Copyright © 1998 Brian Harmer
Those with a classical education will undoubtedly remember Jupiter Pluvius as the fellow in charge of water supplies in ancient Rome. He seems to have migrated to Wellington this week. Some days it just drizzled all day, and on others we had showers in between which we had heavy rain. Our back lawn now makes a sort of squelching noise when I walk on it, which is quite disconcerting, and if I happen to be barefoot, the jet of water between the toes and up the trouser leg is quite unpleasant. The duck of which I wrote a week or two ago seems quite at home. Helen's cat which spends most of its summer days sleeping atop a spare fridge in the back window sits watching unblinking, an it sifts through its recipes for duck meals. However, in its one attempt at following the recipe it fled terrified after its meal bit back.
There is always a beneficiary for every apparently cruel act of nature. In this case the common starlings are looking sleek and particularly well fed, and they are way too fast to worry about the cat. The rain provides the reason for their splendid condition. As water level rises, common earthworms do a brave, if somewhat foolish "up periscope". I have watched the starlings hopping from worm to worm gathering up a beak-full of the wriggling little delicacies. It has the appearance of an animated spaghetti feast, with each bird carrying off four or five worms at a time. This is all very fascinating, unless of course you contemplate the matter from the worm's perspective.
The election campaign proceeds apace with just two more weeks of waffle to endure.
On with the news:
All news items (except where noted otherwise) are reproduced by kind permission of copyright owner, IRN Ltd whose current news listing can be found at http://www.xtramsn.co.nz/news/
All 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.
Lawyers acting for convicted paedophile Peter Ellis have confirmed they are pursuing defamation action following an article in a weekend newspaper which suggested he was wearing dresses while in prison. Meanwhile, Ellis' lawyer is to make an urgent representation to the Government following comments from the Justice Minister over an application for a Royal Commission of Inquiry. Tony Ryall says the application is unlikely to be considered until after the election. Judith Ablett-Kerr QC says Ellis had not appreciated that the administration of justice would be suspended during an election campaign.
(This is obscene. In my belief this person has served most of a sentence for a crime which almost certainly never happened. I saw someone saying in one newsgroup, "if not Ellis then who?" ... this misses the point that the evidence which was withheld was so bizarre as to make me believe that the ideas were planted in the children's minds by people who wanted to believe the allegations. I do not believe that any abuse whatsoever, ever happened in that creche. - BH)
Labour's Justice spokesman is promising a law change to prevent unwell prison inmates collecting the sickness benefit. Phil Goff is blaming an anomaly in the law for opening the door to two mentally ill patients at Auckland Prison, who have stopped taking their medication, so they could collect the benefit while at a psychiatric unit. The Corrections Department is investigating reports that stand-over tactics were used by gang members who plan to collect the pay-outs. But Goff fears other inmates might try it on and says Labour would act quickly to change the law to stop it happening again.
The National and Labour Parties have both become targets for more than their fair share of hoarding related vandalism heading into this month's general election. National campaign manager Jeff Grant says during previous elections about 30 per cent of billboards were defaced, however this year, in urban areas the figure is nearer one hundred per cent. Labour is reporting similar problems and blames the spate of vandalism on disillusionment with politics. Both parties say the attacks are putting pressure in budgets and police are now promising to take a hard line on taggers.
(Last time I confessed to some sympathy with the hoarding wreckers, I caused offence to those who in good faith throw their all behind the party of their choice. I respect their commitment, but I still question the effectiveness of the these wretched blots on my otherwise attractive landscape. Who on earth ever selects candidates on the basis of these grotesque eyesores? - BH)
A primary school representative team coach has resigned in protest at the Taranaki Rugby Union's decision to grant an award to a player for punching an opponent. Flanker Darryl Fale was given the Most Memorable Moment award for punching Counties-Manukau flanker Koula Tukino in a match this year. Stratford primary school teacher Karl Bishop has now resigned as the Central Taranaki team coach. He is told the union he is disappointed to see the negative impact the award has had on the players in his team. Mr Bishop says the union made an error in judgement in presenting the award as students have been discussing it and idolising the act.
(Notwithstanding that the spectacular and highly visible - and televised - punch was apparently in retaliation for, or perhaps to prevent a continuation of punches thrown by Tukino, this was monumentally stupid act on the part of this union ...Later development ... in the face of considerable public outrage, including their major commercial sponsor, Taranaki RFC have reversed their decision to make the award. - BH)
There will be another court appearance today for an 18-year-old facing charges relating to an attack on a man in his Naenae home. The 69-year-old victim suffered burns after a pot of hot broth was poured over him. He also suffered cuts from a machete. The man is reported to be in a satisfactory condition at Hutt Hospital. The Lower Hutt District Court is due to consider a psychiatric report on the 18 year old accused today. He is one of three men facing connected charges; two others have been remanded until November the 15th.
(There is a sad upward trend in the number of these disgusting attacks on the old and defenceless. I would not have expected that anyone, anywhere could see anything positive in such cowardice. Yet when these particular "heroes" came to court, their families were there cheering them on, and yelling abuse at the police. Are they really so proud of the achievement of terrorising a gentle and lonely man of this age? There was a time when they would have had the grace to be deeply ashamed of such an act, and might have tendered an apology and perhaps make some tangible reparation. - BH)
The economy is at a standstill and national savings are the lowest since the 1970s, according to the annual National Accounts. Statistics New Zealand says a decrease in national disposable income of 0.6 per cent, and increased government and private spending, contributed to savings of just six per cent. Business profits and income recorded sluggish growth, partly due to a flow- on from the Asian economic crisis, while investment income overseas increased. The survey also notes that while some exporters had a successful year, industries such as forestry, meat and wool had difficulties.
Lion Breweries says it is ready and waiting to send beer to New Zealand troops stationed in East Timor. Our soldiers are still going thirsty - despite being told a fortnight ago that beer supplies were on the way. Australian troops already have access to beer, but our soldiers have to wait until a proposal is approved by the chief of the defence force. Lion Breweries spokesman Graham Seatter says they have received many emails from soldiers keen to have a taste of home. He says troops were particularly homesick during the Rugby World Cup, and many will find it hard being away from their families at Christmas.
(Other media report that the delay is the policy makers dithering over whether the provision of beer would compromise the safety of the troops. If it is true, then I think the policy makers have lost their minds. These folks joined the armed forces, not a temperance society. They know the risks of excess. If they indulge too much at home they are on a charge. Why would they suddenly get irresponsible when they are in a life threatening situation? These are adults for goodness sake. - BH)
The stormy weather around the country on Wednesday night and Thursday morning caused major flooding in the Bay of Plenty and Northland. The eastern Bay of Plenty town of Waimana was completely cut off by Thursday afternoon, and police were warning people to stay away from the area. Opotiki was also cut off, with State Highway Two been closed by floodwaters. The Northland Regional Council warned of further flooding following heavy overnight rain. Rivers in the Hokianga were 6.5 metres above normal on Wednesday night, and rivers in the Kaipara district are also rising steadily on Thursday. The overnight storm also left a trail of damage in Auckland, and the Coromandel Peninsula. Fallen trees and slips affected many roads. Two yachts were washed onto rocks at Okahu Bay in Auckland and State Highway 30 from Rotorua to Whakatane was closed by multiple slips.
A Waihi gold-mining company is excited by a find which could mean new mining operations. Otter Gold Mines has been drilling a site at the Gladstone Hill prospect, about three km from the Martha Mine. Project geologist, Paul Weedon, says explorations have turned up a 15 metre thick vein with a high grade of gold ore. He says they are fairly confident further drilling will turn up more gold of the same grade. Paul Weedon says the price of gold also needs to improve - despite a recent price jump - before the company will consider mining the vein.
One of the country's top defence lawyers is deeply concerned by Government plans to begin compulsory DNA tests on young burglary suspects. National wants to change the law so the High Court can force break-in suspects to provide a blood sample. Auckland defence lawyer Marie Dyhrberg says there have been recent questions over the accuracy of the tests, highlighted at the recent double murder trial for Scott Watson. She says it is also costly to challenge DNA evidence.
Labour leader Helen Clark says if the Prime Minister accepts ACT's stance on a time limit on Treaty settlements, she will eventually swallow the rest of ACT's policies. Richard Prebble says he won't negotiate over his party's stance on all treaty settlements being finalised by 2010. Jenny Shipley is favouring the concept, if not actually saying she would accept it. She says she believes there needs to be finality in the settlement process. Ms Clark says the PM is so desperate for ACT's support that she believes she will take the policy aboard.
Flash flooding caused problems in Cable Bay near Nelson on Friday afternoon. Emergency services were called out after a distressed woman reported water pouring through her house. A slip and several washouts on the Cable Bay Road initially stopped the Fire Service getting though, but the road was later reopened. Council staff were at the scene assessing the damage. Cable Bay resident Barbara Stuart said it was the worst flooding she had seen at the settlement in at least 15 years. She said water was pouring off the hills during the deluge.
Emergency services rushed to the Shotover River near Queenstown on Friday afternoon, after a jet boat overturned. One person was thought to have been seriously injured in the accident. A rescue helicopter was sent to the scene. Thirteen people were onboard the boat when it flipped. The accident was believed to have happened in an area known as Tucker's Beach. No other details were immediately available.
(In their first ever fatality, the Shotover Jet company announced that a Japanese man on his honeymoon was killed. Police are investigating. - BH)
The health provider which went to court to try to secure chemotherapy for a young boy with cancer says its thoughts are with him following news his condition has taken a turn for the worse. Liam Williams-Holloway is now in Mexico with his father, where he is being treated at a cancer clinic in Tijuana. The tumour on his jaw is now the size of a fist. Earlier this year the boy was made a ward of the court, after his parents removed him from a chemotherapy program at Healthcare Otago, and went into hiding. That order was lifted five months ago. Healthcare Otago CEO Dr Bill Adam says the staff of Healthcare Otago are thinking of Liam and his family, and not of their previous disagreement.
(Regardless of their sympathy for Liam, the denizens of NZ news groups have been less forgiving of his parents who they see as having jeopardised his only real chance in pursuit of unproven quackery. - BH)
A friend of the Williams-Holloway family, Jude Battson says Liam is in good spirits. She says his immune system is strong, and he has plenty of energy. Jude Battson says what will be tough for Liam, is being away from his mum while he is in Mexico. An appeal set up for the family during their time in hiding earlier this year has been reopened, to help pay for the cost of the Mexican treatment. Donations can be made at any branch of WestpacTrust.
The weather is causing problems around Wellington with some low- lying properties starting to be affected by floodwater. So far no major damage has been reported, but the rain isn't expected to ease until much later tonight. The roads are treacherous and police are asking for extra care for people heading out into the weather.
A proposal to build a castle in the Waikato town of Tirau has widespread support from locals. Hundreds of Tirau residents have signed a petition in support of the plan. The castle would join the town's well-known corrugated iron sheep and dog as a tourist attraction. Developers Kelvin and Pam Baker have battled for over two years to get necessary consents, and petition organiser Sheryn Dean says she hopes it provides the support they need to carry on.
Foreign Minister Don McKinnon has been announced as the new Secretary General of the Commonwealth. Members of the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Durban voted unanimously on his appointment this morning to the four-year term in the post. The appointment crowns a political career that began in 1978, when McKinnon moved to the public sector after working as a businessman and consultant. Mr McKinnon had planned to retire from domestic politics after the general election on November 27, regardless of the outcome of his bid for the Commonwealth post.
(I haven't admired everything Mr McKinnon has done, and the great parliamentary palace debacle still rankles a bit. Nevertheless he managed to garner a fair share of the glory for brokering a peace between the Bougainvilleans and the Government of PNG. He was nominated for, but did not win a Nobel prize. I suspect the five year long conflict was in too remote a place for the committee to have seen it as a significant achievement. I am pleased for him that he gained this high office without a repeat of the farce that went with Mike Moore's WTO appointment. - BH)
Police are investigating a ram raid at a shopping mall in west Auckland where a WestpacTrust money machine was stolen. Police say two cars were used to smash into the shopping mall at about twenty to four this morning and the entire machine was stolen. They are appealing for anyone with information in relation to the incident to contact them.
Date: 11 November 1999 Brian Dooley
Wellington New Zealand
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To Buy NZD 1.00
USD 0.5166
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EURO 0.4962
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Text Copyright © 1998 Brian Harmer,
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