Copyright © 1995 Brian Harmer
Following the demise of daylight saving for yet another year, a wild and woolly week has just ended. At work, we had a couple of academics we are hoping to persuade to join us, and I suspect it was an uphill battle to convince them that this was an unseasonable aberration. Anywhere in Wellington that has a view has exposure. This week, we were exposed. A two story wooden house has a huge wind area and every square centimetre of it shuddered and vibrated during the howling hours of darkness. The big green "wheelie bin" had to be lashed to a downpipe to ensure that it didn't become my neighbour's wheelie bin. Down in the valley, when the rain cleared sufficiently to allow us to see the valley, there was a certain picturesque attraction to a scene with wet tarmac roads and a string of red tail lights and headlights. A yellow serpent of lights winding up over the hill to Wainuiomata was the most distant visible object. It was easy to imagine the driving conditions down there on the dark and slippery roads, with windscreens wet, inside and out, wipers slapping, anxiety as to whether that clot behind could see that you were stopped, and would he stop? Yuk! Despite the buffeting up on the hill, the warm dry house was by far the better place to be.
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 Jan. Thanks Jan. On with the news:
A second court appearance today for the man charged with the murder of a Johnsonville woman. Thirty-seven-year-old Cambodian-born Wathanak Tea has not been seen since Christmas. Police believe she has been killed, and her body dumped. Appearing in the Wellington District Court today, 53 year old Malcolm Alan Francis, an electrician of Porirua, did not enter a plea to the murder charge. He has been remanded in custody, to appear again next week.
A plane searching for a Japanese swimmer east of Cape Reinga has now been stood down. The 23-year-old was swept out to sea yesterday afternoon at Tapotupotu Bay. Two boats and the Nest rescue helicopter searched the area all yesterday afternoon without success. The Coastguard says with a swell of 1. 5 metres, a 15 knot wind and an outgoing tide, conditions for swimming would have been dangerous, and they hold little hope for the person's survival. The beach is below the Cape Reinga lighthouse.
Murder-accused Mark Lundy has been facing in-depth questioning about his movements on the night his wife and daughter died. Lundy is before the High Court in Palmerston North charged with murdering his wife and daughter in August 2000. The accused has been answering questions about having an alibi. He told a client he had been speaking to a man around one in the morning, because he did not want to reveal he had used a prostitute. The Crown prosecutor asked why Lundy felt it necessary to talk to people about having an alibi. Lundy replied that it was because people kept asking him if he had one.
There are fears in the Solomons the murder of one of our diplomats might prompt New Zealand to reconsider its aid programme. The body of Bridget Nichols is expected to be returned to this country on an air force flight late tonight. She received fatal stab wounds at her home in Honiara yesterday. Two security guards are still being questioned by local police. Alison Ofotalau of the Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation says locals are worried New Zealand will pull out of a peace monitoring agreement, and cut aid. She says the killing has left many Honiara residents in a state of shock. Ms Ofotalau says many people are worried the rest of the world will turn its back on the country. Two people are still being held by Honiara police in relation to the killing.
The National Party is defending its decision to dump of Waitakere MP Brian Neeson. The 12 year parliamentary veteran has failed to win selection for the seat he currently holds. Mr Neeson lost out to 40-year-old millionaire John Key. National Party President Michelle Boag says her party is in the process of rebuilding and needs an exceptional candidate such as John Key. She says people are telling her National has to lift its game in Auckland and that is why delegates made the decision. Ms Boag says Mr Key's selection is part of the new, younger path the party is taking. Brian Neeson is not commenting on his dumping this morning. He says he now wants some time with his family.
(Hmmm. I have not been a Neeson enthusiast, but I think his dumping sends a clear message to the older voters - and they are the ones who turn out to vote. I doubt the wisdom of this choice. There again, Labour's selection processes seem even worse. If the papers are to be believed, the wheeling in of outsiders to sway the selection in the direction favoured by head office at the expense of the locally favoured candidate is common place. Sad. - BH)
The self-made millionaire who is likely to replace National MP Brian Neeson in the Beehive says he has long held ambitions to be in Parliament. Mr Neeson has been dumped in favour of John Key. Mr Key says he grew up in a state house in Christchurch. He graduated from Canterbury University with a B.Com and, until last year, worked in London as a global foreign exchange expert. Mr Key believes his financial background helped win National's candidacy for the Waitakere electorate. He says while the west Auckland electorate contains a lot of successful businesses there is plenty of scope for more financial growth. John Key lives in Remuera, but says he will now be buying a property in the Waitakere electorate
Alliance leader Jim Anderton has laid down the gauntlet to the party's membership, asking them whether they are for or against him. IRN political editor Barry Soper says Mr Anderton has written a provocative letter to around 5,000 party members, attacking those working against the coalition with Labour. Mr Anderton began by telling them that party officials have refused for some months to hand over their names and addresses. He says a significant number of those on the Alliance's ruling council have never been able to accept being in Government. Mr Anderton says the Alliance has little or no relevance if it follows Opposition politics.
National is standing by its man even though Bill English is losing the support of New Zealanders. The latest One News Colmar-Brunton poll shows National's leader has slipped in the preferred Prime Minister stakes from 21 per cent in October last year to 12 per cent this month. But party president Michelle Boag is not concerned about the numbers. She says Mr English is doing a fine job and the election will be the true test. Ms Boag says the National Party is going through a rebuilding phase and their new, younger focus will pay dividends.
(Bill is the answer? What was the question again? - BH)
The Wellington recipient of a new literary prize says she has eight or nine more novel ideas floating around in her head. Catherine Chidgey is the inaugural winner of the $60,000 Prize in Modern Letters for emerging writers. She says the award is the most generous literary prize in Australasia and may see her through another two books. Ms Chidgey says, while New Zealand writers are starting to make inroads in the British market, they are still getting a foothold in the US and this award will speed up the process. The award has been set up at Victoria University by American philanthropist Glenn Schaeffer and is his first such venture outside the United States.
Yet another record for Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings. It has made history today by becoming the all time top grossing movie shown in New Zealand. The Fellowship of the Ring has taken $12,967,660 at the box office in just 13 weeks. The previous record holder, Titanic, took 45 weeks to get there. It is not the first record The Rings has shattered on its way to the top. It scored an opening day record of almost $721,000 and is the only film in New Zealand to have taken more than $2 million in a single weekend.
A South Auckland man has been charged with the murder of Otahuhu prostitute Marlene Kelly. He is due to appear in the Manukau District Court today. Ms Kelly's body was found in a carpark behind the Otahuhu main street shops on February 2nd. Detective Senior Sergeant Gary Lendrum says the arrest follows the discovery of a blue Ford station wagon at a wrecker's yard last Thursday. The car had been identified on security camera footage taken from the area where the killing took place.
A hint from Wellington to Auckland mayor John Banks that a change in leadership style might be needed. Prime Minister Helen Clark has entered the debate over Auckland's bitter council politics after two council meetings were interrupted by people protesting the council's policies, including the sale of pensioner housing. Several hundred people took to the streets of central Auckland on Saturday. Miss Clark says if you push too far in one direction, you end up getting a bad reaction. She says at some point Mr Banks is going to have to assess whether he can run the city if he persists with some of his policies. However, the prime minister concedes that there has been some ridiculous behaviour from protestors that nobody should have to put up with.
(John Banks was never intimidated by Helen Clark while he was in the house. I don't imagine he will start now - BH)
The Crown has completed its closing address at the murder trial of Palmerston North man, Mark Lundy. Lundy is accused of bludgeoning his wife and daughter to death in August 2000. Crown prosecutor Ben Vandercolk told the jury it was possible to make the return journey from Wellington to Palmerston North in the time Lundy had available to him. He said it could be done at an average speed of 120 kilometres an hour. He reminded them Lundy himself had said he had driven home at speeds of 140 to 160 kilometres an hour, the day after the killings, when he thought there was trouble at his home. Mark Lundy claims he could not have murdered his wife and daughter, because he was in Wellington at the time. Earlier, the Crown talked about forensic evidence which showed Mark Lundy's polo shirt contained particles of his wife's brain or spinal tissue and fragments of Amber's blood. Mr Vandercolk says the shirt was the silent witness when the fatal blows were struck and when the person removed the jewellery box to fake a burglary. The Crown took six hours to complete its case and defence counsel will now give his closing address tomorrow. The judge will then sum up the case before sending out the jury to consider its verdict on the two murder charges.
The Alliance president believes leader Jim Anderton has already decided his future with the party. Resolution of bitter in-fighting which has split the party, has been put off yet again. Mr Anderton wants two weeks to consider party members' views before announcing his intentions. Matt McCarten describes the process as a farce and wants him to put his cards on the table. Deputy leader Sandra Lee says she continues to support Mr Anderton and describes him as a very competent leader. She says from her travels around the country he enjoys the support of the vast majority of members. She concedes not all MPs support Mr Anderton.
A rural Rotorua tavern will ban patrons for life if they are found drink-driving after leaving the bar. The owner of the Waiotapu Tavern, 30 kilometres southeast of Rotorua, will issue a two-year trespass order on anyone caught drink- driving. Reg Hennessy says he will renew the trespass order every two years because he wants to make it clear he will not tolerate drink-driving in his area. He says he has already tried to decrease drink-driving by offering a courtesy van, having food available and training his staff in host responsibility. Mr Hennessy says while he may lose business, it is better than getting his liquor license taken away.
(According to TV news, this publican owns two other pubs in the Rotorua district, and has not applied the same rules there, so this does not seem to be a matter of deep moral conviction. I wonder about the importance of the last sentence above? Nevertheless, police are enthusiastically supporting the initiative - BH)
The risks of using the possum control poison 1080 are to be reassessed for the first time since it was licensed nearly 40 years ago. Eighty per cent of the world's production of 1080 is used in New Zealand. The Animal Health Board and Department of Conservation have jointly applied to the Environmental Risk Management Authority for its re- assessment under new legislation. Spokesman Nick Hancox says it was inevitable ERMA would look at 1080 and they decided to get in first. He says they have the information and it is better for them as the users of 1080 to get things started. He says the process will enable objective and open public discussion.
The Tourism Minister is right behind his boss co-hosting a travel documentary. A Discovery Channel programme by Emmy Award winner Peter Greenberg, will feature Helen Clark's favourite New Zealand attractions. Tourism Minister Mark Burton is confident the one-hour documentary will boost tourism as well as the growing reputation of Helen Clark as a leader who is prepared to give things a go. He says other countries will know Ms Clark has tried bungy-jumping, mountain climbing and black-water rafting. Mr Burton says Helen Clark's outdoor interests will help showcase cultural and adventure activities in the documentary.
(Given that the PM does actively get out into the wilderness whenever she can, then this particular photo opportunity carries more credibility than it otherwise might - BH)
Air New Zealand wants the Ansett administrators to justify claims that allegations of asset stripping warrant further investigation. The administrators have resurrected old rumours that our national carrier stripped assets from Ansett in the dying days of the Air New Zealand subsidiary. They say it is possible they could take legal action against the airline. Air New Zealand boss Ralph Norris says the airline knows of no grounds for action against the company. He says the allegations are nothing more than groundless rumours, which were first circulated when anger over the loss of Ansett was at its peak.
Federated Farmers says its members are committed to environmental stewardship. The organisation's Vice President, Tom Lambie, has been speaking at the registration of the QE2 National Trust's 1500th open space covenant on a property near Pleasant Point in South Canterbury. The Trust assists private landowners protect areas of special interest without jeopardising the rights of the land's owners. Mr Lambie says farmers are custodians of the land, and they support the QE2 Trust because it allows biodiversity to become part of the farm management decision-making process. He says it is rewarding to mark the silver jubilee of the Trust at a time when leisure groups are seeking to impose what he calls 'their urban aesthetic ideals'. He says Federated Farmers will continue to lobby the Government for better funding of biodiversity initiatives.
Two men have appeared in the Palmerston North District Court charged in connection with the death of teenager Wallace Whatuira. Mr Whatuira's body was discovered in a suburban garden in the city on Waitangi Day. Twenty-three-year-old Leon Tuirirangi Hakaraia has been charged with murder. He appeared in court flanked by two detectives and wearing a police issue white boiler suit. Twenty-eight-year old John Henry Waara has been charged with manslaughter and he was also flanked by detectives for his brief appearance. The families of both men were in court. Judge Barry Lovegrove has remanded the pair to reappear on the 26th of March.
Dumped National MP Brian Neeson says he is one of a hunted breed - a white, middle aged male. He says the National Party does not want people like him any more. Mr Neeson reckons that is why he lost the party's nomination for the Waitakere electorate to a younger newcomer despite the fact he holds the seat with a 4,000 majority. Brian Neeson says his dumping in favour of self-made millionaire John Key did not come as a total surprise - he had a feeling it was coming.
(Given that his replacement seems also to be white and possibly middle class, I suspect he is picking on the wrong factors. I think his age was the biggest factor, and possibly a less than exciting public profile - BH)
The Prime Minister has put paid to any suggestion she will call an early election. It has been suggested the time is now right for Labour to go to the country. The Alliance is falling apart, National is wallowing in the opinion polls and has not announced policy, while the latest polls are indicating Labour has enough support to rule in its own right. Miss Clark says she wants to go full term, even though she acknowledges the Alliance will probably split. She says those who have caused so much trouble for Mr Anderton say they do not want a split but unless they can show a way of working with him says a split is likely. Mr Anderton says he will get feedback from Alliance Party members over the next two weeks before making a final decision on his future.
The jury has retired to consider its verdict in the High Court trial of Mark Lundy. The Palmerston North man is accused of murdering his wife and daughter in August 2000. In his summing up Justice Ellis told the jury time was a crucial aspect of the case. He said Lundy must be acquitted if the jury decided the round trip from Wellington to Palmerston North and the killings could not have been done in three hours. Justice Ellis says evidence pointed to Lundy being a devoted husband and father, but further evidence suggested he used prostitutes and had financial problems.
A new system aimed at making the pay and allowances for Members of Parliament more transparent for taxation purposes is being recommended. A review team says the distinction between pay and expenses has become blurred, and it wants clarification so that allowances, that are seen as remuneration, can be taxed. The most significant change comes for constituency MPs with the scrapping of their allowance, worth up to $20,000, which would under the new system revert to actual costs. The review was established following an Auditor General's inquiry into the living allowances of the Alliance MP Phillida Bunkle and Labour's Marian Hobbs. Both women were cleared of any wrongdoing in what was seen as a flawed system.
(Isn't it amazing how the principle of relativity has to be applied to parliamentary salaries, but they are the ones who say it is unaffordable when it comes to teachers, nurses, radiographers ... oh, did I forget lecturers? - BH)
The growth in information technology continues. Statistics New Zealand says the latest figures show a 3. 3 per cent rise in sales of information technology goods and services. Sales of IT services have grown every year since figures started being collated in 1994, at a mean growth rate of 11.6 per cent a year. And the growth is not just at home. Exports of IT goods and services have increased by 11. 7.0 percent to just over $770 million.
Separate armed offenders callouts today have been resolved without anyone being hurt. Waihi police are questioning a 56-year-old man after an area in the east of the Coromandel township was cordoned off earlier today. Teachers at a local school were advised by police to keep children inside during the drama. Further south a man is in police custody after an armed offenders call-out on the Kapiti Coast. Just before 9. 30am two people told police they had been visiting a house when they noticed the occupant was carrying a firearm. Several surrounding streets around the property near the corner of State Highway One and Raumati Road were blocked off while the armed offenders squad, police dogs and negotiators worked at the scene. Police expect to charge a 33-year-old man with various offences.
Secondary teachers will consider the latest pay offer from the Government tomorrow. Representatives from the Post Primary Teachers Association have been meeting today with the Crown. Teachers want the Government to up its 3. 5 per cent pay offer. PPTA spokesman Andrew Kear says the Government has put new offers on the table. He says the executive board will consider the offers at an all-day meeting on Thursday, and it is too early to say whether teachers will accept it.
The rise in the Official Cash Rate pleases the banks but has brought groans from other sectors. The rate at which banks borrow from the Reserve Bank is up a quarter of one per cent to five per cent. Reserve Bank Governor Don Brash says the economy has done better than expected. BNZ chief economist Tony Alexander expects floating interest rates to rise a quarter of a per cent immediately and says rates should be up one per cent by the end of the year. The Auckland Chamber of Commerce's Michael Barnett warns growth will be snuffed out by an increase in interest rates. The CTU says workers will be hurt by higher mortgages and economist Peter Conway warns investment is needed for more job creation.
Former Labour Cabinet minister David Caygill is one of two people who will hold the purse strings for election advertising this year. Mr Caygill will be joined by Wellington-based company director John Isles on the Electoral Commission. Associate Justice Minister Margaret Wilson says the men will have the job of allocating broadcasting time and money to political parties. She says Mr Caygill will take responsibility for the coalition Government and John Isles, for the opposition parties. Ms Wilson was required to write to all political parties asking for nominations for the jobs.
Mark Lundy has been sentenced to life in prison with a non- parole period of 13 years. At about 10 to nine this evening, the High Court jury in Palmerston North announced that it had found Lundy guilty of murdering his wife and daughter. Christine and seven-year-old Amber Lundy were found dead in their Palmerston North home in August 2000. Mark Lundy was arrested six months later, and has maintained his innocence throughout. He claimed he was in Petone on the night of the murders. After a trial of more than six weeks, jury members began deliberations at about two o'clock this afternoon. They returned to the courtroom at about 8.30 tonight, where they delivered their guilty verdicts.
(The jurors in this case have had a thoroughly unpleasant time, and are to be commended for lasting the distance. I would love to know how they rationalised the apparent inability of anyone else including the police, to complete the return journey from Petone to Palmerston North in anything even near the time the police allege for his journey. If he had been acquitted there would have been other, equally confounding issues to resolve. - BH)
The Government appears more intent on severing ties with the Privy Council, after the London law lords issued a highly critical ruling on New Zealand's highest court. The Privy Council has judged the Court of Appeal has acted unfairly in dealing with criminal appeals. The Opposition believes the ruling shows New Zealand needs the Privy Council, to safeguard legal rights. But Justice Minister Phil Goff is defending the Government's position. He has quoted in Parliament, the words of Lord Cook of Thorndon in Wellington. Mr Goff says Lord Cook believes it has got to the stage where final decisions in New Zealand case law can not be left to a remote body like the Privy Council, which is out of touch with New Zealand issues. He says since Lord Cook is a former member of the Privy Council, he should know. Phil Goff says in Lord Cook's view, New Zealand law has evolved into a distinctive body of principles and it has reached the stage where final decisions in New Zealand law cannot be left to the Privy Council.
(Severing the ties would have more respectability if it was proposed on principal rather than as an apparent response to a finding that present practice is unlawful. - BH)
The lowest rainfall in 70 years last winter has halved profits for two of the state's power generators, and doubled returns for the third. The half-year results for the companies, which between them provide more than 60 per cent of New Zealand's electricity generation capacity, have been tabled in Parliament today. Mighty River Power's surplus for the six months to December was $14 million, down from $30 million in the same period the previous year. Meridian Energy's net surplus was also down, at $29. 9 million dollars compared with $60 million the previous year. But thanks to the need to run its thermal generation plant at near capacity, Genesis Power's performance improved, at $42. 7 million dollars compared with $22.2 million in the previous period.
(Come back, Max Bradford, and tell us how much better off we all are - BH)
A departing New Zealand Post boss will get $80,000 for two months work, when he is re-employed as an independent contractor after he retires. Transend's managing director Drew Stein will take sick leave from the end of the month, for what is being described as health and lifestyle reasons. He will then take medical retirement from the first of May. New Zealand Post CEO, Elmar Toime, says over the 12 months from May to next April, Mr Stein will work for Transend as an independent contractor for up to 60 days. He will be paid 80 thousand dollars, which is equivalent to a daily rate of one thousand, 333 dollars. Mr Stein will also get a medical retirement payout equivalent to three months salary.
(Assuming an 8.75 hour day, that is still less than NZ$150/hour which is the going rate for some very ordinary moderate to low end consultancy. I have charged myself out at that rate in the past. I am always embarrassed for media, when they tot these things up to a daily rate and then put a shock-horror spin on it. - BH)
A law is being drafted to make sure all traffic through public telecommunications companies can be intercepted for police and national security purposes. It follows concerns last year that traffic from one company was unable to be intercepted by police, and was being exploited by criminals. Telecommunications Minister Paul Swain says the law will place a legal obligation on all companies to make sure messages they are carrying can be intercepted. He says the Government will pay for the interception capability for existing mobile voice networks. Mr Swain says any police request for interception will still require a warrant to be issued by the High Court.
The New Zealand dollar is expected to keep climbing against the greenback. Overnight, the dollar hit a seven-month high, reaching 44. 30 US cents before easing slightly this morning. It also rose to more than 83 cents Australian. Financial markets attribute the rise to the Reserve Bank's decision yesterday, to increase interest rates by a quarter of one per cent. ASB Securities adviser, Stephen Wright, says the higher dollar is good news for importers but not so good for exporters. He says the likes of The Warehouse will benefit, but farmers and other exporters will be disadvantaged. He says they have had several years of very low rates and should remain very profitable at the higher level.
In a rare move, convicted-murderer Rex Haig is getting an investigation into his second application for a Royal Pardon. This comes after a unique and much-publicised fight from Haig, to clear his name. Rex Haig was sentenced to life imprisonment in 1993 for killing fisherman Mark Roderique. In 1997, Haig was part of a 26-hour hostage drama at Paparua Prison, which ended when the Crown promised to investigate his case. Rex Haig's first request for a Royal Pardon was thrown out last year. His lawyer Nigel Hampton QC says fresh evidence has turned up which strengthens his client's case. But Mr Hampton says he can not comment on today's development, as he is yet to discuss it with his client.
There is backing from within the sports world, for our government's call for Zimbabwe to be expelled from the Commonwealth Games. Foreign Minister Phil Goff says the African nation should be denied a sporting presence in Manchester in July New Zealand Olympic Committee President, John Davies, says he would personally support such a ban. However, Mr Davies says he still believes sport and politics should be kept as far apart as possible. Mr Davies says the Commonwealth is a political alliance and the Commonwealth Games celebrates its values, which uphold democracy and human rights. He says Zimbabwe seems to have lost sight of those values.
Teachers at Amber Lundy's school are trying to keep things as normal as possible today. Mark Lundy is beginning a 13 year jail sentence for murdering his daughter and wife, Christine, at their Palmerston North home. The Principal of Roslyn School, Harold Bailey, has told his staff to answer pupils' questions about the murders, but not get into why Lundy did it. He says the pupils do not appear to be upset by the verdict, as the murders happened 18 months ago. But Mr Bailey says teachers are monitoring some of Amber's close friends, and her class teacher has been given a couple of days off.
The Government is reserving its judgement on the Privy Council's damning evaluation of our Court of Appeal. London's law lords have issued a highly critical ruling, questioning the fairness of New Zealand's highest court, the Court of Appeal. The Privy Council says the Appeal Court discriminated against 12 people who were denied legal aid by the court. The case covers the period from 1996 to 2000. Attorney General Margaret Wilson says the Government is not yet in a position to comment on the report. She says the Privy Council's judgement is complex and the Government needs time to consider its implications. Ms Wilson has asked the Solicitor General for a report on the ruling. She says the Government will consider its position after it has digested the report.
China's Foreign Minister is urging the New Zealand Government not to formally meet with the Dalai Lama when he visits later this year. Tang Jiaxuan, met with his New Zealand counterpart Phil Goff for talks at the Beehive last night. Mr Goff says Mr Tang asked that there not be any formal contact between our Government and the Dalai Lama. However Mr Goff says the exiled Tibetan Buddhist leader's visit would proceed and it is likely both he and the Prime Minister would meet with him. Phil Goff says New Zealand considers the Dalai Lama a spiritual leader.
(One has to wonder how the government will rationalise its respect for one spiritual leader, while at the same time being too "secular" to permit the saying of grace during the visit of another. Please don't mistake me, I believe the Dalai Lama should be received with every respect and honour we can afford him, but I resent the contemptuous treatment of less exotic faiths. - BH)
The court ruling that convicted double murderer Mark Lundy invaded his own Palmerston North home is raising eyebrows. Lundy was sentenced under the provisions of the home invasion legislation for the murder of his wife and daughter. That has seen him receive a 13 year non-parole period. Senior barrister Marie Dyhrberg says the sentence raises questions of what circumstances the home invasion legislation can be applied in. She says that is an issue which has arisen before in a number of cases. Ms Dyhrberg says the question of whether someone can invade their own home is yet to be tested by the Court of Appeal.
The detective who headed the Lundy murder inquiry says he never doubted there would be a guilty verdict. A jury at the High Court in Palmerston North found Mark Lundy guilty of the murder of his wife and daughter at 8:40 last night, after nearly seven hours of deliberation. Lundy is now serving life with a minimum non-parole period of 13 years. The 43-year-old showed little reaction as the verdicts were announced. During the trial it was suggested by the defence that Detective Sergeant Ross Grantham planted crucial DNA evidence on Lundy's polo shirt. The shirt was found to have brain tissue on it from Christine Lundy. However Mr Grantham denied the claim and says he and the other officers simply kept their heads down and worked hard trying to get a result. The detective, his investigation team and prosecutors were cheered by members of the public as they left the court last night. Mr Grantham says he is pleased with the outcome and glad those involved can put the case behind them. However, Lundy's family was obviously shocked at the guilty verdict and made no comment. The Crown has indicated it may seek an extension of Lundy's non-parole period.
(I wonder if the defence counsel watched the TV series, "The Practice"? Was his attempt to suggest DS Grantham may have accidentally or deliberately planted incriminating brain tissue on Mr Lundy's polo shirt, a variant on Bobby Donnell's infamous "Plan B"? Was it a serious suggestion, or just a legitimate stratagem to plant doubt in the minds of the jurors? I don't know the answer, but if he had good grounds to suspect that his accusation was true, shouldn't we hear more on this? - BH)
The man accused of murdering South Canterbury man Des Payne will stand trial in May. A depositions hearing for Raymond Cullen has wrapped up in the Timaru District Court. The court has ruled that the 45-year-old has a case to answer. Cullen is accused of murdering Mr Payne in a pub car park in Geraldine last year. Sixty-two witnesses have testified for the prosecution at this week's depositions hearing. Forensic experts also told the court Des Payne's blood was found on a sports bag belonging to the accused. Cullen entered a not guilty plea to the charge this morning and has been remanded back into the care of Hillmorton Psychiatric Hospital.
There is a new wave of Asian immigrants - and economists say they will keep Kiwis on their toes. New statistics show almost 12 thousand Chinese immigrants came to New Zealand last year. But, rather than being the traditional middle- aged couples, immigrants are tending to be 15 to 30 year- olds. WestpacTrust chief economist Adrian Orr says they are more likely to put a strain on the rental market than buying houses and are likely to be entrepreneurs. He says another plus is that they are likely to bring more contacts from off shore
Real estate agents are trying to shrug off the possible impact of rising interest rates. WestpacTrust has become one of the first big lenders to move following Wednesday's rise in the Official Cash Rate. The Reserve Bank put up the rate by quarter of a per cent. However WestpacTrust has increased its floating rate by half a per cent to 7.2 per cent, saying wholesale rates have risen 0.7 of a per cent since December. Rex Hadley of the Real Estate Institute does not believe too many prospective buyers will be put off, as the increase probably only works out to an extra few hundred dollars a year for most people.
The Government is taking some of the credit for the drop in burglaries for a second consecutive year. The latest crime statistics out today show there were 6,000 fewer burglaries in 2001 compared with the previous year. Police Minister George Hawkins puts the result down to government initiatives and DNA technology. He says police are doing a tremendous job in cracking down on burglaries. Overall, recorded crime dropped by 0.2 per cent while resolutions increased by 0.6 per cent to 42.0 per cent for the year to 31 December 2001. Recorded crime is at its lowest level for 13 years. Sexual offences were down by 6. 2 per cent, which is being attributed to a heightened awareness of personal safety and the DNA databank. Liquor offences dropped by 8.3 per cent while disorder offences increased by 6.9 per cent. Commissioner Rob Robinson says the results have been achieved against a backdrop of an increasing population and more sophisticated crime. He says they reflect considerable crime prevention and law enforcement efforts by the police. However, the figures show an increase of 3.2 per cent in the drugs and anti-social categories. Crimes involving methamphetamine or speed rose by 6.9 per cent. Commissioner Robinson says there is evidence to suggest there is a change in the nature and style of drugs being used socially from cannabis to harder drugs such as speed. He says, to counter the trend, police are targeting local manufacturers of methamphetamine. Last year, police put 41 laboratories out of action. The Commissioner says an area of great concern is a 5.9 per cent increase in recorded violent offending. He says it is notable the increase appears to be at the lower end of violence, such as minor assaults, intimidation and threats. Homicide and robbery decreased by 6.1 per cent and 6.8 per cent respectively.
(I remember hearing that there used to be fewer crimes reported during royal tours ... not because there was actually less crime, just that there were fewer police free to record the complaints. - BH)
It is all go for the Bluff oyster season. Brent Fairweather of Superior Oysters says, if conditions are right, boats will be ready to dredge from midnight on Saturday so the Foveaux Strait delicacy will be in Southland shops first thing Sunday morning. Mr Fairweather says indications from recreational fishers are that there are plenty of good juicy oysters out there. But like all good things in life, they will come at a price. A dozen Bluff oysters is expected to set you back around $12.50 a dozen.
(Mmmmm ... Bluff Oysters! - BH)
The Automobile Association is cautious about a report suggesting 399 New Zealanders might be dying every year due to health problems from vehicle emissions. Public Affairs Manager George Fairbairn says the figure is based on overseas data and he is not certain it has taken into account New Zealand conditions. However Mr Fairbairn says the report does send a strong message to motorists. He hopes that if plans go ahead to institute warrant of fitness emission controls on vehicles, it will encourage motorists to tune their cars regularly. Mr Fairbairn says motorists' vehicles would also become more fuel efficient. He suggests a voluntary campaign should be put in place in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch, where the pollution problem is worst. He says the Government should also target businesses which pollute the atmosphere.
(The TOTAL road toll figures for the 1998, 1999, and 2000 were 508, 462, and 453 respectively. Given that for the same years, 118, 100 and 101 were alcohol related, and speed was blamed for 140, 124, and 87 respectively, I wonder how there can be 399 otherwise unattributed deaths. To what were those deaths attributed prior to this discovery? - BH)
Air New Zealand does not believe becoming a budget carrier would necessarily mean big job losses. The airline has confirmed one option it is considering is moving to a low- cost budget structure, at least for flights that take less than four hours. However Air New Zealand stresses the low- cost option is only one of several being looked at. Spokesman David Beatson says becoming a budget carrier does not mean fewer jobs, because smaller aircraft are operated at a higher frequency. He says whatever Air New Zealand does, it has to move quickly, or risk being squeezed out by Qantas and Virgin Blue.
(In my opinion, to become a budget carrier on the international routes would be to give away the brand. Air New Zealand keeps scoring highly in the full service surveys internationally. Domestically, however, a good dose of something designed to clear blockages is required. I need to go to Napier next week. Cheapest available return fare, WLG/NPE is $480. Can you believe that? I can get a return trip to Melbourne with accommodation thrown in for less. I will drive up and back rather than pay that kind of money. - BH)
WestpacTrust has lifted its floating rate for home mortgages from 6.7 to 7.2 per cent. On Wednesday, the Reserve Bank lifted the Official Cash Rate by 25 basis points. But WestpacTrust says the 90-day bank bill rate has climbed point-seven per cent since December in anticipation of the Reserve Bank's move. WestpacTrust is also raising its interest rate on term investments to 5. 15 per cent.
They will be drinking our vodka at the Oscars. The Wellington company, which produces the vodka brand "42 Below", is receiving international acclaim just at the right time. Company spokesman Geoff Ross says the tipple was recently placed second in the world at an international tasting in London. Now it has caught the eye of the chef at the Beverly Hills Hotel where it will be the only vodka available at the Oscars party on Monday. And no fewer than 300 A-list celebrities at the party will receive a bottle of "42 Below" in their gift bags.
New medical research shows that Maori men are dying at more than twice the rate of other New Zealand men. The study conducted by Otago University and the Christchurch School of Medicine examined mortality differences between Maori and non-Maori men over the past 20 years. Researcher Andrew Sporle says the study shows disturbingly high rates of premature death for working age Maori males. But when the researchers considered deaths due to treatable conditions such as asthma and high blood pressure the figures were even worse, with rate of deaths of Maori men more than five times that of others. Mr Sporle says social class had little impact on the study's results.
New Zealand's greener pastures are proving a strong lure. Figures released by Deutsche Bank back the Reserve Bank's assumption immigration will boost the country's population by around 30,000 this year. Just over 3,000 people moved to New Zealand last month, taking the total over the past year to almost 22,000. That is a reversal on the previous year, when 13,000 people left the country. Deutsche Bank says the resulting demand for housing and consumer goods underpins the Reserve Bank's decision this week to tighten monetary policy.
Date: 22 March 2002 Brian Dooley
Wellington New Zealand
CURRENCIES
The currency codes given below conform to ISO 4217, which
can be found at http://www.xe.net/currency/iso_4217.htm.
The rates given are for telegraphic transfer and are
as given in the Wellington Evening Post today.
To Buy NZD 1.00
USD 0.4449
AUD 0.8366
GBP 0.3121
JPY 58.85
CAD 0.7021
EUR 0.5054
HKD 3.4787
SGD 0.8155
ZAR 5.1461
CHF 0.7390
INTEREST RATES (%)
Call : 5.00
90 Day: 5.53
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