Copyright © 1998 Brian Harmer
Impossible to believe that 20 years have passed since a stunned nation learned that many of their relatives had perished in an Air New Zealand DC10 on the remote white slopes of a volcano in Antarctica. Few, it seemed did not either have someone, or know someone who was among the 257 people on that aircraft. Many poignant stories were told. Our own much loved relatives were given the trip by their family as a wedding anniversary present. Today, Sunday 28th is the anniversary of that still painful event. We think of them often.
As I told you at the end of last week, we have a new prime minister elect. I also confessed to watching the Holmes show. On Monday he did an interview with Helen Clark, her husband, Professor Peter Davis, and her parents, in their pleasant and rambling villa in Mt Albert. I have to say it is the kind of home that fascinates me ... wall to wall books in several rooms. I love to see a home full of books ... The Prime Minister elect seemed amused at the antics of Paul Holmes who poked about in his customary style. I hope the informality continues, though it should not be necessary to invade the personal space quite so much.
Weather stats reveal that last month was the wettest November for many years. I can attest to that. Looking back to the first posting in November I found myself burbling on about pohutukawas and long hot summers. I guess it can still happen, but the programme has clearly been delayed.
On with the news:
All news items (except where noted otherwise) are reproduced by kind permission of copyright owner, IRN Ltd whose current news listing can be found at http://www.xtramsn.co.nz/news/
All material in parentheses, and concluded with the initials "BH" is the personal opinion of Brian Harmer as editor of this newsletter, or occasionally "HH" will indicate an opinion from Helen.
Labour's John Tamihere - who took away the Hauraki seat in a landslide victory - concedes there is a hard road ahead. Mr Tamihere won the seat with an almost 4,000 vote majority. He says while he is obviously delighted - he is also apprehensive because he now has to ensure he lives up to the expectations of the people in his electorate. Meanwhile, Mr Tamihere's partner today gave birth to their son - who is to be named Hauraki.
(Just as well Mr Tamihere was not the member for Ohariu-Belmont! - BH)
The world's first transsexual member of parliament says she is drained both emotionally and physically but thrilled to be the new MP for Wairarapa. Georgina Beyer has come out more than 2,000 votes ahead of National's Paul Henry. She says she thought it was touch and go while watching the votes come in - but it all worked out in the end. Ms Beyer who is also Carterton mayor says she is confident she can do justice to both jobs.
(While I am pleased for Ms Beyer, I am not convinced that anyone can do these two jobs. If either one of them is a part time job, then the justification for the pay scale of either is wrong. - BH)
Independent Ikaroa Rawhiti electorate candidate Derek Fox is refusing to concede a loss to Labour's Parekura Horomia until after special votes are counted. His Labour opponent won on the night by nearly 596 votes, but the Wairoa mayor remains defiant saying that after a major country-wide swing to the left, he is done stunningly well. He warns that a Labour-led Government will not be good for Maori.
(Among all the losing candidates, with the possible exception of Max Bradford, Mr Fox has been the most bitter in defeat. He was clearly well regarded in his electorate, and alone of all the candidates in the Maori seats, he came close to preventing a Labour landslide. Losing with dignity would have increased his mana for a future bid, I would have thought. - BH)
Jubilation today for the man responsible for organising a referendum on tougher sentencing and more recognition for victim's rights. Norm Withers says he was always confident New Zealanders would back his call. However, he never dreamed the support would be quite so overwhelming. He says the more than 90 per cent vote for his idea is incredible and sends a strong message to government. Norm Withers was moved to initiate the referendum after his mother was brutally bashed in his Christchurch menswear shop.
(The catch is that the politicians must now discern what, if anything, is practical, and what will satisfy the public's apparently strong desire to hit the crims. As I said last week, even a low security prisoner costs us $53,000 a year to keep in the style to which they are accustomed, and it seems to me that longer sentences are not necessarily the best answer. - BH)
A leading political scientist is predicting a serious examination of the vote counting process, following major delays last night. Auckland Professor Barry Gustafson says he is disgusted by the time it took to tally the votes. He says he suspects the referendum votes were counted first - which is completely unacceptable. Barry Gustafson says the process was slower than the days before technology was introduced. He expects some serious questions will be asked.
(Mr Whelan of the Justice Department has appeared several times attempting to explain, but no clear and credible explanation has emerged. We have more technology than ever, and yet somehow, referenda notwithstanding, this was one of the slowest election counts I can recall. - BH)
A pessimistic view from our Prime Minister elect about The Green Party's chances of making it into parliament. They needed 5 per cent of the party vote or their co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons to win the Coromandel seat to get MPs in Parliament. They were close on both counts and are hoping special votes might be enough to get them in. But Helen Clark says she doubts that will happen. She says it is the old organised parties which seem to do better in the special votes.
(The Greens are making increasingly bitter noises about the "failure" of Labour and the Alliance to help them defeat the National dominance in area. Clearly the other two parties are more than happy to have a simple bilateral coalition and to avoid the complexities of a tripartite agreement - BH)
Police have partially closed a road and evacuated a house at Eastbourne as the weather woes continue in the Capital There are fears for the house which is being threatened by a slip which has come down from the hill behind it. The slip has partially covered McKenzie Road. Police are also warning motorists about surface flooding in several areas. Wind has brought trolley bus lines down and bus services are experiencing delays - and at this stage a 4 metre swell in Cook Strait has brought a halt to ferry services.
(This morning's Dominion reported cancellations yesterday because of a 6 to 8 metre swell. I don't even want to contemplate crossing the Strait in 8 metre swells. [goes green and rushes out] - BH)
A 53-year-old woman charged with the murder of an Auckland-based Samoan tattooist has made a brief appearance in the Otahuhu District Court. The woman was granted interim name suppression and entered no plea. She has been remanded in custody until the 14th of December. Forty-nine-year-old Paulo Suluape was found dead in a sleep-out behind his Otara home last week. Police say he died of massive head injuries.
The four Hawkes Bay men who risked their own lives to save seven children and two adults from a fire in Takapau last Friday could be in line for police bravery awards. Detective Sergeant Stu Fleming, who is heading the inquiry into the arson, is going to recommend that their heroic efforts are recognised. Stu Fleming wants information on the whereabouts of a light blue Ford Cortina which was stolen from the Charlotte Street house last Wednesday, days before the fire. Police located the car in Waipukurau, two hours after the fire. The male driver was rushed to hospital after suffering a drug overdose.
Writer Alan Duff is leaving New Zealand and says the country needs to take a good look at the way it is heading. The author of 'Once Were Warriors' says he refuses to live under a left-wing government, which will bring more government interference in everyone's lives. He says he is not anti-Labour, but despises what he calls the Alliance's "envy ridden" attitude. Duff says the left has an attitude that the state knows better and he does not want to live in a country like that. Alan Duff plans to set up his own film company in Sydney, but says he will divide his time between there and New Zealand.
(It is sad to lose a man of Mr Duff's undoubted talent, not to mention his splendid work in getting books in homes where there would otherwise be none. He has subsequently revealed that he had planned leave regardless of who won. Wasn't there a saying about not letting the door hit you in the bum on the way out? - BH)
Charges have been laid in court this morning against New Zealand First election candidate Suzanne Bruce. The unsuccessful Rangitikei candidate and her dairy farmer partner Barry Jinkinson are accused of 13 counts of GST fraud totalling more than $20,000. Bruce and Jinkinson were not in the Palmerston North District Court when the charges were called, but pleaded not guilty through their lawyer. The case has been remanded for a status hearing on February 2 next year.
The lawyer for 16 asylum seekers who have been on a 32 day hunger strike at Mount Eden Prison is today waiting to hear if his clients will be released. In a reserved decision yesterday, a judge at the High Court in Auckland ordered the Immigration Department to reconsider the men's applications for temporary permits. The Immigration Service says it is considering an appeal. The men's lawyer, Rodney Hooker says if the men are not released before the end of today, he intends heading back to the High Court to inform the judge of the delay.
While the Peak 2000 concert has been abandoned, Hawkes Bay's other premier millennium event is guaranteed to proceed. Lombardi Winery is to stop ticket sales for its $350 Millennium Party in about a fortnight. More than 600 of the 1,000 tickets available have been sold with another 100 people having expressed an interest in attending. Lombardi co-owner, Kim Throp says the ticket sales are up to expectations due to targeting the New Zealand market rather than focusing on international visitors. Lombardi is flying in three musicians from America to perform in their amphitheatre.
(Almost every day , there is news of yet another high priced function collapsing under the sheer weight of public resistance to greed - BH)
The death of a Paparua Prison inmate has been referred to the Coroner. Forty-three-year-old David Rewi Haimona died Tuesday afternoon. Paul Monk, the regional manager of Canterbury Prisons, says Haimona was creating a disturbance. Staff were called to deal with that, and to relocate him from the low security unit he was in, to a medium security unit. Paul Monk says while staff were doing this Haimona collapsed and later died. Police say a post mortem examination this morning revealed the death was not suspicious.
The Fish and Game Council says a toxic chemical spill in South Canterbury has claimed all the fish life in two creeks. A truck which was carrying sulphuric acid and sodium hypochlorite tipped into a drain on Rolleston Road yesterday afternoon - it was removed in three parts overnight. Farmers around the near-by dairy factory have now been cleared to draw water from local rivers. Fish and Game spokesman Mark Webb has also inspected the tributaries today. He says there has been a complete kill-off of fish in the two creeks, but a larger river and downstream lagoon appear unaffected.
After a month's detention in Auckland's Mount Eden prison, the 16 men seeking asylum in New Zealand face a marathon court session today. The legal wrangling continues at the Otahuhu District Court where it was expected conditions would be set for their release. However Immigration Department lawyers have been arguing over the content of a High Court judgement, which ordered the service to review an application for temporary permits. The judge adjourned the case until later on Wednesday afternoon, saying she wanted to see written proof that an appeal has been filed in the Court of Appeal by the Immigration Service.
New Zealand's newest international airline is making its maiden voyage flight. Today marks the launch of budget airline K-2000's seasonal service between Hamilton and Brisbane, with routes later in summer to Rarotonga as well. Director Jeff Matthews says the company's leased 737-400 plane pulled away from the terminal in Brisbane at about 10 o'clock, bound for Hamilton. He says the flight is not full, but the return leg is. Air New Zealand subsidiary Freedom Air is due to add a second plane to its trans- Tasman routes from December 15th.
After a month's detention in Auckland's Mount Eden prison, the 16 men seeking asylum in New Zealand face a marathon court session today. The legal wrangling continues at the Otahuhu District Court where it was expected conditions would be set for their release. However Immigration Department lawyers have been arguing over the content of a High Court judgement, which ordered the service to review an application for temporary permits. The judge adjourned the case until later on Wednesday afternoon, saying she wanted to see written proof that an appeal has been filed in the Court of Appeal by the Immigration Service.
Air pollution in the Wellington region can reach dangerous levels during calm weather conditions, according to Wellington Regional Council's Annual Air Quality Report. Peak concentrations of air pollutants like fine dust, carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide occur when there is little or no wind. In some locations, concentrations exceed air quality guidelines. Scientist Perry Davy says some in suburban locations air pollution reached unacceptable levels.
(This is hard to believe .... not that we have true flat calm conditions all that often ... but I suppose the motorway running through Porirua and Tawa to Johnsonville could leave pollutants in the confines of that valley, and similarly in parts of the Hutt Valley ... we have relatively few other sources of real industrial pollution ... nothing equivalent to Penrose, or Hornby. I shall look forward with interest to a fuller report. - BH)
Eighteen-year-olds flocked to bars around the country last night following changes to liquor laws. One Auckland bar, the Loaded Hog, says they had about 200 eighteen-year-olds enjoying their new-found freedom. Manager Sara Tucker says they were not drinking excessively but were definitely acting their age. She says about 20 had to be asked to leave because they were trying to turn on beer taps and jumping around the bar, disturbing other patrons.
The organisers of the Miss World New Zealand pageant are distancing themselves from the Miss Waikato contest after claims charity money has gone astray. The Child Cancer Foundation lent its name to the July event in the hope of receiving up to $4,000, but it has seen none of the cash. Police are investigating. Miss World New Zealand director Mark Taylor says the Waikato event is a separate entity, but he admits the mystery over the money could be damaging to the pageant's reputation.
Importing LSD with a street value of more than $100,000 has earned a Christchurch man a six-and-a-half year jail term. Daniel McElhinney was sentenced at the High Court in Christchurch today after admitting multiple charges of importing, possessing and supplying LSD and cannabis. McElhinney's flatmate Malcolm Andrew McKay was jailed for two years on importation and possession charges. Justice Chisholm was told McKay was paid $500 by McElhinney for arranging a postal address to receive a letter containing 2000 LSD tabs sent from Amsterdam.
Changes to the liquor laws may bring about a more relaxed attitude to alcohol in the two dry areas still left in New Zealand. As part of Saturday's general election, residents in Tawa, Mt Eden and Mt Roskill were asked whether they wanted to continue a ban on the sale of alcohol in their areas. Tawa residents voted to turn wet, but the two Auckland suburbs voted to remain alcohol-free. Progressive Foods manager Brian Pearce says it is frustrating they can not sell alcohol in their supermarkets but hopes the new laws will help. He says most people go to the supermarket two or three times a week and if they are able to buy alcohol whenever they like, they should be more relaxed about it and feel less "naughty".
The investigation into "missing" grenades at Burnham Military Camp has been completed. The grenades were noticed missing during a routine audit in June. A Court of Inquiry was established and its findings were reported to army hierarchy in October. Commander of the 3rd Land Force Group Colonel Warren Whiting says the inquiry identified weaknesses in an electronic accounting system process, which will now be modified. He says there was nothing in the inquiry report to suggest the grenades or any other piece of military equipment is missing.
There are serious concerns for a number of sea birds, some which are considered rare, at the Poor Knights Islands off the Northland Coast - following an oil spill overnight. Northland Regional Council says the spill is several kilometres wide and is right around the islands. Spokesman Tony Phipps says trying to rescue birds which have landed in the oil is the main priority. But he says rare marine life are also at risk. He says it is unclear at this stage exactly where the oil came from - an investigation is underway.
The Consumers' Institute is warning New Zealanders not to buy into money-making scams. Chief Executive David Russell says this time of year is particularly bad for fraudsters selling dubious lotteries and pyramid schemes. He says the most common approach is a letter offering large winnings if money is sent to an address overseas. The Consumers' Institute warning follows the report of an Otago superannuitant who lost his life savings of $79,000 through a Canadian lottery scam. David Russell says anyone with concerns should contact the Consumers' Institute.
(Warning after warning does not stop people leaping after schemes that promise miraculous returns on investment. New Zealand news groups are plagued with MLM or pyramid scheme promotions. They are all strictly illegal in New Zealand. The instant anyone who is known to be in New Zealand falls for it and begins to promote such a scheme, they are reported to the Commerce Commission and a few successful prosecutions have resulted. - BH)
The intrepid 64-year-old Australian pilot who flew his ultralight plane across the Tasman has one final hurdle to jump - red tape. Ben Buckley landed his aircraft in Haast last night, but his record breaking first is officially an international flight which should have come through an international airport. Mr Buckley says he knew he should have got official approval for his journey, but he just couldn't wait. He says a customs official was waiting for him when he arrived and his passport was also confiscated when he touched down, but he says he is not worried about the paper shufflers.
(I did not recognise the aircraft ... it's a cute little high wing cabin monoplane with one seat and a motor of the kind that powers snowmobiles. I guess the relaxed attitude and hero worship which followed the arrival of Sir Charles Kingsford Smith have long gone. - BH)
The New Zealand defence of the America's Cup has run into controversy with revelations the socks for its red socks fundraising campaign were not made in New Zealand. Green co-leader Rod Donald has criticised Team New Zealand for buying the socks from a South Korean firm. He has called for a boycott of the campaign, and says it is outrageous that an event that is supposed to promote the country isn't using local manufacturers. However Team New Zealand boss Sir Peter Blake says while having Kiwi made socks was a top priority for him, the cost ruled it out. Auckland hosiery manufacturer Peter McCartney admits imported socks are about two-thirds of the cost of locally manufactured ones, but he is sure they could have been produced here with enough of a margin for Team New Zealand. The Lucky Red Socks campaign, which was launched yesterday, is aimed at raising funds for a new mast for the Kiwi defence.
(I am still trying to figure whether this is a genuine public groundswell, or whether it is a spin by disgruntled manufacturers. The recent closure of some clothing manufacturers might lend a particular edge to the point of view. Sir Peter, who is trying to raise $600,000 for a new mast for one of the boats would have done well to have considered the two way nature of loyalty - BH)
Convicted child molester Peter Ellis will not be turning up to a planned parole board hearing today. His lawyer Judith Ablett Kerr QC says he does not want to seem discourteous to the board, or the parole process, but claims if he does appear, he will compromise his claim of innocence. She says she will continue pursuing a pardon for Ellis, and is seeking a meeting with Prime Minister- elect Helen Clark and whoever the new Minister of Justice will be. Ellis is in prison following his conviction for molesting young children at the Christchurch Civic Creche.
Date: 2 December 1999 Brian Dooley
Wellington New Zealand
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