Copyright © 1998 Brian Harmer
Easter ... daffodils and spring chickens, right? No, not in this part of the world. Here we have an autumnal slide in the temperature, and the stonefruit season is already ended. Alas the glorious Omega plums, monarch of all the summer fruit are at an end. The remaining peaches and nectarines seem dry as dust, or else too over-ripe to pick up. The fruit stands at the supermarket are full of a bewildering array of apples, Pacific Rose and Royal Gala, old favourites like Granny Smith, and many new varieties with which I am unacquainted. Pears too abound, especially the luscious Doyenne Du Comice variety which really should be eaten in the shower. Kiwi fruit, passion fruit, feijoas seem plentiful, and I gather wine making is in full flight, and pundits are predicting a vintage year with the warmest March for over ten years.
As I write (Friday morning) we have a sharp clear day with a light breeze, and an outside temperature a few degrees colder than it looks. The bush across the gully provides a splendid green backdrop. Pungas spread their symmetrical fronds to give a wonderful texture to the hillside. A few wispy clouds travel by on their journey from the Northwest to the Southern ocean. Below in the valley, all is quiet, since by statute most business are closed on Good Friday. The usual hum of traffic is muted, and the supermarket car parks are empty. No adverts on TV, except for station promos.
On with the news:
The Maori Council is right behind a bid in the High Court to put a stop to the Waitangi Fisheries Commission allocating any of the fisheries assets to iwi. Lawyer Donna Hall, claiming to represent Wellington urban Maori and 28 iwi is seeking an injunction in Auckland against the assets being distributed. She says she formula is biased against urban Maori and favours coastline tribes. Maori Council Vice President Manu Paul who was part of the first ever fisheries meeting in 1985, agrees with her objections. He says even if the court action drags things out and ends up costing money, it is better than pushing a plan through which is unjust.
The pro and anti NATO war factions are continuing to organise nationwide protests, with New Zealand's Albanian community the latest to announce its plans. A demonstration in support of NATO's air attacks on Yugoslav targets is being scheduled for lunchtime on Wednesday in central Auckland. An organiser is calling on all Bosnians, Croatians and Slovakians to join the pro-NATO march. Pro-Serb factions have organised numerous protests in the past few days, with another scheduled for Christchurch tomorrow.
Council of Trade Unions Secretary, Angela Foulkes denies she was compromising her principals by joining the Prime Minister's APEC Advisory Council. Trade Union Federation President, Maxine Gay says it is beyond belief that Ms Foulkes is on the PM's APEC team, when trade unions have consistently opposed APEC's free market, anti-worker policies. But Angela Foulkes says she can do more good by being on the Council, than refusing to take part. She says she has an opportunity to show how that the face of APEC should change to put more emphasis on the people in the economies that are represented.
A man is being questioned by police in connection with an armed offenders squad call out in Wellington this morning. Police were called in after a Newtown man was allegedly threatened with a firearm. Further inquiries led police to Miramar where they cordoned off an area and found a male suspect nearby. A 36 year old man is helping police with the inquiries, but no firearm has been found.
("Helping police with their inquiries" ... what a wonderful euphemism - BH)
A benefit show in Auckland has raised over $200,000 to help those left out of pocket by the failed Sweetwaters concert. Around 10 thousand people turned out at Western Springs for the "Big Bill" yesterday, which featured a number of well-known Kiwi artists. The show was organised to help recoup the losses of production crews which worked at Sweetwaters earlier this year. Director Ian Magan says they will do a final tally tomorrow...but he is confident they will be able to recoup most of the workers' losses.
(Young Helen, now living in Auckland, went to this and tells me it was a good concert ... BH)
A warning that Christchurch Hospital could face another crisis if there is an influx of patients this winter. It comes from one of the doctors who blew the whistle on patient deaths in 1996. Cardiologist Mark Richards says they have been lucky with benign flu seasons that have not put pressure on the systems as yet. But he says that situation could change very quickly.... Canterbury Health is rubbishing the claim.
(Just as they did the last time ... except that as I recall it the commissioner's report revealed serious problems - BH)
Real estate experts are confident the commercial property market will improve in the main centres over the next six months. The latest quarterly survey prepared for the Institute of Valuers shows 65 per cent of those surveyed expect improvement in the Christchurch market - and 60 per cent predict an upturn in the Auckland market - over the next six months. Nearly 50 per cent expect an improvement in the Wellington market - with just 10 per cent expecting a deterioration.
Trade Minister Lockwood Smith says the US will embarrass itself if it implements recommendations on New Zealand sheep meat tariffs, made by the International Trade Commission. The ITC is proposing safeguard measures to protect America's sheep meat industry from New Zealand imports, which undercut the American prices. The US fears its farmers will suffer. But Lockwood Smith says research clearly shows that countries which open their markets the fastest, benefit the most. President Clinton has been given 60 days to decide whether to implement the ITC's recommendations.
Police will take the Corrections Department to task when they meet today to discuss how a dangerous prisoner escaped custody for a second time. Cas Mei is still on the run after he gave two prison guards the slip at Middlemore hospital on Saturday. Less than 24 hours earlier he had been recaptured by police after escaping from Rangipo Prison over a month ago. Corrections spokesman Brendan Moynihan says police have the right to be angry at the escape, and an inquiry is underway. He says police will have a chance to air their concerns at a meeting with him today.
(If the media have the story right, Mei feigned an asthma attack so as to be taken to Middlemore hospital. Accompanied by two guards, he is said to have been wearing a hospital gown, and to have had a drip in his arm. This supposed asthmatic is then reported to have asked if he could go outside for a smoke!!!! Regardless of the fact that a few days before he had been recaptured after a tense armed standoff, they are reported to have said "yeah sure" and let him go outside unaccompanied. I don't know when the penny is said to have dropped, but when they did go outside, he was gone. .... uh ... Helloooooo? - BH)
The Auckland Domain may be closed to the public for the APEC conference. Bill Clinton and other major world leaders will join the thousands expected to descend upon Auckland in September for the world trade conference. A leaders meeting will be held at the Auckland War Memorial Museum in the Domain for two days. As a result Foreign Affairs minister, Don McKinnon has put forward a proposed bill which will give the Commissioner of Police the power to close the Domain for three days. But Mayor, Chris Fletcher can not see why the park needs to be closed for any more than the two days of the meeting and wants the costs of the closure to be met by the government.
(If the conference must be here, then I guess NZ has an obligation to ensure the safety of its guests ... but I wonder how far the citizens of Auckland are willing to be pushed. I think Don McKinnon ... or was it Wyatt Creech? ... has suggested that employers give their staff paid leave during the conference to avoid the inevitable traffic chaos ... BH)
The Centrepoint Community's spiritual leader, Bert Potter, has returned to the commune following his release on parole after nine years in jail. Potter, who was convicted of having sex with minors, says he believes having intercourse with pre-pubescent girls is wrong. He admits he had sex with girls as young as 14, but says there is nothing wrong with that. Bert Potter says at the time those things were supposedly happening, there were no complaints He says he does not share society's values about the age of sexual consent, although he says he will definitely not have sex with girls under 16 from now on.
(Somebody pointed out to me the incongruity of the parole board's giving this man parole when he neither denies nor regrets his evil actions, whereas Peter Ellis who to this day denies that he perpetrated the crimes he was accused of, is denied parole. Very odd. - BH)
Communications Minister Maurice Williamson says a "shoddy" programme broadcast on TV2 last night adds weight to the argument that TVNZ should be sold. The locally made programme "You Be the Judge" featured a six year old boy learning the results of a DNA test to discover whether the man he thought was his father actually was his real father. Mr Williamson says he respects the rights of the media - but when it comes to protecting the privacy of children he feels very strongly about it. He says Television New Zealand sank to the bottom of the pit by broadcasting the programme - and that questions the need for it to remain in public ownership.
(In my view this programme is the nadir of NZ made television. It is as if the makers have chosen the worst and nastiest of the characteristics of all the other voyeuristic programme we get ... "when pets go mad", "world's wildest police chases", and then reduced the level of taste even further. Then they got Genevieve Westcott to host it. Whatever professional credibility she might have had previously has been severely tarnished by this debacle in my opinion. - BH)
Transport Minister Maurice Williamson says police will be using discretion when they enforce the law requiring people to carry their new drivers licence whenever they are driving. From May this year - once the new photographic drivers licences start being issued - anyone who is stopped - and is not carrying their licence will get an instant $55 fine. But Mr Williamson says Police will not use that system to punish law abiding citizens who have simply forgotten their licence. Mr Williamson says if people have not broken the law - and can prove their identity in some other way - they will not get an infringement notice.
Former chairman Sir Roger Douglas has resigned from the board of Brierley Investments, effective immediately. The one-time finance minister was appointed to the top job in April last year, following the departure of Bob Matthew. Sir Roger himself quit as chairman just after Brierleys' annual meeting in November, in the wake of pressure from disgruntled major shareholder Camerlin.
(Sir Roger has been remarkably tight lipped about his extremely sudden exit - wonder who said what to whom? Perhaps Camerlin asked for a tea break? - BH)
The government is condemning a programme which saw a six year old child dragged onto national television to find out whether the man he thought was his father - actually was his father. The locally made TV2 programme "You Be the Judge" clearly showed the child's parents - and even broadcast the boy's name. Prime Minister Jenny Shipley says it was deplorable - and the government will take steps to prevent the exploitation of children on television. Mrs Shipley says it was appalling to allow a child to be dragged into an adult arguments. She says it is not appropriate for television to be used in that way.
Confirmation that the government has received a report from the Solicitor General outlining its powers in terms of resolving the Fire Service dispute. The report investigates the government's options, including what criteria would need to be met to dismiss the Fire Service Commission or the chief executive of the Fire Service. The Commission itself has until Wednesday to present a plan to the Government, outlining in detail what steps it plans to take to resolve the wrangle. The contents of the Solicitor General's report are being closely guarded at this stage.
A new report from the Christchurch School of Medicine has found many people who attend Emergency Departments do not need to. The research team looked at hospitals overseas and found that between three and 59-per cent of those treated by the emergency department could have gone to their GP. The report's author Dr Phil Hider is now calling for our emergency departments to be looked at more closely, he believes that research would reveal our A and E centres are also used inappropriately.
American Adventurer Steve Fossett sailed into Auckland harbour last night after successfully breaking the world 24 hour sailing record. He has set a new mark by covering 580 nautical miles in 24 hours, in his New Zealand-built 32 metre catamaran, Playstation. Six New Zealanders were part of the 11 strong crew. Steve Fossett says he commissioned Playstation to break a raft of world sailing records and this one is only the beginning. He is already looking to break the transatlantic record in June or July this year.
(This thing is a monster ... see http://www.therace.org/english/challengers/indexactu.htm - BH)
The government has agreed to listen to concerns from local body leaders over possible fallout from the Y2K computer problem. A summit meeting of local authorities in Wellington tomorrow is expected to issue a call for the government to place the army on standby, in case computer problems lead to civil unrest. The Minister of Information Technology, Maurice Williamson, says there is no need for alarm and if everyone does what they are supposed to then disruptions should be very minor. Mr Williamson says he will canvass the depth of concerns at tomorrow's summit.
The High Court has ordered a Family Court judge to reconsider a gag he placed on media reporting of the Liam Williams-Holloway case. Several media organisations appealed the ban. Three year old Liam was taken into hiding by his parents earlier this year, after they decided to seek alternative treatment for his cancer.
There is scepticism over whether the food industry will meet the extended deadline for labelling genetically modified food. The Government says companies have not moved quickly enough to meet the May cut-off date for complying with labelling laws. They now have until the end of April to make a submission, but the deadline for the foods to be assessed has been pushed back 13 months. Green Party co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons says the companies have had plenty of time to prepare themselves, but have deliberately decided not to. And she says the Government's decision to push back the deadline will simply reinforce that attitude.
Advertising agencies say their clients may be wary of the TV2 programme "You Be The Judge", following this week's controversial episode. Even the Prime Minister has voiced her disapproval of the programme, after it featured a DNA paternity outcome, while the couple's six year old son looked on. The Convenor of the media committee of the Advertising Agencies Association, Barry Williamson, says the network should have warned advertisers if it thought the programme's content was controversial. He says the advertising agencies will be asking about the content of the next few episodes, to see if it has calmed down.
The legal battle between ECNZ and Tainui Maori is moving to the Appeal Court in Wellington. A short time ago a High Court judge issued an interim order stopping the split of ECNZ into three separate State Owned Enterprises - a split which was to have gone ahead tomorrow. Tainui fear the split would damage the position of Maori in relation to their claims over rivers in the Waikato. Justice Nicholson was sharply critical of the Crown - noting it had been unwilling to give Tainui any meaningful assurances. He rejected the government's claims that it was too late to stop the split - saying that problem was one created by the Crown's actions.
Urban Maori say they are delighted to have succeeded with a High Court injunction against the Waitangi Fisheries Commission's plan for the allocation of Maori fishing assets. John Tamihere, who is representing urban Maori in the fight against the planned allocation, says he is pleased with the timing of the injunction, because it means the split of fishing assets will be a major election year issue. John Tamihere says if the injunction bid had failed, urban Maori's desire to seek justice would have been made more difficult.
Widely different views on what the legal drinking age should be in submissions to a select committee today. The police want the Sale of Liquor Amendment bill to go through with the drinking age lowered to 18. But the Ministry of Health and the Alcohol Advisory Council want it to stay at 20 with no exceptions. ALAC Chairman Judge Mick Brown says the risk of increasing teen deaths on the road through drunk driving is too great.
Another setback for the controversial review of the police department. The Employment Court has declined to reconfirm a job being sought by a non-sworn police manager - a decision which has delayed the restructuring process. Assistant Commissioner Jon White says the court has found police management is in breach of some aspects of the staff member's contract. He says another hearing could take place within the next two weeks, and the police review cannot proceed until the issue is cleared up.
The Court of Appeal has dismissed a bid by the man shot by Christchurch police last year to have his sentence reduced. Daniel Bruce Laws admitted kidnapping a woman last August - he drove her through the centre of the city, presenting a firearm at people along the way before armed police shot him. He was sentenced to ten years in prison for the more serious charges of 14 charges he faced. His lawyer wanted the sentence reduced on the grounds it was excessive - however, the three justices who heard the appeal this morning have dismissed it due to the serious nature of the offences.
A Napier woman whose dog found a human skull in her wood shed says the whole experience has been quite spooky. Lyn Goodson is keeping her fingers crossed that forensic tests prove it is a really old skull. Police are carrying out a scene examination to see if they can find any more human bones, while the skull is being sent to Auckland for testing. Detective Sergeant Brian Schabb says if the skull turns out to be recent, they will launch an inquiry into who the person may have been.
Veteran children's author Margaret Mahey and illustrator Selina Young have won this year's New Zealand Post Children's Book of the Year Awards. They have taken away the top prize for their book, A Summery Saturday Morning. The title also won best picture book.
A bill to stop criminals from earning money by telling their story has taken another step towards becoming law. Labour MP George Hawkin's Crimes Publications Bill has been sent to select committee. The proposed legislation says any money from such stories would have to go to victims. Mr Hawkins says there are several examples of criminals such as murderers writing books, effectively earning money from their crime.
Greypower says the government's cuts to superannuation which take effect today, are a bad April Fool's Day joke. The government is lowering super from 65 per cent to 60 per cent of the minimum wage. Some pensioners could lose up to 25 dollars on each super payment. Frank Moloney from Greypower says superannuitants are already struggling to pay higher food prices, rates and power charges. He believes the government's changes to super will force many thousands of pensioners below the poverty line. Greypower is calling on the government to adjust superannuation rates twice yearly to give pensioners a fairer deal.
A spanner has been thrown in the works of the decision over who will get the top job at the World Trade Organisation. Former Prime Minister Mike Moore is running neck and neck with the only other contender, Supachai Panitchpakdi from Thailand. EU Trade Commissioner Sir Leon Brittan is accusing the US of using a 'secret veto' against the Thai candidate. A disappointed Mike Moore is not prepared to comment on the latest problems in the long running saga, but remains behind the WTO in its very difficult decision. A decision should be announced next week.
The political outrage over the television programme called You be the Judge continues today... This week's programme had a six year old boy in the studio to hear who his father was... Politicians have accused the programme of exploiting children and television bosses have been summoned to the Beehive to explain themselves... Mauri Pacific's Ann Batten says there is an effective way to hit the programme where it really hurts... The Rev Batten has asked advertisers to boycott the programme and if that does not work she has asked consumers not to buy their products...
The Fire Service saga drags on despite yesterday's crunch meeting at the Beehive. Commission Chairman Roger Estall fronted up with his plan, but has been sent away to gather more information. Internal Affairs Minister Jack Elder says the Commissions report is being considered but that more information is required. A spokesman in Mr Elder's office said there was no deadline given to Mr Estall on when he has to report back by. That comes less than 48 hours after Prime Minister Jenny Shipley said she would be able to tell the public by the end of the week the Government's view on the restructuring plan.
(Having been told to produce a plan which was backed by the Chief Executive and his senior managers, Mr Estall turned up with one which they are reported to have rejected. What sort of a duck- fight are we running here? - BH)
Media organisations defending the right to freedom of speech, are welcoming a High Court ruling on the Liam Williams-Holloway gagging order. The Family Court order prevents the media from reporting on the whereabouts of the young cancer victim, who went into hiding with his parents earlier this year. But the High Court has now ordered the Family Court to reconsider the order - this time taking freedom of expression more into account. Phil O'Reilly, of the Newspaper Publishers Association, says he is delighted. He says the order has effectively been overturned.
Police have launched a campaign to crack down on unsafe tyres - before the onset of winter. Random roadside checks will be conducted this month.. National Traffic safety manager Superintendent Neil Gyde says two key themes for safe tyres and safe driving are correct tread depth and correct tyre pressure. He says drivers unsure about either should check their local garage.
(Whew ... I thought they said bald drivers for a moment there - BH)
The head of the Earthquake Commission, Neville Young has just been appointed to fill a vacancy on the Fire Service Commission. He takes the position left empty by the resignation of Doug Martin, who was appointed Chief of Staff in the prime minister's office last year. Internal Affairs minister Jack Elder says Mr Young will bring valuable experience to the Fire Service, and will help it through its current problems. Neville Young was president of the National Party between 1986 and 1989. Earlier today Fire Service Commission chairman Roger Estall was given more time by the government to come up with a restructuring plan. He now has until next week to present the final proposal.
A disappointing start to the Easter Holiday Road Toll. Two people have died since the holiday period started at four this afternoon, with another three fatalities earlier today. The first crash happened in Omihi Saddle in Canterbury, a man and his toddler son died at the scene. The child's mother was airlifted to Christchurch Hospital, but has since died. About twenty minutes later, a person was killed when a car and truck collided in Taranaki. And at about seven tonight there was another fatality south of Oamaru. Christchurch Inspector Bryan Buck says it should serve as a reminder to motorists about the danger of the roads.
Police looking for a dangerous prisoner on the run have spent most of the day searching an area just north of Whangarei. 30 year old Cass Mei escaped from Auckland's Middlemore Hospital on Saturday morning. He was admitted to hospital after supposedly suffering from asthma. Detective Sergeant Neil Grimstone says police received a reported sighting from a member of the public of Mei. He says the Armed Offenders Squad was called out to the remote area and helicopters were used .. but police have been unable to find him.
Finance Minister Bill English is trying to allay fears that the Government will sell off the three new power SOEs which will be created by the split of ECNZ. Tainui spokesman Sir Robert Mahuta predicts the companies would be put on the market in a year...probably to foreign interests. Responding to a question in the house from Labour's Michael Cullen, Mr English says the new power companies could only be sold by legislation. He notes that the Government has been creating SOEs faster than its been selling them. The split up of ECNZ will go ahead after a deal was struck earlier today between the crown and Tainui.
The man who introduced the soon-to-be-redundant life-time drivers licences is siding with those vehemently opposed to the new photo- ID licences. Former Labour Transport Minister, Richard Prebble, says the new licences are clearly a breach of contract And he says the current government should, at the very least, refund the twenty-five dollars we paid for our current life-time licences. Richard Prebble also says he opposed photos going on the life-time licences as research showed they hindered, rather than helped police with identifications.
Police are asking for public help following the discovery of a man's body in the boot of a car in Papatoetoe last night. Two young women followed a trail of blood from the man's property in Plunket Avenue, to find his body wrapped in bedding and stuffed in the boot of a car. He had borrowed the car earlier yesterday. Senior Sergeant Dave Simpson says a vehicle which went missing from the property has been found today at the Puhinui railway station, and is currently undergoing forensic testing. He says they would like to hear from anyone who saw anything suspicious in Plunket Avenue last night. Police want to hear from anyone who saw the missing car, a white 1985 Mitsubishi Lancer, registration PZ5115, between seven o'clock yesterday and ten this morning.
Fire safety officers are investigating the cause of a blaze that extensively damaged a Christchurch building this morning. Fire Service spokesman Andrew Norris says fire fighters battled the blaze in the Ministry of Commerce building for an hour before it could be brought under control. Andrew Norris says no one was in danger at any stage during the fire. The cause of the fire remains unclear at this stage.
A coroner's inquest into the death of a woman who died after a chemical face peel could be brought forward. The woman suffered a cardiac arrest after an ingredient in the treatment Exoderm, was absorbed into her skin. Christchurch District Coroner Richard McElrea says in view of the level of public interest in the case, and the health issues that have arisen, he is considering an early hearing. Mr McElrea says the hearing will consider preliminary evidence on the cause of the woman's death. He says the hearing will not take place before the 19th of April, and could be delayed even further due to the complexities of the case.
A police search for a woman thought to have drowned during a domestic dispute south east of Auckland has been called off, after the woman was discovered safe and well. Police are angry there time has been wasted by a woman who disappeared into the sea at Kaiaua after arguing with her husband. The coastguard and the police launch Deodar were called in, but the woman was soon found standing in shallow water two hundred metres off shore.
Fresh calls this morning for seat belts to be fitted in buses. Ruapehu MP Weston Kirton says present Land Transport Safety Standards do not go far enough...and Wednesday's bus crash in the Waikato is proof. Nine people were taken to hospital after two buses, including a school bus, collided on State Highway One near Taupiri. Mr Kirton says the only thing that seems to be standing in the way is the cost. But he says millions of dollars are lost through accidents each year, and the government should put safety before its chequebook. Mr Kirton says the Transport Minister should consult the public on the issue.
A nervous wait for firefighters who say the latest delay in resolving the restructuring row does not bode well. The Government wants more information on the impasse, despite Fire Service Commission chairman Roger Estall presenting senior ministers with a plan to end the wrangle. Professional Firefighters Union secretary Derek Best says an accord, which could have solved the long-running dispute, was agreed on weeks ago and firefighters are continuing to be left out of the loop. Derek Best says firefighters fear Mr Estall's plan will be what they call another self-serving sham.
Police will launch another extensive search of Wellington's Owhiro Bay today following the disappearance of a 60 year old diver. Inspector Ian McKenzie says the man was fishing for paua yesterday with two friends when he went missing. The friends raised the alarm. Inspector McKenzie says police spent four hours searching for him without success. He says the Wellington wharf police and dive squad will join today's search.
The Retail Merchants Association says it supports, in part, ACT MP Patricia Schnauer's private members bill, which would allow people to shop when they like at Easter and Christmas. The bill has been selected in the ballot and will go before Parliament. Association chief executive John Albertson says they would like to see Easter Sunday become a shopping day but want Good Friday to be left as a shop free day. He says Christmas day and Anzac day should also be left as they are. Mr Albertson says retailers need time to catch their breath, rather than opening seven days a week, 365 days a year.
Date: 1 April 1999 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 0.5403 AUD 0.8472 GBP 0.3353 JPY 64.34 CAD 0.8155 EURO 0.5019 FRF 3.2899 DEM 1.9616 HKD 4.1974 SGD 0.9356 ZAR 3.3378 CHF 0.8021 INTEREST RATES (%) Call : 4.50 90 Day: 4.69SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION
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