WYSIWYG New Zealand News

Copyright © 1995 Brian Harmer

 

*****

What a hell of a week. I suffered a catastrophic event on my
hard disk, and as always, ten minutes before the event, had
put off the idea of doing a backup! With the help of the
friendly help desk at work, I regained 90% of my data files.
Software is re-installed, and I am back to normal in all
senses except my shattered nerves.

It's a lovely day here in Wellington (shades of Aunt Daisy) -
clear blue sky, the merest breeze, and a glassy-calm harbour.
The hills are green and clear from recent rain, and the
citizens of this lovely city are all smiling as the Americas
Cup draws to its almost inevitable conclusion.

Back to the job! I may have missed some items this week, as I
have been preoccupied with recovering my precious data, but
here is what I got:

****

JIM ANDERTON BACK IN ALLIANCE LEADERSHIP ROLE
---------------------------------------------

Six months after resigning from the leadership of the
Alliance, citing the need to recover from the strain which
surrounded the suicide of his daughter, and the brutalizing
nature of the political arena, Jim Anderton is back. He was
persuaded by senior members of his party, including his
successor, Sandra Lee, that his leadership was essential to
reverse a ratings slide. Editorials around the country have
been savage and caustic. (In my opinion, they mostly revealed
more about the editors' personal politics than about the
leadership situation. In my judgement, there was considerable
public sympathy for the difficult personal circumstances which
Anderton faced - BH)

Tuesday 9 May

PARLIAMENTARY SELECT COMMITTEE CLOBBERS RACE RELATIONS OFFICE
-------------------------------------------------------------

The Justice and Law Reform Select Committee were fiercely
critical of the management abilities of both the present race
relations conciliator, John Clarke, and his predecessor, Chris
Laidlaw. The review which was triggered by concerns about high
staff turnover, and what was described as Mr Clarke's abrasive
personal style, criticised his decision to relocate the office
from Auckland to Wellington. Both Clarke and Laidlaw were
chastised for their permissive handling of the office's
finances, under which staff were able to take personal loans.


SOLO PARENTS ARE 20% OF ALL FAMILIES
------------------------------------

The Government statistician reveals that one New Zealand
family in five is a single parent family. The figures are
dramatically higher for Maori children where 40% are in single
parent circumstances.  The number of working mothers has
increased, especially in Polynesian families where 30% are in
paid employment. 
(Never in my rashest moments, before Mary went back to her
beloved nursing vocation, would I have dared suggest that as
the mother of 5, she was not "working" - BH)

BAIN MURDER TRIAL BEGINS
------------------------

The trial of David Cullen Bain, the 23 year old student
accused of murdering his parents, two sisters, and younger
brother, began in Dunedin this week. The trial has thus far
concentrated on the facts of the murder scene, with the jury
being shown video film of the bodies, and the chaotic scene in
the house. Bain, who denies the murders, was visibly
distressed during the graphic scenes displayed.


INQUIRY JUDGE APPOINTED FOR CAVE CREEK
--------------------------------------

Graeme Noble, A district court judge from Christchurch, is to
act as a one man commission of inquiry into the tragedy at
Cave Creek near Punakaiki. He is to report to the government
by the end of July. The commission is to examine the design
and construction of the collapsed platforms, and the extent to
which they complied with statutes and regulations.

Some relatives of the deceased students have criticised the
establishment of the commission, saying that the cause of the
collapse was widely known, and that the money would be better
spent in defraying the funeral costs of the bereaved families.

The Kapiti Coast district council has followed up on the
disaster by banning abseiling from the suspension bridge in
the Otaki gorge because they fear another tragedy might ensue.

MORE PATHOLOGY BLUNDERS
-----------------------

With the great Wanganui fiasco still fresh in the public mind,
another Crown Health Enterprise (CHE = hospital) has come
under fire for wrong diagnoses. One man under the care of
Healthcare Hawkes Bay was told he had terminal lung cancer. He
had the same surname and first initial as a patient who did
indeed die of the disease, and the wrong file was sent to the
man's GP. Another patient was wrongly diagnosed as having
cancer, and had his testicles and lymph nodes removed. The
Accident Compensation Corporation has ruled that this is a
genuine medical misadventure, and will pay up. The castrated
man however, wants the CHE to face up to its failings, and is
attempting to take legal action.

Wednesday 10 May

DYING PATIENT SENT HOME AT 3 AM - TOLD ITS ALL IN THE MIND
----------------------------------------------------------

Capital Coast Health (Wellington Hospital) was severely
criticised by Wellington Coroner Erica Kremic because it sent
Archibald Peter Broughton home in pouring rain at 3 am after
deciding that his problems were all psychological. Mr
Broughton's relatives wanted to send him back to the hospital
in the ambulance, but were forced to take him in when the
hospital authorities threatened to involve the police. He died
the next day of heart failure. The coroner said the hospital's
action was inhuman, and it looked as if accountants rather
than medical staff were running things.

The hospital has rejected the criticism, saying the coroner
was obviously not in possession of all the facts.

BLACK MAGIC WINS ITS THIRD SUCCESSIVE RACE
------------------------------------------

As is normal with New Zealand, when our team is ahead, we are
interested, so Black Magic fever is in the air. Someone hit on
the notion of promoting "lucky" red socks as a way of raising
funds to support the NZ entry in the Americas Cup Yachting,
and tens of thousand of pairs have been sold in supermarkets
all over the land at $10 a time. The manufacturers are running
out of the yarn from which they are made, and can't keep up
with the demand. Footpaths are clogged outside TV retailers
while the races are on, and many business suffer a severe drop
in productivity as people keep ducking of to the nearest TV to
hear progress around each mark. The race on Wednesday (NZ
time) was the closest to date, and the only one in which the
winning margin was less than 2 minutes. 

MOUTOA /PAKAITORE RAID
----------------------

Police raided the protesters encampment at Wanganui looking
for drugs and stolen property. Ten people were arrested on
charges which included possession of offensive weapons,
possession of stolen property, and a variety of drug related
charges. Police say they were increasingly concerned at the
presence of gang members, and the 60 strong force went in with
batons and riot helmets. The protesters have alleged that this
was a dress rehearsal for eventual eviction. Police deny this.

HOSPITALS SIT IDLE
------------------

In the Hutt Hospital, as in seven others, surgeons will be
sitting around idle for the next six weeks waiting the new
financial year. Apparently they have completed the number of
surgical procedures for which they were contracted by the
Regional Health Authority, and thus, waiting lists
notwithstanding, they will not perform any but the most urgent
surgery. According to the RHA, it would be "unfair" to give
funds to any particular CHE without doing likewise to all the
others.

(A triumph of accounting over common sense - BH)

POLICE ACCUSED OF HARASSMENT IN SEARCH FOR SERIAL RAPIST
--------------------------------------------------------

With the South Auckland serial rapist still at large after
five years, the police have begun searching for new ways to
catch the man. Armed with a description of the offender,
police in South Auckland have been accosting members of the
public who match the description ans asking them for blood
samples in order to carry out DNA matching. Many have
willingly complied. But where a few have refused, they have
been pressured by police contacting their family and workplace
asking for assistance in attempting to persuade the person
concerned. Civil libertarians are offended by several aspects
of this procedure, including breach of privacy, and racism, on
the grounds that only slim, young Maori or Polynesians are
being approached. The police, backed by the Mayor of Manukau,
Sir Barry Curtis, have pointed out that since several
witnesses have described the rapist, it is futile to seek
samples from people who do not match the description.

"FRIENDLY" NUCLEAR TESTS
------------------------

In a brave attempt to condition the climate of public opinion
in NZ for a likely resumption of nuclear testing at Moruroa,
the French Ambassador Jaques Le Blanc has urged NZ not to see
the tests as an "unfriendly" act. 

(A bit like urinating in our drinking water to test that the
urinary tract still works - our motives are of the purest kind
;-)  - BH)

WIND FARM FOR WELLINGTON
------------------------

Energy direct, the electricity reseller in the Hutt Valley /
Kapiti Coast regions has sought resource consent for up to 47
wind turbines to be erected on Baring Head (The South East arm
of Wellington Harbour, between Pencarrow Head, and Turakirae
Head. Each turbine would stand up to 30 Metres high with rotor
blades up to 17 metres long. 

(Hmmmm. If they mean the hub of the turbine is at 30 metres
and the turbine diameter is 34 metres, the height is 47 metres
surely? Either that, or the rotors will be rotating in an
extraordinary cone. - BH)

The proposed wind farm will be visible from the South Eastern
suburbs of Wellington, and residents in those suburbs have
indicated that they will oppose it. Access to the site is from
the Wainuiomata coast road.

OAMARU PENGUINS SHOT
--------------------

Most sections of society have reacted with outrage at the
discovery that someone has been shooting little blue penguins
near Oamaru. 17 of the inoffensive little birds were shot over
the last three weeks. Conservation groups have posted a reward
for information leading to a conviction. The birds, like
almost all NZ seabirds are absolutely protected.

QUEEN'S CHAIN UNDER THREAT AGAIN
--------------------------------

Under New Zealand law, a strip of land around the entire
country, known as the Queen's Chain, which is all land from
the sea to a distance of about 20 yards above mean high tide
level is public property and may not be in private ownership.
There is no such thing as a private beach. During the last
election, this became an issue, and the National Party were
seen to have backed down and made some kind of promise to
leave the existing arrangement intact. Recently, however, the
Conservation Amendment bill appears to go back on this
promise. Labour has joined with many other lobby groups in
opposing a provision which would allow sections of the Queen's
chain to be leased, and alienated from public use. At the same
time, restraints on the sale of pastoral lease land are being
removed, and this could see some of the beautiful South Island
high country much beloved of all outdoor types, made
inaccessible.

Thursday 11 May

PUBLIC HOLIDAY SUGGESTED IF BLACK MAGIC WINS
--------------------------------------------

The Auckland Regional Chamber of Commerce is suggesting a
public holiday be declared if the Americas cup final is won by
New Zealand. They suggest it would be a good investment in
workers. Predictably, the employers federation and the Prime
Minister are less than thrilled with the idea.

STUDY ON SPORTS DRINKS - "FASHION ACCESSORIES"
----------------------------------------------

The NZ Consumers' Association magazine, Consumer, has tested
the sports drinks like PowerAde, and Gatorade, and described
them as unnecessary "fashion accessories" for all but the most
serious athletes. The study says the drinks, which taste like
diluted cordial, contain all that the makers claim, but except
where the user is engaged in sustained and regular activity,
for over 90 minutes at a time, the benefits claimed are not
realised. The drinks cost between $1.30 and $8.50. The
magazine suggests that their main attraction is that people
think it is "cool" to be seen drinking them.

BUDGET SPECULATION
------------------

Government "sources" (mine appears to have dried up?) Suggest
that changes in tax rates, especially those for low and middle
income earners will come with the budget in June.

Family support, and abatement rates are all likely to be
adjusted to improve the circumstances of the lower end of the
income scale.

Australia have just imposed a tax hike, and the market
reaction was to drop the value of the AUD by at least a cent
in relation to the NZD. This has the effect of making it more
difficult to sell to our biggest market.

BLACK MAGIC MAKES IT FOUR ZIP
-----------------------------

Laughing at the doomsayers who said black would never work,
and who christened their boat "The Black Dog", Team New
Zealand romped home to its fourth straight win against Dennis
Connor. Only one more win is required to bring the cup to
Auckland. Most of New Zealand are confidently expecting this
to happen tomorrow.

ANOTHER DIPLOMATIC SCANDAL
--------------------------

Close behind the hurried departure of Indonesian minister Joop
Ave who was accused of molesting a waiter in his hotel, the
Tongan Finance Minister has disgraced himself. Mr Cecil
Cocker, appointed by the King of Tonga to that position "for
life", attended the Asian Development Bank conference. During
his allotted 10 minutes, he rambled for some 25 minutes,
obviously drunk. He is alleged to have made unwelcome advances
to a woman chauffeur, and to two female delegates to the
conference. All three went to the police, and deputy Prime
Minister Don McKinnon lodged an official complaint with Tonga.
Many Tongans have expressed the belief that Mr Cocker brought
shame and disgrace on his country. The minister saved the king
the embarrassment of having to fire him, by resigning.

WIRA GARDINER RESIGNS
---------------------

The founding head of the Ministry of Maori Development (Te
Puni Kokiri) has resigned 14 months ahead of schedule. He said
it has been a particularly difficult year with he and his
staff being reviled by their own people because their role in
the fiscal envelope fiasco was misunderstood.

SIR RONALD TROTTER RESIGNS FROM FLETCHER CHALLENGE
--------------------------------------------------

After many years as the Chairman of FCL, Sir Ronald Trotter is
resigning as chairman, and from the Board of the company which
was the result of a merger between Fletchers and Wrightsons,
two of the biggest companies in NZ.

THE FINANCIAL PAGE
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Date: 11 May 1995

CURRENCIES
~~~~~~~~~~
To Buy NZD 1.00

US  0.6760
UK  0.4266
AU  0.9260
CD  0.9142
JP  57.23

INTEREST RATES
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Call  : 9.00
90 Day: 9.06

Brian Dooley
Wellington  New Zealand

******


Well, in view of the huge struggle to get this issue out, I'll
stop there. I am on leave next week, in Auckland, where my
Parents live. I should be home in time to do the news on
schedule. Have a better week than last one.