WYSIWYG NEWS - 26 December, 2007

[news at wysiwygnews.com]

Subject: 26 December, 2007 
----- WYSIWYG NEWS ------------------------------ 
Copyright, Brian Harmer. 

>From the Heart

Coming home is like putting on a favourite pair of slippers. 
No matter how magnificent the landscape of a particular place, 
there is an undeniable comfort factor to be had if that place 
is called home. And so it is, now that I am back in 
Wellington. There is much to like about Melbourne and 
Brisbane, and in general, each enjoys more sunshine and warmer 
weather than we have here. But at home, though the weather is 
cooler (and the flies significantly fewer) I enjoy that sense 
of place, that lovely Maori notion of "Turangawaewae" the 
place on which I stand. Tinakori's dark hills, the magnificent 
harbour (soon to be officially renamed "Te Whanganui a Tara" - 
the great cloak of Tara), Matiu/Somes Island, the green hills 
beyond Eastbourne, the cheerful domestication of houses 
scattered around the slopes, and the distant majesty of the 
Tararuas  all say to me as we drive from the airport "welcome 
back, you are at home". In the three weeks of my absence, 
spring has evolved into Summer, and the bright yellow kowhai 
and the fragile rhododendrons and azaleas have yielded to the 
full blooded early blossoming of the royal scarlets and 
crimsons of the Pohutukawa tree. This tree means a lot to New 
Zealanders. Brilliantly coloured flame trees and the 
Jacarandas that adorn the streets and gardens of Brisbane are  
louder, more vivid, more electric, but there really is a regal 
quality to the wonderful salt-hardy pohutukawa.  
My sense of homecoming is further enhanced by the gathering of 
my family in this doubly festive season. With Catherine & 
Mark's forthcoming marriage this week, combined with our 
celebration of the great feast of Christmas, this will be the 
first time for three years that we have had the whole family 
here at this time of year, and the first time ever that all 
five grandchildren have been under one roof. 
The week began with somewhat bleak weather which caused our 
visitors from Brisbane to shiver and reach for warm clothes, 
but it has improved steadily as the holidays loom. The 
University closed for the year on Friday, and it is a little 
hard to realise that I am not expected back there until the 
place reopens on 3 January. However, all of this was 
overshadowed for me by the scary moment on Thursday night when 
the city of Gisborne was struck by an earthquake of magnitude 
6.6 on the Richter scale. We knew nothing about it and didn't 
feel a thing until Helen phoned and told us that the 
earthquake had just happened, and that She and Vasely were OK. 
Their apartment was damaged, and the shop where they work lost 
its windows and the glass shelving on which their product is 
displayed was destroyed. Life got complicated for them as they 
struggled to be allowed access to clean up and to gain entry 
to their home. However, they worked minor miracles, and not 
only managed to get the shop open again, but even made it down 
here for a family Christmas. The imminent wedding provided 
compelling reason for them all to be in Wellington this time 
(albeit the last couldn't make it until today (boxing day). 
With five children in the house and twelve adults, the 
exchange of gifts was a moment of glorious mayhem. I must 
process the pictures before the after dinner lassitude takes 
over! I hope you have all found something to celebrate at this 
time of year. May those of you in cold climates be sheltered 
from the storms. And those in hot climates find shade, freedom 
from flies. And may all of you have the great joy of a sense 
of being at home. 

----  
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. 
Thanks to for this week's sponsorship to Kiwis In and Around 
Ottawa Regional Area (KIA ORA). Many thanks for your faithful 
support.
----  
On with the News. 

Monday 17 December 2007
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AA STAFF STRIKE
---------------

Staff at the Automobile Association walked off the job today 
for the first time in 105 years. Engineering, Printing and 
Manufacturing Union members took strike action after the 
association refused to maintain their service leave. EPMU 
national secretary Andrew Little says the AA is still refusing 
to keep the extra week of annual leave all roadside 
technicians get after six years service. He says the 
association needs to recognise its reputation as a reliable 
institution is largely due to the experience of its long-
standing staff. The industrial action involves more than 130 
AA roadside workers nationwide. Striking workers will again be 
out in force in Auckland from 7.30am tomorrow.

GOVT APPROVES $240M EDEN PARK DESIGN
------------------------------------

The Government has approved a $240 million design for the 
redevelopment of Eden Park for the 2011 Rugby World Cup. 
Cabinet signed it off today and the Government will underwrite 
the plan to the tune of $190 million. Eden Park Redevelopment 
Board chairman John Waller says the New Zealand Rugby Union 
will contribute $10 million. He says an agreement has been 
reached in principle for at least $12 million from the Eden 
Park Trust Board. Mr Waller says it is a result Aucklanders 
will be pleased with, and the country can be proud of Funding 
is still being sought from the Auckland Regional Council and 
Auckland City Council.

YOUNG BLOOD TO STAND FOR LABOUR
-------------------------------

Labour has put forward a trio of candidates aged under 30, in 
an apparent bid to give it a more youthful look heading into 
the election. Iain Lees-Galloway, 29, has been selected to 
replace Steve Maharey in Palmerston North. He is currently a 
campaigner with the New Zealand Nurses Organisation. Mr Lees-
Galloway says the party has to be future focussed. He says at 
29 he feels he experienced enough to be in Parliament, and has 
a lot of enthusiasm In Rimutaka, 29-year-old former Government 
advisor Chris Hipkins is standing for Labour, while 26-year-
old Kate Sutton is standing in Epsom. Both Palmerston North 
and Rimutaka are considered safe Labour seats. 
 
(I wouldn't count any seat safe at this time. The polls are 
looking really bleak for Labour. - BH)

FREE ACCESS TO TREATY GROUNDS FOR NZERS
---------------------------------------

New Zealanders are to be allowed free access to the Waitangi 
Treaty Grounds. At the moment a $12 entry fee is charged for 
anyone aged over 14. Waitangi National Trust chairman Jeremy 
Williams says free entry will come in to effect next October. 
He says New Zealanders will have to provide some form of 
identification. Mr Williams says the loss of revenue will be 
covered by the increasing number of tourists visiting the 
treaty grounds. Tourists will still be charged a $12 entry 
fee, which could increase once contracts with tourism 
operators expire in October. 
 
(Make them free for all. To selectively charge tourists 
implies two alien concepts. Except as required for driving New 
Zealanders have no reason to carry identity documents as a 
matter of habit,  and secondly, it is downright inhospitable. 
The revenue gathered will not justify the bad taste it will 
leave. - BH)

NZ SCIENTIST PIONEERS PARKINSON'S THERAPY
-----------------------------------------

A New Zealand neuroscientist has pioneered a controversial 
gene therapy for Parkinson's disease. Professor Matt During 
says the treatment inserts synthetic copies of human genes 
into the brain. He says 12 patients have been studied at Weill 
Medical College of Cornell University in New York, who all had 
Parkinson's for at least five years. He says there were no 
side affects to the gene therapy, and the patients improved 
significantly. Professor During says the results will now be 
tested again by an independent body.

COUNCILLOR HOPES HOUSING DECISION REVERSED
------------------------------------------

An Auckland City Councillor has complained to the Auditor 
General over the council's decision to cut its affordable 
housing budget. The council has slash a $9 million contract 
with the New Zealand Housing Foundation to just $2.5 million. 
Cathy Casey says the contract is part of the council's long 
term plan. She believes it has breached its own policy. Ms 
Casey is confident the Auditor General will reverse the 
decision in the New Year.

UNCERTAINTY SURROUNDS KIWISAVER
-------------------------------

One of the country's KiwiSaver institutions says half the 
people who sign up to the superannuation scheme have no 
interest in deciding who will manage their money. ASB Group 
Investments has analysed the latest batch of information 
released to it by the tax department on KiwiSaver accounts. 
About 50 percent of those people who have signed up with ASB 
have done so through a default pool. That means rather than 
make a decision themselves, they are letting IRD do the 
selecting. The bank also says its anecdotal feedback suggests 
many employers are not yet actively involved with KiwiSaver. 
It says while there is a great deal of enthusiasm for the 
scheme, there is also a great deal of uncertainty surrounding 
it.

ROCKY RIDE FOR NZ$ LIKELY THIS WEEK
-----------------------------------

The New Zealand dollar is likely to have a volatile time in 
the final week of trading before Xmas. Business correspondent 
Roger Kerr says recent gains back above 78 US cents were 
reversed in Friday night trading in London and New York. The 
kiwi fell two cents down to 76.50. Mr Kerr says the interest 
rate gap between New Zealand and the rest of the world has 
widened again and other factors in play include GDP figures 
due out at the end of the week. CNN reports that on the US 
markets, this week's data on investment bank earnings, the 
housing downturn and inflation will help investors decide how 
the economy and corporate America are faring as they head into 
the new year. Wall Street hit a few snags last week as the 
Federal Reserve's measures looked as if they would be 
insufficient to cope with the credit crisis.

DHB'S PATIENTS NOT SATISFIED
----------------------------

New figures show patient satisfaction at Capital and Coast 
District Health Board was the lowest in the country for the 
last quarter. Hospital Benchmark Information tracks the 
country's public hospitals against 15 benchmarks every 
quarter. While patient satisfaction nationally sits at 88 
percent, Capital and Coast is at the bottom of the table on 81 
percent. However HBI's report states the figures could be 
skewed because the DHB provided information from outpatients 
only.

INTERNET HELPS WITH HEALTH
--------------------------

More and more New Zealanders are heading online to diagnose 
their illnesses before visiting a GP. In a survey commissioned 
by Southern Cross Health, 73 percent say they use the internet 
to access information about health and one in five people take 
information they have researched with them to their doctor's 
appointment. Southern Cross chief executive Ian McPherson says 
it is great people are becoming more proactive about their 
health, but he says the internet will never replace a doctor 
for a fully informed individual diagnosis. Dr McPherson warns 
that people making their own diagnoses run the risk of getting 
them very wrong.

CHEAPER PUBLIC TRANSPORT FOR STUDENTS
-------------------------------------

Auckland students will get cheaper public transport. The 
Auckland Regional Transport Authority is increasing the 20 
percent discount for full-time students, to 40 percent. The 
discount applies to normal adult fare ten-trip tickets. 
Auckland University Students Association spokesman David Do 
says the move will save students thousands of dollars each 
year. He says many students struggle to get by on a limited 
income and transport is one of the major costs they face. Mr 
Do says increased use of public transport has environmental 
benefits and reduces traffic congestion.

Tuesday, 18 December 2007
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

ELECTORAL FINANCE BILL PASSES
-----------------------------

The Electoral Finance Bill has just been passed by Parliament. 
Despite United Future changing its mind and choosing to oppose 
the legislation, it passed by a comfortable majority by 63 
votes to 57. Labour, New Zealand First, the Greens and the 
Progressives voted in favour. National, the Maori Party, 
United Future, Act and Phillip Field opposed it. Independent 
MP Gordon Copeland did not vote. 
 
(When they look round to see why they are on the other side of 
the house in November, this may well be a pivotal moment. - 
BH)

WAREHOUSE FIGHT GOES ON FOR SUPERMARKETS
----------------------------------------

Woolworths and Foodstuffs both say they are disappointed at 
the Commerce Commission's latest move to stop their takeover 
bid for the Warehouse. The Commission has filed papers to 
appeal the High Court's decision clearing the way for the 
takeover and put on hold any take over move until the appeal 
is heard. Both companies say they will opposed the appeal 
application. They each hold 10 percent shares in the 
Warehouse, and both are bidding to acquire 100 percent of the 
red shed.

WORST EVER HOME LOAN AFFORDABILITY
----------------------------------

A new study has found national home loan affordability is the 
worst it has ever been. A home loan is considered affordable 
when mortgage payments cost 40 percent or less of take home 
pay. However the latest Fairfax Media home loan report has 
found it now costs 83.4 percent of the median take-home pay. 
Publisher David Chaston says not only are homes becoming less 
affordable, they are doing so at a faster rate. He says it now 
takes almost 2.1 median incomes to afford a mortgage for a 
median priced house.

TREASURY SETS ASIDE $1.5B FOR TAX CUTS
--------------------------------------

Treasury has set aside $1.5 billion for tax cuts in the next 
budget. The surplus this year will be more than $8 billion, 
with an election year surplus of almost $7.5 billion. Finance 
Minister Michael Cullen has distanced himself from the 
Treasury contingency, saying it is simply a working figure. Dr 
Cullen says Treasury has said there will be more taxation 
revenue coming in and the Government will pay some of that 
back, but not necessarily to those who paid it.

MINIMUM WAGE INCREASED TO $12
-----------------------------

The Government is raising the minimum wage from $11.25 an hour 
to $12 an hour, but that is still not enough for the Greens. 
The party is calling on Labour to go further and lift the rate 
to $15, in line with a call from the Council of Trade Unions.

TOUGHER PENALTIES FOR DRIVERS
-----------------------------

Tougher penalties for bad drivers are likely as the Government 
moves to beef up road safety. An announcement is imminent on 
legislative changes that will crack down on unsafe drivers. 
The law changes will impose stricter punishments on those who 
break the law. Road Safety Minister Harry Duynhoven will 
announce details before Christmas.

BANKS AND ONLINE FRAUD
----------------------

The bank workers' union is urging all banks to fully protect 
customers who fall victim to online fraud. Finsec campaigns 
director Andrew Campbell says the major banks all made 
hundreds of millions of dollars last year. He says they are in 
the best position to make sure online banking is safe and to 
spend money fixing any problems. He says given bank workers 
have targets for signing people up to online banking, there 
should be some reciprocal responsibility. Mr Campbell says it 
is unreasonable to pass the blame on to customers who may not 
have the know-how to avoid liability for online fraud.

Wednesday, 19 December 2007
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BREAD, CHEESE AND MEAT MORE EXPENSIVE
-------------------------------------

Food is getting more expensive. The latest statistics show a 
0.4 percent rise in food prices last month. Groceries are 
costing more, led by higher prices for bread and cheese. Meat 
is also more expensive, especially chicken prices which have 
risen 8.2 percent. The price of beef also went up just over 
two percent. The cost of fruit and vegetables fell slightly 
last month.

ASSOCIATION OF STAFF IN TERTIARY EDUCATION SAYS SHADBOLT WRONG
--------------------------------------------------------

Invercargill Mayor Tim Shadbolt should get his facts straight 
about funding for the Southern Institute of Technology 
according to staff. Sharn Riggs, secretary of the Association 
of Staff in Tertiary Education, says the institution is facing 
a $6 million funding cut and has brought on the problems 
itself. She says the funding cuts were signalled in 2006 and 
if the polytech had not continued to grow through its 
distance-learning courses, it would not be facing any cuts at 
all. 
 
(The Polytech continued to grow as with the aid of industrial 
sponsorships it was able to offer tuition at zero cost to 
students. - BH)

POWER POVERTY FOR ELDERLY
-------------------------

GreyPower believes energy poverty is definitely a reality 
amongst domestic power users. GreyPower has pinpointed figures 
from the Household Economic survey which shows New Zealand's 
poorest people are spending more of their household income on 
energy. President Graham Stairmand says the Government could 
easily instruct SOE's Genesis, Meridian and Mighty River Power 
to deliver a smaller return in exchange for lower prices. But 
he concedes that is unlikely to happen. He says the Finance 
Minister has already said excess power profit is used for 
welfare payments and if that did not happen taxes would have 
to increase. Mr Stairmand says domestic power users are 
subsidising commercial users, paying up to 46 percent more 
than they should.

Thursday, 20 December 2007
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

6.8 EARTHQUAKE ROCKS GISBORNE
-----------------------------

Gisborne is counting the cost of damage from tonight's 
earthquake. A magnitude 6.8 tremor hit the east coast of the 
North Island at 8:55pm and was centred below the ocean 50 
kilometres south-east of Gisborne. Most reports have come from 
Gisborne and Hawke's Bay, but the tremor was felt as far south 
as Christchurch. Newstalk ZB's Gisborne reporter Murray 
Robertson says police have announced they have no reports of 
any injuries so far, but the town is in a state of chaos. He 
says the main street of Gisborne is shut, as the roofs of 
several large buildings have collapsed, and one of the main 
roads into the city has a huge hole in it. Mr Robertson says 
off duty police have been called into work and Civil Defence 
staff are at the scene. He says police are asking everyone not 
to drive and to return to their homes. Power in Gisborne is 
now back on, after Gisborne was plunged in to darkness for 
almost 40 minutes after the quake. 
 
(The magnitude was later downgraded to 6.6 but it was still a 
heavy jolt. - BH)

NO INCREASE IN SMACKING CASES
-----------------------------

Police say of the smacking incidents they have attended have 
not increased in number since the anti-smacking law was 
introduced. A review has found police attended three incidents 
of smacking in three months, which is the same rate as usual. 
However, there was an increase in the number of incidents of 
minor physical discipline. Deputy Police Commissioner Rob Pope 
says it proves claims parents would face prosecution and 
children would be taken from their homes are unfounded. He 
says police are taking a sensible approach, with officers 
using their discretion in each case.

OHAKEA TO GET $129M UPGRADE
---------------------------

The Ohakea Air Force Base in the central North Island is 
getting a multi-million dollar upgrade. The Government has 
announced it will spend $129 million on the facilities. The 
funding will be spent on improving the base, with new 
helicopter hangars, better maintenance and security. Defence 
Minister Phil Goff says it represents the start of a major 
upgrade at Ohakea, with construction due to begin in the new 
year. The upgrade is part of a defence force plan to shift the 
New Zealand Air Force away from Whenuapai and consolidate it 
at Ohakea.

MORE HEADS TO ROLL
------------------

National is predicting other heads will be on the block 
following the resignation of Environment Secretary Hugh Logan. 
Mr Logan has resigned today after months of controversy over 
employment matters within his Ministry. National Party State 
Services spokesman Gerry Brownlee says he is surprised the 
news has come ahead of the release of an official report into 
the Ministry, and its hiring of Labour Party member Clare 
Curran. He says by mid-afternoon the State Services 
Commissioner and a number of ministers, particularly Trevor 
Mallard and David Parker, could be in some difficulty.

ENERGY PROJECT TO GET A SPEED UP
--------------------------------

Environment Minster Trevor Mallard has ordered two energy 
projects in the central North Island to be fast tracked. 
Unison is seeking resource consents for a 34 turbine wind farm 
on the Napier-Taupo road, while Contact Energy wants a new 
geothermal development near Taupo. Trevor Mallard says he 
intends to call in the proposals, under the Resource 
Management Act. The move will make it easier for the projects 
to go ahead, with approval given by the Environment Court or a 
Board of Inquiry rather than local councils.

DRUG USE AMONG ARRESTEES
------------------------

Police have found more than 70 percent of people arrested who 
took part in a survey tested positive for at least one type of 
drug. The figures come from an annual report into arrestee 
drug abuse. More than 900 people were eligible for the survey, 
carried out in Whangarei, Henderson, Hamilton and Dunedin. Of 
those people, 557 gave usable urine samples. Analysis of the 
samples has revealed 73 percent tested positive for one or 
more type of illegal drug. Cannabis was the most common drug 
detected, with 69 percent testing positive. Methamphetamine 
was the second most common drug with 12 percent.

MAORI ESCAPING TO OZ
--------------------

The tide of New Zealanders crossing the ditch is being blamed 
for the difficulty employers are having in finding staff. 
Statistics New Zealand figures show 1900 people moved to 
Australia last month, either permanently or long-term. That is 
up from 1200 a year earlier. Employers and Manufacturers 
Association chief executive Alasdair Thompson says it is bad 
news for New Zealand's future. He says there is a shortage of 
workers in New Zealand, including unskilled employees. Mr 
Thompson says Maori are attracted to Australia because they do 
not have to live with the cultural burden of being a Maori in 
New Zealand.

CITIZEN JURY "DAFT"
-------------------

United Future is describing the use of a citizen jury in a 
planned review of electoral issues as "daft." Justice Minister 
Annette King has confirmed an expert panel will be established 
next year to look at electoral administration and political 
party funding. It will also include the use of a citizen jury. 
United Future Leader Peter Dunne is pouring scorn on the idea. 
He says it will take a long time to get people involved. He 
believes the review should look at state funding for political 
parties and also whether there should be a fixed date for 
election day.

AWARD FOR AUCKLAND ZOO
----------------------

The Auckland Zoo has received a major international award for 
its environmental management. It has been given the 
international standards organisation's ISO 14001, the global 
standard of measuring and monitoring environmental 
performance. Zoo director Jonathan Wilcken says the zoo had 
planned to achieve the standard in 2009 so is pleased to be 
ahead of schedule. He says the landmark award recognises the 
effort the Zoo has put in to reducing the impact it is having 
on the environment. Mr Wilcken says climate change is now the 
most serious threat to wildlife.

REWARD THE ELDERLY
------------------

GreyPower is urging the Retirement Commission to reconsider 
its suggestion of bumping up the retirement age. The 
independent Crown agency has released a report suggesting the 
Government look at lifting the age people can receive national 
superannuation from 65 to 67. GreyPower spokesman Tom Baker 
says New Zealanders enjoy very little retirement time as it 
is. He says most workers are grateful to be entitled to 
receive superannuation once they reach 65. Mr Baker says the 
elderly should be rewarded, not made to wait.

SUNSCREENS FAIL
---------------

If you think you are getting all day protection from 
sunscreens that say just that, think again. A Commerce 
Commission investigation has found Hawaiian Tropic products 
indicating 'all day protection' are not what they are cracked 
up to be. So-called 'Day long' and 'Once' sunscreens are also 
being accused of misleading consumers. Commission chairwoman 
Paula Rebstock says despite no regulations on the sale of 
sunscreen, companies still have a responsibility. 

Friday, 21 December 2007
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

THE YEAR IN NZ ENTERTAINMENT
----------------------------

By entertainment reporter Jacqui Stanford: Rihanna's Umbrella 
has stayed up, at the top of the New Zealand music chart, to 
be the tentative number one song for 2007. The Barbadian pop 
singer has beaten off Fergie's Big Girls Don't Cry to be the 
top selling single here this year. The top placed Kiwi song is 
Crawl, from Christchurch group Atlas, at sixth spot on the 
chart. It has been a big year for musicians hailing from 
Christchurch; Op Shop make it in at number 11 on the singles 
chart with Maybe, a song that was the most played on radio in 
2007. Garden City favourite Hayley Westenra has taken the 
album of the year mantle for Treasure. She beat British popera 
sensation Paul Potts, whose album One Chance hits second 
place. Brooke Fraser's Albertine is at number four, while 
Hollie Smith's Long Player is number 10. In other music feats 
this year Johnny Devlin and Jordan Luck were the inaugural 
inductees into the New Zealand Music Hall of Fame. Luck was 
typically succinct when accepting the honour, saying "I'm a 
stunned mullet". Auckland's Vector Arena was finally completed 
and drew an impressive list of major international acts, but 
not a pregnant Christina Aguilera who was a no show, which 
upset many fans. Lloyd Jones' Mister Pip pipped all the rest 
in the literature field, finishing the year as the ultimate 
bestseller. It won the Commonwealth Writers Prize, the Montana 
Medal for Fiction and was shortlisted for the Man Booker. To 
the King of New Zealand Screen, it has been a fantastic end to 
the year for Peter Jackson. He has settled his differences 
with New Line Cinema, clearing the way for him to make The 
Hobbit and its sequel. It can only mean good things for the 
New Zealand film industry. Outrageous Fortune has been the 
toast of New Zealand small screen in 2007, it picked up piles 
of awards and its star Robyn Malcolm was named the sexiest 
woman on television. But it was another TV show that remained 
the Prime Minister's favourite. Helen Clark says she has 
appeared on Brotown, it is based around a suburb in her 
electorate Morningside and she thinks it is "just so funny".

TIGHTENED RULES PROPOSED FOR YOUNGER DRIVERS
--------------------------------------------

The Government is proposing tough new rules for young drivers 
in a bid to improve road safety. Transport Minister Annette 
King has announced the planned changes at Parliament. Included 
in the proposal is a plan to extend the minimum period under 
25-year-olds should be on a learner licence from six to 12 
months, to allow higher levels of supervised practice. Demerit 
points and penalties for driving offences will increase, while 
vehicles will be able to be impounded for 28 days if a young 
driver is caught driving on the wrong type of licence. The 
plan also shows the Government is planning to reduce fines for 
some driving offences and will instead punish drivers with the 
threat of more demerit points.

GISBORNE JOLTED BY AFTERSHOCK
-----------------------------

There has been two aftershocks this morning following last 
night's magnitude 6.8 earthquake in Gisborne. A jolt measuring 
4.5 on the Richter scale struck at 6.47am. It was again 
centred about 50 kilometres south east of Gisborne at a depth 
of 60 kilometres. The second was at 8.33am and measured 4.2. 
Seismologist Arthur Jolly is surprised by their strength. "You 
would generally expect them to be smaller but aftershocks can 
be quite large and can also be potentially damaging." Mr Jolly 
says aftershocks could be felt for days, or even weeks and 
people should be aware they can happen at any time. Gisborne 
is under a state of emergency but essential services are 
operating normally. All state highways and the airport are 
open. Building inspectors are now busy in the central city. 
Two buildings have collapsed and there is serious damage to 
several others. Twelve blocks were initially cordoned off but 
have been lifted in the least affected areas. Civil defence 
spokeswoman Sheridan Gundry says the cordoned-off area covers 
more than a kilometre. "The idea is to get retailers back in 
there and get trading again by midday. There's certainly some 
major damage to some buildings and minor damage to others." Ms 
Gundry says trying to account for everyone is adding to the 
pressure. She is urging those who have fled their homes to 
contact Civil Defence. The family of a woman who died last 
night, believes it was due to the stress of the earthquake. 
The woman in her 80s lived in Awapuni Rd in Gisborne's CBD. 
Her family says she died of a heart-attack just moments after 
the quake hit.

SECOND AIRPORT FOR AUCKLAND CLOSER?
-----------------------------------

A second airport for Auckland has moved one step closer. The 
Whenuapai Air Force base in west Auckland could be closed by 
2018, after the announcement of a multi-million dollar deal to 
consolidate Air Force operations at the Ohakea base in the 
lower North Island. A $129 million deal to upgrade the Ohakea 
Air Force Base has been signed off Waitakere mayor Bob Harvey 
says the deal brings a second Auckland airport significantly 
closer. He says the news is a great Christmas present for 
Waitakere residents who currently have to drive an hour and a 
half to Auckland Airport at Mangere. Mr Harvey says the deal 
opens the door for the west Auckland base to become a second 
airport for the country's largest city. He says if he had his 
way, Whenuapai would operating as a commercial airport by 
Easter.

CIVIL DEFENCE EMERGENCY IN GISBORNE
-----------------------------------

A Civil Defence Emergency has been declared in Gisborne 
following a 6.8 magnitude earthquake near the city. The tremor 
hit the east coast of the North Island at 8:55pm and was 
centred below the ocean 50 kilometres south-east of Gisborne. 
It was felt as far south as Christchurch. The Civil Defence 
Emergency applies to all of Gisborne city, but not to areas 
outside the city. A large portion of the CBD has been cordoned 
off and six blocks will be closed to all pedestrians and staff 
from businesses through much of the morning. Civil Defence 
officials are concerned with the state of some of the 
premises, and will carry out a building-by-building check in 
the CBD. Early reports spoke of collapsed roofs on a couple of 
buildings downtown and a large hole has appeared in one of 
Gisborne's main streets. Gisborne Hospital has sustained 
damage. A spokesman says the building has been assessed and 
some water damage has been found. No patients were injured by 
the earthquake, and the hospital is open and functioning. 
However the hospital will attempt to discharge patients back 
to their homes if it is safe to do so. It is asking patients' 
families and relatives to be prepared. The National Crisis 
Management Centre has been activated, and all off-duty police 
have been brought back to work to secure damaged buildings. 
Civil Defence spokeswoman Sheridan Gundry says power lines are 
down, some gas pipes have ruptured, poles have fallen through 
verandas on several buildings and many shops and houses have 
smashed goods everywhere. She says there is a likelihood of 
aftershocks and residents are advised to turn off their 
electricity, water and gas. She recommends against sightseeing 
and says people should use their phones only if it is urgent. 
Sheridan Gundry says Gisborne residents should check their 
neighbours, especially the elderly or those who live alone. 
Civil Defence says there is no risk of tsunami. Newstalk ZB 
talkback has been wall-to-wall with callers speaking about 
their experiences.

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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.