WYSIWYG NEWS - 6 November, 2006

[news at wysiwygnews.com]

Subject: 6 November, 2006 
----- WYSIWYG NEWS ------------------------------ 
Copyright, Brian Harmer.  

First the important stuff. David's surgery was very 
successful, and we are all delighted for him. Watching someone 
you love recovering from such serious surgery is really hard, 
even though the professionals are all making reassuring 
noises. His wife Rowena and his daughter Grace were there day 
after day, as were his sister Catherine, and Mary and I. Other 
friends and family members came by, and slowly, the three week 
post-operative recovery period passed. We rented an apartment 
in Chatswood, a North Shore suburb of Sydney a few kilometres 
down the line from the hospital. We had a car with us, but for 
the most part it was quicker and easier to make use of 
Sydney's excellent rail service to make the seven minute 
journey back and forth. When something happened I could leave 
the apartment and be at the bedside within 20 minutes. I am 
convinced that, outside of a boiler shop, there is no place on 
earth more noisy than an ICU. Trolleys crash and bang, nurses 
and doctors attempt to persuade adjacent patients to awake 
from their coma, and they are generally speaking, unpleasant 
places to be, either as a patient, or as a visitor at the 
bedside. However, they seem to be the best place to be for a 
safe and well supervised recovery. All things pass, and after 
two weeks in this place, David was shifted back to his private 
room which was (marginally) quieter and more restful. When at 
last he was discharged, David & Rowena flew to Brisbane, and 
Mary and I volunteered to drive the family car back up the 
thousand kilometres of Pacific Highway from Sydney to 
Brisbane. It's a very scenic drive in its own way, though for 
my part I was very grateful for the blessing of cruise 
control. Long straight roads are not unknown in New Zealand, 
but not on the scale of the Australian landscape. We left 
Sydney just before midday on Tuesday and decided we would stay 
overnight in Coffs Harbour, a popular coastal resort. Given 
that we had experienced days where the temperature reached 38 
degrees C while we were in Sydney, I suppose it was just 
Murphy's law in action that brought rain and thunder to this 
drought ravaged region during our drive north. Near a town 
called Buladelah, we encountered a spectacular electrical 
storm, and had to slow down a bit. Sadly for the locals, the 
rain was barely sufficient to lay the dust, and totally 
inadequate to break the drought. We saw little of Coffs 
Harbour, since we used it merely as a place to sleep. The next 
morning we hit the road early, and partly due to relatively 
light local traffic, and partly due to Queensland's  
extraordinary attitude to daylight saving (it doesn't believe 
in it, and their premier is reported to believe it would 
worsen their skin cancer rate!), we arrived in Brisbane in 
time for lunch. We have spent the last few days at home with 
David and Rowena and Grace, watching David get stronger with 
each new day. Thanks to all who sent good wishes and prayers. 
And now we are home again. It is raining and there is a 
breeze. The forecast is for a week of similar weather to come. 
I can cope. 
 
   
---- 
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 "GS" will indicate an opinion from our 
editorial assistant. 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 Ted & Tina McCarthy 
from Texas. Many thanks to you both.

----  
On with the News. (I decided that four weeks of missed news 
would be a post that was way too big, so I have confined our 
post to the last two weeks) 

Monday, 23 October 2006
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

POWER RESTORED AFTER CBD OUTAGE
-------------------------------

Electricity supplies are almost fully restored in central 
Wellington after a substation fire caused an outage this 
morning. The Terrace and part of the CBD were the areas most 
affected by the cut. Keith Fitzpatrick from energy company 
Vector says crews have been working hard to restore power. He 
says the fire started in a substation in the basement of the 
James Cook Hotel, where cables caught fire. The hotel was 
evacuated and around 1,600 consumers were affected by the 
outage. Mr Fitzpatrick says it is still not known what caused 
the outage.

(Wellington has not had a lot of luck with its CBD 
infrastructure this year, after the calamitous gas failure a 
few months ago. - BH)

MT HUTT CLOSES FOR SEASON
-------------------------

As summer approaches ski bunnies are putting away their poles 
and boots for another year. It is Mt Hutt's last day for the 
season. Ski area manager David Wilson says it has been one of 
the best seasons the ski field has had in years. He says they 
expect this year's success to have people raring to go next 
year.

RETIREMENT LIFESTYLE A CONCERN
------------------------------

It looks like the baby boomer generation will be looking for 
subs from their children, or have to sell the family silver if 
they want a decent lifestyle in their retirement. Financial 
company Bluestone Equity says most people will need an income 
of about $42,000 a year to be comfortable in their golden 
years. That means having a cash pile of about $400,000 and 
Bluestone chief Peter McGuinness says most do not even come 
close. He says the average savings seem to be just under 
$60,000 per household. He says a lot of people are now 
realising they will have to use their home as an asset, and 
borrow against it for money to live on.

NOT ENOUGH DONE ABOUT VIOLENT CRIME
-----------------------------------

National claims violent crime is out of control, and not 
enough is being done to stop it. Latest figures show 2,000 
police officers were assaulted last year, an increase of 10 
percent on the previous year. The party's law and order 
spokesman Simon Power says it is no wonder JPs are suppressing 
their own names. Mr Power says the government has got to start 
addressing the problem, not only for the public, but for the 
police and those presiding in the courts. He says little has 
been done to prevent violent crime from escalating. 
 
(Interesting that, as I was leaving to go to Australia, 
National politicians were scathing in their condemnation of 
the JPs referred to. - BH)

Tuesday, 24 October 2006
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

GOVERNMENT DELIGHT OVER STUDENT LOAN STATISTICS
-----------------------------------------------

The Government is crowing over the latest student loan 
statistics. The Student Loan Scheme Annual report is out and 
is predicting just a one percent increase in the number of 
outstanding student loans balances in 2009-10 compared to the 
figures recorded last year. Tertiary Education Minister Dr 
Michael Cullen is firing a few salvoes at those who savaged 
the policy when it was announced just before the last 
election. He says the increase is a tiny fraction of that 
predicted by National and its supporters who were claiming 
figures of a billion dollars or more.

SELF-EMPLOYED EARN MORE
-----------------------

"Working for the man" will not make you rich. 
Statistics New Zealand has released figures showing self-
employed people earn more. The median annual earnings for 
self-employed people rose nearly 30 percent between 2000 and 
2005. The self-employed now earn an average salary of about 
$30,000, while wage earners only make about $29,000. Self-
employed people who employ others are also revealed by the 
figures as an important source of employment, with nearly half 
of all self-employed people employing at least one other 
person. The number of wage and salary earners outgrew the 
number of self-employed between 2000 and 2005. There was a 2.2 
percent increase in the number of self-employed persons, while 
the number of wage and salary earners grew by 20.9 percent 
over that time.

REPORT SHOWS KIWIS' SWEET TOOTH
-------------------------------

The average New Zealand household spends more on sweets every 
week, than it does on fresh fruit. The Food and Nutrition 
Monitoring Report released today, shows the average household 
spends $6.50 on confectionery a week, but only $5.90 on fresh 
fruit. It also shows up to 20 percent of households cannot 
afford to eat properly and most foods advertised on television 
during children's viewing times are unhealthy. The report says 
in 2005, nine times more money was spent on advertising junk 
food than on vegetables and fruit. Health Minister Pete 
Hodgson says it underlines just how challenging it will be to 
improve the nutrition of New Zealand families.

(I have a sweet tooth, but have reined it in somewhat since I 
learned that one small candy bar requires a whole hour of work 
at the gym to counteract. - BH)

NATIONAL DEMANDS ACCOUNTABILITY
-------------------------------

National is demanding accountability over the election 
spending issue. Validating legislation, passed under urgency 
by the Government last week, comes into effect tomorrow. 
National Party Leader Dr Don Brash says the public is entitled 
to know which parties are honouring their promises to pay 
monies back but is scathing that Dr Cullen's legislation does 
not cover this. Finance Minister Dr Michael Cullen says there 
are parliamentary procedures and other statutory processes 
under which the information can be sought.

TEACHERS' FILES TO BE REVIEWED
------------------------------

The Teachers Council is to review the files of a number of 
teachers identified as having troubled backgrounds. There has 
been concern within the industry at revelations by a Sunday 
newspaper that one teacher with drug convictions and another 
with a history of sexual abuse, are among a raft of similar 
cases where they have been allowed to continue teaching. Up to 
20 teachers have been tagged, with drug convictions and 
histories of sexual abuse in their past. Minister of Education 
Steve Maharey says he met with the Teacher's Council this 
morning and has been assured they closely monitor the terms of 
conditions imposed on the affected teachers. He says they have 
also promised to review the files of the teachers involved to 
make sure the terms of their conditions have been followed. 
However, National's Education spokesman Bill English wants to 
know if the Minister of Education is going to protect the 
identities of the teachers involved or whether he will expose 
them to their employers and the parents whose children are in 
their classrooms. Education Minister Steve Maharey says the 
Privacy Act prevents the teachers being named.

WILL BOLLARD RAISE INTEREST RATES?
----------------------------------

The markets will be on edge this week, with all eyes turning 
to Reserve Bank Governor Alan Bollard on Thursday, when the 
official cash rate is reviewed. Business correspondent Roger 
Kerr says it is still too hard to call whether Dr Bollard will 
raise interest rates. He says eight out of 14 economists 
polled by Reuters believe there is a 60 percent chance of an 
increase in rates. "Interest rate markets are pricing a 50/50 
probability of a rate increase, so it's a bit of a line ball 
call." Mr Kerr believes the Reserve Bank would be ill advised 
to increase rates as it would have no impact on inflation, but 
would push the New Zealand dollar higher, causing more 
problems for exporters and the economy.

Wednesday, 25 October 2006
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

CONCERN OVER MENINGITIS JAB CAMPAIGN
------------------------------------

Questions are being asked over whether a major immunisation 
campaign is harming the health of our children. The 
Government's much promoted meningitis immunisation initiative 
is in the spotlight, with fears being voiced the vaccine can 
bring serious side effects. National Party Health spokesman 
Tony Ryall says ACC has accepted 33 claims from patients 
claiming side effects, including an eight-year-old girl whom 
specialists say has developed a blood disorder from the 
vaccine. Minister of Health Pete Hodgson says the Ministry of 
Health has been looking at rates of health problems that could 
be connected with the vaccine and has found they are not 
occurring at increased rates.

NZ UNDER FIRE FOR SUCKING RESOURCES
-----------------------------------

New Zealand has been ranked one of the ten worst countries for 
sucking the world's natural resources dry. A World Wildlife 
Fund report shows humans are stripping nature at an 
unprecedented rate, and it claims that by 2050 the human race 
will need two planets' worth of natural resources to feed 
current consumption rates. New Zealand ranks ninth in a list 
of the ten countries which place the most demands per capita 
on the world's natural resources. The top three are the United 
Arab Emirates, the United States and Finland - in that order. 
Australia is ranked sixth. 
 
(I must find that report because it makes no sense to me - BH) 

$2M PANDEMIC PROJECT ANNOUNCED
------------------------------

Helen Clark has announced a $2million Pacific Regional 
Influenza Pandemic project at the Pacific Islands Forum in 
Fiji. Miss Clark says previous pandemics have had enormous 
social and health impacts in the region and planning for 
future pandemics is vital. She says a pandemic in the Pacific 
is inevitable and that is why New Zealand is putting a lot of 
emphasis on supporting the region. The funding is for a two 
year period.

NEW SEASONAL WORK SCHEME UNDERWAY
---------------------------------

Workforce shortages in the horticulture and viticulture 
industries will be eased next year with provision for up to 
5,000 Pacific Islanders to come here to work in the fields. 
The Government has unveiled its seasonal work scheme which 
will allow the Islanders to come here for up to seven months. 
Taxpayer money will go into recruiting them in the islands, 
and even though New Zealand already has more than 19,000 
overstayers, the Government is confident they will return 
home. Labour Minister David Benson Pope says if New Zealanders 
cannot be found for the work, then someone else has to do it. 
He says the workforce shortage has been created by record low 
unemployment and the scheme allows a quick response to 
pressure from the industry.

WARNINGS OVER FAKE DRUGS
------------------------

The Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences is warning 
the trade of fake pharmaceuticals in Asia is getting worse and 
could become a serious humanitarian problem. Counterfeit 
operations are taking place in Asia, producing billions of 
pills, containing carcinogenic chemicals, solvents and other 
harmful substances. GNS scientist Dallas Mildenhall says his 
research reveals that the counterfeits are so convincing you 
can not tell the difference between an original and a fake. He 
says they suspect several thousand people die as a result of 
the drugs worldwide each year. He is concerned imitations of 
drugs like Viagra could make it into New Zealand via the 
Internet.

MINISTRY CONSIDERS FUNDING FOR VACCINE
--------------------------------------

Further thought will be given today to whether a life-saving 
vaccine should be more widely funded. The Prevenar vaccine is 
currently funded for babies considered at risk of contracting 
the potentially fatal pneumococcal disease. The National 
Immunisation Schedule's technical working group will today 
decide whether to recommend to the Ministry of Health that the 
vaccine be included in the schedule for 2008. A petition was 
presented to associate health minister Peter Dunne in July for 
the vaccine to be put on the schedule. The Ministry has 
already indicated the vaccine is being given serious 
consideration for inclusion. Although Prevenar covers only 
seven strains out of more than more than ninety strains of the 
disease, these seven strains cause 80 to 90 percent of cases, 
and it is considered to be nearly 100 percent effective 
against these strains.

ENGINEERS ASSESS SLIP HOMES
---------------------------

The owners of two Eastbourne houses threatened by a slip 
should know more about the fate of their homes later today. A 
major slip in Sunshine Bay down onto Marine Parade last night 
damaged one home and is threatening another. One home was 
occupied, the other had been vacant since a previous slip. 
Engineers from the Hutt City Council will assess the danger 
posed by the two undermined homes. Paul Nichols from the Hutt 
City Council's civil defence office says it is an area where 
there have been a number of slips in the past so there has 
been ongoing monitoring. He says today they will be looking at 
the safety of the houses and considering whether they are 
dangerous. Mr Nichols says slips are becoming more of a 
problem with his office being activated more times in the last 
four years than at any other time, mainly for storm events and 
heavy rain. He says it is a fact of life that people need to 
get used to and live with. Meanwhile the Nguturewa Valley area 
in South Taranaki has once again been badly hit by flooding 
and landslips. It is only 11 weeks since the last major storm 
and flooding affected the area. The local council says one of 
the most disheartening things is that it has washed away most 
of the Task Force Green work done since them. Council staff 
are currently conducting a full assessment of the latest 
damage. One South Taranaki farmer says he cannot believe his 
property has been flooded again. Paul Pedersen has been 
farming for 50 years and says he has never experienced a 
weather pattern such as the one which is currently causing all 
the problems. He says the last 48 hours have seen his 1400 
hectare property flooded in the Ngutuwera Valley for the third 
time in three months, undoing progress made since the last 
flood. He is meeting with the local council to see what can be 
done. Mr Pedersen says the river channels are becoming more 
clogged meaning water is not able to get away. Meanwhile 
Maritime New Zealand is going to look into whether the Kaitaki 
Ferry should have sailed on high seas last night. Passengers 
have complained about the terrible conditions, with swells of 
up to nine metres tossing the ship around during what in the 
end was a 10 hour crossing after the Captain sought shelter. 
Maritime New Zealand spokeswoman Julia Lang says at this stage 
there will not be a formal investigation but says it is 
standard practice to have a debrief from Toll when there have 
been complaints from passengers. She says they will look at 
the information and the Director of Maritime NZ will make a 
decision as to how to go forward once they have reviewed it. 
Ms Lang says Toll New Zealand kept Maritime New Zealand 
informed of their decisions all day yesterday. 
 
(That's an unusually long and convoluted news item. It's 
amazing how whatever else we struggle with, we can always have 
a conversation about the weather. - BH)

HI-TECH WATER FILTER COULD HELP THIRD WORLD
-------------------------------------------

A water filter system designed by a Christchurch couple is 
being touted as a tool that can turn sewage-polluted water 
into drinking water. Russell Kelly and his wife Sue, who have 
17-years of experience in the water treatment business, have 
spent four years developing the filter system for third world 
countries. Mr Kelly says NASA has given them the rights to use 
the iodine technology which it developed, and also given them 
approval to use NASA's logo. He says the system being launched 
today gives him the confidence to drink polluted Avon River 
water.

KOREANS IN CHRISTCHURCH HARASSED
--------------------------------

Almost all Koreans living in Christchurch have experienced 
some form of harassment. The revelation comes in a study by 
three University of Canterbury researchers. Researcher Suzana 
Chang says many migrants have had things thrown at them and 
people shouting racial abuse just because they look different. 
She says many believe New Zealanders are not readily accepting 
of the new wave of migrants. Ms Chang says that is something 
that is not just isolated to Christchurch or New Zealand, but 
is an international problem. However Ms Chang says many 
Christchurch-based Koreans believe their poor English speaking 
skills are partly to blame. 
 
(It would be very sad if the victims of xenophobia were to 
give the perpetrators an excuse. Racism is always and 
everywhere deplorable. - BH)

CPI UP AGAIN
------------

The Consumer Price Index has increased for yet another month, 
pushing it three and a half percent higher in the past year. 
The increase is partly due to a massive hike in the cost of 
buying fruit and vegetables, while local authority rates and 
buying a new house are also adding to the woe for consumers. 
Food prices increased two percent overall, mainly due to price 
increases for vegetables, which were up 15.5 percent, and 
fruit, which have risen 9.4 percent. Housing and household 
utility prices increased a similar amount - 1.9 percent. The 
most significant increases in this sector were local authority 
rates (up 6.8 percent). The annual rate of increase has 
decreased slightly - while it was 3.5 percent this year, it 
was four percent at the same time last year.

DECADES TO CHANGE EATING HABITS
-------------------------------

Fruit and vegetable growers believe it will take years to 
change the country's eating habits. A Ministry of Health study 
shows New Zealanders spend on average of $6.50 a week on 
confectionery, 60 cents more than is spent on fresh produce. 
Horticulture New Zealand president Andrew Fenton says the 
trend is not good. He says while sales of fruit and vegetables 
are steady, they must increase to improve the country's 
health. Mr Fenton believes it could take two or three decades 
to change eating habits. He suggests sports stars be used as 
mentors to encourage people to choose healthier food. The Food 
and Nutrition Monitoring Report also shows junk food 
advertisers spend around $67 million a year, compared with the 
$6.2 million spent advertising fruit and vegetables.

REPORT HIGHLIGHTS OBESITY PROBLEMS
----------------------------------

A Ministry of Health report is putting new light on the 
problem of obesity by highlighting poor nutrition patterns. 
The Food and Nutrition Monitoring Report shows the average New 
Zealand household spends more on sweets every week, than it 
does on fresh fruit. Up to 20 percent of households cannot 
afford to eat properly and most foods advertised on television 
during children's viewing times are unhealthy. Minister of 
Health Pete Hodgson says the findings are a wake up call 
because if left unaddressed such patterns have high health 
costs. "Already we know that diabetes is increasing as a 
disease and if we don't take steps, we'll see a resurgence of 
cardiovascular disease as well." Mr Hodgson says there is no 
doubt dramatic dietary changes are needed if there is to be 
any success in fighting the obesity epidemic. He says while he 
is not removing the threat of regulating the food industry, he 
doubts it is the best option. He says it makes more sense to 
work with the food industry, to acknowledge when it makes 
progress, to ask for more and hold the threat of regulation 
for when it is needed.

(And when we run out of weather to talk about, it seems that 
diet is another reliable topic - BH)

Thursday, 26 October 2006
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

MASSIVE COCAINE HAUL IN AUCKLAND
--------------------------------

More arrests are expected in a huge trans-Tasman anti-drugs 
operation. Two Sydney men have been charged in connection with 
a major international cocaine smuggling racket. Twenty seven 
kilograms of cocaine with a street value of around $9.45 
million were found by New Zealand Customs officers on two 
Norwegian cargo ships when they berthed in Auckland. The 
operation began in June this year when Customs officers 
recovered 18.3 kilograms of cocaine concealed on the exterior 
of the ship Tampa as it arrived in Auckland Harbour. The drugs 
were in a hard metal pod, about half a metre in size. Customs 
passed the information on to Australian Customs who monitored 
the ship as it passed through their waters in July, and 
identified a number of people of interest. A further 8.7 
kilograms was found by Customs, also concealed in a pod, on 
the ship Taronga when it docked in Auckland in September. 
Customs officers substituted the haul with an inert substance 
and reattached it to the ship. It is believed the drugs were 
destined for the Australian market and enquiries are ongoing 
with international law enforcement parties in South America to 
establish their origins.

NO GUNS FOR POLICE
------------------

Arming New Zealand police with guns is being ruled out by the 
Government. Police Commissioner Howard Broad sparked debate by 
saying there are strong forces within the police that would 
like to see officers armed. The outburst has Green MP Keith 
Locke seeking reassurances from the Government that there are 
no plans to arm police. Labour Cabinet Minister Damien 
O'Connor has responded saying there is no enthusiasm or any 
intent to arm the police force. Meanwhile Police Commissioner 
Howard Broad is saying he now regrets using the words "strong 
forces" in his comments.

HOME INTERNET USERS TOLD TO BOLSTER SECURITY
--------------------------------------------

Home Internet users are being advised to increase the security 
of their computers, which can now be infected faster than ever 
before. Netsafe says with quicker broadband, computers are 
often always connected to the Net, leaving them more exposed 
to fraudsters. Unprotected computers can be compromised 
quicker than ever before. Netsafe executive director Martin 
Cocker says the most recent Symantec Security Threat Report 
shows home Net users are targeted 86 percent of the time. Mr 
Cocker says this is because they are likely to spend less on 
security. He says all computers that access the Internet 
should have the Net basics - a firewall, an auto-updating 
operating system as well as anti-spyware and virus software 
together with strong passwords.

TOUGH NEWS US RULES FOR PASSPORTS
---------------------------------

New Zealanders are being reassured they will still be able to 
get into the United States, as tough new passport requirements 
come into force today. All newly issued passports must now 
contain a microchip which holds digital information about the 
holder. The Department of Internal Affairs Passports Manager 
David Philp says New Zealand has been issuing e-passports 
since late last year. He says most passports issued before 
then are machine-readable, which will be acceptable if you are 
only planning to visit the US for up to 90 days. Mr Philp says 
a small number of passports issued before October 2004 will 
not be valid and he warns people to check their passports are 
acceptable before travelling.

CHILDREN'S BEST INTERESTS SHOULD BE CENTRAL
-------------------------------------------

A fathers' lobby group says it is time to stop picking sides 
in custody battles and find what is best for the child. His 
comments follow the indefinite jailing of a Hamilton mother, 
35-year-old Kay Skelton, for refusing to reveal the 
whereabouts of her son Jayden Headley. Coalition of Fathers 
spokesman, Jim Bagnall says if the courts took Australia's 
lead and made the presumption of shared custody, parents would 
not take such drastic measures. Mr Bagnall says he is sure the 
child would be happy to know he could spend half the time with 
Dad, and half the time with Mum. He says society needs to stop 
taking sides and start considering what is best for the child. 
He says children need both parents so there should be a good 
reason to distance a child from one parent.

MORE MONEY FOR ANTI-OBESITY PROJECTS
------------------------------------

The Government is pumping $800,000 into four new national 
anti-obesity projects. The initiatives target Maori and 
Pacific Island families to improve their nutrition and 
increase their physical activity. Health Minister Pete Hodgson 
says poor nutrition and lack of exercise are now the leading 
causes of premature death in New Zealand and finding ways to 
get families active and eating healthily is a major public 
health challenge. The new projects will be run in Wellington, 
Bay of Plenty, and South Auckland.

TIME TICKING ON OLD COINS
-------------------------

Auckland City is warning that time is running out to use the 
old coins in parking meters. The new parking meters have been 
able to accept both the new and old coins for the past three 
months, but the council say that as of November 1, they will 
not take the old change.

OCR UNCHANGED
-------------

Good news for businesses and home owners with mortgages as the 
Reserve Bank leaves the Official Cash Rate unchanged. The OCR 
remains at 7.25 percent, where it has been for almost a year. 
The last rise was in December last year.

CASTAWAYS HEADING FOR GREAT BARRIER
-----------------------------------

The second series of the BBC reality TV show Castaway could be 
filmed on the Great Barrier Island. The producers of the show 
have chosen the island in the Hauraki Gulf as the location. 
Dale Tawa from the Department of Conservation confirms an 
application has been lodged for consent to film over five 
months. In the first Castaway series in 2000, 36 people spent 
a year fending for themselves on a Scottish island. 
 
(These grossly misnamed "reality" shows totally elude me. I 
find it hard to see why any watches more than fifteen minutes 
of one episode. Ah well, each to his own. - BH)

NO MORE CHOCOLATE IN WORK VENDING MACHINE?
------------------------------------------

The mid-afternoon chocolate bar from the work vending machine 
may be a thing of the past. In its latest Food and Nutrition 
Monitoring report, the Ministry of Health says the types of 
food sold in vending machines will be looked at in the next 
year or two. The report notes that as most adults spend a 
substantial number of their waking hours at work, the food 
environment there is likely to influence what they eat. Under 
the Health and Safety in Employment Act, employers have a 
primary responsibility for insuring the health of workers. The 
ministry believes that could be interpreted as covering the 
food and nutrition environment. Government agencies may be 
expected to develop guidelines for food available in cafes, 
vending machines and catering at meetings.

Friday, 27 October 2006
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

SMOKING BAN IN CARS?
--------------------

There are calls for smoking in cars to be outlawed when 
children are on board. Researchers at the University of Otago 
are referring to research published in the New Zealand Medical 
Journal outlining the dangers of smoking in vehicles. The 
report says such a practice causes extremely high levels of 
particulate air pollution which has potentially adverse 
effects for non-smoking passengers, particularly children. 
Richard Edwards from the University's Wellington School of 
Medicine says the results show when car windows are wound up 
the smoke pollution inside is at least twice that of the most 
smoky pub.

MORE RADIOGRAPHERS STRIKES LIKELY
---------------------------------

The threat of more strikes by radiographers is being labelled 
disappointing by district health boards. Technologists from 
seven District Health Boards will go on strike from the 
November 10 to November 14. The DHBs involved issued a 
statement saying they are disappointed radiographers have 
resorted to threats of strike action instead of negotiations 
in their stalled pay talks. The MRTs went out on strike for 
four days in September.

MORE WORKERS SIGNING UP FOR UNIONS
----------------------------------

There has been a record leap in the number of workers joining 
New Zealand unions. A Victoria University annual survey shows 
more than 23,000 people joined a union last year. The 6.6 
percent growth is the strongest seen since the survey began, 
15 years ago. Professor George Lafferty, director of the 
Industrial Relations Centre, puts it down to a more confident 
union movement. 

NOT ALL PLAIN SAILING FOR AQUARIUM
----------------------------------

Supporters of the controversial marine centre and aquarium 
planned for Te Raekaihau Point on Wellington's south coast are 
celebrating receiving the go ahead for the project, however 
predict it may not be all plain sailing. After lengthy 
deliberations, Wellington City Council has granted the 
consent, allowing planning for the design of the centre to get 
underway. Founding trustee Judy Hutt says it is a proud day 
and vindicates all their hard work over the last eight years. 
However, she believes the centre's opponents are likely to 
continue objecting to the venture. 
 
(Personally, I am pleased. I have not followed all the 
evidence, but was really irritated when one witness attempted 
to assert in the hearing that the washed up body of a dead sea 
horse was a sign that the aquarium should not proceed. You 
might as well bring in a reader of tea leaves. - BH)

HEALTHIER VENDING MACHINES A "WIN-WIN SITUATION"
------------------------------------------------

Public health promoters believe the workplace is a great place 
to educate people about healthy eating. The Ministry of Health 
will be casting an eye over vending machines in the next year 
or so in a bid to improve the nutritional environment at work. 
Workplace Health Promoter at the Auckland Regional Public 
Health Service, Jenny Bratty, does not think junk food needs 
to be taken out of the machines but says the machines should 
also contain healthy options. She says that way, it is a win-
win situation. Ms Bratty says she does not support taking away 
people's freedoms, but workers need to be educated on why the 
changes are being made. 

(Most of the reaction I have read has been outrage that anyone 
should presume to take away adult freedoms - BH)

ASTHMA INHALER STUDY STRIKES PROBLEMS
-------------------------------------

An investigation into an asthma inhaler has revealed problems. 
The study published in the New Zealand Medical Journal, was 
carried out following PHARMAC's decision in 2005 to halt 
funding for Ventolin inhalers in favour of Salamol. The study 
which monitored 36 asthmatics using the Salamol inhaler found 
only 15 were able to see the study through. Others withdrew 
because of the ineffectiveness of the medicine and the taste. 
Of those, 93 percent had worse asthma stability. The report 
says a number of factors could have contributed to the result 
including psychological reasons, physical difference between 
inhalers or the ineffectiveness of the ingredients.

BENEFIT CHANGES UNFAIR TO OLDER PEOPLE - GREENS
-----------------------------------------------

The Green Party is concerned that people over the age of 60 
will be work tested in the same way as younger, fitter 18-
year-olds under the Government's shake up of the unemployment 
benefit system. Under the changes announced by the Ministry of 
Social Development all people on the dole will be required to 
undertake a job search programme. Green Party spokeswoman Sue 
Bradford says people in the older age group can have a very 
tough time finding work and find it very distressing. "We 
don't think they should face the same level of harassment and 
forced action, attendance at seminars, career counselling, 
turning up for job interviews often for very inappropriate 
jobs and all the rest of it that can happen to unemployed 
people." Ms Bradford says the whole, multi-tiered benefit 
system needs scrapping in favour of a simple, single, 
universally available payment. However, former WINZ boss 
Christine Rankin, is in favour of the changes which she said 
needed to happen a long time ago. She says it is ridiculous to 
write off people aged over 60. "The 60-year-olds that I know 
are fit and healthy and full of life and vigour and that's the 
way life is now. There's no way that those people shouldn't be 
working and employers have to open their minds to how 
fantastic they can be as employees." Ms Rankin says there has 
been a change of attitude overseas with bosses deliberately 
hiring older people because of their skills and the stability 
and balance they bring to the workplace. She says in terms of 
18 and 19 year olds, there is no way they should be sleeping 
away their time on the dole. Ms Rankin believes there is 
plenty of work available. "Work is the most wonderful thing in 
terms of raising self-esteem and giving people the skills for 
life they need."

EYE SPECIALISTS WANT FIREWORKS BANNED
-------------------------------------

Fireworks go on sale today and eye specialists are just one of 
the groups urging people not to buy them. The College of 
Ophthalmologists supports a complete ban on fireworks, saying 
people lighting them are risking being blinded or damaging 
their eyes. It says the injuries are preventable by leaving 
them in the hands of professionals. College chairman Stephen 
Best says every year Guy Fawkes is an anxious time for the 
profession as even with supervision a child can be injured in 
a split second. He says people can walk into the sparks and 
burn their face or eyes. Mr Best says even sparklers, which 
look harmless, can reach dangerously hot temperatures when lit

Monday, 30 October 2006
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

MORE BLAZES THAN EVER FROM FIREWORKS
------------------------------------

The tough warnings about the safe use of fireworks this year 
do not appear to be being heeded. The Fire Service says there 
were more than 300 fires in the first three days fireworks 
went on sale. It says Saturday saw 143 fires, the highest 
recorded on that date since reliable statistics became 
available. The incidents across the weekend include a lit 
firework being thrown through a Fielding home, and a modified 
firework bomb being left at a Porirua primary school. 
Fireworks were also put into an internal mailbox at an elderly 
woman's home in Invercargill. The Fire Service says it appears 
hoons are going to ruin the sale of fireworks for everyone. 
 
(Last evening, Sunday 5th November, I was astounded to see 
people irresponsible enough to be setting off fireworks in 
very windy conditions. I was less surprised to see the hills 
behind the Open Polytechnic in spectacular blaze soon after. 
Six hours of battling through the gorse covered hills were 
required to bring it under control. Lunacy. - BH)

GOVERNMENT CONSIDERS SHARED EQUITY SCHEME
-----------------------------------------

Expect a Government announcement in the New Year on a shared 
equity proposal for housing. Shared equity sees a third party 
take a percentage share in a property, at no cost to the 
purchaser, leaving the buyer with a reduced mortgage. When the 
property is later sold the third party is repaid the value of 
its stake. Housing Minister Chris Carter says the Government 
has flagged it would look at shared equity in 2007 and staff 
are already working on the policy. He is confident a shared 
equity scheme will be forthcoming and it will be an 
opportunity for those Kiwis who cannot afford a home to be 
able to do so.

WOULD BE NON-SMOKERS ON THE INCREASE
------------------------------------

There has been a 32 percent increase in the number of people 
wanting to stop smoking. A total of 8453 people have 
registered online for the three months to June this year. That 
compares with 6384 last year. The QuitGroup says the number is 
probably the result of new television campaigns and increased 
publicity over the dangers of smoking. There has also been a 
60 percent rise in the number of Maori trying to stub it out.

CELL PHONES AID CRIME-FIGHTERS
------------------------------

Cellphones with cameras are playing a growing role in catching 
criminals - and Tauranga police are urging the public to make 
even more use of them. Inspector Karl Wright St Clair says 
cell phones that can take pictures or movies have never been 
so commonplace. He says a serious assault was recently solved 
with evidence gathered in this way. He says boy racers have 
also been nabbed after their burn-outs were reported to 
police. Inspector Wright St Clair says people should remember 
to use their phones if they see suspicious activity or 
offences taking place.

SCHOOL BUS ROLLS
----------------

A number of students have been taken to hospital with cuts and 
bruises after a school bus went down a bank, north of 
Auckland. The bus rolled on the Coatesville-Riverhead Highway 
just after 7am. On board were students from Rosmini College, 
the Westlake schools and Carmel College. Police cordons are in 
place.

BUSINESS WORRIED ABOUT UNIONS
-----------------------------

The Auckland Chamber of Commerce says unions and businesses 
have to create a platform to go forward or they will destroy 
each other. The reaction comes in the wake of a big jump in 
union membership of more then 23,000 last year. Chamber 
spokesman Michael Barnett says some unions are getting tough 
on businesses. He says one example is the unions' five percent 
pay rise campaign which has been reasonably successful. But he 
says unions are going to have to decide whether their best 
strategy is to enable businesses to be successful or to put in 
place road blocks.

(I am always perplexed at the demonisation of unions by some. 
In its simplest form, a union is a number of employees banding 
together to attempt to offset the power imbalance between 
employer and employees. They are not inherently evil. - BH)

Tuesday, 31 October 2006
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

OVERSEAS TREATMENT IS TEMPORARY SITUATION
-----------------------------------------

Health officials describe the need to send breast cancer 
patients to Australia for treatment as a one-off situation. 
Auckland City Hospital has offered 30 women the option of 
treatment in Sydney, because of staff shortages here. The 
hospital says five radiation therapists have recently resigned 
or taken maternity leave. Clinical director Dr Benji Benjamin 
says that has put temporary pressure on the system. He says 
sending patients to Sydney gives them the best possible 
treatment and solves the hospital's short term problem.

ULTERIOR MOTIVE BEHIND KIWIFRUIT CLAIMS
---------------------------------------

Agriculture Minister Jim Anderton is slamming a British report 
on climate change as an attempt to protect the market against 
New Zealand agricultural produce. The study from former World 
Bank economist Sir Nicholas Stern estimates that stabilising 
greenhouse gases in the atmosphere will cost about one percent 
of annual global output by 2050, whereas inaction could cut 
global consumption per person by between five and 20 percent. 
The report also looks at the air transportation of 
agricultural exports as a possible area for new green taxes. 
It estimated that a kilo of kiwifruit flown from New Zealand 
to Europe discharges five kilograms of carbon into the 
atmosphere. But Mr Anderton says all kiwifruit is shipped to 
Europe, which is one of the most carbon-efficient forms of 
transport. He says New Zealand kiwifruit growers are also some 
of the most efficient horticulturalists in the world. He says 
the claims are misinformed and simply designed to dissuade 
customers from buying New Zealand's sustainably grown produce 
because it threatens inefficient northern hemisphere 
producers. Mr Anderton says while the New Zealand Government 
takes climate change seriously, in a world where resources are 
increasingly strained, the best thing for the environment 
would be to cut back on inefficient farming practices and grow 
food where it does not require artificial inputs such as grain 
feed-stocks, gas-fired hot houses or subsidies for farmers. "I 
welcome an honest debate about food production systems but 
European farmers and consumers need to be mindful that this 
issue is not straightforward. Often the petrol used in driving 
to the supermarket or the energy to grow, harvest and 
transport grain to feed stock, is worse for the environment 
than the so called ?food miles? goods have travelled." 
Meanwhile, at the launch of the Stern report, British Prime 
Minister Tony Blair says there is now no excuse for inaction 
on global warming and politicians in Europe and 
internationally must take bold steps to tackle the problem. 
The long-awaited report precedes U.N. climate talks, starting 
in Nairobi next week, focusing on finding a successor to the 
Kyoto Protocol, which ends in 2012.

CULLEN HINTS AT PERSONAL TAX CUTS
---------------------------------

Personal tax cuts may be back on Finance Minister Michael 
Cullen's agenda, but he is making no promises. In a speech to 
a business forum today, Dr Cullen said he recognises changes 
to company tax have implications for personal tax, and the 
issue will be considered at the same time as changes are made 
to business taxation. However, he is not committing himself to 
delivering personal tax cuts. Dr Cullen says although there is 
a demand for tax reduction, fiscal policy cannot be isolated 
from the wider macro-economic situation.

MOVES TO REDUCE ROAD WORKS FRUSTRATIONS
---------------------------------------

The Government is moving to reduce traffic delays and driver 
frustration over road works. Economic Development Minister 
Trevor Mallard says the proposed changes centre on the regimes 
governing access to transport corridors. He says one of the 
main inefficiencies associated with the current regime is a 
lack of coordination between the various utilities including 
electricity, gas and telecommunications companies, which need 
access to pipes and lines running underneath roads. Mr Mallard 
says the resulting traffic delays and damage to road surfaces 
as roads are dug up repeatedly, cause ongoing frustration for 
motorists and road operators. He says by giving an explicit 
coordination role to road controlling authorities, it is hoped 
the costs associated with poorly-planned road corridors will 
be reduced significantly. Transport Minister Annette King says 
the changes will help to improve road safety and traffic 
management. "For instance, poles are the fourth most hit 
roadside object and have the most severe consequences, 
especially on rural roads with 100 km/h speed limits. Road 
safety - specifically, the reduction of roadside hazards - 
will therefore be explicitly factored into the development of 
national codes and standards for the management of road 
corridors."

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS NEED BETTER INTEGRATION
----------------------------------------------

The Minister of Tertiary Education is calling for a broader 
approach to international education partnerships. Dr Michael 
Cullen has issued the challenge at a speech in Auckland this 
morning. He wants to see better integration of international 
students into New Zealand's universities and schools so that 
when they return home they can recommend this country to 
others. However Dr Cullen does not believe the relationship 
should be all one way and wants to see educational 
partnerships with countries like Korea with two way flows of 
students. He says this would allow New Zealand to take 
advantage of international linkages and different perspectives 
students bring back.

BUSINESS CONFIDENCE RISES
-------------------------

Business confidence has hit an 18 month high, according to the 
latest National Bank survey. Chief Economist Cameron Bagrie 
says businesses are more upbeat about their own activity, 
their employment intentions and profit expectations, boosted 
by lower fuel prices adding to the discretionary income of 
consumers. Mr Bagrie says economic activity is beginning to 
increase after a lull over most of the year and other 
confidence surveys also point towards an economy that is 
reflating. He says although exporters do not like the stronger 
dollar, export intentions are still holding well. Mr Bagrie 
says the economy is on track for around 2.5 percent growth.

OLD COINS WON'T MAKE A MINT
---------------------------

After midnight tonight, the old 5, 10, 20 and 50 cent coins 
will cease to be legal tender. Around $80M worth of old coins 
remain in circulation from the one billion which were put into 
circulation since decimal currency was introduced in 1967. 
Wellington coin expert John Eccles says there is not much 
point hanging onto the old coins, as even in years to come, 
they will not be worth much. He says the only coins which may 
be worth something are five-cent coins from 2004 and 10-cent 
coins from last year. Mr Eccles says rarity is more important 
than age in determining the value of a coin and even 2,000-
year-old Roman coins are only worth around $20 each. The old 
New Zealand coins can still be exchanged at banks until the 
end of the year.

ONLINE SHOPPING AT WORK MAY COST JOB
------------------------------------

Online Christmas bells will not be ringing for New Zealand 
workers, if they want to keep their jobs. Reports estimate 
British companies stand to lose billions of pounds in wasted 
company time from employees surfing the web for presents while 
at work. More than two million people in the UK have taken up 
internet shopping in the last year, lured by increasingly 
sophisticated websites. NetGuide editor Nigel Horrocks says 
New Zealand employers know the risks and most have installed 
software that monitors internet use. He says workers have 
generally signed contracts which incorporate policies on 
internet use and stand to be sacked if they are caught playing 
Santa during work time. 
 
(For the most part, this is fair enough. Where it gets 
complicated is when the employer accepts as normal, that the 
employee should work beyond core hours without reward. There 
must surely be some give and take. - BH)

FIREWORKS CAUSE EVACUATION OF SUPERMARKET
-----------------------------------------

Firefighters have spent another busy night dealing with 
fireworks-related incidents. There have been suspicious scrub 
fires in Lower Hutt and Hastings and a blaze at Napier 
Intermediate School. In Feilding, more letterboxes have been 
attacked just days after a home in the Manawatu town was 
firebombed with crackers. In another incident, a central Otago 
supermarket was evacuated yesterday, when a teenage worker at 
New World in Wanaka lit a firework and dropped it into a box 
of other fireworks in a staff locker room, setting them all 
off. Chief Fire Safety officer Murray Binning says there is 
particular concern in the South Island, which is so parched, 
firefighters are on tenterhooks about the possibility of 
disaster when fireworks are put into the mix. He is 
disappointed people are continuing to ignore the warnings 
about the dangers. Army bomb disposal experts are blaming the 
internet for several incidents involving firework "bombs", one 
of which had the potential to be serious. A device made up of 
a combination of different fireworks and gunpowder, was found 
by staff at Green Acres School in Porirua. Army bomb disposal 
experts were called in to x-ray the finding and then dispose 
of it. Major Bob Gillies, who is in charge of the Army's bomb 
disposal unit at Trentham, says the proliferation of bomb-
making information available on the internet is a concern. He 
says 10 years ago, it was difficult to find information on how 
to make a bomb, now anyone can look it up online in a matter 
of minutes. Mr Gillies says the volume of fireworks is not 
necessarily the most dangerous aspect. He says it is more to 
do with the way they are combined.

Wednesday, 1 November 2006
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

GOV'T DISMISSES CONCERNS OVER RATES INQUIRY
-------------------------------------------

Concerns are being raised that the public will not get a 
proper say in an independent inquiry into local government 
rates. A three member inquiry panel has been selected by the 
Government to look into rating issues and is due to report 
back next July. However National MP John Carter believes 
public participation has been limited as there are no 
guarantees individual ratepayers will be able to make oral 
submissions to the inquiry. He says ratepayers will want to be 
heard and Local Government Minister Mark Burton should front 
up and say whether they will get the chance to do it in 
person. The Government, though, is confident it has consulted 
properly, with Mr Burton saying they consulted widely on the 
inquiry's terms of reference, including with the National 
Party. He says despite the rhetoric, if people are honest 
about the terms of reference when they see them, they will see 
their concerns have been taken on board and acknowledged. 
Meanwhile ratepayers are being told to pull their socks up by 
New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters. While supportive of 
the rates inquiry, Mr Peters is scathing of the seeming lack 
of interest by the public into local body politics, the area 
which determines their rate bills. He says far too many 
ratepayers moan to MPs about the choices they have made, and 
he argues they need to take a serious interest in whom they 
are electing.

COLGATE FACTORY TO CLOSE
------------------------

The factory that introduced softball to New Zealand is to 
close with the loss of 100 jobs. Workers at the Colgate 
Palmolive Plant in Petone were told this afternoon the factory 
will close in the middle of next year. The plant has been 
there for more than 50 years. Its American bosses taught 
Colgate workers softball and they introduced it to the rest of 
the country. Engineering and Manufacturing Union Secretary 
Andrew Little says the factory is still making money but the 
New York-based owners have pulled the plug anyway, deciding 
instead to import goods from Australia and Malaysia.

NEW HIV/AIDS TREATMENTS FUNDED
------------------------------

The Government's drug management agency PHARMAC will fund two 
more treatments for the HIV/AIDS virus. The first is 
Atazanavir, a once-a-day protease inhibitor which has fewer 
side effects than other similar medicines. Potential problems 
include complications such as heart disease. The second drug 
is Pravastatin, a drug used to combat side effects from 
protease inhibitors.

LAW COMMISSION REVIEWS PRIVACY LAWS
-----------------------------------

The Law Commission has taken its next step in a planned review 
of privacy laws. It has released its terms of reference for a 
review of privacy values, technology change, international 
trends and the implications for New Zealand law. It will be a 
four stage project which will include looking at civil and 
criminal laws and their remedies for invasion of privacy. 
There will also be a review of the 1993 Privacy Act with a 
view to updating it.

GM FOR THE CABBAGE PATCH
------------------------

Field trials of pest-resistant cabbages could pave the way for 
genetically modified vegetables. Crop and Food Research has 
applied for approval to test genetically modified vegetable 
and forage brassica plants, including broccoli and cauliflower 
to develop resistance to insect pests. Research leader Dr Mary 
Christey says the trial would take place in a secret location 
and the plants would be exposed to naturally-occurring cabbage 
butterflies and moths. She says the trial will meet strict 
conditions and no plants will be allowed to flower and produce 
pollen. The plants will be destroyed at the end of the trial. 
Dr Christey says laboratory and greenhouse trials have 
produced excellent results and a field trial will ensure the 
plants show insect resistance under natural conditions. She 
says similar trials overseas have led to the commercial 
production of GM cotton and corn. However GM opponents say the 
trial is a nightmare. Green MP Sue Kedgley says the vegetables 
are from the same family as the common weed brassica and if 
that becomes cross-contaminated with an insecticide-resistant 
strain, the impact could be enormous. She wants to know 
whether Crop and Food will guarantee to foot the compensation 
bill if there is any accidental contamination. Ms Kedgley says 
New Zealanders have made it abundantly clear they want the 
country to remain GE free and do not want to eat genetically 
engineered vegetables. She says that means there would be no 
market for them. Ms Kedgley says the risks of GM to the 
economy and New Zealand's reputation are too great when only a 
few growers would benefit.

Thursday, 2 November 2006
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

STUN GUNS BECOME WEAPONS OF CHOICE
----------------------------------

Alarm bells are ringing after police found seven stun guns 
during an operation targeting drug dealers in the Waikato. The 
police operation also seized hundreds of thousand of dollars' 
worth of drugs and cash in the raids on properties in Waikato 
and Tauranga. Head of the Waikato crime control unit Detective 
Sergeant Karl Thornton says the public needs to know that stun 
guns are now being used in drug related crime. Mr Thornton 
says stun guns are moving around in the criminal underworld. 
He says it seems the weapons are being imported from overseas 
and appear to be the latest weapon of choice for people 
involved in organised crime. The guns can disable a person in 
one hit. Mr Thornton says criminal networks are getting more 
sophisticated as they put themselves at greater risks. He says 
they are using stun guns as a form of protection. Eleven 
people will appear in the Hamilton District Court this week.

CASE SHOWS HIV PROGRAMME SHOULD GO NATIONWIDE
---------------------------------------------

The country's first HIV screening programme for pregnant women 
has picked up its first case of a woman carrying the virus. 
The Waikato District Health Board introduced the routine 
screening programme in March, and it has so far tested 4,000 
women. The programme's founder, Dr Graham Mills says the first 
case has thrown up some very interesting findings. He says the 
woman was infected in New Zealand and has never travelled 
abroad. Dr Mills says they expected the first case would be 
someone who was infected outside the country. He is 
disappointed with the slow uptake of the screening programme 
around New Zealand. Dr Graham Mills says the fact the woman 
was infected in New Zealand is proof this programme needs to 
go national. Dr Mills says Wellington, Christchurch and 
Gisborne will be the first to start, with Auckland sometime 
behind them. He says it will be two years before the programme 
goes nationwide.

SHOCK TACTICS TO MAKE SMOKERS STUB OUT
--------------------------------------

The Government is confident new images illustrating the 
dangers of smoking will make people quit. Photos of diseased 
lungs, gangrenous toes and rotting teeth and gums will replace 
text warnings on tobacco packets from February next year. 
Associate Health Minister Damien O'Connor says the graphic 
nature of the pictures are designed to shock people into 
realising smoking kills. As a former smoker, he says he 
believes the warnings would have made him kick the habit. Mr 
O'Connor says the first image he saw of a damaged artery would 
have been enough for him.

NEW INITIATIVE TO STOP MOBILE HARASSMENT
----------------------------------------

Phone companies, the police and lobby groups have launched a 
standardised approach for dealing with people who use mobiles 
for harassment purposes. A person who receives four or more 
unwanted text messages can lodge a complaint with their phone 
company straight away. The telco will then send a warning to 
the offender. If the unwanted texts continue, the phone 
company can cut them off the network completely.

FUEL PRICES DROP AGAIN
----------------------

The petrol wars are on. Shell and BP have dropped their prices 
for petrol by five cents. Both companies have reduced diesel 
prices by four cents. 
 
(Fantastic. Since I have been back in the country less than 24 
hours I haven't noticed the price. I am glad we don't have the 
crazy volatility of the Australian market where the price 
rises each weekend and drops mid week. - BH)

COT DEATH BREAKTHROUGH
----------------------

New Zealand cot death campaigners say the advice to parents 
remains unchanged, following new research from the US. Doctors 
have found a brain stem abnormality may prevent some babies 
from realising they are suffocating in their sleep. A normal 
response would see the baby turn in its sleep, but those with 
the abnormality do not. Lead researcher David Paterson says 
the discovery could lead to a test to identify children at 
risk of cot death. Shirley Tonkin of the New Zealand Cot Death 
Association says the study confirms the importance of putting 
babies to bed in the right way, with their face clear, and on 
their backs. Researchers hope to develop a test to identify 
at-risk children, but say that is some way off.

INTERNET COMPANIES UNDER-DELIVERING
-----------------------------------

Internet companies are being told they are over-promising and 
under-delivering. The Consumers' Institute is describing the 
results of its annual survey of more than 10,000 internet 
service providers as shocking. Only 66 percent of respondents 
are satisfied or very satisfied with their ISP, compared with 
82 percent last year. Institute chief executive David Russell 
says the big ISP companies are promising too much. He says 
broadband speed and the price people are paying are the 
biggest bones of contention. 
 
(I am not surprised by this. My own provider - Ihug - has just 
announced its latest ADSL offerings and to my astonishment, 
all the upload speeds are limited to 128Kb/s - BH)

PRICE OF CHICKEN ABOUT TO RISE
------------------------------

The price of chicken is about to take flight as the effects of 
Australia's drought are felt in New Zealand. The Poultry 
Industry Association says Australia's worst dry season in 
decades has caused the price of chicken feed to spiral. 
Association spokesman Michael Brooks says wheat, barley, maize 
and sorghum make up a large part of the feed. He says New 
Zealand imports the grains from Australia, at a cost now being 
described as astronomical. He says customers will bear the 
brunt, with increased prices for all chicken products.

DOCTORS WARN AGAINST PARTY PILLS
--------------------------------

Doctors are warning against the use of party pills as doubt 
grows about their safety. Pills containing the ingredient BZP 
are legal in New Zealand, but medics question that status. The 
Medical Association says the pills can cause seizures, 
paranoia and hypothermia. Chairman Ross Boswell says a recent 
study at Christchurch Hospital showed that over a five month 
period 80 people were treated for adverse effects. One in five 
were admitted to intensive care. Dr Boswell says the tablets 
are often marketed as herbal highs, but there is nothing 
herbal about them. He says BZP was developed as a worming 
treatment for cattle, but could not be used for that purpose 
because of the side-effects. He says until further evidence 
about the safety of the pills is available, people should 
avoid them altogether, but if they insist on taking them, use 
should be limited.

Friday, 2 November 2006
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

COMPLAINTS CONTINUE TO POUR OVER PIZZA
--------------------------------------

The Advertising Standards Complaints Authority says complaints 
are continuing to arrive about Hell Pizza's condom advertising 
gimmick. Close to 100 complaints have been received since the 
advertising campaign hit the streets. Authority Executive 
Director Hilary Souter says she is aware that several lobby 
groups are running a viral campaign to ensure people make 
complaints - but she says that does not matter as it just 
takes one complaint to start the complaints process.

20,000 IHUG CUSTOMERS HIT MAIL PROBLEMS
---------------------------------------

Around 20,000 Ihug customers are experiencing trouble with 
their e-mail systems. Ihug says new e-mail hardware which was 
installed yesterday is behind the delay in sending and 
receiving messages. Spokeswoman Cherie Lacey says engineers 
are working on the problem. All the issues are expected to be 
resolved overnight.

GREENS TARGET CLIMATE CHANGE
----------------------------

The Greens are stepping up their war on climate change. Co-
leaders Russell Norman and Jeanette Fitzsimons have unveiled 
six private members bills aimed at targeting specific areas 
which need more attention. The bills address fixed electricity 
charges, airline emissions, public transport funding, 
government procurement, rail electrification and 
superannuation fund investment. Ms Fitzsimons says New Zealand 
may only contribute 0.2 percent of the world's greenhouse gas 
emissions, but our record is nothing to be proud if. She says 
New Zealand is the eleventh worst emitter in the world per 
capita which is even higher than China. Jeanette Fitzsimons 
says her party's bills should help New Zealand move from just 
talking about action to doing it.

TELECOM'S PHONE BOOKS FOR SALE
------------------------------

Telecom has decided to sell its directories unit, responsible 
for producing the country's phone books and Yellow Pages. The 
company says a sale should take place before the end of the 
financial year. Meanwhile Telecom has reported a better than 
expected increase in net profit for the first quarter. It 
turned in a result of $204 million, excluding a one-off $20 
million gain from the sale of its stake in Telecom Samoa. 
Telecom has also signalled plans for more cost-cutting, 
following a decline in revenue from its traditional fixed-line 
business.

FORECAST FOR FIREWORKS
----------------------

Is this year's Guy Fawkes weekend going to be a cracker? Or a 
fizzer? Guy Fawkes night falls on a Sunday this year, and 
across the country many outdoor events are planned for tonight 
or tomorrow night as well. Radio Network weather commentator 
Philip Duncan says it is going to be a typical spring weekend, 
with a mixed bag of weather. He says conditions at this stage 
look windy and wet for Southland, and Otago, while the west 
coast of the South Island is likely to see some heavy rain on 
Sunday. In the North there is the risk of a shower in western 
regions on Sunday but no considerable rain is forecast. All 
areas in the east will be perfectly fine although winds will 
pick up over Wairarapa and Wellington tomorrow. Mr Duncan says 
a large anticyclone is holding firm over the North Island, 
which will minimise the chances of any rain or showers there. 
"Being spring, things can change quickly, so even if the 
forecast doesn't sound too flash for your town, don't cancel 
any fireworks yet," he says. "With these conditions a slight 
shift in the wind could make all the difference between 
getting showers and strong winds and settled, dry weather".

THEME PARK PRAISED FOR NO-ALCOHOL POLICY
----------------------------------------

Auckland theme park Rainbow's End is being congratulated for 
deciding not to go ahead with plans to sell alcohol in its 
cafe. Alcohol Healthwatch director Rebecca Williams, says it 
is an awesome decision and one the theme park's directors can 
be proud of. She says it shows they have considered feedback 
from the community. Ms Williams says Rainbow's End has set a 
standard for other child and family focussed venues. She 
believes sports clubs and schools in particular should 
reconsider selling alcohol at events.

MORE HIV SCREENING FOR PREGNANT WOMEN
-------------------------------------

The AIDS Foundation is confident HIV screening for pregnant 
women will be a nationwide service in the years to come. The 
Waikato District Health Board is to date the only DHB to 
implement the scheme and has detected its first woman carrying 
the virus. The find has led to claims other DHBs are dragging 
the chain in adopting the programme. AIDS Foundation Executive 
Director, Rachael Le Mesurier, says DHBs need to have the 
conviction and resources available before committing to the 
project. She is sure there will be full antenatal screening 
for HIV in the years to come. Ms Le Mesurier says the 
prevalence of HIV amongst heterosexual women remains very low.

THOUSANDS RAISED FOR AUCTION
----------------------------

More than $200,000 has been raised at a charity auction in 
Auckland. The proceeds from the evening go to employing 
another therapist at the Raukatauri Music Therapy Centre, 
which was founded by singer Hinewehi Mohi. The facility helps 
special needs children communicate and gain a sense of 
control. A Fender Telecaster guitar signed by the Rolling 
Stones brought in $35,000 and singer Dave Dobbyn's offer to 
play a live acoustic performance earned $20,000. A surf board 
signed by musicians Ben Harper, Donovan Frankenreiter and Jack 
Johnson was taken away for $7,000. Organisers say they are 
very happy with the result.

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