Copyright © 1995 Brian Harmer
Those who have been reading these writings for a while will find themselves on familiar ground. Between Wanganui and Bulls there is a pastoral landscape which is as attractive as any in the world. The coastal plains which run from Wanganui through Fordell, Turakina, Marton and Feilding are gently undulating in character, without the sharp folds or sudden jagged gulleys which are typical of the more rugged landscape on the back road from Palmerston North to Levin, for example. In the strong clear light of a perfect winter morning, this magnificent land was framed in the distance by the great spread of the snow capped Kaimanawas to the North East, Ruapehu's mighty bulk to the North, and the magnificent symmetry of Taranaki's splendid cone to the North West. Though the sky was clear, the mountains were sketched so lightly in blue, a shade just marginally different to the sky itself, that only the sharpness of the lines and angles revealed that they were indeed rock and ice, and not just fanciful shapes in distant clouds. The low angle of the sun emphasised every nuance and every texture of the region. Evaporating moisture from the dew laden grass hung visibly in the air as if the earth itself were exhaling clouds of breath. Fields which looked lush and green were made more picturesque by the presence of full fleeced sheep with a few very early lambs. Stubble in late harvested fields looked sharp and rough to touch, contrasting with the manicured appearance of fields in grass. Newly ploughed fields revealed a fine dark brown rich earth that must surely be a joy to work. Periodically the road crests one of the gentle rises in the area, and the view of the next valley which then spreads before you must surely lift the spirit.
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.
This week's formatting is sponsored by my friends, former aviator George and his lovely wife, Pat. Thank you so much.
On with the news:
The Police Commissioner denies proposed changes to his relationship with government will result in political interference. The Government has tabled the Police Amendment Bill in an effort to modernise the way the department is run. It clarifies the sorts of decisions the Commissioner can make independently of the Police Minister and what issues the Minister can direct the Commissioner on. Police Commissioner Rob Robinson believes his independence will be maintained. He says similar legislation overseas proves that a Commissioner's independence is reinforced by the changes. The bill will bring the Commissioner's role into line with that of other Chief Executives.
(I am less pleased. Giving the present minister, or any who come after him anything more than fiscal accountability is a recipe for disaster in my mind. To deny the possibility of political interference is patently naïve. Already this minister is reportedly attempting to mange such details as the colour of highway patrol cars, which is surely a matter for the professionals on the force, and not for a dabbling amateur. - BH)
The Prime Minister does not expect any great difficulty in legislating for change as a result of the Royal Commission's inquiry into genetic modification. The Greens are vehemently opposed to the findings, which allow for genetic modification under controlled circumstances. Helen Clark says it is now time for the Greens to reflect on the commission's report which she says was put together by an able group of people who listened to many perspectives. Miss Clark says they simply drew a different conclusion from the Greens. She says it is now the Government's job to see if the conclusion strikes the right balance. National and ACT have both backed the report. The Government will now consider the detail of the findings over the next few months before deciding what if any additional legislation is required.
The pressure is on for everyone to cut their power bills by 10 per cent over the next ten weeks. Energy Minister Pete Hodgson says savings are is the key to riding out the power crisis brought on by low hydro lake levels. Electricity companies today committed themselves to a set of power saving measures during a meeting at Parliament. Big users will get free audits to see where they can save more power. Households and cities are being offered buy back schemes, where the more electricity they save the bigger the financial benefit to them. Mr Hodgson says the power crisis is worse now than in 1992 which was a short, sharp problem that was soon overcome with rain raising lake levels. It was also confirmed at today's meeting that more power is being fed into the system from Taranaki and from the aluminium smelter at Bluff.
Chronic fatigue and systems failures have been blamed for the Skyhawk crash which claimed the life of Squadron Leader Murray Neilson. He crashed while practicing an aerobatic manoeuvre over Nowra in Australia in February. The Air Force Court of Inquiry found there were no technical or mechanical problems with his Skyhawk. It concluded Squadron Leader Neilson was suffering from chronic fatigue and was distracted in flight, leading him to perform a barrel roll too low. It also found he was trying to do too much with too few resources. Squadron Leader Neilson is credited with saving the life of his wingman by warning him that pulling out of the barrel roll would be difficult.
The man who recently received nearly $870,000 in compensation for wrongful imprisonment for rape has today been given a 12-month suspended prison sentence. David Dougherty has pleaded guilty to a charge of burglary, during an appearance this morning in the North Shore District Court in Auckland. The court heard how Dougherty broke into the Warkworth Inn in the early hours of the third of July. He stole two bottles of liquor which police later found near his home. The police prosecutor said Dougherty has written to the hotel manager apologising and has since paid for the damage. The judge accepted that Dougherty was under stress at the time while awaiting the Crown settlement, and there was unlikely to be a repetition of his criminal behaviour
(It has never been a secret that Mr Dougherty has a significant record. Indeed some scurrilous idiot made sure that was widely known, by broadcasting scanned images of it all over the net when doubts were first raised over the safety of his conviction on the rape charge. That has to be a separate issue. Even those with a criminal record should not be locked up for crimes they did not commit. - BH)
The Royal Forest and Bird society is calling on the Canterbury dairy industry to clean up its act after coming across an internal memo from Environment Canterbury. The memo outlines concerns about the proposed Rangitata Dairies farm for the south bank of the Rangitata River involving more than 2,000 cows. According to Forest and Bird spokesman Geoff Keey the memo is critical of the dairy industry for not providing enough information about how their land use will effect the environment. He claims the memo shows dairy conversions are likely to pollute groundwater and is asking the dairy industry to show more environmental leadership.
The Greens are rejecting claims they are taking an extremist view over genetic modification. Party co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons is bitterly disappointed with the recommendations of the Royal Commission on Genetic Modification, which would allow cautious field trials of GM organisms. She says the report fails to take a long-term view on the issue and claims New Zealand's organic export market will be destroyed if the Government adopts the recommendations. Ms Fitzsimons says her party's view is hardly radical, and the Greens simply want tighter safeguards. She also warns the GM debate is the most serious threat to the party's continuing support for the Labour-Alliance coalition government. However, Ms Fitzsimons has stopped short of threatening to withdraw support for the coalition if it accepts the recommendations of the Royal Commission on Genetic Modification. She says the Government cannot take the Greens' support for granted and should treat the recommendations with extreme caution.
(Everyone, it seems, regards their own world view as normal and reasonable. How else would they live with it. That does not mean that others will not regard it as extreme - BH)
A 12-year-old Christchurch girl is in a severe but stable condition after falling from a paraglider during a tandem flight above Queenstown. Police say the girl fell and landed on a slope before rolling over a rocky outcrop just after midday today. She was airlifted to Lakes District Hospital and has since been transferred to Dunedin. Police are investigating how the accident occurred. Paragliders in Queenstown held an urgent meeting last night, while an investigator from the Paragliding Association has been notified.
(The anguish of the girl's father who reportedly kept telling the pilot before they took off that she was not in the harness properly, but was ignored can only be imagined. - BH)
There has been a sign of an improvement in South Island electricity generation. Fourteen millimetres of rain fell on the West Coast at the weekend, and that has allowed Trustpower to start up one of its four hydro stations on the Coast. The company had to shut them down when lakes dropped below operating levels earlier this month. Trustpower spokesman Graeme Purches says the weekend rainfall is enough to allow it to run two generators at one of the schemes. He says they are running at three quarters of their average output which is 15 per cent of total generation on the Coast. Meanwhile, the country's energy conservation watchdog plans a 10 week campaign to convince us to save power. The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority has been instructed by the Government to implement its electricity saving campaign. Authority chief executive Heather Staley says an advertising campaign will begin in the second week of August, and will run for at least four weeks. However, it might be extended, depending on how the hydro lake levels are doing. The authority is also considering a call centre to provide power saving advice to energy users. Just over $2 million has been set aside for the campaign, which aims to generate power savings of 10 per cent or more.
A complaint will be lodged with police about a teenager losing a testicle as a result of a rugby injury. A member of the Pirongia under-19 team claims a player from Otorohanga club Kio Kio United wrenched and squeezed his testicles. One of the testicles had to be surgically removed. The injured player's family held a meeting with local rugby officials last night. The Waikato Rugby Union says it firmly supports providing education in rugby to ensure players are aware of the consequences of foul-play. The boy's family has decided to lay a complaint with police. The injured player will return to light work duties this week.
(Wince! - BH)
New Zealand's population has now reached 3. 89 million, but our annual growth rate is slowing. Statistics New Zealand figures show that our resident population grew by 0. 5 per cent in the year to the end of June this year. That is almost half the annual growth rate of 0. 9 per cent recorded over the past five years. The aging trend is continuing, with half of all New Zealanders now aged over 34. That compares to a median age of 31. 4 years in 1991.
Australian netball coach Jill McIntosh has intervened to stop the Queensland Firebirds travelling to play New Zealand ahead of October's three test series. McIntosh confirmed she has vetoed the trip, saying it is against the interests of the Australian team as it would assist the Silver Ferns. But Netball Queensland officials intend to appeal her action to the national body this week, saying such high-level match practice would be invaluable for their young national league side.
(I watched with open mouth as someone whom I took to be the president of the Australian Netball Association attempted to justify this mealy-mouthed piece of pettiness. So help me, I swear this person sucked a lemon prior to being interviewed. "If it caused a problem to New Zealand," she said with pursed lips and narrowed eyes, "it is a sad indictment on New Zealand's ability to provide first class competition from within its own ranks". Hoots of laughter from the NZ officials who were asked to respond. Much speculation is based on the idea that this piece of unsporting spite is to demonstrate resentment at the fact that the Commonwealth Games organization have cleared our two magnificent permanent immigrants, Vilimania Davu and Irene Van Dyk to play for New Zealand at the games. Our trans-Tasman "sporting" opponents were against this. How sad. Too bad. - BH)
The Air New Zealand ownership issue is expected to be sorted out within a month. A top level meeting in the Beehive today led to an officials' committee being set up to look at the best way forward in a row that involves three countries and four airlines. Australia's Transport Minister John Anderson made it clear his country would be uneasy about Singapore Airlines increasing its ownership of Air New Zealand above its current 25 per cent. Mr Anderson says those two airlines, coupled with Ansett Australia, would be very powerful and Australia would be worried about Qantas. Australia would like to see Singapore sell its Air New Zealand share and buy Ansett Australia. Qantas would then buy a slice of Air New Zealand.
Fewer snowboarders are injuring their wrists on the slopes, thanks to a free-wristguard campaign. ACC's providing skifields and snowboard hire shops with free wristguards, which are then being given then to people who hire gear. Since the campaign started last year, there has been 30 per cent reduction in the number of snowboarders injuring their wrists at the South Island's four main ski-fields. ACC spokesperson Rachael Depree says research shows the most common injuries for learner snowboarders are wrist injuries. She says the programme's success is partly due to the great support they have had from the snow sports industry. Rachael Depree says they are continuing the programme this year, and are reminding people to get their wristguards before they go up the mountain.
The Post Primary Teachers Association believes low decile and rural schools are likely to benefit the most from an increase in teachers numbers. The Government will fund 350 extra teachers from the beginning of the first term next year. Half of those will be secondary teachers and PPTA spokeswoman Sharon Williams says she is not sure exactly where they will be placed. She says there is a shortage of teachers nationwide but the greatest need is in the low decile and rural schools. Sharon Williams says while any increase is good, 350 is unlikely to make any kind of dent in teacher shortages and her organisation will continue to lobby government for even greater teacher numbers.
(I recall reading that the real deficit is nearer 1,800 teachers - BH)
The New Zealand Rugby Union is trying to find out what Telstra Saturn is up to over television coverage of the All Blacks Tour to Britain and South America. The telecommunication company, which bought the live television rights to the tour, has dropped plans for a digital service with TVNZ. Telstra Saturn's decision appears to have taken everyone by surprise, including digital partner TVNZ, set to provide delayed cover. The state broadcaster is still trying to get full details from Telstra Saturn. The rugby union says it wants as many New Zealanders to see the All Blacks as possible. At present only Telstra Saturn's 30,000 cable viewers in Wellington and Christchurch can watch the games live, but the company says it is looking at other options.
The Energy Minister is reluctant to tag the word "crisis" to the country's current electricity woes. Pete Hodgson says we have not reached a crisis situation yet, but we still need to cut power consumption by 10% to ward one off. He says the Government is taking steps to get rid of what he describes as "stupid" legislation introduced by the previous administration. Mr Hodgson says the first-ever national energy efficiency and conservation strategy will be released in October which will provide future planning.
The Government is relieved it has emerged the winner from what it says is the country's first "Hollywood celebrity case". Christine Rankin has walked away with nothing from her battle with the Crown and now risks financial ruin. Attorney General Margaret Wilson says the Employment Court decision proves the case was always about competence, NOT clothes. She says the outcome of the Hollywood-type case brings about a sense of closure for the government. Ms Wilson admits the Rankin case has forced the government to re-evaluate some of its procedures. She says the decision also confirms the legitimacy of fixed-term contracts in the public service.
(Contrary to it's spin, the government has achieved a legal victory, but did not win the moral victory outright. - BH)
A measured response from Christine Rankin tonight from the news that she has failed in her bid to win 1.2 million dollars in damages from the Government. Mrs Rankin put out a statement saying she realises the decision was made on points of law, adding that often things are wrong but they are not against the law. She says her case shows sexism is alive and well in the public service. Her lawyer Michael Quigg broke the news to Mrs Rankin who is on holiday. Mr Quigg says she was initially stunned and he did most of the talking to her husband. He says she is now coming to terms with the decision. Mr Quigg says it was a battle she took on knowing she could fail but not expecting to.
The Prime Minister has wrapped up the Knowledge Wave Conference, and vows the Government will respond. More than 450 academics, researchers and politicians attended the three day conference on how to boost New Zealand's economic growth through education. The idea of a knowledge economy is to switch from a primary production base, to a focus on education and innovation. Speakers ranged from former Australian Prime Minister, Paul Keating to New Zealand ex- pats and scientists. Reserve Bank Governor Don Brash rocked the boat with a controversial speech on the education system and the possibility of scrapping the New Zealand dollar. Meanwhile, the National Party has slammed the conference, claiming it will do nothing to prevent the brain drain which it says is gripping New Zealand. But Helen Clark, who closed the conference, denies that it was all talk and says there will definitely be some action. She slammed suggestions from the OECD and the Reserve Bank Governor that she consider tax cuts. The Prime Minister says the Government is not in a position to trim taxes, and says New Zealand is one of the lowest tax countries in the OECD. The main target of the conference is firmly fixed on the education system, which Miss Clark says is up for serious review. The conference committee will meet in the next month to digest the ideas.
As the nation looks for ways to save power, technology giants Microsoft are reminding computer users they can play their part. It says most PCs can be powered-down or turned off completely when not being used, to save electricity. Microsoft's Ross Peat says businesses can help too, by utilising power saving modes in other office equipment, such as photocopiers and fax machines. He says office devices account for three to four per cent of total power consumption in the country. Ross Peat claims better use of PCs alone, could help save up to ten per cent of the Government's target. He says Microsoft is also switching off its neon signs to further conserve power.
The latest statistics show we are beginning to hit the target in our efforts to cut back on electricity consumption. The data reveals New Zealanders in the upper South Island are saving the most, cutting use yesterday by just over the 10 per cent target. The national average was 6. 8 per cent. That figure has dropped slightly from the best day of savings on Wednesday, which was around 7. 5 per cent around the country. The latest data also confirms hydro lake levels are still critically low, with Lake Tekapo on 34 per cent and Lake Pukaki on 40 per cent of their generating capacities.
It could soon be a criminal offence for employers to sack or threaten to fire employees on jury service. The move is part of a series of proposed law changes for the jury system, announced by Justice Minister Phil Goff today. Phil Goff says there have been a number of cases where workers have been too scared of losing their jobs to go on jury service. He says people who are doing their civic duty must not feel their job security is on the line. Mr Goff says he will also be looking at the issue of increasing the money paid for jury service. Other proposed changes include the introduction of majority jury verdicts and judge-alone cases.
(I suspect that a far greater issue for jury duty is the ease with which anyone who is halfway articulate and who would rather eat bricks than waste a week or more on jury duty can concoct an excuse to avoid it. - BH)
Police investigating the disappearance of a Hawke's Bay man have completed an unsuccessful search of Gwavas Forest west of Hastings. Twenty-six-year-old, Phillip John Cowan, was last seen at his home on March 19, though police discovered his abandoned Nissan Sunny in Bulls in early April. Police from Wellington and Hawke's Bay have spent this week searching the Gwavas Forest for signs of cannabis plots, in which they believe Mr Cowan was involved. Detective Senior Sergeant Steve Vaughan says this week's forest search has failed to show any sign of the missing man. However, sixty single cannabis plots were found in an area the missing man's believed to have visited .
The Reserve Bank Governor's credibility on economic and social matters has been called into question by the deputy prime minister. It follows a controversial speech Don Brash made to the Knowledge Wave conference, suggesting tax and benefit cuts are needed to improve our economic performance. Deputy Prime Minister Jim Anderton says many of Dr Brash's ideas are similar to policies that have failed in the past 20 years. He says Dr Brash may be an authority on monetary policy, but yesterday's comments need to be taken with a grain of salt. A spokesman for Dr Brash says the Governor will not be making any further comment.
(While I accept that there is an element of truth in Mr Anderton's assessment, it is an unavoidable fact that many would assess Mr Anderton's entire political philosophy in the same light. - BH)
There is no sign of the meningococcal disease epidemic abating, after a significant jump in reported cases. 316 cases have been reported this year, an increase of 75 from the same time last year. The Ministry of Health's public health medicine specialist Jane O'Hallahan says even though cases tend to increase during winter and spring, the epidemic still has the country firmly in its grip. Dr O'Hallahan says there have been 3,866 cases reported and 173 deaths from January 1991 to July this year. She says while there is a vaccine in the pipeline, it is important the public is aware of the symptoms of the disease and how it must be treated, as early diagnosis is vital. Symptoms of meningococcal disease include fever, stiff neck, headaches and a rash.
A Taupo woman has been found guilty in the Rotorua District Court of the abduction and detainment of a 23-month-old boy. The Crown claimed 27-year-old Tania Maaka and 29-year- old Mark Harris took the children from CYFS care between June and July of last year. They went on the run leading police through several North Island towns and cities taking the two children with them. There was a hung jury over a charge against Harris for the abduction of a three-year-old girl, but he was found guilty of her detainment. The pair will be sentenced on August 29th, but Harris will appear for callover on August 15th on the abduction charge.
Unanimous jury findings could soon be a thing of the past with Cabinet this week agreeing to majority verdicts. Legislation will be introduced to Parliament to change the jury system and allowing 11 to one decisions. Justice Minister Phil Goff says hung juries have doubled in the past decade causing increased personal and financial costs and emotional strain on defendants, complainants and witnesses. The changes will also allow trials by judge alone. Mr Goff says that will involve only one or two cases a year where the trial will last for more than four weeks and will involve complex issues difficult for a jury to understand.
The Bank of New Zealand's chief economist believes Reserve Bank Governor Don Brash did not overstep the mark in suggesting cuts to the welfare system. Dr Brash made the comments at the Knowledge Wave forum in Auckland which is looking at options for New Zealand's economic future. BNZ economist Tony Alexander says Dr Brash has a duty to point out to the Government where he thinks the country's economic performance could be approved. He says the comments should not embarrass the Government as they also applied to the previous National coalition government. Meanwhile, Finance Minister Michael Cullen, is saying little about Don Brash's remarks. A spokeswoman for Dr Cullen says the minister will not be commenting except to say that Dr Brash is free to express his own opinions. The Reserve Bank Governor's comments on scrapping welfare benefits including the dole has drawn an angry response from the Green Party. In a speech to the Knowledge Wave forum in Auckland Don Brash called for an end to welfare benefits along with the minimum wage and the raising of the age of superannuation. The Green Party's unemployment spokeswoman Sue Bradford says Dr Brash is not looking to the future but wants to send New Zealand back to the nineteenth century. She says it is intolerable that people in Dr Brash's position should make such suggestions in this day and age.
Christine Rankin's lawyer has revealed the former WINZ boss never expected to lose her Employment Court unfair dismissal claim. Michael Quigg says Mrs Rankin obviously took the government on with the intention of winning. He says while she knew it would be a hard-fought fight, the Employment Court decision has come as a huge shock. Mr Quigg says he will be exploring whether there are other legal recourses available to Mrs Rankin, including a possible sexual harassment claim.
Date: 2 August 2001 Brian Dooley
Wellington New Zealand
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