Copyright © 1995 Brian Harmer
Sunday night last week, Mary and I were guests at a celebration with friends who have a lovely place in Waikanae. They took us to dinner at a delightful little restaurant called Stromboli. Just off the main road, the restaurant has an Italian theme, but is not obsessive about it. Seven of its nine indoor tables were occupied with parties of four or six and the atmosphere was a delight for persons of our age. The background music was, as it should be, in the background, and conversation was free and easy. Waikanae is spread over too large an area to be regarded as a village, but somehow the warmth of the atmosphere was like that of a village. The food was excellent, and if you should choose to go there if you visit this part of the world, tell the chef, Chrissy, that I said so. (I have no connection with Stromboli, other than as an appreciative patron).
A convivial evening with good food, good wine, and excellent company brought a delightful day to an end, and since our friends are well set up for guests, we stayed the night. Thus it was that on Monday, for the first time, I experienced the Kapiti commute. From Waikanae to Paraparaumu in the half light of an almost-winter morning, the serpentine flow of red tail lights went smoothly enough. At Paraparaumu, we got through the lights with only one stoppage, and thought all should go smoothly thereafter. Just a little South of the turnoff to Raumati Beach, the traffic came to an abrupt halt. A large multi-trailered truck (known as a B-train, I believe) was sideways across the road. It seems that there had been two trucks travelling close together. The second trailer on the front truck was a flat-bed, carrying a huge fabricated steel beam. For whatever reason, the cab of the second truck had a high energy impact on that trailer, whereupon it jack-knifed and blocked everything in both directions. Sitting on the road were the girder and various other objects dislodged on impact. No-one, it seems, sustained serious injury, though the damage to the truck cab suggested it could have been otherwise. The black Holden which was sitting beside me in the adjacent lane suddenly developed flashing red and blue lights behind its grill, and the officer who had been going to spring a few speeding motorists in his unmarked car suddenly found himself in charge of a significant road incident. A flurry of more obvious blue and white police cars soon arrived in a small tornado of flashing lights and whooping sirens, and those of us who were close to the disabled trucks were soon guided around the edges to continue on our way. We were lucky, because the police then became aware that the one of the trucks was carrying hazardous chemicals, and they then held all traffic clear until safety was checked.
Incidents such as this remind me that there is but one practical route in an out of Wellington from the North, and it doesn't take a lot to sever the artery. Transmission Gully would not have helped here, since this incident was well north of the top end of that route.
Still we were through, and soon proceeding smartly down the tree lined road from the crossing at Queen Elizabeth Park (where the US Marines were stationed during WWII) towards Paekakariki. From there on, for one reason or other, there is no opportunity to overtake until the motorway commences at Plimmerton. Stone walls crowd the road against the hills on the left, and keep the road from falling into the sea on the right. Low clouds and mist prevented a clear view of the islands at the head of the Sounds. Nose to tail the procession proceeded at the pace of the lowest, winding up the hill at Pukerua Bay, and down the other side through the realignment works near Whenua Tapu cemetery, and into Paremata and the chronically choked shopping area there. Beyond the notorious obstacle of the roundabout at the Paremata bridge, the traffic opened out and began to flow in smooth if closely spaced patterns. At Johnsonville, the vastly expensive but thus far trivially used electronic signs and speed restriction system were in action. Until the speed camera part way down the gorge, the traffic stayed close to the posted limit of 80 km/h, but beyond there, drivers just let it all go, and thus arrive a few moments later at the horrible merger with the traffic from the Hutt Valley.
Despite the accident, our trip was complete in well under an hour, but despite all the many charms of Waikanae and the Kapiti Coast, the commute is a price I wouldn't wish to pay. As beautiful as the area is, I enjoy visiting it, as much for the pleasure of the company of our friends as anything. Given the choice, however, I prefer my own corner of paradise in the Hutt Valley.
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.
Air New Zealand is bowing to public pressure and introducing a direct service between Dunedin and Auckland. A 737 aircraft will be brought onto the route in November. The airline's President and Chief Executive, Gary Toomey, denies it is unusual that Freedom Air was able to be launched in a matter of days, but that the Dunedin service will take six months to set up. He says it is a response to changes in the market. Mr Toomey says the airline did not have the capacity , but it is bringing forward its fleet expansion plans, to meet customer demands. It follows a public outcry from the southern city, which had originally been left out of major plans by both domestic operators, Air New Zealand and Qantas. Gary Toomey admits he does not know why Dunedin was left out. He says the airline is simply responding to what the customers want. The announcement of the new Dunedin service comes with a number of other initiatives by Air New Zealand, including flight check-ins by mobile phone text messaging. There is also to be an expansion of its services to Japan, with an extra 767 to fly there five days a week from October.
A 38-year-old man has been charged in one of the largest cases of alleged odometer tampering ever encountered by police. The South Auckland man is facing 173 offences relating to cars sold in the Auckland region. Detective Senior Sergeant Gary Lendrum says 20 vehicles were seized during the four-week police investigation. He says detectives have been working closely with the Motor Vehicle Dealers' Institute. The man is appearing in the Manukau District Court this morning.
(A few years ago I bought a used Japanese import - a Nissan Bluebird which is the same as the Altima in the US - the odometer was almost certainly tweaked, showing a mere 45,000 km at the time I bought it. Five years and 120,000 km later, I sold it with nothing but routine maintenance required in between. It seems to me that people buying the used imports need to examine the condition of the vehicle and decide what it is worth to them, and distrust the odometer. - BH)
Tranz Rail is advising Napier motorists that new barriers and signals have been installed at the Pandora roundabout. Spokesman Roy Percival says the automatic half-arm barrier alarm system will stop traffic entering the roundabout when a train is passing. He says the unusual system means motorists travelling from Napier to Ahuriri through the roundabout will not be held up by traffic crossing the railway line. The Pandora level crossing is the first in New Zealand to have a roundabout next to a railway line.
An estimated crowd of four thousand turned out in Bluff to celebrate their love of oysters over the weekend. Entertainers, wines from Central Otago, and oyster-eating races were some of the highlights of the Bluff Oyster and Southland Seafood Festival. Festival spokesman Lindsay Beer says more people are coming to the festival every year, and he met many people at the venue who had travelled from as far afield as Auckland. Lindsay Beer says this year's Bluff oysters are plentiful and of good quality. He says the oyster season, which began in mid-March, could run to the end of August.
(My invitation must have got lost in the post. A comedic sidelight to the festival was that a ship heading for Bluff was instructed to stay out until after the festival. It had a leaking container aboard which contained a chemical called methyl captan if the media got it right. This is the malodorous chemical which is added to propane fuel to make it detectable if it leaks. Clearly the smell was not going to go down well with the oysters - BH)
It's one-all in the battle between Aucklander's John Slater and public relations consultant Michelle Boag for the presidency of the National Party. At this morning regional conference in Auckland incumbent John Slater defeated Ms Boag in a ballot for the position by 164 votes to 125. Last week Michelle Boag pipped Mr Slater by one vote in balloting at a National Party conference in Rotorua. As each hopeful has now picked up one nomination each a final decision will be made at the party's national conference in July. PR consultant Michelle Boag says losing the Auckland nomination for the presidency of the National Party is not a surprise, as she was on the incumbent's territory. Ms Boag says she did not expect to win this morning, and is very heartened by the number of votes she actually received.
Medical students are appealing to universities to accept the Government's offer to help them freeze medical students' fees. It is understood a pre-budget meeting between the university vice- chancellors and the Government is being held today. Medical Students' Association President Richard Pole says students at Otago already pay nearly $50,000 in fees over six years. He says with the cost of living medical students are graduating with huge debts, forcing them to go overseas. Mr Pole says the exodus is adding to the doctor shortage and will have a bad impact on the future health system. He believes some bargaining may be required, saying the Government needs to be prepared to offer more money, and the universities to accept less. The Medical Association backs the students, saying the Government's offer is too good to be turned down.
Taranaki Newspapers Limited has warned a website owner that if a picture of the policeman involved in the shooting of Steven Wallace was taken from one of their publications, legal action for breach of copyright may be taken. Dermott Nottingham denies he took the picture of the Waitara officer from the newspaper. He wants a private prosecution taken against the policeman, who was cleared of any wrongdoing by a police report. Mr Nottingham says the public has not been told the full story on the case. But police say Dermott Nottingham's actions are despicable, and they will be consulting with lawyers to see if the site can be deemed to be a form of criminal harassment. Police say the constable acted lawfully and is now being victimised. However, Internet Society President Peter Dengate-Thrush says the site has probably not broken any law by reproducing the photograph. He says unless the picture was copyrighted, the publisher of the site has done no wrong.
(He probably will not be prosecuted. Nevertheless I am disgusted that Nottingham should do this. In my view this is lower than snail-slime. - BH)
A Bay of Islands guest lodge has banned genetically modified humans following reports the first GE babies have been born in the United States. Up to 30 children have been born after women unable to conceive naturally underwent a revolutionary new genetic fertility treatment at a Reproductive Medicine facility in New Jersey. Orongo Bay Homestead Lodge chef, Michael Hooper says he does not want to risk damaging his lodges' organic certification by serving modified people. He says part of getting the certification relies upon convincing the authority what comes out of people is not harmful. He doubts the move breaches the human rights legislation because he does not believe it covers humans that are new organisms. Mr Hooper says while he does not insist guests are organic, he draws the line at having to deal with fluids from modified humans.
(How many times in human history has one group banned another on the grounds that they were not human? Whatever feelings you may have on the ethics of genetic modification, it is not respectable to categorize or stereotype persons. This is the basis of all racial hatred. Mr Hooper is wrong. - BH)
The Government has this afternoon confirmed the grounding of the combat wing of the Air Force with a possible loss of up to 700 jobs. The Aermacchi trainer jets are also to be scrapped. The future of the bases at Ohakea and Whenuapai hang in the balance with the Government saying it depends on private sector involvement. Prime Minister Helen Clark says the air force job losses may not be as bad as they seem on the face of it. Miss Clark says there are many skilled people in the air force. She says pilots are in demand and technicians are in short supply in the private sector and in some other areas of the armed forces. Defence spending will increase overall by around $2 billion dollars over the next 10 years. The navy will get a replacement for the frigate Canterbury. It will be replaced by a smaller multi-role vessel.
Waiuku 16-year-old Tarryn Pitzer has a commendation from the FBI, and a cap, to remind her of her part in averting a possible school shooting tragedy in the US. Tarryn learned that an American student she was chatting with on the Internet wanted to kill his fellow-students. She contacted Waiuku constable Johnny Rei who helped her identify the youth and his school in Pittsburgh and alert police. In South Auckland today Acting US Ambassador Phil Wall read Tarryn a letter from the FBI head. It said the FBI greatly appreciates her promptly telling the New Zealand police of the boy's threats and also her subsequent efforts to identify him and his school. The part played by Constable Rei was also the subject of a letter of commendation. Ambassador Wall read a second letter from the FBI head praising Constable Rei. Tarryn aims to gain a degree in psychology and continue counselling. She says her experience has given her the confidence to start her own non- profit organisation. She says provided she gets sponsors it will be online, helping young people internationally.
Frustration for the scientist at the centre of a controversial experiment to implant human genes in cows. Dr Phill L'Hullier is quitting New Zealand to further his work overseas. Last week, the High Court ordered the Environmental Risk Management Authority to reconsider its approval of the experiments. Dr L'Huillier says he is fed up with continuing delays to his work He acknowledges people have a right to be concerned about ethical issues in science - but he says he looks for tangible benefits from his research Phil L'Huillier says last week's court ruling undermines New Zealand's ability to be competitive in research.
(Interestingly, ERMA has announced that it will re-process the application, without hearing further witnesses or rehearing any of the previous evidence. It says it is complying with the directive of the court in dealing expeditiously with the matter on the same evidence as before, but this time, it is following all the documented procedures. Predictable outrage in green circles. Meanwhile, a man suffering from MS is sitting guard over the herd at the centre of the dispute, since the research was aimed at benefiting MS sufferers - BH)
A study commissioned by the Christchurch City Council's Poverty Taskforce has found employers are finding it hard to get the right person for the job. The study was carried out by a Canterbury University research team, which surveyed employers advertising in The Press in January. Research team spokesman, Dr Paul Dalziel says employers found that more than 75% of people applying for jobs did not have the right qualifications. He says the survey also found the most important thing employers want is experience, and that makes it hard for those who are trying to get their first job. Dr Dalziel says there are a large number of good jobs being created in the city and the Council has to make sure a highly skilled workforce is available for employers.
Double-murder accused Mark Lundy has appeared in the Palmerston North District Court for a pre-depositions hearing. Lundy is charged with murdering his wife Christine Lundy, and seven-year- old daughter Amber. The pair were found bludgeoned to death in their Karamea Crescent home last August. A depositions hearing has been set down for five days from the 16th of July. Arrangements are being made for a video link to accommodate an overseas witness.
The Tauranga City Council is proceeding with prosecutions against toll dodgers. Recent publicity by a group opposed to the toll prompted a number of motorists to refuse to pay the $1.00 fee for using the harbour bridge between Tauranga and Mount Maunganui However chief executive Paula Thompson will not yet reveal how many prosecutions are involved, or at what stage they are at.
(The toll bridge between Mt Maunganui and Tauranga has recouped its costs more than five times over, and is now being used as a cash cow by the Tauranga Council. - BH)
The Motor Vehicle Dealers Institute says it is determined to crack down on unlicensed second hand car dealers ripping off the public. A joint undercover operation between police and the MVDI has led to the arrest of a South Auckland man on 173 counts of odometer tampering. 38-year-old Phong Do allegedly sold hundreds of clocked cars at car fairs and roadside sales. MVDI Executive Director Steve Downes says the institute is investigating an increasing number of illegal dealers, with more than 40 prosecutions last year. He says even though it is costly, the industry is committed to cracking down on unlicensed dealers.
(The industry might first consider raising its own image in the eyes of the public before it throws stones at anyone else - BH)
Wharfies picketing South Island ports have been dealt a blow in their long-running dispute with Carter Holt Harvey and Mainland Stevedoring. The High Court has issued an injunction forcing the Waterfront Workers' Union to tone down its protests over the use of casual labour to load log vessels at South Island ports. The court has ordered the union to refrain from trespassing. Workers have also been told not to carry out assaults, intimidation, threats, coercive behaviour and any other conduct hindering the loading of logs. Union President Les Wells admits he is disappointed by the wide scope of the injunction. However he says although the ruling will restrict the union's activities, workers will abide by it. Carter Holt Harvey Chief Operating Officer Jay Goodenbour has welcomed the injunction. He says the company went to court to ensure that it could load its ships without disruption, and it is pleased the court also ordered the union to instruct its members to cease all intimidation and illegal action.
Small shareholders are clubbing together in an effort to have a greater influence over company directors. Around 130 people gathered at the Royal Yacht Squadron in Auckland last night for the first meeting of the Small Shareholders Association. Organiser and newly-elected Chairman Bruce Sheppard says the Association will give small shareholders the support to raise issues with company board members and directors. He says small shareholders are often viewed as bankers and kept in the dark about a company's issues. Mr Sheppard says members want to be treated as business partners and have an input into significant decisions. He is confident the Association will form branches in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch and possibly other centres.
Air New Zealand is sending two top executives on a fact-finding mission to tourism destinations hit hard by Qantas New Zealand's collapse. Tourism operators in Queenstown and Rotorua say bookings have plunged because of a lack of available flights into the regions. Destination Queenstown Chief Executive David Kennedy says airline access is the lifeblood of the tourism industry and he wants the airline to address the resort's concerns. Over the next fortnight, Air New Zealand will hold urgent meetings in Queenstown, Rotorua, Hamilton, Dunedin and Invercargill to assess the level of expected demand in the months ahead. Air New Zealand Chief Executive Gary Toomey says the airline will move quickly to acquire additional aircraft if it can confirm that there is adequate demand to justify the expense.
Trustpower consumers are facing an electricity price rise next month. Spokesman Graeme Purches blames the increase on rising costs for wholesale electricity. Most users will pay an average of $36 more each year. But Mr Purches says 8,300 people who are good customers will move onto a "friends" price scheme, and the increase for them will be $12.85 a year. He says customers will notice the price change when they receive their power bill in July.
The Government is kidding itself if it thinks there will be no backlash over its defence cuts according to a former head of defence staff. Sir Ewan Jamieson held the position during the last Labour Government. He says it is interesting that Australian Prime Minister John Howard warned New Zealand it will have to live with the consequences of its actions. Sir Ewan says usually Mr Howard would have used more diplomatic language. He says the Government will feel an international backlash as it did when the Lange government decided to go nuclear-free. Sir Ewan says New Zealand is opting out of collective security and other countries will no longer consult with us on regional security issues. Prime Minister Helen Clark is adamant both Australia and the US will accept her Government's decision.
The Human Rights Commission is reminding employers they cannot make decisions on behalf of pregnant staff members. A woman has been awarded $13,000 after being unfairly dismissed early in her pregnancy. Human Rights Commission spokesman Chris Lawrence says some employers still have an archaic mentality towards pregnancy. He says employers often decide for themselves when women should stop working. Mr Lawrence says that decision is up to pregnant woman. He says the Commission receives more than 45 cases of unfair pregnant dismissal each year.
Auckland International Airport believes it could accommodate all current and future Air Force requirements. The publicly-listed company says relocating the Air Force to Auckland airport would be a more efficient use of the country's resources, as all the required facilities are already in place. Managing director John Goulter says a relocation would allow the Government to sell prime real estate at Whenuapai and Hobsonville. He says Auckland Airport could develop hangers and maintenance bases and lease them back to the Air Force on a long-term basis. Other airports around the world which host military and civilian aircraft include Canberra, Newcastle and Honolulu.
(How the wheel turns. As a boy I used to cycle from Birkenhead through Albany and Riverhead to Whenuapai which was the country's only international airport at that time. NAC had Dragon Rapides and DC3s, and the new-fangled Viscounts. BOAC had Comet 4s, Pan Am had DC7C and rarely a Boeing Stratocruiser. Air Canada had the loveliest of the all, the elegant Britannia. Qantas had Super Constellations, while TEAL and the now defunct French airline UTA had DC6s. TEAL upgraded to the Lockheed Electra, the fatally flawed civilian predecessor of today's P3 Orions. These all mixed it with the Bristol Freighters, De Havilland Doves and Handley Page Hastings, Canberra bombers and the Harvards of the RNZAF. Civil aviation was a guest on the military base. - BH)
(Of course, if the Police College is sitting idle, this is a sensible use. Isn't it? - BH)
The Government is planning to recruit more than 600 new Police officers by June next year. Police Minister George Hawkins announced in Parliament today that the Government has signed off the funding for a new recruitment advertising campaign. Mr Hawkins says the campaign will concentrate on attracting more women, Pacific Island and Asian peoples to the force. He says that it is essential the Police reflect the make up of our community, and targets have been set for all of the minority groups. Mr Hawkins says it is important to keep the pressure on criminals, and he claims with this new set of more than 600 recruits, the Police will be stronger than ever.
(For one brief shining moment, I thought the Minister for the Prevention of Policing had done something right. Then I discovered that this great leap forward is to be funded from within the existing police budget. I approve of fiscal prudence, but it is not prudent to squeeze organizations so hard that their morale is extinguished and the people can't do their jobs. It is unreasonable to look for private sector levels of performance without funding at private sector levels. - BH)
TVNZ chairman Ross Armstrong is at the centre of a political storm following his criticism of the organisation's news chief Paul Cutler. Television staff met in Auckland this afternoon and a meeting is also being held in Christchurch. Up to 100 staff at the Auckland meeting said Dr Armstrong's reported comments represented a serious attack on the integrity of Mr Cutler and the news staff. Mr Cutler has accepted a job with CNN in Atlanta. The staff rejected any political interference in news and attacks on staff. On the political front the ACT party has waded into the dispute supporting staff, while New Zealand First says Dr Armstrong's views were justified. Meanwhile, Marian Hobbs, the Minister of Broadcasting, says she has not had a chance to discuss with Dr Armstrong his comments on Mr Cutler, in which he made it clear he was pleased Mr Cutler was leaving.
Police have released the name of a woman killed in a hit and run accident in Lower Hutt last night. 35 year old Raewyn Wairata Page, from Lower Hutt, was hit with such force, she was hurled several metres. A post mortem has been held to establish the extent of Ms Page's injuries. The incident happened in Oxford Terrace at about 10.15 Wednesday night, where two cars had been seen racing down the street. Police say they have had a good response from the public, but still need more information about the drivers. They have described the crime as "nasty and cowardly". Both cars disappeared after the accident.
A step in the right direction, is how the Maori Council describes approval of two specialist Maori seats on the Bay of Plenty Regional Council. Parliament's Justice and Electoral Committee has approved a bill which would allow the move. The Government believes other councils should consider the idea. Maori Council chairman Maanu Paul, who lives in the Bay of Plenty, says it gives a clear sign to the rest of New Zealand. He says it means the country has come of age in using the democratic system to benefit everyone. He believes local and regional authorities should reflect what happens nationally, where Maori are guaranteed seats in parliament. Mr Paul says they may be slow learners but other councils should also fall in line. He says local authority representation should be in proportion to land holdings, because councils are funded by rates based on land values. Meanwhile, minority groups are being encouraged to stand for their local council in the October elections. Local Government New Zealand has set up a hotline offering information about what is involved. Chief executive, Peter Winder, says the campaign aims to get more Maori, Pacific Islanders and disabled to put their names forward so that all sectors of the community have a voice on council. Over the past decade there has been an increase in minority groups being elected to councils, with women now making up 29 per cent of local authorities. The hotline number is - 0800 Participate.
(I wait with weary resignation the inevitable chorus of whines - BH)
Violent crime is at its highest level ever in New Zealand, according to official police figures released by the Opposition. National's police spokesperson Tony Ryall says the figures show violent offences have risen to almost 110 for every 10 thousand people - an increase of almost 5%. Mr Ryall claims this is a sign the Government is not acknowledging they are losing the war against violent crime. He says Police Minister George Hawkins made comments that New Zealand is a more secure place, when he must have been aware of the increase in violent crime.
The Economic Development Ministry has backed up an earlier initial finding that Korean refrigerators and washing machines are being dumped on the New Zealand market. The Ministry's findings follow a complaint from local whiteware manufacturer Fisher & Paykel late last year. Ministry spokesman Rory McLeod says Korean fridges are being exported to New Zealand for about 47 per cent less than Korean consumers pay for them. He says in the case of washing machines it is around 68 per cent less. Mr McLeod says this has led to price undercutting in the market, which is affecting Fisher & Paykel's profit, and - in one case - its market share. Importers of Korean whiteware can comment on the findings before the final report is written.
The Auckland High Court trial of a former police officer on sex and assault charges has been aborted and the jury discharged. 25- year-old Tyler Stephens is facing seven charges, including an alleged rape. The jury was discharged after 16 hours of deliberations. The judge suppressed the reason for abandoning the trial. Another trial is expected to be rescheduled in July. Stephens has been remanded in custody.
(I sometimes wonder why we in New Zealand need so many suppression orders. Other jurisdictions seem to cope without them. Why not us? - BH)
Unemployment is at its lowest level in nearly 13 years. Figures
out this morning put the jobless rate at 5.4 per cent. It has not
been that low since June 1988, when it was 5.2 per cent.
Statistics New Zealand says labour market conditions are largely
unchanged between the March 2001 and the December 2000 quarters.
Compared with the March 2000 quarter, the number of people without
work has fallen by 16,000, a drop of more than 13 per cent. The
number of long-term unemployed has gone down by 9,000 to 30,500
over the past 12 months. Those who were in short-term unemployment
fell from 73,00 to 64,400. All ethnic groups showed declines in
their unemployment rate during the year. Twelve per cent of the
Maori workforce are without a job, compared with 4.2 per cent for
Europeans. Regionally the lowest unemployment rate was in
Southland (2.8 per cent), followed by Tasman/Nelson/West
Coast/Marlborough (2.9 per cent). The highest rate for the March
quarter was in Bay of Plenty (8.5 per cent), followed by Northland
(7.7 per cent).
Northland farmers with flood-prone properties are being urged to move stock to higher ground. It has been raining heavily for more than 12 hours in parts of Northland, with the eastern hills north of Whangarei receiving between 70 and 100 millimetres of rain. Northland Regional Council spokeswoman Valerie Monk says forecasters are predicting further isolated heavy downpours this afternoon (Thursday). She says some low-lying farms are already flooded. Motorists are also being advised to take care as several roads are affected by slips and surface flooding.
A bus driver has been fined and sentenced to four months periodic detention over the death of a school boy on Auckland's North Shore. Kereopa Te Waru Puru had been found guilty of careless use of vehicle, causing death and failing to stop after the accident which claimed the life of 12-year-old Matthew Taylor. The judge said Puru made a gross misjudgment when he decided to continue his bus route before returning to the scene of the accident. Puru has been ordered to make reparations of more than $2,000 to the family of Matthew Taylor. He has also been disqualified from driving for 12 months. Meanwhile Matthew's father Lex Taylor is calling for changes, saying school bus services need improving. He says they carry a parent's most precious cargo. He would rather see dedicated school buses painted differently, with a very caring driver. Mr Taylor says the family are angry Puru escaped a jail term. He says if Puru spent time in prison and thought over what he had done he might be more remorseful. In the aftermath of the accident, Auckland's Stagecoach bus company has announced they may stop using bendy-buses to transport school children. Stagecoach's executive chairman Ross Martin says changes have been made since the accident. Children can no longer get off from the rear of the bendy-buses, but the company will look at their overall suitability for school trips. Mr Martin says Stagecoach is very sorry for what happened and will be working with Matthew's family to help them through the difficult time.
The partner of Mangakino police constable Colin McLean says he is an honest, caring man who is innocent of rape. In the High Court at Rotorua today McLean was sentenced to five years imprisonment for rape. McLean showed no emotion, when the sentence was handed down. Justice Chambers told him the sentence starting-point for a contested rape case such as this was eight years. He said, however, there were mitigating circumstances that had a bearing. These included McLean's good character, and the fact it was his first offence. But he added that the offence had clearly been very stressful for the victim. McLean's partner of two years Robyn Gabolinsky says because of the confines of the law there are things that can not be made public. She says some people involved in the trial have been less than truthful, and that the investigation into the case was far from honourable. She says the treatment she and McLean have received has not been acceptable. Ms Gabolinsky says the media coverage of McLean's continued police salary and his attempts to PERF from the force are not justified.
(McLean still denies that any rape occurred. - BH)
Police hunting for a man over the abduction at gunpoint of a Tauranga woman are believed to be focusing their attention on Auckland's North Shore. The woman was forced to drive her Nissan Terrano four-wheel drive to Katikati where she escaped. The gunman took off in her vehicle. which was later seen at a reserve at Waihi Beach. A large police force converged on the area but there was no further sighting. However a short time ago armed police rushed to the Browns Bay area of Auckland's North Shore. Police sources have told IRN News the two incidents are related.
A post mortem examination supports the police theory that a woman killed in a hit and run this week was struck by two cars. Thirty- five year-old Raewyn Page died on Wednesday night after being hit on Oxford Terrace in Lower Hutt, north of Wellington. Witnesses saw two cars racing each other in the area. However, police say they are keeping an open mind as to what happened, as they are yet to receive results back from forensics and crash analysts. They plan to release more details about what type of cars they believe hit the victim.
(Today, Saturday, a 20 year old youth turned himself in at the Lower Hutt Police Station where he now faces serious charges. The family of the deceased say the other driver should now do likewise. - BH)
A study of three Auckland hospitals shows patients are no more likely to suffer adverse medical events than those in Australia or Britain. The pilot study headed by Professor Peter Davis, was carried out by Auckland and Otago Universities. Their report into more than 1300 patients showed 10% experienced an adverse event. They included infections, reactions to drugs, bleeding during surgery and post-op complications. Medical Association chairman Dr John Adams says the rate of adverse events is similar to equivalent research overseas. He says half of the events occurred before admission and half of those occurred outside hospital. Dr Adams says the greatest impact came from poor quality assurance and systems errors. He says more resources in those areas could avoid some adverse events.
(Is "no worse than..." a satisfactory standard of achievement? - BH)
Date: 10 May 2001 Brian Dooley
Wellington New Zealand
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