Copyright © 2000 Brian Harmer
Every so often someone sends me a nice email or post expressing appreciation for WYSIWYG. I would be less than human if I didn't enjoy hearing from people who appreciate the results of my labours, but one message this week gave me special pleasure. I refer to the lovely lady in Crescent, Oregon who is not internet connected, but who has a friend who posts her a print-out. This thoughtful person typed and posted a letter of thanks. I won't intrude on the lady's privacy by naming her here, but I do want to acknowledge her kindness. Thank you so much, it meant a lot to me. And now back to our travels.
Before we leave Auckland, I should talk a little about the Eastern Suburbs where we stayed during our visit. The once open rolling countryside which was Pakuranga and Howick in my younger days is now covered to the greatest extent possible by houses. Many of them up the slopes beyond Highland Park shopping centre and around Pigeon Mountain are of a standard which is well above the national average. It is a matter of simple observation that this is the part of Auckland in which a very large concentration of immigrants from China, Taiwan, and Korea have settled. Let me say right up front that I see no negative aspects to that fact. The schools in the area are large, and entry to the better achieving ones is keenly contested. The parks are spacious, but the traffic is appalling. The main road seems busy day and night. We were fortunate in having a motel unit at the rear of the property well away from the arterial traffic.
Early on Monday morning, we set out for parts East and South. As with our departure from Wellington, it was dark, and the new regional road took us swiftly all the way to Manakau City and the Great South Road. Astonishingly there is no easy access to the Southern Motorway, nor is it easily accessible by North bound traffic. Who knows what happens in the minds of the planners? A quick loop back and onto the Motorway South at Manukau City got us on the main road out of town. We paused for petrol at one of the new motorway plaza areas somewhere South of Papakura (I think) and BP can take a brickbat here. Service station seems to be an oxymoron here. Staff were totally uninterested in the presence of customers at the time we called.
Over the top of the Bombay hills and despite the darkness, the yellowish loom of lights below confirmed my fear that the Waikato would be foggy. From the moment we left the motorway at the turnoff towards Thames, we were in it! So in darkness we drove very carefully along the narrow, and in my view badly maintained road towards the East. The only good feature was the plastic roadside markers with their reflectorised patches which eased the strain of staying within the bounds. We saw very little even through the wonderful Karangahake Gorge between Paeroa and Waihi, but at least we left the fog behind. It was still dark down through Athenree and Katikati, but at last the dawn illuminated Mt Maunganui and we were in Tauranga looking for a place to get some breakfast. We found nothing useful open, and I was forced to eat a McMuffin from the Golden M Gourmet restaurant. Still we found a place down on the waterfront, where we watched the golden day arrive over the harbour and saw the reflections from the Mount Maunganui side. (Incidentally, there is a certain redundancy in that title, since "maunga" means mountain, and "nui" is a suffix meaning big.) Fishing trawlers and pleasure boats rocked very gently on the water, and the glory of the early sun was such that they all looked wonderful, no matter how old scruffy they are in full daylight.
Sun in the eyes was the next problem as we skirted the Southern end of the harbour until at last we turned South again and followed the road down through Te Puke on the way to Paengaroa, near Maketu which is the landing place of the mighty Arawa canoe.
Time has got away on me again, so I shall pause there, and next week we'll go through Whakatane, Opotiki and around the East Cape to Gisborne.
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.
Police say the seven month old baby girl at the centre of an abduction drama at Auckland's Green Lane Hospital today is none the worse for wear. The child was reported missing just before nine today, when hospital staff noticed she had been taken by her father. Auckland police inspector John Esdaile says a taxi driver spotted the infant, still clad in hospital-supplied nappies and a singlet, boarding a bus with her father bound for Papakura. The bus was stopped at Takanini, the child has been returned to hospital and her father is "helping police with their inquiries". The child has been convalescing following heart surgery several weeks ago.
It is unlikely the surgeon at the centre of a medical botch-up in Wanganui will face disciplinary action. The surgeon failed to fill out a form which would have seen 92-year-old Frank Prince receive a vital scan for a mass behind his kidney. His oversight, meant the mass was not examined and it developed into inoperable cancer. Good Health Wanganui chief executive Sue DeGilio says she has investigated the incident and is not likely to discipline the surgeon, who has an otherwise impeccable record.
(Hmmm. In what other field does a fatal error get excused because he hasn't done it before? - BH)
The Government's Cervical Inquiry will not complete the list of scheduled evidence this week, adding weight to the call for Health Minister Annette King to extend it. There have been calls for her to approve extending the inquiry hearing by another week. The extension request came initially from the inquiry panel and it has been backed up by legal counsel for the affected women. They point to concerns that 10 more women may not be able to give evidence because of severe time constraints. Inquiry head Ailsa Duffy QC says they will not be able to hear all the remaining evidence and the indication is the panel wants to hear it all.
A complaint against a newspaper advertisement suggesting homeowners have bigger brains than people who rent has been upheld. The ad, placed for Auckland real estate company Bayleys Realty, showed two brains, one smaller than the other. The smaller brain was labelled "tenant", while the larger was labelled "homeowner." The Advertising Standards Complaints Board says the comparison was denigrating and an unnecessary and unfair depiction of tenants.
Residents of Waiuku will be polled to find out if they want to stick with their current water supply, in light of a decision by Coca-Cola to stop using town's water. Coca-cola had been using a small amount of water from the town south of Auckland in its Deep Spring range of soft drinks. However, it has emerged Waiuku water has the worst rating in the Auckland region and has failed numerous tests for faecal bacteria and Coca-cola stopped using it. Franklin District Council chief executive Stephen Town says when polled last year the community was happy to remain with the current water supply.
A comparative study of six countries shows the New Zealand Government spends the least on television. The survey by the Television Broadcasters Council compared the per capita Government funding of television in the UK, Australia, Canada, Finland, Ireland and France. New Zealand spends a mere 12 dollars a head on TV, compared to the UK where the figure is 144 dollars and Australia where it is 40 dollars a person. Television Broadcasters Council executive director Bruce Wallace says the survey also shows New Zealand compares reasonably well in the local content stakes.
Napier police fear further problems with teenagers congregating in the inner city late at night. A 15-year-old girl was slashed across the face with a knife last night after she attempted to intervene in a brawl between two boys. Detective Emmett Lynch says police fear there could be further attacks. He says parents need to be more aware of what their children are up to. The girl victim has been discharged from hospital, while a 15-year-old boy faces a charge of injuring with intent. He is being referred to youth aid.
(At the risk of some backlash, I wonder why anyone thinks the problem is unique to Napier? - BH)
A brief appearance on television has spelt trouble for the man who videotaped a drunken Tana Umaga in Christchurch's Cathedral square. Police were alerted to Jason Parker's whereabouts when he appeared in television coverage of the rugby star's scandal. A warrant was out for his arrest. Sergeant Derek Shaw says Christchurch police have spoken to Mr Parker, and will be speaking to him again tomorrow regarding the warrant and a number of other alleged offences. He says the matters they are investigating date back around three years, and were allegedly committed in Auckland.
(Tana Umaga apparently had quite a bit to drink, like many of his age. Nevertheless, I thought he was contracted for his rugby skills. I find it bizarre that the media seem to believe that he has sold his heart and soul to the NZRFU. In case there is any doubt, I am reasonably conservative in my own life choices, but a belief which I hold quite strongly is that I am not here to make choices for others. If they are forced to live by my morality, then I have deprived them of the ability to choose between good and evil for themselves. It is the ultimate freedom. We should recognise that our sports heroes are mortals and stop imposing spurious and uninvited role model expectations on them. No one expects it of rock stars or fashion models. Why do we expect it of rugby players? Or indeed of equestrians? - BH)
There has been strong criticism at the Cervical Cancer Inquiry of an Health Funding Authority report designed to find out if other areas had smear problems like Gisborne's. Public health expert Professor David Skegg claims the report does not rule out the possibility that there could be a national problem. Seventeen community labs were reviewed. Professor Skegg says the review does not adequately say if the labs were reporting cervical smears properly. After reading the review, he says there may be a bigger problem.
(A later "expert witness" speaking in support of the HFA's report observed that the real fatal flaw in Dr Boterill's laboratory was the lack of a second pair of eyes cross checking his own results. His laboratory was apparently the only one which operated that way. - BH)
A legal challenge has been mounted to try to stop the Government from scrapping the West Coast Accord. A Bill is before the House which, if passed, would see the Accord dumped. However West Coast company, Westco Lagan, has started an action in the High Court. One of the remedies it is seeking is to get an injunction to prevent the Clerk of the House presenting the Bill for Royal Assent. Speaker Jonathan Hunt says this could be a matter of Parliamentary Privilege and has referred the matter to the Privileges Committee.
The Christchurch man accused of running down port picketer Christine Clarke at Lyttelton last December has now been charged with manslaughter. Derek Paul Powell has made a brief appearance in the Christchurch District Court this morning. He has been remanded on bail to appear in the High Court next month for a date to be set for his trial. Powell was initially charged with driving at a dangerous speed, causing the death of Ms Clarke. She died from injuries received when a Toyota Landcruiser burst through a picket line at the Port of Lyttelton and ran over her during a protest at the port last December.
More time is being given to the Cervical Cancer Inquiry in Gisborne, so it can complete hearing all witnesses. The Government announced this afternoon the inquiry will be extended by three weeks, at the request of the inquiry's Chair Ailsa Duffy. Health Minister Annette King has agreed to the extension, but will not allow any more time for the inquiry to report back to the government, scheduled for December.
New Zealand's horticultural industry has been told to use new technology, and focus on the export market. Key speeches at the industry's conference week in Auckland have said New Zealand will only maintain its great international reputation if it keeps up with the information age. Australian lawyer and businessman Rod McGeogh gave growers the low-down on what they should do. He was instrumental in helping Sydney win the Olympic bid and says we can learn lessons from that.
(Aaaaggghhhh! I wonder if the phrase "teaching granny to suck eggs" is understood in other countries? Most of the agricultural and horticultural sector in New Zealand are among the most eager and early adopters of new technology - BH)
Dairy Board CEO Warren Larsen is to step down at the end of his contract in May next year. Mr Larsen says there are several exciting international initiatives currently underway, which he wishes to see come to fruition.
(I saw a newspaper comment which said that people either liked or hated Mr. Larsen. In my view the dairy farmers of New Zealand, and indeed all the citizens of the country have been splendidly served by him. His salary was about half that of some other well publicised CEOs, yet for many years he has been the steersman for the organization which has produced a phenomenal percentage of the country's export revenues. He will be one heck of an act to follow. - BH)
Colleagues of the soldier shot dead while on patrol duty in East Timor paid their respects when his coffin arrives in Hamilton on Wednesday afternoon. Private Leonard Manning was given full military honours by troops from New Zealand, Australia and Ireland when the Hercules aircraft carrying his body touched down in Darwin on Tuesday night. Australia's Foreign Minister Alexander Downer has expressed his country's condolences. New Zealand's parliament observed a minute of silence. A New Zealand Army pall bearer party carried his coffin from the plane in Hamilton on Wednesday afternoon. A family representative will then make a statement to the media. Private Manning was shot dead by pro- Indonesia militia while on patrol duty on the border with West Timor. New Zealand Army spokesman posted in East Timor, Colonel Phil Gibbons, says the Army has intensified its efforts to locate those responsible for killing Private Manning. But he admits it will be difficult to find them.
The Southern Institute of Technology in Invercargill believes there will be plenty of funding available to pay for free tuition for all of its full-time students. The scheme, which is still in its planning stages, would cost $11.2m over three years. Institute Chief Executive of the Southern Institute of Technology, Penny Simmons, says there are two major funders who already provide well in excess of that sum each year. She says per head of population, there is more money in the community than anywhere else in the country. The scheme would provide full scholarships for almost 3,000 students. It has the approval of Invercargill businesses which believe the proposal will have a financial spin-off for the region as more students are attracted to Southland.
Mr Horomia begins his first full day in his new portfolio today, after getting the nod for the job from Labour's caucus yesterday. Mr Horomia believes he has similar skills to those of his predecessor Dover Samuels. He says he now wants to get on with the job of closing the gap between Maori and Pakeha. Mr Horomia says the Scottish and the Welsh manage to live alongside the English, despite having their own strong cultural identities. He wants to see the same thing happening in this country. Mr Horomia says both Maori and non Maori need to move forward to work out how to get along better. Meanwhile, the former Maori Affairs Minister has some words of warning for the new man in the job. He says Mr Horomia has a very good understanding of bureaucracy as well as the problems faced by Maori. However Mr Henare warns the job is not an easy one. He says when you are the Minister of Maori Affairs you are a jack of all trades and a master of none because it crosses over so many different portfolios.
(I once worked for a man who wrote a reference to a departing employee which said "he performed his tasks to his entire satisfaction." - BH)
State Highway 2 is now open in the Wellington region but other roads in some parts of the country remain closed this evening due to high winds. The Automobile Association says drivers of light vehicles should still be careful on the Rimatuka Hill route as the winds continue. The South Island is also getting a beating. State highway 6 is closed between Inangahua and O'Sullivans Bridge due to rock falls and also at Kawatiri Junction to Murchison because of flooding. Metservice spokesman John Crouch says today's conditions have been pretty unusual.
(I noticed a few weeks back, Auckland had some windy weather gusting at a bit over 60 km/h. Yesterday, the Dominion did observe that the breeze had got up a bit, at 141 km/h - BH)
The hot topic of whether recreational fishers should pay to go sea-fishing will be put to the public soon. Recreational Fishing council head Steve Penn has confirmed that a report, prepared in association with the Ministry of Fisheries, will be released for comment in September. Steve Penn says it does not duck the licensing issue. He says while the majority of fishers are opposed to licensing, there are a few who say sea-fishing should be controlled in the same way as the freshwater fisheries. Mr Penn says licensing is just part of the wider issue of the public's share in the fishery, and how it is managed.
The family of one of the teenage cyclists killed in Wanganui may go to the prime minister or appeal court over the sentence handed out to the man who hit them. Sixty-two year old Victor Minnell was today jailed for four and a half years for the manslaughter of 13 year old Zane Cutter and 14 year old Colin Morgan. The judge said he was satisfied there was an element of alcohol impairment. Zane's grandfather Ray Cutter says the grieving process for the family will go on for some time and it will not be helped by the court's judgement. He says a four and a half year jail term will not stop other people doing the same thing.
Domestic flights have been affected by the northwest winds blasting Wellington this afternoon. Around a dozen Air New Zealand Link flights have been cancelled due to the bad weather but the airline cannot say whether more cancellations are expected. Ansett New Zealand says a Blenheim return flight had to be cancelled. No international flights have been affected but all flights from the capital have been delayed due to the weather conditions. Gusts of up to 141 kilometres an hour have been recorded this afternoon.
Marlborough District Council has welcomed Tranz Rail's decision to cut its fast ferry sailing schedule across Cook Strait. Mayor Gerald Hope says the company is taking a responsible approach. The company has changed its summer Lynx timetable, reducing the number of return crossings from three to two. It says a planned bylaw restricting fast ferries to 18 knots in the Sounds because of concerns about the wake the vessels generate adds half an hour to each sailing. Gerald Hope says the need for public safety has been the driving force behind the regulation, expected to come into force in September.
A last ditch bid to protect the name of the American billionaire who admitted smuggling drugs into New Zealand, is being held in the Court of Appeal in Wellington this morning. The High Court in Auckland ruled that the New Zealand Herald newspaper could name the tycoon on the 3rd July, unless his lawyer appealed the decision. Lawyer Marie Dyhrberg's appeal on behalf of the businessman will be heard today. The American billionaire escaped conviction on the drug charges
Coroners are underpaid and need better training according to a new report. The Law Commission wants the law changed to bring improved practices for the appointment of coroners and better pay. Law Commission President Justice David Baragwanath says one improvement might be to appoint a chief coroner Acting Justice Minister Paul Swain says the government is considering the report.
The New Zealand Fire Service has forced an advertisement for a women's magazine to be pulled off television. The ad shows a woman engrossed in reading the Woman's Day magazine. Smoke swirls around her as she fails to hear a fire alarm going off. The Advertising Standards Complaints Board has accepted the Fire Service's criticism that the piece is in total conflict with safety procedures. The Board says the ad undermines the importance of smoke alarms and the need to evacuate premises quickly in the event of fire.
The Christchurch City Council has agreed to donate $750,000 towards restoring the city's historic Warner's Hotel, which is located in Cathedral Square. The Council is also considering giving the hotel's owner an interest-free loan to help with the renovations, which include extending Warner's facade The City Council made its decision on funding during yesterday's full council meeting. Councillors in favour of the restoration project claim it will revitalise Cathedral Square. However, not all councillors agreed to the plan, with some claiming the Council cannot not afford it.
Environment Canterbury has approved tough new measures to drastically reduce air pollution in Christchurch. The proposals aim to encourage less wood and coal being burned in home fireplaces. Regional Council Chairman Richard Johnson says domestic home heating is responsible for 90% of the city's winter smog problem. He says the council has agreed to phase out all non- complying solid fuel burners. The installation of solid fuel burners in new and existing dwellings will also be banned.
A television advertisement for the weight loss product Xenical has been deemed not suitable to be watched by children. The Advertising Standards Complaints Board has upheld a complaint that the ad is inappropriate to be screened in children's viewing hours. The commercial depicts an obese woman swimming at night because she is ashamed to be seen during the day. The complainant said the ad shocked and upset their children. The Board has ruled the advertisement can only be shown during adult viewing time slots.
The Navy is getting ready to launch a new search for the bodies of Ben Smart and Olivia Hope, which will commence on Monday, weather permitting. Lieutenant Commander, Tony Grubb, will take the Navy vessel Moa to Cook Strait, in the vicinity of the entrance to Tory Channel. The particular area of sea under investigation was mentioned in last year's murder trial of Scott Watson. Police witnesses identified the area as being one of the deepest areas of the Marlborough Sounds. Witnesses aboard an Inter-Island ferry also said they saw a boat resembling that owned by Watson, bobbing around at the entrance to Tory Channel on day Ben Smart and Olivia Hope went missing. Crown prosecutors told the court, it would be an ideal place to dump heavy objects. Lieutenant Commander Tony Grubb says the Moa's side scan sonar will be used to search the site for the bodies of Ben and Olivia. The same equipment was used to locate a plane off the Canterbury coast last November and an aircraft which went down in Foveaux Strait in August the previous year. Scott Watson received a life sentence with a 17-year non- parole period for murdering Ben and Olivia. An appeal by his lawyers was turned down.
The latest National Bank survey shows just 36% of respondents now expect conditions to deteriorate. Last month the figure was 56%. Finance Minister Michael Cullen says the most significant figure is the negative to positive outlook by firms expecting a better year ahead. He believes the business community now appreciates the Government is not anti-business. Dr Cullen says problems with issues including the repeal of the Employment Contracts Act, were always on the cards. But he says the Government has shown it is prepared to listen and changes are being made.
Date: 27 July 2000 Brian Dooley
Wellington New Zealand
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