WYSIWYG NEWS - 19 August, 2007

[news at wysiwygnews.com]

Subject:  19 August, 2007 
----- WYSIWYG NEWS ------------------------------ 
Copyright, Brian Harmer. 

The number of positive messages of support for the 
continuation of WYSIWG has swelled to 150 so it will live on 
for another cycle. Thanks to all of you who took the time to 
offer such supportive messages. I really appreciate it. 
However, I must now seek financial support once more, as I 
last did in January, 2006. 

Just to recap how it works, I pay an assistant NZD$40 each 
week to gather the news, and to put it in the format with 
which you are familiar. The task that takes them a bit over 
three hours each time, so it is a minimal sort of rate. The 
present incumbent is a graduate student who is desperately 
glad to supplement her modest scholarship funds in this way. 
There are no other expenses, and I take nothing. Please 
consider sponsoring one or more weeks at the rate of 
NZD$40/week. If you are willing to do this, the simplest 
method (for me) is to post a personal cheque (or check if you 
prefer) to me care of my home address which is 

Brian Harmer (for WYSIWYG)
85 Normandale Rd
Lower Hutt 5010 
New Zealand

Cheques, though old fashioned, are able to be deposited in the 
informal trust account set up for WYSIWYG free of all charges 
or deductions. If that is not possible, I can provide a bank 
account number and you might see if you could do some sort of 
direct electronic transfer. I would rather not put the account 
number out there on the web, so if this method is your 
preference, please email me an I will reply more or less 
immediately. Please make sure you let me know how (or whether) 
you would like your sponsorship acknowledged. My thanks to the 
"gracious gentleman from British Columbia" to whom I referred 
last week. Not waiting for the request, he has already sent me 
a cheque ... many thanks. 

The week in retrospect was one that might be best described as 
"soft". No real extremes were experienced, but there was a lot 
of mist and light rain, with a consequent spate of accidents 
on the roads. On a couple of mornings, I pulled back the 
curtains on the new day to see ... nothing! A few times a year, 
low cloud blankets the Western Hills of the Hutt Valley. After 
my morning ablutions and a wander down the drive to retrieve 
the morning paper to be read over breakfast, I noted a 
lightening in the view from the window. The cloud previously 
obscuring the view was gone, lifted, evaporated, blown away or 
whatever, but definitely gone. On the other side of the 
valley, others were not so lucky, and there were long snaky 
tendrils which may have been low cloud, or high river mist. 
They snaked their way from the upper valley through the Taita 
Gorge and across into Naenae, with the odd strand flowing up 
and over the hills to Wainuiomata. It was an eerie spectacle, 
and because I am rarely fully alert before the morning coffee 
break at around 10:30am, I didn't think to attempt a 
photograph of the scene. It was irritating in a way, since 
just last Sunday, TVNZ showed a superb documentary in its 
"Artsville" series on the life and work of Andris Apse. I have 
had the privilege of a brief acquaintance with Andris, and had 
the privilege of enjoying a venison stew with him in Okarito. 
I regard him as one of the world's truly great living artists 
with a camera. He specialises in landscapes, and has done some 
superb work in and around Fiordland. Unlike me, who would take 
the shot I see when I see it (assuming I am fully awake), 
Andris sees a scene, and imagines what it would be like under 
particular lighting conditions and then waits weeks or months 
for the conditions to make such lighting likely. He then comes 
back and waits until the moment when envisaged effect is 
present and then takes the photograph. To see some samples of 
his work, point your web browser at 
http://www.andrisapse.com/gallery.php Make sure you look at 
the various categories of image available on that page. I 
could wish I were more like him as a photographer, but I know 
that I have neither the patience to wait, nor the fitness to 
get to the locations he chooses, nor yet the all important 
inner eye that sees the possibilities. 

---- 
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. 

----  
On with the News.  

Monday, 13 August 2007
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

1080 TO GET TIGHTER CONTROLS
----------------------------

The Environmental Risk Management Authority has announced it 
is putting tighter controls on the use of 1080. From next year 
ERMA will actively monitor all aerial drops of the poison, and 
it is also urging further research into both the effects of 
the poison and other methods of possum control. The decisions 
follow a full-scale reassessment of 1080, which took six 
months and included 1,400 public submissions. Authority 
Chairman Neil Walter says opinion was deeply divided and they 
had to weigh up the threat to the environment posed by pests 
like possums, rabbits, rats and stoats against what many 
people see as the unacceptable risks of 1080, particularly 
aerial drops. He says their decision recognises that for the 
time being there is no practical alternative to 1080 in areas 
where native bush and agricultural production is at serious 
risk. Forest and Bird is welcoming the plans to tighten 
controls. Spokesman Kevin Hackwell maintains 1080 is the best 
tool for controlling pests and reducing the threat they pose 
to native wildlife. He says without it, the dawn chorus in 
many forests would fall silent, because of the continued toll 
introduced pests take. 
 
(Strongly held views for and against have been voiced. On 
balance, I find myself in agreement with the decision taken. 
People who fly over our native bush have attested to the 
visible damage being done by the millions of these accursed 
pests. We just can't make enough pies to control them by 
eating them. - BH)

NEW LANGUAGE OPTION FOR STUDENTS
--------------------------------

A Tongan community leader believes it is the perfect time to 
introduce the Tongan language into the school curriculum. 
Associate Pacific Affairs Minister, Winnie Laban, will launch 
the addition to the curriculum in Auckland this morning. Inoke 
Vala, a business consultant and active member of the South 
Auckland community, says the Tongan language is eroding 
locally and it is important that the trend is halted to keep 
the culture alive. He believes the option of learning Tongan 
at school will be very popular. There were 50,000 Tongans 
living in New Zealand in 2006. Two thirds live in South 
Auckland.

RATEPAYERS MAY HELP FUND HOUSE RAISING
--------------------------------------

The Far North District Council may dip into the mayoral fund 
to help a number of homeowners move their properties to 
safety. Thirteen homes have been issued with council notices 
ordering them to raise their homes to avoid damage in the 
event of another flood. Twelve of the properties are in Kaeo 
and the other is in Kaitaia. District Council spokesman 
Patrick Schofield says the homes have been flooded up to three 
times and must be lifted at least 500mm above the level set to 
cope with a one-in-100 year flood level. The council is 
working with insurance companies to get them to cover the 
insured homeowners. He says those people who are not insured 
are likely to be helped out by the council and hopefully 
central government.

(I have probably said before that I think that phrasing "one-
in-100 year flood" is unhelpful. It raises the expectation 
among victims that, having had a flood, there will not be a 
recurrence for another century. All it says is that, in any 
given year, there is a 1% chance of such a flood. - BH)

SACKED LECTURER SAYS HE'S NOT RACIST
------------------------------------

The Auckland University lecturer sacked for sending an angry 
email to a Middle Eastern student he believes was under-
performing says he is ashamed of what he has done but says he 
is not racist. Paul Buchanan says he is ashamed and deeply 
sorry for writing the email to 25-year-old Asma Al Yammahi, 
but is also humbled by the expressions of support he has had 
from past and present students and colleagues. He believes he 
has been the victim of political correctness and says anyone 
who knows him and his Italian/Irish background knows he is not 
racist. Dr Buchanan says the bottom line for him is that he 
wants his job back. 
 
(This has been a truly "hairy" episode. As I understand it, Dr 
Buchanan made the error of sending an email while he was 
angry. The email which has been widely published was certainly 
not in keeping with the best standards of teacher student 
relationships, but I suspect most teachers have had a moment 
like that. If, as has been represented, this is a first 
offence, I would expect that the employment court will mandate 
his reinstatement. - BH)

MORE NERVOUSNESS EXPECTED IN MARKETS
------------------------------------

A degree of caution is expected as business resumes on the 
financial markets this morning. There was extreme turbulence 
from stockmarkets around the world last week sparked by fears 
over America's risky sub prime mortgages. French bank BNP 
Paribas froze three debt funds as fears widened that worsening 
lending conditions could harm economic growth and companies' 
profits. The US Federal Reserve pumped $US38 billion into the 
banking system in a single day, the largest amount of 
liquidity since the 9/11 attacks in 2001. The Dow Jones 
Industrial Average closed last week down a further 31 points, 
after recording losses of 387 the previous session. The pan-
European FTS Eurofirst 300 index ended 3.04 percent lower, 
recording its biggest one-day slump since May 2003. New 
Zealand's main index, the NZX50, is the first global market to 
open for the week after closing at 4,110 on Friday, down 51 
points. ANZ economist Cameron Bagrie says investors do not 
know how the issues which are unfolding in the US will play 
out and he expects a bit of nervousness when the markets 
reopen today. However, he believes there will not be the 
extreme movements experienced on Friday.

Tuesday, 14 August 2007
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

KIWI FIRM TO ROCKET INTO SPACE
------------------------------

New Zealand is about to join the growing international space 
industry. Auckland company Rocket Lab has designed a 
suborbital rocket capable of shooting 150km into the sky. It 
will be used for scientific research looking at micro gravity, 
solar physics, and climate change. Business development 
manager Mark Rocket, who was the first Kiwi to buy a ticket 
into space, says New Zealand is the perfect platform for this 
type of venture. He says it has a clear airspace and 
favourable regulatory environment. The rocket will take off 
for the first time in September next year. Economic 
Development Minister Trevor Mallard is praising Rocket Lab for 
its creativeness and spirit, saying its efforts may open up 
new opportunities for the aviation sector. He points out 
commercial opportunities in the space industry are growing 
with NASA contracting out much of its work globally to private 
providers.

PUBLIC INVITED TO ORGANICS CONFERENCE
-------------------------------------

The body representing the organics sector is inviting the 
public to attend the Saturday session of its national 
conference. Organics Aotearoa New Zealand's event will take 
place at Lincoln University from August 17 to 19. Spokesman 
Ken Shirley says the group's recent roadshow through New 
Zealand highlighted a groundswell of interest in organic 
production. He says Saturday's public sessions will cover 
organic certification, the market for organic products, 
organics and the environment, Maori values, organic techniques 
and threats producers may face in the future. Mr Shirley 
believes there has been a coming of age for organic 
production. It will cost visitors $100 to attend the Saturday 
sessions.

NZ DOLLAR CONTINUES TO SLIDE
----------------------------

The New Zealand dollar has continued its slide, dropping below 
74 US cents today. Heavy selling of the kiwi saw it drop to 
73.76 overnight and it is currently trading at 73.94 . BNZ 
currency strategist Danica Hampton says the credit concerns 
that triggered the downward movement are going to hang around 
for some time. She predicts the New Zealand dollar could fall 
further over the coming weeks as the US credit situation plays 
out. Ms Hampton says another issue is that Japanese investors 
are continuing to off load the Kiwi. Markets have been spooked 
by the slump in the high-risk sub prime mortgage market in the 
US, which has caused fears of tightening credit. The US 
Federal Reserve and European central banks have been pumping 
liquidity into their financial systems. 
 
(Just a week ago, the nation's financial people were panicking 
as the USD exchange rate hit $0.81. Now we seem to be 
panicking as it enters free fall. - BH)

TOO MANY PROBLEMS FACING FOSTER PARENTS
---------------------------------------

Foster parents are pointing to a myriad of problems that have 
led to children being moved to new placements too many times. 
It has been revealed that more than a thousand babies and 
children have been moved through foster homes at least three 
times in the past three years. A Taranaki girl has lived in 
six different places in the past year and a Christchurch boy 
has lived in 11 homes. The Rev Richard Keyworth, of the 
Auckland Foster Care Association Committee, says often foster 
parents are asked to take in some very disturbed children, but 
are put off for good when their first placement becomes a 
nightmare. He says there is a scarcity of foster parents and 
of support for them in addition to a severe shortage of social 
workers and supervisors. Rev Keyworth says stability is 
paramount for children and lack of it leads to increasing 
feelings of rejection. He says children then push the 
boundaries in extreme ways to see if someone really cares for 
them.

CYF EXPLAINS FOSTER CARE FIGURES
--------------------------------

Child, Youth and Family says figures showing many children in 
its care are being shunted from one family to another do not 
tell the whole story. More than a thousand children were moved 
in and out of foster care at least three times over the past 
year. One 11-year-old was moved 11 times. However Child, Youth 
and Family says in some cases the moves represent respite 
care, where foster parents are given a break, often only for a 
couple of days. The department says in other cases children 
have been moved out to other cities so they can be closer to 
specialised medical care. Child, Youth and Family says often 
foster families simply cannot cope with the level of care and 
supervision some children need.

Wednesday, 15 August 2007
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

F&P JOBS TO GO TO THAILAND
--------------------------

Fisher and Paykel has announced it is moving its Auckland 
electronics manufacturing to Thailand, with the loss of 96 
jobs. The move is expected to save the company $6 million a 
year. CEO John Bongard says New Zealand's economic conditions 
and the high dollar meant the company had no other option. He 
says possible free trade deals between New Zealand and 
countries like China, Thailand and India would also hurt 
Fisher and Paykel's business. Mr Bongard says the company is 
reviewing its remaining Auckland and Dunedin facilities on a 
monthly basis.

(Mr Bongard gave a categorical assurance earlier that there 
would be no further moves offshore this year. When challenged 
on this, he points out that the move won't take effect until 
next year. Hm. - BH) 

WHITE BREAD AND BLUE MILK MOST POPULAR
--------------------------------------

Research by Auckland University shows some of the best sellers 
in supermarkets are among the least healthy. The study 
recorded the shopping habits of 880 shoppers over a year and 
found full sugar soft drinks featured six times in the 30 most 
purchased products list. Full fat milk topped the list, with 
white bread and butter also heavily featured. Project Manager 
Dr Cliona Ni Mhurchu says the findings show small changes like 
buying low fat milk or reduced fat spread could have a 
significant impact on New Zealanders' health.

GOVT HAPPY WIND FARM WILL GO AHEAD
----------------------------------

News a major wind farm project in Wellington will go ahead is 
being welcomed by the Government. Meridian Energy has decided 
to press ahead with its 140 megawatt Makara wind farm 
initiative after winning resource consent. State Owned 
Enterprises and Meridian Shareholding Minister Trevor Mallard 
says the project is important to the Government's energy 
strategy and its desire to promote renewable electricity 
generation. Mr Mallard predicts the project will bring wider 
benefits increasing the power available for transfer south, 
reducing the risk of South Island shortages and enabling 
Meridian to more efficiently manage its Southern Hydro lakes. 
 
(I think I read that they will erect fewer turbines than their 
consent allows. - BH)

PARENTS WARNED TO CHECK FOR CHEWED TOYS
---------------------------------------

The Consumers Institute is advising parents to check if 
children have chewed toys which are being recalled by Mattell. 
The toy maker is recalling more than 18 million toys worldwide 
over concerns about small magnets used in some of them and 
lead paint. Consumers Institute chief executive Sue Chetwin 
says parents concerned about lead poisoning should have their 
children undergo a blood test. She says the cost of the 
doctors visit should be covered by ACC. Ms Chetwin says people 
are entitles for a refund for their toys even if they do not 
have a receipt. Some of the affected toys were manufactured in 
2002. Nokia is also amidst a recall, asking for up to 46 
million Chinese-made mobile phone batteries to returned. They 
have the potential for overheating. The battery model 
concerned is the Nokia BL-5C.

AIRPORT WILL FIGHT COURT ACTION
-------------------------------

Wellington Airport is denying Air New Zealand's claims that it 
is taking advantage of its monopoly position by increasing 
landing fees and says it will fight court action being taken 
by Air New Zealand. The airline has filed High Court action 
against the airport saying its landing charge increases are 
too high. It will argue that the airport company predetermined 
that its majority shareholder Infratil, would expect the 
increases. Air New Zealand's lawyers claim that is an abuse of 
the airport company's monopoly which fails to deliver benefits 
to customers. Lawyer John Blair says Air New Zealand's costs 
for landing in the capital will increase by more than 34 
percent over the next five years and he says the multiple 
landing charge increases are invalid because airports must 
consult each time they increase charges. Mr Blair says it is 
regrettable that Air New Zealand has to take the matter to the 
High Court, but the airline has no other recourse under the 
current regulatory regime. But airport acting CEO Mike Basher 
says a 2.85 percent increase each year for the next five year 
equates to just 30 cents per passenger and the money will go 
towards a $85 million upgrade. He says it is up to Air New 
Zealand whether it passes the cost onto its passengers. He 
says Wellington Airport will strongly defend the judicial 
review proceedings. Air New Zealand is also seeking a judicial 
review of charges imposed by Auckland International Airport. 
 
(From my perspective they have taken advantage of their 
monopoly in every other conceivable way, including the 
grotesque parking charges, and the rents charged to food 
outlets and other retailers. In my opinion the travelling 
public would be justified in suspecting that the monopoly is 
being applied here too. - BH)

MILESTONE FOR FERRIES
---------------------

It is 45 years since the Interislander ferry service began its 
inaugural trip across Cook Strait. Toll spokeswoman Lisa 
Gibbison says the company has seen a number of changes since 
it first set sail in 1962. She says the ferry company started 
out with just one ship and has progressed into a three fleet 
operation which transports a million passengers a year between 
Wellington and Picton. Ferries also once ran between 
Wellington and Lyttelton.

(Do you remember them? Aramoana, Aratika, Arataki, Arahanga, 
Aratere, and then some clot with no sense of tradition named 
the most recent one Kaitaki. - BH)

COUNCILLOR CLAIMS LEAKY PROBLEM HUGE
------------------------------------

A long-standing Auckland city councillor has resigned from a 
council working party over the leaky homes crisis. Doug 
Armstrong has stood down from the council's Weathertightness 
Working Party because of what he claims is a lack of 
leadership and action. Mr Armstrong alleges mayor Dick Hubbard 
and other leaders are not being honest about the degree of the 
city's financial liability, which he says is larger than 
anyone predicted. Mr Armstrong believes another rise in rates 
is inevitable as a result of underestimating the problem and 
says the council should demand more financial help from the 
Government. Mr Armstrong says it is time all of the 
information presented before the working party was put in the 
public domain.

MORE TOYS INVOLVED IN RECALL
----------------------------

Toy maker Mattel has been forced to recall more toys made in 
China. Earlier this month, a million Fisher-Price toys, 
including Sesame Street mini musical instruments and Dora the 
Explorer figurines, were part of a global recall due to toxic 
levels of lead in their paint. The head of the factory where 
the toys were made has committed suicide. His body was found 
at a warehouse this week. He had apparently hanged himself. 
This time, there is concern about more than 18 million 
products including toys that contain small magnets that could 
cause a choking hazard and more cars decorated with lead-
tainted paint. The recall includes Polly Pocket, Batman Magna 
and Doggie Daycare play sets and covers toys sold from 2002.

GUIDELINES WANTED FOR PUBLIC/PRIVATE HEALTH CARE
-----------------------------------------------

The Southland District Health Board says it has no way of 
knowing whether patients asking to go on its waiting lists are 
being charged by surgeons for private care. It follows the 
case of a Southland ophthalmologist who worked in the public 
hospital system and in the private system and performed 
cataract surgery on a woman under the public system. However, 
the patient was charged for follow-up appointments as private 
care. The doctor was found to have exploited the 82-year-old 
as she was not made aware that she could have had her post-
operative cataract care carried out for free under the public 
system. Southland DHB chief executive Nigel Murray says such 
instances are only revealed when a complaint is made. He says 
it is very important there are clear lines of communication 
between both providers and is welcoming a call from the Health 
and Disability Commissioner for guidelines to help in 
situations when the lines between public and private patients 
become blurred.

KIWI DROPS AGAIN
----------------

The New Zealand dollar has fallen again overnight, dipping 
under 73 US cents. It is currently at 72.89, after finishing 
local trade yesterday at 73.22. Weaker-than-expected retail 
sales figures yesterday are part of the reason for the latest 
fall.

THEY'RE SENDING THEIR POLLUTION HERE
------------------------------------

A Queensland University study has discovered pollution from 
Australia is ending up on the West Coast. Dust samples 
collected from the Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers have found 
traces of copper, lead and nickel thought to originate from 
the eastern Australian seaboard, where the majority of 
industry is located. Dr Samuel Marx, who conducted the survey, 
says the pollution poses no risk to human health and in a 
global context, is not significant, but he says it is 
contaminating some of the most pristine parts of New Zealand. 
He will now research the environmental effects of the dust on 
New Zealand. 
 
(And they plan to build nuclear power stations on the East 
Coast of Australia. Gee thanks, cobbers. - BH)

DONNELLY MAY BE POSTED TO COOKS
-------------------------------

It looks likely that New Zealand First MP Brian Donnelly will 
be New Zealand's next High Commissioner to the Cook Islands. 
Political sources say there are still some hoops to go 
through, but it appears Brian Donnelly's name is firmly in the 
mix for the post. Mr Donnelly says he is not able to comment. 
His party leader, Foreign Minister Winston Peters is also non-
committal, saying he does not deal in rumours. Neither of them 
are denying the story. Brian Donnelly taught and played rugby 
in the Cook Islands. 
 
(Mr Peters says he doesn't deal in the baubles of office, 
either. - BH)

Thursday, 16 August 2007
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

NO RISK OF TSUNAMI FOR NEW ZEALAND
----------------------------------

New Zealand Civil Defence says there is no risk of a tsunami 
reaching our shores following tonight's 6.7 magnitude 
earthquake near the Solomon Islands. John Hamilton from Civil 
Defence says there is no indication of a tsunami being 
generated, but even if there is one, it is unlikely to travel 
more than 100 kilometres from the Solomons. Mr Hamilton says 
the Solomon Islands' quake was smaller than the one off the 
Peru coast earlier in the day. It registered 7.9 on the 
Richter Scale and devastated several cities. Worst hit is the 
coastal province of Ica, which is home to about a million 
people. At least 337 people have been killed and the 
government in Lima has declared a state of emergency.

ANOTHER QUAKE SHAKES MID-NZ
---------------------------

Another earthquake has been felt around the lower North Island 
and Upper South Island this afternoon. The 4.4 magnitude quake 
was felt in Marlborough, Nelson and Wellington at around 3pm. 
It was centred 30km north east of Picton and 60km deep. It 
follows a 4.9 magnitude earthquake north of Nelson this 
morning.

FOREIGN AFFAIRS HEAD APOLOGISES
-------------------------------

Foreign Affairs head Simon Murdoch has apologised to the 
Government for not keeping it informed over Air New Zealand's 
decision to fly Australian troops the Middle East. At a press 
conference this afternoon, Foreign Affairs Minister Winston 
Peters told media that Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Trade 
Mr Murdoch gave Air New Zealand the wrong steer in January. Mr 
Murdoch told the airline to go ahead with the flights as they 
did not contravene Government policy, but told the airline to 
keep the Ministry informed. Mr Murdoch told Mr Peters he only 
knew the flights had happened this week. He says the New 
Zealand embassy in Riyadh was told of the flights by Air New 
Zealand and handed the information on to the Foreign Ministry 
in Wellington. However Mr Murdoch was kept in the dark. Mr 
Murdoch accepts that his call to Air New Zealand in January 
that the flights would not be in contravention of Government 
policy was wrong. He has apologised to the Government and his 
Minister, Winston Peters. He says it was his mistake and he is 
taking it on the chin. Mr Peters says, as far as he is 
concerned it is the end of the matter. 
 
(It's an interesting event. The charter flight using a Boeing 
777 went from Australia to Kuwait. Apparently this is seen as 
lending direct support to the war in Iraq, contrary to 
government policy. The government is the majority shareholder 
in the airline. - BH)

SUPER FUND BUYS INTO AIRPORT
----------------------------

The Cullen Fund has been buying up shares in Auckland 
International Airport. The state-owned superannuation fund and 
its investing partner Infratil now hold just over six percent 
of the company, which is the focus of a controversial takeover 
bid by a Dubai company. Infratil chief executive Lloyd 
Morrison says Infratil and the fund are long-term investors in 
infrastructure and Auckland Airport is one of that sector's 
leading assets. He says they have an open mind on the Dubai 
proposal, but adds there is a strong business case for New 
Zealand investment.

FIREFIGHTERS INVESTIGATING STOREHOUSE BLAZE
-------------------------------------------

Inglewood started at around 4pm yesterday and at one stage 60 
firefighters were trying to bring it under control. Inspectors 
will be out today to determine the cause of the blaze. The 
premises were being used as a warehouse storing cardboard 
boxes and material for recycling.

TALKS CONTINUE IN SENIOR DOCTORS' DISPUTE
-----------------------------------------

Mediation resumes between senior doctors and district health 
boards today. Senior medical specialists have just completed 
four weeks of national stop work meetings to vote on whether 
to take strike action in support of higher wages and better 
conditions. The Association of Salaried Medical Specialists 
says the meetings supported limited industrial action. Last 
month, the DHBs said they had offered a pay rise over four 
years which would amount to $45,000 for most senior doctors. 
Association spokesman Ian Powell says only four of the almost 
2,000 members present at the 26 meetings voted to accept the 
DHBs' latest offer. He says today is the 11th instalment of 
mediation involving an external mediator since negotiations 
began in May last year. Mr Powell is backing calls from the 
Medical Association for the Health Minister to step in. He 
says more mediation is scheduled for the end of next week.

TRUST FOR VIETNAM VETS BEING SIGNED OFF
---------------------------------------

Defence Minister Phil Goff and Veterans Affairs Minister Rick 
Barker will inaugurate a special trust set up to help Vietnam 
veterans and their families suffering health problems. The 
funding has been initiated because health issues were not 
covered in a compensation package released last year. The 
trust deed will be signed by ministers and veteran's group 
representatives. 
 
(Longfellow wrote "Though the mills of God grind slowly, yet 
they grind exceeding small". Perhaps he had a vision of the 
political process. By the time all the bureaucratic nonsense 
is done, many of the people intended to benefit from this 
measure will be dead. Perhaps that is the motivation for the 
glacial pace of dealing with such issues. - BH)

BIGGER PICTURE NEEDED FOR FALLING MARKETS
-----------------------------------------

Stock brokers are advising investors to look at the bigger 
picture after a massive drop on the markets. New Zealand's 
main index, the NZX50, is at its lowest point for the year, 
closing yesterday down 61 points to stand at 4,004. Andrew 
Kelleher from ASB Securities says the New Zealand market is at 
the mercy of overseas financial currents with US markets going 
through a particularly rough patch. "It's important to look at 
trends and not single day movements and the trend at the 
moment certainly is weak, which comes after a fairly long 
period of strength." Mr Kelleher says some of the issues 
driving the markets at the moment are not relevant to the New 
Zealand market, but he says it is a case of everyone getting 
caught up regardless. He says it has been a bruising 
introduction for those new to the market because long-term 
investors are still reaping the benefits of long-term 
strategies, but new investors do not have those gains to fall 
back on. Mr Kelleher says it is important people realise the 
cyclical nature of the sharemarket and acknowledge that the 
New Zealand situation is merely reflecting international 
trends.

Friday, 17 August 2007
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BIRTHS UP TO HIGHEST RATE IN 35 YEARS
-------------------------------------

New Zealand is experiencing a mini baby boom. Figures released 
today show nearly 3,500 more babies were born in the June 2007 
year than the previous 12 months, tipping the figures to the 
highest rate in 35 years. There were 61,610 births and Kiwi 
women are averaging 2.1 births each. Statistics New Zealand 
warns the trend may only be a slight fluctuation. The figures 
also show the gap between men's and women's life expectancy 
has narrowed to just 4.1 years, with women living to an 
average age of 81.9 years and men to 77.9 years.

HOME-MADE BOMBS EXPLODE IN CHRISTCHURCH
---------------------------------------

Specialist search groups and a bomb dog are investigating 
three home-made bombs which have exploded in Christchurch. The 
latest went off just after 3pm at the Christchurch Bus 
Exchange. It was in a coke bottle. Police spokeswoman Maggie 
Leask says a cleaner's hands were injured when they tried to 
pick the bottle up. She says the two other bombs exploded 
earlier today in High Street Arcade and the Carlton Mill 
Corner. Environment Canterbury says the bus exchange has been 
cordoned off and closed down, but passengers can use the first 
stop after the bus exchange on Lichfield St. Platforms D and E 
on Colombo St are operating as normal. 
 
(These were "dry ice bombs", and were I suspect, more at the 
level of criminal nuisance and a perverted sense of mischief 
than any serious attempt at terrorism. - BH)

BANK ROBBED IN CHRISTCHURCH
---------------------------

A Westpac Bank branch in central Christchurch has been robbed. 
Police say a young man passed a threatening note demanding 
money from a teller in the Canterbury centre branch on Cashel 
St. Detective Sergeant Tony Hill says a small amount of cash 
was handed over. He says the man is European, with a fair 
moustache and goatee and was wearing a black hoodie.

GOVT LOOK INTO SOUTH AUCKLAND LOAN SHARKS
-----------------------------------------

South Auckland companies providing loans to vulnerable Pacific 
Islanders have come coming under the Government's spotlight. A 
Consumer Affairs Ministry investigation has been carried out 
into the region's fringe credit market, amid concerns 
consumers are being ripped off with extortionate interest 
rates. It has found Pacific Islanders using fringe companies 
are left exposed to high cost credit and the possibility of 
oppressive credit contracts. The common reasons for borrowing 
included household expenses, cars and other large items for 
social and cultural obligations. The study says Pacific 
consumers are fearful of questioning or complaining about 
credit contracts because they think it may prevent them from 
being able to borrow at all.

REWRITE OF HABEAS CORPUS LAWS URGED
-----------------------------------

Misuse of habeas corpus applications could be done away with 
as the Law Commission calls for a reform of the current 
system. Habeas corpus law allows defendants or prisoners to 
challenge the validity their incarceration if they feel they 
are being unlawfully detained. Law Commission President Sir 
Geoffrey Palmer says the commission want to give courts the 
power to dismiss applications which are in effect manipulating 
the judicial system. He says there is a tendency for some 
applications to be brought, in circumstances where other legal 
avenues are more appropriate. Sir Geoffrey says habeas corpus 
is used as means to jump the queue in the judicial system and 
is something judges have complained about publicly. He says 
while habeas corpus applications should be treated with 
urgency, the requirement they be given precedence over all 
other court business should be repealed.

FAIRYTALE WEEKEND FOR WRITERS
-----------------------------

Love will be in the air in Auckland this weekend. Romance 
writers are converging on the Crowne Plaza Hotel for the 
Romance and the City conference. American romantic comedy 
writer Jenny Crusie is the key guest and will hold workshops 
offering her advice on the craft. Crusie says romance novels 
involve rewriting fairy tales to empower women and apart from 
erotica, are not all about sex. She says in any of the big 
fairy tales, princesses get what they want by being passive. 
She says the prince gets to do all the good stuff, such as 
fighting dragons and facing down stepmothers. Ms Crusie says 
people zero in on romance novels because they are often very 
frank about sexuality.

VESTS NOT SO STAB PROOF SAYS MP
-------------------------------

The new stab proof vests some police officers have received 
may not be as stab proof as first thought. Three years after 
they were due to be introduced, an issue with size and a late 
delivery means thousands of officers still are not wearing 
protective vests. But New Zealand First has revealed the vests 
are not the UK-style spike protective vests but instead only 
spike resistant. MP Ron Mark claims it is a case of the police 
hierarchy again putting cost-cutting ahead of the safety of 
officers. He says the cost of the less-protective vests has 
blown out by 60 percent to around $10.5 million. Mr Mark has 
written to the Auditor General calling for an inquiry.

BIG WEEKEND FOR SHANE VAN GISBERGEN
-----------------------------------

Shane van Gisbergen is refusing to be bullied by the older and 
more experienced drivers in this weekend's round of the V8 
Supercars Series at Oran Park in Sydney. The 18-year-old 
buckles up for his first taste of the big time as Team Kiwi 
Racing makes its return with a new driver and a new car. Van 
Gisbergen says coming up against the guys he has looked up to 
for so long is a bit intimidating but he will not let them 
push him around. He says he has been speaking to driver James 
Courtney at Stone Brothers Racing who said that when he came 
into the series the other drivers thought they could 
intimidate him. Van Gisbergen says he expects similar 
treatment and while he is not expecting to set the world 
alight, he will give as good as he gets to show he can not be 
pushed around. Van Gisbergen says TKR boss David John is not 
putting any pressure on him and he just wants to get through 
the weekend unscathed, keep the car straight and finish all 
the races. He says ultimately his first round is an 
opportunity to learn and build a relationship with the car and 
the team. He points out that the other drivers are halfway 
through the season and are race fit whereas he has not raced 
for six months. Van Gisbergen raced over 80 laps at Oran Park 
in Formula Ford last year which he hopes will hold him in good 
stead this weekend. TKR missed three rounds this season after 
a financial dispute with Ford Performance Racing and losing 
driver Paul Radisich. Van Gisbergen gets his first taste of 
the big time when practice gets underway at quarter past three 
this afternoon.

HEALTH ADVICE ISSUED AFTER TOXIC GAS FIRE
-----------------------------------------

Lower Hutt residents who believe their health was affected by 
the toxic chlorine gas from a chemical fire in Seaview 
yesterday are being advised to see a doctor. Around 500 
kilograms of chlorine used to purify spa pools caught fire at 
a storage depot in Seaview and schools were advised to keep 
pupils inside as the smoke cloud spread up the valley. Public 
health officials have now issued advice to local schools, 
childcare centres and GPs on the impact of inhaling chlorine 
gas, which includes coughs, throat and nasal irritation, 
wheezing and eye irritation. Chlorine may also cause problems 
for asthma sufferers.

FATHER OF LEAGUE HONOURED
-------------------------

A wreath laying ceremony is being held at the Karori Cemetery 
in Wellington today, to honour Albert Henry Baskerville, the 
visionary Wellington postal clerk, widely regarded as the 
father of professional rugby league in New Zealand. It is 
exactly 100 years ago since Baskerville led the New Zealand 
All Golds rugby league team to a crushing win over Australia 
on the team's way to England. Other members of the All Golds 
laid to rest in Karori include Hercules Wright, Tom Cross and 
Daniel Gilchrist. Governor-General Anand Satyanand will be 
among those laying wreaths. Afterwards, there will be a 
commemorative lunch at the Beehive, hosted by Internal Affairs 
Minister Rick Barker.

YET ANOTHER STORM STRIKES UPPER NORTH ISLAND
--------------------------------------------

Another storm brought down trees and caused flooding in the 
north of the North Island last night. The wind and rain caused 
minor flooding in Whangarei and some tree branches were down 
in some parts of Auckland. Transit New Zealand is dealing with 
minor slips but police say no roads are closed.

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