of four people are due to end their 36-hour ordeal for Oxfam by four this afternoon.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News



Hospitals could not cope

New Zealand hospitals would be overwhelmed if a September 11-style attack occurred now. A new report warns as many as 80% of the injured would be denied immediate treatment in hospitals here and in Australia. The first-ever trans-Tasman analysis of hospital capacity in the event of a terrorist bombing or large-scale natural disaster says neither country would be able to admit and operate on all of the worst-hit victims. The research indicates that between 60 and 80% of critically injured patients would not have immediate access to an operating theatre.
© 2006 Newstalk ZB News



Aucklanders flee to the provinces

By KIM KNIGHT - Sunday Star Times
Go south, young man. Or north. Anywhere, in fact, apart from Auckland. It may be our biggest city, but locals are leaving in droves. In the latest census, the Auckland region recorded the largest net loss of people due to internal migration. Between 2001 and last year, about 59,000 people moved to the city from other regions - and 76,000 Aucklanders left for the provinces.
It's the reverse of census trends recorded a decade ago, when the city was still gaining internal migrants. Between 1991 and 1996, Auckland won almost 5000 more people from other regions than it lost. But by 2001, the slide had started and the city recorded a net loss of nearly 2400 people to other regions. But now the trickle has turned into a flood of almost 17,000 people. Waikato, with a net gain of 5847 Aucklanders, is the main recipient. Other near neighbours, Bay of Plenty and Northland, scored 3420 each.



Migrants Less Likely To Move To Australia: Treasury

Information released by Treasury shows fewer migrants are using New Zealand as a way of gaining quick entry to Australia. Treasury says five years ago 27 percent of people who moved to Australia from New Zealand were born overseas. But last year that had dropped to just 19 percent of the nearly 30,000 New Zealanders who crossed the Tasman to live.
Treasury spokesperson Richard Downing says changes to Australian welfare laws may be responsible. Mr Downing says an improvement in New Zealand's economy in recent years may also explain why immigrants to New Zealand are staying put.
© NewsRoom 2007



NZ Through To Cricket World Cup Semi-Finals

New Zealand is guaranteed a spot in the semi-finals of the Cricket World Cup in the Caribbean after beating South Africa in St Georges, Grenada, this morning. The Black Caps restricted the South Africans to 193 for 7 in their 50 overs, which New Zealand passed with five wickets and 10 balls to spare. New Zealand’s final match of the Super Eight stage of the competition is against Australia, who have also qualified for the semi-final stage, on Saturday.
© NewsRoom 2007


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