WYSIWYG NEWS - 22 June, 2006

[news at wysiwygnews.com]

Subject: 17 June, 2006 
----- WYSIWYG NEWS ------------------------------ 
Copyright, Brian Harmer.  
 
Our four month old granddaughter Billie chose to bring her 
parents from Nelson to Wellington this week to see a new 
cousin, and her grandparents. At her tender age, her 
inexperience is excusable, but she chose the wildest, wettest 
and coldest week of the year to come. I had forgotten what it 
was like to have a young baby in the house, and how the 
feeding imperative takes precedence over mere sleep. Despite 
this she is a beautiful child and a joy to have in the house. 
Her parents are pretty good too and we have enjoyed having 
them visit us. The day they were due to arrive, the forecast 
for Wellington and the Cook Strait was for winds gusting to 
120 km/h which is a little more than a mid breeze. Despite the 
small size of the Bombardier Dash 8 Q300 in which they 
travelled, their journey was not unduly problematic and they 
arrived safely. The weekend seems to have centred on food. 
Maggie who is now a very mature 16 months brought her parents 
up from Lower Hutt to visit and so we spent the day poring 
over old photo albums arguing who looks like whom, and 
remembering when this or that photo was taken, and doesn't she 
look like her father did at that age. The children were 
suitably cosseted and endlessly photographed, and will in due 
time become the subjects in someone else's treasured photo 
album. I can think of no book in our house that has given more 
pleasure over a longer period of time than the grand official 
family photo albums. The next day, Sunday, to celebrate the 
arrival of the new cousin, we went out to have a Yum Char 
lunch in the ever popular Grand Century restaurant in Tory 
Street. We arrived a little before noon and were very lucky to 
get a table for twelve in the upstairs room. It was absolutely 
chaotic in a wonderful family sort of way. There are, to my 
knowledge, at least six and maybe more really good yum char 
restaurants in central Wellington, and on Sundays, they are 
always full to overflowing. In our case, I didn't always 
understand what we were being offered in the little steamed 
baskets, but there was very little of it that I didn't like. I 
shy away from tofu or coriander, but otherwise enjoyed 
everything. We had a great lunch for a little over NZD$12 a 
head (USD$7.35) and that is a hard proposition to argue with, 
even if the surroundings were noisy. As we left replete, there 
was a line of people out the door and a few yards up Tory 
Street waiting for a table to come free. This is not a 
spectacle that I have ever experienced in Wellington. If there 
is no room in a restaurant, I go to another one. The idea of 
standing in line and waiting for a table is by and large, 
still alien here. One day of the week was unexpectedly fine, 
albeit still cold with the temperature peaking at 11deg C. 
Tararua snow was clearly visible in the distance and it was a 
great winter day in the city.  The young people are with us 
for the rest of this week and go home on Sunday. Next week, 
oldest granddaughter Grace is bringing her father over from 
Brisbane. Then I am off to Kuala Lumpur for a conference after 
which elder daughter Catherine will be over with her partner 
Mark. Life is good despite the worst of winter weather. 
 
---- 
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.  
 
All news items (except where noted otherwise) are reproduced 
by kind permission of copyright owner, Newstalk ZB News. All 
copyright in the news items reproduced remains the property of 
The Radio Network Limited.  
 
This edition of the news is sponsored by Phillipa Williams in 
Toronto. Thanks Phillipa
 
----  
On with the News.  
 
Monday, 12 June 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 
 
TAME ITI TRIAL BEGINS TODAY 
--------------------------- 
 
The long-awaited trial of controversial Maori activist Tame 
Iti gets underway in Rotorua this morning. Iti is in court 
accused of brandishing and firing a shotgun before members of 
the Waitangi Tribunal and Crown officials. The charges stem 
from an incident at Ruatoki in January 2005. The judge-alone 
trial at the Rotorua District Court is set down for five days, 
with the Crown calling five witnesses. Tame Iti will also have 
an interpreter acting for him throughout the trial. 
 
(At some stage during the trial, the interpreter didn't get 
things right and Mr Iti chose to speak on his own behalf. - 
BH)
 
RODNEY HIDE OUT OF DANCE SHOW 
----------------------------- 
 
Rodney Hide has run out of luck on Dancing With the Stars. The 
MP for Epsom was finally voted off last night, after defying 
the odds - and the judges harsh comments - for several weeks. 
The dropping of his dance partner in an ambitious throw at the 
end of their routine helped seal his fate. The final three are 
Beatrice Faumuina, Danyon Loader and Lorraine Downes. 
 
(I haven't watched this programme, but I find distasteful the 
media glee at his exit. They have had their knives out for him 
since he signed up - BH) 
 
PAPARUA ESCAPEE STILL ON THE RUN 
-------------------------------- 
 
A prisoner who escaped from Paparua prison in Christchurch 
last Friday is still at large. Kristen Taylor is described as 
Caucasian, 180 centimetres tall of thin build. The 24-year-old 
was last seen wearing prison clothing with the initial PS on 
the shirt and pants. Inspector Doug Parker says if Taylor is 
seen by a member of the public they should contact police 
immediately. Kristen Taylor is serving a four year sentence 
for a number of burglaries and although he is not considered 
dangerous, police advise he should not be approached. 
 
MAN SERIOUSLY INJURED IN CRASH 
------------------------------ 
 
A Wellington man is in a serious condition in Wellington 
hospital after crashing his motorcycle in the Wairarapa 
yesterday. The 43-year-old lost control of his machine just 
south of Featherston, and had to be flown to hospital. Westpac 
rescue helicopter operations manager Dave Greenberg says the 
man is lucky to be alive, with multiple fractures, chest and 
internal injuries. He says the man was thrown around 15 metres 
into a ditch, hitting a tree hit along the way. 
 
GANG MEMBER APPEARS IN COURT 
---------------------------- 
 
The terminally-ill Mongrel Mob member who sparked a massive 
police search is due to appear in the Manukau District Court 
this morning. Tifiga Atanoa was arrested at a Mangere address 
on Friday night. Atanoa was due to make his first appearance 
on Saturday, but he was taken back into custody without 
appearing because of his behaviour. Police say he has a 
massive methamphetamine habit and has lymph node cancer. Three 
other people will also appear in court today, charged with 
being an accessory after the fact. One of them is a 52-year-
old man who is related to Atanoa. 
 
NEW DISORDER AFFECTING WOMEN 
---------------------------- 
 
An anorexia specialist is pleased the problem of women over-
exercising is being recognised. The disease branded "anorexia 
athletica" is surfacing at gyms, with some women working out 
three times a day with extreme training regimes. Carol Drew 
counsels anorexics, she says the problem revolves around body 
image and is just another form of trying to burn up calories. 
She says working out is a mask to try to get rid of food in a 
way that looks acceptable. 
 
(I don't think this effects just women. I have recently 
subscribed to one, and some of the ectomorphic types I see 
there are frightening. If they closed their eyes and stood 
still they could be taken for people mummified in a desert. - 
BH) 
 
MEAT CLEAVER INCIDENT LEADS TO CHARGES 
-------------------------------------- 
 
A teenager has been charged with kidnapping, after a domestic 
incident involving a seven-year-old boy. Police were called to 
a Cannons Creek house in Porirua on Saturday night and say a 
17-year-old was threatening his young brother with a meat 
cleaver. Sergeant John van den Heuvel says a police dog 
grabbed the offender and the seven year-old was rescued 
unharmed. The teenager appears in Porirua District Court today 
charged with kidnapping. 
 
TESTS TO IDENTIFY BODY 
---------------------- 
 
Dental records and DNA will be used to identify a body found 
in a burnt out car in South Otago. Police were called to a car 
fire just south of Owaka on the Southern Scenic Route 
yesterday morning. Senior Sergeant Lane Todd says the late 
model Mitsubishi Lancer was extensively damaged. The body was 
found in the front of the car. Lane Todd says an ESR fire 
investigation scientist from Auckland will assist CIB staff 
with a further scene examination today. 
 
POWER CUT BLACKS OUT MUCH OF AUCKLAND 
-------------------------------------- 
 
Large parts of Auckland have been left without electricity 
following a major problem with the national grid. A feeder 
cable from a Transpower substation at Otahuhu has failed, 
knocking out about a quarter of the city's supply. It is 
understood a wire snapped and fell across the 110 kilovolt 
feeder from the substation. Local lines company Vector says 
Auckland and Manukau City are affected, except for parts of 
Wiri, Otahuhu and Takanini. North Shore and Waitakere City are 
not affected. Transpower says technicians are at the 
substation trying to fix the problem, but there is no word on 
when the lights will come back on. Police say traffic lights 
are out, making it difficult at some intersections. Auckland 
Airport says the power outage has not affected flights. 
Spokesman Haldane Dodd says all critical areas of the airport 
have back-up power. He says people checking in may be doing so 
in the dark but the airport is open. 
 
(As Forrest Gump observed, "it happens". A shackle holding up 
an earth wire broke and dropped the wire across  another sit 
of transmission lines. Unfortunately that spot is something of 
a bottleneck and it triggered failures in other parts of the 
system. - BH) 
 
PROTEST AT PARLIAMENT AGAINST ARMS TRADE 
----------------------------------------- 
 
A very bloody point is to be made in front of Parliament 
today. Oxfam is to plant 1000 bloodied crosses on the 
Parliamentary lawns to make a point about the need for arms 
control. They represent the one thousand people killed every 
day around the world by weapons. Oxfam executive director Ced 
Simpson says millions die as a result of unregulated arms 
trading and many more are injured, terrorised, or subjected to 
violence. He says 12,000 New Zealanders have added their 
signatures to an international petition calling for an 
international arms trading ban. 
 
PM DEFENDS BORDER SECURITY 
-------------------------- 
 
The prime minister has defended New Zealand's border security, 
following the deportation of a man with links to the September 
11 attacks. Rayed Mohammed Abdullah Ali has been kicked out 
after authorities discovered he knew one of the hijackers. 
Helen Clark understands why immigration officials failed to 
pick him up when he applied for his student visa, as he was 
not Mr Ali when he was identified and named offshore. The 
prime minister says it is very difficult to have a foolproof 
border. 
 
(Some of the world's most powerful nation with vastly more 
sophisticated intelligence systems than ours have not managed 
to achieve what the opposition seeks. What on earth do they 
expect? They picked this particular fellow up quite quickly, 
and since he was not actually known to have committed any 
crime -  it not being illegal to know other criminals - he was 
appropriately deported. Rendition is not part of the 
vocabulary of the New Zealand government. - BH)  
 
MAMEA APPEALS SENTENCE 
----------------------- 
 
The lawyer for convicted rapist David Mamea has indicated he 
will appeal part of the sentence handed down to him on Friday. 
The 18-year-old was imprisoned for 16 years after being found 
guilty of raping and attempting to murder a 14-year-old girl 
on New Years Eve 2004. His lawyer Mary Tuilotolava has 
indicated he will appeal his sentence for the rape conviction. 
 
THREE ARRESTED AFTER FIREARM INCIDENT 
-------------------------------------- 
 
Three youths have been arrested in Hamilton after a firearm 
incident in the central city. A motorist and pedestrian have 
reported being threatened with a pistol yesterday. Armed 
police were sent to the central city area, where they located 
the three youths and an imitation firearm. A 17-year-old will 
appear in court later this week, a 16-year-old has been 
referred to Youth Aid, and the third youth arrested has been 
released without charge. 
 
HAIG CASE; DID POLICE BUNGLE? 
----------------------------- 
 
The police handling of a murder investigation is being 
questioned. It comes as former tuna boat skipper Rex Haig 
fights to overturn his conviction for the 1994 murder of 
fisherman Mark Roderique at Jackson's Bay on the West Coast. 
Highlighting inconsistencies, lies, and a lack of an alibi for 
key Crown witness David Hogan, Haig's lawyer Jonathan Eaton 
says police tried to fit facts to their theory of the killing 
and ignored evidence that contradicted it. It is Haig's case 
that Mr Hogan is responsible for Mr Roderique's death. 
Jonathan Eaton has expressed concern Mr Hogan was given 
immunity from prosecution and was never properly interviewed 
by police about his involvement in the incident. 
 
(It seems likely that Haig's conviction will be quashed. The 
fact that he has completed his sentence for the crime before 
being reheard is regrettable - BH) 
 
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE TO CONVICT SAYS MAMEA 
-------------------------------------------- 
 
The south Auckland teenager who stabbed and raped a 14-year-
old girl in her Wiri home plans to appeal his rape conviction. 
David Mamea was sentenced to 16 years in prison on Friday. 
Mamea's lawyer, Mary Tuilotolava says she has received 
instructions from her client to appeal his rape conviction. 
She says she will appeal on the grounds there was insufficient 
evidence that Mamea actually penetrated the girl. There was no 
DNA at the scene of the attack which could be linked to Mamea. 
However there were two blood stained pubic hairs which were 
traced back to him. 
 
POWER BEGINS TO BE RESTORED 
---------------------------- 
 
South Island farmers fear for their stock unless the weather 
clears soon. Federated Farmers say trees are down and many 
farms in the region are without power. North Canterbury 
President Chris Sundstrum says most of the stock have been 
brought down from the high country. He says it is the pre-
lambing season and the stock are in good condition so most 
farmers are not too worried, as long as they can get out to 
feed them tomorrow. Chris Sundstrum says any farmers in 
trouble should call the Federated Farmers' helpline - 0800 
FARMING. Meanwhile, emergency services say most people in the 
Canterbury area have responded well to warnings to stay at 
home as adverse weather conditions make travelling precarious. 
However St John Ambulance is not leaving anything to chance. 
District operations manager Tony Dowell says they have 
everything under control but heavy snow has caused them to put 
the New Zealand army on stand-by - just in case. He says if 
necessary, they will be able to use four-wheeled vehicles, 
based at Darfield, to reach outlying areas. Further north, 
power has been restored to most parts of Auckland except 
Penrose, the eastern Suburbs, Glen Innes, and Otahuhu. The 
outage was the result of a fault on the Transpower network 
that has now been resolved. Lines company Vector says it is 
restoring power gradually, to take account of safety issues. 
It says as power is restored there may be other faults as 
result of the poor weather conditions. Electricity has also 
been restored to many parts of the Far North. Spokesman for 
power company Top Energy, Charles Kaka says Kaitaia and the 
majority of Russell have had their lines restored. He is 
hoping the weather will continue to improve, to make the rest 
of their job easier and hopes the whole of the north will have 
power again by the end of the day. As power returns to 
Auckland, so too does cell phone coverage. Mobile phone 
networks in the city were affected by the blackout, as well as 
phone coverage as far south as Timaru. Vodafone says a number 
of its smaller networks experienced problems. It says its big 
sites have been able to continue on battery backup. 
Spokeswoman Tracey Palmer says with power returning and 
cellphone traffic easing, there still may be congestion for 
some customers. She says if, after a couple of calls the line 
still gives a network busy signal, send a text instead. 
Telecom is refusing to comment on how the outage has affected 
its customers. Today's power outage has put pressure on 
Auckland's wastewater system, which relies on electricity 
pumps to move sewage. The city council has had reports of 
sewage overflows. Aucklanders are being advised not to wash 
clothes or dishes, and to flush the toilet only when it is 
absolutely necessary, to relieve pressure on the system. The 
Employers and Manufacturers Association says the power failure 
in Auckland today has highlighted the need for security of 
power supply. Chief Executive Alasdair Thompson says maybe 
Transpower needs to bring forward its plans to reinforce power 
supply across Auckland. He says there is also a need to look 
at putting transmission lines underground from Bombay into 
Auckland, because if it only takes one 110 kilovolt failure to 
take out a good part of Auckland, then the city is in big 
trouble. Mr Thompson says the loss of sales because of power 
failure could exceed $100 million. National's energy spokesman 
agrees that Auckland's power failure illustrates just how 
fragile the country's transmission system has become. Nick 
Smith says storms and accidents will inevitably knock down 
lines, but the system should be designed and maintained to 
always have an alternative circuit available. He says 
engineers have been warning the Government for years that the 
level of investment in transmission has not been sufficient to 
keep up with growth. Dr Smith says this has been a warning 
shot that Auckland's electricity infrastructure is nearly as 
bad as its roads. Auckland Chamber of Commerce head Michael 
Barnett is worried about the city's international reputation 
as the hub of New Zealand business, after today's power cut 
and last week's Sylvia Park debacle which saw motorway off-
ramps closed when too many people tried to go shopping at 
once. Auckland mayor Dick Hubbard says questions have to be 
asked about why the CBD and 700,000 people should lose 
electricity through one section of power line going out. 
 
Tuesday, 13 June 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 
 
BLAME AND ANGER FOLLOW POWER CUT 
-------------------------------- 
 
Auckland's power crisis is being described as an 
embarrassment. Thousands of businesses and homes were without 
power after a wire came down and threw out the Otahuhu 
substation yesterday morning. Alex Sweeney of Heart of City 
says the outage would have cost the Auckland CBD between $50 
and $100 million, but that pales in comparison to the damage 
it did to Auckland's international reputation. He says we need 
a plan B, C, D and E for something as vital as power supply. 
Meanwhile ACT is pointing the finger at the Minister of 
Auckland Affairs. Leader Rodney Hide says Judith Tizard's sole 
responsibility is Auckland issues and she has not prepared one 
cabinet paper all year. He says years of neglect have seen 
Auckland's infrastructure degraded to third world status. 
 
(Build a bridge guys. If the entire North East of the US can 
lose electricity, how does this incident signify third world 
status. We seem to have developed a culture in which nothing 
is an accident any more, and there must be someone whose fault 
it is.  - BH) 
 
GODZONE NEW ZEALAND DICTIONARY BEING LAUNCHED 
--------------------------------------------- 
 
The distinctive phrases and language New Zealanders take for 
granted will be published in a new dictionary next month. The 
Godzone New Zealand dictionary will be published full of the 
slang words and expressions which puzzle visitors. Author Max 
Cryer says it highlights the strong idiosyncrasies of local 
speech and features slang words and expressions. Mr Cryer says 
New Zealanders are particularly bad at retaining baby-talk, 
with words like drinkies, ta-ta, barbie, rellies and Chrissy. 
The dictionary will be comprised of words where the usage is 
generally confined to New Zealand, such as "Rotovegas" and 
"the Naki" 
 
TALKS CONTINUE WITH JUNIOR DOCTORS 
---------------------------------- 
 
Negotiations continue today to try to settle the dispute 
between DHBs and junior doctors. A second day of talks will be 
held behind closed doors as junior doctors demand more pay and 
reduced working hours. Five days of strike action are set down 
to start on Thursday. The looming strike has already seen DHBs 
spring into action with contingency plans. They warn more than 
10,000 people will be affected, with elective surgery and 
outpatient clinics postponed or deferred if the strikes go 
ahead. Hospitals are planning to provide emergency and acute 
services during the strike. 
 
UNDERGROUND LINES CALLED FOR 
---------------------------- 
 
The Government is being encouraged to consider running 
metropolitan power lines underground. The call comes from the 
Major Electricity Users Group after much of Auckland was left 
without power for hours yesterday. The outage followed a line 
coming down and crashing the Otahuhu substation. Spokesman 
Terrence Currie says New Zealand needs to have two different 
systems for rural and urban areas. Meanwhile there is a 
warning of further power outages today. Transpower's Chris 
Roberts says there is another cold snap heading up the country 
and he is anticipating more power troubles through both 
islands. He says Transpower will be keeping a close eye on the 
situation, while also investigating the exact cause of 
yesterday's Auckland blackout. And if the power was out at 
your home for more than six hours yesterday, be careful what 
you eat from the fridge. Auckland medical officer of health 
Greg Simmons is warning people to be careful with anything 
perishable left in the fridge. He says if there is any doubt - 
throw it out. Mr Simmons says food which was left in the 
freezer should be okay as it should have stayed cold and is 
safe as long as it is still firm. 
 
(Underground lines are great from a security and aesthetic 
perspective, but oh the cost! Who will pay? - BH) 
 
PIGS TRAPPED IN COLLAPSED BUILDING 
---------------------------------- 
 
A rescue effort is under way in South Canterbury to save 
hundreds of pigs trapped when snow brought a roof down on 
their heads. Several buildings at a piggery near Rangitata 
collapsed yesterday, trapping as many as 2000 animals beneath. 
Ashburton Deputy Mayor John Leadley says they are busy 
rallying people to help out, getting animals out of the debris 
and securing temporary tarpaulin shelters. He says local firms 
are helping out with equipment and facilities to house the 
surviving animals. 
 
NO SIGN OF MAN OVERBOARD 
------------------------- 
 
No luck yet for police searching for a man who fell overboard 
from the tanker Formosa in Wellington Harbour yesterday. 
Search and rescue teams have moved to Wellington's south coast 
to try to locate the man, but police say there is no sign yet. 
Shore rescue teams scoured the beaches until around midnight 
last night, when the search was scaled down. Two helicopters, 
two police boats and the Coast Guard had looked for the man 
for around two hours yesterday afternoon, but high winds and 
four-metre swells hampered search efforts. 
 
(Almost a week later there has been no report of finding the 
man. - BH) 
 
CHARGES LAID OVER SIONE'S WEDDING COPY 
-------------------------------------- 
 
An Auckland man has been charged with stealing a pre-release 
copy of the movie Sione's Wedding from a production house. 
Pirated versions of Sione's Wedding were widely distributed 
prior to the locally made film's premiere in March. The New 
Zealand Federation Against Copyright Theft says the 38-year-
old man worked at an Auckland company providing post-
production services to the film's producers, South Pacific 
Pictures. The man has been charged with theft and copyright 
offences and will appear in court in Auckland on Thursday. 
 
IMPASSIONED STATEMENT FROM TAME ITI 
----------------------------------- 
 
There has been high drama in the firearms trial of Tame Iti at 
the Rotorua District Court today. The 55-year-old Tuhoe 
activist is charged with two counts of unlawfully possessing 
and discharging a firearm in a public place. Iti ditched his 
interpreter this morning to make an impassioned statement in 
English. He says he has been treated differently to others, 
and has been victimised. Tame Iti says people have built up a 
view of who he is through split-second images in the news 
media. He feels he is only before the court because political 
pressure was applied during an election year. Iti adds there 
were others with guns at Ruatoki in January last year, but 
they were not charged. 
 
BEEHIVE SECURITY BEEFED UP 
-------------------------- 
 
The Beehive is beginning to resemble Fort Knox with new, 
beefed-up security measures in place. Newstalk ZB political 
editor Barry Soper says for the first time, visitors to 
Parliament will have to pass through metal detectors at a 
single entrance point. Other entries will be off limits, 
except for staff with identity cards. Once people are inside 
the building they will be under close scrutiny, with the 
security force being doubled to 69 officers. Staff working in 
ministers' offices will no longer be allowed cellphones with 
cameras, a move the Minister in Charge of Ministerial Services 
and of the SIS Helen Clark was unaware of. Miss Clark says it 
is a decision made by someone else and she could not care less 
either way. The system will be put to the test this afternoon 
as Parliament opens after a recess. 
 
PATIENTS PUZZLED BY PRIORITIES 
------------------------------- 
 
A victim of the junior doctors' strike is questioning why 
health money is going on advertising. A five-day nationwide 
strike of junior doctors is due to start on Thursday, reducing 
most hospitals to skeleton services. South Canterbury six-
year-old Angus Thomson's hip surgery was cancelled yesterday 
because of the impending industrial action. His mother Harriet 
says she feels for the doctors' situation but is concerned 
about the money lost to the health system. She says junior 
doctors DO work long hours, but wonders why the money the DHBs 
spent yesterday on advertising could not be used to address 
the junior doctors concerns. Harriet Thomson says she has 
taken ten weeks off work to look after her son, whose 
operation has now been put back two weeks. 
 
MORE PEOPLE ARE USING PARTY PILLS 
--------------------------------- 
 
New research shows one in five people is using party pills, 
which is a higher proportion than previously thought. The 
results come from the first of four research projects 
commissioned by the Ministry of Health on the use of party 
pills, or BZP, and its effects. Chair of the Ministerial 
Committee on Drugs Jim Anderton says the Expert Advisory 
Committee on Drugs will be reviewing the status of BZP when 
more evidence on the possible dangers or otherwise is known. 
He says the committee will then consider what further measures 
may be warranted to reduce the potential for harm. Mr Anderton 
says that might involve further regulating the manufacture and 
supply of BZP or recommending it be made illegal. Use is 
greatest among 18 to 24-year-olds. About half the party pill 
takers say they have suffered from sleep problems and other 
side effects such as poor appetite, hot and cold flushes and 
heavy sweating. Other side effects include stomach pain, 
nausea, headaches, tremors and shakes, loss of energy, strange 
thoughts and mood swings. 
 
NATIONAL CANNOT PAY OWED MONEY 
------------------------------ 
 
National has been denied the opportunity to pay back $112,000 
it owes to various broadcasters after the last election. The 
election allocation for National was overspent after a mix-up 
with an advertising agency which spent National's allocation 
without considering GST. Under the current law National is 
unable to pay the money back, so Don Brash has drafted a 
private member's bill which would allow the party to do just 
that. Dr Brash has this afternoon sought leave from the House 
to introduce the bill but he has been denied by a chorus of 
parties, including New Zealand First and the Greens. 
 
(This is baffling. I fail to understand what point of 
principle is made by blocking this. Businesses are out of 
pocket. It seems like obduracy for its own sake - BH) 
 
MOTHER OUTRAGED AT DNA SAMPLE 
----------------------------- 
 
An Auckland mother is outraged a police officer allegedly 
bribed her son to give DNA to avoid being fined. Brenda Barnes 
says her 17-year-old son was pulled over by an officer who 
threatened to fine him $400 for driving a manual car, when his 
licence only permits him to drive an automatic. She says the 
officer told her son if he gave a DNA sample he would not be 
fined. Ms Barnes says no 17-year-old wants to fork out $400, 
so he gave a mouth swab. She says she feels they were taking 
advantage of his age. She says she has written to Police 
National Headquarters and Police Minister Annette King to have 
his DNA removed from the system and ask for an explanation.

(Inexcusable - BH) 
 
THOUSANDS STILL POWER-LESS 
-------------------------- 
 
Thousands of people in Canterbury look set to remain without 
power again tonight, as local power companies struggle to deal 
with outages caused by yesterday's snow storm. Major 
electricity supplier Orion says it has restored power to 1,000 
people today, but another 3,000 remain in the cold. General 
manager Rob Jamieson says they are finding the damage is more 
extensive than expected, and some rural customers may not have 
power before the weekend. Mainpower spokesman Stuart Wilson 
says around 200 of its rural customers will need to find 
alternative sources of heat again tonight. Further south, the 
hardest hit Timaru district is also slowly getting back to 
normal. Apline Electric says it has mostly restored power, but 
some of its rural customers also face another dark and 
freezing night. Meanwhile Canterbury emergency management 
planner Jon Mitchell says there is still no way to contact 
some remote communities in the Waimate and McKenzie Districts. 
Things are looking up for the North Island this evening, 
however, and power has been restored to virtually everyone in 
Auckland. About 300 residents in Thames are still without 
electricity, but Powerco is confident they will have power 
today. The electricity company says there are also scattered 
homes throughout the Western Bay of Plenty which are still 
without power. 
 
SEARCH SUSPENDED FOR MAN WHO FELL INTO WELLINGTON HARBOUR 
--------------------------------------------------------- 
 
Search and rescue staff have suspended a land search for a man 
who fell off a tanker in Wellington Harbour on Monday 
afternoon. The Wellington Coast Guard and police have spent 
the day scouring the harbour's coastline as well as searching 
the waters of the harbour. Search and rescue spokeswoman Jo 
Holden says they are scaling down the search, unless new 
information comes to light. She is not optimistic about 
finding the man alive, given the bitterly cold waters and the 
time which has passed since he went overboard. 
 
Wednesday, 14 June 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 
 
APPEAL FOR KILLER OF PROSTITUTE 
------------------------------ 
 
An appeal date has been set for the man convicted of murdering 
of a Christchurch prostitute Jule Burns was convicted in May 
of the murder of Suzie Sutherland in April of last year. The 
30-year-old was sentenced to life with a minimum non-parole 
period of 17 years. Burns will be appealing both the 
conviction and sentence in the Court of Appeal in October.  
 
DECISION TODAY ON DEREGISTRATION OF BREAST PHYSICIANS 
----------------------------------------------------- 
 
The woman who led the charge for the registration of breast 
physicians in New Zealand is confident the profession will be 
allowed to carry on. The Medical Council decided to de-
register breast physicians last August, but that decision was 
appealed in Wellington yesterday. Council members are expected 
to reach some form of decision today. National MP Jackie Blue 
spoke at the meeting yesterday and was heartened by the 
reception council members gave her. Dr Blue is confident 
breast physicians can work with whatever recommendation the 
council comes up with. 
 
KNOCK-BACK TRIGGERS MORE ANGER 
------------------------------ 
 
A verbal lashing for the Government from the Karori Wildlife 
Sanctuary. The sanctuary had applied for $6 million worth of 
funding under the significant community based projects fund. 
However, the Government turned them down, saying there are key 
parts of the criteria the sanctuary did not meet. Sanctuary 
Chief Executive Nancy Mackintosh-Ward says the communications 
from the department responsible for funding have been poor, 
with plenty of grey areas they were not aware of. She says one 
of the reasons they were turned down was they had not raised 
enough money themselves, despite a hefty loan from the 
Wellington City Council. 
 
(If you are visiting Wellington, and the weather is fine, this 
is a lovely spot to visit - BH) 
 
CAT HATERS WELCOME POSSIBLE LIMITS 
---------------------------------- 
 
Christchurch's cat haters say it is time they were heard. Cat 
Control Campaign Group chairman Ray Spring is delighted that 
the City Council is looking at reviewing its Animal (other 
than dogs) bylaw. Two years ago, councillors decided they 
would review the bylaw under the council's draft 10-year 
spending plan with a view to include provisions for the 
control of the number of cats that each household can keep. Mr 
Spring says it is about time cats were controlled. He says the 
council needs to make sure that it is as expensive to keep a 
cat as it is to keep a dog. 
 
E-MAIL RUMOUR DISMISSED BY GOVERNMENT 
------------------------------------- 
 
People are being warned not to take heed of dodgy health 
advice as winter hits. Associate Health Minister Peter Dunne 
says a bogus e-mail is doing the rounds claiming commonly used 
cough and cold medicines have been withdrawn because they 
contain a dangerous ingredient. The e-mail says medicines such 
as Dimetapp and Robitussin contain a chemical linked to some 
strokes. But Mr Dunne says the medicines do not contain 
phenylpropanolamine and neither do any other legal over-the-
counter cough and cold products. 
 
BID TO GET MORE KIWIS DONATING BLOOD 
------------------------------------ 
 
The Blood Service is using World Blood Donor Day in its bid to 
boost the number of people giving blood. Only four percent of 
New Zealanders donate. In the past year, more than 23,000 
people have been recruited, but at the same time nearly 32,000 
people stopped donating. Blood Service marketing manager Paul 
Hayes says 80 percent of us will need a transfusion at some 
stage in our lives. Mr Hayes says more than 3000 donations a 
week are needed to meet demand. 
 
CALL FOR NEW ZEALAND TO CONSIDER NUCLEAR POWER 
---------------------------------------------- 
 
Nuclear power is being raised as the answer if New Zealand 
wants to prevent black outs like the one Auckland experienced 
two days ago. The Institution of Professional Engineers of New 
Zealand is calling for a public debate on the use of nuclear 
power as an electricity source. Chief Executive Andrew Cleland 
says nuclear technology is already used in New Zealand for 
medical purposes. He says civilian use of nuclear power needs 
to be look at. Mr Cleland says the risks, costs and what it 
would mean to build a nuclear infrastructure in New Zealand, 
also need to be assessed. He says while we have a strong 
stance against nuclear weapons, the use of nuclear energy must 
be debated to ensure security of electricity supply. 
 
(A pig just flew past my window - BH) 
 
HOUSE FIRE BEING INVESTIGATED 
----------------------------- 
 
Police and fire safety investigators will be looking into the 
cause of a house fire in Invercargill last night. Senior 
Sergeant Olaf Jenson says the occupants of the Jenkin Street 
home were out when the alarm was raised just after 6pm. He 
says a scene guard was in place overnight. Senior Sergeant 
Jenson says the fire caused damage to the hallway and a 
bedroom also suffered extensive smoke damage. 
 
BOY DIES OF INJURIES AFTER BEING HIT BY TRAIN 
----------------------------------------------- 
 
Police have released the name of a boy who died after being 
hit by a train in south Auckland last night. Eleven-year-old 
Jeremiah Tito was hit by the train while attempting to cross 
the tracks at Papatoetoe station about 6pm. He was taken to 
Middlemore Hospital but died a few hours later. The incident 
has been referred to the coroner. 
 
REWARD POSSIBILITY IN HUNT FOR STOLEN WATCH 
------------------------------------------- 
 
A reward will be discussed for the return of a $40,000 Rolex 
watch. Police are investigating the theft of an Oyster 
Perpetual Date Just Rolex, which was stolen from a Napier Hill 
address between April and June. Sergeant Nigel Formosa says 
the watch was stored in a bedroom and not used often, and when 
the owner went to take it out, it was missing. The watch is 18 
carrot white gold with a pearl faced background with the model 
number, 178239. Sergeant Formosa says second hand dealers 
should be on the lookout for the watch, or they may remember 
it passing through their doors recently. 
 
DNA SAMPLE DEMAND INAPPROPRIATE 
------------------------------- 
 
Telling a teenager he could escape a $400 fine if he gave a 
police officer a DNA sample would be inappropriate, according 
to one criminal law expert. An Auckland 17-year-old faced the 
fine earlier this month for driving a manual car when his 
licence only allowed him to dive an automatic. Auckland 
University criminal law lecturer Scott Optican says a DNA 
sample can be given voluntarily, but the person must be aware 
they can refuse to give the sample. Mr Optican says you cannot 
say something is voluntary if someone is holding a criminal 
fine over your head. He says if that is the case, his sample 
should be removed from the DNA database. 

COLD SNAP LEADS TO NEAR RECORD POWER DEMAND  
------------------------------------------- 
 
The cold snap has increased electricity demands to almost 
record levels. Electricity wholesaler M-co says the rise in 
demand has been throughout the country. Spokesman Ashley 
Milkop says both business and residential electricity use is 
up, with peak half hour demand getting close to the record 12 
month high. He is confident the rising electricity demand will 
not put a strain on supply even if it exceeds record levels. 
Meanwhile snow is also up to a metre deep in South Canterbury 
and it is hampering efforts to get out to hard hit rural 
areas. The Timaru District Council and Civil Defence staff are 
carrying out 4WD reconnaissance missions to reach isolated 
residents. Civil Defence incident controller Mark Griffioen 
says the deep snow is hampering efforts to restore power to 
these properties and bulldozers are being used to clear roads 
which are beyond the capability of graders. Alpine Energy 
reports some residents in Timaru are still without power but 
they are not as badly off as more remote properties. They are 
not expected to get power back on now until next week. 
 
NATIONAL QUESTIONS TRUE COST OF SETTLEMENT 
----------------------------------------- 
 
Questions are being asked about the true cost of an Auckland 
Waitangi treaty settlement. Earlier this month the Government 
announced it had reached an agreement in principle with Ngati 
Whatua giving it ownership of the Auckland's volcanoes, as 
well as purchase rights for Crown land on the North Shore. 
National's Maori Affairs spokesman Gerry Brownlee claims the 
right of first refusal clause in the deal will see the total 
value of the settlement run into hundreds of millions of 
dollars, far greater than the 10-million-dollar sum being 
publicised. Treaty Negotiations Minister Mark Burton says the 
property deals will be at market values, meaning the 
settlement will be comparable, but better protected than 
previous ones. 
 
THIRD NIGHT IN DARK 
------------------- 
 
The novelty of living in a snow-covered Narnia and cooking on 
wood stoves is wearing off for the people of South Canterbury. 
Two thousand inland Canterbury residents will be without power 
or phones for a third night. On Monday a power outage affected 
8,000 customers of electricity company Orion after a snow 
dumping brought down lines across the Canterbury region. Orion 
spokesman Rob Jamieson says the further west linesmen go, the 
harder the job is as they are working in a metre of snow. He 
says there is a lot of damage, and it gets worse near Rakaia. 
He says there are 20 crews working as fast as they can go. Mr 
Jamieson says around one thousand homes had power returned to 
them today. Timaru District Council spokesman Graeme Stilwell 
says people's patience is wearing thin as electricity supplier 
Alpine Power struggles to reach remote households to restore 
power. He says after three days people are beginning to get 
quite tetchy, and understandably so. He says the lack of power 
is now causing some people's home sewerage systems to back up. 
Meanwhile Canterbury Federated Farmers and Telecom are working 
together to restore communications to remote rural towns. 
Telecom spokeswoman Sarah Berry says Federated Farmers have 
lent the company eight generators, which will be mainly used 
to get cellphone towers up and running. She says that is 
Telecom's main focus at the moment, rather than focusing on 
individual landlines. Sarah Berry says 3,300 landlines in 
rural areas are still down tonight. She says Telecom will use 
its 16 generators to get five remaining cell phone towers 
operational. 
 
DNA TEEN IS NOW OFF DATABASE 
---------------------------- 
 
An Auckland teenager at the centre of a police DNA dispute is 
now off the national database. Seventeen-year-old Auckland 
teenager Richard Barnes was pulled over earlier this month for 
a driving offence and he says he was told his fine would be 
waived if he agreed to give a DNA sample. He gave it, but his 
mother complained to Minister Annette King. The incident has 
sparked an outcry, with allegations being made of police 
abusing their powers in coercing the youth to provide his DNA. 
Police Minister Annette King says Richard Barnes' sample has 
now been destroyed as it was inappropriately obtained. She 
says the sample was destroyed this afternoon but was never 
actually entered into the DNA database. Mrs King says the 
teen's mother has also been visited by police who have 
explained the circumstances of the incident to her. She says 
the sample was destroyed at the request of the Auckland 
District Police Commander. 
 
Thursday, 15 June 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 
 
MPS VOTE TO OPEN UP EASTER SUNDAY TRADING 
----------------------------------------- 
 
Parliament has opened the door to the relaxing of Easter shop 
trading hours. MPs have voted 80 to 38 to allow a private 
member's bill from Rotorua's Steve Chadwick to proceed. It 
would permit trading on Easter Sunday, present laws only allow 
shops in some areas to open. The proposed legislation would 
allow councils to ask their communities if they want to trade. 
Ms Chadwick says no business would be compelled to open. 
 
PROBLEM OF ELDER ABUSE BEING RESEARCHED 
--------------------------------------- 
 
Disturbing anecdotal evidence on the prevalence of elder abuse 
in New Zealand has prompted research into the issue. The 
Families Commission is putting up to 100 thousand dollars 
towards a study into the extent of this type of family 
violence. Age Concern will work with the Commission to collate 
the data. Chief Commissioner Rajen Prasad says it is 
understood up to 10 percent of the elderly are abused, but 
there is little information on what form the abuse takes. He 
says most of the abuse appears to take place within families. 
Today marks the world's first Elder Abuse Day. 
 
DIGITAL PLATFORM TO BE ANNOUNCED BY GOVERNMENT 
---------------------------------------------- 
 
The Government will unveil plans for free digital television 
later today. Broadcasting Minister Steve Maharey will reveal 
details of what will be called Freeview. TVNZ, Canwest and 
other broadcasters will make their channels available for 
free. However users will have to pay for a set-top box 
separate to their Sky decoder. They will also probably have to 
install a new aerial or satellite dish. The new service is 
expected to be available some time next year. 
 
DART WOUNDS NEW ZEALAND SOLDIER 
------------------------------- 
 
A New Zealand soldier has been injured while on peacekeeping 
duties in East Timor. Defence Minister Phil Goff says the 
soldier suffered minor injuries after being hit by a dart. Mr 
Goff told a select committee meeting this morning that the 
incident happened in the past 24 hours. More than 180 defence 
and police personnel have been deployed to East Timor as moves 
are made to restore civil order in the aftermath of political 
instability and a break down of law and order. Phil Goff says 
our forces are doing a professional job under the conditions 
they are facing. 
 
STABBING CLAIM LABELLED FALSE BY CHRISTCHURCH POLICE 
----------------------------------------------------- 
 
The Christchurch woman who claimed she was attacked and 
stabbed by a man in the Styx Mill Reserve last month will be 
charged with making a false complaint to the police. The 47-
year-old told police she had been jogging through the reserve 
in the middle of the afternoon when she was attacked and 
stabbed repeatedly in the abdomen. The woman also claimed she 
suffered cuts to her arms and hands while she fought off her 
attacker. A police man hunt was launched and a helicopter 
searched the area for the poorly described attacker. Detective 
Sergeant Grant Wormald says he is satisfied there was not an 
attack on the woman. He says he is pleased to reassure the 
public there is no crazed man on the loose and he is thankful 
for the help the public gave. 
 
FRESH ALLEGATION IN DNA SAMPLE ROW 
---------------------------------- 
 
There have been reports of more incidents of police 
inappropriately obtaining DNA samples to include in a national 
data base. This follows the case of an Auckland 17-year-old 
who was pulled over earlier this month for a minor driving 
offence. He was told by an officer that a 400-dollar fine 
would be waived if he gave a sample. Auckland lawyer Graeme 
Newell says he also had 17-year-old client who was offered 
cigarettes in return for his DNA sample while waiting in a 
police cell for a bail application. He says there is a need 
for a review of police best practice in collecting DNA 
samples. 
 
LOCALS PRAISED FOR MAKING WELLINGTON SAFE 
------------------------------------------ 
 
Civic pride is being lauded as one of the main reasons why 
Wellington has been voted one of the safest cities in the 
world. Wellington has been designated a World Health 
Organisation Safe Community - the only capital city in the 
world to receive the award. City Safety manager Laurie Gabites 
says locals' pride in their city has been a major factor in 
the winning of the award. He says the judges commented on the 
passion and commitment shown by everyone in making Wellington 
a safe place to be. Mr Gabites says the Council, police, 
Capital and Coast District Health Board and ACC have all 
contributed to making Wellington a safer place. 
 
(Not sure why this is news. Those of us who live here knew it 
already :-) - BH) 
 
UNION WANTS BETTER TREATMENT FOR WORKERS 
---------------------------------------- 
 
There are suggestions more attention be given to high voltage 
workers if a repeat of Monday's power cut in Auckland is to be 
avoided. The city was brought to a standstill by a single wire 
crashing the Otahuhu substation. Questions are being raised as 
to whether the lines have been properly maintained. 
Engineering Printing and Manufacturing Union secretary Andrew 
Little says glove and barrier workers are in hot demand 
worldwide. He says New Zealand is still not competitive with 
overseas countries in terms of what we offer such workers. Mr 
Little says if we lose such staff overseas, it will exacerbate 
the existing maintenance problem. 
 
SECOND YEAR OF DECLINE IN ABORTIONS 
----------------------------------- 
 
There has been a drop in the number of abortions, for the 
second year in a row. Figures from Statistics New Zealand show 
there were 17,500 terminations in 2005. That is nearly 700 
fewer than the previous year, a drop of 3.7 percent. The year 
before saw a reduction of 1.6 percent. The general abortion 
rate has fallen to 19.7 per 1000 women aged 15 to 44, down 
from 20.5 in 2004. The median age for woman having an abortion 
remains stable at around 25. 
 
RARE BIRDS KILLED BY SNOW 
------------------------- 
 
Two of the world's rarest wading birds have been killed and 
one is missing following Monday's snow storm. Dean Nelson of 
the Department of Conservation says the black stilts died when 
the enclosure they were in near Twizel collapsed under the 
weight of the snow. Twenty-four birds survived the collapse 
and were transferred to temporary accommodation before they 
are transferred to Peacock Springs in Christchurch. Dean 
Nelson says they are concerned the prediction of another snow 
storm for Sunday and whether the remaining two enclosures will 
withstand the conditions. 
 
POLICE HUNT "SAVAGE" ATTACKER 
----------------------------- 
 
South Auckland police are piling resources into the search for 
a man described as a savage. On Tuesday night they say the man 
forced his way into the home of a Pukekohe woman, then raped 
and beat her in a four-hour ordeal. Detective Senior Sergeant 
Neil Grimstone says the woman only escaped death by fleeing 
when the man drove her in her car to a nearby ATM machine to 
withdraw money from her bank account. He says she managed to 
distract the offender's attention and fled, raising the alarm 
at a nearby service station. The man drove off at speed, 
crashing the car and escaping on foot. He is described as 
Maori, in his late 30s or early 40s, wearing a green nylon 
hooded jacket and a black cap and scarf. 
 
(A man has subsequently been arrested - BH) 
 
FULL FUNDING URGED FOR HERCEPTIN 
-------------------------------- 
 
Parliament's Health Committee has recommended that breast 
cancer drug Herceptin be fully funded. However, it accepts 
that its hands are tied and any decision is down to PHARMAC. 
Committee chair Sue Kedgley made the announcement after the 
committee received a petition with more than 18,000 
signatures, calling for full and immediate Government funding. 
Ms Kedgley says the committee accepts that PHARMAC is an 
independent Crown entity responsible for evaluating the 
effectiveness of drugs such as Herceptin in relation to other 
treatments. She says members accept it would be inappropriate 
for politicians to interfere with PHARMAC's independent 
evaluation process. Last week the British National Health 
Service's drugs watchdog said people with early stage breast 
cancer should be able to get the drug Herceptin, just two 
weeks after the drug was given a licence for use in Europe. 
The UK's local health bosses will be given three-months to 
offer eligible patients Herceptin, after which they could face 
legal proceedings. However, there are concerns about the 
expense of the drug. 
 
ARMY CHIEF DIES 
--------------- 
 
Former Army Chief, Major General Bruce Meldrum has died. The 
68-year-old died of an illness on Wednesday. Major General 
Meldrum held the Army's top job from 1989 to 1992. A funeral 
with full military honours will be held at the Holy Trinity in 
Parnell on Tuesday. Major General Meldrum leaves a wife and 
two children. 
 
ITI "STAYED TRUE" TO TUHOE PRINCIPLES 
------------------------------------- 
 
Maori activist Tame Iti did not fire at a New Zealand flag on 
a whim, the Rotorua District Court has heard. The 55-year-
old's trial for unlawfully possessing and discharging a 
firearm is in its fourth day. Defence witness Te Motoi Taputu 
has told the court Iti stayed true to Tuhoe principles when he 
fired a gun during welcoming events for Waitangi Tribunal 
members in January last year. The teacher/researcher stated 
Tame Iti is not above the teachings and directions of Tuhoe 
and does not do anything without elders' blessings. She 
believes above all, tradition governs what he does. Evidence 
from defence witnesses is expected to wrap up this afternoon. 
 
DANGEROUS DOGS ONLY AMENDMENT REJECTED 
--------------------------------------- 
 
Moves to restrict the microchipping of dogs to dangerous 
animals only have come unstuck in Parliament. The House has 
voted 61 votes to 60 to reject the select committee amendment. 
It was opposed by Labour, New Zealand First, United Future, 
and the Progressives. However the bill still has a wag in its 
tail. Amendments concerning the exemption of farm dogs, and 
the proposal to blanket microchip all dogs, are still to be 
debated in the House. 
 
Friday, 16 June 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 
 
TWO SCHOOLGIRLS THREATENED 
-------------------------- 
 
There have been two kidnapping attempts on Auckland teenagers 
today. A 17-year-old girl was on her way to Western Springs 
College about 8.30am, when a man threatened her - saying he 
had a gun and would shoot her if she did not get into his car. 
The teenager managed to scare him off by screaming and then 
ran to school. A couple of hours later a 14-year-old Western 
Springs College student walking in the same area, was bundled 
into a car and driven off. She managed to escape when the car 
stopped at an intersection and she ran to her home nearby. 
Police are unsure if the same man is responsible for both 
attacks, but are concerned at the daylight offences and are 
appealing for witnesses. 
 
ILLEGAL WEAPONS LEADS TO JAIL 
----------------------------- 
 
A good turn for a mate has landed a Christchurch man with a 
prison sentence for storing an illegal cache of weapons in his 
garage. Kenneth Hawkins has been sentenced to 15 months in 
jail for producing and cultivating a class B drug for personal 
use, and nine months for being in possession of restricted 
weapons including a hand grenade, thunder flashes, trip 
flares, and ammunition. The charges came after police searched 
Hawkins' Hoon Hay property in April. Defence lawyer Michael 
Knowles says his client had no intention of ever using the 
weapons, and says he was over-generous in agreeing to store 
the weapons for friends. He says the items had gathered dust 
over a number of years. Hawkins has been granted leave to 
apply for home detention. 
 
PM'S HUSBAND'S PAPER 
-------------------- 
 
A medical paper written by the Prime Minister's husband is 
casting doubt on the racial equality of New Zealand's health 
system. Professor Peter Davis has had his article published in 
the UK medical journal, The Lancet. After surveying more than 
6,500 patients admitted to 13 hospitals, his research found 
that hospital care received by Maori is marginally poorer than 
that received by New Zealand citizens of non-Maori and non-
Pacific Island origin. Fourteen percent of admissions for 
Maori were associated with an adverse event, compared with 11 
percent for non-Maori populations. 
 
CHILD TAKEN IN CHRISTCHURCH 
--------------------------- 
 
A domestic incident involving a young child has sparked a 
major police search in Christchurch. A distressed woman called 
police shortly after midday, telling them she'd jumped out of 
a car, following a row with her partner. He then drove off 
with their four-year-old boy. A helicopter was called in to 
help police search for the vehicle. It was found a few hours 
later. The boy was safe and well, and has now been returned to 
his mother. A 23-year-old man will appear in court tomorrow. 
 
MAN ARRESTED OVER NELSON RAPE 
----------------------------- 
 
Nelson Police have arrested a local man over the rape of a 
tourist in the city. Detective Senior Sergeant Wayne McCoy 
says a 27-year-old woman and her travelling companions met the 
alleged offender in a city bar on Wednesday night. He says in 
the early hours of yesterday morning she was taken to a local 
park and sexually violated. Wayne McCoy says the woman is very 
traumatised and is being supported by her friends and Nelson 
Victim Support. A 28-year-old man will appear in the District 
Court today charged with sexual violation by rape. 
 
RAPIST MAY STRIKE AGAIN 
----------------------- 
 
South Auckland police fear the man responsible for the 
horrific rape and attack of a Pukekohe woman will strike 
again. The 37-year-old woman was subjected to a terrifying 
five-hour ordeal on Tuesday night, after the man forced his 
way into her home. Police say the man bluffed his way in by 
asking to use her phone. Detective Senior Sergeant Neil 
Grimstone says police profilers describe the attacker as a 
classic exploiter rapist. He says profilers believe the man 
planned the attack, and stalked his victim for some weeks 
beforehand, watching the property from bushes across the road. 
They also tell him that because of the man's perceived success 
in his attack, he may well strike again. Neil Grimstone is not 
ruling out that the offender lives in Pukekohe, and locals 
need to be wary and cautious about anyone fitting the man's 
description. Police say the man changed his clothes during the 
five hours he was holding the woman and was last seen wearing 
a pair of the woman's jeans, and a black parka. 
 
METAL SHACKLE MAY GET BLACKOUT BLAME 
------------------------------------ 
 
Transpower has admitted a simple metal shackle could have been 
the cause of Auckland's power black out. The D-shaped shackle 
is used to fasten wire to other equipment, but chief executive 
Ralph Craven is not admitting it Is a maintenance issue. He 
says he has called for an investigation by an independent 
party. Dr Craven says not only will the equipment which failed 
be looked at, but also the maintenance arrangements and the 
processes used. He says that report will be handed to 
Government on June 23. In the meantime, Transpower says it 
cannot get on with its job because of delays caused by the 
Electricity Commission and the Commerce Commission. Dr Craven 
told an electricity engineers' conference today that there is 
a need for a single regulator of the electricity market. He 
declined to single out which of the two he would prefer but 
says he would like a regulator that is actually a supporter of 
the electricity business. Dr Craven says having two regulators 
means there is overlap in the way they go about their task. He 
says they are looking for investment proposals to be dealt 
with in a timely manner. Dr Craven was referring to the 
Electricity Commission's rejection of Transpower's proposal 
for a 400 kilovolt transmission line from Waikato to Auckland. 
 
HOSPITALS PREPARE FOR BUSY NIGHT 
-------------------------------- 
 
Health officials around the country are bracing for the 
traditional Friday night rush on accident and emergency 
departments, as the junior doctors strike moves into day two. 
Hospitals appear to be coping, after cancelling thousands of 
operations and outpatient appointments. Tauranga Hospital says 
it is only about 70 percent full, and that has helped take 
some pressure off. Spokesman Andrew Keenan says the emergency 
department was fairly quiet yesterday. He says this is a good 
time for people to avoid carrying out risky behaviour and save 
themselves a trip to A and E. There is no sign of any talks 
taking place today between the DHBs and the doctors' union, 
after the collapse of negotiations yesterday. 
 
ARREST OVER LEVIN CAR-JACKING 
----------------------------- 
 
Police have arrested a Levin man in relation to a violent car-
jacking in the town earlier this month. A man stopped his car 
in Duke Street on the night of Saturday the 3rd of June when 
another man allegedly got into the vehicle, held a knife to 
the victims throat and ordered him out. Yesterday Levin police 
arrested a 33-year-old man in relation to the incident. He has 
been charged with aggravated robbery and possession of an 
offensive weapon. 
 
PUSH FOR CONSCIENCE VOTE ON CANNABIS 
------------------------------------ 
 
Green MP Metiria Turei concedes her bill to make medicinal 
cannabis a legal treatment option is likely to be a dead duck 
if its voted on along party lines. She intends asking 
Parliament to support a motion to make it a conscience issue. 
Ms Turei says some MPs whose parties would vote the issue 
down, could have a different point of view and a conscience 
vote would allow them to express that. She says she will talk 
to all MPs about the benefits of medicinal cannabis to ensure 
they are fully informed before voting on the bill's first 
reading. Ms Turei says other developed nations allow for 
medicinal cannabis use. 
 
ETHICS OF STRIKING DOCTORS QUESTIONED 
-------------------------------------- 
 
Junior doctors are being accused of eroding 2000 years of 
ethics by striking. A five-day stopwork by 2500 junior doctors 
is in its second day. A group of about 20 doctors including 
the New Zealand president of the Royal Australasian College of 
Physicians has written a letter to the Press newspaper 
highlighting their concerns. They say the strike is 
undermining the ethical standards that have evolved since the 
time of Hippocrates and have concerns this lesser standard 
will be incorporated into doctors ethics in the future. They 
have also slammed the New Zealand Medical Association and the 
country's educational facilities who are supposed to install 
ethics in junior doctors for not commenting on this. 
 
(I reject the kneejerk stance that says withholding labour is 
ipso facto unethical. There are two parties to this dispute. 
One of them is trying to move away from the basis of the 
present agreement. The other doesn't want to. That opposition 
is not inherently wrong. - BH) 
 
QUIET WEEKEND NEEDED DUE TO STRIKE 
---------------------------------- 
 
Wellington Hospital's accident and emergency department is 
keeping its fingers crossed for a quiet weekend. The doctors 
are entering the second day of their five day strike, in 
protest over their pay and conditions. Emergency department 
clinical leader Peter Freeman says everything should be fine, 
as long as there are not any major disasters, because that 
will stretch their resources to breaking point. Dr Freeman 
says they are a little disappointed the juniors have elected 
to strike over the weekend, because it will cause the most 
disruption to services. 
 
(I believe they got their wish. - BH) 
 
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