Subject: 6 June, 2007 ----- WYSIWYG NEWS ------------------------------ Copyright, Brian Harmer.
Queen's birthday weekend is behind us, and now comes the long haul through the winter months to the next public holiday in October. The Southerly wind is howling like the proverbial banshee outside, building up to a promised gale of around 110 km/h. When the wind is in the South, you can almost feel the chill of the Antarctic. Curtains drawn, gas heater on, we enjoy the cosiness of our lounge on evenings such as this. As I mentioned in the previous issue, my car is out of action in Wanganui, and meanwhile, work is still there so I am forced to catch bus/train/bus. A twenty minute journey at a time of my choosing becomes a 90 minute timetabled journey, of which a substantial portion is the wait between sectors. The train journey itself is pleasant enough, lasting a mere fifteen minutes or so between the busy highway on one side and the waves on our lovely harbour slapping at the sea wall on the other. Occasionally a marine mammal may be seen, and last week, a Southern Right Whale was observed in the harbour. I have seen fur seals, and of course there is plenty of bird life. Cormorants, gannets and terns, the ever present grey gulls and the larger black-backed gulls all seem impervious to the passing traffic by rail or road. Despite these attractions, I fear that for purely selfish reasons, I am not converted to the green point of view in respect of public transport. It takes too long, doesn't go when I want, to where I want, and the transition points are cold and wet at this time of year. Not only that, but the vehicles have uncomfortable seating, are often vandalised, are large, full of noise and strangers, and don't supply my taste in music. Surprisingly, there is no cost benefit argument, since the cost to me is about the same as the cost of running my car. Apart from that, it seems like a good idea. ---- Any text above this point, and all subsequent material in parentheses, and concluded with the initials "BH" is the personal opinion of Brian Harmer as editor of this newsletter, or occasionally "GS" will indicate an opinion from our editorial assistant. In all cases they are honest expressions of personal opinion, and are not presented as fact. All news items (except where noted otherwise) are reproduced by kind permission of copyright owner, Newstalk ZB News. All copyright in the news items reproduced remains the property of The Radio Network Limited. Formatting this week is sponsored by John Burland. Your support is greatly appreciated John. ---- On with the News. Monday, 28 May 2007 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ DIY ADVICE AFTER HOME-HANDYMAN DEATH ------------------------------------ DIY-lovers are being warned to be vigilant with pipes and wires after an Auckland man was electrocuted in the weekend working on his house. It is believed the Papatoetoe home-handyman was trying to install insulation using a staple gun when he was killed. Registered Master Builders Federation CEO Pieter Burghout says you need to take a good scout around for stray wires and cables before you start. He says the death should not put others off trying to make their homes warmer themselves. Mr Burghout says if in doubt about your own abilities, call an insulation expert. (By way of clarification, I understand that the deceased fired a staple through a power cable. - BH) ORCON TO LAUNCH MOBILE SERVICE ------------------------------ Internet service provider Orcon has signed a deal with Vodafone which will see it launch the country's second GSM mobile service. Orcon says from October customers will have a wider choice of 3G mobile calling and mobile broadband data plans. The services will be Orcon-branded and delivered over the existing Vodafone network infrastructure. HEALTHY FOOD REMAINS A MINORITY IN SCHOOLS ------------------------------------------ New figures show school tuckshops are not getting on board the healthy eating bandwagon. The Green Party has released statistics showing 84 percent of schools are still selling pies, hot dogs and sausage rolls. It says if the schools do sell healthy food it generally costs more. Green Party Health spokeswoman Sue Kedgley says many schools are forced to make a profit from the tuckshops and it is far cheaper and easier to heat up a pie than make a proper lunch. She says the Government needs to think seriously about making healthy eating guidelines mandatory. (The recipients of this wisdom may not live longer, but it will seem longer - BH) CO-DRINKERS SHOULD STOP DRUNK DRIVERS ------------------------------------- The police officer tasked with making the nation's roads safer says family members and friends need to take responsibility for drunk-driving. Police are prosecuting 304 people after a nationwide drink-driving sting on Friday. They include a woman who recorded more than 1,900 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath and a drunk 14-year-old driving a young passenger around. A number of people have been charged after they tried to tried to drive away from checkpoints and crashed. Police national road safety manager Inspector Dave Cliff says people need to address the problem before a drunk driver hits the road. He says very few drunk drivers are drinking alone, so the people they are with need to stop them getting behind the wheel in the first place. Mr Cliff says out of every 100 cars on the road between 10pm and 2am, at least one driver will be too drunk to drive. GM VEGES GET THE GO AHEAD ------------------------- Genetically modified broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower and forage kale are to be grown in a controlled environment in Lincoln, near Christchurch. The Environmental Risk Management Authority has approved an application from New Zealand Crop and Food research to field test the vegetables. They will be grown over a ten-year period and modified for resistance to caterpillar pests like cabbage white butterfly and diamond-back moth. ERMA general manager of new organisms Libby Harrison says the field test is subject to strict controls to ensure the GM Brassica remain contained within the field test site and do not enter the food chain. TELECOM STRUCTURE PROPOSAL BRUSHED ASIDE ---------------------------------------- Telecom's own plans for structural separation are not impressing Local Government New Zealand. The company has countered the Government's plans for a three-way split with a proposal to establish a dedicated company for local line networks. Local Government New Zealand is dismissing Telecom's proposal as nothing more than a delaying tactic. It also rejects Telecom's call for a regulatory framework that would reduce the Commerce Commission's role in monitoring and regulation. DUNNE HINTS AT TAX THRESHOLD TWEAKS ----------------------------------- There are strong hints from Revenue Minister Peter Dunne tax thresholds will be tweaked ahead of next year's election. The United Future Leader says he does not have specific numbers in mind. "But when you have 12 percent of people caught by the top rate, when you are only supposed to have five percent, there is significant room for movement." Mr Dunne says if the top threshold is moved then compensatory moves would have to be made to other tax thresholds as well. He says he has not had a detailed discussion with the Finance Minister on the matter since the Budget. But he points out Michael Cullen has already said he has an agenda for personal tax changes next year. CHARTS REFLECTING DIGITAL SALES ------------------------------- Digital music sales will be included in new music charts following the acceleration in legal downloads. Up until now the Recording Industry Association gathered weekly chart data from radio airplay and disc sales. However, more than 40,000 tracks are now being downloaded in New Zealand each week from online stores such as digiRAMA, Amplifier, RipIt and iTunes, as well as via mobile phones from Vodafone and Telecom networks. Recording Industry Association president Adam Holt says kids are buying music a lot faster on phones and online and the music charts need to reflect this development. He says the biggest difference is likely to be on the singles chart, which should react a lot more quickly to such trends. He says the top charting artists, such as hip hop heavyweights Akon and T-Pain, are unlikely to be affected, but the change might open the door for more New Zealand music to sell through digital channels than on CDs. POLLS SMACK LABOUR ------------------ Sue Bradford's anti-smacking bill, Taito Phillip Field and a budget that failed to fire are believed to be the main factors driving down Labour in the latest political opinion polls. In Saturday's Herald-DigiPoll, 50.9 percent of decided voters support National. That figure would give National 64 out of 122 seats and allow the party to govern alone. Labour is more than 17 points behind on 33.6 percent. National's leader John Key has 45.5 percent support as preferred prime minister. Helen Clark has 42.1 percent. Last night's One News/Colmar-Brunton survey gave National 56 percent support and Labour 31 percent. Newstalk ZB's political editor Barry Soper says Labour's support of the anti-smacking bill alienated many voters. He says despite the Government's best attempts to wash its hands of Taito Phillip Field, the now-independent MP is still causing problems, as police apply to the High Court to lay 14 charges of bribery against him. Mr Soper says Labour will be upset the budget, which revealed details of the KiwiSaver scheme, did not help the party claw back some support. Mr Key says the polls show New Zealanders are tired of Labour's direction. But he says polls are ultimately a snap shot of a horse race that has not finished and there is plenty of work to do yet. Mr Key says there is no room for complacency or arrogance. Tuesday, 29 May 2007 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ REINZ SAYS IT WILL NOT DISAPPEAR UNDER REFORMS ---------------------------------------------- The Real Estate Institute is denying suggestions it will dissolve under proposed changes to the industry. The Government plans to establish an Independent Real Estate Licensing Authority to monitor agents and penalise mistakes. The changes will mean real estate agents no longer have to be registered with the Real Estate Institute. Associate Justice Minister Clayton Cosgrove says the move follows concerns raised by the public and real estate agents themselves about how the industry deals with complaints and disciplinary matters. He accuses the industry of adopting "closed shop" practices and says it no longer measures up. REINZ national vice president Mike Elford says the institute will likely become a membership service organisation similar to its counterpart in Australia. He says REINZ has been planning for this potential scenario and will make submissions to the Government on the proposal. National president Murray Cleland says most of the changes have been well signalled so they come as no surprise. He says he will seek clarification on a few matters, including the authority's role in setting educational entry requirements and the omission of property managers and letting agents from this requirement. The National Party is giving the proposed shake up measured support. Justice spokesman Simon Power says the party will support law changes that bring more accountability and transparency. However he is concerned about where the eventual cost of the restructuring will fall, fearing it may be passed on to home buyers. (My personal opinion is that the REINZ is a club for the benefit of real estate agents. At least if it continues in existence, it can adopt that position - BH) GOVT GETS TOUGH ON REAL ESTATE AGENTS ------------------------------------- The Government is clamping down on the real estate industry, proposing an end to self-regulation. The proposal will see an independent complaints system put in place to protect consumers, taking away the power from the industry's own body, the Real Estate Institute (REINZ). Associate Justice Minister Clayton Cosgrove says the move follows concerns raised by the public and real estate agents themselves about how the industry deals with complaints and disciplinary matters. He accuses the industry of adopting "closed shop" practices and says it no longer measures up. "Last year I asked the Real Estate Institute to come back to me with proposals to improve accountability and transparency in the industry. Sadly the REINZ came back with proposals that kept the complaints system in-house." Mr Cosgrove accuses the institute of failing to protect customers from rogue agents and says the new independent Real Estate Licensing Authority will have wide powers to investigate complaints and order a wide range of penalties and remedies including compensation and de-licensing of agents. A public register of agents and salespeople will be established that will include any breaches of standards listed against the names of those involved. Agents will no longer be required to be members of the REINZ and will instead have to be licensed by the new authority. The new structure will be funded by the industry and not the taxpayer. Mr Cosgrove believes the reforms will restore consumers' confidence and that of honest agents. "Honest real estate agents will benefit from no longer being tarnished by the last land shark who ripped off a consumer and who brings the entire industry into disrepute." A series of community meetings will be held around the country to hear public views on the options. Public submissions will be accepted until July 10 and a bill to amend the act will be introduced into Parliament within the next few months. It is anticipated the legislation will be passed by late this year or early next year. HEAVYWEIGHT CHURCHES BACK RELIGIOUS STATEMENT --------------------------------------------- Catholic and Anglican bishops have lent their support to the National Statement on Religious Diversity. The document has been criticised by Destiny Church leader Brian Tamaki, who says it is an attempt to de-Christianise the country. The statement is being released at the Asia Pacific Interfaith Dialogue, which the Government is hosting in Waitangi. More than 100 Destiny Church members are due to march on the venue in protest this afternoon. Anglican and Catholic bishops say they back the statement. Anglican Archbishop David Moxon says while Christianity is the largest religion in New Zealand, the statement recognises New Zealand now has many different faiths. He says the Christian gospel has always respected freedom of religious expression. He says it is a freedom, Christian faiths want in Islamic countries. In Waitangi, there has already a protest about the human rights record of Philippines President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who is among the world leaders at the meeting. About 20 people jostled with police outside the Copthorne Hotel at Waitangi chanting "Gloria murderer". Yesterday Filipino trade unionist Dennis Maga caged himself on the Parliamentary forecourt in protest. Mr Maga said it was an attempt to draw attention to what he says are 858 extra-judicial killings that have occurred since President Arroyo took power. President Arroyo told journalists yesterday the country is in a fight to turn around its history of political violence and retribution and slowly but surely the circle is being broken. (The Destiny Church and its self-designated bishop seem to have a binary appeal. There is no doubting the fervour of its adherents. Equally, it attracts a lot of public loathing. Not a new position for a church to find itself in, I suppose. - BH) GOVT UNVEILS NCEA CHANGES ------------------------- The Government's changes to NCEA are out. They include introducing 'excellent' and 'merit' grades to certificates from this year. The same distinctions will be available at subject level from 2008. The term 'not achieved' will be included for internally and externally assessed standards from next year. Education Minister Steve Maharey says the changes will increase student motivation and provide more detailed information on how they are doing. FARMERS BAND TOGETHER TO FIGHT DROUGHT -------------------------------------- Hawke's Bay farmers are drawing strength from each other to get through drought affecting the North Island's eastern areas. Nearly 200 farmers packed into the Oruawharo woolshed in Takapau, yesterday for the first in a series of meetings organised by PGG Wrightson Consultancy to help them cope with the situation. Organiser Roy Fraser says everyone seemed grateful for the chance to meet and talk. "If you're sitting on your farm, you think you're the only one who has problems, but we know the whole district has problems, so I think when you get 170 or 180 farmers all there, they think, well, I'm not alone, and they gather some strength from that." Mr Fraser says the farmers were given advice on animal welfare, economics and stock and feed management. NO EARLY EASING OF INTEREST RATES --------------------------------- A private research company predicts interest rates will remain fairly high for the rest of the year. The New Zealand Institute of Economic Research says annual growth will run at 2.1 percent before increasing gradually to 3.3 percent by 2011. It believes the Reserve Bank has been left to carry the burden of constraining inflation without support from fiscal policy, which has been inflationary through the redistribution of income towards groups likely to spend, such as working families. It says the central bank has also had to deal with a surge of immigrants putting pressure on house prices, high commodity prices and the high New Zealand dollar's impact on the export sector. It says the Reserve Bank is likely to have to continue trying to keep a lid on inflation as the budget shows no sign that fiscal policy will be less inflationary or that the commodity price boom in New Zealand and Australia will end soon. NZIER says tight monetary policy will delay any significant recovery until 2009 and interest rates will remain relatively high until the beginning of 2008. MORE CASES OF SUPERBUG ---------------------- Doctors are being warned about the rise of an increasingly prevalent superbug already present in hospitals. Cases of the antibiotic-resistant bacteria ESBL or extended spectrum beta-lactimase are causing specialists to address doctors about the risks. Clinical Microbiologist at Diagnostic Medlab, Dr Susan Taylor, says ESBL can be found in bacteria in the bowel and in urinary tract and wound infections. Dr Taylor says ESBL infections are resistant to oral antibiotics and patients may have to be admitted to hospital for intravenous treatment. She says exposing broad spectrum antibiotics to bacteria allows them to develop resistance, meaning fewer treatment options become available. FLIGHTS CANCELLED DUE TO STRIKE ------------------------------- At least 29 Air Nelson flights have been cancelled due to industrial action over pay and conditions. Air Nelson is Air New Zealand's largest link service providing air connection between most of the country's regional centres and main cities. In the latest move, the Engineering Printing and Manufacturing Union has filed an injunction alleging Air New Zealand workers have been illegally employed to try to break the strike. The two sides have scheduled a one day meeting today aimed at resolving the issue. Air Nelson workers are holding a month of industrial action which includes walking off the job and overtime bans. Wednesday, 30 May 2007 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "WE DIDN'T KNOW SHE HAD HEALTH PROBLEMS" ---------------------------------------- Mercury Energy says it was not aware of the medical dependence of a customer who died after her power was disconnected. The loss of electricity disabled Falole Muliaga's oxygen support machine. The 44-year-old died a few hours later. Mercury Energy General Manager James Moulder says the company did not know she had health problems. He says Mercury Energy was not aware its actions, in disconnecting the customer, would have life threatening consequences. Mr Moulder says the company deeply regrets what has gone on and is trying to piece together the events. Electricity statements provided to Newstalk ZB by the family show they had made two separate payments in May, but still owed nearly $300. Falole Muliaga's 20-year-old son Ieti Muliaga answered the door when the representative came to say he was cutting off the power. He says he told them he was only doing his job. Ieti Muliaga says later on his mother got dizzy and short of breath, so he called an ambulance. His 18-year-old brother Des Muliaga says his mother was hooked up to the equipment at the time. He says she asked his brother to play a song on his guitar when it was turned off - then they realised she was in trouble. "She said I cannot see properly and I feel dizzy. That is when I saw she could not breathe and I hugged her to try to wake her up but I cannot do it." Falole Muliaga had recently been discharged from Middlemore Hospital after being admitted with a cardio-respiratory complaint. Counties Manukau Chief Medical Officer Don Mackie says around 170 adults in the Counties Manukau region use the machines. He says the device is not expected to be needed 24-hours a day and most people would have enough breathing reserve to call for help. Dr Mackie says Folole Muliaga had been using the breathing support device for some time. Mercury Energy is a subsidiary of state-owned Mighty River Power. State Owned Enterprise Minister Trevor Mallard has held a press conference in response to the outcry over the death. There have been calls for murder or manslaughter charges to be laid and a full inquiry to be held. Mr Mallard says it is for the police to decide what has happened. He says he has spoken to the family and expressed his condolences. He says there are conflicting reports as to what happened and believes the correct agency to investigate and sort out what happened, is the police. Mr Mallard says people should not be jumping to conclusions at this stage. Police are refusing to comment on their investigation into the death. They say they will remain silent until they have ascertained just what happened prior to the woman's death. (Wow, did this case hit the headlines both here and around the world. Way to many people have rushed to judgement on either side of the argument, and I don't intend to join them. Better to wait until a proper investigation establishes the facts. - BH) CULLEN PROMOTES KIWISAVER IN AUSTRALIA -------------------------------------- Finance Minister Michael Cullen is talking up his KiwiSaver scheme across the Tasman. He extolled its benefits to an audience at the Annual International CEO Forum in Melbourne today. Dr Cullen expressed some envy at Australia's compulsory super scheme and its result of Australian equity firms buying up large in New Zealand. He wishes it was not such a one way journey and anticipates KiwiSaver will see more New Zealand investment funds participating in Australian firms. Dr Cullen says KiwiSaver is likely to create a fundamental shift in the country's savings patterns and substantially deepen capital markets. WARNING LABELS WANTED ON ALCOHOLIC DRINKS ----------------------------------------- Health promoters want labels on alcoholic drinks to warn women of the dangers of drinking during pregnancy. The Ministry of Health and the Alcohol Advisory Council have applied to the Australian and New Zealand food safety regulator to introduce the move. Ashley Bloomfield, the ministry's chief adviser of public health, says many women are already aware of the dangers. He says many stop drinking during pregnancy and most who continue to drink only do so occasionally. However Dr Bloomfield says New Zealand still suffers from a binge drinking culture which needs to change. (Warning labels fascinate me. I swear that, when I was in California, I saw a packet of bullets that were labelled something to the effect that they contained lead which was known to the State of California to be injurious to health. - BH) PONGY SMELL UNAVOIDABLE ----------------------- The Christchurch City Council is apologising to residents for the lingering smell in the air over the past week. Contractors have been replacing four large pumps at the Christchurch's wastewater treatment plant as part of a $3.1 million upgrade. Council operations and maintenance manager Mike Bourke says the smell is unavoidable as work on the plant had to be done. CHANGING FACE OF DRIVERS' LICENCE --------------------------------- Changes will be made to drivers' licences due to the difficulty of checking IDs on the roadside. Police have found the photo is too small and the print difficult to read in poor light, so there will now be larger photos and text. The box which displays whether a licence is a learner or restricted will be enhanced. Limited licences will be printed on pink cards to make them instantly recognisable to police and alert them to the special conditions imposed on the driver. The changes come into effect on July 1. Old licences will still be valid until they expire or are replaced. NEW NCEA WON'T IMPRESS PARENTS SAYS HEADMASTER ---------------------------------------------- A critic of the NCEA system believes the push to encourage students to be more competitive does not go far enough. The changes will include introducing 'excellence' and 'merit' to NCEA certificates from 2007; introducing 'excellence' and 'merit' at subject levels from 2008; including 'not achieved' in NCEA results notices for both internally and externally assessed standards; introducing full-time moderators to deal with up to 10 percent of internally assessed standards. Graeme Yule, principal of Scots College in Wellington, says the changes are a start but says need to go further. He was hoping for a change in direction. Mr Yule doubts many parents of students at his school will be convinced the new system will deliver academic rigour. Scots College offers the International Baccalaureate alongside NCEA because it believes NCEA favours the skills of female students. However, the Industry Training Federation believes the changes will enhance the credibility and value of learning gained by secondary school pupils. Executive Director Jeremy Baker says his organisation is interested in making sure the standards are of a high quality and are relevant to industry. He says it is also vital there is better assessment by moderators. STAFF CALL OFF HOSPITAL STRIKE ------------------------------ Strike action planned for public hospitals has been called off. Two and a half thousand orderlies, cleaners and kitchen staff were due to walk off the job tomorrow. They have called off the first two days of the nationwide stoppage, while mediation with District Health Boards and contracting companies continues. TOO MANY FLAGS DISTRACT TRANSIT ------------------------------- Transit New Zealand is defending its decision to scrap the tradition of flying the flags of other nations from the Auckland Harbour Bridge. From Friday, the New Zealand flag will be the sole pennant permitted to fly from the structure. The move follows controversy on Waitangi Day, when Transit refused to fly the Maori sovereignty flag but this month allowed the European Union's flag to fly on Europe Day. Transit later said the EU flag should not have flown because the EU is not a country. Transit chief executive Rick van Barneveld says juggling the 50 to 60 flags hung from the bridge each year was just becoming too much of a distraction and Transit needs to concentrate on its core business. Only the New Zealand flag will be hoisted on both the bridge's flag poles and will still be lowered as a mark of respect on occasions of national mourning. (I guess this might give rise to the suggestion that certain people at Transit lack the capacity to walk and chew gum at the same time. If it is just too much political hassle, why not simply say so. - BH) NOT FOR SALE SAYS VODAFONE NZ ----------------------------- Vodafone New Zealand is again dismissing speculation it is up for sale. Earlier this month, the company denied a report in the National Business Review that it was trying to sell its New Zealand and Australian operations and further speculation has arisen that the UK-based parent company is selling off subsidiaries and the New Zealand network is among them. However, Vodafone's CEO Russell Stanners says it is all talk and there are no plans to take such a move. He says Vodafone has increased its market share from 52.5 per cent to 53.7 per cent over the past year and added 44,000 new customers in the March quarter. Last year, Vodafone made around $150 million and this year's profit figures will be announced in September. THEY PREFER OUR AIRLINE ----------------------- Australians would rather fly Air New Zealand than their own national carrier. A survey across the Tasman of 4,000 Consumer Magazine subscribers ranks Singapore Airlines as the airline giving the most satisfaction, followed by Emirates and Air New Zealand. Qantas is in seventh place. The airlines were assessed on value for money, in-flight service, comfort and check-in procedures. Aviation analyst Tom Ballantyne says the survey reflects the restructuring Air New Zealand has been going through with new aircraft and upgraded service. He says Air New Zealand is a well regarded airline, but is a relatively small airline in international circles. However, Mr Ballantyne doubts Qantas will take too much notice of the survey. (They may change their minds when the fitting of the extra row of seats with the resulting decrease in seat pitch is completed. I shall not choose them domestically if I can avoid it. And I emphatically reject the PR spin that the change is in response to public demand. - BH) Thursday, 31 May 2007 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ GOVT STICKS WITH TELECOM 3-WAY SPLIT PLAN ----------------------------------------- The Government has confirmed it will go ahead with its plan to split Telecom into three units. In December it was announced the telecommunications company would be divided into network, wholesale and retail operations. Telecom has since put up its own proposal of selling its network assets instead saying the split will be costly and impractical. Communications Minister David Cunliffe has today given a speech confirming the three way split will go ahead, as soon as practicably possible. He says the Government will not go backwards and reverse the Telecommunications Amendment Act or change what he says is a sound, best practice regulatory framework. WEBSITE HOPES TO REDUCE FLU CASES --------------------------------- People coming down with the sniffles can now go to a website to read whether they are in fact suffering the symptoms of influenza. Fewer people than last year have been immunised against the flu. Virologist, Dr Lance Jennings suspects people have not been thinking about the issue because of this year's late onset of winter. The website www.haveigotflu.co.nz has been set up by Roche and aims to dispel confusion between influenza and symptoms of the common cold. It has an online diagnostic test which guides people through a series of questions about their symptoms and recommends seeing a pharmacist or GP if they have the flu. The anti-biotic Tamiflu is now available over the counter at pharmacies but virologist Dr Lance Jennings says it is only effective if taken within 48 hours of catching the flu. COASTGUARD STRUGGLING TO KEEP FINANCIALLY AFLOAT ------------------------------------------------ There are calls for the government to fund the country's Coastguard fleet after claims the national organisation is struggling with a multi million dollar bill to replace boats and equipment. National Coastguard president Steve Cruikshank says two management positions will be terminated to help fund the $16 million refurbishment bill. Laurie Watkins from the Kapiti Coast's Mana Coastguard says its arm of the organisation is seriously struggling. It needs $1.5 million to replace a 30-year-old boat which can only travel 11 knots at the fastest. Mr Watkins says anywhere else in the world the national sea rescue service would be government funded. He believes volunteers' lives should not have to be put at risk every time they conduct a rescue because there is not enough funding to replace shoddy equipment. MPS WELCOME TOUGH STAND ON EFFLUENT DISPOSAL -------------------------------------------- There is political endorsement for Fonterra's tougher approach to dirty dairy farmers. The dairy company is cracking down on farmers who breach resource consent conditions for effluent disposal, causing the pollution of waterways. Penalties include cutting milk payments and refusing to collect milk. Environment Minister David Benson-Pope says it is encouraging to see Fonterra recognise the importance of water quality. He says tough steps are needed before some farmers realise the issue is serious. The Greens are also welcoming the move saying Fonterra is to be congratulated for taking ownership of the pollution being caused by some of its suppliers. YOUTH STILL PUFFING AWAY ------------------------ It is World Smokefree Day and the Government is trying to get younger smokers to kick the habit. Associate Health Minister Damien O'Connor says $8 million was been set aside in this year's budget to help young people quit smoking. He says youth smoking rates are dropping, but not fast enough. NATIONAL QUESTIONS BIOSECURITY AMID SEIZURE FIGURES --------------------------------------------------- The National Party is questioning the efficiency of New Zealand's biosecurity measures, amid the latest figures about Customs seizures at the border. Almost two tonnes of dairy product, more than one and a half tonnes of seeds, six tonnes of meat and poultry and 11 tonnes of potential fruit fly host material were seized by MAF Biosecurity last year. But the total of 20 tonnes, is lower than the amount recorded in 2005. David Carter, National's agriculture spokesman says steps must be taken to change the behaviour of tourists and returning New Zealanders, as biosecurity breaches could seriously damage export production. Friday, 1 June 2007 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PRICE OF MILK SET TO RISE ------------------------- The price of milk could go up by as much as 18 cents per litre. Fonterra is increasing prices of dairy products by 6-14 percent. Spokesman Peter McClure says it is driven by surging milk prices on the world commodity market and it is costing the group more to buy milk. Prices of other milk products such as cheese, butter and yoghurt will rise as well. Mr McClure says it is up to retailers to decide how much of the cost they pass on to customers, but new prices will come into effect in a couple of weeks. FARMER FINED FOR FALSE FERTILISER CLAIMS ---------------------------------------- A Waihi farmer has been fined more than $270,000 for making false claims about his home-made fertiliser. Ewan Campbell was investigated by the Commerce Commission after customers became suspicious about the claims made about Probitas fertiliser. Farmers and horticulturists paid up to $350 a tonne for the product, which Campbell told them would activate the electrical and magnetic processes in the soil. The Commerce Commission says tests showed there was no scientific basis for the way Probitas was supposed to work. It says as a result, farmers using it would have lost productivity. While no farmer actually complained, the commission says Campbell's marketing and conduct was clearly deceptive. WINSTON WANTS POWER SECTOR TO BE ELECTION ISSUE ----------------------------------------------- New Zealand First intends making the electricity sector an election issue. Party leader Winston Peters is highlighting the death of Mangere woman Folole Muliaga and the debate surrounding the actions of Mercury Energy in having her power disconnected. Mr Peters is attributing industry reforms a decade ago as playing a part and says it is a issue he will be hammering from here on in. He says "recent events" are what happen when Governments make stupid decisions on state assets. PAROLE BOARD COULD HEAR SECRET EVIDENCE --------------------------------------- The man whose son was murdered by parolee Graham Burton says proposed changes to the Parole Board would be a good step forward. A select committee report recommends police and The Corrections Department should be allowed to submit secret evidence to parole hearings in exceptional circumstances. The evidence would not be disclosed to inmates and they therefore would not be able to challenge it. The recommendation comes in a select committee report on the Government's Criminal Justice Reform Bill. It follows concerns about the parole of convicted murderer Graeme Burton, who killed Karl Kuchenbecker in Lower Hutt while on the run from authorities and in breach of his parole. Karl Kuchenbecker's father Paul says it is about time the justice system was tightened up. He says for too long the Parole Board seems to have been on the side of prisoners, while abandoning public safety. Paul Kuchenbecker says criminals should lose a certain amount of their rights and any information, including rumours, should be taken very seriously. The secret evidence proposal is opposed by the Green Party, which has described it as an affront to the principles of natural justice. PRIMARY TEACHERS LODGING PAY CLAIM ---------------------------------- The Government is being asked to consider $450 million pay claim for primary teachers and to fund a new initiative. The union, NZEI, is tabling its request as the basis to fund a four percent pay rise and a new career pathway for teachers. It is also hoping the extra money will entice new staff members. NZEI president Irene Cooper is confident the claim will be accepted. She says the union has been working for 12 months on the career scheme with the Ministry and the School Trustees Association and has even tabled a report with the minister prior to lodging the claim. The union says the career pathway will create new roles known as advanced skills teachers, mentor teachers and middle and senior leadership positions. Ms Cooper says teachers have taken on a lot more responsibility and it is important their work is recognised. GREEN FINGER SCHOLARSHIP ------------------------ The Canterbury Growers Society is offering a $3,000 scholarship for people wanting to get into the horticulture industry. The funding will help a student in the first year of study towards a Bachelor of Commerce in horticulture management at Lincoln University. The Society says the industry suffers from a shortage of suitably qualified staff and an example of the need is Brian Gargiulo's tomato growing business in Harewood Christchurch. It says the operation involves the use of high-tech computers to ensure plants receive exactly what they need to produce the best possible crop. But it says the business finds it extremely hard to find people who understand plants and commerce. LEMON GRASS ICE-CREAM A WINNER ------------------------------ A lemon grass and ginger flavoured offering has won the country's top ice-cream award. Kapiti Fine Foods has won the supreme award at the New Zealand Ice Cream Awards in Rotorua, beating a record 187 entries from 24 manufacturers. Rush Munro has won the top prize in the open creative category with its rose petal ice cream, which came with chocolate-covered petals. Valentino's, a small Auckland gelato shop, won the gelato/sorbet category with its blackberry pie flavour, which impressed the judges with its authentic pastry taste. Ice creams were judged on appearance, body and texture, flavour and melting quality. (Oh no! Lemon grass is a taste that I abhor. It tends to keep me out of Thai restaurants. - BH) COASTAL EVACUATION PLAN FOR CHRISTCHURCH TSUNAMI ------------------------------------------------ Thousands of people from coastal and low-lying areas of Canterbury would be evacuated within hours under tsunami emergency plan. Although Christchurch is considered low risk it may be affected by waves caused by an earthquake as far away as Chile and the Christchurch City Council and police have devised a plan to deal with such an emergency. The region would have at least six hours before a tsunami triggered from South America struck. More than 23,000 people in 19 sectors between Woodend and Bank's Peninsula would be evacuated within five hours. Inspector Craig McKay says some areas such as Southshore which is almost entirely at sea level would be given priority. An emergency centre would be set up at Cowles Stadium in Aranui and people would be evacuated to the Christchurch Westpac Arena. Scientists have estimated there is an 80 percent risk of a two-metre tsunami reaching coastal Christchurch within the next 100 years. The emergency plan, which has taken 18 months to devise, comes in the wake of the Asian tsunami in 2004 in which more than 200,000 people perished. POLICE COMMISSIONER'S RULE REVIEWED ----------------------------------- The roles and responsibilities of the Police Commissioner could be in for a tweaking. A discussion document on a proposed revamp of the police legislation suggests the Commissioner's role and powers be clarified. It also recommends clear boundaries be set regarding the relationship between the Commissioner and the Minister of Police. Other proposals include amending the Privacy Act for more information sharing, making it compulsory for people to supply ID to police when requested, and strengthening police powers for dealing with groups or crowds. Review spokesman Superintendent Hamish McArdle says the document attempts to write the independence of the police into law. It also suggests giving the Police Commissioner the power to convene formal inquiries into his or her organisation. Currently this is solely restricted to the Minister of Police. Mr McArdle is urging the public to make their opinions on the review known SUBSCRIBE OR UNSUBSCRIBE ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Brian Harmer does NOT administer the mailing list. Please do not send subscription related messages to him. Instead, visit the website listed below, where you can make changes as required. If you want to send a personal message to Brian, change the country code to nz and send a message [EMAIL PROTECTED] If you do choose to comment on something in these posts, please don't send the whole newsletter with your message. Just trim it back to the relevant bits. Thanks. 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