Copyright © 1995 Brian Harmer
An aspect of last week's Kapiti trip finds an echo this week. As we were trudging wearily up Trig track (which a correspondent who was apparently on the same trip tells me is achieved daily by people working on the island in about 30 minutes), we encountered a much fitter person who had already been to the top and was now on his way down. Between gasps, and dripping sweat, we asked "how much further to the junction?". His breezy estimate was about twenty minutes, but he said the stitchbird feeding station was "just round the corner". Some thirty interminable minutes later, we collapsed onto the seat at the feeding station, vowing to strangle that optimist if we ever met him again.
The echo comes in regard to the promise of summer. According to all the experts, it too has been "just around the corner" for several months now. We have had the odd bright day here and there, but I can not recall a January and February so filled with cold Southerlies and rain as this one. I swear the conditions in Wellington yesterday were such that I would not have been surprised to see snow on the Orongorongos when the weather cleared. It reminds me of my six month sojourn working in the head office of the now absorbed National Insurance company of New Zealand in Dunedin way back in 1966. I went there in January and when at last we had a sunny day towards the end of February, a colleague proclaimed this to be "a typical Dunedin day - at last!". So it has been here. Even the cicadas, those harbingers of hot dry weather, have given up waiting, and are singing their cheerful noisy chorus despite the wind and rain. Have you ever noticed when driving though bush in a car with the windows down, that even at a hundred km/h the solo part in any chorus of cicadas is passed seamlessly from one to the next, so that the loudest song is always just outside your window? Still, if nothing else, "summer" has brought with it a splendid crop of Omega plums, though alas the golden queen peaches are a sad and sorry lot.
All news items (except where noted otherwise) are reproduced by kind permission of copyright owner, IRN Ltd. Any text above this point, and all subsequent 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. In all cases they are honest expressions of personal opinion, and are not presented as fact.
This week's formatting is sponsored by our friends at WWW.KiaOraThailand.com. Thank you. Last week, I raised the issue of funding for the formatting. It was not my intention to renew the campaign, or to seek a whole lot of new promises. Rather, I wanted to remind some of those who promised last time, that they forgot to follow through, and no support was ever received from a surprisingly large number.
On with the news:
An Occupational Safety and Health official says it is only luck that prevented another death at an Auckland construction site over the weekend. A six-metre concrete wall collapsed at an inner-city building site on Saturday. The site had only recently re-opened, after a similar incident three weeks ago killed a construction worker. OSH regional manager in Auckland, John Forrest, says an investigation is underway to determine how the wall collapsed. All work at the site has been stopped indefinitely, by OSH.
(As far as I can tell, this site seems to border on Auckland's Anzac Avenue, just below the intersection with Prince's Street. I am surprised at a construction site being so unstable and can remember no similar incident in New Zealand prior to this. - BH)
West Auckland police are speaking with the victim of a 17- hour abduction and rape ordeal. The 23-year-old woman was snatched from a suburban street on Saturday afternoon. She escaped when her attacker fell asleep. Efforts to capture him have so far failed. Detective Senior Sergeant John Sutton describes the man as a slim Caucasian, about 30 years of age, with short brown hair. Detective Senior Sergeant Sutton wants to hear from anyone who has seen a light blue or silver Mitsubishi hatchback with damage to its front, a cracked windscreen and with the registration number PD 7617.
A major election-year announcement is expected from the Prime Minister tomorrow. Helen Clark is scheduled to release her government's national innovation strategy. It is a plan Miss Clark says advisers have been working on for some time, aimed at speeding up economic growth. Miss Clark says it will concentrate on some key industries, such as information technology and bio-technology where growth will flow into other sectors of the economy. Helen Clark says tomorrow's policy announcement will be followed by budget initiatives.
(I wonder at the wisdom of making an announcement to the effect that we are about to say something. That can only lead to speculation and disappointment. Wouldn't it be more sensible just to say it when you are ready so that the first statement is the subject itself which can then be judged on its merits rather than against a background of all the possible things it might have been? - BH)
Conservationists wait with bated breath to see if an environmental disaster can be averted in Poverty Bay as efforts to remove fuel oil from the stranded log boat Jody F Millennium gets into full swing. Inflatable barges are being used to ferry the ship's supply to the Navy's hydrographic research ship, HMNZS Endeavour. A small amount of oil has already leaked from the ship. Hundreds of tonnes remain on board. Bad weather is predicted and there is a risk far more oil could spill from the battered ship. Forest and Bird's Senior Conservation Officer Barry Weeber says two ecologically sensitive areas can be found in Poverty Bay. He says threatened birds include Dotterels, Herons and Blue Penguins.
(I have been surprised at the sheer viscosity of this fuel. It seems to be able to be picked up in lumps, like black yoghurt. It needs to be heated before it can be pumped. Ugly stuff, but no doubt more economical than the more refined fuel used in smaller engines. - BH)
The jury in the Palmerston High Court has heard about the steps taken to test brain and tissue samples from a shirt of double murder-accused Mark Lundy. The court heard last week the samples were many thousands of times more likely to have come from his bludgeoned wife Christine and daughter Amber than from anyone else. Today the jury was shown photos detailing how the samples were obtained and secured. They were also told Detective Sergeant Ross Grantham travelled to Texas to have the samples tested . On his return, on February 13 last year, the murder inquiry team immediately planned how they would conduct an interview with Lundy.
The National Party is calling for an inquiry into the secondary school teacher shortage. Education Minister Trevor Mallard concedes 141 more secondary teachers are required around the country, because many more students than expected have enrolled this year. National's Education spokesman Nick Smith says Mr Mallard must be held accountable for the huge under-estimation of enrolments. He says it is not a complex task to monitor the flow of students from one year to the next. Mr Smith has lodged a Notice of Motion with the Education Select Committee calling for an inquiry into the enrolment problems.
Six Mongrel Mob members arrested by police in Palmerston North at the weekend are appearing in the District Court today, facing a variety of charges. They were rounded up in a major operation following the shooting of 16-year-old Black Power prospect Wallace Whatuira on Waitangi Day. A Black Power member who turned himself in to police will also appear in court. The men face charges including breaching bail, possession of cannabis, obstructing police and fire arms offences. The funeral of Mr Whatuira is underway at the Highbury Whanau Centre. His body will be taken to Pahiatua for burial
New Zealand Post is being accused by the Act party of trying to cover up the failure of an overseas consultancy job in South Africa. It follows the leaking of a report into New Zealand Post's International wing Transend and its failed postal contract with the South African Government. The leaked report says the venture was disjointed and based on unrealistic targets. But Act's Finance spokesman, Rodney Hide, says what is most concerning is that New Zealand Post denied having the report when asked by a Select Committee in November. He claims the Committee was misled, as the leaked report was given to New Zealand Post in August last year.
(I always have mixed feelings about Mr Hide. My vision of him is that he is an extremely hard worker who finds windmills to tilt at, even if he has to build them himself. On this occasion, I have formed a strong impression that he is right. - BH)
Maori Affairs Minister Parekura Horomia will be seeking a briefing today on reports a large chunk of Government funding for Maori documentaries has gone to Tukuroirangi Morgan. The Maori broadcasting agency, Te Mangai Paho, is said to have allocated more than 40 per cent of its documentary and magazine budget last financial year to the former New Zealand First MP's production company. Mr Horomia says he will comment once he knows more detail this afternoon. Tukuroirangi Morgan is already receiving $1.6 million in taxpayer funding to make a Maori language documentary series tracing Maori migration across the Pacific.
(To be fair, the budget variously reported as $1.6 or $1.8 million is to achieve a project with a huge number of costs. The media persists in acting as if $1.8 million is being paid personally to Mr Morgan, which of course it is not. On the basis of history, I would have preferred him not to be in charge. - BH)
A tougher stand on the issue of name suppression is being called for, after a week of speculation and rumours in Christchurch. Local car dealer Rick Armstrong says his business has suffered after he was falsely rumoured to be the businessman convicted of trying to hire a 12 year-old girl for sex. National MP Gerry Brownlee says a review of the name suppression law is needed. He says the whole point of name suppression orders is to protect the innocent and, in this case, it has clearly backfired. He says, to avoid similar problems in the future, name suppression should rarely be used in the courts. Mr Brownlee says, if the police appeal against the name suppression is unsuccessful, he will seriously consider using parliamentary privilege to reveal the convicted man's identity.
(Not often I agree with Mr Brownlee, but on the matter of broad principle at least, I think he is right. - BH)
New Zealand is heading for a property price boom according to one property investor. Olly Newland says all the current market signs point towards big increases in property values and he expects house and land prices in prime areas to move up as much as 20 per cent. He says the current upswing in activity feels like the property booms experienced in the 1980s and mid-90s. But Mr Newland is warning investors not to get sucked into purchasing cheap apartments and townhouses for investment purposes. He says property booms only last between six and 12 months.
Tuesday, 12 February (belatedly, Gung Hey Fat Choy!)
There has been a set back to the start of the Lisa Blakie murder trial in Christchurch. The jury for the three month trial of former Darfield man, Timothy Taylor, had been selected this morning and opening addresses were about to be delivered. However, after a meeting in chambers, Justice William Young revealed a juror had revealed a problem about being part of the trial. He discharged the jury and ordered the case be reconvened on Friday. It is not the first time jury problems have arisen in Christchurch. One case involving a former police officer was twice deferred last year under similar circumstances.
(The frustration on the face of the learned judge was just a picture. Having had to discharge one jury, he admonished the next batch slowly and clearly, requiring them to listen very carefully to the instruction that if they had a problem which would prevent their sitting throughout the trial, they should say so before they took their seat. Twice, it seems, the jury was laboriously empanelled and twice, if I understood tonight's TV news, someone belatedly decided they couldn't stay. I don't understand why another juror could not be selected. We apparently don't have any system of alternate jurors sitting like a spare tyre waiting one of the initial panel to go flat. I am surprised someone didn't get at the very least, vigorously ticked off! - BH)
Parliament has held a minute's silence today in tribute to Princess Margaret. The Princess died at the weekend aged 71 after a series of strokes. All of the political parties paid their respects, and offered their condolences to the Royal family. Many who spoke today commented fondly on her fun-loving and, at times, controversial life.
An east Auckland woman claims her partner has lost out on 16 months worth of pension payments because of a mistake by the Department of Work and Income. The Howick woman, who wants to be known only as Jan, says a few weeks before her partner's 65th birthday last month, the department contacted him to organise the payment of superannuation. When he went in to do so, he was informed payments should have started in October 2000, because of the changeover period while the age of eligibility was raised from 60 to 65. Jan says they were told the missed instalments, amounting to more than $10 thousand, could not be back- paid. She says she now has to apply to the Social Security Appeal Authority for money which she claims is rightfully theirs.
Innovation, diversity and strategic intervention have been painted by the Government as the key to our economic future. Prime Minister Helen Clark has unveiled a vision the coalition hopes will lead to the economy growing by four per cent a year in four years time. It focuses on continuing to build partnerships with the private sector in areas such as biotechnology, communications technology and creative industries such as film production. Miss Clark says New Zealand must not only pinpoint but promote what it does best. She says New Zealand must be seen as smart and innovative, and not just clean and green. The Prime Minister's opening speech to Parliament has been immediately shot down as nothing but a "vacuous political exercise". National's leader Bill English has told the House the Prime Minister's provided no practical measures to transform New Zealand's economy. He says New Zealanders will be hugely disappointed with the PM's State-of-the- Nation. Bill English says National will focus on building ambition amongst New Zealanders.
Former Team New Zealand designer Laurie Davidson has admitted some One World team members may have seen some photographs of Team New Zealand testing its yachts. Another former Team New Zealand member, Sean Reeves, has alleged Mr Davidson sold key design secrets to the Seattle-based challenge. Mr Davidson is flatly denying the claims. He says his intentions were honourable with the photographs, saying he wanted to take them back to Team New Zealand. He says, on the way there, he stopped at the One World offices, where the photos may have been seen by other people. Mr Davidson says he returned the photos to Team New Zealand the same day.
Salvage experts hope to use heavy swells, expected to hit Poverty Bay tomorrow afternoon, to help refloat the Jody F Millennium. They say an attempt will be made to move the log carrier before the weather gets too bad. The ship's bow has moved three degrees to port and is now facing more out to sea. The towing vessel Pacific Chieftain has had a line to the vessel since last night. United Salvage spokesman Ian Hoskison says it is possible the ship will start to move as the weather gets up tomorrow. He says, if that happens, the salvage master may begin dumping ballast and move the vessel out to sea. Meanwhile, the team set up to save wildlife caught in the leaked oil has not been too busy so far. Treatment Centre coordinator Richard Norman says shoreline searches showed only a small number of birds affected by the oil. He says only two were contaminated to the extent that they needed capturing and cleaning. Both birds have since died, partly because of the level of contamination. The wildlife centre will stay on standby.
(It didn't - BH)
The father of a missing tramper, whose body has just been found, has travelled to attend the post mortem examination. A body found near Lake Daniels is almost certainly that of 14 year old Elon Oved, who disappeared in the area last December. The boy's father has already identified the remains as his son's, through photos, although dental records are yet to give final confirmation. A search and rescue member discovered the body on Sunday, several kilometres from the hut where the boy was last seen alive.
The defence has begun its case this afternoon at the depositions hearing into the private prosecution being brought over the police shooting of Steven Wallace. Constable Keith Abbott's defence lawyer, Susan Hughes, told the New Plymouth District Court he would not be giving evidence. Susan Hughes said Constable Abbott gave information at the time of the shooting and did not want to be subjected to further public scrutiny. Mrs Hughes said she will be calling Steven Wallace's parents and sister to give evidence.
Kiwibank chairman Jim Bolger and chief executive Sam Knowles are convinced this is one kiwi that is going to fly. Personal banking has returned to some Post Shops, with Kiwibank opening for business today in Palmerston North. Sam Knowles says there has been immense interest in the launch of Kiwibank's first seven branches this week. He says appointments are being set up for people who want to open accounts weeks in advance. Kiwibank staff say there has been particular interest in home loans.
The Government is expected to rush legislation through Parliament which would push up the price of petrol by another four cents a litre. The Government currently takes around 35 cents a litre in petrol taxes. The money will go towards the Government's $740 million transport strategy with the bulk of it being spent on easing traffic congestion in Auckland. Labour has been arguing with the Greens about the strategy, with the minor party saying not enough is being spent on public transport. Finance Minister Michael Cullen says he never comments in advance on changes in excise tax. The move comes as Shell and BP announce they are increasing the price of petrol prices by five cents a litre and diesel by three cents.
(This is being seen by many as compounding an already iniquitous theft. A large percentage of the present tax on petrol goes straight into the consolidated fund and is not tagged at all for matters pertaining to road transport. To add even more to support Auckland's roads which many of us see as overfunded already is just salt in the wound. - BH)
Harsher penalties are in the pipeline for people who commit hate crimes based on race, sexuality or religion. Parliament's Justice Committee has recommended hate crime legislation be added to the Government's Sentencing and Parole Bill, which is designed to toughen up sentences for the worst crimes. Chairman of the Committee, Labour MP Tim Barnett, says courts need to start looking at prejudice and racism as an aggravating factor when sentencing. He says people who are attacked solely because of their race or religion, will be able to see their attacker get a longer sentence based on that factor. The Committee has also recommended increasing the use of restorative justice as a way of balancing longer jail terms.
Another veteran National party MP has decided to call it quits. List MP and former Cabinet Minister John Luxton has announced he will stand down at this year's election. Mr Luxton, who has been in Parliament for 15 years, including nine as a Minister, says he wants a career change. His retirement follows that of other former Cabinet Ministers Wyatt Creech and Jenny Shipley. He says the decision of three senior MPs to step down will make room for new blood to come into the party. But Mr Luxton says he was under no pressure to stand aside.
Insurance companies say large, sub-standard ships are coming to New Zealand, because of our lack of laws requiring insurance. Insurance Council chief executive Chris Ryan says New Zealand is becoming isolated in the international community for not requiring vessels over 400 tonnes to have a minimum level of insurance. Chris Ryan says these ships could do enormous damage to our environment and tourism industry. He says countries like the US, and more recently Australia, have passed such legislation and as a consequence the uninsured ships are heading for our waters. However, the stranded log carrier, Jody F Millennium, which is at the centre of a salvage operation of the Gisborne coast, DOES have insurance. The salvage company working to free the stricken vessel says it is happy with the way things are going. Logs are being lifted off the vessel's bow to lighten it, and the ship has now swung 20 degrees round towards the direction of the open sea. Ian Hoskison, a director of United Salvage, says the salvage master plans to "cajole" it off, rather than drag it off. He says they may try to refloat the ship tonight, or wait until the next high tide in the morning.
(Given that this ship is so insured, I am a little unsure about the relevance of the headline. - BH)
The Prime Minister has come under fire in Parliament for not being able to greet the Queen, when she arrives for her state visit here later this month. Helen Clark will be at a meeting of Progressive Governments in Stockholm, when Queen Elizabeth arrives on the 22nd of February. National's Bill English says it is unacceptable for the Prime Minister to be out of the country when our official head of state arrives. He says he wants to know why having morning tea in Stockholm is more important than meeting the Queen. Helen Clark says she will be back in time for the official start of the Queen's tour, which is two days later, and that the Palace is happy with that arrangement.
(There is nothing worse than a grumpy palace! - BH)
An extensive air and water search is under way this afternoon in Waiwera north of Auckland, after a dinghy with three children onboard overturned. Auckland Volunteer Coastguard duty officer Jaron Phillips says a search has been going on since around 2 o'clock this afternoon. Two of the children have been recovered but a seven-year-old boy is still missing. Mr Phillips says the Coastguard, air patrol and water search vessels are being used and a shoreline search is also in full swing.
(His body was reported found on Saturday - BH)
Electronics giant Philips is confident wide-screen televisions will be in just about every household in a relatively short period of time. Philips has recorded phenomenal levels of growth in the wide-screen market over the past 12 months. Philips general manager, Errol McKenzie, says it will become the normal format for every television because broadcasters are increasingly sending out wide-screen signals. He says cost will not be a problem because as time goes on, the price will come down.
(I am not sure why the advent of wide-screen TV is news. Now if it included a full nationwide upgrade to the HDTV standard, that would be news. - BH)
The Government has released a detailed justification for its decision to sign New Zealand up to the Kyoto Protocol. The National Interest Analysis Report to the UN, weighs up the pros and cons of joining, and the policies required to meet the climate change treaty. The report concedes that signing up to the treaty may hold back economic growth slightly and reduce Gross National Product. But it says New Zealand's climate-based farming industries make it extremely vulnerable to climate change and it is in the country's best interest to join. It also says New Zealand would severely damage its international reputation by not joining. The country is also expected to gain economically from the treaty's carbon sink system, whereby we get credits on the greenhouse gases we emit in proportion to the number of forests we have. Signing up will mean New Zealand has to cut back greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels.
A new butter product is being hailed as a potentially great opportunity for the New Zealand dairy industry. The new butter, developed by a team of researchers at the New Zealand Dairy Research Institute in Palmerston North, has been shown to help reduce blood cholesterol levels when eaten as part of a moderate fat diet. The butter was altered to increase the proportion of unsaturated fats, which are thought to be 'heart healthy', by giving the milking cows a specially formulated feed supplement. The trial was conducted on 20 young men and showed that the modified butter lowered circulating levels of cholesterol by around five to 10 per cent. Dr Sally Poppitt, from the University of Auckland Human Nutrition Unit, says even small reductions in blood cholesterol are encouraging clinically. She says it was particularly interesting that blood cholesterol decreased in these young, healthy, normal weight men who are thought to be the group most resistant to improvements in health through dietary change. Fonterra, which funded the research, says that the initial trial results are exciting. However, any decision about the possible commercialisation of the modified butter is still some way off.
Creative New Zealand believes it will be easier to produce more successes like Lord of the Rings, thanks to the Government's innovation strategy. The Government is including the arts as one of the industries it wants to promote. Creative's chairman Peter Biggs says that will make it easier for artists to succeed in their trades. He says you just need to look at the 'Lord of the Rings' trilogy to see how that will benefit the country. Mr Biggs says the film has created jobs and raised New Zealand's profile. Eleven New Zealanders have been nominated for Oscars for their involvement in making Lord of the Rings.
The father of Steven Wallace has been in the witness stand in the Constable Keith Abbott depositions hearing at the New Plymouth District Court. Constable Abbott is facing a private prosecution for the murder of Steven Wallace, whom he shot after a window smashing spree in the Taranaki town of Waitara nearly two years ago. The court has heard of a son who "played up a bit" and was hard to calm down after drinking alcohol. Jim Wallace told the court at times it was best to leave Steven alone when he became aggravated. He said, when he did intervene, it was talking that calmed Steven down. Jim Wallace told the court of a family dinner with a beer over a rugby league game, before Steven went to town. He said it was the last time they had together. Our reporter in court says today's proceedings have been held up by interruptions - including 11 in one 32-minute period, caused by arguments between defence and prosecution counsel.
A Wellington-based consortium has successfully bid to survey fish stocks in the waters off the United Arab Emirates. It is hoped the $3 million deal will lead to even better things. The group of three fisheries management consultants has landed the contract to survey the stocks of fish in the Gulf of Oman, as well as around the UAE. One of those involved , Bruce Shallard, says the 15 month project will be of great benefit. He says a research trawler will be there for 12 months surveying the area. Mr Shallard says contracts of this type are a sign of significant growth area for New Zealand consultancies.
New Zealand actor Kevin Smith is in a 'serious' condition in a Beijing Hospital after being injured in a fall. Exact details about how the actor hurt himself and the extent of his injuries are scarce. Kevin Smith's wife, parents and brother-in-law have flown to China to be with him. The actor was in Beijing to take part in a martial arts film, but he was not filming when he fell. Richard Taylor from Wellington film company Weta Workshop says he has heard Smith is in a poor condition but improving. He says its lucky Kevin is a strong person both physically and mentally, which he hopes will help the actor to recover from the injuries he has sustained. Kevin Smith began his career as a stand-up comedian but came to world wide fame as an actor, playing the character Ares in the New Zealand- made fantasy series Hercules and Xena, Warrior Princess. He is a veteran of dozens of stage plays and musicals in this country.
(Last night's TV news tends to say the actor's condition is much worse than has been previously admitted. - BH)
Bee keepers in Pauatahanui near Wellington will soon know if they have been affected by the varroa mite. A log carrying a hive infected by the mite was found at a local sawmill last month after it was transported to Pauatahuanui from Northland. MAF experts were concerned that bees from the infected hive would spread the deadly pest to hives in the south of the North Island and to the South Island. Neither area has been affected so far. MAF's Varroa Project Manager, Paul Bolger, says they have just completed testing for the mite. He says the mite could have infected 80 hives, as well as two commercial operations in the area. The varroa mite causes worker bees to become sluggish, which slows honey production and can lead to the eventual death of the Queen bee and the hive.
(There was no trace of varroa mite in that particular hive - BH)
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry officials have swooped on a number of North Island properties, as they investigate allegations of illegal exports of dairy products. One of the searches took place at a site owned by dairy giant Fonterra. MAF spokesman Tim Knox says Fonterra was very cooperative and produced the documents officers were looking for. He says the visits are part of an on-going inquiry, and should not be seen as a sudden escalation of its investigation. The current investigation was triggered by allegations of illegal exports brought to MAF's attention by the Dairy Board in September.
The former head of the ASB Bank, Ralph Norris has been appointed CEO and managing director of Air New Zealand. Mr Norris put his application forward at the last minute, after being on the board of Air New Zealand which was selecting the new chief executive. Air New Zealand's chairman, John Palmer, says Mr Norris has a track record in change management, competitive marketing and innovative use of technology, which is all relevant to the company. Ralph Norris, who is 52, says his experience on Air New Zealand's board means he is aware of the problems which the company has to overcome.
(There is certainly an odd appearance to a person who is on the selection committee presenting himself as a late candidate. I do not allege impropriety, but it is not my idea of how these things should be conducted. - BH)
There has been a setback for the salvors trying to get the Jody F Millennium back out to sea. The line from the large tug the Pacific Chieftain has snapped this afternoon, leaving only one smaller tug holding the stranded log carrier in position. IRN's reporter at the scene Murray Robertson says the Seatow 25 is gamely trying to hold on with its line still attached to the ship. But he says the Jody F Millennium has drifted back almost to her original position where she ran aground just over a week ago.
(Another large salvage tug is on its way across the Tasman, and the two of them together may effect the rescue that everyone is hoping for. Seatow 25 is just a pup when seen alongside Pacific Chieftain which is normally based at New Plymouth in support of the oil rigs. - BH)
The National Party is wasting no time in attacking the new head of Television New Zealand. TVNZ staff are expected to be told at around 4 o'clock this afternoon that former well-known broadcaster Ian Fraser will take over as the new CEO of the company. Mr Fraser has previously been the head of the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra. National's Broadcasting spokeswoman, Katherine Rich, is questioning whether the Government will get value for money with Mr Fraser. She says her sources say he will be earning a salary of close to half a million dollars. But she says the key issue is whether he has the financial and management skills required, to run a multi-million dollar TV company.
(I don't know how Mr Fraser will make out. As Russell Brown observes he is an absolutely positively Wellingtonian plonked in the middle of the brashest Auckland industry. Personally I think he should move the whole deal back to Avalon... but in any event, it only takes a little bit of starter culture in a vat of cream to begin the process of creating a really good cheese, so maybe he will improve Auckland as well as TVNZ - BH)
The Jody F Millennium stranded just off Waikanae Beach at Gisborne is taking a battering from a large swell. The two- and-a-half-metre swell has been pounding the boat, which was being positioned to be re-floating. Reporter Murray Robertson, who is at the beach, says the waves are crashing over the boat and the ship is rocking and bucking in the conditions. He says the two tug boats attached to the ship have lengthened their ropes to cope with the rising swell. Murray Robertson says the salvors are not too concerned about the current conditions, which are expected to last for another 24 hours. Today's rough conditions have also forced the postponement of the helicopter operation to remove the logs from the ship. Meanwhile, the Government is moving swiftly to ensure all ships - not just oil tankers - will be required to take out compulsory insurance in the future. Transport Minister Mark Gosche says the appropriate legislative changes will be made within the next few months. He also agrees with National's Nick Smith, that any new laws should cover all costs associated with strandings. Mark Gosche says that will be included in the new legislation. He says, while the Jody F Millennium is fully insured, the incident highlights the need for comprehensive legislation.
There was conflict today at the New Plymouth District Court over claims the police officer who shot dead Steven Wallace was at a staff function on the night of the shooting. The prosecution says Constable Keith Abbott was at a police farewell party, but Inspector Anne Knox testified otherwise. She has told the court she did not see Constable Abbott at the function on the night of Steven Wallace's shooting. Inspector Knox also said Constable Abbott was following police firing orders and admits, if she had been in his position, she would have done the same. Defence counsel Susan Hughes has threatened to call all the officers who attended the party to give evidence if need be.
You can thank last month's rotten weather for a big jump in food prices. The Food Price Index rose 1. 5 per cent in January. The markets had been expecting a rise of just under one per cent. Statistics New Zealand says difficult growing conditions in many parts of the country pushed up the price of vegetables by more than 15 per cent. The cost of a cauliflower rose more than 100 per cent in January, while tomatoes also cost 36 per cent more. Food prices overall have risen more than five and a half per cent in the past 12 months.
A three-week-old missing persons inquiry has become a murder investigation. Wellington police believe Wathanak Tea was attacked and killed in her Johnsonville home and her body disposed of. They say blood found in the house and other evidence backs up that belief. The 37-year-old Cambodian was last seen on December the 27th. A friend saw her at her home that morning and there is an unconfirmed report that she was seen upset in a nearby dairy the same afternoon. Her bank account has not been touched. Her disappearance was not reported to police until three weeks later on January 19. Police are combing scrubland between Johnsonville and Tawa, where Ms Tea's wallet was found on December 28. It contained bankcards, papers and a small amount of cash and was handed in to a nearby bank before being passed on to police. Police have also released photographs of a yellow 1985 Honda City car in the hope people may have seen it in the Johnsonville/Tawa area during the Christmas/New Year period. Detective Inspector Stuart Wildon says it has been examined by police and is of interest to the homicide inquiry. They also want to hear from a man seen carrying a shovel leaving the grounds of Onslow College at about 2. 15 pm on 28 December. Mr Wildon says a Cambodian interpreter is attached to the investigation and is able to help members of the Cambodian community who may have information but who have difficulty with the English language. Ms Tea emigrated to New Zealand with her Cambodian husband in 1998. The couple divorced some time ago. Her 12-year-old daughter and mother live in Cambodia and were expected to emigrate to New Zealand in the next few months to live with Ms Tea. Ms Tea had also hoped to return to Cambodia to attend her brother's wedding on 30 December. Police say Ms Tea's disappearance is out of character.
Police are refuting accusations the Coastguard was not immediately called to a beach emergency yesterday. Seven- year-old Casper Rennie is missing and presumed drowned after he was swept out to sea in a rip at Waiwera Beach north of Auckland. Spokesman for Auckland Coastguard, Dean Lawrence, says they were the last to hear about the emergency and as a result were 45 minutes late. But police spokesman Peter Gill says the Hibiscus Coast sea rescue was notified in less than five minutes and passed on the message to the Auckland Coastguard. Mr Gill says the WestpacTrust helicopter and police launch section were also called to the scene.
Women's Refuge head Merepeka Raukawa-Tait is making a bid for Parliament. She will stand for the Christian Heritage Party in the Wairarapa electorate. Mrs Raukawa-Tait unsuccessfully stood for the Wellington mayoralty last year. At the time she was embroiled in a scandal after she and her husband were photographed at the opening of a Wellington strip club. Mrs Raukawa-Tait said at the time she saw nothing wrong with going into such establishments.
(Political suicide by someone who might have made it in a mainstream party. As a National candidate, she might have had a chance against Georgina Beyer. For the CHP, her chances seem doomed to go the way of her bid for the Wellington mayoralty. - BH)
A healthy profit has been announced for the healthcare arm of one of our household names. Fisher and Paykel Healthcare made a net profit of just over $14 million in the last three months of 2001. That is 28 per cent up on the previous corresponding period. The medical equipment arm split away from its Fisher and Paykel parent in November. Revenue from its three core areas, which include equipment to help people with sleep apnoea and respiratory problems, rose seven per cent.
(Healthy profit or not, it was way less than what was expected by the market, and the share price nose dived as a result - BH)
A women's welfare group is concerned about proposed legislation which could see fathers taking paid parental leave when they believe it should be taken by mothers. Submissions on the new legislation opened yesterday. Women's Electoral Lobby spokeswoman Barbara Mabbett is worried paid leave would be transferable between parents. She believes the move is inappropriate because the focus should be on new mothers having time to recover from the trauma of giving birth. Ms Mabbett says while fathers are great, they are not so good at breastfeeding and do not need to rest after labour. She says mothers must be encouraged to stay at home and breastfeed during the early stages of a baby's life.
Helen Clark's plea to Australian politicians to stop criticising her government is being described as shameful. National's defence spokesman Max Bradford is commenting on reports the New Zealand Government has told officials to ask Australian Cabinet Ministers not to talk about decisions here which impact on Australia. It follows Australian criticism of New Zealand's immigration and defence policies. Mr Bradford says Ms Clark's demand is extraordinary and unprecedented. He says if Australia's defences are compromised by New Zealand policies, he would expect Australians to be told.
(Hmm. I disagree. If during their election campaign, we had told the Australians what we really think of their handling of the Tampa or of the extent of their own contribution to the Ansett collapse, I think they would have declared war on us. - BH)
Merepeka Raukawa-Tait is convinced she is doing the right thing standing for the Christian Heritage Party. The outgoing Women's Refuge boss will try to win the Wairarapa seat. She is also the party's new deputy leader. Mrs Raukawa-Tait's appointment has raised some eyebrows as she is opposed to smacking children, is supportive of gays and has a different view from the party on abortion. However, she says she can live with 80 per cent of Christian Heritage's policies and that is good enough for her. Mrs Raukawa-Tait says Christian Heritage has not won a seat in 12 years and has to consider how it can do better.
The Department of Conservation is hoping the population of one of New Zealand's most endangered birds will increase by at least a third. Female kakapo birds of breeding age were transferred from Marlborough's Maud Island to Southland's Codfish Island/Whenua Hou, to maximise mating opportunities and boost the population. DoC Kakapo Recovery Team Leader Paul Jansen says the best rimu fruit crop in 20 years has seen a kakapo breeding-frenzy. Forty-seven kakapo eggs have been laid so far and DoC hopes that at least 15 chicks from those eggs alone will survive. Mr Jansen says the kakapo only breed when rimu trees fruit and that happens about every three years. The kakapo's population stands at 62 birds between two islands. Kakapo generally start mating in January, with chicks hatching from late February to early April.
An attempt will be made to lessen the risk should the Jody F Millennium break up before salvors get a chance to refloat her. They will not now attempt the refloat job until Sunday, or possibly Monday, after a towing cable broke yesterday. In the meantime, the ship is now lying broadside to the waves. Maritime Safety Authority Director Russell Kilvington says the ship appears structurally sound at the moment, but is taking a battering from the waves at high tide and at low tide she could break her back as she settles on the seabed. He says they are now trying to work out how to pump the log carrier's remaining oil from the lower fuel tanks to lessen the pollution risk.
A police expert in self defence continues giving evidence this morning at the depositions hearing into the private murder case against the policeman who shot dead Steven Wallace. Senior Sergeant John Moran has already told the New Plymouth District Court that long batons would not have been effective against Steven Wallace's softball bat. He said the batons are not good weapons and there would be only three or four officers in the country who could use them effectively against a softball bat. The prosecution has argued that officers involved in the case did not consider the option of long batons before confronting Steven Wallace.
(I am glad to see serving officers with relevant experience being called to contradict some of the unhappy former officers who have testified. - BH)
Female graduates still do not earn as much as their male counterparts according to a new survey. The Graduate Destinations Survey, carried out by the University Vice Chancellors' Committee, shows women earn on average $3,000 in their first job after graduating. University Students' Association Women's Rights Officer Anna McMartin says this inevitably means it takes longer for a female graduate to pay off her student loan. She says on average it currently takes a woman 28 years to pay off her loan which is twice as long as it takes a man.
A second attempt to select a jury in the trial of the man accused of murdering Lisa Blakie will be made in the High Court in Christchurch today. Opening addresses were about to start on Tuesday when Justice Young was forced to discharge the original jury, as a juror was ruled ineligible. Timothy Taylor is accused of murdering the 21- year-old Timaru woman two years ago. Lisa Blakie's body was found in the Porter River after she disappeared while hitchhiking to the West Coast. More than 300 witnesses will be called during the trial which is scheduled to last 12 weeks.
The new head of Television New Zealand says he has no problem working with senior executives involved in axing his last TV show. Ian Fraser will replace Rick Ellis as the CEO of Television New Zealand in April. Mr Fraser left TVNZ in 1998 after his current affairs show was dumped. He says that is now too long ago for him to hold a grudge. Mr Fraser says the people who dumped his show actually did him a favour, as the things he has done since then have been incredibly satisfying, such as running the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra.
National has accused the Prime Minister of being rude to Australia, and the Queen. It follows comments by Helen Clark warning the Australian Government to stay out of New Zealand domestic politics during election year. It also comes after confirmation the PM will not be on hand to meet the Queen when she arrives for her official visit here next week. National leader Bill English questioned Foreign Minister Phil Goff in Parliament today over what foreign policy he thought the Prime Minister would come up with next. Miss Clark heads to Australia tonight for bilateral talks with John Howard tomorrow.
The Prime Minister will walk a diplomatic tightrope when she meets her Australian counterpart in Sydney today. Helen Clark refuses to comment on Australian domestic politics and has asked the Australians to keep their opinions about Labour's policies to themselves, especially as it is election year. Miss Clark says clearly trade is the common issue between our countries with the Closer Economic Relationship agreement approaching its 20th anniversary. She says she will talk to John Howard about the people smuggling issue and the separate approaches New Zealand and Australia are taking to free trade agreements with the United States.
New Zealand will soon have its first Pacific Island District Court judge. A'e'au Semi Epati will be admitted to the bench next Friday. He will work at the Manukau District Court in South Auckland. National Party MP Arthur Anae says he has been pushing for eight years to get someone from the Pacific Island community on to the bench. He says it is good to have someone there who understands the Pacific community and is well-respected. Mr Anae says the Pacific Island community makes up a large portion of the population.
New Zealand is bucking the international trend when it comes to corporate tax. The latest KPMG survey of 68 countries shows there has been an increasing trend among governments worldwide to lower corporate tax rates. The 2002 Corporate Tax Rate Survey shows that for a second year running, no OECD country has raised its corporate tax rate, but that 12 of the 30 countries have cut their rates in the last year. But it shows New Zealand has stuck with the same rate of 33 cents in the dollar for at least a decade. The average corporate tax rate for OECD member countries is 31. 39 per cent with only 11 of those countries having tax rates in excess of New Zealand's rate. KPMG senior taxation partner Chris Abbiss is concerned New Zealand's high tax rate will deter overseas investors. He says it does not create the business environment required. Mr Abbiss believes the Government should urgently consider cutting the corporate tax rate to ensure New Zealand remains internationally competitive.
Team New Zealand remains unbeaten in the America's Cup International Regatta with a comfortable win over GBR at the end of the first round robin on the Hauraki Gulf. The kiwis took out the match race by two minutes and six seconds despite losing the start. In today's other clash, One World pipped Sweden by a narrow 32 seconds. Team New Zealand leads the regatta with three points, One World has two, Sweden one and GBR is yet to get on the board.
(It did lose a race yesterday - BH)
Date: 14 February Brian Dooley
Wellington New Zealand
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