Copyright © 1998 Brian Harmer
Dragged protesting from my keyboard, I found myself on Petone Beach with Mary just after six, one evening this week. Bright warm sunshine, no wind, flat calm sea almost at high tide, and the whole scene was a picture. We set out from the middle of the beach and walked Eastward towards the newly established Hikoikoi reserve. Despite recent storms, the beach was largely free of driftwood, so someone had done a great job of cleaning up. Little wavelets lifted themselves up a few inches and dumped themselves on the beach. Oystercatchers plodded along, not really expecting to catch the harvest they would expect at low tide. We walked on the last narrow strip of firm sand just below high tide mark, and the soft powdery stuff higher up. Coming back from the Hutt River, we came past the rugby league clubhouses on the reserve. Surprising numbers of people were there for what I assumed at first to be practice, but which were either social grades of rugby league, or else touch rugby. We walked on until we reached the place where the car was parked, and by a happy coincidence, it was just across the road from a waterfront hostelry. Never one to resist temptation, I persuaded Mary that this would be a pleasant way to end the walk, so we sat in the window and watched the world go by outside. It being Guy Fawkes' night, the traffic was intense as people sought out picnic sites around the bays from which to observe the public fireworks display being launched from a barge of Oriental Bay. We chose to enjoy our drinks in each other's company before heading home for a peaceful evening.
On with the news *************** All news items are reproduced by kind permission of copyright owner, IRN Ltd whose current news listing can be found at http://www.xtra.co.nz/news/.
A miraculous escape for two deer-hunters who survived a helicopter crash near Taupo which killed their friend. The dead pilot and the two men who survived the crash were on a hunting trip when their Hughes 300 crashed into dense forest in the Uruweras about midday today. Tranzrail Rescue Helicopter pilot Shamus Howard says the chopper was found upside down in a creek. He says the wreckage is the worst he has ever seen. Shamus Howard says it is not known what caused the crash, but weather doesn't appear to have been a factor. The name of the dead man has not yet been released.
The Minister for Senior Citizens says he always knew Saturday's Grey Power meeting in Auckland was going to be a rough one. David Carter was confronted by an elderly woman on stage, who he says he had earlier seen given preferential seating. He suspects a set-up, something Grey Power firmly denies. David Carter says he wasn't the only speaker to cop flak. He says the crowd certainly gave him a rough hearing, but he claims Helen Clark and Jim Anderton weren't treated that well either. Grey Power says if David Carter was set up, it was by his own party, as Jenny Shipley should have attended the meeting. Meanwhile, some praise for David Carter from Prime Minister Jenny Shipley. She says it is important ministers go to public meetings to explain government policy, and Mr Carter did very well under difficult circumstances. Jenny Shipley says she has to try to make decisions to see the country has a worthwhile future .....and superannuitants aren't the only ones being asked to tighten their belts.
The next election is an accident waiting to happen. That is the view of ACT's Richard Prebble who says National has got to the stage of worrying about whether Alamein Kopu turns up at work and remembers where to put her proxy vote. Mr Prebble says the longer National delays the election date the more high risk the gamble becomes. He says National should have fronted up to the independent MPs when they deserted New Zealand First and delivered them with a 'back us or sack us' ultimatum.
Australian computer wizards are today still trying to nail down the cause of a computer glitch at Northern Fire Control Centre. The fault is being blamed for delays in response times to an Auckland fire and an emergency at the Taupo airport. Firefighters say the hold-ups had the potential to cost lives, while the nation's fire commander believes a hard-copy back-up system worked well. Bob Sampson admits the computer experts are still trying to come to terms with what went wrong, since it hasn't happened in Wellington or Christchurch.
(Australian what? .... :-) .... BH)
A Putaruru man has been charged with murder in the Tokoroa District Court today in connection to the death of his son. 19 year old Matthew Iorangi had already been charged with assault in relation to the incident. Seventeen month old Pirimai Stanley Simmonds died in Starship children's hospital in Auckland last month after being airlifted from Tokoroa. Police allege the baby died from injuries received while he was staying on a marae with his father. Iorangi has been remanded on bail and will appear in the Tokoroa District Court on December the 7th.
Consumers look set to bear the brunt of an EFTPOS transaction fee hike now facing some retailers. The ANZ is putting in place an increased fee structure next month for around two thousand mainly smaller retailers based on the store's average number of transactions. John Albertson of the Retail Merchants Association says he has been contacted by a number of affected retailers who are angry with the move. He says the additional costs are likely to be passed on to the consumer in many cases, as they will be too much for the smaller businesses to absorb. Mr Albertson says a number of retailers have indicated they will be voting with their feet, and go to another bank.
Hamilton Boys High school has become the first State Boys school in the country to have a woman in the top job. Sue Hassall takes over when current headmaster Jim Bennett retires in April after eight years in the job. Mrs Hassall's first teaching position was at the school 21 years ago and she has been the assistant principal for the past three years. She says the only gender issue she can see is what she will be called. Mrs Hassall says she is not interested in being a headmistress, it will either be headmaster or principal.
Elation from the New Zealand racing industry after New Zealand's one two finish in this afternoon's Melbourne Cup. Cambridge mare Jezabeel has won the 3 million dollar race from fellow Kiwi mare Champagne with both horses sired by Zabeel. New Zealand Thoroughbred breeders association Chief Executive Mike Martin says it is fantastic news for the New Zealand Racing industry. For the record English horse Persian Punch finished third.
Associate Minister of Revenue David Carter has tonight confirmed an investigation into alleged corruption within the Inland Revenue Department is underway - but is rejecting allegations the incident is widespread. He says two staff from one office have been implicated in the provision of addresses to debt collection agencies. Mr Carter says the issue has been under investigation by the IRD and police since mid-September when it first came to light. Earlier today ACT MP Rodney Hide claimed as many as 20 staff may have been involved in a plot which saw confidential addresses sold for up to $20 each. However David Carter says Mr Hide's claims are grossly exaggerated...but he says he is concerned at the allegations and wants to get to the bottom of them.
Fire Commission boss Roger Estall says remains optimistic that the service's controversial computer system can cut the mustard. He has announced an independent inquiry in the wake of the high profile weekend system crashes which caused delays at emergencies in Taupo and Auckland. Mr Estall remains confident the bugs can be worked out and he says the inquiry has been on the boil for a number of weeks. Mr Estall says the public should not over-react, since all 111 emergency calls have been answered in spite of the computer failures.
(I wonder when Mr Estall will work out that many members of the public have little confidence in him or his computer? - BH)
The Whangarei primary school teacher at the centre of a child pornography investigation has been suspended from the school. The teacher's house was raided by Internal Affairs last week and the Department is now under fire for not notifying the school. A spokesperson for the school's board of trustees says the employee in question has been suspended. He says the board believes it has an obligation to report on the matter to the school community before it reports to the nation. A newsletter is being sent home to parents and caregivers tomorrow.
Transpower has enlisted a specialist cable repair boat to fix a severed fibre optic cable two hundred metres underwater in the Cook Strait. The Pacific Guardian, currently berthed in Sydney is due to arrive in Wellington on Monday, when it will be fitted with equipment to repair a communications cable, damaged in early October. An investigation has been launched to find out who is responsible for severing the cable, the culprit could face a quarter of a million dollar fine.
The Prime Minister has fired the opening shot in what she says will be a year of putting the acid on Labour. Jenny Shipley has unveiled what the National Party is calling a taxometer which prices promises being made by Labour and what they will cost in terms of income tax. The four promises listed have been costed at $335 million and push the tax rate out to almost 40 cents in the dollar. Sounding as though she was kicking off National's election campaign, Mrs Shipley said her ministers are going to have a lot of fun with the taxometer over the next 12 months.
(Shades of the cossack ads. You would think the lessons to be had from the US Republican "negative campaign" would ring alarm bells - BH)
The Associate Minister of Social Services - Nick Smith - is asking the media not to become too involved in the investigation of sex allegations at Kingslea Residential Centre. A male staff member at the CYPS facility in Christchurch has been suspended following allegations he swapped cigarettes in return for oral sex from inmates as young as 13. Dr Smith says a police inquiry should be completed by the end of this month. He is cautioning the media to keep its distance... to avoid a repeat of the Christchurch Civic Creche inquiry... where media reports have left unanswered questions about whether due process was followed.
The Government is hailing its own success over the latest employment figures. The figures show unemployment for the September quarter at 7.4 per cent. That is slightly down on the last quarter, and is contrary to gloomy predictions from analysts. Labour says the number of unemployed may have fallen, but there are still 13 thousand more people without jobs now than there were last year. Employment Minister Peter McCardle says those comments are what you would expect from Labour. But he says the inarguable fact is that the number of people in employment has remained stable.
Defence Minister Max Bradford is defending the navy vessel Charles Upham. For many years the ship has been unable to carry out its full range of functions... while it awaits a much delayed refit. At present it has been hired out to move oranges around the Mediterranean. Labour's Geoff Braybrooke says the boat is unstable... and some of its sailors fear it might founder. Mr Bradford admits that the boat does roll quite severely when not carrying a full load. But he says that is not dangerous... just uncomfortable. The refit... to be completed by 2001... will add ballast - to stabilise the Charles Upham when it isn't fully loaded.
(One must conclude that only gold bullion will do for ballast - the refit is estimated to cost $34 million, and this is on top of the original $22 million price tag. The ship has yet to deliver a soldier anywhere on a real mission, and by the time the refit is completed, it will b 17 years old - BH)
A ministerial inquiry has found the Civil Aviation Authority must improve. The inquiry was sparked when the CAA was heavily criticised for not ensuring United Aviation had fixed safety faults found in several audits. Last year a United Aviation plane crashed in the Tararua ranges killing the pilot. Inquiry chairman John Upton QC says they want the CAA to carry out more spot checks of planes and look at trends of crashes. He also says it is imperative that the CAA require documentation from airlines to prove they have fixed safety faults.
More support for the Government's new qualifications system. Education Minister Wyatt Creech has unveiled a new national certificate of educational achievement. The new system will effectively replace all other secondary school examinations. School Trustees Association President Owen Edgerton says it will be a positive and fairer approach. He says it will recognise the reality of links between school learning, tertiary education and needs of the workplace.
The Human Rights Commission says the Defence Force is on the right track. An audit has been released today which blows the whistle on New Zealand's armed forces for not treating women as equals. The audit shows sexual and gender harassment is widespread in the military - and calls for a change of attitudes and makes wide-ranging recommendations on how to do that. Chief of the Defence Force, Lieutenant General Tony Birks says change is already taking place. Chief Human Rights Commissioner Pamela Jefferies says the Defence Force has made great progress.
The Government has today gone into overdrive in an attempt to restore the public's faith in the civil service.... Several public servants are being investigated for handing confidential information over to debt collection companies in return for money...the IRD and the new Work and Income Department is being investigated... State Services Commissioner Michael Wintringham will carry out an interim inquiry using private sector experts.. he'll report back to the Government early next week on where he believes the inquiry should go... Mr Wintringham says it has to be accepted though that out of 30,000 public servants there'll be some of them who are dishonest and willing to break the law...
Three peace protesters have been arrested and charged with trespass... following an anti-frigate demonstration in Wellington today. The Defence Building's security procedures proved woefully inadequate... as three women entered through the front door... in broad daylight... carrying a large banner. The protesters made their way up to the third storey... where they chained themselves to a window frame and unfurled a large banner down the outside of the building. Security staff at the building tussled with the women.... who eventually unchained themselves when police arrived.
Thirty people have had their benefits cut since the introduction of the community wage scheme in October. Associate Minister of Work and Income Peter McCardle says 84 people had initial steps taken against them for failing to meet their obligations but 39 subsequently complied so their benefit stayed at the same level. He says the people who have had their benefits cut have refused to attend interviews, have failed to turn up to a community work project or have performed unsatisfactorily.
The controversy over alleged corruption in the public sector has deepened today with confirmation a third Government department is involved. A Korean man will appear in the Auckland District Court this afternoon for sentencing. He has admitted giving money and travel to a Department of Labour employee... in hopes of improving the chances of his residency application succeeding. The unnamed civil servant no longer works for the Labour Department. The Immigration Service has confirmed that the Serious Fraud Office is investigating the civil servant's actions... and will decide whether charges will be laid. However the SFO is refusing to comment at this stage.
The Napier Coroner has appealed to the media to treat the Theresa Cormack inquest with sensitivity. The six year old schoolgirl was abducted and killed as she walked to school eleven years ago. Her body was later found buried in a shallow grave on a local beach, but no one has ever been charged. Napier Coroner Warrick Holmes has asked reporters at today's inquest to remember the dreadful murder caused much anguish to Teresa Cormack's family. Detective Inspector Ron Wood, who worked on the initial murder inquiry, is now giving evidence at the inquest.
Maori Affairs Minister Tau Henare wants marae around the country to open their doors as refuges for Maori living on the streets. Mr Henare says it is shameful that marae are only opened up for hui and tangi. He says Maori should be able to find refuge, sustenance and shelter on their marae... but instead some are having to beg for it on the streets. Mr Henare says marae were built for the people, by the people... and should not just be for the benefit of the few who are running them. There are more than a thousand marae in New Zealand... half of which have been classifed as needing replacement or major upgrading.
Whangarei's Hora Hora primary school has come under fire from civil libertarians for releasing details about the child sex investigation of it's principal. The school sent home a newsletter this week telling parents that the head had been suspended, and why. Chairman of the Auckland Council of Civil Liberties, Phil Recordon, says there was no need for the issue to end up in the public arena. Phil Recordon says the decision by some media to report the employee's name is a gross injustice and was poor judgement.
Date: 5 November Brian Dooley
Wellington New Zealand
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To Buy NZD 1.00
USD 0.5387
AUD 0.8515
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*****
Today, Sunday, has been one of those days to dream about during winter
storms. The sky is clear, there is no wind, and it is a day of
splendour.
Thanks again to those who wrote, for the words of kindness and
understanding. We are looking for someone to carry on the news
compilation, thus far without success, but we are working on it.
Brian Harmer
http://www.vuw.ac.nz/~bharmer/
I may not be disgruntled but I am far from gruntled
P G Wodehouse
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