Copyright © 1995 Brian Harmer
Pohutukawa is starting to appear, at first in shy glimpses of deep crimson, peeping through the dark green leaves, and later in riotous blotches of scarlet, which completely overwhelm the greenery. The full impact of the bloom is not yet with us, but it's coming, it's coming. Folklore says that's the portent of a long hot summer. Oh how I want to believe that.
During the week, I participated in the annual academic procession through the streets of Wellington. With police escort and pipe band at the head, it was a long and colourful parade from Old Government Buildings (now the Law School) along Lambton Quay, up Willis Street to Mercer Street, and thence to Civic Square and a welcome by Mayor Blumsky.
The parade itself was a colourful one for those of a ceremonial turn of mind, with the splendidly coloured robes of academics from exotic places, and the different coloured hoods appropriate to each degree being conferred on what I estimate to be five hundred graduands. Of course if you did not appreciate ceremonial and just wanted to cross the street, I can believe the parade was a big pain in the proverbial.
The graduation ceremony in the Michael Fowler centre was the usual mixture of high occasion for some, languid boredom for others. After all the speeches, all the diplomas, and the singing of "Gaudeamus" (restored after vigorous protest from the traditionalists when it was omitted from the May ceremonies) the various dignitaries processed solemnly from the stage toward the exit. They were still well inside the auditorium when the musical ensemble broke into a brassy rendition of the Monty Python signature tune to the great mirth of the crowd, and the mild chagrin of the more serious minded of the academics.
A week or two ago, Mary and I attended an exhibition by Wellington Artist, David Orange. We thoroughly enjoyed David's style, and especially liked a large picture he painted called "Absolutely Positively Wellington". With his consent, and with the kind permission of the purchaser, Mr Trevor Crichton of Wainuiomata, you can see a scanned photograph of the painting at http://www.vuw.ac.nz/~bharmer/pix/abposwn.gif
Unfortunately the price was well beyond our budget, but Mary indulged my love of maritime art by buying a smaller picture by the same artist, painted in Lyttelton. Sadly the scanned image was taken from a tiny postage stamp sized reproduction, and the process does not do the painting justice, but you can get an idea at http://www.vuw.ac.nz/~bharmer/pix/myboat.gif
On with the news.
Police have commenced a series of unannounced blitzes designed to catch drivers who succumb to the temptation to drive after the various seasonal functions. Checkpoints are set up at various points including urban motorways. All drivers are asked to speak their name and address into an electronic sniffer which will use the breath to give an indicative reading of blood/alcohol reading. A positive reading leads to more formal evidential procedures including blood tests if necessary. Motorists are generally good natured about the checkpoints, despite the disruption to the smooth flow of traffic. Police have been pleased at the relatively low incidence of drunk drivers.
The lack of suitable venues during the renovations to the Appeal Court, and a lack of judges to hear the case may prove expensive. The government's appeal against the ruling on the Equiticorp case will not be heard until February 1998. Interest on the amount owed by the government is accruing at the rate of $3 million per month.
A number of so-called pipe bombs have been found in various places in Auckland. Police have said the perpetrators have obviously got the recipe for the devices from the Internet.
Sumner near Christchurch is obviously attractive to an elephant seal which has returned to enjoy the beach for the fifth summer in succession. Unfortunately, not all residents are friendly, and some have been said to have thrown rocks and pieces of wood at the animal which has been nicknamed "Dumbo". One person urged his dog to attack the seal, but ran away when confronted.
(Dumbo meets Dingo - BH)
Over 100,000 people attended a concert at Fraser Park in Upper Hutt. No admission was charged, though there were fees for parking, as well as franchises for food etc. Artists included Sir Howard Morrison, The Topp Twins, Pauly Fuemana, Dalvanius Prime, and When the Cat's Been Spayed. The crowd enjoyed their picnics and the music in a good natured way, and $53,000 was raised for renal equipment at Wellington Hospital.
(I had to collect my Daughter, Helen after the concert. It took me 35 minutes to get 6 km through the traffic to the place from which she phoned, and then another hour to get back again. - BH)
Broadcast journalist Kim Hill's contract is due for renewal, and there has been speculation that she may not choose to renew.
(Howwwwllllll! Kim Hill is in my opinion, the best interviewer on radio. Her acerbic style and intelligent persistence have earned about equal numbers fans and critics. I am an enthusiastic fan. - BH)
The Business Software Association's offer of free software to the value of $1,500 has produced information against 30 organizations which are alleged to have "hard-loaded" software on new computers without the benefit of licenses or documentation.
The importation of large numbers of used cars from Japan has had an immense impact on the car market in New Zealand. Prices of new cars have dropped, and to a large extent, the assembly industry has been drastically reduced. The Serious Fraud Office now allege that importers systematically wound back the odometers as a means of gaining better prices for the imports. They believe New Zealand Motorists have been fleeced of $750 million in this way. Criminal charges are pending.
The Dominion sought information using the Official Information Act on the fees paid to Sir Ronald Davison for his role as commissioner in the inquiry into the so-called "winebox inquiry". It was revealed that he will get a total of $840,000 for his work which is expected to last from July 1995 to March 1997.
The statue of John Ballance, (Prime Minister 1891-1893) which stands in Parliament Grounds was vandalised in a sequel to the destruction of a similar statue in Wanganui during the Moutoa Gardens protest last year. Mark Whyte, a sculptor of Christchurch has been commissioned to create a new head from some old marble for the Wellington Statue. The identical Wanganui statue was damaged beyond repair.
The Central Regional Health Authority found that a way to reduce costs was to declare its homecare workers to be independent contractors rather than employees. On this basis they could get away with paying less than the minimum wage, and no sick leave or holiday pay. Judge Palmer in the Employment Court upheld the RHA's position last year. On appeal, the case was referred back to the Employment Court. In his new decision, Judge Palmer has ruled that the Authority had enforced harsh and oppressive contracts. It had failed to pay wages when required to do so, and had consistently and overwhelmingly failed to be a good employer as required under the Health and Disability Services Act. It had overwhelmingly breached its obligations of trust and confidence. It had browbeaten the workers by harsh and oppressive behaviour into signing contracts which were "inappropriately severe". The workers are to receive compensation for their losses, and punitive payments ranging from $2,000 to $6,000.
(I would really like to know what went through the mind of the woman who at the time of the first judgement, acting as spokesperson for the RHA trotted out a whole lot of self justifying rhetoric attempting to rationalise the actions of the RHA in "beating up" people who were already the lowest paid people in the country. - BH)
Dean Wickliffe, 48 of Tauranga, has been charged with the murder of Richard Heteraka Bluett, 36. Bluett was a well known drug dealer, and Wickliffe is also facing five indictable charges of dealing in cannabis.
Dean Wickliffe spent a long time in jail after the death of a Wellington Jeweller during a robbery several years ago. His sentence was greatly extended after a number of escapes.
(Just when you thought I had given up writing about the Cook Strait ferries- BH)The high speed catamaran "Lynx" has re-entered service on the Cook Strait after a 23 day voyage from Liverpool.
After keeping the nation waiting nine weeks since the election, Winston Peters delivered the verdict of his party in an extraordinary media performance yesterday. It was expected that a result would emerge from the NZ First caucus at 4 4 pm, 5 pm, 7 pm and subsequent times. Eventually, at 7:40 pm (plus a minute or two while Winston detoured to the toilet, Winston delivered a speech in which, after approximately 20 minutes of high sounding phrases he ended by announcing that the selected party was National. This was obviously a stunning blow for Labour, with whom most pundits had predicted Winston would go. Neither National nor Labour knew the results before the TV speech.
Under the agreement reached by National and NZ First, Winston Peters is to have the role of deputy PM and Treasurer (a new position which is senior to the minister of finance). In a cabinet of 20, 5 positions will go to NZ First members, and after two years this will rise to 8. The surcharge on superannuation is to go. Education spending is to increase. RHAs are to be abolished or at least unified into a single central funding organization. The Tax cuts planned for next July have been deferred for a year. Minimum wages are to increase, and the 2% inflation guideline for the reserve bank is to be increased to 3%. The NZ First proposal for compulsory superannuation saving is to be replaced by a referendum on the topic. The fiscal cap of $1 billion on Treaty reparations has gone, and in all likelihood, Winston's "Ka Awatea" programme for Maori development will be resurrected from the bin into which it was thrown when he was sacked as Minister of Maori Affairs in the last National Government. Work for the dole will be required on two days a week. Prisoners will be required to work for a major part of the day, and immigration rates will be limited to present levels. CHEs will no longer be required to make a profit. Students at tertiary institutions will be given a universal (non-means tested) benefit equivalent to the dole. Sale of certain state assets are now prohibited.
Doug Kidd is to be the speaker of the house, and his deputy is to be Ian Revell. This latter contravenes the recommendations of a bipartisan guide to the MMP system which had said that the Speaker would belong to the party in power, and the deputy would be from the main opposition party.
It is expected that the details of the 50 page agreement will be placed on the government web pages and the details will be posted next week if this happens.
Meanwhile, despite predictions of a coup within Labour if they didn't win, MPs have rallied around Helen Clark who, red-eyed, launched into an attack on the willingness of National to "sell its soul". (This phrase was used many times over the next day or so - BH)
Public reaction has been mixed. Polls indicate about 53% support for the coalition as announced, but support for NZ First from its own supporters has halved overnight. It is the view of many reporters that NZ First will spend much of the next six months attempting to repair fences with its supporters since much of the NZF campaign was spent promising to stop National. Deputy Tau Henare had vowed never to serve in a coalition with National.
The Ford LTD car used by the Prime Minister was parked overnight in the driveway at the Karori home of his chauffeur. During the night, an incendiary device was thrown through the vehicle's back window, and the car was severely damaged. A review of security measures has been triggered.
Apple Fields, a corporate orchardist applied to the Apple and Pear Marketing Board for permission to export a million and a half cartons of apples directly rather than through the Board. The Board took the view that Apple Field would achieve a higher return for itself at the expense of the other growers, and declined the application. Apple Field has begun fulfilling its threat to cut down its orchards and sell of the land as a residential subdivision, and to make its 2,000 employees redundant.
Auckland sex offender John Fleming, 53, who pleaded guilty to charges involving 4,229 separate offences with young boys in the Pacific Islands community in South Auckland, has been sentenced to at least 20 years in prison.
National member Jim Gerard, who was regarded as a foregone conclusion for the role of Speaker of the House is likely to be offered the position of High Commissioner to Canada by way of consolation. A bitterly disappointed Mr Gerard who was deputy speaker in th last government is not apparently consoled.
Former detective Brent Garner was sentenced to five years in jail for his various crimes associated with the arson of his home, and the allegations that he had been tortured. A police claim for restitution of $350,000 for wasted time was dismissed by the judge since this would just be a further burden on his already distressed wife.
Date: 12 December 1996
Brian Dooley
Wellington
CURRENCIES
The currency codes given below conform to ISO 4217, which
can be found at http://www.xe.net/currency/iso_4217.htm.
The rates given are for telegraphic transfer and are
as given in the Wellington Evening Post today.
To Buy NZD 1.00
USD 0.7027
AUD 0.8864
GBP 0.4239
JPY 79.60
CAD 0.9550
FRF 3.6602
DEM 1.0834
HKD 5.4488
SGD 0.9855
CHF 0.9221
INTEREST RATES (%)
Call : 8.20
90 Day: 8.00
The prices below are given in cents.
To buy NZ Investment Trust:
21 June 1993 409
Today 873
To buy TeNZ:
1 June 1996 103.7
Today 118.4
Sorry folks for the curtailed news this week. I have to prepare for meetings this week with three multinationals who have consented to be the research subjects for my doctoral thesis. Only one more issue before Christmas.
Brian M Harmer email brian.harmer@vuw.ac.nz http://www.vuw.ac.nz/~bharmer Thou shalt not sit with statisticians nor commit a social science - W.H. Auden
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