WYSIWYG NEWS - 20 September, 2006

[news at wysiwygnews.com]

Subject: 20 September, 2006 
----- WYSIWYG NEWS ------------------------------ 
Copyright, Brian Harmer.  

Did I mention that spring was here? With my new-found physical 
fitness campaign, I decided to accompany Mary as she wheeled 
our granddaughter Maggie in her pushchair from Normandale down 
into the valley and across to her home near the Hospital. Like 
many recent days, the sun was shining, the sky was blue from 
horizon to horizon and all seemed right with the world. I 
suppose it's a half hour walk, but it reinforced last week's 
announcement of the wonders of the season. Particularly 
spectacular were a couple of flowering apple trees in the 
grounds of the old Von Zedlitz estate at the bottom of our 
hill. (Incidentally, George William von Zedlitz was an 
academic at Victoria University College as it then was, and 
his story is summed up briefly at 
http://www.teara.govt.nz/1966/Z/Zedlitz-
neukirkGeorgeWilliamEdwardErnest/Zedlitz-
neukirkGeorgeWilliamEdwardErnest/en   - note the very long URL 
ends at .../en) The brilliant bridal white adornment of the 
fruit trees was emphasised by its contrast with the shining 
dark green foliage of the mainly evergreen native bush all 
around. Further down in the valley, walking along Pharazyn 
Street, we enjoyed an enormous variety of blossoms, especially 
the weeping cherries and other pip and stone fruit. Magnolia 
and camellia, rhododendron and kowhai all made this walk a 
very colourful experience.  I am running late and have many 
pressing issues so I'll stop short here.  
 
---- 
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 (renewed this week) 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 another long-time 
WYSIWYG supporter, Lydia in Nova Scotia. Thanks for all your 
support and encouragement Lydia.

----  
On with the News.  
 
Monday, 11 September 2006
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

GOVT PLANS ELECTION FINANCE REFORM
----------------------------------

Prime Minister Helen Clark wants to change the law so the kind 
of advertising conducted by the Exclusive Brethren during last 
year's election campaign is virtually impossible. She says the 
Government is looking very seriously at reforming major 
campaign finance including third party advertising. Miss Clark 
says Parliament needs to ensure that when it sets caps on 
campaign spending, those caps are comprehensive and do not 
allow the authors of smear campaigning to be anonymous. She 
says she expects it won't be easy for the Exclusive Brethren 
to mount the kind of campaign they did last time and adds that 
the question is whether New Zealanders want their politics 
manipulated by wealthy interests or whether they want a level 
playing field. 
 
(I fear an outbreak of selective morality. It is not credible 
to fix those things that disadvantage you while leaving in 
place the now festering sore of the pledge card spending. - 
BH)

OLD COINS ON THE WAY OUT
------------------------

More than 200 million old coins have found their way back to 
the Reserve Bank since lighter currency was introduced a month 
ago. However, the bank is urging people to hunt for them 
behind the couch cushions before they cease being legal tender 
from November 1. The old, heavy coins are melted down by an 
overseas country to be re-minted for use in other parts of the 
world. The Reserve Bank's reminding hoarders they cannot pay 
completely in silver coin for anything over five dollars, so 
people should not try to be clever with a bucket load of 50 
cent pieces to pay speeding fines.

TONGA URGED TO LOOK TO THE FUTURE
---------------------------------

Tonga's new King Tupouto'a is being sworn in today, although 
his coronation will not take place until next year. His 
father, Taufa'ahau Tupou IV died at Auckland's Mercy Hospital 
just before midnight last night. Tongan Advisory Council 
chairman Melino Maka says the King's body will lie in state at 
his Auckland residence from tomorrow. He says it will be there 
that well-wishers can pay their respects. Mr Maka says the 
King will be transported back to Tonga on Wednesday. A date 
for the King's state funeral should be released later today. 
He says a website for the palace office will be continuously 
updated for those wanting information on the King's funeral 
and other arrangements. That website is 
www.palaceoffice.gov.to The 88-year-old ascended the throne in 
1965 and Radio Tonga's Viola Ulakai says the community was 
awaiting news of his death. Now, Tonga is being urged to move 
forward. The recent years of the late King's rule were marked 
by calls for democratic reform from the Tongan opposition. 
Foreign Minister Winston Peters says there is a new King now 
and a chance for the reform movement to make progress. He says 
one would expect with a new and younger King there will be an 
appreciation from the Royal family for the need to adapt and 
face change. Mr Peters says Tonga's institutions also need to 
be respected. 
 
(Tonga's very rigid system of societal stratification is a 
mystery to me. How in 2006 do we still have an absolute 
monarchical system, with nobles and commoners? I am not all 
that persuaded by constitutional monarchies such as our own, 
but I am even more unconvinced by the Tongan system. For some 
reason I had assumed that the system was somehow introduced by 
Europeans, but it seems that the highly stratified society 
with a supreme ruler dates all the way back to the 13th 
century. - BH)

HOSPITALS NOT GETTING TO HEART OF MATTER
----------------------------------------

A new study shows New Zealand hospitals are not getting the 
right messages through to patients who have survived heart 
attacks. The Auckland University study finds many patients who 
are at low risk of having a repeat experience believe they are 
at high risk. But worse is the number of patients who are in 
danger of having another heart attack, who think they are not. 
The research article is published in the latest edition of the 
Internal Medicine Journal. Author Dr Elizabeth Broadbent says 
the results will come as a surprise to many doctors. She says 
inpatient hospital care appears to be unsuccessful in 
effectively communicating the future risks to patients.

(I seriously doubt that the message is not getting through. In 
my own case, I know what I should eat and when I should 
exercise, yet I continue to find rationalisations for my 
various lapses - BH)

COMMISSIONERS DECIDING ON IRRIGATION PLANS
------------------------------------------

Four commissioners have been appointed to decide the fate of a 
controversial irrigation scheme in Canterbury. The Central 
Plains Water Trust's 55 resource consent applications, which 
were notified by Environment Canterbury in June, relate to the 
taking, using and discharging of water from the Waimakariri 
and Rakaia Rivers to be stored in a man-made dam. ECan 
director of regulation Mike Freeman says the commissioners 
include Dr Greg Ryder, a water quality and ecology scientist, 
Philip Milne, an environmental law specialist, Robert 
Schofield, a planner specialising in Resource Management Act 
cases and Raymond O'Callaghan, who is a civil engineer. More 
than 1600 submissions were received by ECan last month on the 
scheme. Almost 1400 were opposed to it and 800 individuals or 
groups want their views to be heard.

CAPITAL WINS AD CONTRACT
------------------------

Wellington has beaten several other cities in Asia and 
Australia to score a big budget TV car commercial, which will 
be filmed in the central city next weekend. Film Wellington 
has been instrumental in bringing the project to the capital 
and says it is certainly the biggest-budget TV commercial ever 
to be filmed in the city. Ex-pat New Zealander Matt Long from 
the Sydney-based production company Good Oil Films, says 
Wellington was chosen because it is very compact and several 
looks can be achieved within a small geographic area. He says 
Wellington is also very film friendly, with great 
infrastructure developed for big productions such as the Lord 
of the Rings and King Kong. The commercial will be filmed 
overnight for five nights from Saturday. There will be some 
road closures and buildings in Lambton Quay and on The Terrace 
have been asked to leave their lights on overnight, so the 
right impact is gained. The film company will be making a 
donation to the Westpac Rescue Helicopter as a thank you 
gesture. 
 
(From time to time, I am inconvenienced when I encounter 
streets blocked and diversions in place while film crews 
occupy the streets of Wellington. In this latest episode, 
citizens have been annoyed by helicopters at low levels late 
at night. I hear that these things are beneficial to the city. 
In what way precisely? No one has ever sent me a royalty 
cheque. Who exactly is benefiting from these ventures, and by 
what mechanism?  - BH)

NEW CERVICAL CANCER VACCINE CLEARED
-----------------------------------

Health authorities have cleared a controversial vaccine 
against cervical cancer. Gardasil is available for girls and 
women aged from nine years to 26 from today, however the 
treatment will cost $450. The drug is designed to prevent 
cervical cancer caused by certain types of the sexually 
transmitted human Papillomavirus. Around 180 New Zealand women 
are diagnosed with cervical cancer each year and a third die. 
The fact Gardasil is available for girls as young as nine has 
caused controversy in Australia and America with politicians 
calling for a debate on its social implications.

TONGA'S KING DIES
-----------------

Prime Minister Helen Clark has expressed her condolences to 
Tonga's royal family following the death of King Taufa'ahau 
Tupou IV. The 88-year-old passed away overnight at the private 
Mercy Hospital in Auckland. He has spent much of the past year 
in hospital suffering heart problems and was most recently 
admitted in July. The Tongan Government is expected to make an 
official announcement later today. King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV 
came to the throne in 1965 following the death of his mother 
Queen Salote. He is survived by his four children. 
 
(As a very young schoolboy at the time of the coronation of 
Queen Elizabeth II, I recall the impression that a beaming 
Queen Salote made on the crowd as she rode through the streets 
of London in an open carriage in the coronation parade. - BH)

MINERS INTERVIEWED AFTER TRAGEDY
--------------------------------

A union representative is expected to arrive in Greymouth 
today to monitor the Department of Labour's investigation into 
the death of West Coast miner Bernard Green. The 47-year-old 
was killed on Friday when a shaft collapsed at the Roa mine, 
near Blackball. Department of Labour spokeswoman Margaret 
Radford says inspectors will spend the next two days 
interviewing the miners working on site at the time of the 
fatal accident.

Tuesday, 12 September 2006
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

EDEN PARK MAY NOT HOST WORLD CUP
--------------------------------

Eden Park may be ditched as the venue for the Rugby World Cup 
- in favour of a brand new stadium to be built on Auckland's 
waterfront. Sports Minister Trevor Mallard says the Government 
is evaluating the potential of such a stadium while also still 
evaluating the $350 million proposed upgrade of Eden Park. The 
head of the Eden Park Trust Board has confirmed the government 
is looking at other Auckland options. John Alexander says 
there is no guarantee Eden Park will be redeveloped and adds 
they would be disappointed if they lost the bid. Mr Alexander 
is hoping for some progress by the middle of November. 
 
(People who argue that these events are good for New Zealand 
should see the logic that those who will benefit directly 
should invest directly. No ratepayer or taxpayer funds should 
be spent unless it can be PROVEN that there is a positive 
return on investment directly to the taxpayer. And I don't 
mean some vague "pie in the sky" intangible benefit over the 
next few decades. - BH)

HOSPITALS COPE WITH STRIKE
--------------------------

The Hutt Valley District Health Board says the first day of 
the radiographers' strike has gone smoothly. Over two hundred 
workers in seven DHBs around the country walked off the job 
this morning, in a strike set down for three days. Hutt Valley 
DHB chief operating officer Warwick Frater says people seem to 
be getting the message, and are seeing their GPs first, or 
seeking treatment off site. Mr Frater says they do have a 
contingency plan in place, but thankfully at this stage there 
has been no need to use it. Further south, day one of the 
radiographers' strike in Canterbury seems to have gone without 
major mishap. Canterbury District Health Board spokeswoman 
Michele Hider says they have been busy but are coping. She 
says a couple of people have been sent over to the after hours 
surgery which is covering minor injuries and breaks with the 
help of specialist DHB staff. Ms Hider also says the public 
seems to be doing their bit by staying away from emergency 
departments unless it's absolutely necessary. Meanwhile Pete 
Hodgson's comments about this week's strike by radiographers 
are being labelled as flippant. The Health Minister today 
wished DHBs and striking staff every good luck in resolving 
their dispute, though he emphasised they should realise the 
impact the strike is having on patients. National's Health 
spokesman Tony Ryall says the comment was flippant and 
reflects the Minister's total indifference to the thousands of 
patients affected. He claims 14 hospitals have ground to a 
near halt, and Mr Hodgson is avoiding any responsibility for 
getting patients back into care.

METEORITE WAKES UP CHRISTCHURCH
-------------------------------

A massive bang which rattled Christchurch just before three 
o'clock this afternoon seems to have been caused by a 
meteorite. Several witnesses report seeing the meteorite 
streak across the sky in Hinds, while Christchurch police say 
they believe it was space junk re-entering the atmosphere. 
There have been no reports so far of damage, though some 
witnesses told our newsroom it shook their entire house and 
sent some of them running outside. Many Christchurch residents 
say the bang was so loud they thought it was a plane blowing 
up or an earthquake. Resident superintendent Alan Gilmore at 
the Mount John Observatory in Christchurch says it seems like 
the kind of noise a meteorite would make. He says any object 
from space which penetrates lower than about 60km above the 
ground then the sonic boom it causes would get down to the 
ground. Professor Jack Baggeley of Canterbury University runs 
a meteor radar. He says these kind of things are fairly 
common, and one of them hits the land area of New Zealand 
about once a year.

AUCKLAND GETS ELECTRIFIED BY 2012
---------------------------------

Auckland is being tentatively promised its first electric 
train service by 2012. Regional transport authorities have 
today outlined a plan which includes boosting the train fleet 
from 22 to 40 and have services running every ten minutes at 
peak times. The cost of the electrification plan is $1.45 
billion, most of which is already available. However around 
$250 million is needed from central government. Government 
ministers have agreed to set up a small due diligence 
committee to look into the plan. 
 
(My first thought was what a great idea, but I see that they 
are just talking about trains :-) - BH)

PROGRESSIVE OFFER REJECTED
--------------------------

More than 500 locked out distribution workers have rejected 
the latest offer from supermarket operator Progressive 
Enterprises. The National Distribution Union says meetings in 
Auckland, Christchurch and Palmerston North were unanimous in 
their decision. NDU National Secretary Laila Harre says the 
offer does not address the issues at the heart of the dispute. 
She says the settlement proposed by the unions last week 
showed significant movement by the members that did address 
concerns raised by the employer. She says the employer's offer 
shows no movement at all. She says the union will now try to 
get the lock out declared illegal. The NDU and Engineers' 
Union have filed proceedings in the Employment Court 
challenging the lawfulness of the lock out of distribution 
workers serving Progressive supermarkets. "The employer has 
demanded that union members give up their right to good faith 
negotiations for a national agreement. The right to good faith 
negotiations is a fundamental right in the Employment 
Relations Act and our position is that it is not lawful to 
demand that that right be given up." says Ms Harre. Meanwhile 
Progressive Enterprises says it notified the NDU and the EPMU 
yesterday that today it would be writing to their members, and 
requested their comments on the letters. The Company did this 
because, prior to negotiations, it says it had agreed with the 
Unions that this would be the approach. Managing Director 
Marty Hamnett says in response the NDU has demanded that 
Progressive should not send letters to staff members outlining 
its offers. He says the union demand ignores a signed 
agreement between the parties that allows for communication 
with interested parties. Mr Hamnett says he believes the 
offers of a wage increase are fair, reasonable, sustainable 
and consistent with the retail industry where pay increases 
are in the three to four percent range. 
 
(It drags on. This week, support groups have been staging 
trolley jams at the checkouts and "accidentally" entering 
wrong pin numbers for their transactions so as to cause 
traffic jams in the aisles. - BH)

POLICE RECRUITMENT DROPS
------------------------

There has been a fresh attack on the Government's police 
recruitment promises. Labour, in a deal with New Zealand 
First, has committed to recruiting 1000 extra frontline police 
officers, and began its campaign to do so back in July. Now 
National's Law and Order spokesman, Simon Power, has obtained 
official police recruitment data which reveals, a month into 
the initiative, the number of sworn officers had dropped by 
34. He claims it shows the recruitment campaign is going from 
bad to worse. 
 
(With idiot politicians and journalists second guessing them 
at every turn, why would anyone want to be a cop? - BH)

MAORI HEALTH FUNDING INCREASES
------------------------------

Funding for Maori Primary Health Organisations has jumped by 
more than 50 percent over the last three years. Associate 
Minister of Health Mita Ririnui has released details following 
questions from New Zealand First MP Pita Paraone. He says 
annual allocations to Maori PHOs have risen from $21.7 million 
in 2003-04 to $34 million for the last financial year. Mita 
Ririnui says the amounts do not include casual fees or rural 
bonus and rural retention funding.

MORE SCHOOL LEAVERS WITHOUT QUALIFICATIONS
------------------------------------------

More high school students are leaving Canterbury schools 
without any qualifications, but the figure is in line with the 
national average. The Ministry of Education statistics for 
2005 show almost 30 percent left high school with no 
qualifications in 2005 compared with 19 percent in 2004. The 
number of students who obtained NCEA level one, the equivalent 
of the old school certificate, or less was 42 percent up from 
29 the previous year. This year the national average for 
school leavers without any qualification was also almost 30 
percent. National education spokesman Bill English says the 
lack of qualification means limited choices and difficult 
access to tertiary education and training.

NEW USES FOR SEWAGE
-------------------

An Auckland company has developed technology to dry sewage 
sludge and use the end product as fertiliser or fuel. Flo-Dry 
Engineering says its two stage thermal system for sludge 
drying, reduces the volume of waste and produces a product 
which is easy and hygienic to handle. The finished substance 
could be use as a fertiliser or burnt as a fuel source such as 
coal. Project Manager Tissa Fernando says trials are being 
conducted with the country's largest wastewater company, Water 
Care Services Limited. It is hoped they will prove the product 
can be used as a heat source in boilers. Mr Fernando says 
thermal drying is an environmentally friendly waste solution.

SUPER CITY FOR CAPITAL?
-----------------------

Wellington's deputy mayor believes the Wellington region would 
do well to follow in Auckland's footsteps and establish a 
large council to encompass the entire area. Alick Shaw says 
the formation of a super city which would do away with the 
need for local bodies in Porirua, Lower Hutt and the Kapiti 
Coast would be of benefit to ratepayers as it would result in 
a significant amount of money being saved. However, he 
believes such a proposal is probably some time away from being 
put on the table.

(Given the inter-region tensions this would be an interesting 
spectacle to watch. "There need be no rational basis for 
inter-group discrimination to exist, it is sufficient that the 
in-group member is aware of the very existence of the other 
group" (Tajfel & Turner, 1986). Sad, isn't it. - BH)  

Wednesday, 13 September 2006
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

ELECTRICITY COMMISSION CHAIRMAN UNPLUGGED
-----------------------------------------

Electricity Commission Chairman Roy Hemmingway has been dumped 
by the government. Mr Hemmingway says he has received a letter 
from Minister David Parker telling him he will be removed from 
office on November 30, when his term expires. The decision to 
remove him comes despite his request to stay in the post until 
some time next year after finishing work on Auckland's 
transmission upgrade. Mr Hemmingway says he can only conclude 
that he is being removed from office because he has stood up 
to the Government as an independent regulator should. He says 
he has insisted regulatory decisions be made on the basis of 
the law and the facts, not what politicians want. Mr 
Hemmingway comes from the US state of Oregon where he chaired 
the Oregon Public Utility Commission, and has been Electricity 
Commissioner since September, 2003. Since then there have been 
a number of high profile controversies involving the 
commission, including the row over Transpower's controversial 
transmission line through the Waikato, fears of a power crisis 
over winter, and a major power cut in Auckland. Mr 
Hemmingway's relationship with Transpower has not been smooth, 
with him accusing it of being "blinkered" over the Waikato to 
Auckland pylon upgrade. He claimed there are four other 
options the national grid owner should have considered but 
Transpower argued they had already spent three years 
canvassing all possibilities. Just over a month ago, the 
Government ordered the Electricity Commission to get its 
relationship with Transpower back on track and ensure the 
lights stay on.

(The minister correctly pointed out that Mr Hemmingway has not 
been sacked. His contract has expired. There was no reason to 
presume it would  be renewed for a further three year term - 
BH)

TASER TEST INJURIES RAISE DOUBTS
--------------------------------

Political pressure is being put on the Government to abandon 
the police trial of taser guns. It follows the release of 
information that three police officers have been injured by 
the weapon during tests - two receiving minor flesh injuries 
and another being dazed after falling badly. Green MP Keith 
Locke says he has written to Police Minister Annette King to 
reconsider the taser trial in light of this information. He 
says overseas incidents highlight these dangers. He maintains 
the risk to the public is too great to justify the continued 
use of the weapon. 
 
(See what I mean? These things are designed to embed 
themselves in the flesh to administer the voltage. Of course 
there will be a small wound. Much smaller than 9mm.  The 
survivability of such measures are vastly greater than if a 
firearm was used. People who get hit with tasers had the clear 
opportunity to avoid it by simply complying with the request 
to desist from unlawful behaviour - BH)

IS MYSTERY OBJECT SPACE JUNK?
-----------------------------

The mystery deepens as to just what was found on a mid-
Canterbury farm following yesterday's sonic boom that was 
heard across the region. This morning scientists at the 
National Radiation Laboratory in Christchurch tested a piece 
of material that is the size of a person's palm and looks like 
a rock. Lab General Manager Jim Turnbull says the material is 
not radioactive, which means it is not a nuclear device from a 
space craft and he also doubts it is a meteorite as it is too 
light. He says, however, it still may have something to do 
with yesterday's sonic boom and says it could be a fragment of 
space junk. Jim Turnbull says the object may be returned to 
the owner or be handed over to geologists or staff at the 
University of Canterbury.

WORKPLACE BULLYING EPIDEMIC
---------------------------

An expert claims we have an epidemic of workplace bullying in 
the nation's offices - and the Government is failing to 
address it. Author and businesswoman Andrea Needham says New 
Zealand is the only developed country in the world that does 
not have legislation to cover workplace bullying. She spent 25 
years working overseas and upon her return was appalled at 
what she describes as the "psychological terrorism" that is 
allowed in this country. She says women are most likely to be 
targeted - but are just as likely as men to be bullies.

WHO OFFICIAL SLAMS FAST FOOD
----------------------------

International health expert Dr Robert Beaglehole has laid some 
uncompromising criticism at the door of the fast food 
industry. The World Health Organisation's director of chronic 
diseases and health promotion has put his case to a Select 
Committee inquiry into obesity today. Dr Beaglehole rejects 
the fast food industry's argument that there are no bad foods, 
just bad diets. He told the Committee, "There is no goodness 
coming from whatever the latest, fattest, greasiest McDonald's 
concoction is. I mean, that is bad for you. To accept that "no 
bad food, bad diet" argument is to play exactly into the 
industry's hands and we should reject it." Dr Beaglehole is 
also scathing of industry advertising aimed at children, 
associating junk food with fun, describing it as insidious and 
inappropriate.

("the latest, fattest, greasiest McDonald's concoction" 
scarcely sounds like the reasonable rational voice of science. 
It's as if he believes that the addition of a corporate logo 
makes everything bad. Salads and wraps are selling quite well 
I believe. - BH)

SPACE ROCK MAY BE MERE PEBBLES NOW
----------------------------------

The chances of anyone finding fragments of the meteor that 
shot over Canterbury before slamming to earth are 
astronomically small. Within hours of yesterday's sonic boom 
just before 3pm yesterday, caused by the space rock, sellers 
on TradeMe were offering pieces they claim were the meteorite. 
But Andrew Buckingham from Auckland's Stardome Observatory 
says while the original rock was probably about the size of a 
large ball, it may have broken into pebble-sized pieces. He 
says unless it is known where it landed, the chances of 
finding a piece are tiny as it would look like any other rock 
in Canterbury. Mr Buckingham says anyone who suspects they 
might have a fragment, can get it tested to determine its 
origin.

OTAGO STUDENTS THREATEN LEGAL ACTION
------------------------------------

Otago University students are threatening to take the 
university to court over a new Student Code of Conduct. The 
Students' Association says under the new code, the university 
can discipline students for behaviour that has nothing to do 
with the university or even Dunedin. Student President Paul 
Chong says he finds it absurd that a student who breaks the 
law in Australia could be barred from returning to Otago 
University. He believes the new Code of Conduct is well 
outside the university's powers, and he says the Students' 
Association intends laying a formal complaint with the Office 
of the Ombudsman. 
 
(I would think that it is no more illegal than the good 
behaviour bond imposed on elite sports people. The university 
should make it a condition of enrolment that the student 
refrains for the duration of the studies, from any behaviour 
that would bring the institution into disrepute - BH)

Thursday, 14 September 2006
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

UNION ACCUSES DHB
-----------------

The Otago DHB is working through issues raised by the striking 
radiographers' union. The union claims Otago DHB has breached 
good faith bargaining. Spokeswoman Deborah Powell says the DHB 
called in striking workers to perform procedures on patients 
not covered by the life-preserving services agreement. Otago 
DHB operations manager Megan Boivin says the DHB has provided 
the union with information after it raised its concerns. She 
could not comment further as she is now awaiting further 
response from the union

WAREHOUSE MAY HEAD BACK TO PRIVATE HANDS
----------------------------------------

Warehouse founder Stephen Tindall is making a bid to take over 
the company again. The Stock Exchange confirms a halt has been 
put on trading of Warehouse shares. Mr Tindall founded The 
Warehouse in 1982, after working for twelve years with 
retailer George Court and Sons. The chain started with just 
one store on Auckland's North Shore and $40,000 capital and 
remained in private hands until late 1994 when it floated on 
the New Zealand Stock Exchange with Mr Tindall as Managing 
Director. Mr Tindall formally stepped down from that role at 
the end of January 2001. The retailer now has more than 128 
stores throughout New Zealand. The original Takapuna store 
boasted opening day sales of $4,490, whereas the more recently 
opened South Dunedin store clocked up first day sales of 
$427,485. 
 
(On the back of this news the share price rocketed up 17%. 
What a surprise! - BH)

BLACKOUT HITS SOUTH ISLAND
--------------------------

Transpower hopes to have power restored to everyone in the top 
half of the South Island by seven o'clock tonight. Spokesman 
Chris Roberts says some people will have had their power be 
back on before that. He was still trying to trace the cause of 
the blackout which stretched across North Canterbury, 
Marlborough, Nelson and Buller, but thought it may have 
something to do with contractors working for them today. 
Transpower says it lost the circuits that run from 
Christchurch up towards Nelson at 4.35pm.

"VESTED INTERESTS" LAUNCH ANTI-NZ CAMPAIGN
------------------------------------------

A European advertising campaign attacking New Zealand 
agricultural exports is being rubbished by Trade Minister Phil 
Goff. The campaign, funded by European producers and NGOs, 
claims New Zealand's exports are not environmentally sound 
because of the energy that is needed to transport them around 
the world. Mr Goff says an independent study, done by Lincoln 
University, proves this country's energy costs for lamb, 
fruit, and milk exports are substantially lower than their 
United Kingdom counterparts. He says the UK campaign is 
fuelled by vested interests, and if left unchallenged has the 
potential to threaten our food and beverage exports.

COX-2 INHIBITORS NEED REVIEW
----------------------------

Arthritis New Zealand is calling for a review of Cox-2 
inhibitors in light of new information about Voltaren. The 
organisation wants a rethink after research has found 
ingredients in the alternative drugs to Cox-2 inhibitors, such 
as Voltaren, can cause heightened risk of heart attacks. A 
study in the American Medical Association Journal has raised 
concerns about the effects of the active ingredient 
diclofenac, which is found in Voltaren and Cataflam. In 
similar doses to Cox-2 inhibitor medications, diclofenac drugs 
were found to increase the chance of heart attack by 40 
percent. Arthritis New Zealand CEO Roger Sowry says this 
should cause PHARMAC and Medsafe to review the status of Cox-2 
inhibitors, which are not allowed to be advertised and do not 
get any funding because of the increased risk of heart attack 
or stroke they bring. He says in light of this new information 
about Voltaren there needs to be a level playing field. Mr 
Sowry says Cox-2 drugs are crucial for arthritis patients who 
often use them as the last line of defence against pain. In 
February 2005, the New Zealand Ministry of Health issued a 
strong warning on Cox-2 painkillers, saying the increased risk 
of heart attack and stroke outweighs the benefits. Vioxx was 
withdrawn in 2004 - but the 2005 warning also covered other 
Cox-2 inhibitors, including Celebrex, and ArCoxia. America's 
influential Food and Drug Administration says Cox-2 drugs 
"significantly increase" the risk of a heart attack or stroke, 
and although it stopped short of a complete ban, the FDA's 
advisory panel agreed there was a need for the drugs to have a 
"black box warning."Cox-2 inhibitors are among the group of 
analgesics called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs 
(NSAIDs), which also includes aspirin, and ibuprofen 
(Nurofen).

LOWEST PRICE FOR PETROL SINCE MARCH
-----------------------------------

Petrol and diesel prices have fallen to their lowest level 
since March. Shell, BP, Mobil and Caltex have all dropped 
their prices by five cents bringing the price of 91 octane to 
its six-month low of $1.50.9, while 95 has also fallen five 
cents to $1.55.9. The three companies have also dropped diesel 
two cents to $1.16.9 a litre. A mellowing of tensions in the 
Middle East has led to a softening in the world price of oil, 
which now sits at just under $64 a barrel. At the height of 
the conflict between Israel and Hizbollah in July, 91 reached 
a record price of $1.77 a litre . It began 2006 at $1.36. 

(It dropped a further 4 cents this week to $1.46.9 Well, I 
have been as guilty as the next person of complaining about 
how quick they are to raise prices and how slow to let them 
fall. It seems I must take back my words. - BH)

SLIGHT DROP IN FOOD PRICE INDEX
-------------------------------

Food prices fell last month, albeit slightly. The August food 
price index recorded a decline of 0.1 percent, after rising 
0.8 percent in July. Most of the drop was due to falling fruit 
and vegetable prices which dropped more than 1.4 percent. . 
Within the fruit and vegetable subgroup, vegetable prices fell 
7.3 percent, while fruit prices rose 9.6 percent. Prices were 
down for lettuce (down 44.6 percent), broccoli (down 25.7 
percent) and cauliflower (down 33.1 percent). These decreases 
were partly offset by increases in prices for tomatoes (up 
12.5 percent), bananas (up 15.5 percent) and grapes (up 28.1 
percent). No overall change in prices was recorded for the 
grocery food, and meat, poultry and fish subgroups. Prices for 
the restaurant meals and ready-to-eat food and non-alcoholic 
beverages subgroups increased 0.4 and 0.2 percent, 
respectively. Statistics New Zealand says for the year to 
August, food prices rose nearly three and a half percent. The 
most significant upward contribution came from higher prices 
for the fruit and vegetables subgroup (up 18.1 percent).

NO EASING OF INTEREST RATES
---------------------------

The Reserve Bank says there is no prospect of monetary policy 
being eased "for some considerable time." Governor Alan 
Bollard has announced the Official Cash Rate will remain 
unchanged at 7.25 percent. The bank says, despite clear signs 
of the economy easing, economic activity has been stronger 
than expected through the first half of this year. Dr Bollard 
says the New Zealand economy continues to show resilience. Net 
exports and Government spending has been contributing to the 
buoyancy in activity and household consumption has not eased 
as much as expected. He says while the housing market has 
slowed, it continues to show momentum. The bank expects that 
while high oil prices and higher effective mortgage rates will 
further dampen the economy there will be more inflation 
pressure than previously.

LYMPHOMA CASES DOUBLE
---------------------

The number of people diagnosed with potentially fatal lymphoma 
has more than doubled in the past decade. The Leukaemia and 
Blood Foundation says it is partly due to the growing and 
aging population, but that does not totally account for the 
increase and no one knows why the disease is on the rise. The 
Foundation says it is extremely worrying, given a lack of 
public awareness about the cancer. It is urging people to be 
more aware of the symptoms, which include swollen but painless 
lymph nodes, rapid weight loss, excessive sweating at night, 
fever, coughing and sometimes chest pain.

SUGAR-FREE DRINK GOES DOWN A TREAT
----------------------------------

Fast food giant McDonald's is considering replacing all its 
soft drinks with sugar free versions following a world-first 
trial which has taken place in New Zealand. The Counties 
Manukau District Health Board and McDonalds have been testing 
whether customers in the area's 21 outlets were happy to 
substitute Sprite, which has a high sugar content, for Sprite 
Zero, which contains artificial sweeteners. The move amounts 
to a 17 percent reduction in sugar intake. Chairman Pat 
Sneddon says the trial has been a huge success and the DHB 
wants to extend it to other drink brands sold at McDonalds. He 
says the scheme is linked with the DHB's Lets Beat Diabetes 
Programme. McDonald's spokeswoman Jo Redfern Hardisty says the 
restaurant chain is also considering extending the trial 
beyond Counties Manukau's borders.

Friday, 15 September 2006
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AUCKLAND REVAMP VOTED DOWN
--------------------------

Plans to revamp the shape of Auckland's cities have been given 
the boot. Four of Auckland's seven Mayors had been promoting a 
super-region, governed by one over-seeing council and three 
city authorities. However, that vision has been voted down at 
today's Mayoral Forum attended by all the region's mayors and 
the Auckland Regional Council chairman, Mike Lee. The four 
mayors had met without inviting the mayors of the other, 
smaller councils in the Auckland region, which led to some 
controversy and saw some of the smaller districts discussing 
leaving the Auckland region altogether. ARC Chairman Mike Lee 
says there will be no boundary changes in the near future. He 
says instead the forum voted to look at strengthening the 
regional governance and fixing the problems within local 
government. Mr Lee says it is a good outcome for the people of 
Auckland.

(Well now! Given the arrogant behaviour of the mayors, I think 
this outcome was entirely predictable. Many elected 
councillors were understandably outraged at what amounted to a 
four-person coup d'etat. No attempt was made to seek their 
views before the mayors went galloping off to the media as if 
it were a done deal. - BH)

NEW PROPOSALS FOR OFFSHORE INVESTMENT TAX
-----------------------------------------

The Government is revealing proposals for a way forward for 
taxing offshore investments. Revenue Minister Peter Dunne and 
Finance Minister Michael Cullen say currently, some offshore 
investment vehicles allow their investors to avoid paying tax 
by paying no, or very low dividends. The Government says that 
is not fair, and they should be paying their share of tax. The 
ministers' proposals are to apply a "fair dividend rate" tax 
to overseas shares, taxing individuals on a maximum of 5 
percent of the value of their shares in a given year. The 
scheme does not target capital gains, but instead will tax 
what seems to be a reasonable dividend yield. The Ministers 
insist this is not a tax grab, but an attempt to remove 
distortions in investment markets. They claim that the 
Government will actually be foregoing around $140 million a 
year if this new scheme is instituted.

BIOHAZARD DETECTOR INVENTED IN NZ
---------------------------------

A New Zealand invention which can almost immediately identify 
bacterial spores such as anthrax could be used by emergency 
services all over the world. The product is being developed by 
the University of Canterbury, Ngai Tahu Equities, and a 
venture capital firm. The hand-held lightweight detector is 
about the size of a large coffee mug. Project manager Andrew 
Rudge says it will be useful in situations where potentially 
hazardous materials and bio-threats need to be identified. He 
says that makes it ideal for airports, postal services, and 
emergency services.

NZ SCIENTISTS ISOLATE ANTI-CANCER COMPOUND
------------------------------------------

New Zealand scientists could be a step closer to uncovering a 
secret which could help to rid the body of cancer. A team of 
researchers at Christchurch School of Medicine have discovered 
compounds in the cruciferous family of vegetables which help 
kill cancer cells that are resistant to other treatments. 
Cruciferous vegetables include broccoli, cauliflower, brussel 
sprouts, cabbage, watercress, bok choy, radishes, turnips, and 
kale. Team leader Dr Mark Hampton says a protein call Bcl-2 
makes human cells resistant to the normal cell-suicide process 
which removes damaged cells from the body. He says cancer 
cells with a lot of Bcl-2 also have increased resistance to 
chemotherapy drugs, but he says compounds called 
isothiocyanates found in the cruciferous family make the cells 
more susceptible to treatment. Dr Hampton says the next step 
is to find out how the compounds work inside the cell to 
negate the power of the protein. He says from there they could 
use that information to design new drugs.

SAVING LAKE ROTOITI
-------------------

A major engineering project to improve the health of one of 
Rotorua's lakes has been given the go ahead by the Environment 
Court. A multi-million dollar wall is to be built from below 
the Ohau Channel outlet to Te Akau Point to divert nutrient-
laden water away from Lake Rotoiti. Instead, it will travel 
from Lake Rotorua directly into the Kaituna River and on to 
the ocean. Environment Bay of Plenty chairman John Cronin says 
this is a very positive decision and could save Lake Rotoiti. 
He says with other measures supporting it, the lake now has a 
chance. The $14 to 16 million project is scheduled to be 
constructed next year.

CALL FOR COMPO LAWS WHEN UTILITIES FAIL
---------------------------------------

Nelson MP Nick Smith is calling for legislation ensuring 
consumers can claim compensation if they are cut off from 
essential services, following yesterday's outage in the South 
Island. Transpower is blaming human error for the blackout 
which resulted in the loss of supplies from 130,000 homes 
which effected Buller, North Canterbury, Motueka, Golden Bay, 
Marlborough and Nelson. It follows a number of problems this 
year including one in Auckland in June which left more than 
half a million people without supplies. National's MP for 
Nelson Dr Smith says it could be time to consider a law that 
forces utilities to pay up. "Whether it be gas, whether it be 
telecommunications, whether it is power failure, so that there 
is a stronger commercial incentive to ensure we don't get 
these sorts of failures." 
 
(Where was Dr Smith when the gas failed in Wellington? 
However, I think there is some justice in the idea. Of course 
mishaps happen, but peoples lives and livelihoods are 
inextricably tied up in these services, and the ability to 
restore service quickly must be taken as a given. - BH)

RADIOGRAPHERS BACK AT WORK
--------------------------

Radiographers head back to work today after holding a three-
day strike. All hands will be back on deck across the seven 
affected DHBs from 10am, but two further strike days are 
planned for next Tuesday and Thursday. Dwayne Crombie, 
spokesman for the DHBs, says contingency teams will review how 
hospitals coped. He says the strike was not as disruptive as 
some feared due to good will from everyone including some of 
the striking workers who came in for emergency and lifesaving 
services. Dr Crombie says chief executives for the DHBs will 
hold a teleconference today. He is keen to get back round the 
bargaining table, as he believes it is the only way the 
dispute will be resolved. Union spokeswoman Deborah Powell 
says from the workers' perspective the industrial action ran 
fairly smoothly. She has confirmed that next week's industrial 
action will go ahead.

TINDALL'S PLANS RECLAIMING KIWI BRANDS
--------------------------------------

A financial analyst believes Stephen Tindall's plan to 
privatise The Warehouse is part of a push to make iconic kiwi 
brands kiwi again. Mr Tindall contacted directors of the group 
yesterday to express his interest in buying back the red 
sheds. He has formed a consortium with Pacific Equity 
Partners, a private Australian equity business. They will 
offer $5.75 a share. Shares closed at $5.11 last night, 
valuing the company at $1.8 billion. Journalist Fran 
O'Sullivan says it is quite a clever strategy as Mr Tindall 
will make a big deal about The Warehouse being New Zealand 
owned and will use this to refocus it. She says it is a 
welcome move that companies are starting to think about 
reclaiming their New Zealand roots. However, Mr Tindall's bid 
could strike difficulties as key shareholder Foodstuffs, holds 
a 10 percent stake. Mr Tindall founded the Warehouse in 1982 
and currently owns just over 50 percent of it. The company 
floated on the New Zealand Stock Exchange in1994.

IN-STORE STAFF SETTLE DISPUTE
-----------------------------

Progressive Enterprises and its in-store retail staff have 
finally reached an agreement. The supermarket operator and 
union have been in talks since last week. The terms of the 
deal will not be released until they are presented to union 
members for ratification over the coming month. Union 
spokeswoman Laila Harre says members will be encouraged to 
accept the deal. She says the terms of the settlement achieve 
a good result on key issues and provide a basis for continued 
work on developing a single pay scale across the three brands, 
Countdown, Woolworths and Foodtown. Meanwhile, more than 500 
distribution workers head into their fourth week without pay, 
with no signs of agreement. The union is taking Progressive to 
court next week to try to end the lockout.
 
SUBSCRIBE OR UNSUBSCRIBE 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 
 
Brian Harmer does NOT administer the mailing list. Please do 
not send subscription related messages to him. Instead, visit 
the website listed below, where you can make changes as 
required. If you want to send a personal message to Brian, 
change the country code to nz and send a message 
brian.harmer at vuw.ac.xx If you do choose to comment on 
something in these posts, please don't send the whole 
newsletter with your message. Just trim it back to the 
relevant bits. Thanks. Brian.