Copyright © 1995 Brian Harmer
So, there we were staying in Christchurch, on Father's day
(which is celebrated on a different day in NZ to the US).
My son and daughter in-law gathered the family (his and
hers) for breakfast, and provided the biggest breakfast I
have eaten in years ... umpty times more than my customary
bowl of cereal and cold milk! Some pedestrian activity was
called for after such a magnificent start to the day. We
went out to Addington where there is an open air market on
Sundays. There were hundreds of stalls, and seemingly a
large proportion of Christchurch's population, wandering
around poring over the merchandise on offer. Truth to tell,
many of the stalls were little more than a glorified boot
sale (yard-sale if you prefer). Others were outlets for
some fine crafts, and yet others were amazing for their
novelty value. One which sticks in my memory was selling
wooden pistols, cleverly made to sequentially release a
number of rubber bands from the revolving cylinder. They
carried the theme to extremes with a one-off representation
of a Gatling gun, beautifully made with many barrels, and
many rubber bands per barrel. The worst job on the stall
was stretch-loading all the rubber bands for the
demonstration firing. This thing could bring some serious
mayhem to some playful office scenarios of my memory. Among
the serious stalls those which sold well made wooden crafts
were my favourites. All the customary food stalls were
present, though well to one side, so as to avoid polluting
the fabrics etc with the smell of hot dogs and the like.
Many of the stalls seemed to specialise in tools and
hardware from deceased estates, and have never seen so
many spokeshaves and jackplanes in one place. Heavy cast
spanners, G-clamps, and other antique tools were all a lot
of fun to inspect, and I got a good laugh from the
optimistic prices on some items.
Later in the day, we took the family dog for a walk along
the banks of the Avon, in the Avonside region. Ultimate
suburbia! Manicured lawns, geometric gardens, spring
blossoms, it was all very pleasant.
On Monday, I visited the RNZAF museum at Wigram. It's a
little weird, since I remember Wigram in its glory days as
an operational base with dozens of Harvards doing their
never-ending buzz-saw circuits and bumps training new
pilots. The museum itself is a triumph of artistic
lighting with some artfully constructed dioramas around
aircraft like the Spitfire, the Devon, the Canberra, and so
on. For my taste, the staging overpowers the aircraft. I
went there to see the aircraft, and all I could see in the
semi-night time setting was the scene presented by the
designers. However, I enjoyed the tour through the
restoration workshops and was delighted to see an intact
Bristol Freighter (one in which I had a joy-ride as an ATC
cadet many years ago). An Airspeed Oxford is under
restoration, as well as a P40 Tomahawk. A PBY-5A Catalina
hull sits in green undercoat against one wall. A pretty
little replica Sopwith Pup sits in the hangar, but I was
shocked to learn that we had acquired that by swapping it
with the Australians for a P47 Thunderbolt. Lord, if they
had thrown in a few extra blankets and a hatchet or two we
probably would have given them Banks Peninsula as well. A
real live P47 for a Pup replica? Come on guys, what are you
doing?
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 John at http://www.moneyonline.co.nz On with the news:
Larvae and pupae of mosquitoes that carry the potentially fatal Japanese encephalitis have been found at the Port of Auckland. MAF discovered at least 30 specimens on a ship this morning in a used concrete mixer, imported from Japan. The Ministry of Health says it is the biggest interception ever made here in a single item of used machinery. Mosquito traps will be set on the ship tonight, and they will be checked when the vessel docks in Wellington tomorrow. New Zealand has never had an outbreak of locally-acquired mosquito-borne disease, although dangerous exotic mosquitoes have been found on 15 occasions since January 1998.
(Probably part of the exchange programme for that P47 :-( - BH)
Two women are facing charges, after allegedly leaving their children home alone in Auckland early last week. Neighbours noticed water pouring out of the Mt Eden flat and called police, who found three pre-school children wet, cold and upset. The shower had either been left on, or had been turned on by one of the children, and had flooded the flat. Now, the mothers of the children have been charged with leaving children 'without making reasonable provision for supervision and care'. The women will appear in court on Friday-week. Their children are currently at safe houses under the care of Child Youth and Family.
A rooftop arrest following a tense afternoon for Lyttelton residents tonight, after armed police combed the area hunting for a man wanted on burglary offences. Roads in and out of the town were closed for two hours this afternoon as the Armed Offenders Squad and police dogs searched several properties in the area. Inspector Tony Scully says they finally tracked the man down in the early evening after the AOS had been stood down. He says the man was found on the roof of a Lyttelton house when police went back to recheck the area.
The head of the Maori Development Ministry is backing a Rotorua iwi's decision to block access to Mount Tarawera, except for those on $110 guided tours. Te Puni Kokiri chief executive officer, Leith Comer, says Ngati Rangitihi's move is for safety reasons. The iwi owns the mountain near Rotorua. Mountain groups says the move denies ordinary New Zealanders access to a historic place. Keith Comer says when two people were killed on the mountain the coroner said at the time the private landowners were liable. He says Ngati Rangitihi is trying to comply with labour laws, and unfortunately that cost has to be passed on. Leith Comer says the iwi never intended to lose the hearts and minds of average New Zealanders.
(Whether it intended to or not, it lost them. $110 may not amount to much in USD but it is a huge pile of money for the average Kiwi tramper. - BH)
Former Reserve Bank Governor, Don Brash, has finally delivered his maiden speech to Parliament, 20 years after he unsuccessfully tried to win a seat. Dr Brash is now a list MP and is third ranked in National's lineup. He says in his time in Parliament, he wants to close the wealth gap with Australia. In 1960 he says we were roughly similar. Now he claims all Australians on average are better off than New Zealanders by 250 dollars a week. Dr Brash told the House that Labour's coalition government is failing to deliver the policies for growth.
The Agriculture Ministry says some evidence of viable seed has been found in the Pukekohe fields, where suspected genetically-modified corn grew earlier this year. MAF and the Environmental Risk Management Agency have finished assessing the sites in Pukekohe and Gisborne. While no viable seeds were found in the three Gisborne fields, some were found in 11 of the 13 Pukekohe fields. The growers have been asked to mulch and plough the fields as soon as possible, and any plants which spring up will be destroyed. The 30 tonnes of seed from the contaminated crops have been incinerated. MAF is still waiting for results from overseas tests on the seed.
The Government is updating its health screening policy for refugees and migrants. Immigration Minister Lianne Dalziel admits the current policy is out of date. Under intense questioning from Winston Peters, Ms Dalziel has admitted in Parliament that New Zealand's health screening of refugees for HIV, AIDS and infectious diseases, is only relatively good. She says the Government is reviewing the health screening policy, and she says mandatory testing for HIV is one of the possible outcomes of that review. Lianne Dalziel says health screening of migrants could also soon be done offshore, BEFORE new immigrants get here.
Documents tabled in Parliament today show a Maori health and social services agency in Northland has sold five vehicles funded by the taxpayer. Te Hau Ora o te Tai Tokerau is at the centre of allegations of mismanagement and misappropriation of government contracts. National's MP for Whangarei has called on the government to explain how it intends recovering tax-payer funded assets. Phil Heatley tabled in the House ownership papers for five Trust vehicles which he claims have been sold in the past few days. He says they are worth about $100,000, and he wants to know where the money is now.
(At the end of the week, the high court put a freeze on the trust's assets. - BH)
The initial stage of the Transport Accident Investigation Commission's investigation of the wing flap which dropped off an Air New Zealand plane has been completed. Investigator-in-Charge, Ken Mathews, has finished the site investigation in Auckland and will return to Wellington. The wing flap fell off the Boeing 747 into Manukau City on Friday night, after the plane left Auckland International Airport for Los Angeles. It is the third such incident in recent months. The Commission says Boeing aircraft engineers are being given the opportunity to examine the failed components in Los Angeles before they are returned to New Zealand. The parts are under the supervision of the US National Transportation Safety Board. Meanwhile the Commission will arrange for a search of the harbour to see if any more remaining components can be recovered. It says while it has most of the flap, some pieces are missing which could still be useful for determining why it failed. The report into the incident is not expected to be released for six months or more.
Health officials are again on alert for exotic mosquitoes, as a contaminated container ship moves down the country. Yesterday, more than 30 specimens of Ochlerotatus japonicus were found in the ship's hold as MAF quarantine staff inspected it in Auckland. The container where the larvae and pupae were found has been treated and traps placed on the vessel and around Auckland's wharf. The ship is now moving on to Wellington and Lyttelton and at both ports officials will search for signs of infestation. No adult mosquitoes have yet been found, but if they are, the vessel will be treated with insecticide. Ochlerotatus japonicus can carry the potentially deadly Japanese encephalitis virus.
Staff at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are going to be all housed in the same building for the first time in 50 years. Secretary of Foreign Affairs Neil Walter says staff will be shifted this weekend to the HSBC tower on Lambton Quay. They are currently spread around four buildings. He says the move was approved by Cabinet back in 1998. The Wellington office of The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade will be closed at midday on Friday and will reopen on Tuesday, but their after hours telephone service will continue to operate.
(Not only have the four previously separate groups been suddenly thrust together, but they have been put into an entirely open-plan office. How appalling! - BH)
Air New Zealand is moving to reassure the travelling public, after two embarrassing incidents in the space of a week. Parts of wings from two of its 747 jets have come adrift, just after takeoff from Auckland Airport. Both landed on Manukau City - one in the harbour, the other in a car park. Tests have revealed one part normally attached with 125 screws, had just four screws trying to hold it on to the plane. The part had been marked with a red cross to show engineering work was being carried out on it, though the mark was invisible from the ground as it was on the upper surface of the wing. Senior Vice President of Operations and Technical, Bill Jacobson, says they are as concerned about passenger confidence as they are about technical and safety issues. He says the national carrier is trying to be as open and honest as possible about its investigations. Meanwhile the Opposition has kept the heat on the government today over the issue. National MP Gerry Brownlee claims the airline has cut out 22 percent out of its maintenance budget. He also claims the senior vice president of its operational and technical department has been recently replaced by someone with no aviation engineering experience. Mr Brownlee says that has left the entire Air New Zealand board and management structure without any expertise in aviation engineering. Transport Minister Paul Swain says the maintenance budget dropped because of the fall off in air travel post September 11. But Bill Jacobson denies categorically that there has been any reduction in budgeting for maintenance or any cutback in the maintenance plan.
(Somewhere, someone signed off as complete, a work that was obviously not complete. Otherwise, how does a panel which takes 125 screws get back into service with just a screw in each corner, and a damn great red cross on the panel? This has the appearance of a major system failure in the eyes of several correspondents and commentators. - BH)
The Child, Youth and Family Service is taking High Court action to freeze a Northland Maori health provider's bank accounts and stop it selling assets. Social Services Minister Steve Maharey says the action is being taken at his direction. Te Hau Ora o te Tai Tokerau Trust had its Government contract terminated this week amid allegations of financial mismanagement. Mr Maharey says the court action is to ensure CYFS hangs onto assets it funded, and to help it recover money it is claiming off the Trust for under-delivery of services. There have been claims in Parliament that the Trust sold five taxpayer-funded cars, though the whereabouts of the money is not known
There are calls for urgent work towards solving looming electricity problems. The Energy Ministry has revealed existing electricity generation is unlikely to meet demand in a dry year by 2005. Business New Zealand chief executive Simon Carlaw says depleting stocks at Maui gas fields are a major concern. He says problems with energy generation could cripple growth. Mr Carlaw says the search for practical solutions cannot solely land in the lap of the Government. He says the Minister of Energy with officials and the business community must seek electricity alternatives.
The government will pay for counselling for three teenage girls wrongly jailed for a crime they did not commit. The three teens spent eight months in Mount Eden prison in 1999 after they were convicted of committing a burglary in Auckland. The conviction was later overturned by the Court of Appeal and the girls have received an apology from the police. Justice Minister Phil Goff confirmed today an application for compensation has been received and he has approved the allocation of an initial amount of money for counselling. He says payment should be available for the young women as they try to rebuild their lives. Mr Goff says QC Kirsty McDonald is looking at the case and will advise on how much compensation money the girls should be entitled to.
New Zealand says it is still not in favour of immediate military action against Iraq, despite British Prime Minister Tony Blair's claim he has evidence that Saddam Hussein has weapons of mass destruction available. Foreign Affairs Minister Phil Goff says there are other still options at this stage. Mr Goff says Britain and the US must reveal all the information it has if it wants support from other nations, and not just say it has data which is 'top secret'. He says the worldwide campaign against terrorism has been successful in preventing further outrages, but he says if the US and Britain continue to push for a military strike, it could break that coalition up. Mr Goff warns that if that is allowed to happen, it could give terrorism a chance to flourish again. Phil Goff says if there was evidence that Hussein had been involved in the September 11 terrorist attacks, that would be enough to support a military strike. Meanwhile, President George W. Bush's hopes of launching a military campaign against Saddam Hussein are meeting stiff opposition in the United States. Democrats and even some Republicans from his own party say Mr Bush has yet to make a convincing enough case for military action, and they are pushing for the re- introduction of UN weapons inspectors into Iraq.
(I note that ACT is concerned that by not unconditionally supporting the US, we put at risk our aspirations for free trade with the US. That is surely the lowest of all possible motives for going to war? - BH)
It has been revealed that a criminal who has had thousands of dollars worth of fines wiped in return for an afternoon in prison, has convictions for a range of violent crimes. The man had racked up $10,000 worth of fines and 400 hours of community work, but had those wiped for agreeing to spend several hours behind bars. Act has now revealed the man had convictions for a range of offences including aggravated robbery, threatening to kill and cannabis possession. Courts Minister Margaret Wilson says the Opposition is wrong to think those offences had any part to play this time around. She says the fines and community service sentence were for traffic infringements and the man had already paid for the violent crimes.
The government is to meet with the liquor industry over allegations it is failing to enforce the law surrounding the sale of alcohol to minors. Justice Minister Phil Goff says the industry told Parliament that when the drinking age was dropped to 18, it would enforce the law if it was enforceable. However he says survey after survey has shown a majority of liquor outlets and supermarkets are not enforcing law. Mr Goff says he and the Police Minister will soon meet with representatives of the industry to demand that they comply with that requirement.
Energy Ministry briefing papers out today are warning that New Zealand needs new electricity generation capacity soon. It forecasts that by 2005 existing generation is unlikely to be sufficient to meet demand in a dry year. The Ministry also says the Maui gas fields are likely to dry up sooner than first thought and it predicts electricity prices will rise on average over the next few years. It says the industry has some way to go convince consumers that competition is effective although prices are fair and customer service is satisfactory.
A move by McDonalds in the United States to change the type of cooking oil it uses, looks set to be echoed here - eventually. US outlets of the fast food company are moving to reduce the bad fat content which can clog the arteries. McDonalds' New Zealand spokesman Liam Jeory expects initial changes here will happen in a matter of months, with major changes within a year. He says the move to healthier oils in the US has been four to five years in its development, but says the healthier sorts of oil available in the US are not always at our disposal. Mr Jeory describes the changes as a real step ahead, which McDonalds in the United States will want to share with its outlets around the world. But US nutritionists say the French fries will still be high in calories, despite the change.
(Did I hear correctly on National Radio that McDonalds in NZ cook their fries in lamb tallow? I wonder how the vegetarians feel about that revelation? I have heard a few orders for vege-burger and fries! - BH)
The AIDS Foundation is welcoming the government's plan to review how health issues are dealt with for immigrants. Executive Director Kevin Hague says in the past the process for people who are HIV positive or have other diseases has not been logical or fair. He says he hopes the review will see a more objective regime put in place. Mr Hague says the current policy allows people in to New Zealand on humanitarian grounds, regardless of their health status which is very positive. But he says on the flip side of that those with skills who would be an asset for the country are frequently knocked back because they are HIV positive.
A Canterbury police officer has been attacked and injured, during a routine traffic check. The Highway Patrol Officer was dealing with two cars on State Highway One between Amberley and Waipara. Police say the officer stopped a car over a traffic matter, when another vehicle arrived, and six people then confronted the lone police officer. It is alleged he was attacked with a wheel brace, leaving him cut and shaken, needing stitches to his hand. Five people have been arrested and charged with a variety of serious offences. Police say the officer's injuries would have been considerably worse, if several passers-by had not intervened.
(Two of the Samaritans were young privates from Burnham base. Way to go guys! - BH)
Genesis has applied to the Commerce Commission for permission to take over Energy On Line Ltd. Genesis is one of the three State Owned Enterprises formed following the breakup of the Electricity Corporation in 1999. EOL is an electricity retailer with a customer base covering the North Island from Taupo north, including the Bay of Plenty and Hawkes Bay. EOL's customers are primarily small to medium sized businesses and residential customers. Genesis owns seven power stations through the North Island, including the Huntly Power Station, Tongariro Hydro Scheme, Waikaremoana Hydro Scheme, Hau Nui Wind Farm in the Wairarapa and a number of co-generation plants. The majority of Genesis' retail customers are in the North Island. The Commerce Commission must decide if the takeover would give Genesis too much power in the marketplace.
Whangarei MP Phil Heatley has accused the government of knowing up to 18 months ago about problems at the troubled social services agency, Te Hau Ora o Te Tai Tokerau. The Trust had its Government contract terminated this week amid allegations of financial mismanagement. Mr Heatley questioned in Parliament why the government failed to take action in March last year, when Plunket pulled out of a partnership, citing serious problems. In reply, Labour minister Ruth Dyson said the concerns were considered to be matters of differences between the Trust and Plunket. The Department of Child Youth and Family Services has since taken legal action to freeze the bank accounts of Te Hau Ora o Te Tai Tokerau. That High Court hearing has been adjourned until tomorrow. Child Youth and Family is seeking an injunction against Te Hauora Te Tai Tokerau, because it wants around $1. 7 million returned, after the trust is alleged to have not provided the services it was contracted to do. The hearing will resume at 9. 30 tomorrow morning.
Act wants to know why the full business outlooks for TVNZ and Radio New Zealand are not included in recent briefing papers to the Minister for State Owned Enterprises. Act MP Stephen Franks says all of the other SOE's briefing notes have included their business outlooks. Minister Mark Burton says they have been withheld due to commercial sensitivity. But Mr Franks wants to know why he shouldn't conclude from the suppression that the previous Broadcasting Minister left Radio New Zealand and TVNZ facing financial desperation without the help of special grants.
Trade Minister Jim Sutton says he would never try to curry favour with the US by sending any armed troops to help it fight Iraq. National MP Lockwood Smith told Parliament last night we could kiss goodbye to a US free trade deal if Iraq is invaded and New Zealand is not involved. But Trade Minister Jim Sutton says the day Parliament starts sending armed troops overseas as mercenaries to earn negotiating coin for him as Trade Minister, is the day he would give up the portfolio. National is calling on the Government to keep an open mind towards helping the US attack Iraq. The Government has ruled that out at this stage until it sees more evidence of why military action should be taken.
Shell has announced it is raising the price of its petrol by four cents a litre from midday tomorrow. It follows a similar move by BP earlier today. Shell says it's put off the increase for as long as possible in the wake of the increasing price of crude oil. But Shell says it wants to give customers as much advance warning as it can about the hike in cost and has deferred putting up the pump price until tomorrow.
Parliament has been told that human error is partly to blame for an Air New Zealand 747 losing a piece of its wing just after take off at the end of last month. The CAA is currently investigating the incident, where a number of screws on the top of the plane's wing were found to be missing. The panel which fell off had been marked with red tape indicating that engineering work was underway. However, the red tape was not visible from the ground. This was the second of two incidents involving bits dropping off Air NZ planes in the space of a week. Transport Minister Paul Swain says Air New Zealand has acknowledged to the CAA that there were human faults involved. He says Air New Zealand has instigated additional procedures and given assurances that a similar incident will not happen again.
(Human error huh? Good to know it wasn't a spontaneous decision on the part of the aircraft! - BH)
A new study suggests our unemployed youths will end up costing taxpayers dearly. Officials here have applied the findings of a British study to New Zealand's 10,000 unemployed teens. It is estimated they will cost more than a billion dollars in terms of benefits, healthcare, and loss of tax revenue. Tertiary Education Minister Steve Maharey says it justifies spending money on training for them now. He says an early investment may end up saving the taxpayer further down the line. Steve Maharey says the Government plans to increase education, training and employment options for teens.
Car rental firm Avis - whose motto used to be 'we try harder' - wants to take over its troubled competitor Budget. Cendant Corporation, which owns and operates Avis Rent-a-car, has sent a clearance application to the Commerce Commission to acquire up to 100% of the shares and assets in Budget's car and truck operations in New Zealand. Budget is currently in the midst of bankruptcy proceedings in the USA. The car rental firm is being seen as another victim of the downturn in the business travel industry in the wake of the September 11th terrorist attacks. Budget follows the Alamo Rent-a-Car and National Car Rental chains into bankruptcy. Cendant proposes to acquire Budget's worldwide rental car and truck operations and the rights that Budget has as the owner of a car rental franchise system in a number of countries, including Australia and New Zealand. Budget has 6,500 car and truck rental locations worldwide. The Commission must decide whether the merger has the effect of substantially lessening competition in the market in this country.
The Energy Efficiency Conservation Authority believes there are simple measures every household can take to avoid a power crisis. Energy Minister, Pete Hodgson is warning of impending power shortages if we have a dry year between now and 2005. He says our hydro-generators will struggle to cope, if there is a dry spell between now and then. EECA chairman Mike Underhill, says the key is to use our energy more efficiently, by doing things such as insulating homes and fixing leaking hot water taps. He says those small things lead to using less electricity, and a reduction in people's power bills.
Health officials have not found any further sign of exotic mosquitoes aboard a visiting container ship. Thirty specimens of larvae and pupae were discovered in the ship's hold in Auckland, on Tuesday. The vessel has since moved down the coast to Wellington, where officials have given it the all-clear. Health Ministry spokeswoman Sally Gilbert says it seems the early intervention contained any spread. She says tests have confirmed the specimens are of the Ochlerotatus japonicus variety. Sally Gilbert says adult mosquitoes can carry the potentially deadly Japanese encephalitis virus. Health protection officers will inspect the ship and its cargo again, when it docks in Lyttelton.
There is renewed disquiet over the Maori TV Service. It has been revealed today that the management of Maori TV had their pay increased significantly, despite government assurances it would be capped. The government has released a swag of official documents on Maori TV, which show the organisation's directors spent a lot of time arguing about their fees. National MP Murray McCully has demanded that Maori Affairs Minister Parekura Horomia explain the pay hike, after previous assurances that directors would only get $18,000 a year. He says in addition, they were allowed to act as consultants, earning another $720 a day. Parekura Horomia says Cabinet made a collective decision. NZ First leader Winston Peters says the Cabinet decision to up the fees of the service's directors by $84,000 could be the tip of the iceberg because some information in the documents has been blacked out. He is questioning whether that is the case, due to the fact they disclose a contract or contracts which failed to go to tender, for a business associated with a Maori TV director. Maori Affairs Minister Parekura Horomia says he has no information supporting Mr Peters' theory.
New Zealand First leader Winston Peters is urging caution from world leaders contemplating the next steps in the war on terrorism. There is growing pressure from the United States and Britain that an attack should be mounted on Iraq. Mr Peters says his party's caucus has discussed the threatened attack and will wait to see the evidence against Iraq that President Bush presents to the US congress. He says following that, their position will be determined by the interests of humanity and not by any other considerations such as trade. Meanwhile the Greens say it's essential the Government does all it can to distance itself from the 'crazy path' President Bush has embarked upon. The government has ruled out joining in any attack on Iraq at this stage. It says it wants to see for itself what evidence the US and Britain has against Saddam Hussein.
The Warehouse and Sky TV are teaming up to sell subscriptions to the pay TV provider's UHF service in the big red stores. The UHF service includes Sky Sport, Sky Movies, Sky 1, Discovery Channel and CNN. Subscriptions will be on sale at 67 of The Warehouse's 78 stores from the beginning of next month. The stores selling Sky are all located within UHF service zones. In the past, Sky has avoided a traditional retail sales model because of the complicated nature of its different packages and services. Sky Television's CEO John Fellet says the new arrangement gives them a retail presence, but retains a direct relationship with the customer from the outset. He says the long term future for Sky is in its satellite-delivered digital services, but UHF still has huge value because of its fixed cost to the company. Viewers who sign up through The Warehouse can get Sky installed for $20 and pay $29. 96 for the monthly subscription fee.
The High Court has frozen asset sales by the troubled Northland social services agency, Te Haora O Te Tai Tokerau, and placed restrictions on the use of its bank accounts. The organisation has been accused in the past few months of mismanaging funds and selling government-funded vehicles. Child Youth and Family General Manager, Ken Rand, says $1. 7 million in damages is being claimed from the agency with the matter to be heard in around a month. Today's decision means the agency cannot sell any assets before the hearing, and it will have limited access to its bank accounts.
New Zealand will hold an official commemorative service to mark the September 11 terrorist attacks, at Wellington's Cathedral of St Paul next Wednesday. The Prime Minister will attend the service, along with the Governor-General Dame Silvia Cartwright, and US Ambassador to New Zealand, Charles Swindells. Helen Clark says it is fitting one year on to take the opportunity to remember those who lost their lives in the tragic events, and reflect on how the world has changed. Members of the public are invited to the ceremony, while all flags on government buildings will be flown at half mast on Wednesday.
Foreign Minister Phil Goff will have face to face talks with the Bush Administration next week about the Iraqi situation. Mr Goff heads to New York on Tuesday to attend a session of the United Nations General Assembly. While in the United States he will visit Washington and is likely to meet with Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage or possibly even Secretary of State Colin Powell. Mr Goff is likely to discuss Iraq and the possible US invasion. But he will not be offering any support. Mr Goff says, at this stage, there is no evidence that Iraq is linked to the September 11 terrorist attacks and until there is New Zealand will not be supporting any military support.
Retails sales were up by half of one percent in July compared with June. Statistics New Zealand says the increase follows an increase of 0. 6% in June. Ten out of the 15 store types recorded higher seasonally adjusted sales in July compared with June 2002. The largest of these increases occurred in the food retailing sector. Regional growth was also mixed in July with seasonally adjusted sales for the total North Island decreasing 0. 5 percent, compared with June 2002. This was due to decreases in three of the four North Island regions except Waikato. In contrast, seasonally adjusted sales in the total South Island increased 2. 4 percent. Statistics NZ says the sales trend remains positive, continuing a pattern of growth seen since the last turning point in May 1998.
There has been a call for swift and urgent action, to stop abuse and neglect of older people. Latest data from Age Concern shows 1500 people were referred to its Abuse and Neglect Prevention Services from 1998 to 2001. Chief Executive, Garth Taylor, says more than half had been subjected to psychological abuse with just under half also suffering material or financial abuse. Nearly a quarter were physically harmed. Mr Taylor believes those people referred to the service are just the tip of the iceberg. "Elder abuse and neglect is very rarely a crisis situation. It has probably been happening for a long time until one day someone says enough is enough. "He believes attitudes in the community and within families toward older people allows the abuse and neglect to go on. Mr Taylor is concerned that, with an aging population, the problem will only get worse.
Date: 6 September 2002 Brian Dooley
Wellington New Zealand
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