Copyright © 1998 Brian Harmer
The warship was in fact the Leander class frigate, HMNZS Wellington, making its farewell visit to its name port. This old lady was first commissioned thirty years ago as HMS Bacchante, and was taken into the New Zealand Navy as a stop-gap in 1982 while the replacement policy for the class was being decided.
On with the news:
The two former Tourism Board members who received taxpayers money as a golden handshake are digging their heels in. Ex-chairman Bryan Mogridge and his deputy Michael Wall say the payments were made because it was anticipated they would be subject to public criticism, humiliation and loss of reputation. They say this proved to be the case. The pair also say their performance was repeatedly questioned by Mr McCully in contravention of an agreement he would signed. Earlier today the Prime Minister gave the Tourism Board until Friday to decide what steps it will take to recover the 340 thousand dollars paid to Mr Mogridge and Mr Wall.
(The way it looks to me is that there is confusion over just where the illegality was. The auditor general seems to have said that neither minister nor the members of the board had the authority to enter into a contract with Messrs Mogridge and Wall. That is fair enough, as far as it goes. From their perspective, they were offered a sum of money in return for the loss of prestige and income associated with their roles on the Board. They signed in good faith. They should not have to repay it. The people who should have to repay it are the ones who committed the illegal act surely? Or should we go back to the status quo prior to the illegal act and give them their jobs back? - BH)
The minister responsible for Work and Income New Zealand has given the agency the all clear to pursue Tau Henare over his $47 welfare overpayment. The Maori Affairs Minister has urged beneficiaries not to repay old debts, "if they can get away with it." But Roger Sowry says wherever there is debt, he expects WINZ to recover the money, regardless of the standing or financial circumstances of the individual. Meanwhile, an Otago welfare recipient is witnessing the hard edge of that policy. Reports out today say the bed ridden sickness beneficiary is being threatened with debt collectors over a 25 year old overpayment of $144.
(A very acid cartoon - Tom Scott? - showed Tau musing on his philosophy of not giving back what doesn't belong to you if you can get away with it ... and concluding "that's why I didn't quit my cabinet post when I jumped from NZ First!" - BH)
The maximum penalty has been handed down to a Christchurch company manager convicted of illegally importing falsely labelled bee pollen. Megavitamin Laboratories managing director Warren Stewart has been jailed for 20 months, and his son Evan, who is the operations manager, has been jailed for 15 months. The pair must also pay two and a half thousand dollar each in court costs. The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry sees the sentence as a deterrent to others. MAF officers say they raided the business in 1997 after complaints from the National Beekeepers' Association, which fears the introduction of exotic disease.
The Reserve Bank is taking major steps to cope with the possible run on banknotes at the end of this year. Many people are talking about stocking up on banknotes - in case electronic banking facilities fail because of the Millennium Bug. Deputy Governor Rod Carr says that is unlikely - but if it happens the Reserve Bank will make unsecured loans available to banks to buy extra cash. There are currently $2 billion in notes in circulation -and the Reserve Bank is stockpiling an extra $4.5 billion.
After battling for more than a year, a Nelson woman has had more than two thousand dollars deposited back into her account after her bank admitted overcharging her. The Bank Customer Action Collective has sent a letter to the Banking Ombudsman requesting an inquiry into the unidentified bank's practices. The Collective says the bank was made aware as far back as January 1995 it had been overcharging the woman's account but she has only just received an apology. It says if any other professional made these mistakes they would be held accountable for their errors and prosecuted.
(There is too much secrecy in this country ... the laws protect all the wrong people for all the wrong reasons. The people who should be protected are the consumers ... and we ought to know which banks are playing these sorts of games! - BH)
The Prime Minister has welcomed about one thousand delegates to the APEC small and medium enterprise meeting in Christchurch. Jenny Shipley says the challenge of APEC is to help all economies achieve sustainable growth. She has dismissed the claims of critics who say APEC is some sort of multi-national conspiracy to exploit impoverished nations. The Prime Minister has also announced to the conference that she will be visiting her APEC counter-parts in Peru, Chile and Mexico.
ACT is unlikely to support proposed legislation to enable a suggested referendum on the future of MMP to be done by postal ballot. ACT leader Richard Prebble is not keen for the whole MMP debate to become an election year issue. Prime Minister Jenny Shipley has indicated she would like to get such legislation on postal ballots through this year. Mr Prebble says he will write to the PM outlining his concerns. He is suggesting a reconvening of the Royal Commission on Electoral Law, to make an objective report on any possible reforms.
ACT MP Patricia Schnauer's private members bill on trading hours may be sunk because of a lack of numbers. Ms Schnauer believes Mauri Pacific will pull the plug on its support for the bill, despite telling her just last week it would back her. Without Mauri Pacific, she says she would have to rely on New Zealand First voting in favour. She understands Labour and the Alliance will vote against the bill which is before the House on Wednesday.
(Nope! Mauri Pacific did a spectacular U-turn on the eve of the debate and supported Ms Schnauer - BH)
Labour warns it will overhaul power reforms if it becomes the Government if prices for household consumers do not drop. Energy spokesman Pete Hodgson applauds Government plans to impose price controls on line companies but he notes it is the energy companies which are now putting up prices. Mr Hodgson says if at best power prices only stay the same then that is not good enough. He says an incoming Labour Government would address issues with energy companies unless prices for household consumers fall.
The Prime Minister says it was Murray McCully's decision for him to go as Tourism Minister. The MP tendered his resignation to Jenny Shipley earlier today, following ongoing controversy about his handling of the portfolio. Prime Minister Jenny Shipley has told Parliament Mr McCully has resigned because he believes that is in the best interest of the New Zealand tourism industry. However he remains at the cabinet table, with responsibilities for ACC, sport, the America's Cup and the Millennium. The MP has been under pressure since February when a row broke out over his management of a dispute in policy direction within the Tourism Board. Last week an Audit Office probe into management of the board concluded tax-free exit payments made to two of the board's former members were unlawful. The Tourism Board says it has no immediate comment to make about Mr McCully's resignation.
(Belated it may be, and hedged about with self justification, nevertheless, I applaud Mr McCully's decision. My major regret is that he still does not admit that any action of his was worthy of his resignation ... but he went ... now if a few more would follow his example ... and not just ministers, I can think of a couple of commissioners who are surplus to my needs ... BH)
The two men West Auckland police have been seeking during their inquiry into a body found in a burned out car have come forward. Police have been keen to speak to the men, who they believe are connected to a white van which was in the Waitakere Ranges, where the woman's charred body was found in the car on Sunday morning. Inquiry head Detective Senior Sergeant Mark Franklin says the men contacted police voluntarily this morning. He says the pair are now helping with the inquiry into the woman's death. Detective Senior Sergeant Franklin says police are still trying to establish whether the dead woman is 39 year old mother of two, Theresa Williams, also known as Theresa Mohi.
Police say two men and a 16 year old youth have been found in possession of drugs during a routine vehicle check at Christchurch's Paparua prison this morning. The men are workers on a construction site at the prison, but have now been banned from the site. Christchurch police say they caught the three with a small amount of cannabis and a pipe in their possession. The two older men, a 43 year old and an 18 year old, will appear in court later this week. The 16 year old has been referred to youth aid. The construction site's manager, Bruce Cathrow, is appalled at the alleged find, saying it raises a whole heap of safety issues.
A petition to save the Plunket Helpline has gathered more than 60 thousand signatures. The helpline folded after government funding was withdrawn. However Labour is pledging to fund a 24-hour-a-day Plunket Helpline for parents. A petition organised by Labour leader Helen Clark and health spokeswoman Annette King has been presented to parliament Ms King says the public showed overwhelming support for the petition - with more than 60 thousand people signing in little more than a month.
The Tourism Board is considering a request from the Prime Minister, to tell her by the end of the week how it will recover exit payments made to two former members. Bryan Mogridge and Michael Wall received a total of 340 thousand dollars as a golden handshake - payments which the Prime Minister thinks may be the subject of legal argument. Tourism Board Chairman, Peter Allport says the Prime Minister's request is with the Board's advisors, and he says the end-of-week deadline is possible. Bryan Mogridge and Michael Wall say the payments were approved by Tourism Minister, Murray McCully.
Flood waters in the Far North are receding as residents cope with the worst deluge in living memory. State Highway One is today re- opened between Te Kao and Kaitaia after floodwaters cut the main link. However, authorities urge motorists to take extreme care on the highway at temporary bridge at Tangoake. In areas around Kaeo, Kawakawa and Te Kao, residents are cleaning up after flooding sparked by intensely heavy rain.
A domestic airfare price war is looming in the lower North Island and Upper South Island with a new carrier offering bargain basement fares from the end of next month. CityJet plans regular scheduled passenger services with its fleet of five Banderante aircraft. The company is offering fares of $29 between Nelson and Wellington and $59 each way between Nelson and Palmerston North. Director Paul Webb says the company is confident the permanent low fares can be sustained.
(Wahoo! Real competition! If the rumour is correct that these are Ansett's - or Rex Aviation's - cast offs, then Ansett was not as shrewd as Air New Zealand, which refused to sell its fleet of F27 Friendships to any potential competitors - BH)
The newest Cook Strait fast ferry begins its journey to New Zealand today. The TOP CAT leaves Hobart this evening - it will arrive in Dunedin on early Thursday morning before making its way to Lyttleton. Fast Cat Ferries director Brooke McKenzie says they plan to start their Cook Strait sailings early next month. He says the public has responded tremendously to the new service with a steady flow of bookings coming in.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry is applauding a Christchurch judge's decision to jail two company bosses who illegally imported bee pollen. Megavitamin Laboratories Managing Director Warren Stewart has been jailed for 20 months and his operations manager son Evan Stewart for 15 months. Evidence was given in court that imported bee pollen found on company premises was falsely labelled as corn flour. MAF says imported bee pollen poses a serious threat to the local beekeeping industry...which is free of many of the major disease occurring overseas. The department says that gives New Zealand an international advantage.
Students at the Auckland Institute of Technology have voted in favour of retaining compulsory student association membership. While the vote went in favour of retaining compulsory membership, the turnout of voters was very low. Nearly 2000 AIT students voted in favour and just over 1200 were against the proposal. However, only 29 per cent of students bothered to vote.
The trade surplus for March could be higher than expected. Preliminary figures released by Statistics New Zealand show a surplus of 74 million dollars. Economists had been predicting around 10 million. Statistics New Zealand says the result is based on provisional imports for March of 2.1 billion dollars, compared with export estimates of 2.18 billion. That puts exports up 7.7 per cent on March last year, with imports up 3.7 per cent. Updated export data will be released next month.
The new Minister of Tourism has given an early indication he is likely to meddle a lot less in the Tourism Board's affairs than his predecessor, Murray McCully. Dr Lockwood Smith takes over the portfolio after Mr McCully's resignation yesterday in the wake of the political fallout over a golden handshake for former directors. Former board members have criticised Mr McCully's hands-on running of the board's affairs. New Minister Lockwood Smith appears to be prepared to let the board get on with what they know best. He says there is a board of directors with commercial experience and he has to be advised by them how best they manage their business. Dr Smith is currently in the Middle East chasing new export markets as International Trade Minister.
Police have confirmed this morning they have a prime suspect for the murder of Auckland woman Claire Hills, but do not have enough evidence to charge him. Rumours have been circulating for some days now that police are close to cracking the year old homicide case that many detectives say is one of the worst they have investigated. Claire Hills was abducted after leaving her work as a McDonalds restaurant manager. Police believe she was held for several hours before being burnt alive in her car. Detective Senior Sergeant Dale Candy says investigators have told the family they have a suspect, but do not yet have a strong enough case against him to take to court.
(It seems to me that unless they have the evidence, the police should be quiet. Too many cases in the recent past have seen lives ruined on the basis of inadequate evidence. - BH)
The union representing secondary school teachers has dismissed Education Ministry research about bulk funding as unscientific, and entirely predictable. The report finds schools which adopted the new method of funding teachers' salaries say it allows them to employ extra teachers and support staff. The schools say they are also teaching better. However the PPTA is critical of the study. President Graeme Macann says it is possible schools which are not bulk-funded would achieve similar results, if they received the extra money given to those which adopted the new system.
The Maori Council is calling for a Law Commission review - to ensure that confiscated Maori land is offered back to descendants of its original owners when it is no longer needed. A Court of Appeal ruling allows the Port Gisborne company to sell an 11 thousand hectare block of land without offering it to Maori. Maori Council vice president Maanu Paul says for justice to prevail the land which was confiscated from Maori in 1881 - should be offered back to Maori. He says the government needs to ensure companies are not profiting from land acquired by confiscation from Maori.
The six Russian seamen who fought for unpaid wages after spending months living in Lyttleton have won their court battle. The men are the remainder of more than one hundred who were left unpaid after a joint fishing venture between their Russian employer and an Auckland company failed. The High Court has awarded each of the men lost wages and around over ten thousand dollars in damages plus their airfares back to Russia.
Former New Zealand cricket captain Walter Hadlee is expected to be released from Christchurch hospital today after he has undergone a series of tests. The 84-year old collapsed last night during the New Zealand Cricket Awards dinner in Christchurch. His wife Lilla says he is fine this morning and she thinks the heat and the fact that the awards ceremony was very emotional for her husband could have contributed to the collapse.
The Cancer Society is concerned about the potential number of women who have been the victim of misdiagnosed cervical cancer. It is being claimed a pathologist missed signs of cancer in patients, and the Alliance says two people have died as a result, and two others have developed cancer. Alliance Health spokeswoman Phillida Bunkle plans to name the pathologist in parliament this afternoon. The Cancer Society says if the pathologist made four errors, he may have made others. And the Society says it would like to know how women are going to be reassured about the quality of cervical screening.
Occupational Safety and Health officials have laid a charge against a Hamilton trust after one of its employees was stabbed at work. Michelle Hight was stabbed while she was looking after an intellectually handicapped woman in the woman's home in June last year. Community Living Trust has pleaded not guilty at the Hamilton District Court to failing to ensure the safety of Ms Hight. The intellectually handicapped woman was charged with attempted murder and is awaiting a hearing to determine if she is fit to stand trial.
The Wine and Spirits Association has taken a swipe at supermarkets, claiming they are attempting to establish a food and beverage monopoly. Amendments to the Sale of Liquor Act, now under review, could see supermarkets and dairies selling alcohol seven days a week. Wine and Spirits Association spokesman Ron Morgan accepts wine sales in supermarkets saying they are logical, but he remains opposed to an expansion of the product range.
(Interesting definition of greed - "you want some of what we want to keep our monopoly of" - am I missing something? - BH)
In an awards ceremony at Te Papa in Wellington this afternoon, Richmond Primary School has been named Goodman Fielder School of the Year. Other finalists were Aria School from the Waitomo District, Auckland's Farm Cove Intermediate, North Canterbury's Cheviot Area School, and Auckland Girls Grammar. Convenor of the judging panel, the Right Honourable David Lange says Richmond won partially because it had excellent systems in place, and it got the results. He says the school has a dedicated, able principal who works well with the board.
Taupo helicopter operator Bevan Thomas has pleaded not guilty to charges arising from operating a controversial tourist thrill seeker ride known as "The Rack". Civil Aviation closed the operation down earlier this year. Charges were brought against Thomas after he defied orders to stop operating The Rack, and refused to hand over equipment. Thomas says he has had to sell his helicopter to cover legal costs, and in the meantime is leasing a conventional chopper to continue sight-seeing flights around Taupo. A hearing date has yet to be set for the case.
(Abseiling, Bungy jumping or parachuting scare the heck out of me. I was almost tempted by this while we were in Taupo this year. - BH)
The Hillary Commission says poor team management and coaching is to blame for bad behaviour by top sports players. The NZRFU will today consider whether to take action over an incident last weekend involving Andrew Mehrtens. He made at obscene gesture at the crowd in South Africa after kicking a winning drop goal for the Crusaders. It is the latest in a recent string of bad behaviour incidents involving top professional sportsmen. Hillary Commission spokesman John Boyd says top sportsmen are role models and that sort of behaviour sets the wrong example.
The two Christchurch men jailed for illegally importing bee pollen are to appeal their sentence. Earlier this week Warren Stewart was sentenced to 20 months prison for illegally importing bee pollen under false labels from America. His son, Evan Stewart, who is the company's operations manager was jailed for 15 months. The bee pollen was falsely imported as corn flour in June 1997 - the pair pled guilty when they were charged. Their lawyer has confirmed they will be appealing the sentence - although that is yet to be filed.
The discovery of a cannabis seedling growing in a crack in the pavement of an inner city Nelson street has not surprised police. The four centimetre plant was found growing in the paving of Bridge Street. Senior Sergeant Bob Burns cannabis is a very hardy plant, which germinates easily. He says police regularly get calls from anxious people who find dope plants growing in their front gardens, which are probably the result of cannabis cigarettes being discarded. Senior Sergeant Burns says the most unusual aspect of this discovery is that it was on a busy inner city street.
The lawyer for convicted child molester Peter Ellis is refusing to comment on suggestions today that a juror during his 1993 trial was sexually aroused by the evidence. The claims have been made in documents leaked to the Dominion newspaper, which claims the issue surfaced in correspondence between Ellis' lawyer, Judith Ablett- Kerr QC and the Justice Ministry. Ablett-Kerr has asked for a tape of the man to be released, and for the author of a book in which the matter surfaces to be interviewed. In its response, the Justice Ministry says it does not consider the unsubstantiated claims of a third party is worthy of further investigation.
The Conservation Department is being urged to take urgent action to snare the remaining population of rainbow lorikeets on the loose in Auckland. The New Zealand Conservation Authority says it is disappointed that more progress has not been made to recapture the parrots , which pose a real threat to this country's native flora and fauna. Chairman, Sir Duncan McMullin says he pushed the issue in February but he says he has been compelled to raise it again.
Safe workplace campaigners are condemning the 15 thousand dollar fine slapped on a furniture removal company after the death of one of its workers. Thirty-two year old Augusto Fatialofa was crushed between a forklift and a truck while working for the moving company in January last year. The firm has been fined 15 thousand dollars for failing to ensure the forklift driver was properly trained. But unionist and safe workplace campaigner Hazel Armstrong says the fine should have been much larger, as the law allows for a maximum of 50 thousand dollars. Two thirds of the 15 thousand dollar fine will be paid to Mr Fatialofa's widow.
The Health Minister says the majority of submissions on a law to allow nurses to prescribe medicines are supportive. 115 submissions have been received by a select committee considering the Medicines Amendment Bill - which would allow nurses to prescribe drugs to the elderly and children. Wyatt Creech says the majority of those seem to be all for it, but he concedes there have been concerns raised. He says medical groups are worried about clinical safety and those concerns will be looked at carefully.
Internal Affairs Minister Jack Elder has produced what he claims is evidence some professional fire fighters are against smoke alarms. While Parliament considered the inquiry into the Fire Service Commission, he produced a poster taken from the Kawerau fire station which is scathing of the alarms, saying they will cost fire fighters jobs. Professional Fire Fighters Union Secretary Derek Best says he will talk to staff at the station but suggests the poster is merely part of a dirty-tricks campaign against his members.
Whangarei residents are watching the approaching high tide, as they mop up after a day of torrential rain. The deluge hit the city early this afternoon, forcing creeks to overflow, and leading to flooding downtown and in the west of the city. Whangarei's main telephone exchange had the best part of a metre of water lapping up its walls. Network Consultant, Duncan Hamilton says three cars went under the floodwater, and still have water inside them. The Fire Service says high tide at about eight o'clock tonight will be a crucial time, as the water attempts to drain out of the city.
The tourism board has passed on its reply to the Government to the Prime Minister's request as to whether it can recover the money paid to two former board members. Jenny Shipley will consider the report and reply to it today, but is not expected to make a public statement until next week. The PM said earlier today that the Solicitor General had backed up the Auditor General's view that the payments were unlawful. The Tourism Board is expected to put out a statement shortly.
A lack of enthusiasm from the Alliance over the prospect of a by- election in Mike Moore's Waimakariri seat if he gets the Secretary General job with the World Trade Organisation. With less than six months to the dissolution of Parliament, the Alliance finds it difficult to justify the expense of an election. National is undecided and while Prime Minister Jenny Shipley says her party would be "tempted", she would need to talk to other parties first. Labour has yet to take a stance, preferring to wait until the outcome of the WTO decision which is due out early tomorrow morning. Parliament can decide to leave the seat vacant until the election.
Trade Minister Lockwood Smith has arrived in Washington to fight against proposed tariffs on New Zealand lamb. Dr Smith will protest strongly against a recommendation by the US International Trade Commission to impose a tariff rate quota. The Americans argue our imports are hurting the local lamb industry. Dr Smith says such trade barriers are not acceptable, and a better solution would be for the States to work with New Zealand in promoting the lamb market.
(That should terrify the heck out of the commission - BH)
Alliance MP Phillida Bunkle's private member's bill, calling for a commission of inquiry into the safety and ethics of genetically modified organisms, is to go before Parliament. Her bill has been drawn in the ballot and also calls for a suspension of field trials and testing of crops, animals and other organisms in genetic modification research. She believes her bill reflects a world concern about GMFs.
The Health Minister is asking officials for advice on whether the new openness procedures regarding Medical Practitioner Disciplinary hearings is working. Wyatt Creech has asked for the information in the wake of the cervical cancer row highlighted in Parliament yesterday by Alliance MP Phillida Bunkle. He says a law change in 1996 required such hearings to be open and for the name of the doctor to be published and forwarded to the relevant health authorities.
Two high profile Kiwi politicians are to receive honorary doctorates from Waikato University at Ngaruawahia today. Sir Douglas Graham and Koro Wetere are being honoured for what the university says is their tireless contribution to the well-being of the nation and the furtherment of Maori affairs.
The Minister of Education is still defending his plan to host a visit by the scandal plagued Chief Inspector of Britain schools, even though the trip has now been cancelled. Chris Woodhead was to speak at a beehive function next month, but in Parliament yesterday it was claimed that he advocates that sex between teachers and students could be educational. However Nick Smith says after making extensive inquiries, he is certain the claims are untrue, with vehement denials from all involved. Nick Smith has accused the Labour and Alliance education mouth-pieces of political opportunism.
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