Copyright © 1998 Brian Harmer
Last weekend, my computer went away for brain surgery (again) which worked out well since Mary and our Son Anthony fulfilled a promise made to each other at the time of his accident almost exactly a year ago. Mary told him he had to get better as she wanted to do the Tongariro crossing with him. Well he did, and this was the fulfilment of the promise.
We set out from National Park township just before seven am, and though we could see Nguaruhoe's summit in the warm morning sun, we could also see an ominous grey bank of fog rolling in from the direction of Taupo. Mary and Anthony were both well equipped and fit so we pressed on to the Mangatepopo end of the track. Fortunately the rough 7 km road to the start point climbed above the clammy fog. We obviously disturbed a solo tramper who had bivouacked in the shade of the information shelter.
Anthony carried a cellular phone, while I had Mary's pocket pager, so we had devised a series of codes to let me know if they had turned back, or were nearing the pickup point at the Ketetahi end.
Satisfied that they were on the right track, I plunged back into the fog, and emerged in the sunshine on highway 47a only to discover a turning point being set up at the entrance to the track for a multi sport event. Mary and Anthony were soon to be overtaken by a bunch of loons who, having cycled over the saddle from Turangi, were to run the crossing, and back over the hill to Tokaanu where the kayaking part of the event would take place. Nothing I could do about that, so I drove off in the direction of Tokaanu. Soon there were cyclists in all directions, followed by their support vehicles festooned with bike racks and kayaks. I decided to pull off into the scenic lookout overlooking Taupo above the Tokaanu tailrace.
Despite the fog earlier, it was now bright and clear apart from the morning vapours on the surface of the lake. Away in the direction of the still early sun, the Kaimanawa ranges were blue and mysterious. Down below to the right, the little town of Turangi glittered, and its trees made it look much prettier at 5 km distance than it does in the intimacy of closer acquaintance. Away to the left, the cliffs near the town of Waihi mark the heart of Ngati Tuwharetoa's ancestral lands. Straight out to the North, the Taupo, the great lake also known to the Maori as Moana-nui-a-Tia lay golden and hazy like the glittering scales of an immense fish. In the very far distance, the hill behind Taupo township was clearly visible. With a big bottle of orange juice, and all this before me, I pulled out my books and settled down in the car with for several hours of peaceful study.
By mid morning, I figured it would be OK to check into the motel, so went down into Tokaanu. Sure enough, the proprietors were very helpful, so as the day got hotter, I had a pleasantly cool motel room with verandahs on which to continue my blissfully peaceful reading. As the day wore on, I decided that I would make my way back over the saddle to Ketetahi to meet the intrepid duo. I was within a few kilometres of the pickup point when the pager went off with the code for "we've finished and where the heck are you?" It turned out that there is no GSM service on the mountain so they, having arrived some two hours earlier, had to sit around waiting until another departing tramper agreed to page me when he got home. Whoops! Oh well, it was all within the agreed parameters, but it does highlight the warnings about dependence on cellular phones in life threatening situations. You might get lucky, or you might not.
Mary and Anthony had enjoyed their tramp in a clear cloudless day, and had been only mildly inconvenienced by a herd of competitive runners forcing them off the track every few minutes for a while. As they said, after the first guy went through it was great to know they were coming second and third for a while.
This is getting too long, but I have to say that the journey home was enhanced for me when were stopped briefly in the heavy traffic at Ohakea. There was an air show on (regrettably I couldn't stay) and there was a queue of about 4 km for admission... above all the hubbub, came the wondrous musical howl of a Merlin engine on full song, and there diving towards us was the slender silhouette of a P51 Mustang ... that spine tingling sound continued unabated throughout a series of loops and rolls which were a splendid entertainment for the period the traffic was stalled. Over on the runway, I could see a C130 Hercules, C3 Orions, a Boeing 727, a HS Andover (I thought they were all gone), A4 Skyhawks, Aermacchi trainers, F18 fighters and F111 fighter bombers from the RAAF. There may have been more, but I was supposed to have been driving at the time.
On with the news
Unions predict the government's plans to revamp the Holidays Act will crumble in the face of public opposition. Labour Minister Max Bradford is rethinking the radical proposals he announced last year. One includes controversial plans for workers to cash in their public holidays. The Council of Trade Unions believes the proposed revamp of the Act isn't likely to get very far. Spokesman Peter Harris claims workers have had enough of being treated like a commodity.
(This piece of ideologically inspired lunacy was almost universally reviled from the first suggestion, but the minister never seems concerned about public opinion - BH)
Time is running out for 90 odd Russian seamen who are still refusing to go home after being stranded at Lyttelton for months. The men have been stuck at the port since the company which chartered the ships went broke. Immigration officials were due to meet the men yesterday but that has now been put off until tomorrow when their lawyer will be present for the discussions.
First the protest- now a petition is being circulated as opposition continues to the controversial Virgin in a Condom exhibit at Te Papa. The petition, calling for the removal of the controversial artwork, has been organised by the Catholic Communications office. Director Dave Ross says thousands of people have responded.
The man trying to get 35 Maori heads back from the American Museum of Natural History believes there should be a law in place to protect such treasures. Dalvanius Prime is in New York negotiating with Museum officials. He says he has been left in the dark about when a decision will be made about the possible return of the heads but is pleased with discussions to date. Dalvanius says it is important to get laws through Parliament which protect New Zealand's heritage.
Southpower is rejecting claims Christchurch faces the possibility of power blackouts this winter. The Merivale Neighbourhood Group claims Southpower's network will struggle to meet an increased load this winter as more people convert to electric heating. The claims come as the Canterbury Regional Council moves to ban coal and open fires. Southpower says the network is in excellent shape and well-equipped to meet maximum demand this winter.
Lower Hutt police are allowed milk on their cereal. Hutt area commander Inspector Paul Nicholls says police officers are definitely allowed milk on their morning cereal despite an apparent directive telling them to use their own. The Police Association says officers had been told milk was not to be used for "unauthorised" purposes. Paul Nicholls says the issue did come up at a meeting but didn't go any further.
Senior medical staff at Masterton Hospital are taking their plight to the public. In an advertisement due to be run in newspapers tomorrow, specialists say they believe the future of the local hospital is under threat. They claim 24 hour paediatric care is on the way out... X-Ray and lab services are to be downgraded... and they fear major reductions in non-urgent surgery. Spokesman Doctor Robin Irwin says there will be no resident anaesthetists or doctors for emergency operations and he hopes the community rises up in protest.
An elaborate liquor smuggling scam has cost a Napier company 40 thousand dollars. Diversities Import-Export New Zealand has pleaded guilty to evading excise duty and GST totalling more than one hundred thousand dollars. The charge, under the Customs Act, was laid after the company was caught buying alcohol from a South Auckland manufacturer two years ago, under the pretence of exporting it to the Cook Islands. Customs spokesman Robin Dare says the company, had no intention of exporting the liquor. He says the alcohol remained in New Zealand, and the manufacturer was provided with false bills of lading.
Coopers Creek Vineyard is welcoming an audit of its records, following allegations of mislabelling. Winery spokesman Andrew Hendry says the claims are incorrect and mischievous. He says he is confident the Ministry of Health audit will clear his company's name, and preserve the reputation of the New Zealand wine industry. Mr Hendry's comments come in the wake of a scandal rocking the wine industry across the Tasman... police are investigating forgeries of Australia's most famous and collectable wine. Six fake bottles of Penfolds 1990 Grange, normally valued at 500 dollars a bottle, were discovered at an auction in Melbourne.
A major medical body says it has improved many of its procedures since it reviewed the performance of Dunedin surgeon Bob Phipps in 1994. The Royal Australasian College of Surgeons was commissioned by Healthcare Otago to report on Mr Phipps after concerns about his bowel surgery, but the High Court this week set aside the review. College of Surgeons president Colin McRae says the college has upgraded its procedures since the 1994 case... as part of an ongoing revamp of systems. He says college lawyers are considering the judgment and there is a possibility the case could go to the Court of Appeal.
The receivers of Equiticorp have agreed to pay out 23.5 million dollars to settle all claims against the failed company in Australia. Last month Equiticorp reached an out of court settlement with the New Zealand Government who agreed to pay the receivers 267 point five million dollars over the sale of New Zealand Steel. Today's announcement means Equiticorp Statutory Managers can now begin to distribute the recovered money to the company's debenture stockholders.
The Deputy Prime Minister is vowing to go all the way to the Privy Council over the Winebox inquiry. The High Court has turned down Winston Peters' request for a judicial review of the Winebox Inquiry findings. Mr Peters says he will appeal the High Court's ruling and will see it through to the bitter end. He says ordinary New Zealanders support his stance and while the case has personally cost him a lot of money, it is his duty to ensure that our tax laws apply to everyone including big business.
(It is difficult to discern what the Treasurer hopes to gain here. His party has disappeared without trace from the public opinion polls, and one has to assume that he hopes that vindication might resurrect his apparently fatally damaged political future - BH)
The Defence Ministry has been given the green light by the Government to go on a spending spree. Cabinet has approved spending on new or upgraded armoured vehicles, communications equipment for the Army and updated avionics equipment for the Orion aircraft. Defence Minister Max Bradford says the equipment upgrade will come out of the additional 663 million dollars set aside for the work over the next three years. Mr Bradford says the spending is long overdue with the Orions unable to carry out effective surveillance and with the Army's radios being obsolete.
The Department of Corrections says safety recommendations made by the Te Awamutu coroner following the death of an inmate at Waikeria prison are being examined. Coroner Michael McIvor has released his findings into the suicide of Hakeke Biddle who was found hanging in his cell last January. Mr McIvor is recommending more urgency be given to the building of safe cells and that guards have more immediate access to cells. A spokeswoman for the Department of Corrections says a safe cell construction project is underway to create a better environment for at-risk inmates.
The pros and cons of pierced tongues look set to be thrashed out in court, after a West Auckland secondary school's refusal to back down over two suspensions. Instead the board at Green Bay High School extended a 13 year old boy and 14 year old girl's suspensions indefinitely. The pair had refused to remove their tongue studs. Green Bay High School Principal Lionel Devaliant says the students' parents have indicated they will be taking the school to court... as neither the board, nor the students, will change their attitudes.
Three national clothing chains are now in the hands of receivers. 23 Dress for Less stores, 19 Hero outlets and four Paulls stores closed for stocktaking today... leaving the jobs of 500 full-time staff and 250 casuals up in the air. Receivers Ferrier Hodgson, who were appointed by the Hongkong Bank, say their aim is to sell all three companies as a going concern. DFL is one of the largest clothing chains in the country, with a turnover of about 70 million dollars a year.
A new development in the Ben and Olivia inquiry... Police have now established the sloop at the centre of the inquiry didn't get to Erie Bay until about five pm on New Year's Day. Up until now, they had thought the boat had reached the bay about lunchtime. Detective Inspector Rob Pope says the new time frame has been established through further information from the public. Mr Pope won't say why police are interested in the time frame of the sloop's movements, but says it is very relevant He is still appealing for sightings of the sloop, especially in the Tory Channel area.
A legal expert is warning people not to overestimate the impact of the judge's decision which allowed a man to walk free from court yesterday. Paul James Martin was given a two year suspended sentence after he was found guilty of thrusting a crucifix up a friend's nose while apparently under the influence of a Makutu or Maori curse. His lawyer claims it is a landmark case in the history of the New Zealand justice system. But law expert Bill Hodge says Makutu was not the defence but a plea in mitigation and therefore doesn't set a precedent. He says if the victim hadn't forgiven her attacker, it is unlikely the judge would have sentenced him so lightly. Meanwhile the brother of a woman who had a crucifix thrust up her nose, has spent the morning protesting outside the Auckland High Court Adrian Peeni says he can't believe the court accepted Paul James Martin was acting under a Makutu, or traditional Maori curse. He says Mr Martin should never have been allowed to walk free...with a suspended sentence. He says he will continue to protest until justice is served.
(Heaps of comment on all sides. Perhaps most significant is the voice of Dr Ranginui Walker who alleges that the mitigation plea was based on a complete misunderstanding of makutu - BH)
Gay and lesbian groups are furious at a new bill designed to protect the property rights of people in de facto relationships It doesn't include them. The bill was introduced to Parliament this afternoon, and would ensure people who have been living together for three years or more get a fifty fifty share of the family home if they separate. Jo Crowley from the lobby group Rights Right Now says she hopes an amendment will be added to include de facto same sex couples. She says the country's laws must protect all New Zealanders.
(The Prime Minister seems unsure where she stands on gay issues ... she supported the Hero parade, to the fury of the conservatives, but seems unwilling to support the gay community's wish for the same marital property protection that heterosexual couples enjoy - BH)
Enerco has offered a reward to try to find whoever is vandalising its gas supply equipment. The company has revealed another suspicious outage involving a small regulator station on the outskirts of Levin. Two processing plants and five residential customers were affected. That follows another incident earlier this month which cut supply to four thousand Enerco customers in Palmerston North and Levin. Enerco spokesman Bill Highet says it is disturbing that someone appears to be targeting the company and they are hopeful the five thousand dollar reward will bring some progress on the investigation.
A major announcement concerning defence relations with Australia is expected this week. Australian Defence Minister Ian McLachlan crosses the Tasman today for talks with Prime Minister Jenny Shipley and kiwi counterpart Max Bradford. His office says closer cooperation will be examined but he has dismissed the suggestion by Mr Bradford that our navies be merged. There will also be a meeting of military chiefs from both countries to talk about regional security. Australia's head of defence forces General John Baker, who has been critical of New Zealand's lack of defence spending, says a third frigate is vital.
(An interesting observation on Brian Edwards' Top of the Morning show on Saturday ... we spend less than half of the Australian per capita commitment on defence ... our health, education and science research are all dramatically underfunded by comparison with the rest of the OECD ...yet we are said to be dramatically overtaxed ... so where is the money going? Is there any truth in the allegation that it is all going to support the endless production of hundreds of meaningless consultancy reports which never get acted on? - BH)
A Taranaki local body may have found a cure for tagging. The South Taranaki District Council has discovered that by painting buildings, park furniture and fences green, Graffiti artists seem to stay away. Parks and Recreation manager John Sargeant says at first staff thought it was just a coincidence but the same result was noticed again and again. He says nobody is sure whether its because the green doesn't show up the graffiti artists' preferred colours or if there are deeper reasons. But he says who cares what the reason is - as long as it works.
The Virgin in a Condom debate has reached the corridors of power... Some MPs are so opposed to the display at the National Museum that they want it Te Papa to be prosecuted... But not all - the Alliance's Cultural Affairs spokeswoman Pam Corkery says she is more offended by what the protester who stands outside Te Papa every weekend saying he is speaking for half a million Catholics... The former convent girl says he can count her out immediately, she says art is meant to stimulate debate and on that score - the Virgin has been a raging success.
The discovery of a mutant gene responsible for inherited stomach cancer has Otago University scientists very excited. The team began work on the project after a Maori whanau in the Bay of Plenty initiated the research. They were concerned about the number of stomach cancer related deaths in their family. Dr Parry Guilford says the discovery means that at-risk families can be monitored and the cancer treated early.
The controversy of the Virgin in a Condom exhibit doesn't appear to be affecting visitor numbers to Te Papa. Thousands are people are continuing to pour into the museum....370 thousand have visited so far. Te Papa spokesman Paul Brewer says he is overwhelmed at the numbers.
The Australian legal firm set to represent Aucklanders in legal claims against Mercury Energy admits it does have a deadline over whether to proceed with action. Lobby group Power to the People claim they have 103 businesses signed up to take part in class action but at a meeting in the town hall last night only around 50 people turned up to hear progress on the action. Slater and Gordon lawyer Mark Walter says there is always a critical point in any group action that they have to decide whether to proceed or not. He says at the moment people are looking a Mercury's offer and weighing up whether they need legal action and that is the process they are going through at the moment. Mr Walter says they expect to get a clearer picture on the legal front towards the end of next week.
The receivers for nationwide clothing chains Dress for Less, Hero and Paulls are appealing for patience from both customers and suppliers. The three chains went into receivership on Tuesday, but they will continue to trade, as receivers Ferrier Hodgson look for a new buyer. Spokesman Grant Graham says the size of the companies makes the receivership a major exercise.... and he is asking creditors to give them some time.
he Dairy Board says New Zealand farmers are the big losers of a decision by UK customs to take the battle over spreadable butter back to court again. UK customs has decided to appeal a decision which ruled in favour of the New Zealand Dairy Board in an on-going debate over whether spreadable butter meets import quota requirements. Dairy Board Chairman Sir Dryden Spring says it will vigorously contest the appeal in the British courts and is confident its in the right. He says since UK customs decided to ban imports of New Zealand spreadable butter in 1996, farmers here have lost millions of dollars in legal fees and wasted opportunities.
Questions will be asked over the next few days as a family and community searches for answers as to why a mentally ill young man slipped through the cracks in the mental health system. Last night a Wellington High Court jury found 23 year old Leslie Raymond Parr not guilty of murdering his girlfriend by reason of insanity. Parr's defence was that he was insane at the time, suffering from a psychotic episode brought on by the non- treatment of his schizophrenia. Alliance MP Phillida Bunkle says she will continue pushing for a Ministerial Inquiry into how Parr came to be treated by a bogus psychiatrist, and wasn't given any follow-up treatment. The victim's family say they are taking legal advice to make sure someone pays for the death of their loved one.
Relief from the family and friends of convicted child abuser Peter Ellis, following the Governor General's decision to give him the go-ahead to take his case back to the Court of Appeal. Peter Ellis is serving a ten year sentence for sexually abusing several children at the Christchurch Civic Creche. Yesterday the Governor-General rejected a bid to pardon him, referring the case back to the Court of Appeal instead. But Former Christchurch Civic Creche worker Gaye Davidson admits another trial will be tough for parents who believe their children were sexually abused by Ellis. One of Peter Ellis' most vocal supporters says she is ecstatic he has been given another chance to clear his name... this time in the Court of Appeal. The Governor General yesterday stopped short of giving Ellis a full pardon on child abuse convictions - but has referred the case back to the Court of Appeal. Former Christchurch Civic Creche worker, Gaye Davidson, says because Ellis has been turned down so often, having something finally go his way is a real thrill.
(I am sorry that His Excellency could not go the whole way, but hope that with the aid of the redoubtable Judith Ablett- Kerr QC, the case will be finally revealed for the farce that it was - BH)
Rotorua police are unsure of the motive behind the theft of a priceless greenstone mere from the city's Bathhouse Museum. Police say the 34 centimetre long mere was on loan to the museum from a local family, and has historical significance. Senior Sergeant Les Paterson says his biggest fear is that it is now out of the country, and may never be retrieved. He says the museum did have security in place and the theft has come as a shock. A confidential crime line has been set up for information -- the number is 0800-TIPOFF.
A warning from the Consumers' Institute about a new offshore investment scam which promises annual returns of 156 per cent. Institute Chief Executive David Russell says he is aware of at least one person who has considered sending 10-thousand dollars to the Quantum Executive Corporation, based in Antigua. Mr Russell says the company is nothing more than a typical pyramid scam, and he is warning New Zealanders not to touch it with a barge pole. But he says he is amazed at the sheer number of people who are sucked into such scams.
Hope from the Disabled Persons Assembly in Wellington that the wheels are now in motion for better access for the disabled on the city's buses. The DPA is applauding the settlement of a long-running dispute between the Human Rights Commission and Wellington bus company, Stagecoach. The dispute began when Stagecoach ordered new buses, which didn't provide access for the disabled. DPA spokesman Dave Henderson says Stagecoach has now realised it has been missing out on a sizeable market, and is changing its ways to meet the needs of the many people who rely on public transport.
Date: 26 March 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 0.5670
AUD 0.8446
GBP 0.3388
JPY 73.15
CAD 0.7997
FRF 3.4834
DEM 1.0393
HKD 4.4039
SGD 0.9086
ZAR 2.8254
CHF 0.8495
INTEREST RATES (%)
Call : 8.60
90 Day: 9.36
The prices below are given in cents.
To buy NZ Investment Trust:
21 June 1993 409
Today 450
To buy TeNZ:
1 June 1996 103.7
Today 117.1
Summer has come to an abrupt end as the tail of a tropical cyclone brings driving rain over much of the country today with winds in Wellington and the Wairarapa gusting to 130 km/hr ... oh well it was nice while it lasted. Brian Harmer "Our luck is even better than I expected Don Quixote exclaimed ... I'm going to attack those mighty giants and slay them in their tracks" - Cervantes http://www.vuw.ac.nz/~bharmer/
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