WYSIWYG NEWS - 12 April, 2007

[news at wysiwygnews.com]

Subject: 12 April, 2007 
----- WYSIWYG NEWS ------------------------------ 
Copyright, Brian Harmer. 
 
Easter weekend saw a continuation of the family theme.  
Catherine and Mark have gone home to Melbourne and we miss 
them already. Mary and I participated in the solemn but 
beautiful Good Friday observances at our parish church, and 
then I had to collect Helen and her boyfriend from the bus 
terminus at the Wellington Central railway station. The 
station is a dismal place at the best of times, despite recent 
efforts to modernise it. The old kiosk has gone, and in the 
corner where the baggage lockers used to be, there is a new 
supermarket which has a deli section specialising in fast food 
for commuters. Here are posters on the trains that read 
"Forgot to cut your lunch? We've got you covered!" It's a 
clever ploy, and in addition to the thirty five thousand or so 
commuters who pass through the station each day, there are a 
couple of thousand students from Victoria University's 
Commerce faculty who attend lectures in or close to the 
railway station. The bus arrived and our two weary travellers 
got off. It's a beautiful journey from Gisborne, but the gloss 
wears off quite rapidly during a 10 hour bus ride.  The next 
afternoon, Mary and I went to Wellington Airport, never one of 
my favourite places, but I am prepared to make an exception 
when my eldest granddaughter and her mother are arriving. 
Grace was excited to see her father since he had already been 
here a week, but we were included in the round of hugs and 
kisses. Back home once more, we took the new bypass route 
through town. I know that it disrupts cross town traffic, but 
it certainly seems to work well for its intended purpose. I 
like it. The weekend weather played its part, and on Easter 
Sunday we were able to enjoy a splendid family lunch at 
Anthony and Sarah's new home in Maungaraki. They moved their 
big dining table out onto the deck and we all sat round a 
veritable mountain of food and enjoyed each other's company in 
sunny flat calm conditions looking out over the grandeur of 
the harbour. The next day, David departed for Brisbane, and 
Helen and boy friend went home to Gisborne. We are enjoying 
the company of Rowena and Grace for the remainder of the week. 
I am not so sure that the changeable, not to say wintry 
weather since the weekend is entirely to their liking. 

---- 
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.  
 
Formatting this week is sponsored once again by my friends George 
and Pat Berger in Alexandria, VA. 
 
----  
On with the News.  
 
Monday, April 2 2007
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

NORTHLAND FLOODS EXPECTED TO COST $5 MILLION
--------------------------------------------

The Earthquake Commission is expecting to pay $5 million to 
owners of flood-ravaged properties in Northland. The EQC has 
received more than 200 claims for damage to land and houses 
since a deluge of rain fell on the region last Thursday. 
Claims manager Keith Long says the cost so far is more than $3 
million, but there are more claims to come. He says the 
commission is expecting around 100 more calls this week. EQC 
damage assessors are already in the flood-hit areas.

ANTI-SMACKING NOT ADOPTED BY GOVT
---------------------------------

The Government is denying another back down on the anti-
smacking bill. It will not become Government business and will 
remain Sue Bradford's private member's bill. Prime Minister 
Helen Clark says there is not really a prospect of completing 
the bill this week so whether it became a Government bill or 
stayed a private member's bill, it will be debated in May. She 
says the decision has nothing to do with the level of support 
from NZ First. The Government has already abandoned plans to 
push the bill through Parliament under urgency.

(I am still mystified as to why this is not a conscience vote. 
Given the PM's utterances before the election, it was never 
put forward as part of their mandate. - BH)

NZ WATERS TO RISE FOLLOWING TSUNAMI
-----------------------------------

New Zealand Civil Defence is monitoring updates from the 
Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre following the massive quake in 
the South Pacific this morning. The 8.1 magnitude earthquake 
sent a tsunami crashing into the Western Province of the 
Solomon Islands. There are reports up to eight people are dead 
while more are missing. New Zealand's director of Civil 
Defence and Emergency Management John Hamilton says the 
scientific advice he has received is water levels here will 
rise half a metre this afternoon. Mr Hamilton says changes in 
sea level are likely to generate hazardous currents which 
boaties and anyone in the water need to be aware of. He says 
he is receiving updates all the time and keeping in close 
contact with Civil Defence in Australia. There are still five 
or six New Zealanders in the Solomon Islands the Ministry of 
Foreign Affairs is trying to contact after the earthquake. 
Everyone in and around Honiara has been accounted for but 
communications with the badly hit town of Gizo are proving 
difficult. The New Zealanders MFAT is trying to get hold of 
are believed to be on outlying islands.

(I believe that a rise of a few millimetres eventuated on the 
New Zealand coast - BH)

EPMU WORKERS ACCEPT AIR NZ DEAL
-------------------------------

Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union members of Air 
New Zealand's ground services have accepted a package to stop 
their jobs being out-sourced. The EPMU is calling the deal the 
best of a bad situation. A majority 77.8 percent of members 
voted in favour of the settlement, which involves losses to 
some and gains for others. Those who are facing a pay cut can 
choose between redundancy or staying on with a $3,000 payment. 
Members say staff are upset at the way they have been treated, 
but are relieved they will not lose their jobs. The package 
does not include the Service Food Workers Union represented 
workers, who chose not to accept the deal. 
 
(This deal under duress has all the appearance of a temporary 
stay of execution. The axe is still up there. - BH)

KEY OUTLINES SCHOOL POLICY
--------------------------

John Key says national standards for primary and intermediate 
schools are the only way to guarantee the future of New 
Zealand children. The National Party leader has unveiled three 
education policies which will set standards in reading, 
writing and numeracy. They will be defined by benchmarks set 
in a range of tests. Mr Key says at the moment there are too 
many kids who are slipping through the system and for a 
lifetime they are locked out of any jobs they want because 
they have failed the basic building blocks of education. Mr 
Key says the only way for the policy to work is with the 
cooperation of teachers, experts and parents. 
 
(This initiative met with overwhelming rejection at an 
international principals' conference which was taking place at 
the time. - BH)

UP TO 43 PATIENTS AT RISK OF CJD
--------------------------------

An Auckland City Hospital patient appears to be suffering from 
the rare and deadly brain wasting Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. 
The Auckland District Health Board says the patient does not 
definitely have the disease, but has symptoms consistent with 
CJD and is effectively unconscious. If the patient has CJD it 
is likely she contracted it while having a brain membrane 
graft in 1984. The concern is that other patients are 
automatically linked to the woman because CJD can be 
transmitted through the use of the same surgical instruments, 
which can transfer brain cells despite the sterilisation 
process. The same tools have been used on 43 patients since 
the woman's operation. Officials are stressing it is very 
unlikely the group has contracted the disease, as since the 
1950s only eight people worldwide have been infected this way. 
They say since then Auckland City Hospital has updated its 
sterilisation process. It will not be know for years if the 43 
patients have CJD, as it takes a long time to develop. What 
the ADHB can do is not yet clear, but it has been talking with 
international specialists and is looking at creating a 
national strategy to deal with CJD. If members of the public 
are concerned they can call 0800 234 200.

REPORTED CRIME UP 4.1 PERCENT IN 2006
-------------------------------------

The number of reported crimes increased by more than 16,000 in 
2006. The annual crime statistics show of the 4.1 percent 
increase in reported crime, the largest jump was in sexual 
offences, up 9.7 percent. Of the 12 police districts, six saw 
a decrease in reported crime levels. Bay of Plenty had a 10.1 
percent drop, while Northland's crime was down by eight 
percent. The largest increases in reported crime were recorded 
in Wellington, where there was an increase of nearly eight 
percent, and in Canterbury which had an increase of 6.5 
percent.

KIWISAVER DEFAULT PROVIDERS SIGNED UP
-------------------------------------

The Government has signed up its default providers for its 
soon to be launched Kiwisaver scheme. The initiative begins in 
July, and will see people entering new jobs automatically 
enrolled in a retirement savings programme. Finance Minister 
Michael Cullen has held an official signing ceremony at 
Parliament this morning for the six companies involved in the 
initiative. They are; ASB, AMP, ING New Zealand, Mercer 
Consulting, AXA New Zealand and Tower.

PASSENGERS COPING WITH NEW SECURITY MEASURES
--------------------------------------------

Airports around the country are coming to grips with new 
security measures, which require international travellers to 
carry liquids on board in clear plastic bags. Christchurch 
International Airport is reporting a smooth start to the 
implementation of strict new security measures. Airport 
manager Darin Cusack says a few people grumbled but for the 
most part it went well. He says passengers appear to have 
boned up on the new regulations and have been well organised. 
Don Huse, Auckland International Airport CEO says the only 
people who seemed surprised were travellers from South 
America, but the big test for the airport will come over the 
busy Easter break. Under the new rules travellers will only be 
allowed to carry on board liquids, aerosols and gels including 
drinks, perfume, aftershave lotion, toothpaste and creams if 
they are in containers of 100ml or less. The containers must 
be packed in a one litre, clear plastic bag which is 
resealable. 
 
(The public are basically compliant in such matters, but it 
surely behoves the airlines to ensure that no aircraft leaves 
the grounds without a full supply of potable water and toilets 
that are guaranteed to function for the duration of the 
flight. Oh yes, and perhaps more frequent tours of the cabin 
by staff offering water. Many passengers in window seats are 
too diffident to clamber over a sleeping neighbour unless the 
need is dire. - BH)

MORE MEN WANTED TO TEACH YOUNGSTERS
-----------------------------------

One of the key note speakers at an early childhood conference 
in Christchurch is rallying government and industry to get 
more men into the profession. New Zealand has one of the 
lowest rates of men working in early childhood centres in the 
developed world with less than one percent in the sector 
compared with about 10 percent in countries such as Denmark, 
Sweden, Scotland and Norway. Belgian expert Jan Peeters spoke 
at the Early Childhood Conference in Christchurch this weekend 
and says it is important for children to have both a male and 
female influence in their education.

STORM BREWING OVER CLIMATE COMMENTS
-----------------------------------

A storm of words is brewing over the meteorological analysis 
of Northland's bad weather last week. The Climate Science 
Coalition is pouring scorn on the National Institute of 
Weather and Atmospheric Research, which said there would be 
more flooding events in the future because of global warming. 
Coalition spokesman Augie Auer says the observation by NIWA's 
climate scientist Dr Jim Salinger, is simplistic and 
unscientific, especially considering the fact the summer 
brought below average temperatures. He claims Dr Jim 
Salinger's argument has no credibility. "In fact, his 
(Salinger's) agency's own figures show that New Zealand has 
been cooling since the El Nino of 1998. To put it simply, NIWA 
is claiming that warming is occurring when its own records 
show otherwise. Why wont they admit this?" Professor Auer also 
claims there is no scientific proof that carbon dioxide is the 
cause of the minimal warming that occurs from time to time in 
the atmosphere. "As a consequence, there is no need for Kyoto, 
carbon taxes and the other costly red herrings currently being 
spun in political circles." Prof Auer, a former chief 
meteorologist, is calling for NIWA to be disbanded and for all 
weather matters to be returned to MetService, which once dealt 
with all issues relating to climate science. 
 
(Dr Salinger's comments are of course exactly in line with the 
recently released IPCC report, and the great majority of 
scientific opinion. If you have a different view please don't 
bother to write. :-) - BH)

MORE SAFETY SCRUTINY OF SPEEDWAYS LIKELY
----------------------------------------

There is likely to be scrutiny of speedway safety following 
the weekend death of a 13-year-old spectator at a Blenheim 
track. The boy died in Wairau Hospital from his injuries after 
he was struck when a car flipped over a safety barrier at 
Renwick's Eastern States Speedway on Saturday night. People in 
the crowd say the car flew through the air after it struck 
another vehicle. Speedway photographer George Gibbs says it 
was horrendous. He says it was a freak accident and in all the 
30 years he has been at events, it is the first time he has 
seen something go into the crowd. Mr Gibbs says there was no 
way of predicting what happened. Western Springs Speedway 
promoter Dave Stewart believes there will be pressure to 
improve track side conditions after the fatality. He says 
things can always be made taller, wider and straighter but 
there is a limit to what can be done.

GOVT CONSIDERING FLOOD RELIEF
-----------------------------

There is likely to be scrutiny of speedway safety following 
the weekend death of a 13-year-old spectator at a Blenheim 
track. The boy died in Wairau Hospital from his injuries after 
he was struck when a car flipped over a safety barrier at 
Renwick's Eastern States Speedway on Saturday night. People in 
the crowd say the car flew through the air after it struck 
another vehicle. Speedway photographer George Gibbs says it 
was horrendous. He says it was a freak accident and in all the 
30 years he has been at events, it is the first time he has 
seen something go into the crowd. Mr Gibbs says there was no 
way of predicting what happened. Western Springs Speedway 
promoter Dave Stewart believes there will be pressure to 
improve track side conditions after the fatality. He says 
things can always be made taller, wider and straighter but 
there is a limit to what can be done.

Tuesday, April 3 2007
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AUDITOR GENERAL TO INVESTIGATE DHBS
-----------------------------------

The Health Minister has called in the Auditor General to look 
at Auckland's three district health boards. Pete Hodgson is 
under increased political pressure to sack officials from the 
DHBs for their part in the community laboratories contracting 
row. The DHBs' decision to award the contract for provision of 
lab services to Labtests Auckland rather than incumbent 
provider Diagnostic Medlab was overturned by the High Court 
last month. Labtests chief executive Tony Bierre was a member 
of the Auckland District Health Board when the new contract 
was awarded. Although Dr Bierre outlined his conflict of 
interest to the board the court ruled its knowledge of the 
conflict and inability to act on it made the process unfair. 
Pete Hodgson has asked Kevin Brady to undertake a focused 
performance audit to examine how conflicts of interest are 
dealt with in each of the three DHBs. He says he wants to 
ensure the "debacle" does not happen again. He says findings 
from the Auditor General around the issue of conflict of 
interest will be vital to assist other DHBs over the same 
issue.

ANTISOCIAL BOYS CAN BECOME ILL ADULTS
-------------------------------------

New research links antisocial behaviour in boys with poor 
physical health in their adulthood. Paper co-author Professor 
Richie Poulton from Otago University says while other studies 
have shown childhood antisocial behaviour leads to adult crime 
and mental disorder, this is the first study to show evidence 
of the link to poor physical health in adulthood. He says poor 
physical health outcomes include injury, sexually transmitted 
diseases, cardiovascular risk, reduced immune function and 
dental disease. The findings are published this week in the US 
journal, Archives of General Psychiatry. Researchers at the 
University of Otago's Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and 
Development Research Unit collaborated with colleagues at the 
Institute of Psychiatry at Kings College, University of 
London. The findings come out of the Dunedin Multidisciplinary 
Health & Development Study, which has followed 1000 Dunedin-
born people since their birth in 1972/73 For this study, 526 
males were assessed throughout their childhood, adolescence, 
and as young adults, with the most recent assessments at age 
32. Boys whose antisocial behaviour persisted into adulthood 
were more than three times as likely to show symptoms of 
chronic bronchitis and gum disease, 2.9 times more likely to 
show markers for later heart disease and stroke, and 2.2 times 
more likely to have contracted the Herpes virus. Males who 
exhibited high levels of antisocial behaviour as children but 
reduced their antisocial behaviour by adulthood did not have 
the same poor health as adults. Professor Poulton hopes the 
findings will encourage policy-makers to feel more comfortable 
making investments in prevention measures.

POLICE CONDUCT REPORT RELEASED
------------------------------

The report into police conduct has come up with 60 
recommendations. Dame Margaret reviewed 313 complaints of 
sexual assault against 222 police officers over 26 years. Of 
them, 141 were serious enough for criminal charges to be laid. 
The report recommends police have a code of conduct which 
currently does not exist. Among other things, officers will be 
prohibited from participating in a sexual relationship with 
someone they are dealing with professionally. The Government 
says it is committed to adopt all the report's 
recommendations. More follows. 
 
(Anyone interested in the report in full can find it here. 
http://tinyurl.com/28fbtj. I disagree with the recommendation 
to abolish the disciplinary tribunal and replace it with an 
ordinary industrial relations process. Unlike most other 
employees, the police cannot withhold their labour and must 
regularly go into harm's way on our behalf. To my mind this 
means that we expect different things from them than we expect 
from anyone other than the armed forces. They should have a 
parallel process to the military. - BH)

OPPONENTS SLAM NATIONAL'S EDUCATION POLICY
------------------------------------------

National Party leader John Key is being told he is out of 
touch with his latest education policy. National wants to 
introduce standards and benchmarks in reading, writing and 
numeracy at primary schools. But New Zealand First's education 
spokesman Brian Donnelly says schools already have plenty of 
assessment tools available to them. He says there are a huge 
array of tests available for primary schools, which are of 
very high quality and allow peer comparisons. Mr Donnelly 
claims National is backtracking on its earlier position of 
having national standards. Education Minister Steve Maharey 
believes National's policy is a giant step backwards to the 
practices of the last century. He claims that introducing age-
related national testing standards will simply put children 
onto an education production line, rather than allowing them 
to move on individually as fast as they can.

INSURANCE CLAIMS LODGED FOR FLOOD DISASTER
------------------------------------------

More than a thousand claims have been lodged from last week's 
floods in Northland. Chris Ryan, chief executive of the 
Insurance Council, says the claims range from entire buildings 
being swept away as a result of land slips, to houses that are 
uninhabitable. The estimated cost will be more than $10 
million. Mr Ryan says most of the claims are for property 
damage and he is unaware of any livestock claims so far.

Wednesday, 4 April 2007
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

FRUIT PEST EDGING CLOSER TO NZ
------------------------------

Biosecurity officials are on alert for a pest which could 
seriously affect the New Zealand wine industry and other 
summer fruits. The Glassywinged Sharpshooter is rife in North 
America and has been edging closer to the New Zealand region. 
It has now been confirmed in the Cook Islands. New Zealand's 
acting biosecurity standards manager Stephen Butcher border 
surveillance has been stepped up on imports from the Cook 
Islands. He says Biosecurity officials can never guarantee a 
pest will not sneak in and are reviewing existing precautions 
to see if they can be strengthened.

BOTTOM-TRAWLING BANNED IN 1/3 OF NZ WATERS
------------------------------------------

Almost a third of New Zealand's Exclusive Economic Zone is to 
be protected from bottom-trawling. The Government has been in 
consultations with the fisheries industry and other stake 
holders for over a year about what steps should be taken to 
protect underwater features, such as cold water corals and 
seamounts. Fisheries Minister Jim Anderton has announced all 
areas under current regulation will be closed, meaning 30 
percent of the seabed under our economic zone will be 
protected. He says 17 separate areas are covered and are being 
set aside to protect the seabed. 
 
(No lawyer jokes are required at this time - BH)

PRICE OF STAMPS TO RISE TO 50C
------------------------------

Postage price is going up five cents to 50 cents in June. Fast 
Post is also going up from 90 cents to a $1. New Zealand Post 
says the price hike is a result of increased costs and growth 
in the number of addresses to which New Zealand Post delivers. 
Parcels, bulk mail and international mail prices are not 
affected.

(Wouldn't you know it. I bought a box of 100 45c stamps last 
week! - BH)

TAME ITI'S FIREARM CONVICTIONS OVERTURNED
-----------------------------------------

The Court of Appeal has overturned Tame Iti's firearms 
convictions. The veteran Maori activist was charged after 
letting off a shotgun during an open-air Waitangi Tribunal 
hearing at Ruatoki in January 2005. He was found guilty under 
the Arms Act on two counts of possessing a firearm in a public 
place and was fined $300. Iti appealed the convictions on the 
grounds Crown law does not cover the ceremonial area in front 
of a marae's wharenui. 
 
(Bizarre. His appeal was successful because the court held 
that the prosecution didn't prove he intended harm. I am 
astonished that intention to harm is a necessary element of 
firearms charges. - BH)

OVERHAUL OF POLICE SENIOR MANAGEMENT WANTED
-------------------------------------------

Judith Garrett, one of the women who sparked the Police 
Commission of Inquiry into police conduct wants a complete 
overhaul of police senior management. The investigation was 
launched after rape allegations were levelled against police 
by Northland woman Ms Garrett and Louise Nicholas from Rotorua 
but their claims could not be included in the Dame Margaret 
Bazley's investigation because the women's cases against 
current and former officers were before the courts. Ms Garrett 
says most senior officers now in management positions were 
around when the appalling police culture was occurring in the 
1980s. She believes all the top brass should step down and be 
replaced by people who are not tainted. Ms Garrett claims 
Commissioner Howard Broad must have known what was going on. 
The Government has promised to adopt all 60 recommendations in 
Dame Margaret's report, including implementing a code of 
conduct for police and last night, Parliament appointed a 
deputy to the Police Complaints Authority as a result of the 
Bazley report into police conduct. District court judge 
Michael Lance will join Police Complaints Authority Justice 
Lowell Goddard. New Zealand First MP Ron Mark says appointing 
a deputy is a good step towards strengthening the independence 
of the authority but United Future leader Peter Dunne doubts 
the Bazley report will stamp out what he calls the unhealthy 
cancer at the core of the police. He says a code of conduct 
may sound like a good idea but he is not convinced it will 
tackle the issue of police looking after their own by ignoring 
the conduct of misbehaving officers. He says the whole way in 
which people in middle to senior police management are 
appointed needs to be re-examined to ensure the best people 
are coming through. Mr Dunne says police have allowed an evil 
culture to develop to protect their own behind a wall of 
silence. Dame Margaret investigated more than 300 sexual 
assault claims involving police between 1979 and 2005. She 
found 141 cases could have resulted in charges or reprimands 
being brought against officers. 
 
(I don't believe that there is an unhealthy cancer "at the 
core of the police". There may well be too many amoral, or 
even immoral cops, but why they are perceived by Mr Dunne as 
being "at the core" eludes me. I sincerely hope that the 
forthcoming review of electoral boundaries will move me to 
someone else's electorate. - BH)

ROBOT MEAT BONING TECHNOLOGY A STEP CLOSER
------------------------------------------

The Government is investing $4 million into a Dunedin venture 
that aims to bring new technology into the meat processing 
market. Robotic Technologies is a joint research-and-
development venture between Dunedin's Scott Technology and 
meat processing company, PPCS. Robotic Technologies aims to 
fast track the commercialisation of a robotic boning room 
system. The company estimates it will provide processors with 
yield benefits of about $4 million a year and labour savings 
of another $1 million each year. Spokesman Chris Hopkins says 
the system has a major health and safety benefit, as it will 
remove the need for bandsaws - the single biggest source of 
injury in the meat industry.

AUCKLAND RANKED A TOP CITY
--------------------------

Auckland has been ranked as one of the top five cities in the 
world to live, but mayor Dick Hubbard wants to go even higher. 
Human resources consultancy firm Mercer surveyed 215 cities. 
Auckland came in behind Zurich, Geneva, Vancouver and Vienna. 
Wellington comes in at number 12. The worst city to live 
according to the survey is Baghdad, followed by Brazzaville in 
the Congo. Mr Hubbard welcomes the findings, but believes 
Auckland has the potential to move up the rankings. He says 
the city is aiming for number one spot in the next survey. 
However he admits Auckland does have problems with its 
transport and is aiming to improve on the current situation.

(I think they must have got the rankings round the wrong way. 
I couldn't live in Auckland now. - BH)

TODAY'S POLICE VINDICATED SAYS UNION
------------------------------------

The president of the Police Association believes today's 
police force will feel vindicated by the Police Commission of 
Inquiry into the conduct of officers. Dame Margaret Bazley's 
investigation reviewed 313 complaints of sexual assault 
against 222 police officers over 26 years and found that in 
141 incidents, there was enough evidence for officers to be 
disciplined or have charges brought against them. The report 
described a "wall of silence" as officers protected 
colleagues. It found there were flaws in the way allegations 
of sexual abuse against police were treated and that a 
stereotyped view existed of complainants. The report's 60 
recommendations, including a code of conduct, will be 
implemented. Police Association President Greg O'Connor says 
there is no evidence of those same failures today and while 
there are still many things which need improving, the public 
can have full confidence in the force. Police Commissioner 
Howard Broad has apologised to the victims of sexual abuse by 
officers and cover ups. The inquiry was sparked by complaints 
from Rotorua woman Louise Nicholas and Judith Garrett of 
Kaitaia. Their cases could not be addressed in the report as 
they were going through the courts when the inquiry was 
carrying out investigations.

TRUCKIES FEEL THE PAIN OF HIGHER COSTS
--------------------------------------

Expect the price of goods to rise as trucking companies put up 
their freight costs by at least 10 percent. The Road Transport 
Forum says there has been a 50 percent rise in Government 
imposed costs over the past 12 months including an extra week 
of leave added to the wages bill. Chief Executive Tony 
Friedlander says the recent 11 percent increase in heavy 
vehicle road user charges was the last straw and will have an 
inflationary effect because everything people use in their 
daily lives is carted by truck. Mr Friedlander says the 
situation is mirroring an industry survey by Waikato 
University showing many smaller trucking companies making 
losses. He says trucking companies have no choice but to pass 
on costs, if they want to stay in business.

Thursday, 5 April 2007
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

GOVT WANTS ELECTION FUNDING SHAKE-UP
------------------------------------

The Deputy Prime Minister has confirmed Labour wants to make 
it harder for people to make anonymous donations to political 
parties. The Government is considering changes to the 
Electoral Act to make electoral funding more transparent. 
Michael Cullen says the current regime, which allows donations 
of up to $10,000 to be anonymous, is in for a shakeup. He says 
there will be stricter rules around donations because the 
public is demanding greater transparency. Dr Cullen says 
Labour favours state electoral funding. National, New Zealand 
First and United Future have grave reservations about the 
proposal. National believes it is a cynical ploy for the 
Government get help paying back its $800,000 election 
overspend. Finance spokesman Bill English says its no 
coincidence that the amount Labour would immediately gain from 
state funding almost matches the amount it has yet to pay 
back. United Future leader Peter Dunne says there is a huge 
risk of abuse and the Government will need to proceed very, 
very carefully. NZ First leader Winston Peters says his party 
has never supported the idea of taxpayer funding of political 
parties. He says parties should go out to the marketplace and 
the streets and get support the old fashioned way. Both United 
Future and NZ First support a tightening up of laws around 
anonymous donations.

NZ NEEDS TO IMPROVE ENVIRONMENTAL PERFORMANCE
---------------------------------------------

New Zealand is being urged to improve its performance in the 
areas of water pollution, waste management, energy efficiency 
and climate protection. The OECD Environmental Performance 
Review of New Zealand acknowledges New Zealand has improved 
its environmental performance over the past decade and offers 
38 recommendations for improvement. It encourages better 
protection of surface and ground waters and recommends the 
introduction of regulations on water quality and economic 
approaches to water allocation. The report also calls for 
upgrades of waste management, to the extent of making 
landfills run on a full cost recovery basis. OECD official 
Lorents Lorentson says New Zealand's industrial sector needs 
to improve its energy efficiency and there is quite a lot of 
potential for doing so. He says carbon emissions per unit of 
GDP from electricity generation are also growing fast. Mr 
Lorentson says New Zealand has very little incentive to 
conserve fuel because the nation's low taxes on motor vehicle 
fuels. He says the Government's suspension of its carbon tax 
is creating uncertainty as to how New Zealand will meet its 
Kyoto Protocol obligations. He has praise for New Zealand's 
environmental performance in the fisheries sector, saying the 
transferable quota system has helped avoid stock collapses and 
the New Zealand model is being emulated overseas. Environment 
Minister David Benson-Pope says work is already underway to 
meet many of the 38 recommendations, such as reducing 
greenhouse gas emissions and strengthening environmental 
monitoring. He acknowledges more needs to be done and where 
the Government is unlikely to meet the OECD's recommendations, 
alternative actions are already in place. The OECD's 
Environmental Performance Review of New Zealand makes a number 
of recommendations. Among other things, it calls on New 
Zealand to: - Better protect surface and ground waters. The 
report shows that the water quality of streams, rivers and 
lakes is declining due to diffuse pollution, and irrigation is 
taking a toll on some aquifers. The OECD recommends 
introducing baseline regulations on water quality, and 
economic approaches to water allocation among users, to avoid 
problems in the future. - Clarify and strengthen climate 
protection policy. The suspension of the climate protection 
policy package in 2005, in particular the planned carbon tax, 
has created great uncertainty about how New Zealand will meet 
its Kyoto target. The OECD calls on the country to use 
economic approaches to encourage energy efficiency and carbon 
dioxide sequestration. It also recommends more use of the 
"Kyoto flexible mechanisms", including emissions trading. - 
Upgrade waste management. The OECD notes improvements in waste 
management policies, but urges that landfill sites be run on a 
full cost recovery basis, country-wide, to help finance needed 
infrastructure improvements. The report also points out the 
need for systematic tracking of movements and treatment of 
hazardous wastes. - Improve environmental reporting at the 
national level. The OECD points to the need for better 
coordination of regional-level monitoring to enable the 
development of national-level indicators to track progress 
towards environmental sustainability goals. Among achievements 
during the review period, the report notes that New Zealand 
has: - Kept environmentally harmful subsidies among the lowest 
in the OECD in the agriculture and fisheries sectors. 
Associated environmental benefits include the conversion of 
large tracts of marginal agricultural lands to forest or 
conservation parks. Fisheries management through individual 
tradable quotas has helped avoid stock collapses; Improved 
drinking water quality. T

PETROL PRICES RISE - THEN FALL AND FALL
---------------------------------------

Healthy competition has led to a drop in prices at the petrol 
pumps. A price war broke out in Auckland when Gull refused to 
shunt up its prices earlier this week. Other oil companies put 
up their prices, then decreased them again shortly after. 
Shell fired a fresh shot early this afternoon by cutting 
prices around the country, in some areas by up to 6c a litre. 
It took its national price for 91 to $1.51.9 a litre, 95 to 
$1.56.89 and diesel to 97.9c a litre. There have also been 
varying prices nationwide, with Wanganui drivers at one stage 
paying up to 4c less a litre. AA spokesman Mike Noon is 
advising motorists to shop around, as the prices are 
constantly changing. He says competition is the best thing 
within the marketplace. 
 
(That was a pleasant surprise at least for the holiday weekend 
- BH)

FLU SHOTS AVAILABLE NOW
-----------------------

Influenza vaccinations are available from doctors' clinics 
from today. The vaccine has been distributed to GPs over the 
past three weeks. The National Influenza Strategy Group is 
predicting more New Zealanders than ever will be immunised 
this season. The group says orders from doctors and DHBs for 
promotional resources such as brochures have already exceeded 
expectations. Virologist Dr Lance Jennings says it is best to 
have the vaccination now, before the influenza enters the 
community. The vaccine is free for New Zealanders aged over 65 
or those with long-term health conditions, including children.

RETHINK ON MOTORWAY FUNDING
---------------------------

Transit is now considering how it will find alternative 
funding for Auckland's Western Ring Route after huge public 
opposition forced it to drop a proposal to impose tolls. The 
48km motorway will provide an alternative to State Highway 1, 
bypassing Auckland to the west and linking Manukau City to 
Albany via Waitakere. To close the $800 million funding gap 
tolls of up to $10 a time could have been imposed on motorists 
using the route, allowing it to be completed by 2015. Rick van 
Barneveld, CEO of Transit New Zealand, says 21,500 submissions 
were received about the tolling proposal. Most wanted an 
alternative method of funding. Mr Barneveld says the 
government is investigating other funding options, which could 
include a regional fuel tax. 
 
(I don't believe the opposition was any greater than it would 
be for their abject failure to get Transmission gully built 
now. - BH)

GOVT OUTLINING TELECOM SPLIT DEMANDS
------------------------------------

Telecommunications Minister David Cunliffe is due to release a 
draft document on the Government's requirements for Telecom's 
split. Telecom was ordered to separate into retail, wholesale 
and network units after the passing of the Telecommunications 
Amendment Act last December. The Government had previously 
announced it would force the company to unbundle the local 
loop, opening its network to rivals. Public consultation is 
sought on the draft document.

Friday, 6 April 2007
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

LABOUR INSPECTORS OUT AND ABOUT
-------------------------------

Department of Labour inspectors visited 25 retailers on Good 
Friday which they consider were in breach of the Easter 
trading laws. The outlets throughout the country were 
businesses that had been prosecuted last year, or ones the 
public had complained about. The majority were garden centres. 
Labour Department spokesman Andrew Annakin says the visits 
could result in the retailer being issued with a warning or 
summons, depending on the circumstances. The Department will 
also be visiting retailers on Easter Sunday when trading is 
also forbidden.

WORKERS URGED TO TREASURE EASTER HOLIDAYS
-----------------------------------------

The Council of Trade Unions is urging all workers to get in 
behind the campaign to save their Easter statutory holidays. 
Union secretary Carol Beaumont says Easter is one of the few 
long weekends when workers can be with their families. She 
says Pacific Island workers in particular are over-represented 
in low paying jobs and the pressure to work can be just too 
great. She says the fact that shops cannot legally open on 
Good Friday and Easter Sunday means staff do get a break. Ms 
Beaumont believes there is growing recognition about the need 
to address a healthy work-life balance. "People have other 
responsibilities as well as their working life. They do want 
to spend quality time with their children or involved in 
community or religious activities and we're right behind 
them." Ms Beaumont says with only three and a half days a year 
when shops cannot trade, closing businesses should not be a 
big deal. She wants workers to let their local MP know how 
much they value the Easter break.

18-YEAR-OLD ARRESTED OVER AIR GUN ACCIDENT
------------------------------------------

An 18-year-old man has been arrested and charged after 
shooting a young relative in the head with an air rifle. The 
14-year-old youth underwent surgery last night to have a 
pellet removed from his head, after the shooting in Waitangi. 
He is now in a stable condition in hospital. It is the second 
air gun shooting of a young person in Northland in a week. 
Last Friday Tayla Scott was accidentally hit in the chest by a 
pellet from a gun fired by her older brother. She is now 
recovering from her injuries. Detective Sergeant Rhys Johnston 
says some people obviously do not treat air guns as the 
dangerous weapons they are. DS Johnston says the 18-year-old 
who has been charged is not an immediate relative of the boy. 
He will appear in court on Tuesday charged with careless use 
of an airgun. Meanwhile, the Council of Licensed Firearms 
wants people to wake up to the dangers of air guns. Chairman 
John Howat says it is important to keep the guns locked away 
so people who do not know how to use them, do not have access 
to them. Mr Howat says he would like to see the laws tightened 
so people are better educated when they buy air guns, and 
restricted in what they can do with them.

BUSINESSES WARNED NOT TO BREAK EASTER TRADING LAWS
--------------------------------------------------

Businesses planning to trade this Good Friday are being urged 
to make sure they have the right to do so. Only retailers who 
are exempt under current legislation are allowed to open today 
and on Easter Sunday. To make sure this happens, Department of 
Labour staff will out on time-and-a-half, checking on 
retailers all over the country. Spokesman Martin Quivooy says 
there are no excuses. He says they have already written to 
people who have broken the law previously, and may visit 
businesses which have been prosecuted in the past. Martin 
Quivooy says those who do not comply, can be prosecuted and 
fined up to a thousand dollars. 
 
(The $1,000 fine is so trivial in comparison with the profits 
to be made that they just regard it as the cost of the license 
to operate. - BH)

GOVERNMENT SLAMMED OVER OECD REPORT
-----------------------------------

The Greens are blasting the Government's environmental 
policies as a major failure. It follows the release of an OECD 
report on New Zealand's environmental progress since 1996. It 
is critical of our record on energy efficiency, but says we 
are very good at managing fish stocks. Green MP Nandor Tanczos 
wants to know what the Government is going to do about 
problems identified in the report. He says it shows the 
greenhouse gas intensity of the New Zealand economy is the 
fourth highest in the OECD. Mr Tanczos says the dropping of 
plans for a carbon tax has raised concerns about how we will 
meet out Kyoto Protocol commitments. National's Environment 
spokesman Nick Smith is also critical saying the report makes 
it difficult for the Government to claim it is leading the way 
on sustainability. He says it shows declining water quality 
and rising greenhouse gas emissions. Nick Smith wonders how 
things could be worse, with the report also highlighting 
policy failures in the areas of water, waste, the oceans, and 
biodiversity. The Government says work is already underway to 
address some of the concerns raised.

(I wish the Greens would stop slamming things. It makes my 
ears hurt.  - BH)

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