bharmer@matai.vuw.ac.nz 

WYSIWYG NEWS 26 June 1994

26 Jun 94 21:50:55 +1300 Victoria University of Wellington, NZ 

Newsgroups: 
   soc.culture.new-zealand 

---- WYSIWYG NEWS -----------------------------------------------------
A brief bulletin this weekend since my boss stole a big chunk of my 
weekend, which does nothing for my academic progress or my family
life :-(

Several stories seem to drag on this week:

AUCKLAND WATER CRISIS
---------------------
Some substantial rain was expected today, but of course Auckland will
need substantail rain before the problem of their depleted reservoirs
is over.

THE ARTHUR'S PASS QUAKE (AND OTHERS)
------------------------------------

For only the second time in a week, the Arthur's Pass road was open to
traffic today. The one-way stretch (as televised) looks tenuous at best,
and much work will need to be done to restore full two-way road in the
Otira region.

MASSACRE IN DUNEDIN
-------------------

The 22 year old son who came back from his early morning paper run 
to "discover" the bodies of his murdered family has been charged with
having murdered them. Dunedin has been the scene of much emotion over
this multiple killing, as the deceased father was a principal at a local
school, and three of the kids were pupils at other schools. The accused
is receiving a great deal of support, and many character references from
people who just don't believe he did it. 

ARREST IN THOMAS MURDER CASE
----------------------------

Police have arrested a 48 year old Karori man, and charged him with the
murder of Eugene and Gene Thomas who were shot in Wellington earlier in 
the year. The accused in this case is the gun collector who announced
to the world early in the case that he was the prime suspect. He is now
out on bail, declaring his innocence.

POLICE ON SNOWBOARDS
--------------------

NZ police maintaining a friendly presence on the skifields have taken to
using snowboards as a means of getting about. They have called themselves 
"Snowbocops"

INTEREST RATES AT RISK
----------------------

When the sharemarket opens tomorrow, it could have dire consequences for
MZ mortgage rates. Following the end of week chaos on Wall St, the local 
market is expecting a drop which will probably lead to another lurch 
in the interest rates, and thus the domestic mortgage rates for NZ.

UNIVERSITIES COMPETE FOR MBAs
-----------------------------

The universities in NZ which offer MBA courses have competed fiercely for
an apparently endless supply of students willing to pay high fees for the
two year course. None have competed more fiercely than Massey which has 
taken its teaching into all the other regions. Its Executive MBA course
is offered in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin, and of course, 
Palmerston North. With an average of thirty students per intake, Massey 
offers the course on the basis of fortnightly lectures from 8am to 6pm
evert two weeks for two years. The popularity of the course is indicated
by the fact that Massey have just launched two new intakes on alternating 
weekends in Wellington, in the seventh year of this operation.


DEEP GLOOM IN ALL BLACK CAMP
----------------------------

Today the touring French rugby team defeated the All Blacks by 22-8
at Carisbrook, their first ever win on that ground. It was an especially
sweet moment for Frenchman Phillipe Sella who was playing his 100th 
international for France. (This bodes ill for the Springbok Tour - BH)

CALL TO BAN ADOPTIONS
---------------------

A Sydney based New Zealand lawyer is calling for an end to the practice 
of adoption, characterising it as a device to bestow "property rights" on
the adoptive parents, and doing little for the children.

PRIVY COUNCIL CASE
------------------

The case of David Wayne Tamihere, accused of murdering Swedish Tourists
Heidi Paakkonen and Urban Hoglin in 1989 will be taken to the Privy 
Council  this week, as all domestic avenues of appeal have been exhausted.

The basis of the appeal is that pivotal crown evidence was so unreliable 
as to be inadmissible.

PEDESTRIANS MAY GET THEIR SHOES BACK :-)
----------------------------------------

Police have been enforcing instant fines for five years against 
pedestrians who fail to keep to the footpath, or who cross the road
without using a crossing while within 20 metres of one. It sseems the 
legal draftsman got it wrong, and the act could be applied to vehicles
but not pedestrians.

***

more mid week. 

Brian H