subject: 8 February, 2004
----- WYSIWYG NEWS -------------------------------
Copyright, Brian Harmer
Somewhere in the archives of Wellington's Museum of City
and Sea (which used to be the Maritime Museum, of fond
memory), there is a picture of Wellington Harbour during
the Waterfront strike of 1951. I think there were
something like 65 ships at anchor in the harbour. Of
course that number was quite abnormal, but the port
always used to be busy. When I arrived in New Zealand as
a child with my parents in 1954, the port was still a
very busy place. In those days of general cargo ships
before containerisation or bulk carriers, there were
always dozens of ships in port, offloading manufactured
goods, taking on frozen lamb carcases in great netting
slings, or pallets of butter in cardboard cartons. Cranes
lined every wharf, with their long jibs bending and
reaching, swivelling and lifting, loading and unloading.
The ships bore the house colours of many shipping lines
and the flags of many countries. Mostly they were ships
of the Conference Lines, a sort of legal cartel that had
all of the country's major exports tied up in a near
unbreakable monopoly. Shaw Savill and Albion, the Federal
Steam Navigation Co., Port Lines, the Blue Star Line, the
New Zealand Shipping Company, and of course the Union
Steam Ship Company of New Zealand were visitors as
regular then as airlines are today. Occasionally a
Scandinavian visitor from the Lauritzen lines or
Wilhemsen would appear, and now and then one of the big
Dutch liners, Oranje, or the memorable Johan van
Oldenbarneveldt would deliver a new load of hopeful
immigrants. American ships were a rarity, until the
Matson lines began running the Mariposa and the Monterey
from Hawaii. Somehow, I have never lost my fascination
with ships and the sea. Perhaps this is because my late
father worked in the marine repair industry, and I often
was permitted, when he was working Saturday overtime, to
accompany him down into the engine rooms and other
machinery spaces of what in those days were big ships.
Typically, a freighter was in the order of 15,000 tons,
and a big passenger liner (they were on regular schedules
rather than cruising, back then) such as the Orsova was
28,700 tons.
All of this was brought to mind in the last few days by
the seeming busy-ness of the port. Several container
ships and bulk carriers were in port, and the German
luxury cruise liner Deutschland dropped in for a few
days. She is a handsome ship of very conservative lines
and quite modest tonnage by today's standards. It looked
approximately similar in bulk as the interisland ferry
Arahura. Then she was gone, and in her place was the
monstrous "Star Princess" It was as if a new central
business district had been erected overnight. Drivers
coming along the Hutt Road into town slowed appreciably
to take in the awesome bulk of this enormous white
vessel. Row upon row of balconies made it look more like
a gargantuan hotel than a ship afloat on the fickle sea.
Accommodation for 3,100 passengers and 1,200 crew must
take a lot of windows. On her own, she weighed more than
seven of those freighters that once seemed so big, and
with so much aluminium in her superstructure, she is
physically even bigger in proportion.
Modes of transport fascinate me, and it is a pleasure, on
the way to work, to see road, rail, air and sea all being
utilised to keep the port and city alive and well.
-----
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 "HH" will indicate an opinion
from Helen. In all cases they are honest expressions of
personal opinion, and are not presented as fact.
All news items (except where noted otherwise) are
reproduced by kind permission of copyright owner,
Newstalk ZB News All copyright in the news items
reproduced remains the property of The Radio Network
Limited.
Formatting this week is sponsored by Chris Sheedy &
Marsha Brewer from California. Many thanks
----
On with the news
Monday, 02 February
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
THREE REPORTED DEAD IN OTAKI INCIDENT
-------------------------------------
It is believed three people are now dead after a violent
incident at Kapiti's Otaki beach. There are reports two
of the dead are children. Armed police, ambulance and the
fire service are all at the scene.
MAN INJURED LEAVING MANHOLE
---------------------------
A man is in hospital with serious injuries after being
struck by a car in a most unusual accident in
Christchurch. The accident happened on an industrial site
on Hay Street in Linwood around four o'clock this
afternoon. According to St John Ambulance, the victim was
coming out of a manhole when he was struck by a vehicle.
The man has been rushed to Christchurch Hospital with
serious head injuries.
(Why on earth was the victim emerging from a manhole on a
busy street without the usual cones and protective gear
to prevent such an event? - BH)
NZ IDOL PROVES A BIG WINNER
---------------------------
The singing and performing talent - and otherwise - of
New Zealanders has proved to be a big winner for TV 2.
The first programme in the New Zealand Idol series
achieved some of the best ratings in TV 2's history.
TVNZ says more than 1.1 million people tuned in for the
programme. The programme features a search for New
Zealand's best pop talent, although one of the judges on
last night's show admitted among the gems who auditioned,
she had also heard some of the worst singing she had ever
heard in her life. TV2's General Manager, Julie Baylis,
says the format is 'fantastic' and 'world class calibre'.
TVNZ says more than 1.1 million people tuned in for the
programme. The programme features a search for New
Zealand's best pop talent, although one of the judges on
last night's show admitted among the gems who auditioned,
she had also heard some of the worst singing she had ever
heard in her life. TV2's General Manager, Julie Baylis,
says the format is 'fantastic' and 'world class calibre'.
(How odd. I have yet to meet anyone who admits to
enjoying it. In my few brief minutes of exposure to it,
the cringe factor hit the extremes very quickly. It was
excruciating. On the other hand, I thought the same of
American Idol and Australian Idol, so perhaps it's just
not my thing - BH)
NZ EXPERTISE TO COMBAT BIRD FLU
-------------------------------
New Zealand is offering its services to an international
meeting on the bird flu virus. MAF spokesman Derek Belton
says the summit in Rome will involve health and
biosecurity authorities. Meanwhile, he is reiterating
that the risk of introduction of the virus from products
we import is zero. Dr Belton says the sorts of food
products we allow in are canned goods which have been
through processes that definitely kill the virus.
He says our poultry farmers have contingency plans in
place should the virus reach here.
INNER TUBE RIDER'S BODY FOUND
-----------------------------
The body of a man who fell off a tube ride in the
Waiwhakaiho river in Taranaki has been found washed up on
a beach. The Waitara man, in his early 30s, was with a
group of people planning to float from the Meeting of the
Waters, just south of New Plymouth to Merrilands Domain
on inner tubes yesterday afternoon. A search was launched
yesterday and continued this morning. But it was made
difficult with the river more than a metre higher than
usual, because of heavy overnight rain. Police say the
man was not wearing a life-jacket and seems to have
abandoned a buoyancy device in his tube.
DEAD CHCH WOMAN'S PARTNER MISSING
---------------------------------
Police are concerned for the safety of a man, missing
since his partner was found dead at a Christchurch
address at the weekend. The body of 45 year-old Ordette
Lloyd-Rangiuia was found at her Sydenham home by her
teenage daughter yesterday afternoon. Neighbours of the
deceased say the girl discovered her mother in a pool of
blood in the hallway of her home. Detective Senior
Sergeant Tom Fitzgerald says they are now concerned for
the safety of the woman's partner. He says Stephen James
King has not been seen since attending his birthday party
at the address the previous night. A post-mortem
examination will be carried out on the dead woman this
afternoon.
PM CONSULTING ON PACK RAPE CLAIM
--------------------------------
The Prime Minister says it is important that outside eyes
look at accusations that police, including Assistant
Commissioner Clint Rickards, were involved in a pack rape
20 years ago. A police investigation in the 1990s into
the actions of three officers including Mr Rickards
failed to prove the claims, but it is now alleged that
the investigation was flawed. The complainant, Louise
Nicholas, claims she was manipulated, in order to prevent
her attackers from suffering any repercussions. Helen
Clark is asking her head of department, Dr Mark Prebble,
to consult other officials on what form of inquiry should
take place. She says the public is looking for an
assurance that there was a full and proper investigation
into the claims Assistant Commissioner Clint Rickards has
voluntarily taken three weeks' leave while police review
an inquiry last decade that cleared him of the
allegations. The Police Commissioner, Rob Robinson, says
he would welcome any independent inquiry into the rape
allegation as the claims that have been made in the last
few days of a cover-up suggest new matters that must now
be taken forward. He told Newstalk ZB the matter needs to
be resolved in some final way if that is at all possible.
Police Minister George Hawkins insists that the
Government will get to the bottom of the allegations, and
he will be making sure the integrity of the police is not
called into question over the matter. He says the
Government will leave no stone unturned in resolving the
matter. Meanwhile it has emerged that a police insider
sparked the story. Dominion Post editor Tim Pankhurst
says it was not the complainant who went to reporter
Phillip Kitchin with the story. He says it was actually
the police themselves who said there were some serious
issues they were concerned about. Mr Pankhurst says Mr
Kitchin has been working on the story for two years, but
it was only recently that he managed to track down Louise
Nicholas.
(Having listened on radio to the now retired officer who
conducted the first PCA inquiry, things look fairly black
for the officers concerned. It seems likely that the
actual event will boil down to one person saying
something happened, three people saying that only
consensual activities occurred. What may emerge is that
the standards of investigation of this event almost
twenty years ago were not up to expectations. Even if it
is not possible to attain the standard of proof necessary
to gain a conviction for rape, it seems to me that the
one accused who is still in the police will never again
get promoted, and will be lucky to retain his present
rank. Trial by media is always a cause for concern. - BH)
MORE RAIN ON ITS WAY
--------------------
Rainstorms around the country in the last 24 hours have
claimed three lives. A man drowned after being swept away
in a car that plunged into Nelson's Maitai River early
last night. Nine-year-old Oliver Patton, drowned in a
Tauranga stream yesterday afternoon. In Taranaki, a man
is missing after a flash flood swept him away while he
was river tubing down the Waiwakaiho River. Emergency
services in the greater Auckland region are still flat
out after dealing with calls as a result of heavy rain.
The dumping of rain on the North Island this morning will
not be the last. MetService spokesman Bob McDavitt says
the country can expect another trough to cross it on
Wednesday. He says today's downpour was caused by a
little low vortex in the middle of a major rain band
crossing the North Island. The rain gauge at Auckland
Airport measured 40 millimetres in just two hours. But Mr
McDavitt says it is not all bad news - he is predicting
fine weather for Waitangi Day on Friday. The worst hit
area appears to have been Auckland's North Shore, where
the city council logged more than 1400 calls in two
hours. There were reports of people being trapped in
their cars, and police have sent special traffic units to
deal with the chaos. The council's call centre manager,
Ann Hollway, says the problems were city-wide, with a lot
of streets closed, including some main arterial roads.
She says every engineer and contractor the council has is
out clearing drains and floods. Schools in the city also
faced chaos today as staff and students arrived late or
not at all due to street flooding or traffic jams.
Pakuranga Intermediate principal Stuart Myers says his
South Auckland school called in a fire truck. He says
water was lapping at the doors of some classrooms at one
stage. Mr Myers says it was exciting for the kids, but it
is now classes as usual.
Tuesday, 03 February
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
CONCERN ABOUT WATER CONTAMINATION
--------------------------------
Triathlon organisers are concerned about water
contamination at Auckland beaches following heavy rain
earlier in the week. The Special K Women's Triathlon and
the Kiwi Kids' Weetbix event take place over the next
fortnight, however beaches in the Auckland region are
polluted after rain caused the city's sewerage system to
overflow. City Council spokesman David Vince says water
quality at Mission Bay and St Heliers Bay, where the
events take place, is poor and organisers have contacted
the council about the issue. Mr Vince says the swimming
component of the event may have to be cancelled if the
pollution does not clear by the time the events take
place.
(About one third of the entry made it into the kayak
section before safety issues due to rising river levels
cut off the remainder of the field. - BH)
RECORD TOURIST NUMBERS IN DECEMBER
----------------------------------
The number of overseas tourists visiting New Zealand in
December hit a record level, according to official data
released. Statistics New Zealand reported that the number
of short-term visitors rose 12 percent in December on the
same month a year ago. There were 297,300 short-term
visitors from overseas in December, the highest ever
monthly number, which compared with the previous record
of 265,700 in the same month a year ago. On a seasonally
adjusted basis the number of short term visitors was up
five percent on the year earlier, with the number of
visitors reaching 2.11 million in the year to December.
Visitors from Australia, New Zealand's largest market for
inbound tourism, rose 21 percent and from Britain by 17
percent, the government agency noted. There were also
rises in the number of visitors from China, up 24
percent, Singapore, up 23 percent, and the United States,
up 17 percent. However, there were eight percent fewer
visitors from Japan and visitor numbers from Taiwan were
down 29 percent. Overall numbers of visitors from Asia in
December were flat on the same month a year earlier, but
for the year ended December visitor numbers from the
region were down 10 percent. SNZ said the average length
of stay fell to an average of 22 days during December
compared with 23 days a year earlier, although the total
number of days spent by all visitor arrivals was up four
percent to 6.48 million. The number of overseas trips
made by New Zealanders in December was up 20 percent on
the year earlier. Over that period the New Zealand dollar
rose 25 percent against the US dollar and by around 10
percent on a trade weighted basis making the cost of
overseas travel and holidays cheaper. Permanent and long-
term arrivals exceeded departures by 1,600 compared with
a gain of 3,400 in December 2002, the tenth consecutive
month that there has been a decline. For the year ended
December there was a net migration gain of 34,900, down
nine percent on the number of permanent and long term
arrivals in same period a year earlier. China, Britain
and India were the biggest sources of migrants.
WAR GRAVES TO BE INSPECTED
--------------------------
The head of the British-based Commonwealth War Graves
Commission will inspect First and Second World War graves
in New Zealand. Director-General Richard Kellaway begins
his week-long visit tomorrow. The commission, established
by Royal Charter in 1917, has an annual budget of $35
million funded by signatory nations including New
Zealand. It is responsible for commemorating the 1.7
million members of the Commonwealth Armed Forces who died
during the two world wars and for the care of their
graves throughout the world. Of the almost 30,000 New
Zealand casualties from both wars, 2,908 are buried in
433 sites throughout New Zealand. In addition, 570
casualties with no known grave are commemorated on
memorials in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and
Dunedin. The visits from representatives of the
commission, will fly to New Zealand periodically to meet
with key stakeholders and inspect New Zealand graves. The
commission says the visits are intended to raise public
awareness of the work of the commission and verify that
New Zealand is maintaining its graves to a high standard.
SUPERBUG COSTS DHB $60,000
--------------------------
An outbreak of a potentially dangerous, antibiotic
resistant superbug has cost the Canterbury District
Health Board $60,000. Last December Christchurch
Hospital's Neurology and Neurosurgery ward was shut down
for a week to contain the spread of an MRSA infection. A
District Health Board report on the outbreak says it
forced nursing staff who had come into contact with the
bug to remain in the ward under quarantine until they
were cleared. It also meant new neurosurgical patients
were transferred to other wards, where extra nurses were
needed to cope with the demand.
WARNING OVER DOOR-TO-DOOR PEDDLERS
----------------------------------
People are being warned to treat door-to-door art
peddlers with caution. The Consumers Institute says
backpackers are posing as destitute art students selling
original works. But the Institute's David Russell says
the works are mass-produced in Hong Kong for distributors
here. He says it is a nationwide fraud worth hundreds of
thousands of dollars. The works are thought to be worth a
fraction of their $200 price tags.
NEW HEPATITIS C DRUG HAILED
---------------------------
The Hepatitis Foundation believes a new drug will help
free up health dollars. Pharmac has decided to subsidise
a treatment called Pegasys. It will be made available to
around 250 patients with chronic genotype one hepatitis
C. Hepatitis Foundation CEO John Hornell says around 55
percent of hepatitis C sufferers carry genotype one and
the drug will make a huge impact on their health and the
health dollar. Mr Hornell says for example hepatitis
sufferers made up 41 percent of liver transplants last
year at a cost of $130,000 per patient. He says the need
for transplants with the new treatment will be
significantly reduced.
Wednesday, 04 February
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
WOMAN CHARGED WITH $1.9M FRAUD
------------------------------
A Wainuiomata woman charged with defrauding Work and
Income of $1.9 million has appeared before the Wellington
District Court. The four charges of using documents with
intent to defraud were laid by the Serious Fraud Office
and cover a period from March 2001 until June last year.
The defendant did not enter a plea, and has been remanded
on bail to appear again in court later this month.
(Although anyone who steals should be punished, there
ought to be some heads rolling in a government department
that has such poor systems that thefts get to that scale
before detection. - BH)
COMMISSION OF INQUIRY WITHIN 2 WEEKS
------------------------------------
The Commission of Inquiry into the police pack rape
claims should be up and running within a fortnight.
Attorney General Margaret Wilson says she has not yet
approached anyone to head the Inquiry, but they are
looking at a retired judge. She says she has total
confidence in the criminal investigation being carried
out by the police into the rape allegations. Margaret
Wilson says time has moved on, and the police understand
the seriousness of this issue. The Government is
currently working on the terms of reference for the
Commission of Inquiry. The Commission will not be charged
with establishing the guilt or otherwise of the three
officers accused of pack raping a teenager in Rotorua in
1986. It will instead look at the procedures used by the
police when investigating the allegations and why the
issue failed to be taken any further. The only officer
who remains in the force, Clint Rickards, has been stood
down as the Auckland area commander. He was promoted to
the assistant commissioner's role by Police Commissioner
Rob Robinson, even though he knew Rickards had admitted
to having consensual group sex with the teenager.
Meanwhile, Tauranga councillor Brad Shipton, one of the
men named in the allegations, has confirmed he has no
intention of stepping down from the job. Mr Shipton says
he will continue to fulfil all his civic obligations and
work hard. The councillor - who is now a bar owner - has
thanked people from his central city Te Papa ward for
their support. He strongly denies the allegations against
him and his former colleagues, which are now to be
investigated by a commission of inquiry. And Rotorua MP
Steve Chadwick has called on news organisations to back
off from filming and visiting the Rotorua house involved
in the alleged incident. She says the current owner has
becoming an unwitting victim of the attention and feels
her privacy is being invaded.
PM WILL BE AT WAITANGI
----------------------
The Prime Minister will be in Waitangi tomorrow, though
it is still unclear which activities she will actually
attend there over the next two days. Helen Clark has
confirmed she will attend the Governor General's dinner
tomorrow night and hold a breakfast meeting with local
leaders the next day on Waitangi day. While she is also
likely to attend the waka launching ceremony on the
Friday, it is expected she will give the Waitangi day
dawn ceremony a miss. Miss Clark says she will take a 'go
with the flow' approach to the visit which our political
staff say means it is possible the itinerary could change
and include a visit to the controversial lower Te Tii
marae tomorrow where a Pakeha media ban is in place.
Meanwhile Ngaphui Kaumatua, Bruce Gregory, says Georgina
Te Heuheu has been issued a special invitation to Te Tii
Marae for the start of Waitangi Day commemorations,
following her stance on Treaty of Waitangi issues.
Similar invitations have been sent to Labour MPs Tariana
Turia and Nanaia Mahuta for their opposition to Labour's
seabed and foreshore proposal. Dr Gregory says that while
Waitangi is open to all New Zealanders, including all
politicians, few receive special invitations. National's
Don Brash says he will not shy away from expressing his
party's new Maori policies at Waitangi this year. Ngapuhi
have indicated Don Brash is welcome to attend, although
they cannot guarantee the reception he will receive
following his controversial Nationhood speech. Dr Brash
says at this stage he is intending to go to the lower Te
Tii marae tomorrow. He says he will be saying the same
sort of things that he said last week in Orewa if he gets
the chance. Dr Brash says he does not want to be
delivering one speech to non-Maori, and a different one
to a Maori audience. He appears unfazed about the
possibility of getting a frosty reception at Waitangi,
saying he has never met any Maori yet who are rude and
abusive. He says in his experience Maori are direct, open
and honest and he looks forward to a vigorous discussion.
MAN CHARGED WITH QUEENSLAND MURDER
----------------------------------
A 27-year-old East Coast man has been arrested and
charged with murder following the death of a baby. The
infant died in Queensland a year ago. Detectives acted on
an arrest warrant issued by Queensland police and took
the man into custody at Ruatoria. He has appeared in
Gisborne District Court on Wednesday and has been
remanded in custody for a week for a bail application
pending an extradition hearing. Police say the charge
follows the death of a nine-month-old baby who was known
to the man.
POLICE CONTINUE OTAKI INQUIRY
------------------------------
Police are still trying to build up a picture of the
circumstances that could have led to three deaths in
Otaki on Monday. Bronson O'Carroll and his two children
were found dead at a home in the town - all had stab
wounds. There has been talk that Mr O'Carroll could have
recently been suffering from depression. Detective Senior
Sergeant Craig Sheridan says there is still a long way to
go, even though they have interviewed close members of
the family. He says police now need to identify and
interview others who may be connected. Craig Sheridan
says once police have reconstructed what happened, a
coroner will make a final ruling. Post-mortem
examinations of the bodies of Bronson O'Carroll and his
two children are being carried out today. Detective
Senior Sergeant Sheridan says any confirmation of the
murder-suicide theory may take a while, and that will be
the decision of the coroner.
ANOTHER MURDER INQUIRY IN CHRISTCHURCH
--------------------------------------
Neighbours of a man found dead at a house in Christchurch
say they had concerns about what went on at the address.
Police have begun a homicide investigation after the
discovery of the man's body at a Hornby house this
morning. Neighbours say the man and a woman had been
living at the address for the past four months. They say
there was often noise coming from the house. Police are
setting up a scene examination and hope to release more
details later. It is the third homicide investigation
begun this week in Christchurch and the fifth in
Canterbury this year.
SEARCH FOR MISSING MAN CONTINUES
--------------------------------
There is still no sign of the partner of a Christchurch
woman beaten to death at the weekend. Police have been
hunting for 46-year-old Stephen King since Sunday
afternoon. The body of his de-facto partner, Ordette
Lloyd Rangiuia, was found in her Sydenham home the same
day. Detective Senior Sergeant Tom Fitzgerald says police
need to talk to him to establish both his movements and
wellbeing.
SEARCH CONTINUES FOR MISSING TEEN
---------------------------------
Police are resuming their search for a missing Rotorua
teenager. Sonny Julian Smale was last seen on Monday
night at his home in Hamurana, near Lake Rotorua. Items
belonging to the 16-year-old were later found at the
mouth of the Hauraki Stream, by Lake Rotorua. This
sparked a full-scale search operation, which will
continue on Thursday.
STRANGER DANGER STILL COUNTS ONLINE
-----------------------------------
Police are warning of the dangers of Internet
relationships. A 20-year-old man has appeared in the
Napier District Court charged with raping a Napier girl
he met on the Internet. CIB Chief Bill Gregory says the
two had been corresponding via Internet for a week. He
says the 18-year-old girl invited the man, from the
greater Hawke's Bay region, for a night out in Napier
with her and her friends on Friday. Detective Bill
Gregory says this is a reminder to treat Internet friends
with caution, as they are effectively strangers.
(How different, I wonder, from meeting a stranger in a
bar? - BH)
POST GOES UP FIVE CENTS
-----------------------
The cost of posting a letter is about to go up. It will
rise by five cents from April 5, taking the cost of
posting a letter within New Zealand from 40 cents to 45
cents. New Zealand Post blames escalating costs and
changing trends in mail volumes. It argues the 12.5
percent rise compares favourably with increases in the
price of other common items such as bread and milk. The
new 45 cent stamp will feature a sperm whale swimming off
the Kaikoura coast.
Thursday, 05 February
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
CORAL'S KILLER SENTENCED
------------------------
Coral Burrows' killer has been sentenced to life
imprisonment with a minimum non parole period of 15
years. The six-year-old's stepfather, Steven Williams,
has been sentenced today in the High Court at Wellington.
His early guilty plea - within 10 days of the murder -
has been taken into account. However, also taken into
account was the fact there were two separate attacks: the
original beating where 29-year-old Williams lost his
temper with the little girl, followed by the later fatal
blow, which he said was to 'put her out of her misery'.
Justice Wild felt this suggested a serious involvement
and callousness in the crime. Williams sobbed several
times during sentencing this morning, listening to the
crown prosecutor and judge talk about the injuries
inflicted on Coral before she died. Justice Wild also
talked about the fear and terror Coral must have felt at
the hands of someone she trusted and depended on. However
Justice Wild said the convicted murder's obvious remorse
had to be taken into consideration at sentencing. Coral
Burrows' parents remained calm throughout sentencing and
promptly left the court after proceedings. Williams is
reported to be 'suicidal'. Today's 15-year non parole
jail term does not rank close to New Zealand's longest
sentences. It is less than half of the 33 years handed
out to William Bell, who was responsible for the Mt
Wellington RSA triple murders three years ago. Another
stepfather who killed his two daughters, Bruce Howse,
cannot apply for parole before he has spent 28 years in
prison. Mark Lundy's non-parole sentence for the murders
of his wife, Christine, and daughter, Amber, was
increased by the Court of Appeal to 20 years. He had
earlier been sentenced to life, with a 17-year non-parole
period. There has been no word yet on any appeal over
today's sentence for Steven Williams.
CROWN GIVEN MORE TIME OVER LAWSUIT
----------------------------------
The Crown has been given more time to outline its defence
to a lawsuit, alleging negligence over the Auckland RSA
killings. It was due to file its statement of defence in
the High Court in Auckland today. The lawsuit is being
brought by the husband of Mary Hobson, one of three
people killed by William Bell at the Mount Wellington-
Panmure RSA two years ago. Bell was on parole at the
time. Mr Hobson alleges Corrections acted negligently in
granting him parole. The Crown now has until February 27
to submit its defence.
(Without in any way belittling the pain felt by Mr
Hobson, I wonder what the alternative is. Unless the
entire parole system is abolished, there are always going
to be those who act contrary to expectations. The people
granting parole can only act on the balance of
probabilities, and sometimes they will be wrong. If they
are to be held personally liable for the actions of the
criminal, who would ever take on the job? - BH)
ANOTHER DEATH ON MT COOK
-------------------------
Mount Cook has claimed another life. A Romanian man has
plummeted to his death on the mountain's upper Linda
Glacier. Police say his climbing partner has survived,
and radioed a third team member for help. Two kiwi
climbers have been helping him. A helicopter's retrieving
the man's body and the survivors.
KNIFE FOUND AT OTAKI HOUSE
--------------------------
Police have found a bloodied knife at the Otaki property
where three people died on Monday. They say it will be
examined to establish if it was the weapon used in the
deaths of Bronson O'Carroll and his two children. The
post mortem examinations have been completed, confirming
all three suffered multiple stab wounds. No further
details of the examinations will be released, until a
final reconstruction of the events has been completed.
The house is still being examined and police hope to
finish their work at the property on Thursday afternoon.
The bodies have now been released to the family.
MAORI, PACIFIC ISLANDERS' POSITIONS IMPROVE
--------------------------------------------
New evidence has been released showing economic and
social statistics for Maori and Pacific Island peoples
have improved in many areas over the last two years. The
Government has released a review of its Reducing
Inequalities programmes, aimed at closing the disparities
between the two groups and the rest of the population. It
shows incomes for Maori household incomes are improving
and the number of Maori and Pacific Islanders leaving
school with qualifications is up. The employment rates
for both have also improved, while the rates of child
abuse for Maori have declined. However, the report also
shows the overall position of all New Zealanders has
improved in recent times and improvements for Maori and
Pacific peoples are not always keeping pace.
MISSING CHRISTCHURCH STUDENT FOUND
----------------------------------
A young Chinese student has been located after going
missing for over a week in Christchurch. 22-year-old
Andrea Geng disappeared from her Papanui flat last
Tuesday. Police say she has been found safe and well, and
they are continuing their inquiries.
MAN CHARGED WITH MURDER & KIDNAP
--------------------------------
A man has appeared in court charged with murder and
kidnapping following an 18-hour ordeal for a Christchurch
woman and her four children. Thirty-seven-year-old Darryn
James Rosanowski was arrested last night after armed
police stopped his vehicle in Marshlands Road. With him
were a woman and children, including four-month-old
twins. Police allege they had been kidnapped by
Rosanowski after an attack on the woman's partner. They
say they were first alerted by a text message from the
woman, saying she and her four children had been
kidnapped after witnessing an attack on her partner.
Thirty-six-year-old Darryn Raymond McRobert died at the
scene of yesterday's Gilberthorpes Road attack.
Rosanowski entered no plea in court today and has been
remanded in police custody.
Friday, 06 February
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
SOVEREIGNTY FLAG FLIES OVER WAITANGI
------------------------------------
The Maori sovereignty flag was flying high over the
Treaty grounds at Waitangi, as this year's commemoration
drew to a close. A protester climbed the highest pine
tree at the reserve, planted in 1836, to attach the flag.
It was one of several incidents this afternoon, including
a scuffle with a police officer filming the action.
Ngapuhi leader Titewhai Harawira says this year's
Waitangi is different from past events. She says Maori
came from throughout the country to reaffirm their deep
hurt about the foreshore and seabed. She says they feel
pushed against the wall, and that the government is not
listening. But Mrs Harawira says Maori leave Waitangi
with a feeling of unity and hope.
(On the other hand, the impression conveyed by the media
is that this year's observations at Waitangi were the
most violent and divisive for over a decade - BH)
THREE IN CUSTODY AFTER DISTURBANCE
----------------------------------
Two men and a woman are in custody after an assault and
gunshot in Hamilton. Police are still piecing the events
together. Early Friday morning, they became aware that
two men at a Fairfield address were suffering cuts
because of an alleged assault. A short time earlier,
armed officers had been called to a Bankwood Road home
after a man fired a gun, narrowly missing others.
It is thought to be gang related. Meanwhile there have
been two violent incidents in Auckland. A 24-year-old
Asian man is facing charges of wounding with intent after
an argument escalated around two o'clock this morning in
Richardson Road. A short time later an aggravated robbery
at an East Tamaki service station left an attendant
shaken but unhurt. He was held up at gunpoint by two men
who took off with cash and cigarettes.
MAD COW PANIC COSTS LIVES - EXPERT
----------------------------------
A New Zealand food safety expert says the world's panic
over mad cow disease is costing lives. Dr Stuart
MacDiarmid has been part of an international team
advising the US government about the disease. The
discovery of one contaminated cow in the US has led to
bans on American beef in dozens of countries. Dr
MacDiarmid says every time this happens, developed
countries waste money on ineffective protection measures.
He says they should put the funds toward stopping more
dangerous diseases. BSE has killed 150 people globally,
but Dr MacDiarmid says food poisoning kills thousands
every year. He says New Zealand has programmes in place
to prevent food poisoning and mad cow disease.
MANUKA HONEY MAY NOT BE REAL THING
----------------------------------
There is more honey purporting to be manuka on sale in
New Zealand than the industry actually produces. The
Consumers' Institute made the discovery when
investigating the product that has a reputation for
health benefits. Some honey blends claiming to be manuka
contain only a small dollop of the real thing. The
problem is in the labelling - and Consumer spokesman
David Russell blames the industry for that. He says it
has failed to agree on a long-overdue industry standard
test, but it is time they did, to give consumers
confidence that they are getting the genuine product.
David Russell says if a manuka producer is going to
charge a premium of up to four times the price of
ordinary honey, they have to establish their claims are
correct. He says people have to be careful when buying it
that they are getting the real thing - if in any doubt,
leave it alone.
THE TRUE SPIRIT OF WAITANGI
---------------------------
Ngapuhi kaumatua used this year's dawn service at
Waitangi to convey their disappointment at Don Brash's
Orewa speech last week. Most kaumatua who took the floor
told how the National Party leaders' speech cut through
the hearts of Maori. They also expressed their
disappointment at the dumping of Georgina te Heuheu, who
was also present. The kaumatua have offered themselves as
mediators to bridge the gap between Dr Brash and his
sacked Maori Affairs spokeswoman. Neither Don Brash nor
any of the government ministers present was given the
opportunity to speak. A karakia sounded out over Waitangi
as the dawn ceremony for the commemorations got underway
on the Upper Marae. Don Brash attended although later
left the celebrations; Helen Clark had a sleep in, but
joined the ceremonies taking to the water in a catamaran
to watch the waka ceremony. Later in the morning the
scene at the treaty grounds in the Bay of Islands was one
of food stalls, children, horse rides and people enjoying
themselves. Locals said it is the real spirit of
Waitangi. Prime Minister Helen Clark and Maori Affairs
Minister Parekura Horomia walked among the crowd shaking
hands, in a complete contrast to events of yesterday when
Helen Clark was jostled and heckled. There was a small
protest earlier on in the day, but nothing since.
Elsewhere around the country Waitangi Day commemorations
got underway with a waka race on the Whanganui River, a
multicultural festival in Porirua and a fun fair on the
Chatham Islands. The Ministry for Culture and Heritage
had allocated almost $300,000 for 57 separate events.
Meanwhile the Maori Affairs Minister wants his people to
think more broadly on the foreshore and seabed issue. The
government's proposal brought anger from those gathered
at Waitangi yesterday, and there were some ugly scenes of
jostling and shouting. Prime Minister Helen Clark was
heckled and National's Don Brash was hit in the face by a
fistful of mud. Parekura Horomia says this is one of the
rougher trips in his 21 years of going to Waitangi.
He says some people are being one-eyed over the foreshore
debate and there are other issues to consider if they are
serious about making things better for Maori children.
Parekura Horomia says he is hoping for more peaceful
scenes today. There has also been praise for Helen
Clark's cool response to Waitangi's ugliness. Associate
Maori Affairs Minister John Tamihere says the Prime
Minister did the right thing by sticking with her
decision to make an appearance at Waitangi's lower marae.
Mr Tamihere says the protest was undignified and there
are other ways to express anger.
BAY OF ISLANDS CHURCH BURNT DOWN
--------------------------------
A historic church in the Bay of Islands has burnt to the
ground overnight. St Paul's Anglican Church in the town
centre of Kawakawa has been completely gutted. Deputy
Chief Fire Officer Wayne Martin says the community will
be devastated. He says the 160-year-old church is
probably the oldest building in the Kawakawa township,
and the centre of the community. Wayne Martin says it is
hoped the bell can be saved but even that does not look
likely. He says it is not known how the fire started, and
police and fire safety are investigating. The blaze broke
out around midnight.
THE FINANCIAL PAGE
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Date: 5 February 2004 Brian Dooley
Wellington New Zealand
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