subject: 15 June, 2004
----- WYSIWYG NEWS -------------------------------
Copyright, Brian Harmer
The smell of paint is everywhere. Mary and I are living
in an ever decreasing oasis of cardboard boxes in the yet
un-refurbished parts of the house. Each morning at 7:30
while it is still dark, our painters arrive, unpack their
lunch, their brushes and their overalls, and set
themselves up for the day ahead, as we depart for the
working day elsewhere. Already, at the end of the day, we
can see areas that look as they are supposed to when the
job is done. We are taking the opportunity to simplify
the treasures that we have hoarded over the 24 years we
have been in the house, and the material to be discarded
has taken on a life of its own. Last weekend, we had
discarded sufficient material to warrant the hire of a
trailer and a trip to the local landfill. It is a long
while since that last happened. For us, this is out at
Silverstream, behind the old and now disused hospital
built by the US Military in WWII, up a long road into the
hills, across the weighbridge emerging $10 lighter, and
following the detailed road signs to the transfer
station. Transfer station? Landfills have moved on since
the days when you followed hand-scrawled signs and the
swirling flock of gulls to the tip face. Instead, you now
back up to some big baulks of timber that stop you
falling into the trough, and you tip, push, spill or
throw your treasures down the hole. A huge rubber tyred
front end load snarls and growls and tramps its bucket on
obstinate bits as it takes your memories away to a place
of decent and tidy interment. Where once a noisome
festering heap might have marred the landscape, there are
now rolling landscapes, lightly grassed, and rather park-
like except for the large pipes emerging from the ground
and carrying away the methane gas generated by the
underground decomposing mess, to a large concrete block
building containing what I believe to be four large
diesel generators converting the waste gas into
electricity for supply to the local grid. What am I
doing? I have been told from time to time that I write a
lot of rubbish. I guess I just proved it! See you next
week, hopefully with a more picturesque scene.
-----
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 a donor who
preferred to remain anonymous, but who is no less
appreciated. Many thanks.
On with the news.
Monday, 07 June
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
MEAT NZ CRITICISED OVER FOOD LABELLING
--------------------------------------
Meat exporters are reminding the Greens the market might
not work as simply as they imagine. The party has
criticised Meat New Zealand for stifling efforts to bring
in mandatory country of origin labelling on foods. The
Pork Industry and vegetable growers are said to support
the labelling regime. Meat New Zealand chairman Jeff
Grant says their stance does not prevent them from
meeting strict safety guidelines. He says consumer
preferences should be sorted out by the market. The
Greens are disappointed Meat New Zealand has convinced
the government to oppose the labelling regime, before
public submissions are heard. Jeff Grant says the
government is doing the right thing by keeping its nose
out of this issue. He says there is the danger that the
government could write rules that don't fit the product,
which makes it difficult to sell offshore.
ALLEGED UNDIE NICKER IN COURT
-----------------------------
A man police allege is a repeat underwear burglar in
Whangarei has been caught in a sting. Women from four
houses in Kensington have had their underwear repeatedly
nicked over the past two months. Senior Sergeant Murray
Stapp says of particular concern was the fact that on
many occasions the offender wrote messages on the
garments for the owners to find. A 31-year-old man
appears in the Whangarei District Court today on four
charges of burglary and one of criminal harassment.
RURAL DAY CARE CENTRE WORRIES
-----------------------------
Longer courses for early childhood education staff could
result in a shortage of qualified staff in rural areas.
Rural Women New Zealand says pre-school education courses
once involved students studying for 18 months, but they
must now complete a three-year course. National
councillor Jacky Stafford says most centres are staffed
by mothers and many potential candidates in rural areas
may be put off by the length of the course. She says many
rural families will also miss out on the Government's new
policy of 20 hours of free education for three- and four-
year-olds because many country daycare centres are
privately run.
DRUG TAKING RISKS IGNORED
-------------------------
A Wellington drug education agency is frustrated that
people are still ignoring the risks associated with drug
taking. Two men and a woman were taken to hospital and
were in intensive care after overdosing on the Class B
drug, liquid fantasy at the Phoenix Bar in the capital.
They were later discharged with no ill effects. But
WellTrust spokeswoman Pauline Gardiner is disappointed
that people are still taking risks with dangerous
substances. She says it may be that it will take deaths
before people take her organisation's message on board.
NORTH ISLAND SKI-BUNNIES KEPT WAITING
-------------------------------------
Mt Hutt is open for business, but North Island ski-
bunnies still have some time to wait. Mt Ruapehu got a
dusting of snow this weekend but the scheduled date for
opening the Turoa field is still 10 days away. Whakapapa
is not scheduled to open until the end of the month. Ski
Area manager Chris Thrupp says the mountain gained up to
30cm of snow this weekend on top of about 15cm already
there.
DOG RESTRICTIONS IN CONSERVATION AREAS
--------------------------------------
New measures will soon be in place for taking dogs into
conservation areas in the East Coast/Hawke's Bay regions.
Conservator Peter Williamson says too many kiwi have been
killed recently by dogs that are not under control. He
says the Department of Conservation will start using
legislation in the Conservation and Reserves Acts to
control the taking of dogs into named scenic reserves,
conservation areas and forest parks where there are
ground-nesting birds. He says staff are currently setting
up a permit system to allow dogs used for hunting pigs
and deer to be taken into selected areas of public
conservation land.
NO MORE SIGNS OF VARROA
-----------------------
There no further sign of a bee pest which threatens the
South Island bee industry. A deformed Varroa mite was
found in a hive in Oxford on Friday, but further tests of
100 nearby hives have shown no further evidence of the
pest. Testing of all hives owned by the beekeeper will
continue over the next week. MAF's Varroa Programme
Coordinator Paul Bolger says the tests will not eliminate
whether there are other infected hives in the
neighbourhood, with just one infected bee drifting into
the hive being tested. Paul Bolger says movement controls
on all hives and bees in North Canterbury are still in
place.
Tuesday, 08 June
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
CHARGES INCREASED IN SHEARER CASE
---------------------------------
The two Hastings 16-year-olds charged with assaulting
Australian shearer Mathew Larkins have had their charges
increased to manslaughter. The 34-year-old died last
Wednesday having never regained consciousness from an
unprovoked attack on a street ten days before. After
appearing in the Hastings youth court today, the pair
have been remanded until July 12. One is in the custody
of Child Youth and Family, the other was released on bail
with strict conditions.
CHLORINE MYSTERY SOLVED
-----------------------
Police are satisfied there was nothing sinister behind a
chlorine scare at Parkview Primary in Christchurch.
Eighteen pupils and three teachers were rushed to
hospital after breathing what smelt like chlorine fumes.
The fumes came from a toilet block after a little boy
used the urinal. Detective Senior Sergeant Grant Wormald
says they have traced them to a small canister of
chemicals put into the urinal by a relieving cleaner at
the weekend. He says school cleaners have used the same
product in the past with no ill effects. He says it is
possible other cleaning products were also used and when
the urinal was used it set off a chemical chain reaction.
All 21 people affected by the fumes have been released
from hospital. Police say they are now satisfied there
was no intent behind the incident. Detective Senior
Sergeant Grant Wormald says the usual cleaners were away
over the weekend and it appears the relievers used
different products in the toilets.
MAN IN CUSTODY AFTER ALLEGED BEATING
------------------------------------
A Napier woman will undergo facial surgery after a severe
beating. Police were alerted to a domestic incident just
after 4am on Monday when neighbours notified them of
thumping noises and frightened children screaming on the
roadside. Senior Sergeant John Lovitt says a 32-year-old
man is in custody after allegedly beating the woman with
a metal pipe from a vacuum cleaner. He says the man fled
the scene in a car which also struck a patrol car and two
cars belonging to members of the public. The man's car
was eventually stopped by spikes laid on the Brookfields
bridge. Senior Sergeant Lovitt says the woman suffered
serious head and facial injuries and will undergo surgery
in Palmerston North hospital today.
(I wonder if, when this person gets to jail, his fellow
inmates will give him some of the same. - BH)
BUILDING SITE VICTIM'S NAME RELEASED
------------------------------------
The police have released the name of the seven-year-old
boy who died at a building site in West Auckland over the
weekend. Jay Scott was killed when panels of gib-board
fell on him at an unattended housing development in
Swanson on Sunday. His classmates at Swanson primary
school are undergoing counselling after being told of the
tragedy and a Group Special Education crisis team is at
the school. Principal Kay Wright says the school is also
talking with the boy's family and doing everything it can
to support them. She says it is a terrible tragedy. The
death has been referred to the coroner.
GAMBLERS LOSE $1.9B IN FINANCIAL YEAR
-------------------------------------
Nearly two billion dollars was gambled away during the
last financial year. The Department of Internal Affairs
says gross profits or gamblers' losses reached $1.9
billion. Casino and gaming machine gambling have grown 18
to 23 percent a year over the past five years. The entire
gambling industry turns over more than $9 billion a year.
>From July, schools, churches and other groups that use
raffles, housie or non-gaming machine gambling to raise
money will not need licences, or have to pay fees if
their total prize pool does not exceed $5,000.
CIVIL DEFENCE AGENCIES ON LAHAR ALERT
-------------------------------------
Civil Defence agencies say they will be ready when the
lahar strikes. While Mt Ruapehu's Crater Lake level
remains reasonably stable, the agencies planning for the
event are very active. Regional councils, the Department
of Conservation, the Ministry of Civil Defence and the
police continue to hold regular planning meetings to
prepare for the mudslide. The group is establishing an
information brochure detailing which areas are likely to
be affected and the implications the lahar will have for
travellers, mountain and river users and residents of the
area. The lahar threat comes about following eruptions in
1995 and 96 from Mt Ruapehu, which emptied the crater
lake and deposited seven metres of material including ash
and sandy particles over the former lake outlet at the
top of the Whangaehu River. The new dam which formed
creates an unstable container for the lake when it
refills. The crater lake is 81 percent full and unless
another eruption empties it, its level is predicted to
reach the top of the dam sometime between late this year
and 2005. It is highly probable the dam will fail,
creating the risk of a lahar.
NZ'S HEALTH SYSTEM IN THE SPOTLIGHT
-----------------------------------
The performance of New Zealand's healthcare system is in
the spotlight in a report prepared for the Commonwealth
Fund. It looks at the health care systems of New Zealand,
Australia, the UK, US and Canada and how they can be
improved. It says New Zealanders report the fewest
problems accessing after-hours care, getting same day
appointments and waiting for emergency care. The
improvement in asthma mortality is described as a true
success story. On the downside, the report says the
country's suicide rate is higher than the other four
countries and New Zealand has the lowest rate of breast
cancer screening. The report is the Commonwealth Fund's
first, from its International Working Group on Quality
Indicators, for the health ministers of New Zealand,
Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom and the United
States. It provides detailed data on 40 key healthcare
quality indicators to help benchmark and compare
healthcare system performance.
Wednesday, June 9
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
PETROL, DIESEL PRICES DROP AGAIN
--------------------------------
A round of fuel price cuts is underway. BP and Shell have
both dropped pump prices this afternoon by three cents a
litre, taking 91 grade petrol to 118.9 cents a litre in
most areas and diesel to 71.9 cents a litre. It follows
last Friday's across the board drop of two cents a litre.
World crude prices have dipped in the past week following
OPEC's decision to boost production.
(Again? It hasn't dropped anywhere near as often as it
rose in the preceding three months! - BH)
JOHNSON - "I DESERVE JAIL"
--------------------------
The woman sent to jail for seven years after injuring a
group Northland partygoers and killing one of them says
she deserves a prison sentence. Twenty-year-old Julie
Johnson drove her car into the crowd at a party in the
Whangarei suburb of Kamo in February last year, killing
16-year-old Renee Brown. Thirteen others were injured.
Johnson was cleared of the murder of Miss Brown and of
causing grievous bodily harm and injury with intent to 15
others. The judge has said there is no minimum prison
sentence for Johnson. He says mitigating factors in the
decision included having a violent family life, no
previous convictions and being highly intoxicated at the
time of the incident. In a note given to the judge,
Johnson said she does not care about the sentence because
she knows she deserved it. She says she's deeply sorry
but knows that will not bring Renee back. Whangarei saw
street demonstrations over the weekend by people who had
been injured in the incident and their families, who say
the justice system has let them down.
E-MAIL SCANDAL HITS WORK & INCOME
---------------------------------
An investigation has been launched following the alleged
circulation of an offensive e-mail by Work and Income
staff. It is claimed the e-mail contained racially
offensive material. Work and Income deputy chief
executive Ray Smith says they are treating the matter
very seriously as that sort of behaviour would be
completely unacceptable. He says it would fall far short
of the level of professionalism and impartiality which
the department expects of its staff. Mr Smith says more
details will be available once the investigation is
completed.
FARMER BLASTS COUNCIL OVER FLOODS
---------------------------------
A Horowhenua farmer claims a lot of the damage suffered
in the February floods could have been avoided. Ian
Easton says he lost an uninsured crop worth $1.4 million
in the flood. He and three other Whirokino farmers have
lodged a claim with the Manawatu-Wanganui Regional
council asking for compensation for $3 million-worth of
uninsured damage. Mr Easton commissioned an independent
report on the failed Moutoa floodway. He says it shows
that the council overlooked how the design of the
Whirokino Bridge could affect the flow of water. He says
questions need to be asked. Ian Easton says they are
still waiting for the Council's insurer to contact them.
POLICE INVESTIGATE TRIPLE-FATAL CRASH
-------------------------------------
Police have released the names of three people killed in
a road smash north of Wellington yesterday afternoon.
They were Arthur and Violet Gandy of Papakowhai and
Kenneth Jones of Camborne. The three were leaving a
burial at Whenua Tapu Cemetery when their car smashed
into a northbound truck. Inspector John Spence says
inquiries are continuing to establish what caused the
crash. He says interviews are still being carried out
with witnesses, including the truck driver who escaped
with a leg injury. He says it is still not known just why
the car apparently pulled out straight into the path of
the truck.
WEATHER OBSCURES VENUS' PATH
----------------------------
English weather got the better of a group of New Zealand
students watching the Transit of Venus. But 16-year-old
Nelson Boys' College student Patrick Downey still
describes it as an amazing sight. Nine students from
three schools won a Royal Society competition to visit
England to witness Venus pass between Earth and the Sun.
Patrick says it was great to see the very thing he had
been studying for so long, but a shame the weather was
not better as cloud prevented him seeing as much as he
would have liked. The Nelson Boys' group also met famous
physicist Professor Stephen Hawking, which Patrick Downey
describes as "pretty neat." The school groups have
another day of sight-seeing before heading back to New
Zealand.
ZESPRI PROFITS UP NEARLY 60%
----------------------------
Zespri has unveiled another big profit to notch up an
extraordinary six years in a row of record-setting sales
figures. The Tauranga-based kiwifruit marketer reported
an increase in net profit of nearly 60 percent for the
year ending in March. Chairman Craig Greenlees says
profits were up $8.5 million on the previous year, with
significantly higher global sales. He says the record
performance was driven by exceptional results in Europe,
Japan and East Asia.
BOSSES WANT NO CHANGE TO OCR
----------------------------
The Employers and Manufacturers Association is calling on
the Reserve Bank to carefully consider leaving interest
rates unchanged. Financial experts are tipping that
Reserve Bank Governor Alan Bollard will increase the
official cash rate by 0.25 basis points when reviewing
the monetary policy statement tomorrow. The official cash
rate is currently 5.5 percent. But EMA chief executive
Alasdair Thompson says there are many reasons why the OCR
should remain unchanged. He says there is a long list of
deflationary pressures at work, including a net migration
loss in March and a possible US current account deficit
blow-out. He says the Reserve Bank Governor needs to hold
things steady this time round.
LANDLORDS WARNED AS HOMELESS SEEK WARMTH
----------------------------------------
Homeless people in Christchurch are again occupying empty
houses to keep out of the winter weather. Police claim
two people broke into an empty house last month, turned
the oven on for heat, then fell asleep in a room
upstairs. Senior Sergeant Colin Campbell says some people
even resort to ripping down walls and lighting fires to
keep warm. He says some of the people are heavily
intoxicated and can be quite violent. Police are warning
landlords to keep an eye on vacant property to avoid such
situations.
HELP FOR SEXUALLY-TROUBLED KIDS
-------------------------------
Sexual therapy sessions for children as young as seven
are being started up in Waikato. Parentline's child and
family therapist Paul Flanagan will head the group called
problem wrestlers. He says the aim is to help children
who display inappropriate sexual behaviour, before they
end up in the criminal justice system. He says in most
cases the children's behaviour is a reaction to something
they have seen, including pornographic images on the
Internet or TV, or even seeing their parents having sex.
Mr Flanagan says the courses will help both the children
and their caregivers to deal with the behaviour and he
hopes children will gain a healthier view of sexuality.
He says that although it is natural for kids to explore
their sexuality, in problem cases, the children have
stepped over the line of what is considered normal.
Thursday, 10 June
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
PETROL PRICES HEAD SOUTH
------------------------
All of the major oil companies have followed the lead of
Shell and BP and lowered petrol prices by a further three
cents. Caltex, Mobil and Gull made the change on
Wednesday night. This follows a drop of two cents on
Friday after a drop in oil prices worldwide, hard on the
back of record highs just last month. A litre of 91 now
costs around 118.9 cents. Despite the falls, prices are
still a long way off those being offered at the end of
April when 91 was selling for 111.9 cents.
FED FARMERS LAUNCHES '10K RATES CLUB'
-------------------------------------
Farmers paying thousands of dollars in rates are being
asked to come forward. Federated Farmers is launching the
10K Rates Club at next week's Mystery Creek Field Days to
collect examples of farmers paying more than $10,000 a
year in general rates. Federated Farmers policy analyst
Nigel Billings says property value rating is biased
against farming and costs huge sums of money. He believes
people will be surprised to learn how many farmers are
paying more than $10,000 a year.
ALLEGED SCHOOL FIRE LIGHTER IN COURT
------------------------------------
A 27-year-old man has been charged with arson following
two school fires in Waikato. The charges relate to a fire
at Cambridge High in March and another at Forest Lake
Primary three weeks ago. Police allege both fires were
deliberately lit in similar circumstances and caused
extensive damage to buildings. The unemployed Hamilton
man appears in court today. Police say they are now
looking into other unsolved arsons of a similar nature in
the Hamilton area in recent years.
PRIVACY WANTED FOR CAR REGO DETAILS
-----------------------------------
The AA believes there should be more restrictions
governing who can gain access to vehicle ownership
papers. The policy allows anyone to obtain vehicle
transfer papers without the consent or knowledge of the
legal owner. AA Motoring Policy Manager Jayne Gale says
the Government needs to change the system to prevent the
possibility of fraud. She says the challenge will be to
maintain the quick and simple nature of the current
system for honest owners. Jayne Gale says that while the
papers do not grant actual ownership, they do create the
appearance of it. The AA has been meeting with the Land
Transport Safety Authority and the Ministry of Transport
to discuss the problem. LTSA spokesman Andy Knackstedt
the authority would like to see access to the details
restricted, but he admits police would still need access.
SHREK APPEARS AT CHARITY EVENT
------------------------------
One woolly and two smooth sheep will be making an
appearance at Trentham Raceway on Saturday to raise funds
for child health research. Shrek the sheep, famous for
his lengthy fleece, will be hosting a charity open day at
the race course in an effort to raise around $15,000 for
Cure Kids. Trentham chief executive, Eddie Jansen, says
he is not the only guest appearance designed to bring in
the young and old for the ten-race day and local New
Zealand Idol runners-up Luke and Robin will also be
singing. Mr Jansen says people can also ride a mechanical
horse designed for training jockeys for a gold coin
donation towards the cause.
PROJECT IDENTIFIES FLOOD PRONE AREAS
------------------------------------
Homeowners will soon be able to learn whether their
property is a flood risk. February's flooding in the
lower North Island took many Lower Hutt, Manawatu and
Wairarapa residents by surprise. But the National
Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research and
Geological and Nuclear Sciences are working on a
programme to identify which homes are at risk. NIWA
scientist Dr Rob Bell says the computer programme will
track how a heavy amount of rainfall will affect areas
downstream and its human impact by gauging which suburbs
will be flooded. Dr Bell says the multi-million-dollar
programme will help emergency workers make crucial
decisions about when to evacuate people and what
protection is needed.
FONTERRA'S NEW FORECAST WELCOMED
--------------------------------
Dairy farmers are pleased a boost to their incomes.
Fonterra has bumped up its forecast payout for the
current season from $3.50 per kilogram of milksolids to
$3.85. Chairman of Federated Farmers' dairy section Kevin
Wooding says it is a shot in the arm for dairy farmers,
although they are still hoping for a figure of around
$4.00. He says previously a lot of farmers were looking
at a red bottom line, so the increase will make a lot of
difference and should even pump millions more into the
domestic economy. Ian Witters of Macquarie Equities says
the increase will lift the average dairy farmer's income
by about $7,000. For the following year, the income boost
is about $31,000. However there is a warning from the
OECD of a long-term downward trend in prices for
agricultural goods. It says worldwide production is
expected to outpace demand for staples such as milk
powder, butter and meat.
WILD HORSES MUSTER BEGINS
-------------------------
The Department of Conservation has begun its annual
muster of Kaimanawa wild horses. It is planning to take
about 190 horses from the central North Island herd of
690. DOC says the cull is part of its management plan
which limits the herd to about 500 to protect the tussock
land habitat near Waiouru, and maintain the horse
population in a healthy condition. Spokesman Ross
Henderson temporary yards are being set up to muster the
horses to. He says 77 homes have been approved for horses
to go to, the rest will be fattened by farmers for later
slaughter.
(How times have changed. I remember huge protests when
these things first started. Now they seem to be treated
like the start of daylight saving time - BH)
Friday, June 11
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
NEW ZEALANDER CHAIRS UN COMMITTEE
---------------------------------
New Zealand's United Nations representative has been
elected to chair a committee on the organisation's
spending. Ambassador Don MacKay will oversee the divvying
up of the $11 billion budget and the management of 1500
staff. Foreign Minister Phil Goff says the election in
New York today reflects the high standing New Zealand has
within the United Nations. He says it is tasked with huge
challenges such as the rehabilitation of Iraq and
Afghanistan, peacekeeping in Africa and human rights. Don
MacKay will hold the post for a year.
VERDICT OUT ON STATE OF THE NATION
----------------------------------
The verdict is out on last night's State Of The Nation
broadcast. Almost half a million viewers tuned in to the
TV One special where ordinary New Zealanders talked about
race relations. The programme pipped Channel Two's Third
Watch for the title of most watched programme. Members of
the public were split into two groups, one Maori, one
Pakeha and asked a series of questions. Race Relations
Commissioner Joris De-Bres says the programme was a
useful exercise in getting a good cross section of
opinion on race relations. However he says he would have
liked to have seen more in-depth analysis of the issues
rather than just a snap-shot of opinion.
BNZ WARNS OF OVERHEATING ECONOMY
--------------------------------
Economists are warning that new trade figures released
Friday are likely to give the Reserve Bank something else
to worry about. Today's Overseas Trade Indexes showed
export and import volumes continuing to surge in the
first quarter of the year, and the terms of trade rising
even higher. The Bank of New Zealand says this is
consistent with GDP growing 1.2% in the same period of
time. Economist Stephen Toplis says he is not sure what
New Zealand's economy needs if it is to avoid inflation
pressures. He says returning the OCR to broadly normal
levels would seem to him to be the bare minimum with the
economy in such an overheated state.
OWNERS MAY FACE RECALL BILL
---------------------------
Owners of Mitsubishi Fuso trucks and buses involved in a
safety recall may have to carry the cost of having them
inspected. An accident in Japan two years ago has led to
the recall of 110,000 heavy vehicles in that country, and
843 in new Zealand. They include 72 school buses. A
design flaw could result in wheels coming off. LTSA
director David Wright says the cost of having the
vehicles inspected will be between the owners and
suppliers. He says almost all the vehicles are second-
hand imports
CHILLY NIGHT PREDICTED FOR TEST
-------------------------------
Forecasters are predicting a chilly night for tomorrow's
All Blacks v England clash in Dunedin. But that is no
deterrent for backpacker tour operator, Bottom Bus, which
is taking 250 tourists to the city for a festival which
includes a rugby game with a difference. The backpackers
are holding a nude game of their own before the test. A
local team of university students is ready to take on
seven of the best English players the backpackers can
muster. The game takes place at the Beach of Pain -
that's Middle Beach in Dunedin - at four tomorrow
afternoon. Meanwhile Otago rugby fans looking forward to
tomorrow night's test match will need to be prepared to
change their drinking habits. There will be no Speights
at Carisbrook, and Lion Breweries has confirmed
Steinlager will be the drink of the day as it is the
major sponsor. Lion Breweries public relations manager
Rachel Johnston says Steinlager has been greeted with
great enthusiasm at all the games so far. She says she is
sure southern fans will also like the taste. Meanwhile,
the TAB expects to take close to $1 million on tomorrow
night's game. By midday Friday the TAB had taken $200,000
in bets, with the biggest a $75,000 punt on the All
Blacks. The TAB has them at $1.40 and England at $2.85.
Rugby bookmaker Pete Young says most people are picking
England to win in the ratio of seven to one. He says the
big betters are backing the All Blacks.
(It may have been chilly, but oh how that 36-3 scoreline
soothed and warmed the battered national psyche! - BH)
ARREST WARRANT AFTER KIWI SHOT NEAR MANILA
------------------------------------------
Police in the Philippines have issued an arrest warrant
over the death of a New Zealander. Barry Garrod was
killed by a shot to the head outside his apartment in the
city of Angeles north of the capital Manila. Police at
the time doubted it was foul play despite his former wife
telling them he had been getting death threats.
Philippines correspondent Michael Cohen says police have
now issued a warrant for an unnamed suspect or suspects.
He says that represents a major shift in attitude and
police now appear to be treating the homicide seriously.
BREAST CANCER FOUNDATION IS IN THE PINK
---------------------------------------
Six hundred tickets have been sold to tonight's Breast
Cancer Foundation's fashion show in Auckland. Foundation
spokeswoman Karen Lloyd says 'In the Pink' raised more
than $40,000 last year and hopes to raise even more this
time round. She says funds raised will go towards the
foundation's numerous research and education initiatives,
including a scholarship programme to address the
nationwide shortage of radiation technicians and
radiographers. She says top Kiwi designers will be
showcased at the event.
MINISTER'S ANGER AT OFFICER'S GAMBLING
--------------------------------------
The Police Minister is taking the issue of a senior
officer, who gambled while on duty, to the Commissioner.
Inspector Lex Denby won two cars on the pokies at
Hamilton's SkyCity casino late last year. It is reported
he played the machines while taking a break during work
hours. Police Minister George Hawkins is less than
impressed, and will be taking it up directly with Rob
Robinson. He says it is a staff matter that the
Commissioner should deal with and Inspector Denby's
colleagues have every right to be disgruntled. He says it
is not the behaviour expected of an officer. Mr Hawkins
says police have a tough job and must work as a team.
THE FINANCIAL PAGE
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Date: 11 June 2004 Brian Dooley
Wellington New Zealand
CURRENCIES
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The currency codes given below conform to ISO 4217, which
can be found at http://www.xe.net/currency/iso_4217.htm.
The rates given are for telegraphic transfer.
To Buy NZD 1.00
USD 0.6234
AUD 0.9009
GBP 0.3409
JPY 68.43
CAD 0.8478
EUR 0.5188
HKD 4.8717
SGD 1.0717
ZAR 4.0708
CHF 0.7855
INTEREST RATES (%)
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Call : 5.50
90 Day: 6.05
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