WYSIWYG NEWS - 1 October, 2006

[news at wysiwygnews.com]

Subject: 1 October, 2006 
----- WYSIWYG NEWS ------------------------------ 
Copyright, Brian Harmer.  

Emerging from the chaos that is Auckland's domestic airport 
terminal on Thursday, I first surveyed the three rows of taxis 
and shuttles waiting hopefully for passengers. Mindful of some 
recent adverse publicity concerning some of the minor taxi 
companies, I played "safe" and opted for the old original 
"Auckland Cooperative Taxi". Fiscally this may have been an 
error. The meter was already hitting around $25 as we crossed 
Kirkbride Road at the edge of airport land. Traffic was 
moderately heavy as we went along Hugh Watt drive on the 
Onehunga foreshore where those ugly power pylons march across 
what ought to be an unspoiled view across the Manakau harbour 
and out to the West. Up Queenstown Rd, right along Mt Albert 
Rd through the roundabout at Royal Oak up Campbell Rd towards 
the hotel in Greenlane which was the venue for the seminar I 
was attending (on intermodal transport logistics).  Lighter by 
$46 I arrived in the tree covered forecourt of the hotel. 
Since I was early, I paused to look around. Greenlane is a 
pretty suburb in the right places, and is richly blessed with 
mature trees and those walls made of volcanic rock that are so 
typical of Auckland. In the distance through the canopy of 
spring green trees, I could see the summit of One Tree Hill, 
now alas bereft of the heroic old pine that stood beside the 
obelisk for all those years. How sad that no replacement 
planting has yet occurred six years after its removal. The 
Auckland City Council's web site on the One Tree Hill Project 
says that resource consent has been given to plant a grove of 
young pohutukawa and totara trees. Planting will take place  
"at a time when the relevant iwi is comfortable with being 
involved in a joint planting venture which is currently 
dependent upon resolution of treaty claim procedures. This 
could be from winter 2005." The seminar went well enough, 
though the number of presenting industry experts seemingly 
outnumbered those of us who were merely registered as 
participants. At the end of the day (which began for me at 4 
am in order to get the early flight), I asked the hotel to 
call a cab. This time I got one of the fringe companies, and 
an old but comfortable Falcon driven by an amiable fellow from 
Bulgaria. If I thought these guys would be cheaper, I was 
mistaken, and I was relieved of $48 for the return journey to 
the airport. Since I was three hours ahead of my booking, and 
since I didn't have a super-cheap ticket, I thought I would 
ask if they could transfer me to an earlier flight. An amiable 
Air New Zealand staff member wearing the badge of the Rainbow 
Nation told me in her South African accent that she could get 
me on the flight, but because my existing ticket was "class T" 
I must buy a new ticket at full retail. The airline that we 
used to regard as "ours", and the one in which we are, even 
now, majority shareholders, would rather take empty seats to 
Wellington than do someone a good turn at no cost to 
themselves. There is something seriously wrong with this 
adversarial approach to customers. The idea that "although 
there is no good reason why not, but it is simply our 
unbending policy" is an appalling approach that wins no 
friends. The airport terminal is a totally charmless place, 
and the one restaurant that was advertised as providing full 
meals seemed to serve either "all day breakfasts" or panini 
style sandwiches. Sigh! I found a space amidst the 
construction chaos that allowed me wireless connection, and 
checked my email, and watched crowds come and go. Farewells 
and welcomes are always a little hard to watch, so I went 
upstairs and waited in the departure lounge. When at last we 
pushed away from the gate at 8 pm, I had a window seat on the 
left, and was able to spend the next 45 minutes trying to 
identify the various clusters of lights that were visible 
through the cloud. Approaching Wellington from the South, we 
flew over two ferries crossing each other in Cook Strait and 
more or less on time were home again. 

For the next couple of weeks the news will come from Australia 
where we will be with our eldest son, David as he undergoes 
some serious surgery, so keep us all in your thoughts. 
   
---- 
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 Stephnie Thomas in 
Maryland whom I was privileged to meet at a memorable 
gathering in a pub and restaurant called "The Wharf Rat"  in 
Baltimore in 2000. Many thanks Stephnie. 

----  
On with the News.  

Monday, 25 September 2006
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

NO GOVT SUPPORT FOR OVERLANDER
------------------------------

There is to be no cash handout from the Government for the 
embattled Overlander rail service. This is the last week the 
train will run before Toll pulls the plug on the Auckland to 
Wellington train service. Cabinet discussed the matter today 
and Acting Finance Minister Trevor Mallard says they have 
decided not to extend it any further financial support, as 
there is no prospect of the Overlander service becoming 
commercially viable. However he says the line will be opened 
up if other operators want to use it as a tourist rail 
service. Meanwhile Toll New Zealand has meet with staff at the 
Napier depot today to discuss that line's future viability. 
Rail unions spokesman Wayne Butson says customers are being 
faced with a five percent cost increase which many have 
indicated they would not be happy with. He predicts if the 
cost increase is passed on, the route could be axed by the end 
of October. Mr Butson says the 35 staff at the Napier depot 
are gutted by what he believes is an imminent decision. 
 
(The harsh commercial reality is that, until the rush of 
sentimentality created by its threatened closure, the 
Overlander was attracting around 50 passengers per journey. 
Such patronage does not warrant a 3,600 hp locomotive, four 
carriages and a train crew of three or four. That number could 
be accommodated on a single bus. Simple economics says that 
the cost per seat mile of such a configuration is scarcely 
different to that of a modern jet aircraft. Why would you 
bother, except for the tourism value?  - BH)

SURVEY INVESTIGATES THE NATION'S HEALTH
---------------------------------------

Thousands of New Zealanders will soon be taking part in 
biggest national population survey run by the Ministry of 
Health. The 2006/2007 New Zealand Health Survey will question 
more than 12,000 New Zealanders on everything from how much 
fruit they eat through to how often they see their GP. It will 
be the first time the poll is used to gather data on child 
health, with 5,000 questionnaires to be completed on their 
behalf by parents and caregivers. Health Minister Pete Hodgson 
says the answers are an important part of developing health 
policies and strategies. He says the Government wants to make 
sure health services are being directed to the right areas.

CONTACT HIKES PRICES
--------------------

Contact Energy is bumping up its electricity tariff prices for 
customers in Wellington, North Canterbury, West Auckland and 
the North Shore by eight percent. Gas prices are also going up 
by the same amount nationwide from the start of October. There 
is no nationwide electricity price increase. Contact Energy 
spokesman Patrick Smellie says it is an unfortunate reality. 
He knows it will not be popular but there is a number of costs 
that sit behind the provision of energy. Mr Smellie 
understands that will be cold comfort given the millions of 
dollars' profit the company has made. He says the company 
generally does an annual review and there will be some areas 
which will face an increase in September and others will face 
a rise in November. He believes the company is still 
competitively priced but is apologetic for the price rise 
people are facing. 
 
(The necessity for increases and the apologetic charade are 
made absolutely ludicrous by the $281 million profit recently 
announced, 55% higher than the previous year. - BH)

RADIO STAR URGES HEALTH CHECKS FOR MEN
--------------------------------------

Yachting and sports commentator PJ Montgomery is urging all 
men over 45 to get a prostate check after his own health 
scare. The Newstalk ZB personality is recovering at home after 
surgery for prostate cancer. He says the diagnosis came as a 
shock as regular blood tests had not picked up the cancer. He 
says men are not good at getting regular health checks - 
meaning denial is the biggest killer of men in this country. 
Last week United Future's deputy leader Judy Turner urged the 
Government to do more for men's health and other issues, as 
she says they are currently being neglected by Government 
policies.

TEXT-A-TRUANT SERVICE FAILS
---------------------------

The Education Ministry admits a pilot programme which alerts 
parents by text, phone or e-mail when their child is absent 
from school, has not had any impact on truancy rates. It is 
one of three programmes the Ministry's developed in an $8 
million effort to halt rising truancy rates. Ministry Policy 
Manager Martin Connelly says the programme has proven 
successful in several schools overseas, but it is possible 
those were only early results. He says in the first couple of 
weeks in this country it had 'a bit of an impact', but it then 
started to wear off. Mr Connelly says another programme where 
parents are prosecuted for not ensuring their children are in 
school has proven extremely successful. 
 
(I have been in this situation as a parent. What do you do as 
a parent in the face of outright defiance from a teenager? - 
BH)

ALLEGATIONS OF CRONYISM AMONG ACADEMICS
---------------------------------------

The Prime Minister is seeking more information on the way top 
academics dish out taxpayer funds for research, following 
claims of cronyism. Much of the money distributed by the 
Marsden Fund has ended up going to people on the panel 
responsible for distributing grants. That includes nearly half 
a million dollars to one panel member to investigate, amongst 
other things, the modern orgasm. Helen Clark wants more 
information. "What we are all entitled to know," she says, "is 
whether proper procedures have been followed because if there 
is the slightest hint of favouritism or 'insider trading' then 
that is a problem". The National party says the government 
needs to look at what kind of research is getting funding. The 
Marsden Fund was set up in 1994 as the "Basic Science Fund", 
to support research which was not subject to the socio-
economic criteria set for the Public Good Science Fund. The 
administration of the Marsden Fund transferred to the Royal 
Society of New Zealand from the Foundation of Research, 
Science and Technology the following year. In the 2006/7 year, 
the fund has $38.2 million available to support qualifying 
research in any field. 
 
(It seems obvious that any applicant for research funds ought 
not to be on any panel that adjudicates on the distribution of 
such funds. - BH)

CHILDREN BEING "QUARANTINED" FROM MEN
-------------------------------------

Preschool groups want more encouragement for men to work in 
childcare centres. The latest figures show that men now make 
up less than one percent of the workforce in early childhood 
care, compared with two percent in 1992. Sue Thorn, chief 
executive of the Early Childhood Council says with few men 
working in primary schools and fewer in childcare centres, a 
society is being created in where children are quarantined 
from men. She says the paedophile hysteria of the 1990s has 
caused good men to vacate roles caring for children. 
 
(Some say that it was all a cunning ploy on the part of males 
to avoid the responsibility of looking after children and 
foisting the load onto long suffering women. I don't believe 
that for a minute, but it was said. - BH)

Tuesday, 26 September 2006
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

TODDLERS' TOY RECALLED
----------------------

Some disappointment for pre-school D-I-Y-ers. Hasbro New 
Zealand is voluntarily recalling 1200 Playskool Team Talkin? 
Tool Bench toys. The pint-sized tool bench is being recalled 
after two accidents in the United States, where toddlers 
playing with the oversized plastic toy nail suffocated when 
the nail head became forcibly lodged in their throats. There 
have been no accidents reported in New Zealand or Australia. 
Hasbro's US-based CEO, Al Verrecchia says even although the 
plastic toy nails are more than 80mm long and 35mm wide, which 
is far larger than what is considered a choking hazard, he is 
urging all caregivers to return the toy nails to Hasbro to 
prevent additional accidents. The toys were sold at The 
Warehouse, Farmers and K-Mart stores from September 2005 
through to this month for about $90.

ROW BREWS OVER BROADBAND CHARGES
--------------------------------

There is anger over Telecom's plans to offer residential 
customers cheaper broadband deals than they offer their 
wholesale customers. Its internet subsidiary Xtra has unveiled 
plans to offer services which allow for unlimited data to be 
downloaded, rather than imposing a monthly limit. However, 
other internet service providers say Telecom is not offering 
good value for them. Graham Walmsley of the ISPANZ group says 
they are disgusted. He says they would expect to be able to 
purchase at the same price as Telecom's own ISP purchasers, 
and says the ISPs are extremely shocked at the company's move. 
He says either Telecom is not charging enough to its 
residential subscribers - or it is charging too much to its 
wholesale customers. Telecom says it is doing nothing wrong by 
launching its new pricing program for broadband services. 
Spokesman Matt Crockett says their disputed price for entry 
level services is already subject to a Commerce Commission 
review. He says the company is simply trying to get on with 
business and if the commission deems there should be changes, 
then they will be implemented. 
 
(Good! - BH)

COMCOM LOOKS INTO BROADBAND PRICING
-----------------------------------

The Commerce Commission has confirmed it is looking into 
broadband pricing after complaints over Telecom's new deals. 
Xtra has today unveiled new broadband plans which will allow 
customers to download as much data as their lines will allow. 
The new ?Go Large? plan provides an unlimited amount of data 
for a set monthly price of $49.95. All Xtra's plans will 
feature maximum downstream speeds giving customers speeds as 
fast as their line will allow. Telecommunications Users' 
Association of New Zealand chief executive Ernie Newman told 
the New Zealand Herald that while his organisation was pleased 
to see improved services, it was feared Telecom's new plans 
could seriously disadvantage the wholesale market. The 
Commerce Commission has had complaints about the proposed 
service which will kick in at the end of October. A 
spokeswoman says it is part of a regular review of pricing but 
they are aware of other providers' concerns. 
 
(Good again - BH)

CALL TO BAN SMOKING IN CARS
---------------------------

Smokers could soon find themselves the target of another ban. 
A world-first study of smoking in cars shows it is likely to 
be a significant source of second-hand smoke exposure. The 
Wellington School of Medicine observed more than 16,000 cars 
and found more the four percent were being smoked in and 
around a quarter of those cars had at least one other 
occupant. Author of the study Dr Nick Wilson says we should 
look at following other countries in banning smoking in cars, 
particularly when children are present. He says smoking in 
cars is a genuine health hazard and people should be 
concerned. He says 95 percent of the smoking was by drivers, 
so this also raises questions of road safety. Dr Wilson says 
smoke levels in cars have been found to be higher than in 
smoky pubs or restaurants. 
 
(I remember the sheer misery of being in a car with my former 
boss, a heavy smoker but otherwise a nice guy, on day return 
trips between Auckland and Waihi. I used to arrive home with a 
burning throat and feeling as if I had been kippered!  - BH)

NO RESOLUTION IN RADIOGRAPHERS' STRIKE
--------------------------------------

Radiographers have wrapped up two days of negotiations with 
their employers without a resolution. The workers in six 
district health boards have been striking over the past 
fortnight demanding pay parity with other parts of the 
country. Union spokeswoman, Deborah Powell, says the parties 
will reconvene on Monday for another three days of mediation 
negotiation. 

WORLD FIRST FOR NZ SCIENTISTS
-----------------------------

New Zealand has come up with a world first in the fight 
against the spread of animal diseases such as foot and mouth 
and mad cow disease. Massey University's Institute of 
Veterinary Animal and Biomedical Science has developed 
software that tracks an animal from birth to death, to 
pinpoint the source of disease outbreaks. Professor Hugh Blair 
says the software includes movements between farms and to meat 
processing plants. He says the Swiss government is using the 
software and it will be marketed to other countries.

TEACHER-STUDENT GUIDELINES RELAXED
----------------------------------

Guidelines relating to physical contact between teachers and 
students are being relaxed. The primary teachers' union is 
launching guidelines today. NZEI president Irene Cooper says 
the new rules replace those issued in 1998 which prevented any 
contact between teacher and student. She says the new 
recommendations state that it is acceptable for teachers and 
students to come into contact when carried out in a 
professional and responsible manner, but she warns that 
teachers still need to be aware that physical contact with 
students and children can be misconstrued. Ms Cooper says the 
previous code was more cautious in its advice because it was 
developed in the 90s when there was a higher level of anxiety 
in the community about contact between adults and children.

Wednesday, 27 September 2006
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

IHUG TAKES ON TELECOM
---------------------

Ihug is taking on Telecom. The Internet service provider has 
announced plans to move into the fixed line market. Ihug plans 
to offer a home phone service from Monday, charging customers 
$45 a month, including connection, unlimited local calling and 
a whitepages listing. Ihug's toll call plans will start at $15 
dollars a month for unlimited calls to land lines on weekends 
and at night, and a broadband package. CEO Mark Rushworth says 
Ihug is making the change to take full advantage of the local 
loop unbundling. He hopes the offering will mean customers 
will leave Telecom for good. Telecom, meanwhile, says it is 
welcoming competition in the marketplace. A spokesperson says 
the company has nothing further to add on Ihug's announcement 
at this stage. 
 
(I think this is a mistake. Ihug can indeed compete with 
Telecom on a number of fronts, but I doubt that this is the 
right ground on which to do it. - BH)

HOUSEHOLD SAVINGS DECLINE
-------------------------

Kiwi saving patterns are continuing to create headaches for 
the Reserve Bank. It has just released a research paper on 
household savings and wealth which has found household savings 
have declined markedly over the past 20 years. The paper 
indicates rising house prices may be to blame, with many 
homeowners viewing the increase as wealth in the bag, and as a 
result lowering their savings. It says New Zealand's heavy 
reliance on house price rises to accumulate wealth carries 
risks. The Reserve Bank recommends policies aimed at 
encouraging more diversified savings strategies would be 
sensible.

WAREHOUSE MOVE IS FASCINATING SCENARIO
--------------------------------------

An analyst says Woolworths Australia's acquisition of a stake 
in The Warehouse is an attempt to get a chair at the table 
beside a major competitor. The supermarket operator has bought 
a 9.3 percent share in The Red Shed. Woolworths' main rival 
Foodstuffs already holds ten percent of the discount retailer. 
Business analyst Rod Oram says it has created a very unusual 
situation. He says two bloody competitors who would kill each 
other if they could are now both on the shareholder registry 
of a company which poses a challenge to each of them. 
 
(This seems logical to me. Surely each wants to prevent anyone 
else getting control of a potentially fierce competitor? - BH)

PRICE CUT AFTER COMCOM STEPS IN
-------------------------------

Power bills in Hawke's Bay will tumble from December - thanks 
to the Commerce Commission. It has reached a deal with power 
supplier Unison Networks after declaring a year ago it would 
take control of the company because it was making excess 
profits. Unison has already cut prices to Rotorua and Taupo 
Consumers. 
 
(Great guys. Now have a look into Contact Energy please. - BH)

NZ POST DENIES IT IS BREAKING THE LAW
-------------------------------------

New Zealand Post is being accused of breaking the law by 
refusing to deliver mail down some right-of-ways and private 
roads. It follows many houses being served with letters saying 
people must shift their letter boxes to the top of their 
driveways - or have their mail stopped. Auckland-based 
Postbusters spokesman Jack Lovelock says New Zealand Post is 
required by the government to deliver mail to 99-percent of 
all delivery points. He says if they do not, his group will 
take legal action. Meanwhile New Zealand Post claims there is 
no way it is breaking the law by asking residents who live 
down right-of-ways to move their letterboxes. Deliveries 
manager Matthew Nant says posties judge driveways and 
letterboxes and have the right to ask for changes if they are 
unsafe. Mr Nant says they have had incidents where posties 
have been injured while ascending a slippery right-of-way. 
 
(My sympathy is with the posties. The postal users guide on 
the NZ Post website says "Posties will only deliver mail to a 
letterbox if it is located on the street line and will only 
deliver mail to letterboxes on a public right of way if there 
are five or more letterboxes on that right of way". - BH)

BENEFITS REVEALED OF GROWING OLD AT HOME
----------------------------------------

A major New Zealand project has revealed that people who are 
able to grow old in their own homes live longer and are less 
likely to enter rest-homes. The study conducted by researchers 
at Auckland University evaluated three "aging-in-place" 
services in Christchurch, Lower Hutt and Hamilton. "Aging in 
place" is defined as not having to move from one's present 
residence in order to secure necessary support services in 
response to changing need. The study found all centres reduced 
residential home admissions, and in Christchurch this dropped 
by as much as 43 percent. Lead investigator, Dr Matthew 
Parsons, says the risk of mortality for those in the survey 
also went down. He says the success appears to be a result of 
the flexible services, appropriate support and reintegration 
back into the community of those who would normally go to a 
rest home. The study is the largest evaluation of aging-in-
place of its kind in the world and the findings could result 
in residential homes being used differently in the future. He 
says if implemented more widely, the programmes will have 
major implications for many health services. 
 
(I find that I am growing old no matter where I am at the time  
:-( - BH)

DROP IN FUEL PRICES RAISES HOPES
--------------------------------

Consumer confidence has rebounded to a one-year high, adding 
weight to the view that the Reserve Bank may have to raise 
interest rates again. The Westpac-McDermott Miller consumer 
confidence index rose 5.7 points to 111.7 in the three months 
to September, bouncing from a near six-year low in the 
previous quarter. A reading above 100 indicates more optimists 
than pessimists. The rosier outlook is being put down in part 
to the recent drop in fuel prices. 
 
(Latest price for 91 Octane is NZD$1.43.9 - BH)

DANGERS OF HEP C HIGHLIGHTED
----------------------------

Doctors are warning Hepatitis C could cost the country $400 
million by 2020. The virus affects an estimated 40,000 New 
Zealanders, but only about a quarter of sufferers know they 
have it. Leading liver transplant physician, Dr Ed Gane, says 
Hepatitis C is the leading cause of liver failure requiring 
liver transplants. He suggests with around 1300 people a year 
contracting the virus, there is a potential for sufferers to 
become a heavy burden on the health system. Dr Gane says with 
World Hepatitis Awareness Day this Sunday, it is a good chance 
to raise awareness of the disease and the importance of 
screening. Unlike the other types of viral hepatitis, 
hepatitis C is very difficult for the immune system to 
overcome. Almost any direct or indirect exposure to infected 
blood can transmit the virus. This includes IV drug use and 
poorly sterilized medical instruments, blood spills, 
unbandaged cuts or injuries, and tattooing or body piercing. 
The symptoms of Hepatitis C are often very mild, at least in 
the early stages of infection and can be virtually 
undetectable. It is only once the liver has been seriously 
damage that more obvious symptoms like jaundice kick in, as 
liver failure finally leads to coma and then death.

TB TESTING MAY BE EXTENDED AFTER OUTBREAK
-----------------------------------------

Health officials in the lower North Island may extend testing 
for tuberculosis after an outbreak in Palmerston North. 
Students from several schools will be tested for the disease 
after coming into contact with an infectious student from 
Palmerston North Boys High School. Eighteen hundred staff, 
students and relatives have already been tested. More than 200 
have been exposed to the disease. Claire McMahon of MidCentral 
Health says 90 students who took part in an inter-school event 
with the infectious boy will be tested. She says at this stage 
there is no need to test whole schools, but she is not ruling 
out some form of wider testing. There is a rising number of 
people in the developed world contracting tuberculosis. 
Medical specialists believe weakened immune systems as a 
result of immuno-suppressive drugs, HIV/AIDS or substance 
abuse are some of the main reasons for the spread of the 
deadly disease. If left untreated, it can kill more than 50 
percent of its victims.

DEFICIT AND INFLATION CONCERNS BUT JOB PROSPECTS OK
---------------------------------------------------

The New Zealand economy is on target for a period of mild 
growth according to the latest forecast by research group 
BERL. Senior economist Ganesh Nana says inflation has peaked 
and will remain uncomfortably high over the next few quarters. 
He says the balance of payments forecast is not good with a 
deficit of about $15 billion which is almost 10 percent of the 
annual GDP and is the second highest it has ever been. Senior 
economist Ganesh Nana says despite that, jobs are still being 
created so employment prospects remain good. He says for those 
in employment, wage packets are reasonable and overall the New 
Zealand economy has fair prospects. However the current 
account deficit and inflation remain a concern.

Thursday, 28 September 2006
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

OVERLANDER TRAIN SERVICE CONTINUES
----------------------------------

The Overlander has been saved. Toll has decided to continuing 
running the service but on a reduced basis. Cabinet decided on 
Monday it would not fund the service to the tune of $1.7 
million - since then Toll New Zealand had been looking at if 
it would be possible to continue the service. From next week 
it will run for three days a week - on Friday, Saturday and 
Sunday. That will be bumped back up to seven days a week 
during the busy season from December to Easter. Toll says it 
has taken on board the outcry over its announcement the 
service was being axed. It says the option it has just 
announced will suit the needs of the majority of customers. 
 
(The three days per week is the minimum it could provide under 
its agreement with the government without having to allow 
another operator to offer a competing service. The government 
owns the tracks. - BH)

CHRISTCHURCH MAYOR STEPS DOWN
-----------------------------

It has been an emotional day for Garry Moore. The mayor of 
Christchurch has tearfully announced he will not run at next-
year's election. Mr Moore has held the mayoral seat for three 
terms. After angrily lashing out at the media this morning and 
refusing to comment on his political future he broke down as 
he announced he will not seek a fourth term at a gathering at 
Rapaki Marae. Garry Moore was then given a standing ovation.

FUEL PRICES TO CONTINUE TO SEESAW
---------------------------------

Fuel prices have gone down for the seventh time in seven weeks 
but experts say we should still expect prices to seesaw 
wildly. Yesterday petrol fell 3 cents to $1.43.9 a litre for 
91 in the main centres. Energy analyst Molly Melhuish says 
only a competitive market can stop the price roller coaster. 
She believes they need government support of alternatives 
which genuinely challenge the fuel market. Flexi fuel cards as 
well as plug in hybrids are just a few of the ideas which 
should be looked into. Molly Melhuish says the public should 
be complaining about the lack of choice, rather than the price 
of fuel.

FARMERS HAVE NO LEGAL CLAIM SAYS TRANSPOWER
-------------------------------------------

Transpower believes there is no legal basis for a claim by 
South Auckland farmers who want compensation for linesmen 
accessing their properties. Around 50 farmers in South 
Auckland plan to refuse to let Transpower onto their 
properties to upgrade existing lines so that they can carry 
higher loads. Waikato farmers plan to meet next month to 
decide whether to take similar action. Transpower says it 
needs to carry out upgrades and maintenance work on the lines 
or Auckland will face a power blackout, but farmers are 
keeping their gates closed. Spokesman Chris Roberts says 
compensation was paid at the time the lines were built in the 
1950s. "If we were to start paying compensation, every dollar 
that went to a farmer would be a dollar that would end up on 
someone else's power bill to pay for that." Transpower is now 
threatening legal action of its own to gain access to farmers' 
land. The $10 million line upgrade spans from Whakamaru to 
Otahuhu and will take place over the next two summers. 
 
(As I understand it, the farmer who prevents access for more 
than 15 days commits an offence, and the power company may 
enter with police assistance. The Electricity Act (1992) 
specifically prohibits the land owner from requiring 
recompense.  - BH)

MORE TECHNOLOGY TEACHERS NEEDED
-------------------------------

There are concerns for the future of technology studies as 
schools struggle to recruit qualified technology teachers. 
PPTA spokeswoman Penney Dunckley says the current degree-based 
qualifications structure means those with technology diplomas 
are prevented from earning the top pay scale. She says that 
means potential teachers remain working in their trade where 
they earn the most money. Ms Dunckley says technology 
encapsulates a number of trades including biotechnology, 
structures and mechanisms, food technology and information 
technology. The Ministry of Education's 2006 staffing survey 
shows the technology field has almost 20 percent of total 
vacancies.

LORD OF THE GAMING MARKET
-------------------------

Movie director Peter Jackson is branching out into the gaming 
market. Jackson has teamed up with Microsoft to create two new 
interactive entertainment series exclusively for Xbox 360 and 
Xbox Live. The first will be the next chapter in the Halo Wars 
series, a real time strategy game. Microsoft says the second 
series will be an entirely original creation aimed at bringing 
new audience to the world of interactive entertainment.

PUBLIC LIKELY TO WELCOME IHUG OFFER SAY RIVALS
----------------------------------------------

Telecom's rivals believe customers will welcome more 
competition as Ihug launches a home phone service. From 
Monday, October 2, Ihug will offer unlimited national landline 
calls starting at $15 a month and deals on international 
calls. The Telecommunication Users Association expects phone 
users to abandon Telecom in droves but chief executive Ernie 
Newman believes there could be some troubled times ahead for 
competitors. He says telecommunications voice calls deals are 
moving more towards packages than individual rates. Mr Newman 
believes consumers are smart enough to work out whether it is 
worth their effort to switch phone providers. "People have 
been captive to Telecom for many years and sometimes there's a 
bit of 'let's try somebody else.' But I think the discerning 
consumer will weigh the product up on its merits and I think 
this offer from Ihug has got a lot going for it." Mr Newman 
says Ihug's initiative is a welcome move within the industry 
and competition is always good for the customer.

NO OVERSEAS HOLIDAY IF FINES UNPAID
-----------------------------------

People with substantial unpaid fines will find it difficult to 
get out of the country as the Government launches its pay or 
stay campaign today. The initiative is part of the new Courts 
and Criminal Matters Act. Anyone with court fines in excess of 
$5,000 will have an active warrant issued for their arrest, 
and may be stopped by Customs officials and have their 
passport confiscated. There will be opportunities to arrange 
full payment at the time. Courts Minister Rick Barker says the 
message is simple, make sure your fines are paid. House of 
Travel, says travel agents have no obligation to customers who 
are stopped, but are doing their best to make sure travellers 
are aware of the new rules. Brent Thomas, retail director, 
says anyone who is affected should contact their travel agent 
as soon as possible. 
 
(I heard some extraordinary whining about this on the TV news. 
It seems to me that if you have outstanding court-fines, they 
should be a priority claim on your assets and you ought not to 
be allowed to buy travel tickets until the fines are paid in 
full. - BH)

SUPERMARKETS BLAMED FOR YOUTH DRINKING CULTURE SHIFT
----------------------------------------------------

Supermarkets are defending their right to sell competitively-
priced alcohol as they get blamed for a shift in youth 
drinking culture. The Hospitality Association claims young 
drinkers are getting drunk at home before going out because 
they are able to buy low-priced alcohol at supermarkets. 
President Bill McLean believes supermarkets are aggressive 
alcohol retailers despite initial promises they would not be 
and wants legislation to focus on drinkers' personal 
responsibility. He says over the last decade there has been a 
consumption shift to 40 percent of drinking occurring in bars 
and 60 percent elsewhere. But Foodstuffs managing director 
Tony Carter says surveys show that of all liquor-selling 
outlets, supermarkets come out as the most responsible. He 
says the fact people are choosing to drink at home more these 
days shows consumers are making up their own minds.

"HONEST" HACKER LET OFF
-----------------------

A Wellington man who got into the Reserve Bank's phone system 
and then called to tell them so, has escaped conviction. Gerry 
Macridis outlined problems with the bank's phone system in a 
letter to Telecom and the Reserve Bank and offered to fix 
them. After police raided his computer, he admitted to having 
no authorisation but said he was not aware it was illegal. 
However, Telecom took him to court. Macridis was discharged 
without conviction. The judge said any prosecution would be 
out of proportion with his actions.

Friday, 29 September 2006
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

WESTPAC GUILTY OF BREACH OF FAIR TRADE ACT
------------------------------------------

Westpac Trust will pay out $5.1 million after pleading guilty 
to 19 charges of breaching the Fair Trading Act. The bank is 
the fourth to be taken to court by the Commerce Commission for 
failing to disclose fees on foreign currency transactions on 
credit and debit cards. Westpac has been fined $570,000 and 
has agreed to pay $4.5 million in compensation to customers. 
It was also ordered to pay costs of $80,000. Customers will be 
contacted by Westpac Trust and should have money back by 2007. 
The Commerce Commission is taking legal action against a total 
of 10 banks and credit card companies. It has recently added 
Kiwibank to the list.

INCREASED VALUE OF BUILDING CONSENTS
------------------------------------

Builders believe the increased value of building consents for 
August shows the sector has a clean bill of health. The value 
of consents last month increased to $694 million which is 
nearly ten percent more than for the month of August last 
year. The figures have been trending upwards since March this 
year. Registered Master Builders Federation President Ashley 
Hartley says that shows the industry is still thriving. He 
says the Bay of Plenty showed its second highest monthly 
increase of new housing units since recording began.

INFRASTRUCTURE KEYS IDENTIFIED
------------------------------

Toll roads and debt financing by the Government have been 
identified as the keys to infrastructure development in a new 
report. The Council of Infrastructure Development says New 
Zealand is lagging behind OECD countries because there is not 
strong leadership from the Government to get infrastructure 
projects moving. Chief Executive Stephen Selwood says a mix of 
government and private sector financing is needed. He says 
Transmission Gully in Wellington could have private sector 
involvement and there is a range of projects across Auckland 
that could be funded through the private sector.

GDP RISES
---------

The economy grew half a percent in the second quarter. Figures 
from Statistics New Zealand show that for the year to June, 
GDP rose 1.9 percent, compared with 3.1 percent for the 
previous corresponding period. Growth is being driven by 
service industries and exports.

FARMERS CLAIM COMPLIANCE COSTS TOO HIGH
---------------------------------------

Federated Farmers wants local and central government to take 
note of findings showing the huge compliance cost burden faced 
by farmers. Vice-president Don Nicholson says the 2006 
Business New Zealand KPMG Compliance Cost Survey shows 
Federated Farmers members are paying double the average level 
of compliance costs. Mr Nicholson says he had not anticipated 
farmers' business was so different to others. He says ACC and 
employment are the highest expenses. The results show the 
average total cost per employee for Federated Farmers' 
respondents was more than $1500 compared with an average of 
just under $700 for other respondents. The survey also 
indicated that Federated Farmers' respondents were three times 
as likely to identify the Resource Management Act as a high 
priority. Mr Nicholson says the fact New Zealand may be easier 
to do business in that other countries should not justify 
unnecessary compliance costs.

NZ'S INFRASTRUCTURE LACKING
---------------------------

A new report finds New Zealand is lagging behind the rest of 
the developed world when it comes to infrastructure. The 
survey by the Council for Infrastructure Development says more 
commitment is needed from the Government to developing roads, 
power networks and other projects. The council says a long 
term integrated plan and a streamlined planning and approval 
process is needed. The report highlights a string of recent 
failures, including the gas outage in Wellington, power 
blackouts in Auckland and traffic congestion problems.

YEARLY CHILD WELLBEING REPORT WANTED
------------------------------------

A yearly report on the state of our children is being flagged 
as necessary to address the range of problems they face. Save 
the Children wants the Government to produce a yearly child 
wellbeing report, similar to the Ministry of Social 
Development's social report. Executive Director John Bowis 
says it is needed to target the range of problems the most 
vulnerable children face including violence, abuse and poor 
health. A report would help to assess trends and identify what 
is going well and where adjustments need to be made. Mr Bowis 
says the report needs to focus on all children, not just those 
from poorer areas of society.

BUSINESS MORE CONFIDENT ABOUT FUTURE
------------------------------------

Business confidence has rebounded from six month lows, 
according to the latest survey by the National Bank. A net 29 
percent of respondents believe business conditions will get 
worse over the next 12 months, an improvement from 33 percent 
last month. However firms are more upbeat about their own 
prospects. A net 15 percent expect their own business to 
improve in the coming year. Falling oil prices are also 
cooling inflation expectations.

BABY BOOMERS KEY TO OVERLANDER'S SUCCESS
----------------------------------------

Tourism operators believe baby boomers could be the key to the 
Overlander's success. Rail operator Toll has decided the 
service which runs between Wellington and Auckland will not 
end as scheduled this weekend, but will operate three days a 
week on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Fiona Luhrs, CEO of 
the Tourism Industry Association, says it is great that people 
will still have a choice when considering how to get around 
the country. She believes the service's main customers are 
likely to be the "Grey Nomads", people aged in their 50s and 
60s, who have the time and money to travel. Ms Luhrs says rail 
travel suits that market as they tend to look for a 
personalised experience where they can get to meet people and 
learn about the places they are visiting. She believes the 
Overlander service also fits into a move towards more 
environmentally-friendly tourism, but says one of the key 
issues to ensuring the its longevity will be investing in the 
carriages. 


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