Copyright © 1998 Brian Harmer
Tonight, Saturday, is the start of daylight saving, and tomorrow we will be on New Zealand Summer Time. Much as I enjoy the light summer evenings, these turnovers occasionally seem like birthdays or Christmas ... each one you have is one less to go ... not that I would turn back the clock (biologically speaking). Another milestone arises this week with an unprecedented event in my working career ... the staff at Victoria University will be on strike for a symbolic half day to protest at what we see as management intransigence. Votes of no confidence have been cast, and there is a great deal of anger about the place. I wont attempt to bore you with chapter and verse of the grievances. Suffice to say that I sense a deep sense of loss, not unique to Victoria, over the transition from a collegial organisation based on teaching informed by research, to a managerial hierarchy based on all the worst aspects and fads of managerialism and market models. I suspect that the yearned for ideal never did exist as fully as the rhetoric would imply. It is asserted in a commissioned report that administrators now account for 29% of the university's total budget. Listening to the debate in the meeting where the decisions were taken, I detected a lot of very hurt people who love the institution, love teaching, but are extremely angry that the priorities being applied prevent them doing their job the way they would like.
Ants has gone off to the Police College now, so Helen has picked up the ball again as far as formatting the news goes.
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.
ACT Leader Richard Prebble is confident about the coming election set now for November 27 -- predicting his party will win 20 seats in Parliament. Richard Prebble says it is the most exciting election campaign he has ever been involved in, as either side could win it. Mr Prebble says we could either have a narrow victory to the centre-right or, in his words "The most left-wing socialist government we have ever had, and God help all of us."
(I lived through a session with the most right wing socialist government we ever had, and I didn't like that either. Prebble was a minister in it. - BH)
Officials in agencies such as the Chief Electoral Office will be behind closed doors for most of the day - beginning the mammoth task of organising the election. The Chief Electoral Office will have nearly 15,000 people working on November 27 -- most of them counting votes or manning polling booths. The announcement of a date means they can now start booking venues for those booths - and that is no small task - with 3,200 polling booths nationwide. There is also a lot of procedural work to be done -- including dissolving parliament in 21 days time -- and closing off nominations on November 3.
(Election posters and adverts already. There is a perpetual battle in our suburb between the party zealots who think they have a divine right to deface parks and gardens with their billboards, and the public spirited people who tear them down each night. - BH)
Taxing too much - or too little - spells disaster for the economy. The Employers federation says with the approach of the election, political parties need to pay particular attention to taxation issues. The Federation commissioned research group Infometrics to analyse the different parties' approaches to tax. Senior analyst John Pask says the research shows ACT's plans were best for the economy. He says all the parties need to state their policies clearly.
(Is it just me, or is their something really profound I am missing in this pronouncement? - BH)
It could be late this week before air travellers know the likelihood of more industrial action affecting their travel plans. As the Ansett wrangle with its pilots drags on, its competitor Air New Zealand is now facing industrial problems. Air New Zealand and its international flight attendants are at loggerheads over a new contract, and the attendants' union is not ruling out a strike. Flight Attendant Association spokesman Bob Critchley says talks with the airline have been suspended. He says the union will talk to its members this week, and should know before the weekend what the next step will be.
(Didn't think I'd be joining them :-( - BH)
A spokeswoman for the Christian Heritage Party wants mandatory testing of all gay visitors to New Zealand, to see if they're carrying sexually transmittable diseases. The Party says it is ironic that the Wellington City Council proudly said it is hosting the Gay Tourism Convention, just as figures showed the rate of new HIV cases had quadrupled in the past six months. Christian Heritage Party spokeswoman, Rosemary Francis, says in her opinion, all gay tourists should be tested. She says to make New Zealand a haven for gays will bring more grief than the tourist dollars are worth.
(I wonder what incidence of STDs in the straight population would have this person calling for random testing on this side of the fence. I want random testing for religious extremism. The bumper sticker says it all... the religious right is neither. - BH)
Local music industry leaders are accusing the government of ignoring the core problems facing the industry. Prime Minister Jenny Shipley says FM frequencies are being put aside to provide a self-funding, non-commercial youth radio network. A music industry forum will also be set up with limited government funding to support local musicians and performers. Michael Glading from the Recording Industry Association says while the moves are positive for local music, the Government is failing to address the problems created by parallel importing. He says "cheap music from Asia is harming our music industry by creating an uncertain environment".
Shell has announced a 3-cent-a-litre petrol price rise from midnight September 28, although diesel prices are unaffected. It is the fifth increase in two months, adding a total of 15 cents to a litre of petrol. Caltex says early tomorrow morning it will consider whether to move its prices, Mobil says it will monitor the competition in the morning, and BP says so far today it hasn't even met to consider raising prices.
(They all followed ... then Challenge dropped its price for 96 octane by 2 cents and all except Shell bounced back down again. Shell says it sets prices based on the price of crude, not the actions of its competitors .... flap oink! Flap oink! - BH)
The Alliance will not rule out seeking to increase taxes on income below $60,000. The party's tax policy will see taxes raised for earnings over $60, 000 to 39 cents in the dollar and increases of 4 cents in the dollar for income over $75,000 and again at $100,000. Leader Jim Anderton doesn't believe middle income earners could take an increase yet but isn't discounting such a move in the future. Treasurer Bill English says the policy isn't a case of hitting the wealthy only, and that it would be just the start of higher taxes for others as well.
One of the country's longest serving prison inmates has been ordered to remain behind bars by a parole board. Dean Wickliffe will not now be eligible for another parole board hearing until December 1999. Wickliffe was jailed for life for the 1972 killing of a jeweller, and while on parole was convicted for the 1996 murder of Tauranga man Richard Bluett. That conviction was overturned by the Court of Appeal and Wickliffe was found not guilty at a retrial. A parole board ruled Wickliffe should remain in custody to continue serving his life term.
The police team investigating the homicide of Ashburton teenager Kirsty Bentley is to shrink again. Inquiry's head Detective Senior Sergeant Greg Williams will be returning to Christchurch in three weeks to resume normal police duties. He says he will still be running the inquiry and keeping in close touch with the two detectives who will remain full time on the case in Ashburton, but he will not be working full-time on the investigation.
The Nelson based fish company is donating more than 52,000 cans of fish to help East Timorese. Sealord is to off load the pallets of smoked fish fillets in Wellington today and tomorrow. They will then be shipped to East Timor by the Government. World Vision says it is astounded at the generosity of Sealord. A spokesman says its staff in East Timor says one of the key items people need is fish.
The New Zealand University Students Association is giving Labour's tertiary education policy a pass mark, if not an A plus. President Karen Skinner admits she still wants to see the abolition of fees but is encouraged by Labour's pledge to try to bring fees down. Other aspects of the policy are 750 million dollars in new spending over the next three years, and no interest to be paid on loans while students are involved in full-time study. Labour's policy doesn't match the Alliance pledge to have interest free loans and scrapping fees, but Ms Skinner is satisfied with it.
Lockwood Smith says the Tourism Board's goal of increasing foreign exchange earnings to 7.7 billion dollars within five years would see it become New Zealand's biggest industry. The Tourism Board aims to achieve that goal by increasing international visitor numbers from 1.5 million a year, to 2.5 million a year. Tourism Minister Lockwood Smith says that would see up to 200 thousand New Zealanders working in tourism related jobs. He describes the Tourism Board's goal as realistic - but slightly beyond what people currently believe is achievable.
Trade Minister, Lockwood Smith, says Labour's policy to introduce local content quotas on broadcasting breaches our obligations to the World Trade Organisation. Under Labour's plans, radio stations face quotas of ten percent rising to 20. Television networks would be consulted before quotas were introduced for New Zealand programming content on free-to-air stations. Lockwood Smith says the WTO states that quotas should not be adopted. He says Labour's policy also fails because under CER Australian programmes would count as local content meaning the policy would have little, if any affect on the development of our broadcasting industry.
Massey University believes a bounce-back following the Asian economic crisis is responsible for its record number of international students. University spokesman Professor Tom Prebble says enrolments have increased by about 950 this year - which is a 20% jump on last year. He says this year's rise follows a dip of 15% between the 1996 and 1997 academic years - the only decline in international student enrolment at Massey this decade.
Tourist mecca Queenstown is suffering from the Ansett row. Ansett has been unable to fly any planes in and out of the town for the past two weeks, after the airline suspended 125 pilots for failing to sign the company's new contract. Destination Queenstown chief executive David Kennedy says the majority of tourism operators in the town, are feeling the pinch. He is appealing for both sides to get their act together. David Kennedy says conference organisers are being forced to cancel their meetings at some hotels, because delegates can not make it.
Airways New Zealand will team up with two American air traffic companies in a bid to win a $200 million contract to upgrade United States aircraft routes. A high-tech air control system developed by Airways is currently being used here. The oceanic control system using computer and satellite technology, enables aircraft to fly over the ocean using the most efficient routes. Airways executives say the technology is the first of it is kind in the world and are hoping it will clinch the American deal. They say it also reduces airline operating costs, and responds more rapidly to pilot requests, particularly to avoid bad weather.
An Australian woman's death is being linked to an energy drink imported from New Zealand. The 25-year-old Perth woman consumed a drink which contained the caffeine-like substance guarana, prompting the coroner to call for all products with excessive caffeine levels to be banned. A spokesman for the Opposition health minister, Alan Griffin says the drinks are not permitted under Australian food standards but are being imported from New Zealand under a legal loophole. He says in New Zealand energy drinks are defined as a dietary supplement and are therefore not exempt from trans Tasman agreements.
An operator at the Northern Police Communications centre is being spoken to in relation to an incident at an Auckland safe house where women were terrorised by a knife wielding man. The police now admit patrols were in the area and available when multiple one one one calls were received last week. Lack of staff was given for not sending a patrol car to the scene. However, a police spokesman says human error is to blame.
Foreign Minister Don McKinnon has questioned the credibility of the UN in peacekeeping roles in a speech to the General Assembly in New York. While praising the swift response to the situation in Timor, Mr McKinnon has told the Assembly the world must never again witness the horrors of Kosovo while the Security Council remained impotent. The UN took 18 months to act after clear evidence of ethnic cleansing in the conflict. Mr McKinnon is critical of the UNs low-level response on conflicts in Africa such as Sierra Leone and has remarked the body needs to act whether or not crises are covered by CNN. He has also hit out at the UN's trend away from financing new peacekeeping operations. New Zealand will spend up to $75 million on its peacekeeping role in Timor.
Police are reminding everyone the new liquor laws don't change until December. The changes, including a lower drinking age and Sunday trading, were initially supposed to come into effect tomorrow but that has been delayed until the first of December. Christchurch Sergeant Peter Shaw says there is still a bit of confusion out there and the public should know police will continue to focus on underage drinking and enforce the law as it currently stands.
A maternity services watchdog has expressed its horror at the findings of a review of maternity services which shows the number of caesarean section deliveries has skyrocketed. The review found the number of caesareans has risen from 12.1% ten years ago, to 17.7%. Maternity Services Consumer Council spokeswoman Lynda Williams says it appears they are on the rise because it is more practical and gets the birth "over and done with".
Ansett Australia has announced it will not fly between 11pm on December 31 and midday on January 1, citing low demand as the reason. Already Ansett New Zealand says it will not be flying over that period because it never does anyway. It is last flight will be around nine or 10 in the evening with a late start on New Years Day. Meanwhile Air New Zealand says it is still deciding what to do. It has every confidence in its planes and its Y2K preparations but if demand is low, it says there is no point in flying.
Ansett pilots are continuing to quit as the bitter dispute over a new contract remains deadlocked. The Airline Pilots Association says nine of its members have accepted jobs overseas; the same number have signed the company's new contract. Spokesman Adam Nicholson says the pilots who have chosen to cut ties with the airline, are not prepared to work for an employer who treats them so badly. One hundred and thirty seven pilots remain suspended - the pilot lock out is into its sixteenth day.
Auckland City Council has announced contingency plans for the removal of the landmark One Tree Hill pine. Last month's chain saw attack on the tree has reduced the remaining life of the 125 year old tree to around three years. Parks Services manager Cameron Parr says dry weather or strong winds could hasten the pine's demise. The pine tree will be monitored over the coming summer and if it appears unstable, a plan is in place to remove the tree. Tangata whenua are being consulted throughout the process.
A Lyttelton man's impatience has landed him in court. The 21 year old has been arrested after breaking into his local police station and using the station's radio to call for police help. Sergeant Mike Jones says the man appears to have been desperate. He says the man told police he'd been involved in a domestic dispute and had tried to call police before he resorted to breaking into the station. Police say they are satisfied with security levels at the station. The man has been charged with wilful damage and being unlawfully on a property. He will appear in court this morning.
The Government has announced major changes to the schooling system including extending bulk funding from teachers' salaries, to property. Education Minister Nick Smith says Legislation for Learning aims to give schools more options for managing their own affairs. He says a key feature of the policy includes a 10 million dollar trial whereby schools will fully self-manage their own property budgets. Nick Smith says many schools have said they'd be keen to receive an annual grant from the government, and take over responsibility for managing their own property. He says the trial planned for next year, will involve 40 schools. If successful, it will be opened up to all schools in 2001.
The Ferret Protection and Welfare Society is supporting Conservation Minister Nick Smith's call for tighter controls on the ferret population. However, it says pet ferrets pose no danger to native wildlife. Nick Smith has released a discussion document with a number of options, including de-sexing pet ferrets, and licensing all owners. Ferret Protection spokesman John Chessum says the Minister has raised some valid points. However, he says responsible ferret ownership is not a threat to New Zealand's ecology.
Date: 30 September 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 0.5211
AUD 0.7958
GBP 0.3169
JPY 55.89
CAD 0.7639
EURO 0.4907
FRF 3.2158
DEM 0.9596
HKD 4.0578
SGD 0.8920
ZAR 3.1355
CHF 0.7851
INTEREST RATES (%)
Call : 4.50
90 Day: 4.87
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Text Copyright © 1998 Brian Harmer,
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