Copyright © 1998 Brian Harmer
Now Matiu/Somes Island disappears and the oil tanker at Point Howard fades out as if by a giant dimmer switch. A shiver of cold air stirs the pungas in the nearby bush reserve. They lift their South facing fronds as if beckoning the advancing front onwards, and then begin to thrash about. A second or two later they are being plastered from above as an intense hailstorm obliterates the Hutt Valley from view. The noise is amazing, and the icy pellets ricochet as if fired from a gun.
Slowly, slowly the hail gives way to rain, and half an hour later, even that has stopped. The sky to the South is now clear and bright, and the city sparkles as if it had been waterblasted.
The hail on the ground has melted and gone almost as quickly as it came. On the driveway little channels scoured in the gravel mark the volume of water that flowed for a while. The cold front continues its rambunctious ride Northwards and a few hours later, with the sky almost completely clear again, the high peaks of the Tararuas have their first covering of ice or snow for this season.
On with the news
Canterbury Health is saying little about a review of Christchurch Hospital's emergency department which says there are still significant deficiencies in staffing numbers. The independent review was carried out by the head of Auckland's emergency department after the deaths of several patients two years ago. Doctor Peter Freeman says the people of Canterbury can be confident they have a good emergency service after major improvements over the past year. But he says Christchurch still lacks sufficient specialist medical staff because of recruitment problems. Canterbury Health chief executive, Richard Webb has issued a short written statement saying he welcomes the finding that the people of the region can be confident in the emergency service. However he won't be drawn into comment on the staffing issue given that the Health and Disability Commissioner's report into patient safety at the hospital will be released on Thursday. He says that report will provide a context for much more comprehensive discussion on changes at Christchurch Hospital.
(The Minister apparently knew that the Stent report would be sharply critical, and it has been suggested in the media that he sought a more positive report to offset the inevitable criticism. - BH)
The lawyer for convicted child abuser Peter Ellis has confirmed she's trying to get him released on bail. Ellis is half way through serving a ten year sentence for sexually abusing children in his care at the Christchurch Civic Creche. Judith Ablett Kerr says because of certain complications that could take some time and so she is going to talk with the Justice Minister Doug Graham to see what other avenues she can take. On Friday the Governor General referred Ellis' case back to the Court of Appeal. It is now up to the court to decide whether his convictions should be quashed.
Taxpayers will be footing the bill for the Butler family to be reunited. Ulsterman Danny Butler was deported to Ireland last year... despite claiming that he faced possible violence at the hands of terrorists. His wife - Colette - now says she and her son have abandoned their battle against deportation orders. They will be flying out of the country on Friday. A spokeswoman for Immigration Minister Max Bradford says the taxpayer will be picking up the tab for their airfares. She says the government will also provide money for a "generous" baggage allowance for them.
The Order of St John has taken offence over a warning dished out by the Commerce Commission. The Commission has told the Auckland branch of St Johns it risks breaching the Commerce Act by using its control of 111 calls anti-competitively to disadvantage the Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust. But St Johns' Auckland chief executive, Rob Williams says it never did so deliberately. He says if the Westpac helicopter was already out on a job, St Johns would send out its own helicopter but didn't realise it had to check first to see if the Trust had a backup. Rob Williams says at no stage would they ever send out a helicopter just to deny someone else trade.
An advertisement featuring a nude New Zealander promoting this country as a tourist destination has angered Sir Howard Morrison. He says the Tourism Board ad is shallow sexism at its worse The photograph appeared in Britain, and features a New Zealand man wearing nothing but a greenstone pendant, holding a strategically placed brochure about this country. Sir Howard is a member of the Tourism Board, and is demanding the resignation of those responsible.
(The photo as reproduced here was nothing to get excited about ... it was frankly boring - BH)
There will be no school for secondary school students on Thursday. The PPTA has called a one day strike, in response to what it calls the government's refusal to negotiate on various issues. PPTA president Martin Cooney says pupils will be handed a notice to take home to parents this afternoon, advising them about the strike. He says the schools will be manned by a skeleton crew, in case pupils do turn up for school. Martin Cooney says instead of going to school on Thursday, teachers will be asked to attend rallies protesting at the government's refusal to negotiate.
Auckland residential voters will get to have a say on what should be done with the assets belonging to the Auckland regional services trust... However, a big slice of the Trust's assets, Watercare Services - worth around 900 million dollars - is to be stripped away leaving just under a billion dollars at issue... The Auckland Regional Council will get $10 million to spend on parks and marine parks and a further $10 million's to be made available to cultural investment, on museums and the like... Voters will be asked whether they want the assets retained by the Trust to be spent on the city's infrastructure or whether they should be divvied up among electors...
(Heh heh ... many a slip ... BH)
MP Harry Duynhoven says he will table video evidence of odometer fraud in parliament tomorrow, and ask the Minister of Justice for a full government inquiry. Anti car clocking campaigner Dermott Nottingham has today released what he calls evidence of odometer fraud, as well as claims of bribery by one of New Zealand's top car dealerships. Mr Nottingham claims his secretly-filmed video evidence shows that in some cases, supposedly new cars are in fact used cars, which contain new instrument panels. He says the videos were filmed using hidden cameras, and covert operators pretending to be interested in buying cars.
The debate over whether or not Hamilton should change its name is over. Hamilton City Council decided at a strategic planning committee meeting earlier today to pull the plug on a proposal to change the city's name to Waikato City. Hamilton's Mayor Margaret Evans says it was a magic moment and the pride that has been instilled in the city over the past couple of weeks needs to continue. She says the council has asked the marketing team to sift through the responses from the public and come back with more ideas.
(I can understand retaining the name, but staying as it is? :-) - BH)
The Health Minister is defending his decision to release a report on Christchurch Hospital just days before another report by the Health and Disabilities Commissioner. Bill English has apologised to Robyn Stent for not telling her about his report which has found emergency services at the hospital are adequate. But Mr English says his report is very different from the commissioner's which is specifically looking at the deaths of four patients two years ago. The Fire Service is denying a claim by United's Peter Dunne, that up to 400 permanent firefighters are set to lose their jobs by the end of the year. Mr Dunne says something has to give, because of the anticipated shortfall of 40 million dollars between the Fire Service levy income and the cost of retaining services. He says the loss of up to 400 jobs, equates to 22 per cent of the fire fighting workforce. But Fire Service spokesman Murray Dudfield says there are no intended changes to the number of employees that the fire service has, as a result of the levy drop in April.
A damning report on patient safety and management practices at Christchurch Hospital. The long awaited report by Health and Disabilities Commissioner Robyn Stent is now public. Her inquiry was launched after the deaths of four patients at the hospital. It focuses on the period between 1993 and 1996 - she says she found a dysfunctional and grief stricken health system. She found the Hospital had breached the code of patients' rights blaming factors such as insufficient staff, poor management practices, a failure to heed advice by clinical staff and a lack of quality assurance. Robyn Stent also points the finger at government agencies - particularly in relation to funding for the CHE. She has however acknowledged an improvement in services since 1996.
(We were just so lucky when Anthony was in there ... it was after the shakeup ... and the staff in ICU were superb..BH)
A nine thousand dollar fine for Johnson and Johnson after admitting in the Auckland District Court that it breached the Fair Trading act. Johnson and Johnson admitted its television advertising campaign of a 'free trial' of Acuvue contact lenses was misleading. The Commerce Commission prosecuted the company, because to get the trial, most people in fact had to pay optometrist fees of between 30 and 50 dollars. The commission says today's decision should remind companies that they can't say one thing in bold print with bright lights and voice-overs, and something completely different in the fine print.
The petrol price war is again heating up. On the eve of Fletcher Challenge entering the market, BP announced it had lowered petrol prices by five cents per litre in Tauranga, Wellington, Dunedin and Invercargill. Caltex quickly followed suit. And Mobil spokeswoman Rowan Macrae says Mobil had also lowered prices.
About thirty Argentinean officials and businessmen have been lift high and dry in Wellington as their President was forced to fly back to Auckland. Carlos Menem was due to touch down at Wellington Airport around mid-afternoon, but high winds made his pilot abort the landing. It is the first time an Argentinean President has come to New Zealand. The businessmen arrived in New Zealand yesterday and came out to the airport to greet their leader, but could only watch as his plane flew on overhead.
The central part of the country has been blasted by strong winds and driving rain for the second time in a week. Wellington, Blenheim and the Wairarapa have been hardest hit. Winds gusting up to 130 kilometres an hour brought down trees and cut power to much of Marlborough, while flights out of Woodbourne airport were cancelled because of crosswinds. Fast ferry crossings of Cook Strait have also been cancelled. Homes in the capital have been badly damaged, and in Blenheim, a school hall roof was blown onto one of the town's major roads.
The Ministry of Health says it is tightening safety procedures for the use of 1080 poison despite new research confirming it poses a low risk to humans. The 1080 toxin is widely used for possum control here. A US based research company found 1080 is only dangerous to humans in high doses, although it did cause birth defects in some pregnant rats. Director of Public Health, Dr Gillian Durham says although there are already careful controls over the use of the toxin, they have now strengthened the requirements for 1080 drops in water catchment areas.
THREE MONTHS SINCE BEN & OLIVIA DISAPPEARED
It is three months to the day since Blenheim friends Olivia Hope and Ben Smart disappeared without trace in the Marlborough Sounds. Inquiry head Detective Inspector Rob Pope says they have accumulated a huge amount of information in that time. He says despite difficulties on what has been a long inquiry everyone has pulled together. Inspector Pope says the three month mark may seem important for some but every day of the enquiry is important to his team.
The Wellington City Council's idea of having a Pamplona-style bull run through the central city is an April Fool's joke. Mayor Mark Blumsky had also raised the possibility of having bullfighting at the Basin Reserve. Wellington City Council was this morning inundated with calls from angry animal rights activists from as far away as Auckland - but council staff have this message: it was only a joke.
A bogus offer of free beer has drawn crowds of people to Dunedin's Speights Brewery this morning. Speights sales manager Neil Lowsley says they told locals a free draught beer, called "In the Dark Ale" would be available from a tap outside the brewery as part of Otago's 150th celebrations. He says cars were cruising past the brewery as early as seven o'clock with a queue of people waiting at the tap - which actually provides water.
The joke is wearing a bit thin at Auckland zoo. Harried staff are on the wrong end of hundreds of April the First pranksters, who are running the phones red hot. The callers say they have been given a message to call a C. Lion, or Sue Keeper, Jim Panzee and even Albert Ross. Staff say it happens every year, but is worse this year after publicity about similar pranks in Britain.
The government has been defeated in its push for a referendum on Auckland's assets. It was a tight vote.... with the government losing the support of National MPs John Banks and Christine Fletcher. That meant they needed the votes of independent MP Alamein Kopu.... and United's Peter Dunne. Mrs Kopu came to the party... and Mr Dunne originally said he would support the referendum. However yesterday Mr Dunne expressed reservations... and today he withdrew his support entirely. A vote of 60 in favour... and 60 against... meant the referendum legislation was thrown out of parliament.
An appeal to motorists from independent service station owners who say they can't afford to match petrol price cuts. The Motor Trade Association represents independent operators who trade under the big oil company banner, but have to buy their petrol from them wholesale. MTA Chief Executive Brian Nelson says unless the oil companies drop their wholesale price as well, many independent operators won't be able to drop the price at the pump. He says motorists need to realise there are two different types of service stations, and not get disappointed if they pull into the forecourt and find prices haven't been cut. Meanwhile Mobil says it will drop the price of its wholesale petrol sometime later today. The company says its been talking with its dealers for sometime to work out how much of the price reduction should be passed on to independent operators.
(91 Octane unleaded petrol is now 81.5c /lt - BH)
FURTHER CALLS FOR PM's RESIGNATION
New Zealand First MP and former Associate Health Minister Neil Kirton says the report into Christchurch Hospital is a damning indictment of National's health reforms. The report was released after a two year inquiry into patient deaths at the hospital in 1996. It has found fault with all levels of management at the Christchurch CHE. Mr Kirton says it shows the commercial health model is failing and is putting people at an unacceptable level of risk. He says Bill Birch, Jenny Shipley and Bill English, who are the Ministers responsible for the reforms were playing Russian Roulette with patients' lives, and should consider resigning.
The taxpayers are facing a bill of tens of thousands of dollars because of the Argentine President's decision to stay in Auckland and not to go ahead with his state visit to Wellington. President Carlos Menem's plane was diverted to Auckland yesterday because of gale force winds in the capital. His decision to stay in Auckland has meant the cancellation of a state luncheon in the Beehive for more than 270. The invitations had been sent out weeks ago, the banquet hall had been prepared, the food was ready for serving but there will be no one to eat it. President Menem's decision not to come to Wellington has infuriated some MPs with one suggesting we send our frigates to the Falklands, saying it worked for Maggie Thatcher.
(I realise the IRN editor was joking, but this is a bit dodgy isn't it? - BH)
Bic Runga and Christchurch band The Feelers dominate nominations for this month's New Zealand Music Awards. Of the 23 categories, Bic Runga and The Feelers, between them, appear in 13. Bic Runga's hit 'Sway' will be up against The Feelers' 'Pressure Man' for the Single of the Year award. She also features in nominations for the most prestigious category, Album of the Year, along with Salmonella Dub, Rob Guest, The Stereobus, and Greg Johnson. And following his death last month, Darcy Clay appears posthumously in two categories.
Scorching temperatures around the country has made this March a record breaker. The National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research says the mercury rose particularly high in Canterbury and the Hawkes Bay. Spokesman Dr Jim Salinger says it was the third hottest March since records began in 1855. He says in contrast Southland and Westland recorded twice their normal rainfall levels. Dr Salinger says wind was also a feature towards the end of the month, with gales reaching up to 150 kilometres an hour buffeting the country as Cyclone Yali swept over last weekend.
Police in Auckland are hunting for the man who attacked TVNZ weather presenter Jim Hickey in an apparent case of road rage. Mr Hickey has a suspected broken nose, cuts and bruising after being repeatedly punched in the face during an altercation with another driver. The incident happened in the Auckland suburb of Newton this afternoon. TVNZ says Jim Hickey won't be appearing on screen tonight.
The wife of deported Irishman Danny Butler has left New Zealand to be with her husband. Colette Butler flew out from Auckland on her way to Dublin today, along with her son Tony. Her departure brings an end to seven years of controversy involving the Butler family and our Immigration Service. Colette Butler says she faces an uncertain future in Dublin, where her family will remain under siege. She says she will never forget the kindness shown by so many Kiwis.
Air New Zealand is refusing to comment on speculation that it may sell its Mount Cook subsidiary. It has been reported that the airline may be sold to Tourism Holdings, for around 50 million dollars. However one analyst says the sale of Mount Cook lock, stock and barrel appears unlikely. But the sale of the company's skifield and tour bus operations would make more sense, as they would fit snugly with Tourism Holding's own businesses.
Health officials may end up having to close some public swimming pools in the Wellington region... after an outbreak of a dangerous disease. 30 cases of infection by cryptosporidium were reported in Wellington last month... compared to the normal level of two a month. The outbreak has been linked to public swimming pools. In most people the illness causes a week of vomiting and diarrhoea. But Hutt Valley health spokesman Stephen Palmer says the effect can be much worse for chemotherapy patients or others with reduced immune systems. Dr Palmer says for those people... it can be life-threatening.
The Wellington police district commander has been asked to investigate police behaviour during yesterday's protest outside Parliament. Fifteen people were arrested when protestors against the government's code of social and family responsibility refused to leave the Parliamentary forecourt. Alliance MP Rod Donald says the initial arrests were justified and police acted reasonably. But he says the police then started pushing protestors who had been given permission to enter Parliament and arrested one who took a photograph of a plainclothes officer. Mr Donald says this was clearly excessive and he wants an investigation.
Date: 2 April 1998 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 0.5549
AUD 0.8397
GBP 0.3321
JPY 74.32
CAD 0.7863
FRF 3.4521
DEM 1.0302
HKD 4.3105
SGD 0.9025
ZAR 2.8079
CHF 0.8527
INTEREST RATES (%)
Call : 10.00
90 Day: 9.75
The prices below are given in cents.
To buy NZ Investment Trust:
21 June 1993 409
Today 430
To buy TeNZ:
1 June 1996 103.7
Today 118.5
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