Subject: 09 July, 2007 ----- WYSIWYG NEWS ------------------------------ Copyright, Brian Harmer.
Roger and I became good friends while we were both recuperating from illnesses in our final year of primary school, way back in 1958. I was recovering from the after effects of a ruptured appendix (in those days the ambulance to Auckland Hospital crossed on the vehicular ferry from Birkenhead, and it got there just too late). Roger was recovering from some childhood infection which I now can't recall. I suspect our subsequent friendship was based on a mutual recognition that we were both socially maladroit, and that we compensated by immersing ourselves in a fascination with all things technical, especially those related to aviation. In 1958, there was no Internet, and there were no PCs, so I suppose we were the precursors to what later generations would call "geeks" or "nerds" (the distinction eludes me). Neither of us played sport, indeed we each actively avoided it to the greatest extent possible. Roger remained skinny, while I became more "streamlined". We were both obsessed with the making and flying of model aircraft. The following year we went to different secondary schools. Roger went to the local secondary school, Northcote College, while my parents decided that my academic future would be better served if I attended St Paul's College in Grey Lynn, where discipline was reputedly a strong feature. Nevertheless, on many days of the week, Roger and I would get together at the end of the day, and at the weekends, reading, drawing, planning and building and even flying models. We listed to the radio request sessions and "hit parades" as they were then known, and to far off shortwave stations. His parents were lovely gentle people who lived on Mokoia Rd with their three sons in what, from my somewhat constrained perspective, was a completely relaxed and somewhat Bohemian lifestyle. I remember being allowed to ride around and around the outside of their house on their father's motor scooter. My parents by comparison, met and married in the British Army, so though it was a no less loving place, discipline and rules were a rather stronger feature of our home life. Roger and I continued as inseparable companions in crime, roaming free in the weekends around the local bush and around the coast line. We used to have mock battles in the bush, using a shanghai (slingshot) to fire small rocks at each other. The occasional hit would leave a bruise but little more. Amazingly no eyes were lost. With our bikes we roamed the North Shore, from Devonport to Beachhaven, and Stanley Point to Albany. At Beachhaven we stood at the wharf and looked across to the flying boats moored at RNZAF station Hobsonville. We went unsupervised into quite dense bush, or wandered around quite dangerous industrial sites. To this day I don't know why we didn't drown in the vast sludge dump that then existed at the back of the Chelsea Sugar Refinery. We would walk out on the crust of the steaming residue and occasionally break through into the sickly sweet bog of cane fibres underneath. In today's regulated litigious and sheltered world, our parents would probably be accused of criminal neglect. From our perspective, it was freedom, real freedom. Only Huck Finn enjoyed such freedom, it seemed to us. We had freedom to take risks. We climbed trees, and fell out of them, made death defying swings over gullies on lengths of old telephone wire, we swam in waterholes in deep bush. We made explosive devices which it would now be utterly irresponsible to describe in detail, and dropped them into the water off Chelsea wharf. There would be a satisfying "crump" and a spray of milky smoke-filled bubbles and occasionally a dead fish would float to the surface. In our secondary school years, we each became part of the Air Training Corps, in those days when every school had compulsory military cadet units (roughly equivalent, I guess to the ROTC schemes in the US). I must have done well at it, or perhaps just had a loud voice suitable for parade grounds, because I advanced to Squadron Warrant Officer at my school. We each had "perk" flights with our respective squadrons. I had several trips around Auckland peering through the nose glazing of a lumbering Bristol Freighter. Roger scored a flight in a Sunderland flying boat which made me green with envy. Back then they were still the front line maritime patrol bombers of the RNZAF. We twice attended NCO's training camp at RNZAF Base Auckland (Whenuapai)where we lived the lifestyle of RNZAF recruits, and got up to all the mischief that we could. And still we built models. Somehow between us we collected aviation magazines from all sorts of sources. We had an informal reference library of astonishing proportions, and I still have most of mine to this day. We were forever at each other's home and occasionally would put one over our respective mothers by having lunch at both places on the same day. Boy, did we get it when they finally talked to each other and discovered the scam. On several occasions, we cycled from Birkenhead out through Glenfield, up that seemingly endless hill and around the top of the harbour past Coatesville and Paremoremo, through Kumeu to Whenuapai, just to watch aircraft at what was then Auckland's international airport. Canadian Pacific ran Britannia aircraft, Qantas had Super Constellations, TEAL (the predecessor to Air New Zealand) ran DC-6Bs, and later the Lockheed L188 Electra. But the star of the all was BOAC's de Havilland Comet, the only jet airliner in service in the region at that time. In those pre upper harbour crossing days, that was a round trip of around 60 km. By now we had sufficient income to scrape together enough for model motors and serious flying model kits. A pair of twin five foot free flight models were tested on the lower field of Birkenhead War Memorial park. Way too much fuel, and no means of bringing it down ... and our income did not yet stretch to radio control. It meandered around for a while and then flew low across the upper field right through a football game in progress. The game came to a confused halt while players gawped at the model which suddenly found lift. It gained considerable height with the engine still running merrily and drifted in wide circles out to the east across what was then a bush lined gully, across Glenfield road and out of sight. It was recovered a week later from somewhere in the Wairau valley region and returned in a police car to my home (it had my name and address on it - the model that is, not the police car). My career path took me to the University of Auckland. Roger's took him to an apprenticeship as a fitter and turner. He smoked, grew his hair long and remained skinny. I did none of those. I dropped out of university and got my first job as a draughtsman in Tokoroa, and Roger's life went its own way and we drifted apart. Some twenty five years later, I got a phone call from Roger. He had found my address somehow, and was coming to Wellington. Could we provide accommodation for him and his partner Val? Of course we could. And then there he was, with shaggy hair and beard to match. My kids were still young at that stage and their eyes really popped at the sight of their somewhat conservative father getting a bear-hug from a hippie. Val was lovely and she was soon chatting to Mary and the children while Roger and I talked about - aviation and model making which both of us were still doing. Interestingly Roger was focused on the branch of our hobby called "vintage flying" ... all to do with the models which were fashionable and competitive when we were young. And the years melted away. After a great weekend, he and Val went back to Auckland, and we have had sporadic email contact over the years ever since. On Saturday, I had a call from his younger brother to tell me that Roger was dying of oesophageal cancer and that he had just days, and perhaps only hours to live. I got on the phone at once, and he was able to talk to me just enough to say goodbye. I think my voice was more choked up than his. He died last night. Goodbye my oldest friend. ---- 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. ---- On with the News. Monday, 2 July 2007 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ KIWISAVER LEGISLATION TO BE TIDIED ---------------------------------- KiwiSaver legislation is to be tweaked due to a blunder that meant users would not get the tax credits they are entitled to. Revenue Minister Peter Dunne says as it is written, the law does not reflect the intention of passing on a $20 a week tax credit for KiwiSaver contributions to those signed up to the scheme. He says a law change to fix the problem will be introduced in the next few weeks. ACT MAY SUPPORT MEDICINES BILL ------------------------------ ACT has decided to have another look at a controversial bill which aims to set up a trans-Tasman drug agency. Leader Rodney Hide says while he initially opposed bill, he is prepared to work cooperatively with Labour to find a resolution. He says ACT is now talking with Labour listing the party's concerns, to see if the bill can be fixed. Prime Minister Helen Clark says Mr Hide approached his office several weeks ago seeking a discussion. She says her response was "her door was always open." Miss Clark says Mr Hide has explained his party's repositioning and its desire not to be seen as a footstool to the National Party. (I heard a comment from Mr Hide in which he referred to National as "Labour Lite" as a justification as to why he could as easily collaborate with one party as the other. - BH) NZ SOLDIER TO BE AWARDED VC --------------------------- A New Zealand soldier being awarded the Victoria Cross carried a wounded SAS colleague 70 metres under heavy enemy fire. Corporal Willy Apiata is the first New Zealander to receive the nation's highest military decoration since World War II. The Government says Corporal Apiata showed little regard for his own life in Afghanistan in 2004, when he saved his colleague who would certainly have died from loss of blood otherwise. He braved heavy fire from the enemy and his own side during the incident. Three of the corporal's colleagues have also been awarded gallantry medals, but because of the secrecy surrounding the SAS, they are not being identified. (This is, militarily speaking, a really big deal. Sharing the tradition, as well as the Crimean gunmetal with the British VC, this is the nation's supreme award for gallantry. I am unclear as to whether Cpl Apiata remains a member of the SAS. They are not usually named in public, as you can see in the treatment of the slightly lesser gallantry medals for his comrades. On TV at least, he seems a remarkably modest and unassuming young man. - BH) MAORI MP ATTACKS YOUTH RATES BILL --------------------------------- The Maori Party is labelling the Government's rewrite of the Youth Rates Bill, Labour's "Young Slave Bill". MP Hone Harawira says the bill has been watered down so much that it is hard to tell the difference between Labour's version and National MP Wayne Mapp's 90-Day Probation Bill. Mr Harawira says when Dr Mapp's bill was dumped last year, Labour said it did not believe that workers who go into a new job should have all their rights removed for the first 90 days. He says six months later, that is exactly what Labour is doing. Mr Harawira says Labour is proposing a "new entrants rate" of 80 percent of the adult wage for the first 200 hours of employment. He says that is not about protecting workers' rights. LANDING CHARGES TO RISE AT AUCKLAND AIRPORT ------------------------------------------- Landing charges are to increase at Auckland International Airport. The airport says charges for airlines will increase by 2.5 percent each year for the next five years. Auckland Airport chief executive Don Huse says the "modest" increases are broadly in line with inflation. Mr Huse is not optimistic the announcement will go down well with airlines. He says he appreciates airlines will be concerned about their costs, just as the airport is concerned with its own. Last month, the association representing international airlines, IATA, labelled Auckland Airport greedy, claiming it was charging high landing fees, while making profits of 40 percent. The last increase in landing charges occurred in September 2001. AUCKLAND SLOW TO PICK UP 20-FREE HOURS -------------------------------------- Auckland has fallen behind the rest of the country in the uptake of the Government's 20-hours free early childhood education policy. The Ministry of Education has released figures revealing more than 65,000 children are signed up, which is 70 percent of those eligible. In regional figures, Auckland's uptake is around 50 percent. Ministry of Education Chief Executive Karen Sewell says the Ministry does not know all the reasons behind Auckland's figures. But she says it will be working with centres in the region to help get them signed up to the policy. The figures are not yet final with late enrolments still being processed. KIWISAVER DISCRIMINATES AGAINST OLDER WORKERS --------------------------------------------- The Government is being accused of breaching human rights and employment law with its Kiwisaver scheme. The savings plan began yesterday but people aged 65 and over are not eligible to join. Alasdair Thompson CEO of the Employers and Manufacturers Association says the rules are grossly unfair, incredibly short-sighted and discriminatory. He says older people are excluded from the $1,000 kick start, the $1040 annual tax credit and tax free employer contributions. He says older workers are valued for their experience and ability to train younger staff but their exclusion from the Kiwisaver scheme gives them no encouragement to keep working. KINDY TEACHERS VOTING ON CONTRACT --------------------------------- The union for kindergarten teachers has reached a pay deal with their employers. The NZEI says the settlement provides security during a time of change in the sector, including the introduction of 20 hours free. Union negotiations team leader Judith, Nowotarski says the agreement balances the needs of kindergartens to offer more flexibility against teachers' requirements. The proposed settlement will now be considered by the union's 1750 kindergarten teachers. NINE-WEEK HERCEPTIN STARTS TODAY -------------------------------- Government funding for the nine-week course of early-stage breast cancer drug Herceptin begins today, with the Government's drug funding agency, Pharmac, confident it can see off a legal challenge. Eight women from Wellington, Upper Hutt, Horowhenua, Manawatu and Auckland are seeking a judicial review of Pharmac's decision not to adopt a more expensive 12- month course of treatment. Spokeswoman Chris Walsh says most other OECD countries fund the drug for 12 months and it is only fair Pharmac does the same. She says at the moment it costs each woman $70 to $100,000 to fund a year-long course and those who cannot raise the money have a smaller chance of survival. The case comes before the courts later this month. Three hundred and 50 women are set to benefit from the nine- week Herceptin course each year, at an expected cost to District Health Boards of $6 million. DON'T PANIC OVER KIWISAVER -------------------------- Today is the first working day of the Kiwisaver scheme and experts are advising people not to rush into things. Many are still scratching their heads about how the voluntary scheme works and the New Zealand Stock Exchange senses panic. NZX spokeswoman Rowan MacRae says people feel as if they have to make their decision about whether to opt in by today, but she says investors signing up today have until October to decide where they want their investments to go. Ms MacRae says people should take a good look at the fees and scheme costs involved. Financial experts point out that there is no deadline to opt into the scheme and it can be done at any time. Tuesday, 3 July 2007 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ HASTING FOOD PROCESSING FACTORY CLOSES -------------------------------------- It is hoped about 130 staff at Cedenco's frozen food processing plant in Hastings will understand a decision to shut up shop. The Omahu Rd site is already closed for the season and will not reopen at all, with the high New Zealand dollar cited as a major factor. It leaves the company's seven full time staff out of work, as well as around 120 seasonal workers, many of whom return year after year. Managing director Richard Lawrence says the company has advised its staff of the closure, and was met with surprise and sadness. Mr Lawrence hopes the workers will be understanding, saying the reasons for the closure are out of everyone's hands. Mr Lawrence says it was hoped efforts made over the last season would help in the face of the dollar's climb, but the company has had no such luck. He says a decline in the dollar's value is not likely in the foreseeable future. (Hastings has had a rough time in recent years with factory closures. It is sad that such a nice provincial city should be so afflicted. - BH) NO STV HEADACHE THIS TIME, ASSURES MINISTER ------------------------------------------- There are assurances this year's local body and District Health Board elections will not encounter the same problems they did three years ago. Vote counts for authorities using the STV voting system were delayed for weeks in 2005 due to a computer software problem. Local Government Minister Mark Burton has been told the problem that caused the systemic failure have been addressed and he is confident it will not reoccur. He indicates ballot forms have also been standardised so they can be processed at various locations. CAMPAIGN CREDITED FOR TOURISM FIGURES ------------------------------------- The Government claims a marketing campaign can be credited for an increase in the number of Australian tourists to New Zealand. Official figures for Autumn show numbers were up by just over six percent at what is normally regarded as a quiet time of the year. Tourism Minister Damien O'Connor puts the rise down to Tourism New Zealand's "What's On" campaign which he says has kept business flowing through the economy for much longer. In the year to April more than 910,000 Australians visited New Zealand BRIDGECORP COLLAPSE A LESSON FOR INVESTORS ------------------------------------------ Prospective investors are being urged to do their homework before signing over their life savings to an investment company. Around 18,000 mum and dad investors are owed more than $500 million following the collapse of finance company Bridgecorp. Last week, the company failed to repay the principal to several debenture holders and capital note investors and last night, John Waller and Colin McCloy from PricewaterhouseCoopers were appointed as receivers. Investment specialist Brian Gaynor says any financial advisor would have been able to tell prospective investors the company was a high risk investment. He says the individuals behind Bridgecorp have been in a lot of trouble across the Tasman, with numerous failed businesses, and it has all been reported here. Bridgecorp has been in the headlines since a company it had exposure to, Australian property developer Westpoint, collapsed last year. Australia's securities regulator ASIC ordered Bridgecorp to repay money to investors in Australia and to stop raising funds there. Bridgecorp then used money from New Zealand investors to fund its Australian activities. Bridgecorp is also owed $49.1 million by Matapo, a Fijian- registered company developing Momi Bay, south of Nadi. (The Sunday papers this week are somewhat scathing of the failed company's former MD who is still driving around in a high end Porsche and living in a very expensive dwelling while the investors who have put their life savings into Bridgecorp face financial ruin. For some reason, I am reminded of a period around 1987 when Sir Robert Jones suggested that a strong indicator of a shonky company was that its name ended in "corp" - BH) SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT STAFF RISE QUESTIONED ---------------------------------------- National wants the government to explain the ballooning number of new bureaucrats being employed to deal with a shrinking number of beneficiaries. Welfare spokeswoman Judith Collins says as the number of benefits has reduced, the number of staff employed by the Ministry of Social Development has spiked to record highs. Mrs Collins says the number of staff climbed from 5,000 in 2002 to 6,200 last year. She says salary levels have also increased, as in 2002 nobody earned over $200,000, but now there are 22 employees earning more than $200,000. (Without defending the numbers or salaries, I am aware that even now, the ministry still does not have sufficient resources to do all that it is supposed to do, so I am not sure whether it is appropriate for anyone to assume that the 2002 numbers were in some way optimal for the ministry. - BH) EXPORTERS TOLD TO GET SMART AS DOLLAR SURGES -------------------------------------------- Exporters are being told they need to be smart in order to minimise the hit from the high dollar. The Kiwi jumped past the 78 US cents mark overnight, on the back of strong overseas interest. Export New Zealand chief executive Bob Walters says things are getting pretty tough. Mr Walters says on the other hand, many exporters are importers as well, so they can hedge their currency and to a certain extent offset the difficulty of the high dollar. He says high milk prices are an example that exporters can still make money with the high dollar. EXPORTERS UNDER PRESSURE AGAIN ------------------------------ There is continuing misery for the export industry as the New Zealand dollar continues to climb. The kiwi is currently trading at 78.24 US cents after gaining around one percent in value overnight. The Reserve Bank (RBNZ) is believed to have intervened three times last month in an effort to dampen the currency's enthusiasm. However there has been no sign of the bank stepping in again this time. Business correspondent Roger Kerr says the interventions appear to be having no impact because foreign investors love the eight percent interest rate yield they can get from New Zealand investments. He suggests that instead of trying to trim the gains, which has so far been unsuccessful, the RBNZ can bring down the value of the New Zealand dollar and rebalance the economy by indicating no further interest rates rises are on the cards. However, Mr Kerr says that appears to be an unlikely strategy. "They (RBNZ) still want to see that there's some moderation in the residential property market. We have the next figures on that next week." Mr Kerr says the RBNZ has not disclosed how much it has spent buying US dollars during its foreign exchange interventions, but he believes the figure could be $500m. He says selling at around 76 USc, the bank faces an unrealised foreign exchange loss of $18m. Mr Kerr believes more exporters will go to the wall because of the currency pressures. (Despite the climbing NZD, I am astounded that petrol still creeps upwards - $1.58 per litre at the end of the week - BH) CHILDREN IN HOSP AFTER CHLORINE LEAK ------------------------------------ Two children remain in Starship Hospital after a chlorine leak at an indoor public swimming pool north of Auckland. Five children were taken to North Shore Hospital after becoming felling sick and dizzy at the Rodney District Council's Leisure Centre in Stanmore Bay at around 6.30pm yesterday. Two of the patients were transferred to Starship Hospital in Auckland City for observation. A hospital spokesman says the children are expected to be released today. The Leisure Centre was evacuated last night as a precaution but is expected to be open this morning. The complex is not commenting on the incident. SCHOOL HOLS SHOULD STEM FLU OUTBREAK ------------------------------------ The holidays have come at a good time for two Wellington schools fighting outbreaks of influenza. Annette Nesdale, Wellington's Medical Officer of Health, says reports of flu outbreaks started to come in about two weeks ago, with school children particularly hard hit. Around 100 of the 340 children at Adventure School in Whitby were absent at one stage. Wellington College had about 300 of its 1500 students away on one day last week. Ms Nesdale says the school holidays will give sick students the chance to stay out of circulation. Children with flu symptoms should avoid events such as school holiday programmes and going to the movies. (Well, I got something from my little grandson and whatever it is, it has now lasted over a week. - BH) DISHWASHING POWDER SAFER ------------------------ The director of a group which promotes child safety says despite new regulations regarding dishwashing powder, parents should still make sure all chemicals and dangerous products are kept well out of the reach of children. Mother Laura Ward has been pushing for caustic dishwashing powder to be removed from shop shelves since her son Joshua, who is now aged four, swallowed dishwashing powder when he was 19-months-old. He almost died and underwent around 50 operations. Joshua still has a tracheotomy and requires 24 hour care. Starship Hospital in Auckland has also carried out research which shows that serious injuries to children can be prevented by reducing the pH level in dishwashing powder, as alkalinity levels are responsible for determining the severity of injuries. Now only dishwashing powder with a pH level below 12.5 will be stocked in shops. Director of Safekids New Zealand Ann Weaver says the old type of powder caused severe injuries to children's mouths, throats and airways. She says despite the safer products now allowed to be sold, parents still need ensure children cannot get hold such substances. Ms Weaver says it has been a long process to reduce the dangers of the powder but it is extremely rewarding to know that if a child does ingest dishwashing powder, they will not suffer the extreme injuries previously seen. SETBACK FOR BUILDING CONSENT BILL --------------------------------- The MP backing legislation aimed at speeding up building consent applications says he will keep up the pressure. A Parliamentary Select Committee has advised against the Private Member's Bill put forward by National MP Nick Smith that would have made consents free if they were not processed within 20 working days. Dr Smith is accusing Labour and the Greens of being unsympathetic to the plight of families and builders caught up in lengthy delays. He says if councillors penalise ratepayers when they are late with their rates, there should also be a penalty for councils when the processing of consent applications takes too long. Dr Smith plans to continue trying to push his bill through. Wednesday, 4 July 2007 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ TORNADOES SWEEP ACROSS NORTH ISLAND ----------------------------------- Tornadoes have swept through the North Island, hitting first New Plymouth, before moving to Auckland then Tauranga. The third twister ripped through parts of Tauranga, leaving at least two homes damaged. The strong winds were part of an electrical storm that crossed the city around 5.30pm. Laurence St near Tauranga Hospital appears to be the worst hit. One house has lost part of a roof and residents say wood piles and outdoor furniture was sent flying. Another house in Cambridge Heights on the outskirts of the city lost roof tiles. Catherine Wright was at home in Tauranga when the tornado touched down. She says her house began to shake, rain was horizontal and bit of debris were flying around. Ms Wright says there is minor damage for the length of her street. She says the experience was terrifying. The tornado which hit southeast Auckland has damaged at least 30 homes. Gusts swept through just before 4pm and took tiles from houses in the Botany Downs, Golflands and Somerville areas. Fire Service shift supervisor Scott Osmond says the damage to roofs is relatively minor and tiles have either to be patched back on or replaced by tarpaulins. Two people were taken to Middlemore Hospital with injuries. The first tornado gusted through New Plymouth at around 1pm. It began at a Placemakers store and ended its course 3km away at a race course on New Plymouth's outskirts. The local fire service say a woman in Placemakers at the time of the twister was concussed from falling debris and was taken to hospital for observation. New Plymouth witnesses described the sound of the oncoming tornado as similar to that of an approaching train. It is thought to have made a 360 degree turn, tearing off roofs from industrial buildings and homes, with heavy debris smashing windows. Senior fire officer Trevor Moore says the trail of debris in New Plymouth stretches half a kilometre long and 200 metres wide through the CBD. He says half a dozen buildings have been damaged, with Placemakers worst hit. The building lost half its roof. Part of the debris was lying on top of another building across the road and another piece had fallen across several cars on an adjacent street. FOREIGN DOCTOR LEVELS FACE SCRUTINY ----------------------------------- New Zealand's reliance on foreign doctors is being blamed on a history of non-investment in medical training. Of the physicians currently practicing in New Zealand, 41 percent are overseas trained, giving the nation the highest proportion of foreign-trained doctors in the western world. The figure has come under the spotlight after a foreign doctor in Australia has been linked to failed terrorist attacks in the UK. The Resident Doctors Association is calling for District Health Boards to drop plans to recruit more doctors from the UK. President of the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists, Jeff Brown says foreign doctors' medical skills are scrutinised and they work under supervision when they arrive. He says political and religious affiliations are not checked. Dr Brown says the level of foreign doctors in New Zealand is a situation which has developed over a number of years. He says the Government needs to look at how to retain the graduates New Zealand does produce, or work out a way of producing more. Health Minister Pete Hodgson is refusing to comment on the debate. HAS THE RESERVE BANK STEPPED IN AGAIN? -------------------------------------- There is speculation the Reserve Bank has had another go at trying to rein in the dollar. Rumours are doing the rounds on the currency markets of another intervention by the bank overnight. The New Zealand dollar hit a record post-float high of 78.40 US cents in offshore trading, but has since come back to 78.07 USc. The Reserve Bank is thought to have intervened three times last month but the dollar has continued to soar to post-float highs. FOOD ON MEETING'S MENU ---------------------- Food is the hot topic for public health officials gathering in Auckland today. The Public Health Association is holding its three day conference which plans to canvass the topics of food, obesity, minority groups and urban design. Director Gay Keating says thought has to be put to food quality and its availability and affordability. She says at this time of the year with power bills going up, food can be one of the things that suffers. She says city planning can help reduce problems such as obesity. Dr Keating says convenient public transport that requires a five or ten minute walk to work will allow people to fill their quota of 20 minutes exercise a day without realising it. SECURITY PATROLS CONTINUE AT WGTN FLATS --------------------------------------- Wellington City Council will continue employing security patrols at its flats in Newtown, while officials sort out a problem with some bad tenants. Residents say they are being terrorised by the group, who are believed to be gang affiliates. One resident, who does not want to be identified, says his flat has been broken into three times and it has reached the point where he is afraid to go to sleep at night. The council's city housing manager Vicky McLarin says with the council responsible for 4,000 tenants, there are bound to be problems from time to time but the council takes matters very seriously. She says a mediation process is currently being worked through. Ms McLarin says the council evicts fewer than 10 tenants every year. Earlier this week, a state house tenant in Auckland won her case against Housing New Zealand's attempt to evict her because of alleged anti-social behaviour. Some neighbours had claimed Sharon Salt's oldest sons were gang members and had terrorised Range View Rd in Owairaka. Housing New Zealand is seeking advice on whether to appeal the Tenancy Tribunal's decision. CONTRACTOR PINPOINTED IN PAY DEAL TALKS --------------------------------------- A private contracting firm is proving a tough nut to crack as hospital workers try to negotiate a pay deal. Cleaners, kitchen staff and orderlies have agreed to hold another day of negotiations tomorrow after two days of talks ending yesterday edged closer to a settlement. Alastair Duncan, spokesman for the Service and Food Workers Union, which represents around 3000 staff, says District Health Boards have come a long way in talks, but unless contractor Spotless Services agrees to the deal, there will not be one. He says tomorrow's discussions will centre on settling a deal with DHBs and making sure Spotless signs up. The workers are employed by contracting companies Spotless, OCS, Compass and ISS and 20 DHBs. ECONOMIST BELIEVES KIWI UNSUSTAINABLE ------------------------------------- An economist believes the New Zealand dollar is now at unsustainable levels for exporters. The kiwi is currently trading at 78.09 US cents after reaching post-float highs earlier in the week. Many believe it will reach 80 US cents. The Reserve Bank is believed to have intervened three times last month, but the New Zealand dollar has continued to rise. Anthony Byett of FX Matters says both the US dollar and Japanese yen are weak at the moment, but he says the kiwi is unjustifiably high against the European and Australian currencies. Mr Byett says the Reserve Bank's interventions were useful at the time, but were never meant to turn the currency by itself. He says the Reserve Bank is likely to intervene in the foreign currency market again to try to bring down the high value of the New Zealand dollar. Thursday, 5 July 2007 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ TORNADOS STRIKE IN TARANAKI AGAIN --------------------------------- Tornadoes are causing chaos in Taranaki again . Several twisters have ripped through the province in the last hour. Senior Officer at New Plymouth Fire Station Ian Drewery says Bell Block, Egmont Village, Waitara and Oakura are all affected. He says the road between New Plymouth and Inglewood has been blocked by fallen trees and power lines. Mr Drewery says trees are on fire in Waitara because of fallen power lines. He says most of the damage is within a 15 kilometres radius of New Plymouth. All but one of New Plymouth's fire appliances are busy. The radio network's weather analyst says a large squall line containing some big thunderstorms is still moving across the area and police are advising people to stay indoors. (Apparently there are about 20 tornadoes each year in NZ, mostly on the West Coast, coming in off the Tasman. It is comparatively rare that they hit the headlines for anything other than their novelty value. On this occasion, the cluster seems to have done some real property damage. - BH) FARMERS CONSIDER FIGHTING PYLON DECISION ---------------------------------------- Federated Farmers is considering seeking a judicial review of the decision to approve the Waikato to Auckland transmission line. The Electricity Commission has decided Transpower can erect 190 kilometres of power pylons and lines between Whakamaru and Pakuranga. The lines will initially carry 220 kilovolts of power, with the ability to upgrade to 400 kilovolts. John Sexton is a member of Federated Farmers who will be affected by the lines. He says the Electricity Commission has not properly considered other options, including whether the existing lines could be upgraded. Mr Sexton says Federated Farmers is also not convinced the commission has considered all the issues affecting landowners. "We agree that Auckland's power supply needs a major upgrade. We are not about threatening security of supply. What we have a problem with is the process." Mr Sexton says land owners feel they have been deliberately marginalised and the process has not been fair. He says the proposal severely affects how farmers can manage their land as restrictions come into play. Mr Sexton says Transpower must minimise its requirements on land owners or compensate fully for the long term effects of the conditions. Transpower chief executive Ralph Craven says the company will seek to ease the concerns of affected landowners along the route of the new line. He says the Resource Management Act process will help address community concerns and identify possible mitigations to them. Dr Craven says the Electricity Commission decision will help ensure security of supply to the upper North Island and New Zealand. (I think some things are utterly unavoidable. There needs to be a reliable connection between the Waikato hydro schemes and Auckland with sufficient capacity to meet the present and future needs of the city. I wouldn't want a pylon in my backyard either, but I can see no other way. Objectors suggest that electricity should be generated closer to Auckland. Using what? Fossil fuel? Wind farms? Objectors to whatever course of action. - BH) VIRUS OUTBREAK IN BABY UNIT --------------------------- Tauranga Hospital has clamped down on visitors to specialist neonatal unit following the discovery of a respiratory virus. Bay of Plenty District Health Board communications manager Carol Woollaston says the Special Care Baby Unit is now off limits to anyone with a cold, cough or flu. She says babies in the unit often already have respiratory problems, so such a virus can harm their recovery. The DHB is also asking people with bugs to stay away from Ward 10, where around ten patients and staff have been hit by gastroenteritis. TVNZ WANTS FEEDBACK ON ITS CHARTER ---------------------------------- The state broadcaster wants to hear what New Zealanders want to see on television. The TVNZ charter is up for its five year review, and public submissions are being called for. Chief executive Rick Ellis says the suggested redraft anticipates changes ahead of TVNZ launching its digital channels early next year. Mr Ellis says the charter has fundamentally changed the way TVNZ does things, and he is expecting good feedback to further enhance that. RESEARCHER WANTS VITAMIN D ADDED TO FOOD ---------------------------------------- The nation's chronic Vitamin D levels have an Auckland University researcher calling for the nutrient to be added to food products. Vitamin D Researcher Robert Scragg says optimum levels of the vitamin are around 80 nanomols per litre of blood, but European New Zealanders have an average of just 50 nanomols per litre of blood. The figures are worse for Maori, 42 nanomols, and Pacific Islanders, 37 nanomols. The south Asian population has even lower levels. Dr Scragg wants Vitamin D added to products such as milk, fruit juice or cereals. He says a lack of Vitamin D increases the risk of killer diseases. He is blaming successful skin cancer campaigns for exposing New Zealanders to other killer diseases, saying 90 percent of Vitamin D comes from sunlight. He says New Zealanders' zeal to be "sunsmart" means they are not getting enough of the nutrient. He says the nation needs to get out into the sun more, without getting burnt. (Compulsory additions to food seem to me as generally a bad idea. - BH) WAIKATO TO AUCKLAND PYLONS APPROVED ----------------------------------- Transpower has the nod to build a $683 million 190km electricity transmission line from Whakamaru to Pakuranga. The project will include more than 190km of above ground pylons and lines, and underground cables. While the line will initially be run at 220 kilovolts, it will have the potential to be upgraded in the future to 400 kilovolts. The Electricity Commission declined a more ambitious proposal last year. Commission deputy chairman Peter Harris says that was because the proposal did not provide consumers with enough protection from unnecessary costs. Mr Harris says the revised plan is substantially more cost effective and is in line with good electricity industry practice. He says the commission analysed objectors' concerns about electromagnetic fields and the environmental impact before making its decision. He says the further analysis did not raise any significant new issues that could overturn the notice of intent to approve. The decision to approve the line was made by a majority. Commissioner Graham Pinnell dissented, saying the proposal did not pass the Grid Investment Test and that the 220 kilovolt option would be more economic. He says the savings to consumers by rejecting the proposal would far outweigh the costs of reviewing a new proposal, and there was adequate time for such a review. Commissioner Harris says Commissioner Pinnell disagreed on the assumptions used in the Grid Investment Test, particularly regarding where new electricity generation sources for Auckland would be located and the level of electricity demand growth. Changes in these assumptions could result in a different conclusion. Commissioner Harris says the majority adopted a more conservative view than Commissioner Pinnell on demand uncertainties in reaching their decision. MAORI PARTY THREATENS UN EMBARRASSMENT -------------------------------------- The Maori Party is threatening to embarrass the Government at the United Nations. The party is irate at what it calls a complete failure by the Government to consult with Maori, ahead of a vote on a United Nations declaration on the rights of indigenous people. MP Hone Harawira says it is getting the point where either the Government comes clean, or the Maori Party will go to the UN to expose the Government for the "liars and the racists" that they really are. He says other countries, such as Canada and Mexico, have been open in their positions regarding the declaration, but the New Zealand Government has been out the back trying to cut everything to pieces. MEGA-MEETING OF FED FARMERS --------------------------- Federated Farmers is combining its conferences for the first time. Its industry group meetings of the National Council, Meat and Fibre Producers and Dairy Farmers of New Zealand will take place as one event. The multi-conference is being held at the Langham Hotel in Auckland from July 17th to 19th. Speakers include Federated Farmers' President Charlie Pederson, who will talk about climate change and the Resource Management Act; National Party leader John Key; Rob Roney from Fish and Game; John Caradus from Grasslanz technology and Ravensdown CEO Rodney Green. The meeting will also include a panel discussion on the environment. AIR NELSON DISPUTE OVER ----------------------- The six week pay dispute involving around 100 Air Nelson workers is now over. Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union members have voted to accept a new deal, which will avert further industrial action, but an Employment Court hearing is now on the cards over Air Nelson's use of what the union claims is illegal strikebreaking labour during the action. The EPMU won a court injunction ordering the Air New Zealand subsidiary to stop. Workers will receive a 9.5 percent pay rise over 30 months. AUCKLAND POPULAR WITH TOURISTS ------------------------------ An increasing number of overseas visitors would rather spend their time in Auckland than elsewhere in New Zealand. Auckland was named tourists' favourite region in last night's Arrival Magazine Traveller's Choice Awards. Nearly 70 percent of visitors pass through the country's largest city and more stay there than is generally perceived. Tourism Auckland Chief Executive Graeme Osbourne says it is great the city is being recognised and celebrated. He says Auckland consistently rates highly when it comes to world-class lifestyle cities. Auckland's favourite attraction was deemed to be Sky City. The Zorb, the inflated ball tourists can climb into which then rolls down a hill in Rotorua, was named favourite attraction outside Auckland. Arrival Magazine's publisher Mike Taillie says the visitors spend $8.3 billion each year in New Zealand, so understanding their behaviour is critical to the economy. He says generally, it would have been expected that Rotorua or Queenstown would have been the most favoured areas for tourists. In another section of the awards, retail chain The Warehouse won the Favourite Retailer category. The company's spokeswoman Cynthia Church says she had an idea the shop was popular with tourists, because they can buy things they have forgotten to pack at home. (Weird. This is like visitors who go to Sydney thinking that they have seen Australia. I suppose it's akin to a cruise ship ... a form of vacation that would fill me with horror ... cities are interesting, but they are not usually the essence of a country. - BH) Friday, 6 July 2007 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ MOVE TO SPUR DOCTORS TO RURAL AREAS ----------------------------------- The Government has launched a new initiative to encourage young doctors to work in rural areas. The rural immersion programme will see six Otago University students spend their entire fifth year of study working in rural communities in Queenstown and the West Coast. Rural Affairs Minister Damien O'Connor says the Government is working hard to address issues around recruitment and retention in rural general practice. He says the programme is an important step in encouraging the next generation of doctors to spend time working in rural New Zealand. Mr O'Connor says the Government is supporting the programme run by Otago University's Dunedin School of Medicine, with $300,000 funding. NATS DECIDE THEY CAN COPE WITH SATIRE ------------------------------------- National has decided to back a more lenient approach to the rules around TV footage from Parliament. MPs, including all National MPs, voted last week to ban any footage which satirised or denigrated them. But today leader John Key has announced his party will back a re-visit of the rules. He says Parliament debates occur in the public eye and his party supports opening up broadcasting proceedings. Mr Key says National wants to have grater transparency, rather than less. He says National MPs are not so precious that they cannot accept from time to time, someone will "take the mickey" out of them. (The pity is that they did not come to this realisation until the public and media backlash made them realise how foolish their stance made them look. A pity that the other self- important politicians will probably not have a similar outbreak of self awareness. - BH) DHB SAYS PATIENT CARE PRIORITY DESPITE LOSS ------------------------------------------- Capital and Coast District Health Board says patient care will not be compromised as it attempts to recover from a massive $30 million deficit. DHB chairwoman Judith Aitken admits the situation is very serious and will put more pressure on hospital waiting lists. She claims one of the reasons for the deficit is the cost of hiring casual staff to cover for shortages during industrial action. "It is much dearer to engage people through outsourcing, than it is to have them on your own staff." Dr Aitken says the DHB will continue to pay for cover, because otherwise patient care would be compromised, and that would not be acceptable. The Ministry of Health has upped the board's monitoring status from "performance watch" to "intensive monitoring", meaning it is keeping a very close eye on the board's performance. Dr Aitken says although it is uncomfortable, it is not unwelcome, as the board will rely on working together with the Health Ministry. MIGRANT REDUCTION PUZZLES BUSINESS ---------------------------------- The business community is struggling to understand the Government's decision to cut the number of skilled migrants. Immigration Minister David Cunliffe has announced the migrant target for the coming year will be 45,000 to 50,000 people compared with 47,000 to 52,000 in the past year. Michael Barnett, CEO of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce says it is an odd move which comes as businesses face a skills shortage and must look offshore for staff. Mr Barnett says the lowered upper limit will add even more pressure on companies. Marcus Beveridge from the Association of Migration and Investment says if anything New Zealand should be allowing more people to settle. 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. 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