Copyright © 1995 Brian Harmer
Today, Sunday 19 May is cool and damp. Grey, heavy looking clouds hang motionless, threatening, over the city and the Hutt Valley. The grass is wet underfoot, and only the morning choir practice from the birds in the surrounding trees lifts the spirit.
New Zealand's mood was similarly overcast as the loss of two of our climbers among the several who died on Everest last week seemed to tug at the heartstrings of even those like me who do not comprehend the urge to climb.
On with the news:
New Zealanders were shocked to learn that Rob Hall, a 35 year old climber from Christchurch was almost certainly dead, trapped in worsening weather after climbing Everest over the weekend. A Queenstown man, Andy Harris, 31, had already been reported dead. Friends believed that Mr Hall could have saved himself, but stayed in an attempt to save Mr Harris. Poignancy was added as it was learned that Mr Hall made a farewell phonecall to his wife, Dr. Jan Arnold from the mountain.
Former journalist Deborah Coddington will soon publish a directory of all convicted paedophiles in New Zealand, except those whose names have been suppressed by court order.She intends her book to show for each convicted molester, details of name, age, occupation, the crimes of which they were convicted, and the details of their sentencing, together with a photograph where possible. She intends to make the book widely available, though it is aimed primarily at schools and kindergartens, to enable them to avoid hiring them. There has been some abhorrence expressed by legal people at what is seen as a vigilante taking upon herself to extend the punishment beyond that awarded by the courts. Ms Coddington is married to a well known publisher.
(Without holding any brief for paedophiles, I tend to regard her action as high handed, and taking no account of any attempt at rehabilitation in individual cases. These crimes were undoubtedly abhorrent, but I hope the court took that into account in setting sentences, and unilateral action like this is only a short step from the lynch mob mentality - BH)
Contrary to the opinions expressed in several public opinion polls, and a widely publicised "citizens' jury", the Wellington City Council has decided to sell its controlling interest in Capital Power (formerly the MED).
Mayor Mark Blumsky made much of the process of consultation, but was clearly embarrassed when the citizenry did not reach the conclusion his officers wanted.
(A similar process appears to be happening in respect of building on the waterfront. After the planning committee flatly rejected the attempt to build a casino on the waterfront, there was a public consultation about the future of that precious area. The people from the Lambton Harbour Development, and from Wellington City Council sat for nine hours, obviously dismayed at the strength and unity of feeling displayed by the several hundreds who turned out to express their view. When someone asked the chairperson to take a vote to measure precisely how strong the feeling was, the chairperson replied somewhat grumpily, "I sense the mood". The mover was too wily for that, and said "everyone who is opposed to these developments, stand up." Over 95% of those present stood, and even if the numbers weren't recorded in the minutes, the presence of the media ensured that the overwhelming opposition was unmistakably recorded. I cannot believe Mayor Blumsky would attempt twice to "consult" and then do the opposite to what the citizens want. Despite all this, the development company intends to appeal the rejection. It should be noted that most of the weekend's crowd was almost as strongly against casinos in general as they were opposed to the spoiling of the waterfront. - BH)
The Department of Conservation is pushing for Somes Island, and its near neighbour, Ward Island to revert to their pre-European names of Matiu and Makaro. A process of public consultation is almost over, after which the Geographic Board would make a recommendation to the Minister who has the final say.
(Another opportunity to give the appearance of listening. Wellingtonians at least, seem overwhelmingly in favour of Somes and Ward, at least according to one of those unscientific 0900 phone-in polls conducted by the Evening Post - BH)
Employees of the BNZ owned Student Loan Management Ltd, which administers the student loan scheme, persuaded twelve members of their families to join them in spurious enrolments through the Open Polytechnic as a means of applying for loans to which they were not entitled. The total amount they obtained was almost $1 million, according to the prosecution.
The Department of Conservation has declared itself to be satisfied that the mysterious "wall" in the Kaimanawa Forest is a natural flow of ignimbrite which cooled and then cracked to give the appearance of closely fitted regular blocks.
Following a report from Graham Scott, rumoured to be highly critical, the entire board of the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra resigned en masse. Doug Graham, Minister of Cultural Affairs today announced an emergency grant of $1 million, together with an increase in its budget by a further $2 million. He further announced a new board, led by businessman, Selwyn Cushing, and including Barry Dineen, Joe Pope, Dame Catherine Tizard, Bronwen Holdsworth, Elmar Toime, and Professor Peter Walls. With the exception of dame catherine and Professor Walls, all the others are prominent in the business scene. The Scott report is said to recommended that new funding be tied to an increase in player numbers, the retention of a resident conductor, an increase in the number of public concerts, and a reduction in recording and contract engagements.
The Department of Conservation, in an attempt to protect some of the world's rarest grasslands, and some nearly extinct plants, has been given permission, in the last resort, to shoot up to 1,000 of the wild horses of the Kaimanawa ranges.
(Please, don't e-mail me - I just record it - BH)
According to a TV3-CM survey, New Zealand First has streaked past Labour to gain second place in public ranking with 25% of the vote. National still leads with 40% while Labour have shrunk to 16%. The Alliance also advanced at Labour's expense to 12%. ACT, now led by Richard Prebble has 4%, which is still below the threshhold required to qualify for list seats.
According to the Dominion, this would translate into 52 seats for National, 32 seats for NZ First, 21 seats for Labour,the Alliance, 15. A Labour-NZ First coalition couls see the National party out of the treasury benches.
(on the other hand, any other combination of partners might see them stay there - BH)
Charleston Stephenson Thompson, 70, father of the South Auckland serial rapist, Joseph Thompson, was himself convicted of various charges involving the rape and molestation of his daughters. Apparently the women found it hard to accept the sanctimonious attitude the older Thompson adopted when being interviewed by TVNZ's 60 Minutes team about his son. They laid complaints with the police, and after a two day trial which the judge described as "unpleasant", he was convicted, and remanded for sentencing. Thompson is said to have fathered a child by one of his daughters. Police say he shows no comprehension that what he did was wrong.
TELECOM PROFIT $717 MILLION
Telecom New Zealand won praise and criticism today when it announced a $717 million profit. Business sources praised it for its astute business conduct, while various politicians and social agenciencies criticised it for profiteering.
In a well time move, telecom announced a free phoneline installation and 10 hours free internet time to all of the 2,800 schools in the country. Today was also the day Telecom launched itself as a nationwide ISP. Details are available at a web site which, like the profit announcement, has been both praised and vilified.
The site can be viewed at http://www.xtra.co.nz/
To give the site credit, they were very quick to respond to complaints about the original totally graphic format, and have since modified it to a smart multi-format page which should allow almost all web browsers to deal with it efficiently.
The tariffs for Telecom's service will not frighten most of the smaller players, but will at least make the net available in smaller locations.
(Perhaps an end to all those plaintive requests from offshore relatives wanting help in conncting to Aunt Maud in Haast / Kaitaia / Waverley /Opunake / French Pass, etc. - BH)
An Air New Zealand B737 bound for Christchurch ingested a dozen or so gulls into its starboard engine on takeoff from Wellington. Some very expensive noises and a burning smell followed, so the crew shut down the engine, and cruised about to use up fuel before carrying out a successful emergency landing back at Wellington.
Despite a reported 117% productivity increase, Telecom workers say they are 4% worse off in real terms over the last five years. Yesterday's announcement of a $717 million profit has brought the workers into the industrial relations arena demanding a 10.3% wage rise. Chairman Peter Shirtcliffe says the profit is not relevant. The workers are competitively paid, and that should suffice.
(Last time someone took that attitude, I believe an angry mob began to sing the Marseillaise, and heads began rolling - BH)
HIGH PERFORMANCE SPORT COSTS $300,000 - FOR WHAT?
Soon after the announcement of a $4 million grant for high-performance sport, the New Zealand Sports Foundation has revealed that somewhere between $300,000 and $500,000 has been spent with little tangible return. The organisation has changed its name to "New Zealand Sports Foundation Incorporated", and the present chief executive has been endorsed by a selection panel as the head of the "new" organisation.
LARGE RESERVES KEPT BY CASH_STRAPPED RHAs
Despite their pleas of underfunding, it is revealed that between them the four Regional Health Authorities have accumulated reserves in excess of $71 million by underspending their allocated budgets. The justification for the reserve is that the RHAs must be prepared for expenditure on disasters, or any sudden unforeseen demand such as an epidemic.
A man arrested in connection with an apparent attempted rape is now suspected by police of being the man they seeking in respect of two different serial rape investigations in Auckland and Rotorua respectively. He is being charged with the attempted rape and is likely to be charged with a large number of other offences on the basis of DNA evidence.
The long running investigation into the use of the Cook Islands as a tax haven goes on, day after day. In the latest developments, international audit firm KPMG has been forced to reveal some actions which are at best, embarrassing. Reluctant revelations by partner, Mrs. Jan Dawson indicate that the Audit Office which commissioned KPMG to perform the Cook Islands Government audit was not told in the report of the foreign tax scheme being put in place. The woman said she was the only member of her firm who had access to the papers relating to the tax credits issed by the Cook Islands government. She claimed that the Audit Office would have been shown the documents if they had asked to see them. She also conceded that the Audit Office was never told of their existence and thus could not have asked for them.
(I have to say that the whole inquiry has been a string of revealing insights into the ethics of big business. We have heard more weasel words and obfuscation than I imagined could be possible in this country. For some reason, I hear the late Justice Peter Mahon's most memorable phrase ringing in my mind- BH)
In its most recent survey of New Zealand, the OECD urges more Maori language schools to combat educational under- achievement. It points to poor workforce skills as a reason for sluggish productivity growth.
Brian Dooley - Wellington Date: 16 May 1996 CURRENCIES To Buy NZD 1.00 US0.6929 UK0.4581 AU0.8626 CD0.9479 JP74.33 DM1.0652 FR3.6052 INTEREST RATES Call: 10.00 90 Day:9.88 To buy NZ Investment Trust: 21 June 1993 $4.09 Today$5.50
Out of time... must go.
See you next week.
Brian M Harmer - Department of Communication Studies
Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand
email brian.harmer@vuw.ac.nz http://www.vuw.ac.nz/~bharmer/
How can I be sure I succeeded
if I can't remember what I was trying to do? - Ashleigh Brilliant
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