WYSIWYG NEWS - 19 November, 2007

[news at wysiwygnews.com]

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

"On the Road"*
-------------

>From Wairoa through to Napier via SH2 is an interesting road 
through a rugged and hilly landscape. There are very few long 
straights and even fewer flat bits. Erosion is clearly 
problematic for many farmers in the region, and where the 
steep slopes are not forested, they seem to bear the yellow 
scars of many slides. It must be tough country on which to 
make a living, or to muster sheep. This is one of the few long 
stretches of road that doesn't actually seem to pass through 
anywhere. Well there are places on the map called Raupunga, 
Mohaka, Putorino, and Tutira, but unless they are off the main 
road there is nothing much visible at any of them. 

Traffic is heavy, mainly logging trucks and a seemingly 
endless procession of heavy freight trucks which must surely 
make road maintenance in the area challenging. Though not as 
impressive as the big road trains of outback Australia, these 
rigs with up to 34 tyres are to be treated with extreme 
caution on a narrow two lane road such as this. The closure 
(for economic reasons)of the Napier to Gisborne railway line 
must be a significant contributor to this problem. Those who 
do live near the roads are subjected to a seemingly endless 
procession of these noisy monsters. And it's not just exhaust 
noise. They all seem to be very loosely assembled, especially 
anything with a trailer, so that the slightest undulation in 
the road sets up a cascade of crashing and rattling noises.

Mary and I paused for a morning cup of coffee at the Waikare 
pub in tiny Raupunga. The pub is right on the roadside, and it 
was sunny so we sat outside to enjoy the warmth and the 
coffee. Bad mistake. This pub is situated on the bend where 
the road comes down one hill and immediately climbs another. 
Every few minutes the shattering flatulence of a truck's 
engine braking system would be replaced by the bellow of its 
assault on the next incline. At least in this location, the 
calm of the countryside is a myth, and while the sound of that 
truck was still ringing in the ears, the braking thunder of 
the next would begin its crescendo. An optimist could observe 
that this is the sound of prosperity, but they definitely take 
the gloss of any landscape within earshot. We finished our 
coffee quickly and moved on. Should have ordered it "to go". 

Swans did their serenity act on lovely, sparkling Lake Tutira, 
oblivious to passing traffic large or small, and then we were 
through to devils elbow where you can almost look through the 
windscreen to read your own rear number plate. A steep ridge 
requires a steep road, and a steep road slows trucks, so there 
are frequent passing bays in the 5 km of road between there 
and the flat ground on the other side of the ridge. On the 
other side we passed through Tangoio and were on the coast 
road near Whirinaki. On a day such as this one, Cape 
Kidnappers presents a magnificent spectacle, reminding me that 
I would like to go out there again, sometime. 

On this occasion, we had no need to enter the cities of Napier 
or Hastings, so we bypassed them both on the expressway, 
diverting out through Omahu and Fernhill to the West. Suddenly 
there were vineyards everywhere and we were amidst the famed 
Gimblett gravel country looking at vineyards bearing the names 
of some of the best wines in the country. Maraekakaho seems to 
be the real start of SH50 which would take us through what 
must be some of the most productive farmland in the world, 
through Tikokino, and to the West of Ongaonga to rejoin SH2 
just West of Takapau. 

That back road is very well maintained, easy driving, and 
passes through some truly lovely scenery. It seems like gentle 
country, with rolling hills, lush grass, wide views, and 
plentiful water. It seemed as welcoming on the one hand as the 
land North of Napier looked hard on the other. Some of New 
Zealand's great farming dynasties have their roots here. As 
well as being scenic, the road has far less traffic than SH2, 
and you avoid the congestion points on the road through Otane, 
Waipawa and Waipukarau. From there it is a straight run 
through Norsewood (still reeling from the recent closure of 
the Norsewear factory) to Dannevirke, and before long the 
Western skyline of the Ruahines and Tararuas is full of giants 
performing an elegant variation of Tai Chi. There must, by 
now, be well over a hundred wind turbines on the hills either 
side of the Manawatu Gorge. I am minded of Don Quixote de la 
Mancha "I'm going to attack those mighty giants and slay them 
in their tracks". Of course, these particular giants really 
are enormous, and poor Don Quixote could not have reached the 
blades of one of these windmills if he had stood tip-toe on 
the saddle of faithful Rosinante and lunged with the full 
stretch of his best lance. There is something balletic about 
such an array of turbines all turning silently on the skyline 
at a carefully regulated and seemingly quite slow speeds. From 
Woodville, the sky clouded over, and the road from there 
through the Wairarapa to home I have described several times 
before. 
	
---- 
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. 

William Herzog is the sponsor of this week's edition. Many 
thanks William.
----  
On with the News. 

Monday, 12 November 2007
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

GOVT DISMISSES SPRAYING REPORT
------------------------------

The Government is rejecting the findings of a report 
criticising the way the west Auckland Painted Apple Moth spray 
campaign was undertaken. The report claims a risk assessment 
campaign, carried out before the spraying, was based on 
incorrect assumptions, and people felt alienated by the way 
they were treated. Biosecurity Minister Jim Anderton says the 
programme had community involvement from the start and all 
steps had been taken to avoid any aerial spraying. He says 
surveys show the west Auckland communities were overwhelmingly 
supportive, and it was only a small group of activists who 
opposed it, regardless of what MAF did to meet their needs. 
 
(In my opinion, the spraying programme was both necessary, and 
as it happens, successful, but the negotiations with the 
people in the path were badly handled. On the other hand, some 
of the people who fronted for those protesting the programme 
would never have consented to any spray programme any where, 
anytime for any reason. With people such as those, no 
accommodation was ever going to be reached. - BH)

FRESH TALKS IN DOCK WORKERS DISPUTE
-----------------------------------

There is no end in sight for the pay dispute between dock 
workers and Ports of Auckland. Facilitated talks began again 
this morning. Maritime Union spokesman Denis Carlisle says it 
may be the last round of talks. He says there are still a 
number of outstanding issues to be ironed out and they are not 
close to an agreement. Last month dock workers downed tools 
for 48-hours, disrupting shipping schedules. They maintain the 
company's 3.25 percent pay increase offer is not good enough.

KEY PLEDGES TO DUMP ELECTORAL FINANCE BILL
------------------------------------------

National is promising to scrap the Electoral Finance Bill. 
John Key claims the proposed changes are being driven by the 
Prime Minister. He says the criticisms outlined in today's 
front-page editorial in The New Zealand Herald are absolutely 
right - Labour is changing the rules because it is not 
convinced it will win the next election unless it does so. Mr 
Key says if elected, scrapping the bill will be one of the 
first things National does. He says this is despite the fact 
the bill would then suit his party, as the government of the 
day.

ONE IN FIVE UNDER-30S ADMIT REGULAR SUNBURN
-------------------------------------------

Young people are still happy to burn their way to a tan, 
despite 300 skin cancer deaths every year. A survey of nearly 
300 under-30s shows three quarters admit to being sunburnt at 
some time over the past two years. Fifty eight percent said it 
happened once or twice, but nearly one in five admitted to 
regularly getting burnt. The survey was commissioned by 
MoleMap. CEO Adrian Bowling says he was compelled to do so by 
a recent audit showing MoleMap was detecting melanoma at 
around 20 times the rate that would be expected. 
 
(Madness. The incidence of melanoma in NZ is far too high. - 
BH)

SUPPORT FOR HERALD BLAST AT GOVERNMENT
--------------------------------------

A media commentator is backing the New Zealand Herald's right 
to get stuck in to the government. The newspaper has today 
devoted its entire front page to an editorial entitled 
"Democracy Under Attack". It hits out at both the Electoral 
Finance Bill and another bill that would legitimise the use of 
taxpayer funds to pay for campaigns like Labour's pledge card. 
New Zealand Broadcasting School lecturer Paul Norris says it 
is common for overseas newspapers to run editorials on their 
front page. He believes the Herald's intention is to awaken 
the public on what it considers to be a very important issue. 
Former Labour Prime Minister Mike Moore is also weighing in 
behind critics of the Bill. He has told Newstalk ZB political 
parties and groups outside parliament have been using election 
war chests for years. Mr Moore says the amount of government 
advertising is also out of kilter - and it is growing with 
every government.

CHILD CANCER FACILITY ON ITS WAY BACK
-------------------------------------

A successful fundraising drive may have saved Wellington's 
paediatric oncology department. The Professional Real Estate 
Group and the Child Cancer Foundation have raised money to 
help outfit a new children's oncology ward. Staff shortages 
have meant the department is not taking new patients, and 
children are being sent to Auckland or Christchurch for cancer 
treatment. John Robson, chairman of the central division of 
the Child Cancer Foundation, says he has no doubt the ward 
will reopen once some new oncologists are hired. 
 
(I doubt if mere funds were ever the issue. It is my 
perception that doctors have been so disempowered from the 
decision making processes in their hospitals that the 
hospitals have become demoralising places in which to work. 
More fundamental change is required. - BH)

PROPERTY MARKET CONTINUES TO COOL
---------------------------------

The rise in house prices may be slowing - but over the year, 
Auckland prices have jumped 12.8 percent. The average price 
for a house in the region is now a shade under $525,000. 
Statistics from Quotable Value for last month show the rise in 
values in October slowed by almost 12 percent. It says higher 
interest rates and falling buyer confidence are beginning to 
have an impact. Quotable Value says like the weather, the 
housing market in Auckland has been patchy and dull. But 
spokeswoman Glenda Whitehead says while price growth has 
slowed, it is still firmly in positive territory. However 
properties are taking longer to sell, even in hotspots close 
the city such as Sandringham, Kingsland and Western Springs. 
Most of New Zealand's main centres reported an easing of the 
growth in property values. The areas where values are still 
increasing are Hamilton, Napier, Queenstown and Invercargill.

LAB CONTRACT ROW REARS ITS UGLY HEAD
------------------------------------

The new Health Minister is being criticised for failing to 
acknowledge a report investigating conflicts of interest at 
the Auckland District Health Board. It follows an Auditor 
General's inquiry into the Board's handling of the 
controversial laboratory services contract earlier this year, 
which ended up in the High Court. Judges eventually overturned 
a decision by the Auckland, Waitemata and Counties-Manukau 
DHBs to award a $560 million contract to Labtests Auckland. 
National Party Health spokesman Tony Ryall says nothing has 
been done to manage potential conflicts of interests, despite 
the outcry. He says the DHB has not learned its lesson, and it 
is up to the Health Minister David Cunliffe to step in.

CULLEN RIDICULED OVER TAX COMMENTS
----------------------------------

Labour's commitment to tax cuts is being ridiculed by the 
opposition. It follows comments made by Finance Minister Dr 
Michael Cullen on TVNZ's 'Agenda' programme. Dr Cullen 
explained that tax cuts will not make a big impact on the 
economy, saying the arguments supporting them are not as 
strong as people make out. He said whether he makes 
adjustments to tax rates or to the various thresholds, they 
will be small. Dr Cullen also conceded that the cuts would 
make little difference to the gap in taxation between New 
Zealand and Australia. National's Bill English says the 
remarks are embarrassing for Labour. He says the public cannot 
be expected to believe anything Labour promises, when Dr 
Cullen is playing down the Government's promise of lower 
taxes. He went on to compare Dr Cullen to "an alcoholic, who 
cannot take the pledge." Mr English says Dr Cullen's short-
lived love affair with tax cuts is driven by election-year 
expedience.

DEPT PROMISES THOROUGH CORRUPTION PROBE
---------------------------------------

The Department of Labour is promising a thorough investigation 
into claims of corruption against a senior immigration 
official. A private investigator claims foreign students have 
been buying permanent residency, by paying thousands of 
dollars in return for fake jobs. Department spokeswoman Mary 
Anne Thompson says investigators have spoken to two students 
thought to be involved in the scam. She says the Department 
was first made aware of the allegations by a phone call to its 
contact centre in October. But she says no information has 
been provided about the staff member allegedly involved. Ms 
Thompson says all allegations of staff misconduct are taken 
extremely seriously, and investigators are going through the 
information provided to them by the students.

Tuesday, 13 November 2007
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

ANTI-TERRORISM BILL PASSES EASILY
---------------------------------

Amendments to the nation's anti-terror laws have been passed 
by Parliament. The Terrorism Suppression Amendment Bill makes 
New Zealand consistent with its international obligations on 
fighting terror. It also introduces measures against those who 
finance terrorists and gives the Prime Minister the sole power 
to review terrorist designations. ACT, the Maori Party, the 
Greens and Taito Phillip Field voted against the bill. It 
passed by 108 votes to 13. 
 
(These changes are routine minor amendments to bring NZ into 
line with practice in most other countries, and are not in any 
way connected to the concurrent uproar over the events in the 
Bay of Plenty - BH)

CRITICISM OF ANTI-TERROR LAWS INTENSIFIES
-----------------------------------------

A group of concerned individuals is urging the Government to 
withdraw anti-terrorism legislation, to which an amendment is 
due to be heard in Parliament today. The Suppression of 
Terrorism Amendment Bill is set to pass its third reading in 
Parliament comfortably this afternoon, with just the Green 
Party, the Maori Party and ACT likely to oppose it. The bill 
will bring terrorist designations in line with UN guidelines, 
as well puts review powers of designation of terror groups in 
the hands of the Prime Minister. It comes less than a week 
after the Solicitor General labelled the anti-terror law 
incoherent and unworkable. Pukerua Bay resident Pat Hanley is 
behind an advertisement which appears in today's Dominion 
Post, urging the Government to get rid of the Suppression of 
Terrorism Bill altogether. He says he and a group of like 
minded people wanted to express public support for people 
affected by last months police raids. The advertisement 
features prominent names, including Green Party co-leader 
Jeanette Fitzsimons and unionist Laila Harre. The Prime 
Minister sees no reason in delaying today's debate on the 
amendment. Helen Clark says the issues raised about the 
Suppression of Terrorism Act are not relevant to the amendment 
bill that is before Parliament today. Miss Clark says when the 
Government ratifies an international convention it has to act 
consistently with it. Miss Clark says she shares the public's 
frustration that information police gathered ahead of last 
month's raids cannot be made public. TV3 says it has some of 
the evidence gathered during surveillance of the Urewera 
training camps, but has been barred from broadcasting it. 
Police are now investigating how the broadcaster obtained the 
information and whether it's breached court suppression 
orders. The Prime Minister says several people are still 
facing very serious firearms charges and if the information 
was released, every defence lawyer would claim it would 
prejudice their client's chances. Miss Clark is set to give 
the cold shoulder to a protest group making their way to 
Wellington. Tuhoe members and supporters are heading to 
Parliament to voice their concerns about anti-terror laws and 
last month's raids by police. The Prime Minister says she will 
not meet with the protestors when they arrive, as she does not 
meet with everybody that comes to Parliament. Miss Clark also 
refused to meet a hikoi that came to Parliament in 2004 over 
the Seabed and Foreshore Act.

PORK IMPORT STANDARDS SET
-------------------------

MAF Biosecurity has issued four draft health standards for 
pork being imported from Canada, The United States, Mexico and 
the European Union. Border Standards Director Tim Knox says 
the draft standards are based on an import risk analysis on 
the 'porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome' or PRRS 
virus in pig meat. He says it is a virus we do not yet have in 
New Zealand, but in 2001 there was an association between the 
disease and pig meat, and some provisional measures were put 
in place. Tim Knox says setting up the standards has been a 
particularly lengthy process reflecting the fact pork imports 
are rather controversial. He says New Zealand's import 
measures have to be technically justifiable, and based on the 
best available science.

NOROVIRUS SCARE ABATING
-----------------------

A highly contagious virus outbreak in Christchurch hospitals 
looks to be nearly over. The Norovirus scare led to the 
closure of wards at Princess Margaret, Christchurch and 
Burwood hospitals over a month ago. The Canterbury District 
Health Board says it is finally subsiding. A spokeswoman says 
one ward is still on hold for admissions at Princess Margaret 
Hospital, while Christchurch Hospital wards are open, but with 
some rooms still in isolation.

CHILDCARE LAW CRITICISED AS TOO PRECIOUS
----------------------------------------

The Government is being told to get a grip, and stop forcing 
the closure of gym crèches and Sunday schools. The Education 
Act requires the facilities be registered as fully licensed 
early childhood education centres, and already some gyms have 
stopped offering childcare services, for fear of prosecution. 
The rule applies to any place where three or more children are 
together under the supervision of an adult. National Council 
of Women President Christine Low says it is too precious and 
anti-parent. She says parents know the difference between 
child minding and early education, and when they leave their 
children at a crèche they are hardly expecting an education 
session.

BNZ PICKS STRONG SPENDING FIGURE
--------------------------------

The Bank of New Zealand is predicting strong retail spending 
for September when the figures are released on Thursday. 
Spokesman Craig Ebert says the market is looking for a 0.6 
percent increase in sales, but the BNZ expects the rise to be 
as much as 1.4 percent, because of strong key indicators it 
has already spotted. He says credit card billings and EFTPOS 
transactions were both unusually strong. However, Mr Ebert 
says the headline result could be overstating the true pulse 
of consumer spending, because there was an element of 'catch-
up' from a very flat June-August quarter. And he says there 
are signs household budgets are getting squeezed, with 
mortgage rates going up and the housing market flattening out.

POLICE PROBE TV3 SOURCES
------------------------

Police are putting TV3 under scrutiny over some of the 
information it has broadcast since last month's anti-terror 
raids. A preliminary investigation has begun into whether the 
network has any documents relating to Operation Eight - the 
surveillance programme which culminated in the swoops in which 
17 people were arrested. Detectives want to know if any 
information TV3 has may be in breach of court suppression 
orders, or has been obtained illegally. A court order is 
preventing the channel revealing any of the information, and 
lawyer Peter Williams is also demanding the channel be forced 
to reveal its sources. It follows TV3's claim it has received 
leaked information detailing some of the evidence police 
obtained through bugging and other surveillance on the camps 
in the Ureweras. The information is not admissible in court, 
now no charges are being laid under the Terrorism Suppression 
Act. The head of the police inquiry, Detective Superintendent 
Andy Lovelock, says the investigation is just getting underway 
and he will not be making any comment. 
 
(It became clear that the leaked affidavit was legitimately in 
the hands of every defendant, every defendant's lawyer, and 
many others. The more the thing was circulated the more likely 
a leak was to occur. - BH)

EMISSIONS RULES FLAWED
----------------------

Plans to impose higher standards on used imported vehicles are 
being described as "counterproductive." Legislation which 
tightens emissions standards for used vehicles is expected to 
be law by early next year. It is intended to bring New Zealand 
in line with international environmental guidelines. However, 
the Independent Motor Vehicle Dealers' Association says the 
proposal will not achieve its goal of reducing pollution. 
Chief Executive David Vinsen says it will only choke the 
supply of affordable cars entering the country. Mr Vinsen says 
this will force the public to hold onto their older, less 
environmentally friendly cars for much longer. He says it 
would be better if the Government encouraged the scrapping of 
some grossly-polluting cars which are already in the country. 
 
(If the police had time and resources to enforce the present 
standards it would be a great thing. - BH)

NEW STAFF NEED A CASH CARROT
----------------------------

Employers are being encouraged to put more cash into the pay 
packages of new staff. It follows an Employers and 
Manufacturers Association report which has interviewed over 
700 employers. It shows managers are underestimating how much 
they need to pay to attract new staff. EMA spokesman David 
Lowe says it is no longer acceptable to base a new staff 
member's pay rate on the salaries of existing workers. Mr Lowe 
says employers need to offer rewards which reflect the tight 
labour market, especially for people in senior management 
roles, where pay rises are running at about five percent. 
David Lowe says skilled workers have seen their pay rise twice 
as quickly as that of semi-skilled or unskilled people. He 
says that is great news, because New Zealand needs highly 
skilled people, and there is nothing wrong with rewarding them 
with better pay.

ONLINE TAX CALCULATOR LAUNCHED
------------------------------

An online calculator has been created for New Zealanders who 
want to work out how different tax cut options would affect 
them. The Institute Of Economic Research has developed the 
model, which is designed to illustrate how the various tweaks 
to the tax system would alter what we have in our pockets. It 
also computes the consequences for the Government's finances. 
Institute Chief Executive Dr Brent Layton says the model is 
available free of charge at www.nzier.org.nz. Brent Layton 
says while trade-offs are generally expected in any tax policy 
design, the model shows some options clearly fail to achieve 
desirable policy goals.

Wednesday, 14 November 2007
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

PROTESTORS BLAST PARLIAMENT OVER TERROR RAIDS
---------------------------------------------

Emotions have run high as a hikoi in protest at police terror-
raids hit Wellington this afternoon. Hundreds gathered at 
Parliament after a trip from Tuhoe country in the eastern 
North Island. The group made a detour to protest outside the 
Ministry of Maori Affairs building on Lambton Quay, before 
heading to Parliament. The marchers were greeted by a number 
of MPs from the Maori Party and the Green Party. Many 
protestors carried the Maori sovereignty flag, some wore 
bandanas over their faces, while others held signs with 
slogans such as "Rule of Aotearoa No State Terrorism". 
Protesters shouted angrily about what they called an invasion 
of their lands. "They had to hold our guns to our babies 
heads. Yesterday Tuhoe babies - tomorrow maybe your babies." 
The Government, particularly the Prime Minister and the Maori 
Affairs Minister Parekura Horomia, came in for a roasting. 
Many are dissatisfied with the actions, or lack of, from 
Labour's Maori Caucus and marchers are wanting an apology from 
the Government for the raids. However they did not have it all 
their own way. Among them was a solitary middle aged woman 
bearing a placard calling for people to support the police. 
Her presence raised eyebrows amongst the protestors, however 
they appeared happy to let her make her point. 
 
(The protestors did themselves no favours at all. Whether or 
not their anger was justified, their demeanour was atrocious. 
Balaclavas, scarves, sunglasses all tended to reinforce the 
very perceptions that caused the original police action. And 
whereas I usually appreciate kapa haka and other cultural 
manifestations, the traditional posturing, eye popping, and 
tongue actions tended only to alienate the rest of the public 
further. - BH)

PROCESSES FOUND LACKING
-----------------------

The only person to lose their job over the Madeleine Setchell 
saga has been cleared of any wrongdoing. Concerns raised by 
the office of David Benson-Pope in Ms Setchell's employment at 
the Ministry for the Environment that ultimately saw him lose 
his cabinet post. But Don Hunn has just investigated the 
entire affair and says Mr Benson-Pope did not break the State 
Services Act, or any accepted conventions, in responding to 
the way the Ministry boss Hugh Logan handled the matter. 
Instead it is the employment process at the Ministry for the 
Environment and communications with the State Services 
Commission that have been found lacking. Meanwhile hush money 
paid to Madeleine Setchell has been criticised. Two reports 
released today have also cleared her of any wrongdoing, saying 
her dismissal from the Ministry of the Environment over a 
conflict of interest was managed poorly. State Services 
Commissioner Mark Prebble says he is not happy the Ministry 
paid her to keep quiet about the matter. He says it was a 
mistake and can see no reason why a public sector employer 
would act to override maximum transparency Environment 
Ministry boss Hugh Logan will not be receiving a performance 
payment this year because of his actions, however he will be 
keeping his job. Dr Prebble accepts he also made mistakes and 
is to pay a sum equivalent to 2.5 percent of his annual 
salary. That will be some $10,000. Hugh Logan say he is sorry 
for what happened, and with the benefit of hindsight he could, 
and should, have handled it better. He says the issue was not 
of Ms Setchell's making and should not reflect on her 
integrity and professionalism.

MORE EFFICIENT CALL ANSWERING
-----------------------------

Most Wellington people calling their local police stations 
will now have their call answered at one centre. District 
Commander Peri Munro says it will mean a better service as it 
will shorten the time for calls to be answered and avoid calls 
bouncing from one extension to another. He says it will also 
lift the work load at police watch houses where busy staff are 
juggling a range of duties including answering the phone. 
Superintendent Munro says that means they will be able to 
respond more quickly to public calling at the counter. Calls 
to all stations except Porirua and Lower Hutt will be answered 
at Wellington Central.

THOUSANDS SIT EXAMS
-------------------

It is examination time for secondary school students. Almost 
140,000 pupils will be sitting NCEA and scholarship exams this 
year. They will be sitting 1.9 million individual standards, 
covering 43 subjects. There are 408 exam centres and just 
under 2,000 markers. Exams start on November 19, and finish on 
December 5.

PAPERS PUBLISH SECRET EVIDENCE
------------------------------

Wellington's Dominion Post has revealed what it says is the 
secret evidence police gathered while investigating suspected 
terrorist activity. The information is in what the newspaper 
says is a 156-page affidavit police presented to the Manukau 
District Court in order to obtain search warrants. It details 
the content of hundreds of bugged conversations and text 
messages, and the reasons police believed people were training 
to be terrorists. The Dominion Post says it is acting in the 
public interest, and also believes it is acting within the 
law. The Christchurch newspaper, the Press, has also published 
the information today. The Dominion Post says it understands 
there could be huge repercussions from its decision to 
publish, but says it has not made the decision lightly. TV3 is 
already being investigated by police after claiming it had 
similar information, which it was stopped by lawyers from 
broadcasting last week. Meanwhile the lawyer for one of the 
men arrested in the anti-terror raids is concerned about 
information revealed in the Dominion Post article. Charl 
Hirschfeld says he will have a close look at the articles and 
will ask for a stay of court proceedings if he thinks they 
prejudice his client's right to a fair trial. 
 
(In my opinion, way too much is suppressed by New Zealand 
courts. Accepting that the material published consisted of 
fragments possibly taken out of context, nevertheless the 
conversations recorded were so extreme as to leave me in 
little doubt that the police action in arresting the suspects 
who uttered them was appropriate - BH)

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN LABELLING A MUST
----------------------------------

Horticulture New Zealand believes country of origin labelling 
is a must if recent statistics are anything to go by. 
Statistics New Zealand figures show more than half a billion 
dollars' worth of fresh or processed fruit and vegetables was 
imported last year. However, HortNZ CEO Peter Silcock says 
people are not being properly informed about where their 
produce has come from. He says country of origin labelling 
should be compulsory. Peter Silcock says a lot of the time 
products are sold either without labelling, or with vague 
labels which say things like "made from imported and local 
ingredients". He says consumers are becoming a lot more 
interested about what they are feeding their families.

CLAIMS OF MD BREAKTHROUGH
-------------------------

A Dunedin-based biotechnology company says it is on the brink 
of developing a therapy for the debilitating muscle-wasting 
disease, muscular dystrophy. It is a disease that affects 
around 3,500 male children at a young age, leading to 
wheelchair confinement and premature death. Orico Limited 
spokesman Dr Rob Bower says they have developed a ground-
breaking new therapy that will significantly reduce the 
symptoms and improve the quality of life for sufferers. He 
says MD is a genetic disease and cannot be cured, but trials 
on mice indicate that symptoms can be alleviated 
substantially. Dr Bower says they are now going through pre-
clinical development before beginning trials on humans.

NOISY TOYS COULD BE OFF XMAS LIST
---------------------------------

An environmental health specialist is encouraging parents to 
consider the danger of buying noisy toys for Christmas. Stuart 
McLaren of Massey University has conducted a survey on toys 
which produce sound. He says toys including cap pistols, 
musical instruments, and whistles can cause injuries to babies 
and toddlers. Mr McLaren says the Ministry of Consumer Affairs 
shares his concerns, but cannot investigate, because there are 
too many toys. He says parents should watch for toys which 
default to the loudest volume every time they are turned on.

NATS CLAIM UNFAIR ADVANTAGE
---------------------------

Parliament has passed controversial electioneering 
legislation, despite National claiming it will unfairly 
advantage incumbent MPs. The Appropriations Bill passed its 
second reading and will now be debated at a Select Committee. 
National believes it gives those already in Parliament a huge 
advantage over parties outside Parliament when it comes to 
promoting themselves. However Finance Minister Michael Cullen 
rubbishes National's argument, saying they have accused other 
parties of corruption and likened New Zealand to some of the 
worst non-democratic regimes in history.

DRIVERS WARNED ABOUT TYRES
--------------------------

The Motor Trade Association is warning drivers they may not 
know their vehicles are fitted with used snow tyres. Spokesman 
Andy Cuming says they have been associated with some high 
profile fatal crashes. He says the tyres are dangerous and a 
safety hazard during normal conditions. Andy Cuming says the 
average motorist may be mistaken into thinking they have 
conventional tyres on their car because they have a tread 
depth well in excess of the warrant of fitness minimum 
requirement. He says there is a growing number of motorists 
fitting the used snow tyres because they are cheaper.

NZ WOMEN 5TH ON EQUALITY LADDER
-------------------------------

Equality between New Zealand men and women is among the 
highest in the world, according to a new survey. The 
International Economic Forum Gender Gap Index shows New 
Zealand women rate fifth in terms of their equality with men. 
The survey rates the gender gap in the areas of economic 
participation, education, political involvement and health. 
Women's Affairs Minister Steve Chadwick says there is still a 
way to go for women to be seen to be equal with men, but the 
results are pleasing. Ahead of New Zealand on the survey are 
Sweden, Finland, Norway and Iceland. Australia is in 17th 
place.

Thursday, 15 November 2007
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

SAVINGS PLUMMET DESPITE HIGHER EARNINGS
---------------------------------------

We are saving less despite earning more according to latest 
figures from Statistics New Zealand. National savings fell to 
$1.3 billion in the year ending March, the lowest level in 14 
years. The drop is particularly dramatic when compared with 
recent highs of almost $6 billion in 2005 and almost $7.5 
billion in 2004. At the same time, national disposable income 
has risen 5.1 percent in the past year.

EASTER SUNDAY COULD BECOME A PUBLIC HOLIDAY
-------------------------------------------

New Zealand could be about to get a new public holiday. The 
Government has released a discussion document which looks at 
amending the current Easter trading laws, which are 
consistently flouted by some retailers. Among the ideas are 
allowing businesses to open on Easter Sunday and declaring it 
an official public holiday. It would make it New Zealand's 
12th public holiday. Currently the Easter holidays are Good 
Friday and Easter Monday.

FONTERRA WILL FLOAT
-------------------

Fonterra has announced plans to partially float on the Stock 
Exchange. Fonterra's Board of Directors has outlined their 
preferred option which would see the farmers co-operative 
remaining 100 percent owned and controlled by farmer 
shareholders. However, they also want to set up a second 
company that would eventually be listed on the NZX. Of it, 20 
percent would be available to the public. Fonterra Chairman 
Henry van der Heyden says it is a big step for dairy farmers 
to take. He says what they are putting forward to the farmers 
is a structure that will help them grow. "We've got a 
strategy. It's a growth strategy. It's about the global 
markets because the global dairy markets are growing and we 
want to capture the growth opportunities that are in the 
global dairy markets." Mr van der Heyden says farmers will now 
be consulted over a two year period. 
 
(The headline is incorrect. Fonterra is asking its 
shareholding owners, the farmers, if they want to float. They 
need to pass the motion with greater than two thirds majority 
about six months from now. - BH)

SEISMIC WORK STARTS TODAY
-------------------------

Associate Energy Minister Harry Duynhoven is optimistic that 
oil and gas will discovered off Southland's coast. Seismic 
work starts today at the Great South Basin to establish what 
is there. Mr Duynhoven says a strike would provide many 
benefits, including the chance to develop expertise in 
exploration. He says there will also be a number of jobs 
created. Mr Duynhoven says Southland will get a $1.2 billion 
injection from energy companies exploring the potential field 
over the next five years.

MARKETING STUNT LAUNCHES MINTSHOT
---------------------------------

He is moving from juice man to web man and Marc Ellis believes 
his latest business venture is something revolutionary. The 
sportsman turned businessman launched his new website mintshot 
with a bang this morning, in a fake Rangitoto eruption 
marketing stunt. The website offers New Zealanders mintshot 
currency for watching ads, money they can then spend bidding 
on auctions. Marc Ellis says a pile of major advertisers are 
already onboard, because it offers them engaged consumers, 
rather than forcing ads down people's throats. Marc Ellis says 
tens of thousands of people have already joined mintshot this 
week. 
 
(Anybody who would willingly watch advertisements in return 
for the remote prospect of a prize must be al least one 
sandwich short of a picnic.- BH) 
NZERS DO NOT WANT TOTAL FIREWORKS BAN
-------------------------------------

Although a more than 60 percent of New Zealanders are 
supportive of a ban on the sale of fireworks to the public, 
they do not want them banned altogether. Independent research 
company UMR's latest survey results from a nationwide 
telephone poll show 63 percent of those over 18 are supportive 
of the ban. UMR director Tim Grafton says those surveyed do 
not want to see them banned altogether and think public 
displays are the best way to go. People aged under 30 are less 
supportive of the ban than those over 60.

SENSORS REDUCE ROAD CRASHES
---------------------------

Road safety authorities are singing the praises of electronic 
stability control sensors in cars. It follows analysis of more 
than 200,000 crashes throughout New Zealand and Australia. It 
found a dramatic 51 percent reduction in single-vehicle 
crashes in four-wheel drives equipped with the sensors. Land 
Transport chief Wayne Donnelly says the study confirms 
electronic stability control is a highly effective means of 
reducing deaths and injuries on the roads. He says fast-
tracking its use should be a priority. People buying cars for 
company or rental fleets are being urged to have ESC fitted to 
the vehicles.

WEBSITE NOT FRIENDLY TO BLIND PEOPLE
------------------------------------

The Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind says it is 
working all the time to help improve website accessibility for 
people with sight disabilities. The comments come after a 
human rights complaint made by Christchurch businessman 
Jonathan Mosen. Mr Mosen was outraged he could not book a 
Pacific Blue flight through the carrier's website, because he 
is blind. Community Education and Awareness Manager Chris Orr 
says he cannot put into words how difficult it is to not be 
able to access certain parts of websites. He says thankfully 
it is getting easier because more designers are making sure 
sites are accessible to blind, vision-impaired, and deaf-blind 
people. Chris Orr says there are implications for all sorts of 
groups in the community, not just blind people.

STUDENTS HAVE SAY IN HIRING OF TEACHERS
---------------------------------------

Students at a Wellington secondary school are now choosing 
their own teachers. Onslow College is allowing pupils to have 
a say in the recruitment of new staff, in conjunction with the 
principal and board. Principal Stuart Martin says the system 
will be used for all new appointments. He says students are 
embracing the importance of confidentiality. Mr Martin says 
the interviewing by students often broadens the process, as 
they have different levels of interest.

AMBULANCE RESPONSE TIMES TOO SLOW
---------------------------------

The opposition is having a go at the Government over ambulance 
emergency response times. A Select Committee inquiry has 
revealed the hiring of an extra 67 full time staff in the past 
three years has not improved ambulance services. National's 
Jonathan Coleman says it is not the first time problems in the 
ambulance sector have been highlighted. He says the Government 
needs to stop writing time-wasting reviews, and sort out 
ongoing internal emergency services problems.

Friday, 16 November 2007
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

MINISTER PROMISES ACTION AFTER PHYSIO REPORT
--------------------------------------------

ACC Minister Maryan Street has released a report looking into 
how physiotherapy services are funded and accredited. The 
review is part of New Zealand First's confidence and supply 
agreement with the Government. David Goddard QC has outlined a 
number of recommendations in the 211 page report. He has found 
current funding arrangements are not sustainable, therefore 
levels should be increased. Ms Street says the Government will 
work promptly with ACC and physiotherapists on the 
recommendations. She says funding related proposals will be 
considered with other budget priorities.

NZ-INVENTED GEL HELPS HEAL WOUNDS
---------------------------------

A squid-derived gel that helps heal wounds, invented by Otago 
University scientists, is getting international attention. 
Research leader Professor Brian Robinson says Australian 
trials show the gel has both anti-bleeding and anti-scarring 
properties. He started work on the gel after his son, an ear, 
nose and throat surgeon, asked him to come up with something 
to relieve scarring after sinus operations. Often the scarring 
is so bad it blocks sinus passages and further surgery is 
needed.

MORE PARKS MAY BECOME SMOKE FREE
--------------------------------

Other councils may follow Upper Hutt's lead in making parks 
smokefree, after a study carried out by Otago medical students 
showed massive support for it. The students evaluated the 
effectiveness and public support for the smokefree policy 
adopted by the Upper Hutt City Council in 2006. Otago 
University Department of Public Health spokesman Dr Richard 
Edwards says there is a growing interest in smokefree parks to 
counter the negative effects of smoking in front of children.

NEW MS DRUG A DREAM
-------------------

A Christchurch neurologist is describing a new drug being 
trialled on multiple sclerosis sufferers as a dream. Doctor 
Deborah Mason, a consultant at Christchurch Hospital, is 
running one of a number of safety trials around the world for 
the drug Tysabri, a monoclonal antibody for the treatment of 
MS. She has four patients in the trial and says they have all 
tolerated it very well. Dr Mason says there is mounting 
evidence Tysabri has the potential to keep patients in the 
early stages of the disease from progressing. Her patients 
have all so far remained at the mild end of the disease 
spectrum. Multiple sclerosis is a chronic, unpredictable 
disease of the central nervous system, and there is no known 
cure.

FONTERRA MOVE ATTRACTS A WARNING
--------------------------------

Dairy farmers are still digesting the proposal from Fonterra 
to partially float the company on the New Zealand Stock 
Exchange. The board is recommending the formation of a new 
company, with 20 percent of the stake offered to the public to 
raise enough capital to fund an ambitious global growth 
strategy The farmer co-operative would retain a 65 percent 
stake in the new listed company and 15 percent would be 
distributed to farmers, which they can trade if they wish. 
Parliament will push through legislation if required to do so. 
Canterbury farmer Harry Schat says so far there has not been 
any violent opposition to the proposal, unlike at the time of 
the formation of Fonterra, when emotions were running high. He 
says he has spoken to a number of farmers at the Christchurch 
Town Hall and most of them were comfortable with it . Harry 
Schat says they are not being sold down the gurgler as the 
media was predicting. He says there is still some time before 
a vote and plenty of time to talk to Fonterra about how the 
proposal will work. Seventy five percent of farmers will have 
to agree to the move before the Fonterra Board's aim of 
listing on the stock exchange in mid-2010 can go ahead. 
Meanwhile New Zealand First fears the move could result in 
foreigners raking in the profits. Doug Woolerton does not want 
it to go ahead, saying it will be a disaster for farmers and 
the economy. He says Fonterra accounts for more than 20 
percent of New Zealand's exports and it needs to be protected 
from falling into foreign hands. Mr Woolerton is urging 
farmers to vote down the proposal, if they want to keep 
control of the company.

NATS CRITICAL OF MPS' SPENDING BILL
-----------------------------------

The Government is defending moves to extend laws governing 
spending by MPs. A bill currently before Parliament deals with 
rules on MPs' spending set last year that prohibit using their 
budgeted funding for electioneering. National says the 
legislation has loopholes, and is about Labour feathering its 
nest and stacking the next election in its favour. But Deputy 
Prime Minister Michael Cullen says all the bill does is return 
the current law to what everyone understood it to be before 
2005. The bill will have its third and final reading next 
week.

THOUSANDS OF DEFENDANTS NOT SHOWING IN COURT
--------------------------------------------

Almost 7,000 court cases are on hold in the Auckland and 
Manukau District Courts because the defendants have absconded 
or failed to show. There are another 1,000 on hold in 
Waitakere and just over 800 on the North Shore. The figures 
have been released by National's Justice and Corrections 
spokesman Simon Power. He says there were more than 18,500 
cases outstanding around the country at the end of September 
due to outstanding warrants. Simon Power says it shows the 
increasing pressure the court system is under, and he is 
demanding to know how the government is going to fix it.

FAULT IN MINIMUM WAGE LAW
-------------------------

The Employers and Manufacturers Association says it has found 
a major fault in new minimum wage laws. The Minimum Wage 
Amendment Act, passed two months ago, removes minimum wages 
for 16 and 17-year-olds. It comes into force next year. 
However, EMA spokesman David Lowe says there is a loophole in 
the Act, which still allows employers to pay the minimum wage 
to apprentices. He is urging the government to fix the 
problem, before the Act comes into law.

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