Copyright © 1995 Brian Harmer
Sunday 3 May: What a weekend! Clear sky, no wind, warm sun. Tonight looks like a perfect evening for Hale-Bopp seekers. The Western sky is clear, and the afterglow of a glorious day lingers behind the silhouetted hills. The extremely low angle and the light- haze from the Whitby and Porirua region may make it difficult to spot, but I understand it will get higher in the sky over the next few weeks. The buzz of lawnmowers and chainsaws which characterize a fine autumn afternoon has died, and the world outside seems to have gone quiet as if someone had pushed a cosmic "mute" button. The forecast for tomorrow was one of those rare ones: "for all New Zealand except the Chatham Islands, fine weather ...."
Whoops: impending deadlines got in the way so here we go again. Anthony is to all intents and purposes back to normal. He has a week or so of rehabilitation to do prior to his discharge from Burwood. Fantastic!
This was capping week for both Massey and Victoria universities, so on Wednesday I went to Palmerston North where our older daughter Catherine graduated with a B.Appl.Econ.
The ceremony itself was quite lacklustre. This may be an inevitable consequence of having so many graduands that there are six different ceremonies spread over three days. Two things saved the day for me ... the fact that Catherine was graduating, and the true splendour of Massey's Campus. If the trees on that campus are not the subject of some kind of heritage order, then they ought to be. There were new graduates everywhere having their photos taken in the midst of the wonderful carpet of autumn leaves.
But when it comes to the ceremony, despite being a Massey alumnus, I have to say that Victoria really does it well, and all credit to the university marshal, Dylis Grant and her team for a stylish ceremony. Thursday was the evening for Commerce, Science, Design and Architecture graduands, the others having been "done" the previous day. The evening began with drinks and nibbles in the beautifully restored Wellington Town Hall, and the graduation ceremony itself was carried out in the Michael Fowler Centre. A lively gamelan group played in the main foyer to entertain those waiting for formal photographs and the ceremonies to begin.
The orchestra (a real and very competent one from the School of Music, not a tape recorder) played a Douglas Lilburn's "Processional Fanfare" to accompany the solemn procession of the academics to their positions on the stage. The lights were extinguished in the auditorium and when the darkness was complete, there came an eerie rushing rumbling, neck- tingling sound, rising and falling. It was the instrument known as purerehua (Maori for moth) - if you ever tied a wooden ruler on a piece of string and whirled it round your head, you'll know the sound. Then there came long deep blasts on the putatara - a wooden horn similar in size to a Swiss alpenhorn.
As the lights came slowly up, a karanga (a calling song) invited the graduands into the auditorium. Row upon row they filed in, resplendent in their academic finery. Post office red facings for the PhDs, marigold for Commerce and Administration , old gold for MBA, mauve for Library and Information Studies, "nasturtium" with a bright red construction worker's hard hat for the degree in building science, "Kenya Red" for Design, Empire Blue (!) for Science. A haka powhiri by the group Te Kapa Haka O Te Herenga Waka provided a suitably proud and stirring accompaniment to the process of getting them all seated. When at last they were all seated, the concert party filed off. The usual introductory and inspirational speeches, including that of Deborah Morris, Minister of Youth Affairs (who herself graduated from Victoria just three years ago) were pleasantly brief.
The deans of each faculty in turn then called out the names of the graduands as one by one they came onto the stage Each shook the hand of the Chancellor and had their brief moment of glory in the spotlight. Families and friends maintained the tradition of applauding their special candidate, with occasional shrieks, whistles, and cries of "Way to go, Mum!" or "Finally Dad!" to make the rest of us chuckle. Several Maori students wore traditional feather adorned cloaks over the black academic gown, and one or two people wore the traditional formal dress of their own cultures.
The gentleman who motored vigorously across the stage in his electric wheelchair and quelled his tremor long enough to receive his degree and shake the Chancellor's hand was accorded a huge ovation in recognition of his special triumph over adversity. At intervals, the current bright vocal stars of the School of Music provided magnificent interludes ("Senza Mama" from Puccini's Suor Angelica, and the Brindisi from Verdi's La Traviata) to give the voices of the dean a rest. Hundred after hundred they passed by until at last they were all acknowledged in the time honoured fashion. The valedictorian made the customary witty speech, and then the traditional singing of "Gaudeamus" preceded a more or less dignified exit. (Infinitely better than last year when the orchestra made gentle mockery of the academics by playing the Monty Python theme as they left :-)
On with the news
Lionel Edward Gray, 27 lost his hold on the icy slopes of Taranaki yesterday, and despite the desperate efforts of his two companions, slipped over a 600 metre drop to his death. His two companions remained trapped on the mountain which was subjected to high winds and driving rain over the next two nights. The three were apparently surprised to encounter so much ice on the mountain. The had no crampons, and only one ice axe between them.
Two New Zealanders who were at a concert given by the Spice Girls on the island of Bali taught the famous group the Te Rauparaha haka "Ka Mate, Ka Mate". This caused great offence among the more politically correct in Maoridom, as that particular haka is not permitted to be done by women. According to media interviews, some of the younger, and less traditional Maori were less worried, and some even hoped for an opportunity to have the Spice Girls promote Maoridom through the performance of other, less sensitive items.
Constable Stewart Brodie was worried that the thief would wreck his sergeant's brand new patrol car when he leapt aboard a moving front end loader which had been stolen by a 13 year old joy rider. His colleagues are not sure whether he is brave or mad.
(Probably watched too many Bruce Willis movies - BH)
In the latest in what appears to be a drip feed series of leaked information, it is alleged that MP Tuku Morgan took a trip to Europe on tickets paid for by ATN, after his election to parliament, and by which time he previously told the house he had severed his connection with the station. It is also alleged that his daughter had a trip to Sweden also paid by the station.
(It is rumoured that the some insider has provided the media with copies of all of Morgan's expenses, and that they are being released one by one. National MPs are getting increasingly restive over the ongoing damage caused to the coalition. Among the earlier revelations was the news that Morgan had bought two very expensive ties on the station's account. This has given rise in some circles to the nickname "Two Tie Morgan". Apropos of nothing in particular, the word "tutae" is Maori for excrement. - BH)
Christine Fletcher has alleged that during her first parliamentary term, a male parliamentarian harassed her by asking every day "so who's looking after your children today?"
The cabinet has given approval for the demolition of Broadcasting house on Bowen Street and the construction of a $94 million building intended to provide office accommodation for 26 ministers and their staff. The cost per staff member of the fit-out is raising eyebrows in the construction industry. Opposition to the plan is not yet quashed, and Richard Prebble is making much political mileage out of the affair. There is a petition circulating to have the decision reversed.
(Never let it be said that Don McKinnon has an edifice complex - BH)
In an echo of events surrounding nursing student Anna Penn in Christchurch, students at Wanganui Polytechnic are alleging that they were treated contemptuously by Maori Tutors on their social work course. They were excluded from extra tuition on the grounds that the Maori participants had been disadvantaged all their lives. Minister, Wyatt Creech has asked for a report on the matter. The students are contemplating legal action.
Tranz Rail have commissioned a new road and rail ferry from the Spanish Shipyard Hijos de J Barreras SA. The vessel which is about the same size as the Arahura will carry about one third of the older ships passenger capacity.
In an incident of a type which recurs in the headlines, a 90 year old suspected stroke victim was admitted to Wellington hospital at 11 pm, and then discharged in an ambulance at 12:30 am. She was found in a distressed condition on her floor by a neighbour at a bout 6 am. A hospital manager says that sometimes staff follow the medical rules and forget the social needs.
John Monie, the inaugural coach of the Auckland Warriors Rugby League team has lost his position as the team languishes at or near the bottom of the Super League table.
Prime Minister Jim Bolger has conceded that the ongoing media exposure being given to Tukuroirangi Morgan's dealings with the ATN broadcasting station is having a damaging effect on the credibility which is a special concern in the light of the slender (one seat) majority by which the coalition holds power.
Ryutaro Hashimoto, Prime Minister of Japan flew into Wellington for a brief two day visit. After cancelling talks with opposition leaders on the grounds of tiredness, he flew with New Zealand Prime Minister Bolger by helicopter to the Rimutaka State Forest Park for a bush walk. The Japanese premier was dressed for a walk in a city park, while our own leader wore the classic emblem of the New Zealand out doors - the Swanndri bush shirt.
The agony continues for Tuku Morgan as it is alleged that since he resigned as a director of the station at the end of August 1996, he has received further payments amounting to some $56,000. In his defence, he says the payments were for duties performed as head of the station's sports programmes. Station staff have reportedly said he was nowhere to be seen during the period concerned. Winston Peters has lashed out at the sources of the rumours referring to them as "scumbags"
(Media commentators have displayed a certain amount of hilarity at Winston's apparent dislike of innuendo, and suspicion pronounced as fact, since they allege that these were his stock in trade prior to the election.- BH)
The $8 million programme of spraying Auckland's Eastern suburbs to eradicate an outbreak of Tussock Moth was never likely to have better than an 80% chance of success according to an independent report produced for the Minister responsible for Biosecurity, Simon Upton.
(Oh well, at least it gave us some wonderful views of a DC-6 doing low level beat-ups over the Orakei basin - BH)
Anton Henary Matenga was released from jail at 7:40 am on 26 January. At 9 am the same day he held up the Naenae branch of Trustbank, and shot and killed teller, Bill Brown. It is asserted by crown prosecutor, Kenneth Stone that Matenga was acting on instructions from the Mongrel Mob.
Charles Sturt, the director of the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has resigned on the grounds of ill health. He asserts that this is in no sense an admission of failure in respect of his role in the wine box trial.
(In my opinion, it ought to be - BH)
A key plank in the coalition agreement was the policy of free medical treatment for children under the age of six. Thus far, the regional health authorities have been unable to persuade the GPs that the money they have to spend is sufficient to pay the bill. The doctors say they do not think they should have to carry the cost of government promises.
For the second time in a week, a climber has fallen to her death on an icy mountain. A 20 year old woman from Palmerston North slid and rolled for nearly a kilometre down the Southern slopes of Ruapehu.
In a game of Rugby League being played by 10 year olds, the referee stopped to talk with a supporter who was yelling abuse. The man who is the grandfather of one of the young players headbutted the referee breaking his nose. The Referee lay stunned on the ground, and was taken to hospital with a broken nose. Police have interviewed the 45 year old offender.
The former leader of the Social Credit party and MP for Rangitikei (1978 - 1984) Bruce Beetham has died in Palmerston North aged 61, of a heart condition. He is survived by his wife, four children and two stepsons.
Anton Matenga, 19, accused of the murder of Naenae bank teller Bill Brown has been moved to a more secure cell after allegations that the Mongrel Mob have issued a contract on his life.
After Conservation Minister, Nick Smith announced that the Kaimanawa herd of wild horses is to be culled by 1,200 animals, he also urged horse sympathisers to adopt a horse. So far some 200 applications for one of the horses have been lodged.
Stung by allegations of police incompetence made in several TV documentaries and news interviews, Police Commissioner Peter Doone announced an internal review of the way the case was handled. This has offended Police Complaints Authority Sir John Jeffries who says he was not consulted about the decision.
At the end of the March quarter, unemployment rose to 6.4% up from 5.9% in the previous quarter. This amounts to 116,000 currently unemployed. Long term unemployed now total 39,400
Australian apple industry executives are royally annoyed with a New Zealand botanist who, while holidaying in Melbourne discovered what he believes to be fireblight on trees in the Melbourne Botanic Gardens. New Zealand apples have long been excluded from the Australian market on the grounds that the virus is in New Zealand but not yet in Australia. The industry executives smell a rat, and wonder why a kiwi botanist was "sneaking around".
(I bet there's a grassy knoll in those gardens - BH)
(Lost Friday's papers. Sorry)
Date: 8 May 1997
Brian Dooley
Wellington, New Zealand
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 0.6906
AUD 0.8863
GBP 0.4287
JPY 86.54
CAD 0.9544
FRF 4.0139
DEM 1.1900
HKD 5.3625
SGD 1.0011
CHF 1.0104
INTEREST RATES (%)
Call : 6.00
90 Day: 6.84
The prices below are given in cents.
To buy NZ Investment Trust:
21 June 1993 409
Today 575
To buy TeNZ:
1 June 1996 103.7
Today 115.5
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Text Copyright © 1998 Brian Harmer,
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