Copyright © 1995 Brian Harmer
After weeks of fine weather, bordering on drought conditions, the first soft sound of rain pattering on the windows is a blessing. Sometimes, as in the battering and sudden flooding received in the far North, enough is as good as a feast. Even here in the Wellington region, where water restrictions in the Kapiti district are still strongly in force despite the scattered showers of the last three days, we soon tire of unaccustomed grey skies and inconvenient rain. And yet, summer is apparently not entirely done with us. Last evening, on our way home from a visit to the movies up in Brooklyn, the harbour was flat calm, providing perfect reflections across its great dark expanse of all the yellow lights along Petone's foreshore. Today, a blustery Northerly has turned that same great body of water into a green hammerglaze. Out of time this week and running late.
Any text above this point, and all subsequent 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.
In all cases they are honest expressions of personal opinion, and are not presented as fact. This week's formatting is sponsored by Jan. Thanks heaps, Jan.
On with the news:
The US Embassy has expressed its disappointment at a stunt by anti-war protestors at its Auckland office. Two Christians, a Dominican priest and a member of the Catholic Worker movement met with US Consul-General Doug Berry in Auckland today. After expressing their anti-war stance, they spilt what they claim to be their own blood, in the form of a cross on the floor of the office. US Embassy spokesman Bill Millman says the stunt did nothing for their argument, and that Mr Berry had been more than willing to listen to their protest up until that point. The Embassy is yet to decide whether to take further action against the protestors.
(I am pleased to see that Bishop Pat Dunn of the Auckland Diocese has apologised to the Consul-General, and has asked for the cleaning bill to be sent to him. - BH)
Latest statistics show suicide or self inflected injury is the leading cause of death by unnatural causes in New Zealand. Otago University's Injury Prevention Unit has compiled hospital data from 1994 to 1998. Of the more than 8,600 people who died as a result of unnatural causes during that five year period, 31.5 percent had killed themselves. Suicide was the leading cause of unnatural death for 10 to 14-year-olds. Overall, road accidents were the second biggest cause of death by injury. For pre- schoolers it was suffocation, while for over 75-year-olds it was falls.
Ports of Auckland is on a heightened level of security now that war has begun in the Middle East. The company says additional security and customs measures were put in place for the America's Cup and the current cruise season. Chief Executive Geoff Vazey says with the increased risk brought by war, further steps are being taken to ensure the safety of staff, the public and cruise ship passengers at the company's overseas passenger terminal at Princes Wharf. He says no details can be given of security arrangements, but the additional measures will remain in place for as long as required. Mr Vazey says the company is working closely with Customs, the police, the Maritime Safety Authority, the Ministry of Transport and other agencies.
Shell and BP have lowered their petrol prices in an attempt to deliver on its commitment to bring New Zealanders the best possible fuel prices. The latest price drop is the third in a week. Prices at most Shell service stations will come down to $1.06 per litre for 91, $1.11 for 96 and 66.9 cents for diesel, effective immediately. Shell's Retail Manager Mark Nobilo says continued weakening of the international oil price is a factor in the latest move. He says it goes without saying that the situation in the Middle East is still very volatile and no-one knows where petrol prices will go to in the near future.
(The reported drop was being attributed to optimism in respect of a short war in Iraq. I suspect the prices will rise again. - BH)
A test to identify the deadly pneumonia-like illness could help in the discovery of an effective treatment for the condition. The World Health Organisation says a test for the mystery Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome could be available soon, after scientists in Hong Kong identified a new virus believed to behind the global outbreak. Nearly 400 cases of the disease have been reported worldwide and it is estimated that up to 13 people have died from it. Director of Public Health Dr Colin Tukuitonga says if the test is approved, it will help in the identification and treatment of the illness. He expects to hear more about the development today. WHO has set up a global network of 11 laboratories to work on the SARS illness.
The group representing large industrial electricity users is calling for an investigation into the profits made by the nation's power generators. There are predictions of a looming power crisis, as spot electricity prices soar. The Major Electricity Users Group, says the price rise has forced major companies to operate sporadic shut downs. He says that has resulted in a loss of export sales. Executive Director Ralph Matthes has asked for a Commerce Select Committee investigation into the profits made by generators. He believes the Government should be urging all electricity consumers to save power.
The jury has been sworn in today for the trial of Darren Mackness, the man accused of killing his 12-year-old stepdaughter in August last year. A jury made up of five women and seven men were picked in the High Court in Hamilton on Monday morning. Opening its case, the Crown described the way Kelly Gush and her sister Kylie Gush lived while staying in the same house as Mackness. The jury was told the girls were locked in their rooms at all times except to have meals, go to the bathroom and to attend school. The windows for their rooms were nailed shut and if they needed to go to the bathroom during the night a bucket was put in their rooms. The Crown described the way Mackness attacked Kelly on August 3 after getting angry at her for being sick during her dinner. He said Mackness had pushed the girl, and then kicked her twice in the head, resulting in irreparable brain damage.
The Auckland Chamber of Commerce is predicting a tough winter ahead for businesses. With spot electricity prices increasing, Commerce chief executive Michael Barnett believes a power crisis is looming, which will be one of the factors causing an increase in costs for businesses. Mr Barnett says other considerations include a high New Zealand dollar and lower returns for the agriculture industry. He believes both the domestic and export markets will suffer.
The Police Association says it is not prepared to put up with quick fix solutions to Auckland's staffing shortages. Up to 500 officers attended a meeting in Mangere yesterday, to highlight the need for action to rectify retention issues. A Counties-Manukau detective told the rally that resources are stretched in his area after three recent homicides. Detective Senior Sergeant Mark Gutry says there has been an eight percent rise in crime in the Counties- Manukau region over the past year and his staff are coping with their high workload, but only just. Police Association president Greg O'Connor says with a rise in the crime rate, experienced officers need an incentive to stay in Auckland. Ninety recruits are due to start training in April, but Mr O'Connor says that will not solve the problem. He is meeting with the Police Commissioner and the Police Minister this week.
Victoria University's sometimes controversial student newspaper Salient is hosting a debate of whether the war on Iraq is justified. The debate, which is free to all, is being held tomorrow at 6.30 at the university's Hunter Building. Victoria student Phil Whittingham, along with ACT's Stephen Franks and National's John Key, is speaking in support of the war. Mr Whittingham, a second year law and economics student, is expecting that his opinions will not be popular with most students but he says the war is necessary.
(Should be interesting. I generally find both Salient and Craccum highly amusing. Dad probably won't agree with me :) - HH)
(Dad doesn't - BH)
A Gisborne man charged in relation to a high profile police investigation named Operation Granny, launched in 1996 after sex attacks and robberies on elderly women, has pleaded guilty Jarrod Mathew Mouat, 22, admitted the attempted rape and robbery of a woman in her 80s in her home. Mouat was arrested last year following the development of improved DNA testing. Gisborne police say the file on a second attack involving another elderly woman is still open. A date will be set for Mouat's sentencing on Thursday.
The man charged with the murder of a woman at Arrowtown near Queenstown15 years ago has made a brief appearance in the Nelson District Court. Jarred Alan Mangles is accused of killing Maureen McKinnel on Boxing Day 1987. Her body was discovered five days later under the Arrowtown Junction Bridge. The 30-year-old beneficiary stood passively in the dock and entered no plea. No application for bail was made and Mangles has been remanded in custody to reappear in the Nelson District Court in two weeks. Mangles' lawyer John Sandstone indicated the charges will be strenuously defended. Police will be seeking to have the depositions hearing transferred to Invercargill. Meanwhile, the makers of a TV show are taking some of the credit for the arrest and say it is the outcome they had hoped for. Police say last May's airing of a TV programme about the crime served as a catalyst for the breakthrough. "Unsolved" producer Damien Comerford says it is not the first arrest to come out of the series. He says police made arrests soon after the episode on the death of Phil Cowan was screened. The 26-year-old disappeared under mysterious circumstances in inner city Wellington. Police launched a homicide investigation after his car was found at Bulls, about two hours drive north of Wellington. His blood was found in the car.
(It's always interesting when a long forgotten high profile case re-emerges. - BH)
Fifty former UK coal miners living in New Zealand have applied to get a slice of a huge compensation claim. Twelve billion dollars of compensation is available to coal miners who have became sick after working in English and Welsh mines after 1954 and Scottish mines after 1949. Former coal miners or their next of kin for those who have already died, can claim if they have either chronic bronchitis, asthma, small airways disease or some heart conditions. More than 200,000 miners worldwide have already lodged claims.
Another top TVNZ executive has quit. Head of Public Affairs Glen Sowry has resigned to take up the role of Vice President Public Affairs and Group Communications at Air New Zealand. TVNZ's CEO Ian Fraser said that he regretted Mr Sowry's decision but recognised that his new role at Air New Zealand represented a significant career development opportunity. Mr Sowry had been with the state broadcaster for two years. Mr Fraser paid tribute to him for helping to steer the organisation through its transition from a State- Owned-Enterprise to a Crown-Owned Company with a new Charter. Mr Sowry leaves in just under a month. A number of senior executives have resigned from TVNZ in recent months, including Head of News and Current Affairs Heaton Dyer - who leaves at the end of this month - and Head of Television Shaun Brown.
Air accident investigators are looking into why a helicopter fighting a scrub fire was forced to make an emergency landing in dense bush. The Jet Ranger from Wanganui struck problems near Raetihi on Tuesday afternoon. It was carrying a monsoon bucket tackling a nearby scrub fire at the time. It is understood the pilot has escaped uninjured but his chopper is extensively damaged.
Four people will appear in Wellington and Auckland courts tomorrow following the smashing of an alleged black market paua supply chain. A fifth will appear in the Blenheim court next month. The Ministry of Fisheries says the arrests end a three month investigation in black market paua sales. Compliance manager Ross Thurston says fishery officers seized four vehicles and an inflatable boat. He says the inquiry started in Auckland and extended into Wellington and Blenheim, with 64 staff involved.
The nurses' union claims nurses should be paid thousands of dollars more to bring their salaries into line with those of comparable professions. The New Zealand Nurses' Organisation has produced new research, which it claims shows nurses salaries are falling behind other similar occupations. It compares salaries with payments received by other health professionals, overseas nurses and competing professions such as teachers and police. NZNO president Dr Jane O'Malley says nurses should be paid up to $19,000 more per staff member. The union will be demanding that the Government address the issue.
The Christchurch City Council is being asked to come up with the cash to pay for the mayoress to accompany her husband on an official trip later this year. The trip in question is to Korea and Japan as a part of the 30th anniversary of Christchurch's sister city link with Kurashiki. According to a council report, the mayors of Nagasaki and Hiroshima are also inviting mayor Garry Moore and his wife Pam Sharpe to attend the anniversary of the dropping of the atomic bomb. The cost of the mayoress's travel is estimated at more than $4500. The Council will decide whether to fund Ms Sharpe's travel costs when it meets on Thursday.
Property owners in the Wellington region are being urged to dig up banana passionfruit plants, which have been identified as a pest. From July, property occupiers will be required to destroy all banana passionfruit plants on their land. However, Greater Wellington Biosecurity spokesman Dave Bayly says people are being advised to take action now, rather than waiting to be forced to do so. He says the fruit of the plant is a distinctive oblong shape, and the plant's flowers are pink. Mr Bayly says after July, biosecurity officers will be carrying out random property inspections.
(It's a shame really. Passiflora mollissima is really quite spectacular in flower, and the fruit is delicious. However, it apparently smothers other trees, and must be eradicated. - BH)
An Auckland company has won the contract to keep the city's new Britomart Interchange smelling sweet. North Shore based Filtercorp International is providing the filtration systems to ensure air drawn from street level will be clean and safe to breathe and free of pollutants. The Britomart is believed to be the only underground rail station in the world that can be used by diesel-powered locomotives. It is important that the interchange is able to clear those fumes without polluting the air outside. Mike Janssen, Project Supervisor for ventilation contractor United Gooder says the Britomart ventilation system will incorporate 49 giant fans supplied by a UK manufacturer to feed in fresh air and extract fumes from the five-platform station and a 500- metre access tunnel. Filtercorp bags with a high dust filtering capacity will prevent fumes, dust and other pollutants from entering the station's atmosphere from above ground, while at the same keeping exhaust air clean. There will be 564 sets of specially developed 600mm x 600mm x 600mm bags, each with 5 pockets. Filtercorp says the system is one of the few of its type in the world given the sheer size of the project and the atmospheric requirements to ensure public safety. Filtercorp was established 25 years ago and exports New Zealand-developed filtration solutions to the Middle East, North America and Europe.
Rural fire fighters are worried they may be headed for a major fire in extremely dry parts of the country. National Rural Fire Authority manager Mike Davies says continuing fine weather and lack of rain has created tinder dry conditions in the lower North Island and in Nelson/Marlborough, Canterbury and Otago. He is asking the public to be super-sensitive to fire warnings and restrictions. Mike Davies says there have been some minor fires in recent days that were prevented from developing only through a lack of wind, and prompt action by fire fighters.
A Christchurch city councillor is stunned a block of 30 motel units has been given the green light to be built in a quiet suburban street in Burnside. Resource consent has been given to a developer planning to build the units in Roydvale Avenue. Waimairi ward councillor Sally Buck says the street is zoned residential and she cannot understand the granting of a consent that ignores city policies and planning objectives. She says although there are other motels in the area, the new addition would be double their number of units per hectare.
Wellington International Airport is taking Air New Zealand to court over the $7 million it says it is owed by the state carrier. The airline announced last week it did not intend to pay the back-dated aeronautical charges at a new rate set last month. The airport's majority owner Infratil says it has filed a proceeding in the High Court to enforce payment. The $7,057,000 includes Air New Zealand's short payment of charges for last month and what Infratil claims is a breach of contract to make a backdated payment from last year. The airport has increased charges for such things as emergency services, runway maintenance and air traffic control by almost 80 percent. Infratil says the other major user of the airport, Qantas Airways, is paying the new charges. The airport says it is the first review of prices in five years, but Air New Zealand says it is appalled at the level of increase. At the close of trading on Wednesday Infratil was unchanged at $1.65 while Air New Zealand was down two cents at 50 cents.
(In my own personal opinion, everything about Wellington Airport is overpriced, including parking and the cost of food and refreshments. I guess it's elementary economics, but I think it's a poor thing that travellers and tourists are held to ransom at travel hubs everywhere! - BH)
A primary school pupil in West Auckland has had his 'show and tell' item taken from him by Defence Force personnel. The youngster sparked an evacuation and emergency services call out when he took a hand grenade to show his class mates at Western Heights Primary School. The police say it turns out the grenade was not live but that was not immediately apparent from looking at it, so staff took the right course of action. The school was evacuated and Defence Force personnel were called in to take away the World War Two souvenir.
(Not only was it "not live" but it was a replica. It had never been capable of exploding. That of course, is no excuse - BH)
A police search and rescue team has been flown to one of the Mutton Bird Islands, off Stewart Island, to look for a missing man. The 50-year-old was last seen on Tuesday afternoon. Since then his wallet and a jersey have been found near a steep cliff which falls to the sea. The search team will stay on the island tonight and further staff will travel there tomorrow to assist in the search.
State Highway Two was due to reopen late Wednesday night after a serious crash closed the road in the morning. Two people were killed when their trucks collided, near the Waikato town of Maramarua. One was a Kaurilands Ltd tanker carrying 24,000 litres of Mobil petrol. Half a dozen explosions rocked the area, and firefighters spent the morning putting out a number of blazes. Waikato Police spokeswoman Chris McGehan says cranes are being brought in to clear the wreckage. She says the road may have to be re- sealed because it caught fire. A Fatal Crash Unit is investigating and police want anyone with any information on the crash to come forward. Chris McGehan says Environment Waikato is checking if there has been any pollution. Meanwhile, Mobil says it extends its deepest sympathies to the families of the drivers. Spokesman Angus Barclay says the company will be providing appropriate support to the trucking company which operated the tanker.
A pro-euthanasia campaigner who has successfully appealed a gagging order says she will lobby for a law change as hard as she can. Lesley Martin's bail conditions initially stopped her speaking publicly about the issue. Yesterday that was amended, allowing her to speak about euthanasia, but not her own case. Martin faces an attempted murder charge for allegedly helping her terminally ill mother to die. She says the current law is out of touch, as one person over the age of 65 commits suicide every five to six days. A bill which would legalise voluntary euthanasia is due before Parliament shortly.
Japanese students living at Auckland's Columbus Academy where one of their colleagues was killed earlier this year are to go home. Education Minister Trevor Mallard has welcomed the undertaking given by the Academy to send the under-17-year-olds back to Japan. Mr Mallard believes the older students should also return home and the Academy is assisting in that process. Meanwhile, the nine Japanese students charged with the murder of 22-year-old Nozomu Shinozaki were remanded on bail at the Waitakere District Court earlier this month. The nine students all face strict bail conditions, including a 24-hour curfew, and non- association with certain individuals along with surrendering their passports. The director of the academy is also charged in relation to the incident, and stands accused of perverting the course of justice. All are due to appear in court again on April 10.
It has been confirmed convicted Christchurch gun dealer David Tipple is appealing his American jail sentence. Last month Tipple was jailed for a year in a US federal prison after pleading guilty to firearms charges arising from his attempt to check in guns and ammunition onto a United Airlines flight in Los Angeles without the proper paperwork His wife Betsy Tipple says her husband is in excellent spirits. She says he has instructed his American attorney to file a special motion, that if successful would replace his jail time with home detention.
A child who was taken to Middlemore Hospital after arriving in Auckland on a flight from Hong Kong yesterday has been cleared of carrying the pneumonia-like disease SARS. The three-year-old, who is prone to tonsillitis-type infections, was discharged within an hour when it was found she only had a slight throat infection. There have been no cases of severe acute respiratory syndrome recorded in New Zealand, although the disease has killed at least 23 people worldwide and infected nearly 400. It is thought to have begun to spread when an infected person travelled from rural China.
Foreign Affairs has little information about how a New Zealander was bludgeoned to death in the Kenyan capital Nairobi. Steve Callum was walking back to his hotel after attending a Sunday church service when he was bashed about the head. He was robbed of his camera and a bag containing other belongings. A woman he was with was also robbed, but was rescued by passer-by. Mr Callum held dual New Zealand and American nationality. He lived in Britain. Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Emma Riley says New Zealand's High Commission in Pretoria has been involved but most arrangements have been made by the American consulate in Nairobi. Mr Callum's body is being returned to Britain.
The father of former All Black Captain Todd Blackadder will not be appearing in court today. Fifty-five-year-old Ross Thomas Blackadder was to appear in the Christchurch District Court this morning to face an assault charge. The charge relates to an incident which took place on March 7. Blackadder did not appear before the judge today. It is understood he has been granted a registrar's remand and will reappear in Court in May.
(I wonder how many assault charges go entirely unreported? And whether being the father of a sporting celebrity is sufficient justification for breaking the pattern? - BH)
Fisheries officers believe paua being harvested by a black market gang was destined for Asia. Five people have been arrested after a three month investigation involving more than 60 officers. The trail began in Auckland and led to Wellington and Blenheim. Four vehicles and an inflatable boat have been seized. Compliance manager Ross Thurston says black market paua fetches a much higher price in Asia and there is an insatiable demand for it. He says it has been a long and difficult inquiry, particularly because of the clandestine movements of the suspects. Four people appear in the Auckland and Wellington courts today and the fifth in Blenheim next month. They face up to five years in prison and fines of up to $250,000 if found guilty.
A 10-month-long undercover police operation in Queenstown has ended in 15 arrests. Fifty police from the southern districts used drug dogs, forensic experts and customs staff to help with Operation London. Detective Senior Sergeant Steve Wood says the resort town has been awash with cannabis and methamphetamines. He says people know a lot about drug enforcement, forcing the police to become more innovative, and standard police responses were ineffective. He says two undercover agents were used between May and November last year when police realised Queenstown was a hot-spot for illicit drugs. Detective Senior Sergeant Wood says 55 charges have been laid in relation to cannabis and methamphetamines. The 15 accused appear in court this afternoon.
The Department of Conservation says it is saddened by the death of a whale in Hawke's Bay. DOC Spokeswoman Catherine Tiffen says the bull sperm whale came ashore overnight at Clifton Beach. She says he died just after midday on Thursday. Catherine Tiffen says the bull looks to be about 60 years of age. She says the last time there was a stranding there was 10 years ago.
The controversial Columbus Academy in Auckland denies reports it is closing. Nine students at the West Auckland institute have been charged with murder following the death of a 22-year-old student last month. Nozomu Shinozaki died from head injuries. The director of the school has been charged with perverting the course of justice. The Academy caters for troubled teenagers from Japan. Education Minister Trevor Mallard says the school has agreed to send all its students who are under the age of 17 back to Japan as soon as possible. He wants the older students to follow. But the Academy says a relatively small number of students will be returning home. It says it is working with the Government to resolve issues relating to the remaining students and is unable to make any further comment.
Police would like to hear from anyone who may have been stopped by a Lower Hutt man posing as a police officer in an ex-police car. A woman reported she had been pulled over by the man who wanted to talk to her about her damaged tail light but she told him to go away when she became suspicious. Detective Constable Carl Ruby says they arrested the man last week when they found police paraphernalia, including a blue and red flashing light, in his car. Detective Constable Ruby says police have known about the man's police obsession for sometime but the law does not allow them to take his ex-police car off him.
Two Iranian brothers turned down for refugee status are taking legal action which could have wide-ranging ramifications. The brothers claimed asylum in New Zealand on the grounds they are Christians and would be persecuted if they returned to Iran. Their application has been turned down but their deportation been put on hold while a legal question is examined. Their lawyer is taking action based on New Zealand's obligations under the United Nations convention against torture. Auckland Refugee Council secretary William Smith says that as a signatory to the torture convention, New Zealand must not send anyone back to a place where there is a credible chance they will be tortured. He says that while the refugee convention is enshrined in immigration law, the stronger one regarding torture is not. He says this means immigration officials do not consider the torture issue when deciding refugee status. Mr Smith says as far as he knows the torture provision has never been tested in New Zealand's courts.
The beleaguered P&O liner Pacific Sky is on track to depart on time with its April 2nd cruise. P&O says the repairs to Pacific Sky were progressing well at the Devonport Naval Dockyard in Auckland. The ship's planned schedule was put on hold after leaks were found within ducting inside the ship. P&O Cruises managing director Gavin Smith says while the repairs were localised, it was necessary to remove sections of the outer hull to access the internal down flooding ducts that needed heavy steel plating replacement. The work is being done by Babcock's Devonport Yard work force, P&O's own engineers and specialist cruise ship tradesmen which the cruise line has flown in from Europe and North America. Coffer Dams had to be specially fabricated at the Devonport yard and attached to the ship to enable the cutting and welding to take place in a watertight environment. Mr Smith says the repairs should be comfortably finished before the next scheduled cruise departure on Wednesday 2 April. The work has to be carried out to the satisfaction of the Lloyd's Register of Shipping, and the Maritime Safety Authority. Once the repairs are completed, then Lloyd's and MSA will carry out a final inspection before the ship leaves Auckland. Mr Smith said passengers booked on the next cruise to Tonga, Samoa and Fiji departing 2 April could receive updates by visiting the Company's website at www.pocruises.co.nz
(It was still firmly in dock at Devonport when Te Kaha came home from patrol in the Persian Gulf last week. - BH)
Westpac says its Internet banking in New Zealand is not affected by a web site fraud that has surfaced in Australia. Fraudsters set up a copy of the bank's web site then e-mailed customers telling them to log on and change their pin numbers and passwords. Westpac Australia says no customers have been adversely affected by the nuisance site in the US and, when the bank's IT security team became aware of it, they took steps to block the link. Action has been taken via federal police to have the site shut down. The bank says the site is an imitation, cannot capture any customer information and no customers have been at risk. Westpac in New Zealand says it is not affected.
Health officials have traced New Zealanders who stayed at the Metropole Hotel in Kowloon where the SARS epidemic was first detected. Hong Kong's department of health has alerted New Zealand's consul-general that New Zealanders were among 78 foreigners staying on the same floor of the hotel at the time. New Zealand public health officials have tracked some down but others are still overseas. Public health director Dr Colin Tukuitonga says those contacted have all been cleared. He says that because it happened some time ago, it is highly unlikely they would have problems. Dr Tukuitonga says SARS still poses a risk in parts of Asia, especially Hong Kong and Singapore.
The worst is yet to come in Northland. Fourteen homes to the south of the town are flooded, with up to a metre of water flowing through them. The Awanui River is overflowing after two days of torrential rain. More than 200 millimetres has drenched the region in the last couple of days, leaving rivers running up to nine metres above normal levels. The Awanui has reached its capacity and has breached its stop bank in Kaitaia, sending water flowing into the town. Far North Civil Defence coordinator Ivan Parke believes there will be more flooding. He says there is still a lot of water to flow from the Awanui's catchment area and the river is not expected to peak until later today. Volunteer fire-fighters at Mangonui on Doubtless Bay have been helping remove furniture from a sodden home and rescued a man from a tree where he perched to escape flood waters. Also in Mangonui, a couple had to be evacuated from their flooded home by helicopter. People are being told to keep an eye on river levels. Meanwhile, several roads in the region are still closed. State Highway One is shut in two places, north of Mangamuka and just south of Kaitaia, at the intersection with Fryer Road. State Highway 10 between Mangonui and Kaeo and State Highway 12 at Taheke are also closed due to slips and flooding.
Police are continuing their warnings to the public to be vigilant, in the wake of recent threatening letters. One of the messages to three diplomatic missions and the New Zealand Herald contained cyanide. Another gave a warning of action on or before Friday, March 28, threatening what it described as a 'demonstration of capability'. Police in Auckland are paying particular attention to two big events in the city on Friday night - the Bruce Springsteen concert at Western Springs and the Blues-Brumbies Super 12 match at Eden Park. The Australasian promoter for the Bruce Springsteen concert says the venue has been cleared by security. Kevin Jacobsen says all backstage staff have had the usual background checks and will all be carrying special IDs. He says there is always good security at outdoor shows, and that has been particularly so after the events of September 11, 2001. Mr Jacobsen says he has no worries whatsoever. He also says the show is on - whatever the weather and he has been told that the rain is expected to clear before the concert kicks off.
(Nothing untoward happened on the day, so far as I am aware - BH)
A teenager is in hospital after being stabbed a number of times in a Wainuiomata park last night. The youth received wounds to his chest, arms and legs. Detective Senior Sergeant Mike Small says the stabbing appears to have been racially motivated. The victim is in a stable condition at Wellington Hospital.
Russell Coutts and Brad Butterworth will remain in the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, as a move to have the pair expelled is tossed out. The squadron's committee spent about half an hour considering a complaint from member John Street. It centred around allegations the pair had sold Team New Zealand secrets overseas. Commodore Bill Endean says the complaint was dismissed because there was insufficient evidence to justify expulsion. He says the complaint was that they had taken their skill and knowledge out of New Zealand to support another syndicate. The committee found that they are entitled to do so.
(Good. I think that the attempt was embarrassment enough. If it had succeeded, it would have nailed forever, any public image we may have of ourselves as people who believe in sportsmanship - BH)
The name of the woman whose body was found in the surf at North Beach in Christchurch yesterday has been released. She was 58-year-old Edna Dawn Miller. A post-mortem examination is being held today.
Dry weather is starting to have an effect on some of Southland's fish stocks. Maurice Rodway from Southland Fish and Game says trout have been rescued from Eyre Creek near the settlement of Athol. He says bigger fish in smaller streams are starting to get stressed Mr Rodway says they desperately need some of the rain which is currently falling on the North Island to replenish the headwaters of Southland rivers.
Date: 26 March 20 Brian Dooley
Wellington New Zealand
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