subject: 13 February, 2005
----- WYSIWYG NEWS ------------------------------
Copyright, Brian Harmer
Summer's brightest jewel, the crimson pohutukawa is all but
gone. Just a few heroic clusters continue to resist the march
of time and the blustering Nor' Westerly. For the most part,
the glory of their flowering has simply fallen off or blown
away, leaving nothing more than dusty red detritus beneath the
trees, or clogging drains and gutters. This transformation is
like watching the Coldstream Guards outside Buckingham Palace
changing from the magnificence of their ceremonial scarlet
tunics, to the dull patterned khaki of their working uniforms.
For the next nine or ten months, these trees will wear the
sullen camouflage of their evergreen leaves to persuade
us that they are not really pohutukawa trees at all, at least
not until next flowering season. "No-one here but us ordinary
old trees! Move along! Nothing to see here!" Well thanks
anyway for the show. Though summer was nothing much to speak
of, you did your part splendidly despite the wind and rain.
There is still the occasional Rata in bloom, of course, but
they have always marched to the beat of a different drum. And
here and there, there is a flowering eucalypt, whose gaudy
orange red colours mark it as a flashy foreigner, well enough
in its arid homeland, but jarring in this environment.
Meanwhile, in the Hutt Valley, the new shape of the River is
almost complete. It still has a gentle and pleasing curve,
though not as nature designed it. Strand Park on the Eastern
bank has had about a third of its area shaved off, and a new
piece of land of roughly similar are has been grafted onto the
Western bank. The reclaimed area is still raw, bright orange
clay being the dominant colour, and no doubt it will take a
season or two before new grass, and the promised native tree
plantings will make us forget that it was ever different.
Maybe some of the plantings will be pohutukawa, though
sufferers from hay fever may hope otherwise.
Wahoo! Helen's computer is fixed, she is back on the job, and
I am relieved of a considerable burden.
----
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 Greg Pirie in Macedonia.
Thanks Greg.
----
On with the news:
Monday, 07 February
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
FLOODING CAUSES PROBLEMS IN DUNEDIN
------------------------------------
A flash flood is creating major problems in Dunedin. Police
and fire-fighters are responding to numerous calls - including
to one family with a baby reported to be trapped in a house by
flood waters. There are also reports of a roof collapsing in a
building housing a business in Mosgiel. Apparently the
downpour hit around six o'clock, and while it has stopped
raining, it has left chaos in its wake.
TRIAL CONTINUES OF ARSON-ACCUSED
--------------------------------
The trial is continuing of a man charged with torching a
historic Otaki Church. Francis Shaw is standing trial in
Palmerston North for the 1995 arson of the Rangiatea Church.
Crown prosecutors have so far called three witnesses: a
security officer who raised the alarm and two firefighters.
Both firefighters told the court there was no evidence to
suggest the fire was anything but suspiciously lit. They say
if there had been some kind of electrical fault then wires and
fuses at the scene would have indicated that. Shaw is
defending himself in the trial, which continues tomorrow.
"I TRUSTED MY MANAGER" – TUA
----------------------------
David Tua says he "pretty much trusted" his former manager
Kevin Barry with his life. The boxer has given evidence in a
High Court hearing into his dispute with his former manager
and former investment adviser Martin Pugh. Mr Tua claims a 51
hectare property bought through his company Tuaman Inc belongs
to him alone. Mr Pugh and Mr Barry say they own a quarter
each. David Tua says he always had a "funny feeling" about
Martin Pugh, but allowed him to be involved because Mr Barry
wanted him. Nevertheless he allowed Mr Pugh to make all the
arrangements about the Pakiri property purchase, and took no
independent legal advice.
PM DOES NOT EXPECT ISRAELI APOLOGY
----------------------------------
Prime Minister Helen Clark is not holding her breath for an
apology from Israel over the Mossad spy row. However, she does
expect some move towards a thaw in diplomatic relations once
the court process involving Uriel Kelman and Eli Cara is over.
Miss Clark says once the appeal over the pair's conviction is
heard, the ball will be in Israel's court. She says Israel is
under no illusions as to what the Government expects.
(The pair subsequently announced that they had dropped plans
to appeal. That should leave the road clear for a
rapprochement, but I still wouldn't hold my breath. - BH)
EXTRA HELP FOR FLOOD FARMERS
----------------------------
Bay of Plenty farmers hit by last July's floods have been
given extra assistance from the Government. Agriculture
Minister Jim Sutton says the region experienced further
flooding in December and the Government has agreed to enable
farmers affected by both floods to claim further assistance.
He says farms can receive a grant of 75 percent to restore
uninsurable damaged property above a threshold of five
thousand dollars, or 10 percent of restoration costs which is
even greater. Mr Sutton says Cabinet ministers have accepted
that it is impossible to distinguish between damage caused by
the two events.
CHERIE BLAIR MEETS PM AT STARSHIP
---------------------------------
The wife of British Prime Minister Tony Blair has this
afternoon met with Helen Clark in Auckland. Cherie Blair is in
New Zealand for a speaking engagement in aid of the Starship
Foundation. Mrs Blair arrived with Helen Clark at Auckland's
Starship Hospital by mid-afternoon, amid relatively light
security. She is visiting sick and injured children inside the
hospital before speaking in the central city later this
evening. People are expected to gather outside the speaking
venue to protest against privatisation and Tony Blair's
involvement in the Iraq War.
(It's a pity that a fundraiser like this should be so tainted
by the speculation of the magnitude of her fees both here and
in Australia. She blotted her copybook here, by forgetting
which country she was in, and referred to us as Australia
several times during her session. - BH)
ST JOHN CHIEF ADMITS DRUNK-DRIVING
----------------------------------
The head of St John Ambulance in Queenstown has pleaded guilty
to a number of charges following an accident in one of the
service's vehicles. Colin Robson was charged with drink
driving, dangerous driving and failing to stop at an accident
in Queenstown last month. He appeared at the town's district
court this morning and pleaded guilty to all the charges.
Southern Region manager Garth MacMillan says today's plea
means they can continue their internal investigation.
SAMURAI TRIAL UNDERWAY
----------------------
The trial of a man accused of attempting to hack two women to
death with a samurai sword is underway. Antonie Dixon is
facing charges of murder, attempted murder, aggravated
burglary, kidnapping and using a firearm at the High Court in
Auckland. Crown prosecutor Simon Moore alleges Dixon carried
out an frenzy of activity which began in the small Hauraki
Plains community Pipiroa on the evening of January 21 2003. He
says Dixon intended to kill two women when he slashed and
hacked them with a razor-sharp samurai sword. Mr Moore says
Dixon then drove to the Auckland suburb of Pakuranga where he
pumped 25 bullets into the back of James Te Aute, killing him.
DEFENDANT DENIES TORCHING HISTORIC CHURCH
-----------------------------------------
Opening arguments have begun in the trial of a man accused of
torching Otaki's historic Rangiatea Church. Francis Shaw is
accused of the 1995 arson. Prosecutor Ben Van Der Kolk told
the jury the case depends on the confessions of the accused.
He says Shaw told several people he had committed the arson.
Shaw, who is defending himself, told the jury the credibility
of Crown witnesses would be called into question. He says he
did not burn the church down, but told people that he had in
order to cause offence. The trial is expected to last four
days.
Tuesday, 08 February
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TINKERING WITH THE NCEA
-----------------------
The Government is making changes to the NCEA after some
students who should have got scholarships failed to pass. As
an interim measure, there will now be a new distinction
certificate. It is for students who got great NCEA level 3
results but failed to get a scholarship. Associate Education
Minister Mr Benson-Pope says although unacceptable, the
problem should not have come as a surprise. He says the
country is moving from a system that has been completely
scaled and manipulated to achieve desired results, to a system
where people are encouraged to achieve at a particular level.
(The expectation of a normal distribution is a perennial
debate. Should people pass who meet a pre-agreed criterion, or
should people pass who are in a particular fraction of the
high achievers. Grief follows whenever the expectations are
not clear to begin with. - BH)
CRASH CAUSES LONG DELAYS IN AUCKLAND
------------------------------------
Traffic in central Auckland came to a standstill during the
evening rush hour after an accident near the top of Symonds
Street. A motorcycle and a car collided at the intersection
with Karangahape Road just before four o'clock. The rider is
in hospital with critical injuries. Police blocked off all but
one lane on Symonds Street between Wakefield Street and
Grafton Road. This affected traffic throughout the rest of the
CBD, with Queen Street gridlocked, and long delays expected.
PM NOT SURPRISED AT VISA CHANGE
-------------------------------
The Prime Minister is not surprised by the changes to
Britain's working holiday visa scheme. The UK has cut back the
time allowed to work on the visa from two years to a year,
though kiwis will still be able to use the scheme until they
are 31. The Prime Minister says it follows the changes made a
few years ago, which allowed more countries to access the
plan. However, she says since then, it has been abused by
other countries' nationals, prompting the UK to revert to the
old system.
COURT HEARS PHONE CALLS IN DIXON CASE
-------------------------------------
Two phone calls between Antonie Dixon and ambulance staff have
been heard in court. Dixon is facing murder and attempted
murder charges at the High Court in Auckland. He is accused of
slashing Simonne Butler and Renee Gunbie with a samurai sword
in Pipiroa two years ago. The court has heard two phone calls
in which Dixon told ambulance staff people were injured at his
address. He said they had fallen off the roof, and one
person's hand was cut off. One of the first ambulance officers
at the scene says one patient was at the door with blood
around her and cries were coming from another woman on the far
side of the room.
(This fellow presents a startling figure on TV. He has a bowl
haircut which as one Sunday columnist observes, looks as if it
were detached from his head. He gives the impression of wild
eyes, and I can't help thinking that the jury will need to be
very disciplined to avoid having his very appearance prejudice
them against him. - BH)
WITNESS DESCRIBES TRIP WITH MURDER ACCUSED
------------------------------------------
A witness claims Antonie Dixon wanted to cut off the heads of
the women he allegedly attacked with a samurai sword. The
accused is facing murder and attempted murder charges at a
trial at the High Court in Auckland. A former friend of Dixon,
says he saw the 34-year-old attack Renee Gunbie and Simonne
Butler with a samurai sword at their converted shed in Pipiroa
nearly two years ago. As they were leaving the shed, Dixon
allegedly said he wanted to take the victims heads off and put
them in a letterbox. The witness says he drove to Hamilton
with the accused, and steered the car from the passenger seat
while Dixon smoked P. He says they parted in Hamilton,
following which he called police and told them a madman was on
the loose.
MAORI QUEEN RECOVERS WELL
-------------------------
Maori Queen Dame Te Atairangikaahu is recovering well after
undergoing surgery at Waikato Hospital. She underwent
treatment yesterday to remove kidney stones which had bothered
her for a while. Family say there were no complications and
she is heading home this afternoon. She will be cutting back
her formal commitments and tribal engagements as she recovers.
SCOUT MASTERS SENT TO JAIL
--------------------------
Two former scout masters have both been sent to prison for
seven years on a raft of child sex abuse convictions. Andrew
Pybus and Nigel Fenemore were sentenced at the High Court in
Auckland today. They will serve minimum non-parole periods of
three and a half years. Fenemore admitted sexually violating
one boy, and Pybus two boys, who they had taken away on trips
as trusted scout leaders. The court heard the abuse had been
prolonged and repeated, occurring hundreds of times over many
months. Justice Cooper told the pair they had abused their
positions of trust in a way that would cause the two victims
pain for the rest of their lives. Fenemore wept quietly in the
dock as the judge described the suffering he had inflicted on
his victim and his own family. His wife and son were in court,
as were the parents of Pybus. Pybus' list of convictions
included 28 relating to child pornography. The High Court
heard that Pybus was caught importing objectionable material,
and had 21 CDs that had a total of more than 60,000 images on
it. However his lawyer, Marie Dhyrberg, does not believe there
is a definite link between collecting child porn and sex
abuse, though she says it is more likely that if someone is
committing sex abuse, they are probably more likely to be
attracted to pornography. She says her client hopes the jail
sentences received by two former scoutmasters for a raft of
child sex offences send a strong messages to other offenders.
Ms Dyhrberg says the sentences should be seen as a deterrent
and that her client is taking steps to ensure there are no
more victims.
(Ms Dhyrberg's logic eludes me. Viewing child porn is surely
by its very nature, the exploitation of an act of sex abuse.
How can there be no link? If there were no customers for this
filth, then there would be less motivation for the abuse to
occur. - BH)
NATIONAL SLAMS BENEFITS FOR PRISONERS
-------------------------------------
National says prisoners should lose their benefits as soon as
they are put behind bars. Social Development Ministry figures
show half the country's inmates were caught wrongly receiving
benefits to the tune of more than $1.8 million last year. They
show 54 percent were receiving an unemployment benefit, and 22
percent a sickness benefit. National's law and order spokesman
Tony Ryall says the figures are outrageous. He says the minute
criminals are sentenced to prison time, they should lose their
benefits.
Wednesday, 09 February
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ELECTRIC FINISH TO WOULD-BE GETAWAY
-----------------------------------
Taupo police are shaking their heads over a near disaster in
the town today. They say three people sped off without paying
from a local service station. The driver sped through an
intersection, forcing another vehicle off the road and into a
power pole. The collision brought down high voltage lines
which burnt holes into both vehicles. Police say it was
amazing no-one was seriously hurt. One person is expected to
face dangerous driving and theft charges.
(The second vehicle was seriously damaged by the 11,000 volt
electricity supply arcing through it. It burned holes in the
door panels. More amazing was that the lady driving it,
managed to leap from the car to the ground unharmed. - BH)
CRASH TRAGEDY TAKES THREE YOUNG LIVES
-------------------------------------
It has emerged that family members of those killed in a
horrific road crash in North Canterbury this morning witnessed
the smash. Three young people, all from the same Christchurch
family, were killed when their car crossed the centre line,
colliding with a fully laden petrol tanker north of Parnassus
around eight o'clock. The 17-year-old woman, a 23-year-old
man, and a 14-year-old boy were all from the same family.
Chief Fire Officer Ira McNab says family members were in the
car travelling behind the young people. He says they were very
distraught and were taken to Cheviot by St John Ambulance
staff. Police senior sergeant Dave Harvey says police are
extending their deepest sympathies to the family of the
victims. Dave Harvey says the driver of the tanker has also
been deeply affected by the accident. He says the indication
is their car had crossed the centre line, though the car was
not overtaking at the time.
AUCKLAND CAME CLOSE TO POWER PROBLEMS
-------------------------------------
Auckland's power demand came close to exceeding the possible
supply this afternoon. Transpower had to warn lines companies
to cut back or increase generation. Transpower spokesman Chris
Roberts says the problem is rising temperatures in the Waikato
River. The Huntly Power Station discharges water into the
river, and when it reaches the resource consent limit it has
to virtually shut down. Mr Roberts says after the warning, the
gap between demand and supply widened from 30 megawatts to
almost a hundred megawatts - enough to power a city the size
of Hamilton.
NO-HELMET MOTORCYCLIST DIES IN HOSPITAL
---------------------------------------
A motorcyclist involved in a police chase in Christchurch this
morning has died. The man was involved in a high speed crash
near the central city around four. He had fled police at
speeds in excess of 100 kilometres an hour after they had
tried to stop him for failing to wear a helmet, and crashed a
short time later. He was taken to hospital with serious
injuries and Detective Senior Sergeant Grant Wormald says
unfortunately he passed away this afternoon. He says the
incident is being investigated and police would like to hear
from any witnesses to the crash.
POSTIE SPY" SCHEME CANNED
-------------------------
New Zealand Post has canned its controversial 'postie-spy'
exercise. It has been revealed the SOE had been equipping its
mail-delivery people with microphones to record details about
houses on their runs. Those details were passed on to paint
giant, Resene for the company to target homes which needed
repainting. State Owned Enterprises Minister Paul Swain says
it was a short-lived project. He says it was a five-day trial
and given public feedback, NZ Post does not intend continuing
with it. Resene says the idea originated with NZ Post rather
than with them.
(Though all the material being gathered could be as easily
obtained by Resene if they hired one of those people who
deliver junk mail, or even a person who did nothing but record
what could be seen from the street, there seemed to be a sense
of betrayal that the posties were involved. I am not sure of
the logic of that. - BH)
ANOTHER 111 FAILURE DOCUMENTED
--------------------------------
More damning stories of police failures to respond to
emergency calls have been revealed in Parliament. Minister
George Hawkins faced a question from Maori Party co-leader
Tariana Turia, asking about a young woman in Hamilton who was
raped two weeks ago. She says the woman was asked to walk
around the corner to the police station to make a statement,
despite the presence of the offender in her house. Mr Hawkins
says it is totally unacceptable and will make inquiries with
the Police Commissioner. He says the 111 review prompted by
the Iraena Asher case has been widened to include recent
issues.
(Mr Hawkins seems to be a magnet for episodes of ineptitude in
areas for which he is accountable. They seem to be made worse
by his handling of them in parliament. I gather he has his
allies in the Labour caucus, but I can't help thinking that
the best action he could take as a politician is to resign his
portfolio and perhaps even leave parliament. - BH)
LEVIN DEATH TREATED AS HOMICIDE
-------------------------------
The death of an elderly Levin man is now being treated as a
homicide. The 77-year-old was found dead at a Paisley Street
address on Saturday. A post mortem examination revealed he
died of asphyxiation. Levin police understand the man had
suffered from a mental illness for some time but they say they
are keeping an open mind in relation to his death. A team of
eight on the case is expected to take some weeks to complete a
detailed investigation process.
GOVERNMENT SLAMMED OVER EYE-TESTS
----------------------------------
United Future's family spokeswoman is having another go at the
Government. Judy Turner is slamming its decision not to
support an inquiry into the school vision testing programme
which she says is flawed. Mrs Turner says a recent trial
showed the test falsely cleared 40 percent of children. She
says the decision is the "lowest level political rubbish" and
makes a total mockery of the Government's alleged concern for
the welfare of children. Judy Turner says the programme is
failing huge numbers of young people and leaving them in the
classroom with undetected sight problems.
SUSPECTED "P" LAB CLOSES ROAD
-----------------------------
Part of a Christchurch road bordering an intermediate school
has been cordoned off this morning while police removed what
is suspected to be a 'p' lab. Residents in Heaton Street in
Merivale were told to stay inside their houses before midday.
Police say a member of the public reported a suspicious man
and vehicle to police shortly before midnight. Senior Sergeant
Peter Stills says the car was stopped and the man is now
helping police with inquiries. He says the lab has since been
removed with help from the Fire Service.
Thursday, 10 February
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TWO REMAIN IN HOSPITAL AFTER BUS CRASH
---------------------------------------
A school bus crash has landed a 10-year-old girl and a truck
driver in Palmerston North hospital. Twelve passengers were on
the bus when it collided with the truck on a single lane
bridge. Police say there was heavy fog at the time of the
incident. The truck driver has serious injuries and is in
intensive care. The 10-year-old girl is in a stable condition.
Eight other children and the bus driver were also taken to
hospital for treatment. They have since been discharged
POWER SHORTAGE WARNING WITHDRAWN
--------------------------------
Transpower has withdrawn a power shortage warning for the
upper North Island. The company has been urging residents and
businesses this week to cut down on their power usage. It
blames an increase in the temperature of water in the Waikato
River making it difficult for the Huntly thermal station to
generate electricity. Transpower spokesman Chris Roberts says
the Huntly station has been able to handle the situation much
better today, than it could yesterday. He says the industry is
going to have to keep a close eye on the situation for several
weeks to come.
NAMES RELEASED FROM ROAD TRAGEDY
--------------------------------
Police have confirmed the identities of three siblings killed
in a horror road smash in North Canterbury yesterday. They
were 23-year-old Stefano Laulau, 14-year-old Sive Laulau, and
17-year-old Malae Gautusa. They are believed to have died
almost instantly after their car crossed the centre line on
State Highway One near Parnassus and collided with a petrol
tanker.
WITNESSES SOUGHT TO POLICE CHASE
--------------------------------
Police are looking for witnesses to a fatal pursuit through
central Christchurch early yesterday. A 36-year-old man died
after crashing his motorbike in St Albans, having earlier been
chased through several streets by a police patrol car. The man
was not wearing a helmet. Detective Senior Sergeant Grant
Wormald says police want to hear from anyone who saw the
rider. He says the man was riding a late model Harley Davidson
motorbike around four o'clock yesterday morning.
111 INCIDENTS WERE "HUMAN ERROR"
--------------------------------
The Police Minister has defended the 111 system, describing
recent cases as "moments of human error". George Hawkins has
again faced Opposition attacks over the bungled responses to
several 111 calls. United Future's Peter Dunne claims there
have been 17 incidents in the past three years, but Mr Hawkins
says almost 500,000 111 calls are taken every year. He says
there are occasions when things go wrong, which is usually
because of the human factor. Mr Hawkins says that is why the
service is under review.
80 STAFF SAVE JOBS
------------------
Good news for around 80 staff at the Sealord Plant in Dunedin.
The company has agreed to retain one wet fish processing line
and the fishmeal plant at its Dunedin site. The decision was
the result of the consultation process with staff and the
union. Chief executive Doug McKay says the original plan was
to scale back the Dunedin Plant to become primarily a squid
processing site, moving the Wet Fish operation to another
plant. However he says staff put forward alternative options
and the company agreed they had made a case for retaining some
hoki, roughy and dory processing, and a fishmeal plant.
BILL WOULD REMOVE WAITANGI CLAUSES
----------------------------------
Parliament will soon debate the removal of principles of the
Treaty of Waitangi from all legislation. New Zealand First
leader Winston Peters' private members bill has been drawn
from the ballot. Mr Peters says it is a truly great day for
everyone as it is the beginning of a process which will see
them freed from a highly expensive shackle of political
correctness. He is appealing to all MPs to cast aside their
differences and show they are prepared to create a society in
which one rule for all applies. Mr Peters is adamant the bill
will not disadvantage Maori.
(The phrase "principles of the Treaty" has been used in so
many ways, to push so many arguments, that I suspect no one is
very sure what is meant by it. Without a doubt, many of its
appearances in legislation are well meant. However, unless the
phrase can be translated into tangible action in a particular
circumstance, I tend to think it should be abolished. Being in
the same boat with Winston does not sit well with me. - BH)
IMMIGRATION HUNTS FBI FUGITIVE
------------------------------
The Immigration Service says it is following some leads to try
to track down an American woman now on its wanted list as an
overstayer. Juliette Gilbert and her son have been on the
FBI's wanted list after fleeing a custody dispute in the US.
The pair turned up recently - living in Welcome Bay, Tauranga,
with a local man. Immigration Service spokeswoman Kathryn
O'Sullivan says Ms Gilbert was given a deadline and that has
passed. She says they are mindful of not putting her son under
a lot of stress, and says Ms Gilbert still has the option of
buying tickets and leaving of her own accord.
NEW INSECT PEST IN AUCKLAND
---------------------------
MAF is investigating a bio-security scare in Auckland. A
particularly voracious moth called the fall webworm, has been
found in a trap in Mount Wellington - the second such find
this year. Another male moth was found in a trap in
Hillsborough four weeks ago. MAF's Biosecurity boss, Ian Gear,
says the fall webworm feeds on a wide variety of plants and
could have a significant impact on our native trees and
horticulture and forestry industries. The Ministry is
conducting a ground search in the immediate area where the
latest moth was found and increasing its surveillance traps.
It will decide next week whether it needs to embark on yet
another aerial spraying programme in Auckland, which Mr Gear
says is just one possible option.
Friday, 11 February
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GUILTY VERDICT IN CHURCH ARSON CASE
-----------------------------------
A guilty verdict in the trial of a man accused of being party
to an arson that occurred almost a decade ago. Francis Shaw
has been convicted in the Palmerston North District Court this
evening for the arson of Otaki's Rangiatea Church. It took the
jury just over five hours to return the guilty verdict. The
Crown argued that Shaw always knew the church would be burnt,
and openly encouraged it. Shaw was unmoved as the verdict was
read. He is due back in court for sentencing next month.
(Shaw retracted his confession, claiming that he only said he
burnt the church in order to cause offence. According to the
reportage of the case, he was certainly involved in the
actions which resulted in the burning down of the lovely and
historic old church. - BH)
HISTORICAL RAPE TRIAL MOVES TO WELLINGTON
-----------------------------------------
The trial of four men accused of a historical rape has been
relocated from Rotorua to Wellington. The men are facing rape,
sexual violation and abduction charges relating to an incident
alleged to have occurred in Mount Maunganui 16 years ago. They
have pleaded not guilty and have interim name suppression. At
the High Court in Auckland today, Justice Priestly ruled the
trial will be moved to Wellington.
JAIL FOR FORMER TV STAR
-----------------------
Entertainer, and former TV and radio personality Dwayne
Francks is this afternoon beginning a one year jail term. He
has been sentenced in the Christchurch District Court on two
charges of indecent assault and one of inducing an indecent
act. The court heard in October last year 47-year-old Francks
was staying at a friend's house in Wellington. He abused the
friend's daughter, and her friend, who was staying the night.
The two girls were aged six and seven. Judge Holderness
sentenced Francks to a year in prison and ordered him to pay
$15,000 in reparations. He was also granted leave to apply for
home detention. The father of one of the girls, in whose house
the offending occurred while he and his wife slept, stormed
out of the Court before the sentencing finished.
ARREST FOLLOWS WINZ ATTACK
--------------------------
A woman has been arrested after a Work and Income employee was
stabbed while working at her desk. The incident happened at
the Hamilton East Service centre this morning. The employee
was attacked while trying to help a member of the public who
wanted a Work and Income form. She is reported to be in a fair
condition in hospital with neck and shoulder injuries. Another
employee was injured while trying to help her. Liz Jones from
Work and Income says they have good security measures in
place, but they do not know when their staff might be
attacked. She says all of their offices are fitted with closed
circuit television and staff are fully trained to deal with
the public, but this type of attack is pretty rare. She says
staff normally face verbal rather than physical abuse.
NATIONAL CALLS FOR TAX CUTS
---------------------------
National is urging the Government to cut taxes immediately
following news that unemployment has dropped to an all time
low. New Zealand's jobless rate is now the lowest in the OECD
at 3.6 percent. While this is seen as good news for employers
and employees, BNZ's chief economist Tony Alexander says this
does not mean the Government will want to cut taxes. He says
the economy is tight as a drum and that if taxes are cut it
will put upward pressure on the economy. But National's
finance spokesman John Key says it is now time to offer tax
relief to all hard-working New Zealanders. Mr Key says the
Government is going to get increased tax revenue and should
share that around. He says unemployment was bound to drop in
spite of the Government. Johh Key says optimal economic
conditions over the past decade have seen the Government reap
the rewards of being in the right place at the right time. He
adds it should be remembered long-term optimum economic
conditions have helped reduce the number of unemployed so the
Government cannot take all the credit. Mr Key says external
factors like the reforms of the 80s and 90s, very high
commodity prices and quite high levels of immigration have
helped. He says the Government should now concentrate on
shifting some of the country's 300,000 beneficiaries off
welfare and into work.
DOG ATTACK IN SOUTH AUCKLAND
----------------------------
A dog attack in South Auckland has left a woman fighting for
her life. Manukau City Council say the police called animal
control officers to a home in Manurewa this morning.
Spokeswoman Bridget Vercoe says the unregistered pure-bred
red-nose pit bull is extremely dangerous and its owner has not
been located. Bridget Vercoe says the dog will be kept locked
up until the police have finished their investigation into the
incident. She says council cannot put a dog down without the
owners' consent or a court order. Sergeant Rachel Whear told
Newstalk ZB police were initially called to an unrelated
incident at the Manurewa address. She says it appears family
members entered the bedroom where the incident was happening
followed by the dog, who subsequently attacked the woman. She
says it took three adults about 45 seconds to drag the pit
bull off her. She says that type of dog is known to be a
fighting dog and they can be quite dangerous. Sergeant Whear
says the fate of the dog will depend on interviews with the
family, and woman once she is out of surgery.
CALL FOR NCEA REFUND
--------------------
There are calls for students to be refunded any money spent on
getting NCEA results reassessed, following discrepancies in
the scholarship exams. Students have until Tuesday to resubmit
their exams for review at a cost of $20. The Government is
considering waiving the fee, but National's education
spokesman Bill English says any students who have already paid
should be reimbursed. He says it is hardly fair to expect
people to pay to make sure they are not victims of a botched
system.
MCCULLY UNHAPPY WITH CONDOM PROMOTION
-------------------------------------
National MP Murray McCully has stopped short of accusing the
Government of promoting homosexuality. The East Coast Bays MP
says the Health Department's "Hubba Hubba" ads, promoting
condom use, could be seen as a subliminal message that
homosexuality is officially endorsed by Labour. The ad
alternately features a heterosexual couple locked in embrace
and two men kissing. Mr McCully says cynics could consider
this a message that the Government is endorsing homosexuality
as one of the lifestyle options to be carefully considered by
young people. He says the safe sex message could easily have
been relayed without graphic depictions of sexual encounters
of any kind.
MYSTERY AS WOMAN FOUND TIED UP
------------------------------
Police are trying to work out if they have an abduction case
on their hands. They found a West Auckland woman with her feet
bound and her hands tied to the steering wheel of a car
abandoned on State Highway 16 in Helensville last night.
Detective Phil Cox says the woman was treated for minor
injuries at North Shore Hospital. He says at this stage
details are sketchy and he has not been able to question the
woman. He says they will not know if she was abducted until
they get a full statement from her.
THE FINANCIAL PAGE
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Date: 10 February 2005 Brian Dooley
Wellington New Zealand
CURRENCIES
~~~~~~~~~~
The currency codes given below conform to ISO 4217, which
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JPY 75.32
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HKD 5.5530
SGD 1.1736
ZAR 4.4608
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INTEREST RATES (%)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Call : 6.50
90 Day: 6.80
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