Subject: 24 May, 2009 ----- WYSIWYG NEWS ------------------------------ Copyright, Brian Harmer.
Wipers slapping, tyres hissing, and with the heater on set on high, we drove to Wanganui in perhaps the roughest journey yet. I complained of the italicised wind last week. From there, with few brief fine interludes, it has been all downhill. In fact my mother, having heard the forecast, rang trying to dissuade us from making the journey to visit her. Since it was her birthday and we don't get to see her as often as we would like, it was going to take more than a bit of wind and rain to deter us. By now, you might have gathered that this is a journey that we have done so often that we do it almost on autopilot. On a good day, the beauty of the landscape can compensate for the familiarity. On a day such as this, however, there is no such compensation. Nobody wants to drive behind anybody else, or to sit in the swirling clouds of road spray from the vehicle ahead, unable to tell whether the road ahead is sufficiently clear for safe overtaking. If the vehicle ahead is a heavy truck with its herd of tyres all stampeding in the same direction, the turbulent cloud in its wake is enhanced with flying gravel. Sure enough a ping and there is a star shaped crack in the windscreen. Thank heavens for "no-fault" glass cover. We got there, and back, though the nearer we got to Cook Strait on the homeward journey, the stronger the wind became, with the car being buffeted by gusts in the region of 140 km/h. In the days that followed, swells as high as 17 metres were recorded in the strait, and ferries which are limited by considerations of passenger comfort and safety to seas not exceeding 4.5 metres, ceased to run. The airport was likewise closed to all smaller aircraft, though the Boeings and Airbus jets continued to make what must have been exciting arrivals. As I write, sheets of rain are still sweeping in from the South, but I think we are past the peak of the storm. Down the driveway, over the noise of the still stiff wind, I can hear the sound of chainsaws, as a neighbours clear away the carcase of a tree which succumbed to high winds and waterlogged roots and crashed across the entrance. I believe we have more of this to come. See you next week. ---- 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. Sponsorship this week is courtesy of my friends, Louise and Clay Sollers of Fortuna, CA. If you do make that next trip this year I hope you will call in. ---- On with the News. Monday, 18 May 2009 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ INDUSTRY RESPONDS TO SOW CRATE FARMING -------------------------------------- The pork industry says graphic images of sow crate farming shown on TV are not normal practice in New Zealand. It is promising to fully support the Agriculture Minister's investigation into the farm in question. Spokesman Sam McIvor says the industry is phasing out long-term use of sow crates - and is halfway to achieving that. He says the plan will see the time pigs spend in crates reduced to four weeks. Mr McIvor says consumers need choice and some people are happy to pay a premium for free range products. (There is a distinction to be made between farrowing crates and the dry crates in which certain farmers keep the pigs all of the time. Farrowing crates are designed to prevent the sow from rolling on, or otherwise attacking the piglets. The others are, frankly, an abomination. - BH) SUPER CITY AGENCY NOT QUITE READY --------------------------------- The Government appears to be having some trouble forming the agency which will effectively take over the running of Auckland. Legislation putting the agency in place was passed over the weekend, despite filibustering by Labour. The make up of the transition agency was meant to have been announced today, but Prime Minister John Key says it is not quite ready yet. "We're working on the make up of that. We're just finalising the last name and who might chair that. It's an important decision, it's going to be a very important agency over the next 18 months - we need to make sure we get it right." The agency is now expected to be announced tomorrow. Labour's Auckland Issues spokesman Phil Twyford says it appears Cabinet blocked Local Government Minister Rodney Hide wishes, which is embarrassing for him. Mr Twyford says after the Christine Rankin debacle the last thing Mr Key needs is another minister running amok with the appointments process. (The committee as finally announced differed from the rumoured composition, mainly in the inclusion of a woman - BH) NO EXTRA SCREENING FOR DOMESTIC FLIGHTS --------------------------------------- Security screening for domestic air travel will not be extended by the Government. The proposal was put forward in a report into aviation security, which followed the hijacking of an Air New Zealand Link flight between Blenheim and Christchurch last year. Transport Minister Steven Joyce says the $160 million bill for extending security screening over ten years would be too expensive and create too many costs. Instead, he says, alternative security measures will be put in place. These include; improving security training for airport and airline staff, as well as strengthening cockpit doors on aircraft and investigating having them installed on smaller aircraft. (No-one is likely to board one of the smaller planes and ask to be taken to another country. I think the present approach is pragmatic and appropriate. - BH) BIG PURCHASES A NO-GO --------------------- Financial insecurity has led most New Zealanders to decide not to buy anything costing more than $2,000 in the next six months. Market research company Perceptive made the finding in a survey of a thousand New Zealanders with incomes ranging from $20,000 to more than a $100,000 a year. Managing Director Chris Prescott says the survey shows most New Zealanders are deeply worried about their finances, with 80 percent saying they are going to spend less and save more. He says most also do not want to know any more about the recession, which is having a powerful effect on their spending habits. FREEZE ON HIGHER SALARIES AT AIR NZ ----------------------------------- Air New Zealand has put a freeze on the salaries of employees earning more than $80,000 a year. The freeze will apply only to those on individual employment contracts, not those on collective contracts. It will cover the 2010 financial year, from July 2009 until June 2010. The pay freezes will impact one in 11 Air New Zealand staff. Chief Executive Rob Fyfe says the decision to go ahead with pay freezes was not taken lightly. He says Air New Zealand is looking at areas where it can reduce labour costs without making people redundant. INFRATIL POSTS $191 MILLION LOSS -------------------------------- Infratil has posted a $191 million loss for the year ended March. The company says it is largely attributed to $179 million of non-cash write down associated with listed investments. Chairman David Newman says Infratil shares lost 29 percent of their value and did not deliver on the primary goal of providing shareholders with superior risk-adjusted returns. But he says despite sharemarket returns, the company's financial and operational performance was satisfactory. A dividend of 3.75 cents per share will be paid in July. GOVT URGED TO FOLLOW AUST'S LEAD -------------------------------- A retirement investment specialist believes New Zealand should take a leaf out of Australia's book when it comes to the retirement policy. In this month's budget, Australia's Treasurer Wayne Swan announced that the age a person is eligible to receive a pension will rise from 65 to 67 by 2023. In addition, retirement tax benefits for higher-paid individuals would be reduced and the Government would stop matching contributions to low and middle-income earners to pay for a weekly increase for current pensioners. Retirement investment consultant Paul Newfield says New Zealand's Government must also address the issue of an aging population. He says currently around 11 percent of the population is over 65 but in 2051 the number will rise to 25 percent. Mr Newfield says raising taxes will be unpopular but the Government will be aware the power of the 'grey vote' will grow in the coming years. He says as the population increases, the issues associated with an aging population will be exacerbated. FOLIC ACID EXPECTED TO BE ADDED ------------------------------- Bakers doubt the Government will scrap new rules requiring folic acid to be added to all bread products. Officials from the Food Safety Authority are examining the latest research into the issue and a report will be ready for Cabinet by the end of the month. The legislation is due to come into effect in September. Folic acid is promoted as a way to reduce rare birth defects such as spina bifida, however new research shows it may cause an increase in colon cancer cases. New Zealand has a high rate of colon/rectum cancer. Baking Industry Association Executive Officer Belinda Jeursen says bakers are concerned that adding folic acid to bread makes it a medicinal vehicle. She says although the association is opposed to the new rules, it is doing all it can to make sure its members comply with the law. Ms Jeursen says despite the review of the issue, she cannot see the rules being changed. (As is often the case with well intentioned additives, there are suggestions that it may cause negative problems for others who don't need the folic acid. - BH) LABOUR URGES CAUTION ON JURY CUTBACKS ------------------------------------- Labour leader Phil Goff says the Government should not throw out the baby with the bath water as it moves to reform the court system. Justice Minister Simon Power is proposing jury trials be restricted to those facing jail terms of three years or longer, saying it is time to have a fundamental look at the justice system. But Mr Goff says changes were made under the Labour Government and included allowing depositions hearings to be carried out through written submissions and majority verdicts in jury trials. He says the justice system does benefit from reviews, but the rights of New Zealanders must not be taken away in the interest of short term solutions. Wellington Law Society president Richard Fowler says while he can see why Mr Power is considering restricting jury trials, he is questioning whether it is the right move. He says jury trials are such a fundamental and important right, he would be very reluctant to see them diminished. (At first sight, I think the idea of reserving jury trials for more significant cases is a good one. I am not entirely sure of the origin of our present "rights" to a jury trial, since we don't have a written constitution. Probably the Magna Carta. Such rights are not to given away lightly, but at present the logjams in the courts are cutting across the rights of accused and victims to a speedy resolution of issues. - BH) Tuesday, 19 May 2009 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ HUGE EXPANSION FOR QUEENSTOWN ----------------------------- A big expansion is needed at Queenstown International Airport, to cope with a projected quadrupling of air traffic. Forecasts suggest more than two million passengers a year are likely to be using the airport within the next three decades. 22 hectares of land to the southeast will be needed to expand the existing airport, however the airport doesn't own it. CEO Steve Sanderson says they have been in discussions with the landowners - Remarkables Park Ltd for some months, aimed at reaching a deal both parties can be happy with. It is understood the land had been earmarked as a golf course reserve development. (That's a shame. In my opinion, Queenstown is already "at capacity" and a doubling of tourists would destroy whatever vestiges exist of the town as it used to be - BH) LIFE EXPECTANCY ON THE RISE --------------------------- Babies born in New Zealand can now expect to live at least a year longer than those born at the beginning of the millennium. Statistics New Zealand says newborn girls can expect to live an average of 82.2 years, and newborn boys have 78.2 years ahead of them. It says life expectancy is just over a year more for females, and a year and nine months more for males since the beginning of 2000. Figures show the birth rate is also up one percent from last year, with 64,160 children born. Births exceeded deaths by just over 35 thousand. The trend towards waiting before starting a family continues, with women now having children about five years later than their counterparts in the mid-1960s. The median age for becoming a mother is now 30. MORE MONEY FOR NEW MUMS ----------------------- The Health Minister has announced extra money for maternity services. Tony Ryall says an additional 100 million dollars will be allocated to the sector over the next four years. He says the extra cash will mean new mothers can stay longer at birthing facilities, and will help meet the costs of an increasing birth rate. Tony Ryall says it is all about addressing some of the concerns women have had about maternity services for many years. He says the Government does not want a repeat of incidents where women have been sent home from hospitals just hours after giving birth, with nothing more than a 100 dollar supermarket voucher. Tony Ryall says the funding will also go towards obstetric training for GPs, who are looking to return to maternity care. However the Labour Party says the announcement is vague and underwhelming. Labour's Deputy Leader Annette King says the announcement fails to tell women how services will actually be improved, and gives little detail on how the Government plans to deliver a longer period of post-natal care. She says it does not show when it will begin, nor where the additional staff and facilities to support the move will come from. HIGHER PROFIT MARGINS FOR BANKS ------------------------------- Banks' profit margins and falling oil prices were features of the statistics released for the March quarter. Business Correspondent Roger Kerr says Producers' Price Index shows a big decrease in commodity and oil prices over the quarter led to substantial reductions in import prices for the raw materials and the output prices (the wholesale prices of the goods that companies sell). Input prices were down 2.5 percent and output prices were 1.4 percent lower. Mr Kerr says the decreases in wholesale prices were far greater than economists' prior forecasts which suggested there would be no change. He says it may be the case that there will be much less pressure on the consumer over the next 12 months with lower prices for some products in the shops. The wholesale price falls in the March quarter is the largest recorded since the Producers' Price Index started in 1977 but Mr Kerr says since the end of March, commodity and oil prices in international markets have stabilised. Another situation to come out of the statistics was the profit margins of banks operating in New Zealand which rose 15 percent over the quarter. It is the largest increase in bank margins since the measure began in 1997. "It does add fuel to the argument the banks are not passing through enough of the fall in the market interest rates to their borrowers through lending rates. So, more pressure has to be put on the banks, I think." Mr Kerr says there are also indications of a lack of competition in the banking sector. WORKERS WANT CERTAINTY OVER COUNCIL ----------------------------------- One of the country's largest unions is urging the Government to name the board which will oversee the transition to Auckland's super city. Cabinet has delayed the announcement on who will run the Auckland council transition agency. A spokeswoman for Local Government Minister Rodney Hide says no decision has been reached and the names of board members will not be revealed until next week. Richard Wagstaff, national secretary of the Public Service Association, says it is unfair to leave some 6,000 council workers in limbo. He says the board will ultimately decide how many jobs will be slashed when the region's councils merge. Auckland's mayor is backing down on his claim that 40 percent of council jobs will be lost when the super city comes into play. John Banks has said that more than 2700 council employees could lose their jobs under the new structure. He emphasised the potential efficiency of the merger and predicts affordable progress, with rates caps and fewer consultants. But Mr Banks has now said he was wrong to suggest the 40 percent figure. He says fewer jobs will be needed under the single council but he does not know how many positions will go. He says he would not want to compromise the work of people in local government or cause any unnecessary anxiety by putting a number on job losses. Over the weekend, the first bill passed into law allowing the single council and a transition agency to be set up. The second bill outlining details about the council, has been sent to a select committee for submissions. COCKPIT DOOR STRENGTHENING "SENSIBLE" ------------------------------------- An aviation commentator says it is sensible to have secure cockpit doors in any commercial flight. The Government has decided that all planes with 30 seats or more will have strengthened cockpit doors and that such doors be installed in smaller aircraft. The proposal had been put forward in a recently released report into aviation security and prompted after the alleged attempted hijacking of an Air New Zealand Link flight between Blenheim and Christchurch in February last year. Transport Minister Steven Joyce says another option involving installing security screening at smaller airports would cost $160 million over 10 years which would be too expensive. "We decided that on balance, that the cockpit door strengthening and potentially adding cockpit doors to (smaller) aircraft was likely to be the most effective change at a reasonable cost to the travelling public." Mr Joyce says extra work will also be done on security training for airline and airport staff. Industry expert Peter Clark says coupled with more education of airport staff, the Government's response is totally adequate, given how low the risk of terrorist attacks are in New Zealand. Asha Ali Abdille, is accused of hijacking a passenger flight from Blenheim to Christchurch in February last year and the 34-year-old Blenheim resident will stand trial in September. Two Air New Zealand pilots were injured while trying to deal with the incident. Wednesday, 20 May 2009 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ MP SEEKS CRACKDOWN ON LOAN SHARKS --------------------------------- Labour MP Charles Chauvel wants more regulation and restrictions for private lending businesses. He is seeking political support for a private members bill which would reshape current rules on the industry. Mr Chauvel says it is not about stopping people from borrowing money, or preventing loan agencies from lending it. He says all he is trying to do is ensure reasonable interest rates are charged, not excessive ones, and that lenders make proper inquiries about a borrower's ability to repay. Mr Chauvel argues current arrangements are seeing borrowers stung with interest rates of up to 2000 percent per annum. He says the bill has support from the Progressives, the Greens and the Maori Party, but he would like to see the Government adopt it as legislation. (I am a supporter of legislation against loan sharking as long as the penalties involve boiling oil - BH NZ'S COMPETITIVENESS IMPROVES ----------------------------- New Zealand has improved three places to 15th out of 57 on the world economic competitiveness scoreboard. The improved ranking in the IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook, helps close the trans-Tasman gap, with Australia remaining static on its 7th placing last year. The United States remains number one. New Zealand's improvement is due to improved economic performance and infrastructure. The yearbook ranks countries on their ability to create and sustain enterprise competitiveness. This list introduced the new ranking of stress test on competitiveness, which Denmark topped. New Zealand came in 12th. FUND SET UP FOR VITAL COMMUNITY SERVICES ---------------------------------------- Community groups providing vital services to families, children and older people will get a helping hand during the recession. The Government has just announced the creation of the Community Response Fund. It will make around $40 million available over the next year to community and voluntary sector organisations that are struggling to keep up with demand during the downturn. Regional panels with community representation will approve applications from organisations that meet a range of criteria. MILESTONE FOR NEEDLE EXCHANGE PROGRAMME --------------------------------------- New Zealand's Needle Exchange Programme is marking its 21st birthday. The organisation aims to limit the spread of the blood-borne diseases amongst intravenous drug users. In the past 12 months, some 85,000 New Zealanders have had drugs injected into them. Around three-million clean needles are distribution annually via some 70 outlets. National manager Charles Henderson would like to see the focus widen from HIV and AIDS. He is also keen to see a greater commitment to addressing the issues surrounding hepatitis B. MORE BEDS NEEDED IN MATERNITY SECTOR ------------------------------------ Midwives say extra Government funding for maternity services will mean new mothers can stay longer at birthing facilities but the shortage of beds will have to be addressed. Health Minister Tony Ryall has announced an additional $100 million will be put aside for maternity services over the next four years. Karen Guilliland, chief executive of the College of Midwives, says it is the first time post-natal care has been the focus of a comprehensive funding package. "We're very delighted about it. Post-natal services have been the poor cousin for a long time so it's great to see some energy put into it." Ms Guilliland believes the new funding will also help to meet the costs of an increasing birth rate but she says the sector suffers from a lack of beds and a challenge for the District Health Boards will be to find innovative ways to use the money to free up more beds. Thursday, 21 May 2009 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ POWER COMPANIES LAWFULLY EXPLOITED MARKET ----------------------------------------- New Zealand's power companies have been found to have lawfully exploited their market power to raise wholesale electricity prices. A Commerce Commission report into Contact, Genesis, Meridian and Mighty River Power clears the four companies of any price fixing. It says they did not take advantage of market power for any anti-competitive purpose. But it has found the four companies legally used market power to charge an extra $4.3 billion, more than they would have earned had the conditions been competitive from 2001 to 2007. The commission has also issued a warning to TrustPower for attempting to enter into an anti-competitive agreement with Genesis in 2004. (A plague on all their houses - BH) PUT POWER PRICES ON HOLD - BROWNLEE ----------------------------------- Power generators are being told to put electricity price rises on hold until a review of their charging system and structure is completed in September. The generators have been accused by the Commerce Commission of gouging more than $4 billion more than they should have out of consumers by using their market dominance to overcharge. Energy Minister Gerry Brownlee, who has ordered the review, says it would be audacious if they raised their prices while these allegations are out there. "There is something fundamentally wrong in the way in which we're marketing electricity in New Zealand." The generators who stand accused are state-owned Meridian, Genesis and Mighty River Power and privately owned Contact. WEAKER US$ GOOD NEWS FOR TRAVELLERS ----------------------------------- The New Zealand dollar is expected to climb higher against the greenback as the US dollar loses ground and the risk appetite picks up. The kiwi hit 61 US cents early this morning, but has now dropped back to around 60.5 US cents. Less than three months ago the New Zealand dollar had dropped below 49 US cents. ASB chief economist Nick Tuffley says that for two years, there has been an environment that has seen sentiment change from day to day, meaning there will continue to be ups and downs. But he believes the New Zealand dollar will continue to rise and that it is conceivable it could hit the mid-60s by the end of the year. UNIONS PLAN TO SWITCH KIWISAVER PROVIDER ---------------------------------------- The KiwiSaver market is in for a shake up. Unions which are using KiwiSaver provider Iris plan to make an announcement about a scheme to merge into an existing larger provider. Investment writer Mary Holm says people who do not want to be with the new merged provider can easily switch to another provider. "People don't realise that all you have to do is ring the new provider, the one you want to move to and they will contact the old provider and they will contact IRD and do all the shuffling." Ms Holm says a merger of KiwiSaver providers has been expected because there are too many of them in the market. RECESSION-BUSTERS PUT ON THINKING CAPS -------------------------------------- A hundred entrepreneurs are meeting in Auckland today to discuss ideas which could pull New Zealand out of the recession. The New Zealand Entrepreneurial Summit in Greenlane will choose five ideas to present to Commerce Minister Simon Power. Coordinator and Just Water chief executive Tony Falkenstein says there is nothing like a recession to encourage entrepreneurs to come up with great opportunities. One idea which has already been put forward is giving tourists a free flight to New Zealand in return for prepaying a $10,000 visa card to spend on their holiday in the country. He says the idea will get a lot of publicity, encourage people to come to New Zealand and bring in international students. Mr Falkenstein says there are a lot of passionate New Zealanders who want New Zealand to take a new position on the world stage. RIVER IRRIGATION NOT AS EFFICIENT --------------------------------- Farmers in mid and south Canterbury are being warned a new river-only irrigation scheme will not be as reliable as building a dam. The planned Waianiwaniwa Valley Dam is a crucial part of the Central Plains Water scheme but is likely to be rejected by Environment Canterbury-appointed commissioners. In a reprieve of sorts yesterday, CPW was allowed to continue with the project proposal, but without plans for the dam. CPW chairman Pat Morrison says reliability of supply with the dam would have been around 97 percent but the new plan will reduce the figure to around 80 percent. He says CPW still wants to go ahead with the proposal. Friday, 22 May 2009 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ GOVT TO SPEND $10 MILLION ON TASERS ----------------------------------- Next week's Budget will see an additional $10 million spent on equipping the police with tasers. Just over $5 million will be spent this year deploying tasers throughout the country. It will bring the number of the stun guns available to police to more than 700, with 3,500 police officers trained to use them. Tasers have been trialled in four districts and Police Minister Judith Collins says each gun will be equipped with a camera to ensure they are not misused. She says the police are frequently confronted by methamphetamine fuelled criminals and it is the Government's job to ensure they have the equipment to keep themselves and the public safe. KIWIFRUIT GROWERS SEE GOLD -------------------------- Returns for kiwifruit growers for last season's crop are up 11 percent. Zespri says it promised to deliver returns per tray at least 65 cents up on the previous year but has delivered an average increase of 75 cents. The company has reported an after tax profit of nearly $24 million for the year ended in March. Chief Executive Lain Jager says Zespri generated record returns in its key markets. Europe remains the largest market, with record sales of 60 million trays of kiwifruit. Mr Jager says tropical-tasting Gold kiwifruit has been a success story, as its flavours target a unique set of consumers who prefer a sweeter more tropical taste. (This is bitter sweet news for those whose crops were demolished by hailstorms in the Bay of Plenty a week or two back - BH) SUPER CITY MEMBERS NAMED ------------------------ The agency with the huge task of designing Auckland's Super City has been announced. Mark Ford, chief executive of the region's water wholesaler, Watercare Services, and chairman of the Auckland Regional Transport Authority is to chair the Auckland Transition Agency, as widely expected. Mr Ford - Mr Hide's choice to chair the agency - has his critics, including an anonymous smear campaign saying he has a "secret transition plan" for the water industry with overtones of privatisation. Some National Cabinet ministers are understood to have had concerns about his conflicts of interest heading Watercare and the transport authority. Accountant John Waller, who chairs the Bank of New Zealand and the Eden Park Redevelopment Board, and Wayne Walden, a former boss of Farmers Deka and former Maori Television chairman also join the agency, along with former Rodney mayor John Law and lawyer Miriam Dean, QC. The agency has the job of restructuring the eight councils into a single entity by October 31 next year. It will be one of the largest mergers in the country, involving about 6800 council staff and $28 billion of assets. The Government passed legislation under urgency on Saturday to set up the agency with wide powers. The legislation also set up the Super Auckland Council as a legal entity. The agency will be able to review any council decisions during the transition period that may "significantly prejudice the reorganisation" and will approve council contracts worth more than $20,000 that run past June 2011 and council borrowing beyond then. Mr Hide said the powers of the agency were strong, but they were needed to effect the transition. Green Party local government spokeswoman Sue Kedgley has called the powers of the agency "draconian". AUCKLAND WATER PRICES TO RISE ----------------------------- The price of water and waste management for Aucklanders is set to rise. Metrowater is putting up its prices, saying it needs the extra cash to maintain essential investment. From July first charges will increase by almost six percent, which amounts to around $13 more for an average household each quarter. CEO Jim Bentley says the increase brings Metrowater into line with other providers in the Auckland region, ahead of the formation of the new super council. MORE CENTRAL CITY-DWELLERS WANTED --------------------------------- Christchurch City Council wants more people living in the central city. It has released a draft plan for the five inner city parcels of land the council bought last year from struggling developer Dave Henderson. The council plans to build a mix of residential and office space on all the sites, including medium density housing at Sydenham Square. Council- owned buildings, such as the civic offices in Tuam St will be turned into office space and apartments. The council wants a thousand more people living in the city as a result. 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 brian.har...@vuw.ac.xx 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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