Christchurch woman to lunch with Pope

A Christchurch woman has been selected to lunch with Pope Benedict during the World Youth Day in Sydney next month. Clare Dooley, director of Catholic Youth Ministry in Christchurch, one of 4000 other young New Zealand pilgrims heading to Sydney, was "very surprised and honoured to be chosen." "Meeting the pope has always been on my list of things to do in my lifetime," she said. "When I meet him I will be representing all the young people of New Zealand and I will greet the pope on their behalf." She joins a contingent of handpicked youth from around the world for the lunch. World Youth Day, a global event for youth called by the Catholic Church, is held every two or three years.
Source:NZPA

Police on target for 1000 extra staff by next year

Police are on target to have 1000 extra recruits join the force over a three year period. Since July 1 2006, an extra 600 staff have joined the thin blue line – a growth of 10.5 per cent. Latest figures show that after the second year of a three year recruitment drive there were 8196 officers, not including recruits at Police College. The target was to have 8192 staff.
Source:NZPA

$100,000 loss expected for choirs

The parent body of two of New Zealand's top choirs is is expected to lose $100,000 this year. Choirs Aotearoa New Zealand runs the New Zealand Youth Choir and the chamber group Voices New Zealand. The loss follows a costly overseas tour last year and the withdrawal of their principal sponsor, the insurance company Tower. Chair Alan Walmsley says replacing the sponsor in the current economic climate will be difficult. He hopes short-term donations will tide the organisation over until another sponsor is found.
Copyright © 2008 Radio New Zealand

Vodafone landline service announced

Vodafone is offering a new service that makes customers' mobile phones their landline when they're at home. The new service, called local zone, means calls to a local phone number go to a mobile phone when the customer is in their specified zone. The mobile registers what zone a customer is in and the charging rates change accordingly. Vodafone is charging half the price Telecom charges for a fixed land-line. Goldman Sachs JB Were's telecommunications analyst Tristan Joll says Vodafone appears to be targeting small businesses with second land lines, rather than the mass market.
Copyright © 2008 Radio New Zealand

RAAF bomber found in PNG

An Australian bomber shot down by the Japanese in a remote region of Papua New Guinea during World War II has been found, 66 years later. A missionary found the wreckage last month and an Australian Air Force team has confirmed it was the aircraft, lost with four crew on 11 February, 1942. Plane A16-126 was listed as `lost by enemy action'. The Hudson bomber was part of a formation of three bombers which attacked Japanese shipping at Gasmata harbour in New Britain.
Copyright © 2008 Radio New Zealand

NZ police back from workshops in Indonesia

New Zealand police officers have returned from Indonesia after teaching their counterparts about non-lethal law enforcement. Community policing workshops were held in the provinces of Maluku and Banda Aceh, which have both seen recent religious and political violence. The training followed a United Nations report which accused Indonesian authorities of torturing criminal suspects to extract confessions. While the situation in Indonesia is very different to New Zealand, Senior Sergeant Anne-Marie Fitchett says the techniques they teach are still relevant.
Copyright © 2008 Radio New Zealand

Flexi hours come into force tomorrow

New legislation comes into force tomorrow, giving employees with dependents the right to flexible working hours. The bill was drafted by Green MP Sue Kedgley, who hopes the new employment right will see flexible working arrangements become a legitimate and productive working arrangement as opposed to being viewed as a favour. Ms Kedgley says similar changes in Britain led to a culture change and she hopes the same will happen in New Zealand.
Copyright 2002 - 2008. TelstraClear Ltd

Nearly half of all teaching job applicants are trained abroad

The secondary school teachers union says it has no problem with teachers being trained overseas, as long as they are good teachers. The Post Primary Teacher's Association's annual staff survey, due for release this week, shows 49 percent of teachers applying for jobs in schools here, are trained abroad. The survey also reveals that 43 percent of high schools have hired at least one teacher from overseas in the past year, for a full-time permanent position.
RadioLIVE

Why no international action? - former judge

A former Zimbabwean High Court judge who lives in New Zealand says he can't understand why the international community has not intervened to force President Robert Mugabe from power. Benjamin Paradza now lives in Wellington and says he expected the United Nations to intervene.He says sanctions against Zimbabwe are a waste of time, leading to further suffering for the population. Mr Mugabe was sworn in as President on Sunday after a one-man election that has been widely denounced as illegitimate.
© 2008 Radio New Zealand

Rain gives hydro lakes small boost

By ARWEN HANN - The Press
South Island hydro lakes received a minor boost over the weekend as parts of Canterbury were battered by heavy rain and strong winds. Meridian Energy spokeswoman Claire Shaw said lakes Te Anau and Manapouri had had significant inflow from melting snow and some rain. Rain was falling around lakes Tekapo and Pukaki yesterday, she said, although it was not a significant amount and the effect may not be known for a few days. Shaw said power supplies through the winter should be fine, but Meridian would be monitoring lake levels.
with NZPA

Lightning punches hole in plane

By Jared Savage
Lightning punched a hole in the nose of a jet carrying nearly 300 passengers as it came into Auckland last week. The Lan Chile Airbus was one of two South American planes struck as they landed in a huge electrical storm. The passengers, flying from Sydney to Santiago via Auckland, were left stranded overnight and the plane was grounded for two days while parts were flown in from South America. One witness said the hole was the size of a dinner plate. An Aerolineas Argentinas plane carrying a similar number of people was also damaged as New Zealand was pounded by almost 15,000 lightning strikes in 24 hours.

Top fashion designer order to pay

Top fashion designer Trelise Cooper has been ordered to pay nearly $200,000 to a disgruntled former supplier. Cooper will file an appeal against the High Court judgment this week, but in the meantime she's been given a deadline of August 1 to pay $184,877 to Cooper Watkinson Textiles Ltd, a company formerly co-owned by her husband Jack. The dispute arose over fabric supplied by Cooper Watkinson to the high-profile designer, the Herald on Sunday reported. Trelise Cooper claimed the material was "shoddy" and unsuitable for the garments that had been produced. The judgment said if Cooper did not pay by August 1, the firm could apply to put Trelise Cooper Ltd into liquidation. Trelise Cooper has filed a counter-claim for $293,000.
Copyright 2002 - 2008. TelstraClear Ltd

No relaxing of travel bans for those connected to Fiji’s interim regime says Peters

The New Zealand Foreign Minister, Winston Peters, says there will be no relaxing of the travels bans on people connected with the Fiji interim regime. Last weekend, Fiji’s interim leader pulled his country out of the Pacific Islands Forum’s Joint Working Group which has been trying to help that elections be conducted in Fiji by March. Commodore Frank Bainimarama says the pullout was prompted by the travel bans put in place by Australia and New Zealand which he says are hampering progress in Fiji. The Pacific Forum chair, Dr Feleti Sevele, says he has raised the bans with Australia and New Zealand, on Fiji’s behalf, but Mr Peters says there will be no change.
© RNZI 2008

Kiwis eye cricket Champions Trophy after beating England

LONDON (AFP) - New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori challenged his side to go on and win the Champions Trophy tournament later this year after they sealed a 3-1 one-day series victory against England here at Lord's (UK). The Black Caps, five times World Cup semi-finalists without ever reaching the final itself, last won a major international one-day tournament when triumphing in the 2000 Champions Trophy, 'the mini World Cup', in Kenya. And Vettori believes it's high time a side ranked as the world's third-best 50-over team lifted another big prize, starting with the 2008 Champions Trophy which is due to take place in Pakistan in September. "We are a good one-day side, we've got most areas covered," said Vettori. "Now it's about time for us to win one of these tournaments.

Rugby-Australia beat France 34-13 in first test

Flyhalf Matt Giteau scored a try and kicked four conversions and two penalties as Australia overcame an error-strewn first half to beat France 34-13 in their first rugby test Saturday. The Wallabies scored 24 second-half points to secure the 21-point victory at Sydney's former Olympic stadium, eclipsing Australia's previous biggest home win over France, a 48-31 triumph in Brisbane in 1990. It was the second win for the Wallabies under former Canterbury Crusaders coach Robbie Deans. The teams play again next Saturday in Brisbane.

Lion stalks The North

There is excitement in Northland at reports of a full-grown lion roaming the countryside. Kaiwaka firefighter Alan Swanson saw the big cat when he was out with his son on a search and rescue exercise. He says he was about 30 metres away from the beast when he saw it on the ridge of the Parker Lime Company quarry. Mr Swanson says other locals have also seen it. Mr Swanson knows he risks being labelled a bit loopy, but he is convinced it was a lion. He says it is a bit strange no half-eaten sheep or other animals have been found, but he concludes it is possible the lion has an appetite for goat. The sightings in Northland mirror similar sightings of a mysterious black panther in mid-Canterbury.
Copyright 2002 - 2008. TelstraClear Ltd

Gales cancel Cook Strait ferries and stop flights

All Cook Strait ferry crossings are cancelled on Sunday by both Toll New Zealand and Bluebridge, because of gales in Cook Strait. The Interislander says waves in the strait are up to seven metres high. MetService said earlier that gale force winds of 120-140 km were forecast in coastal areas. Some 18 flights at Wellington International Airport are cancelled because it is not safe for passengers or air crew to walk onto the tarmac.
Copyright © 2008 Radio New Zealand

Be careful on Mt Ruapehu - GNS Science

Lake temperatures and gas levels remain high on Mt Ruapehu and winter holidaymakers are advised to take care. The mountain last erupted in September last year. GNS Science says the temperatures and levels usually return to normal after an eruption but they are still high, nine months later. The agency says another eruption is unlikely anytime soon but skiers and snowboarders should be aware of exit strategies in place.
Copyright © 2008 Radio New Zealand

New speed record set by kiwi boat

Earthrace, the world's fastest eco boat, has set a new speed record for a powerboat to circumnavigate the globe.The kiwi boat crossed the finish line in Spain after travelling 24,000 nautical miles, fuelled by biodiesel. It has knocked nearly 14 days off the previous record. Skipper and owner of the boat Pete Bethune says he is grateful to his supporters, some of whom have been with the project since its inception five years ago Earthrace now goes on a two-year promotional tour before returning to New Zealand.
Copyright 2002 - 2008. TelstraClear Ltd

Collapse sees top golf course on market

Receivers have been called in to dispose of one of the country's most prestigious golf courses. Gulf Harbour Country Club, just north of Auckland, has twice hosted the New Zealand Open, and is on the market as a result of the collapse of the Blue Chip group of companies. Receivers took over at Gulf Harbour Country Club during the week. The manager resigned on Friday. The swanky 600-member club is owned by former Blue Chip boss Mark Bryers. The property finance company collapsed earlier this year, taking $80 million of investors' money with it.
Copyright 2002 - 2008. TelstraClear Ltd

Cricket-Black Caps wrap up ODI series

New Zealand completed a dominant final week of their England cricket tour by wrapping up the one-day series 3-1 with a 51-run victory in the finale at Lord's in London early today (NZ time). Led by captain Daniel Vettori's three-wicket haul in the middle stages, New Zealand strangled the life out of England's pursuit of 267 to dismiss them for 215 off 47.5 overs and make it three consecutive wins. Victory made it two-from-two for New Zealand in one-day internationals at Lord's, four years after they beat West Indies by 107 runs in the tri-series final.
Source:NZPA

American Samoa’s Festival of Pacific Arts Committee holds a mini-festiva

American Samoa’s 10th Festival of Pacific Arts Organising Committee is holding a mini-festival over the weekend to showcase artists and other activities that the territory will display during the festival proper Artists featured on Saturday include those involved in the story telling category; culinary arts or indigenous food preparation; traditional arts; performing arts; and contemporary arts and film. Eight dance groups that were selected from performances during this year’s Arts Council Flag Day Performing Arts will also perform during the mini festival.
© RNZI 2008

Operation nabs 130 drivers for noisy cars

A national operation has seen 130 drivers charged over excessive vehicle noise last night. The police sting is a result of a recent law change which requires cars to comply with noise tests as part of a warrant of fitness check. Operating a vehicle in a noisy manner now results in the loss of 25 demerit points and a fine. Inspector Carey Griffiths says in addition, 60 vehicles were ordered off the road last night for a variety of faults including cut-down suspension, highly tinted windows and worn tyres.
NEWSTALK ZB

Zimbabwe - Sokwanele - Zvakwana - Enough is Enough

Zimbabwe Civic Action Support Group. Campaigning for freedom and democracy in Zimbabwe.
Show your support for human rights in Zimbabwe....click HERE

Royal NZ Ballet sells costumes

If you're in Wellington and looking for a sparkling tutu, then you're in luck. For the first time ever, the Royal New Zealand Ballet is selling off its handmade costumes. 140 pieces which have all required hours of intricate work, are on display in Wellington. Reserve prices range from hundreds, to thousands of dollars, with the 13 most elaborate costumes being auctioned on Sunday night.
Source:One News

Stomach staple ops may be funded by taxpayer's money

Taxpayer-funded stomach-stapling operations are among drastic measures being investigated to curb obesity. Health officials confirmed to the Dominion Post they were investigating a proposal that could allow hundreds of morbidly obese people to have the surgery. One in three New Zealanders are classed as overweight and 826,100 as obese, according to the latest Government health survey. The Health Ministry is considering "surgical and non-surgical options" for treating the morbidly obese, whose size is life-threatening. Last year there were just 70 publicly funded operations nationwide.
Copyright 2002 - 2008. TelstraClear Ltd

NZ, Chile to join forces on conservation projects

Scientists from New Zealand and Chile will work together on conservation projects as part of a new agreement between the two countries. Conservation Minister Steve Chadwick said the countries would work on a project which would determine the numbers of the unique Chilean dolphin and its conservation status. The cooperation follows last week's recommendation by the International Whaling Commission's (IWC) Scientific Committee that a comprehensive survey was needed. The project will begin in summer and will be led by Chilean scientists, with New Zealand scientists from Otago University providing technical expertise in the design and implementation of the survey.
Copyright 2002 - 2008. TelstraClear Ltd

Kiwi to play in Major League at Yankee stadium

By TIM DUNBAR - The Press
New Zealander Scott Campbell will play in the most famous park in all of baseball in two weeks, after being selected for Major League Baseball's All Star Futures game in Yankee Stadium. The 23-year-old Aucklander was yesterday named on the 25-man World Team roster to play the United States for the July 13 game featuring players regarded as among the top prospects in the minor leagues

Riccarton Racecourse Tea House to be restored

The restoration of the 105-year-old Tea House at Christchurch's Riccarton Park Racecourse will continue thanks to a $72,360 grant from the Christchurch City Council. The grant follows one in 2006 for $50,000 and will be used to continue $800,000 of restoration work on the Tea House, including repairs, painting and site work. The restoration is due to be finished in time for Cup and Show Week in November.
Copyright 2002 - 2008. TelstraClear Ltd

Auckland harbours closed due to weather

The vicious winds sweeping the country headed further north today with Auckland's Manukau and Waitemata harbours the only recipients of gale warnings from the MetService. The winds grew so bad that Manukau harbour and the western gateway of Onehunga Port were closed. Pacifica Shipping's Spirit of Resolution was forced to sail around Cape Reinga to the main Auckland port for the first time in 17 years.
Copyright 2002 - 2008. TelstraClear Ltd

Flight of The Conchords nominated for Emmy

Flight of the Conchords are in the running for another big award in the United States. New Zealanders Bret McKenzie and Jemaine Clement are on the short list for a best comedy Emmy for their HBO TV series. Flight of the Conchords won a Grammy earlier this year for best comedy album.
Copyright 2002 - 2008. TelstraClear Ltd

Park gets behind push to save frogs

By REBECCA TODD - The Press
Canterbury's Orana Park is joining a worldwide effort to highlight the alarming rate of croaked frogs. Almost half of the earth's amphibious species are threatened with extinction and all four of New Zealand's native frogs are among the 100 most endangered amphibians. The World Association of Zoos and Aquariums and the World Conservation Union have declared 2008 the Year of the Frog and launched a campaign to help raise awareness and funds for frog conservation. Orana Park public relations manager Nathan Hawke said the park was doing its bit by donating a small percentage of all entry fees to conservation efforts and talking to visitors about the problem and how they could help.

Thunder and lightning moves in

More than a thousand lightning flashes lit up the North Island's west coast within the space of an hour earlier this morning. Most of the 1,566 episodes were off shore, but are now striking inland. The lightning is associated with another active cold front moving across the country. TRN's weather analyst Philip Duncan says the western part of the North Island is in for another rocky 24 hours and can expect thunderstorms, hail, heavy rain and gusts of well over 100 kilometres an hour in exposed regions. "Taranaki to Waitomo will be most exposed but Manawatu, Wanganui, Wellington and Auckland will also see some pretty hefty showers, hail and squally thunderstorms".
© 2008 NZCity, NewsTalkZB

University of the South Pacific seeks help to meet budget

The Suva-based University of the South Pacific intends to ask both the New Zealand and Australian governments to increase their respective contributions to the university. Incoming Vice-Chancellor, Rajesh Chandra, says the extra funds are needed to meet the 15 percent budget cuts the university faces over the next three years. “The Australian and New Zealand governments lready make a contribution to what is called the recurrent budget. I think their concern is to see whether the Australian and New Zealand contributions could be bigger than what they are at the moment.”
© RNZI 2008

Four marine mammal sanctuaries proposed

The Government is proposing the establishment of four new marine mammal sanctuaries, for the protection of the Hector's and Maui's dolphins. There would be restrictions on mining and acoustic seismic surveying would be restricted in the proposed areas. They are on the west coast of the North Island, Clifford and Cloudy Bay in Marlborough, Porpoise Bay on the Catlins Coast and Te Waewae Bay on the South Coast. Public submissions close on 23 July.
Copyright © 2008 Radio New Zealand

New indoor sports stadium approved

After 10 years of lobbying, Wellington sporting leaders have won approval for an indoor sports stadium in the city's eastern suburbs. The $46 million facility will provide Wellington with 12 indoor courts at Cobham Drive in Kilbirnie. Wellington City Council members voted 13-1 on Friday, to build the stadium. The new stadium is planned to open in 2010.
Copyright © 2008 Radio New Zealand

Budget air carrier forced to raise fares

Pacific Blue says the continuing rise in jet fuel prices has forced it to increase fares. Prices are rising by around two percent on many of the company's international routes and by one percent on some domestic flights, but other domestic fares will actually drop as part of a fare review. Pacific Blue's Commercial General Manager, Adrian Hamilton-Manns, says because the airline is low-cost, the company is making the move reluctantly. He says such increases are a commercial reality, with jet fuel now costing $US165 a barrel compared to $US90 a year ago.
Copyright 2002 - 2008. TelstraClear Ltd

Rubbish police to check recycling bins

Rubbish police are about to hit the streets of Auckland to stop people mixing rubbish with their recycling. Auckland is due to roll out the country's largest recycling scheme on Monday after the delivery of more than 150,000 240-litre wheelie bins to residents. Auckland City Council said the bins were for paper, plastic, glass, steel and aluminium - but not rubbish. When the new fortnightly collection service began on Monday, rubbish "detectives" would go ahead of the trucks to check what was in the bins, the council said today. Any bin containing a large amount of non-recyclable rubbish would be sealed and a note would be left with the householder saying it would not be emptied until it contained only recyclable material.
NZPA

Young soprano awarded scholarship

NZPA/Wayne Drought
A young New Zealand soprano is to attend the prestigious Cardiff International Academy of Voice thanks to a scholarship. Gisborne-born Claire Egan has been named as the inaugural winner of the $10,000 Laurie Coon Foundation scholarship in singing, presented by the Kiri Te Kanawa Foundation. Only 15 emerging singers from around the world are offered positions on the programme each year which includes the opportunity to be mentored by world-class teachers, singers, conductors and singing coaches on a daily basis. Claire who recently made the finals of the McDonald Aria competition at the Sydney Opera House on July 13 said she was honoured to be the first recipient of the scholarship.
Copyright 2002 - 2008. TelstraClear Ltd

Thousands of lightning strikes across NZ

Sensors detected more than 20,000 lightning strikes as a stormy cold front passed over the country on Wednesday night. The front marked a turbulent collision of northwest and southwesterly winds from the Southern Ocean, and was followed by unusually unstable showers. MetService forecaster Chris Noble says New Zealand's network of lightning sensors, which cover the land mass and up to 700km offshore, highlighted the storm's energy. He says the lightning, over a 24-hour period, was in the west of both islands, from Fiordland to Northland. The lightning was most concentrated between Taranaki and southern Northland, during the 12 hours from 6pm on Wednesday. Mr Noble says more thunderstorms are on the way as another fast-moving front moves north from Fiordland.
Copyright © 2008 Radio New Zealand

Key defends comments on history of NZ

The National Party leader is defending comments he made about the history of New Zealand. John Key has been quoted as saying: "New Zealand is not a country that's come through civil war or a lot of fighting internally. We're a country that peacefully came together." Prime Minister Helen Clark says Mr Key has demonstrated a deep lack of understanding about the history of New Zealand. But Mr Key says he was talking in the context of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, and is not denying that there were violent episodes in the past.
Copyright © 2008 Radio New Zealand

Max Merritt and Dragon to join Aussie Hall of Fame

New Zealanders Max Merritt and Dragon will next week receive major Australian music industry honours. They will be inducted into the exclusive ARIA Hall of Fame on Tuesday, which has named just 55 artists over the past 20 years. They join Split Enz as the only New Zealanders to ever be inducted.
Copyright 2002 - 2008. TelstraClear Ltd

Saucy lingerie for pregnant women scoops awards

Business is blooming for Tauranga women who developed the idea of saucy lingerie for pregnant women. Lisa Ebbing and Ange Crosbie and their maternity lingerie business HOTmilk have scooped up two women's business awards. They won Best New Business and Best Micro Business at the Bloom Her Business Conference and Awards. Lisa Ebbing says they are very proud of the accolades and all the work the HOTmilk team put in to earn them. She had the idea for HOTmilk when she was pregnant with her first child - and horrified at the maternity options available. The label now has 300 boutiques worldwide, including stockists in New Zealand and Australia, the UK, Europe, China, Malaysia, Tahiti and Singapore.
Copyright 2002 - 2008. TelstraClear Ltd

More than seventeen thousand Samoans seek permanent entry to NZ

The draw for Samoa’s annual quota scheme for permanent residence in New Zealand for this year started yesterday after receiving seventeen and a half thousand applications. The figure includes 8 thousand three hundred and eighty one people who lodged applications in last year’s quota but were not successful. Last year eighteen thousand nine hundred and forty one people applied under the scheme but only 1,100 people are accepted each year. The New Zealand immigration office in Apia says the successful applications will be announced in early July.
© RNZI 2008

UK changes stance on visas?

The British Government may have had a change of heart over its stance on ancestry visas. In February the New Zealand Government expressed concern that the UK was considering axing the visa that allowed Kiwis with British grandparents to live and work in Britain for four years. It now appears there has been a backdown. Prime Minister Helen Clark is expected to release details later today
Telstraclear

Kiwi off to record orang-utans

By PAUL MULROONEY - The Dominion Post
Fulbright scholar Josephine Beck is about to go ape over the vocal repertoire of orang-utans. That's the research topic that has earned her a $33,000 grant to attend Harvard University to examine the chest-beating behaviour and screeching sounds of the primate in its natural habitat. Only after she has completed her studies of two remote areas of Indonesian Borneo will she be able to enjoy the relative gentility of Harvard University's ivy-league surroundings. From August till the end of the year Ms Beck, 24, from Taupo, expects to be roughing it in the wilds of Borneo to research the primates' sound, their behavioural patterns and the extent to which these characteristics have been passed down through generations.

Cricket-Black Caps sneak home in thriller

By MARK GEENTY
New Zealand's last pair Kyle Mills and Mark Gillespie have defied a huge moment of controversy to sneak a thrilling final-ball victory over England in the fourth one-day cricket international. With two runs needed off the final delivery from Luke Wright, Gillespie hit to cover and Graeme Swann narrowly missed his shy at the stumps with Gillespie well short at the bowler's end. No one backed up, the ball flew clear and a jubilant Mills and Gillespie ran two for an unlikely one-wicket win after chasing down 246. New Zealand now go to the last match at Lord's on Saturday leading the series 2-1.
NZPA

Wanted; post menopause women

Postmenopausal women are being sought for a new breast cancer study. Women aged between 40 and 70 who are at increased risk of breast cancer, and who have passed the menopause, are being asked to take part in the study to see if it can be prevented. So far 39 New Zealanders have joined the study, which aims to get over 10-thousand women worldwide. The aim is to see whether the drug anastrozole can prevent the disease in post menopausal women who are already at risk.
Copyright 2002 - 2008. TelstraClear Ltd

Carpooling on the rise

The rising price of petrol has led to a renaissance of carpooling in Wellington. The people who run the website www.hitch.net.nz (see the side bar for a quick link to this website....it really is worth a look) say since January there has been a noticeable increase in listings by people looking to share a ride, with around 100 a month. They are a mixture of daily commutes and one-off long distance trips. Website creator Rod Bishop says we have had car-pooling phases in the past, but he believes it is here to stay this time. That is because the internet now makes it very simple to hook up with someone making the same daily drive as you.
Copyright 2002 - 2008. TelstraClear Ltd

Calling all greenfingered persons

People are being urged to nominate passionate gardeners in the $20,000 search for the New Zealand 2008 Gardener of the year. The competition aims to recognise and reward the nation's unsung horticultural heroes by unearthing 15 regional champions across the country New Zealand Gardener editor, Lynda Hallinan says that they are looking for keen gardeners who encourage others to get growing and who deserve recognition for their community spirit. Nominations close on June 30.
Copyright 2002 - 2008. TelstraClear Ltd

Hundreds at biggest ever Treaty deal

Hundreds of Maori from the central North Island descended on Wellington today to witness the signing of a $400 million-plus treaty settlement. The Crown and seven iwi today signed the the largest agreement reached in the Treaty of Waitangi settlements process. The deal involves $195.7m of crown forest land covering 176,000 hectares plus about $223m in rentals that have accumulated on the land since 1989 and an annual income stream of $13m. The collective is made up of Ngai Tuhoe, Ngati Tuwharetoa, Ngati Whakaue, Ngati Whare, Ngati Manawa, Raukawa and the Affiliate Te Arawa Iwi and Hapu. Together they represent more than 100,000 people.
Source:NZPA

Learning financial literacy early

By LANE NICHOLS - The Dominion Post
Schools will teach pupils the finer points of personal banking, hire purchase agreements, savings schemes and interest repayments in a bid to make Kiwis more financially savvy. The Retirement Commission has launched a pilot project it hopes will see money sense embedded in the national school curriculum by 2010. Backed by the major banks, the scheme will start at new-entrant level but eventually include high school courses counting toward the National Certificate of Educational Achievement.

New Zealand looks at levy to recycle TVs

Barrie Parsons
Television manufacturers have proposed a levy of about NZ$30 on imported television sets to pay for the cost of recycling. Two options look likely to be put out for public consultation - one would see the country’s customs department collect a flat- rate levy of NZ$30 on the 250,000 televisions imported into New Zealand each year. The other would see a levy of NZ$40 on television sets with screens larger than 30 inches, and a NZ$10 levy on smaller TVs. The levy would raise several million dollars each year to pay for recycling and would increase by 4 per cent a year to account for inflation and the likely depreciation of the Kiwi dollar.

Aucklanders moving south, statistics show

New figures show Aucklanders are moving south, reversing the previous trend of a northward population drift. Statistics New Zealand's internal migration report says the region suffered a net loss of 15,000 people between 2001 and 2006. The figures show more people are moving out of Auckland into neighbouring regions such as Bay of Plenty, Waikato and further south to Canterbury. It also shows more people are moving to the South Island, rather than leaving it for the warmer north.
Copyright © 2008 Radio New Zealand

Creative NZ picks sculptor, painter for Venice show

By TOM CARDY - The Dominion Post
Hand-made figures inspired by medieval painters, and large painted canvases that intersect walls and windows, will represent cutting-edge Kiwi art at the Venice Biennale. London-based Christchurch sculptor Francis Upritchard will make the figures inspired by the works of Hieronymus Bosch and Pieter Brueghel, and abstract painter Judy Millar, of Auckland, the large-scale canvases. Creative NZ, which is partly funded by taxpayers, will spend $650,000 exhibiting Upritchard and Millar's works in Venice for six months next year.

Giant dinosaur fossil find in Hawke's Bay

One of the largest known dinosaurs, a titanosaurid, once roamed New Zealand about 80 million years ago. A Havelock North fossil hunter, Joan Wiffen, discovered a vertebra bone in a stream bed in Hawke's Bay in 1999. The find has only recently been published in a science journal and scientific protocol was to publicise work only when it has been peer reviewed and published in a science journal. The bone has been identified as coming from the giant plant-eating sauropod group known as the Titanosauroidea. GNS Science said this was the first evidence that titanosaurids once lived in New Zealand. Dr Wiffen found the bone during a routine fossil-hunting trip in a tributary of the Te Hoe River west of Mohaka in northern Hawke's Bay.
NZPA

New Zealand unveils 8-year Pacific aid strategy

The New Zealand Government is to provide two billion New Zealand dollars, or about 1 point 5 billion US dollars, in aid for the Pacific over the next eight years. The New Zealand aid and development agency, NZAID, has today released its first Pacific Strategy, aiming at a coherent approach to aid delivery through to 2015. The assistance will go into four major areas including the fostering of good governance and the encouragement of economic development.
© RNZI 2008

Sokwanele - Zvakwana - Enough is Enough

Zimbabwe Civic Action Support Group. Campaigning for freedom and democracy in Zimbabwe.
Show your support for human rights in Zimbabwe....click HERE

NZ rates well in sustainable index

New Zealand is one of only 15 countries rated "sustainable" and has the second least demographic pressures in the 2008 Failed States Index released by the Washington-based Fund for Peace. Somalia ranks as the least stable nation in the world, replacing Sudan which held that dubious distinction on the index for the past two years. Sudan is now in second spot, followed by Zimbabwe, Chad and Iraq. At the other end of the scale, New Zealand ranks seventh, behind Norway, Finland, Sweden, Ireland, Switzerland and Iceland country in descending ranking of stability. In one of the social indicators -- mounting demographic pressures -- New Zealand ranks second best behind Iceland. The 2008 index is the fourth annual report released by the Fund for Peace, an independent research organisation.
Copyright 2002 - 2008. TelstraClear Ltd

Helen Clark gets no response from Mbeki

The South African President is not returning calls as the situation in Zimbabwe worsens. Prime Minister Helen Clark says she tried to contact Thabo Mbeki by phone last week but her call was not returned. But she is not alone, the Zambian President has also been unsuccessful in contacting the South African leader. Miss Clark says President Mbeki is seen as a key to getting through to Robert Mugabe. She believes South Africa is becoming more isolated on the Zimbabwean issue with other African leaders now speaking out on the atrocities being perpetrated by Mugabe.
Copyright 2002 - 2008. TelstraClear Ltd

Snow, hail and thunder blast Christchurch

By LAWRENCE HAKIWAI - NewstalkZB
A wintry blast through Christchurch is already showing signs of abating. Just before 11am, hail, rain, thunder and lightning assaulted the city from its east to west. South Island weather analyst Richard Green says the ferocity of the southerly storm is something of a surprise, as forecasters had started to tone down their predictions. "It's not often that you get thunder, hail, lightning, sleet, snow - the works . . . it really did get nasty." Snow is falling on the Desert Rd in the central North island, as a cold snap moves up the country.
Copyright 2002 - 2008. TelstraClear Ltd

Arrests made over NZers death in Kenya

Two men have been arrested over the slaying of a New Zealand photojournalist killed in Kenya. A homicide investigation was launched after Trent Keegan , 33, whose family live in New Plymouth, was found dead with severe head injuries in a roadside ditch in the capital Nairobi last month. His wallet and money were recovered with him but camera equipment and a laptop a friend said he was carrying were missing. Keegan's sister, Nikki McKinnon, said Nairobi police told her two men were arrested last Thursday for her brother's death. A third suspect was yet to be arrested.
Copyright 2002 - 2008. TelstraClear Ltd

Wakefield journal owner plans to sell manuscript overseas

The owner of a long-lost journal written by one of the country's best known colonists, Edward Jerningham Wakefield, hopes to sell it to an overseas collector for a five figure sum. Edward Jerningham Wakefield was the only son of Edward Gibbon Wakefield, who was instrumental in the development of the New Zealand Company. The journal spans the years between 1850 and 1858, and had been missing for about a hundred years before it came up for auction last year. Radio New Zealand understands it was put up for sale by a Southland museum. Private dealer Malcolm Moncrief-Spittle, bought the manuscript for just over $3,000 and hopes to sell it overseas for a five figure sum. He says he expected to be outbid by a library or museum. Alexander Turnbull Library staff say they did not notice the journal was up for sale, despite receiving the auction catalogue. Curator of manuscripts David Colquhoun says the manuscript cannot be exported without the permission of the Ministry of Culture and Heritage, and he hopes the library can still obtain it.
© 2008 Radio New Zealand

Government drafts new liquor laws

The government is drafting a Bill aimed at curbing the supply of alcohol to minors and the proliferation of liquor outlets. The Prime Minister last week said the number of bottle stores in certain areas were contributing to violent crime. Ms Clark says it would see local alcohol strategies developed covering opening hours, proximity to other liquor outlets and schools, and event management.
Copyright © 2008 Radio New Zealand

Myth surrounds flu vaccine

Health officials are wanting to debunk the popular myth you can catch the flu from the vaccine designed to guard against it. About 22 people die from influenza in New Zealand each year. Group Director Nicky Turner says people need to take the disease seriously, and make sure they have all the right information about being protected. She says one of the key myths is people believing they have caught the flu from the vaccine. Dr Turner says the vaccine is made up of protein, and has no live strains of the disease. The influenza vaccine is free for people over 65, and anyone with a long-term health condition. The National Influenza Strategy Group vaccination campaign ends on Monday.
Copyright 2002 - 2008. TelstraClear Ltd

Great coffee in Christchurch

Christchurch now makes the seventh best coffee in the world. Luciano Marcolino who has an espresso bar in Moorehouse Avenue has just competed at the World Barista Championships in Denmark after winning the New Zealand title and right to compete in May. There were 51 competitors in the event and Luciano came in seventh with 683 points. Ireland's Stephen Morrissey took out top spot with 738 points.
Copyright 2002 - 2008. TelstraClear Ltd

Chadwick at anti whaling meeting

Conservation Minister Steve Chadwick is leading the New Zealand delegation at the International Whaling Commission's meeting in Chile starting today. At the top of the commission's agenda is what to do with Japan, and how to break the deadlock between pro and anti-whaling countries. Steve Chadwick says the five day meeting in Santiago comes at a crucial time for the divided Whaling Commission. She says New Zealand's strongly held views on whaling will be advocated, as will rejection of claims that lethal whaling is necessary to obtain information on whale populations.
Copyright 2002 - 2008. TelstraClear Ltd

20 jobs lost as plant closes

By KAY BLUNDELL - The Dominion Post
Another factory has closed in Horowhenua and there are predictions more will follow as tough economic times hit provincial New Zealand. As Wilcox & Sons has closed its Levin vegetable packhouse, leaving about 20 staff looking for work. Managing director Kevin Wilcox said the company had two packhouses in the North Island handling potatoes, carrots and onions, but increased costs meant it was no longer financially viable to run both. It had decided to shift its Levin work to its packhouse in Pukekohe.

Questions about checks on British social worker

By PHIL KITCHIN - The Dominion Post
A crown agency is questioning how British social worker Richard Vosper is allowed to work at a New Zealand hospital when his chequered past means he would be unlikely to be accepted for registration. Mr Vosper and his wife, disgraced lawyer Jane Loveday, are now living in Blenheim and he is employed by the Nelson-Marlborough District Health Board. Social Workers Registration Board chief executive Sean McKinley said the board had concerns that Mr Vosper could work in New Zealand without being registered. Mr Vosper and Ms Loveday obtained residency in New Zealand while Ms Loveday was under investigation for dishonest practices as a solicitor in Britain.

Samoa to establish diplomatic offices in China, Japan

The South Pacific island nation of Samoa has finally decided to establish diplomatic missions in Asia by having embassy offices in China and Japan, Radio New Zealand International reported on Monday. Samoan Prime Minister Tuila epa Sa ilele Malielegaoi announced the government's initiative before parliament passed a new financial year budget, which includes funding for the new diplomatic offices and staff.
Copyright 2008 XINHUA NEWS AGENCY

Cook Islands government and Chinese delegation to meet this week over stadium funding

The Cook Islands government and a Chinese delegation will this week meet to discuss conditions on a soft loan for the building of a sports complex and to upgrade venues for next year’s South Pacific mini Games. China had originally approved a loan for around 10 million US dollars in March this year but later raised concerns after the Cook Islands Investment Corporation had made changes to the plans. China said it would not move foward until it had seen the changes. Now the Deputy Prime Minister, Sir Terepai Maoate, says China has sent a new agreement though he is not sure that both governments are on the same page.
© RNZI 2008

Snow on way for far south

Farmers in Southland, Otago and Canterbury are preparing for a cold snap that is expected to bring snow to almost sea level. MetService is warning that significant snow will fall to 200 metres in the 24 hours from mid-afternoon on Monday. The heaviest snow is predicted for the Takitimu, Hokonui and Catlins high-country, where up to 20 centimetres may fall. Federated Farmers Southland president David Rose says farmers are moving stock and ensuring feed supplies are ready to go. MetService says the front will bring the coldest conditions yet experienced this winter.
© 2008 Radio New Zealand

$500k unclaimed Lotto ticket to be invalidated

By Imogen Neale
In less than a week an unclaimed Lotto first division prize will be rendered null and void. The winning $500,000 ticket was purchased at Countdown Kaiapoi almost a year ago. Despite a nationwide search, its lucky owner is yet to come forward. New Zealand Lotteries chief executive Todd McLeary said: "We know of a few occasions where the winner has claimed their prize eventually after finding it stuck to a fridge behind a takeaway menu, stuffed in a drawer, or in their car glove box""So we recommend everyone has a big clean-out over the next day or two - but don't take too long,"said Mr McLeary.

Rugby-New Zealand wins the inaugural IRB World Youth championships

New Zealand has won the inaugural IRB World Youth rugby Championship beating England 38-3 in the final in Swansea. New Zealand scored four tries to Kade Poki, Jackson Willison, Andre Taylor, Ryan Crotty and led 13-3 at halftime.
Copyright © 2008 Radio New Zealand

Fiji police probe Fiji TV programme

Police officers in Fiji are transcribing an interview that was to be aired by Fiji TV in their Close Up programme last night. A Media Liaison Officer Atunaisa Sokomuri has confirmed that investigating officers are trying to establish whether inciteful comments were made by Suva Lawyer Rajendra Chaudhry and Close Up Show Host, Anish Chand. The programme was not shown and police say they will establish today whether the two will be brought in for questioning. Fiji Village says the police claim to have received credible information from someone at Fiji TV that the tape contained inciteful comments.
© RNZI 2008

Tamarillo growers angry at Australian import ban

Growers say there is no justification for an an Australian decision to ban imports of New Zealand tamarillos, following the discovery of a new bacterium affecting tomato and capsicum crops Earlier this month Biosecurity New Zealand announced it had stopped all exports of fresh tomato and capsicum when the new disease-causing bacterium was discovered in three commercial hothouses in the Auckland area. Tamarillo Growers' Association manager Craig Watson, says there is no proof that the bacterium has infested tamarillo crops as well, so there is no justification for the Australian ban, which was put in place on 16 June.
© 2008 Radio New Zealand

Clark says polls are "extreme"

The Prime Minister describes the latest opinion poll showing her government lagging 26 points behind National as "extreme". The One News Colmar Brunton poll has National on 55 percent and Labour on 29 percent. A Fairfax-AC Nielsen poll over the weekend had a similar result, with National on 54 percent and Labour on 30 percent. Helen Clark admits Labour is behind, but claims polls showing such a large gap are wrong. She says she travels the country and the Labour heartland is in very good shape.
Copyright 2002 - 2008. TelstraClear Ltd

PM slams Mugabe after Zimbabwe opposition pulls-out

President Robert Mugabe's campaign of violence ahead of a presidential run-off vote has made Zimbabwe's election a farce, Prime Minister Helen Clark says. Helen Clark said Mr Mugabe's intimidation was "horrific". "He's intimidated the opposition through outright killings, gross beatings, injury to within an inch of many people's lives," she told Newstalk ZB this morning. "He's intimidated them from even running and it's a disgraceful horrific thing that's going on there." Helen Clark's position aligns New Zealand with the wider international community, including a growing number of African nations, who had urged Mr Mugabe to allow unfettered participation in the June 27 election. Helen Clark said Zimbabwe had suffered enormously under his presidency. "A once-prosperous country has been bankrupted. A once-vibrant society has been intimidated and cowed.
NZ HERALD STAFF, AGENCIES, NZPA, INDEPENDENT

Solo yachtsman rescued off Great Barrier Island

A man sailing solo from Tauranga to Honolulu was plucked to safety by a rescue helicopter after his yacht struck rocks off Auckland this morning. Search and Rescue mission co-ordinator Mike Roberts said the American yachtie, who lives in Japan, activated his emergency beacon just after 6am and was winched to safety by the Westpac Trust Rescue Helicopter. Mr Roberts said the 6.5m American registered yacht, Resolution, was "high and dry", and had sustained significant damage.
Fairfax New Zealand Limited 2007.

Severe winter weather gripping country

Wintery blasts are walloping the country with severe weather warnings in place for much of the country, the MetService said today. Heavy rain is lashing the Bay of Plenty, Mount Taranaki and northwest Nelson, and a severe weather watch is in effect for Northland, Coromandel Peninsula, the hills of inland Taranaki, across the Central Plateau, and for northern Fiordland and Westland. Southerly winds were likely to be cold enough to briefly bring snow down to around 400 metres in Fiordland, Southland, Otago, and Canterbury. "Late on Tuesday, the cold hand of winter is likely to tighten its grip," Mr McDavitt said. Much colder southerlies were expected to sweep north across the country with snow showers to sea level in Fiordland, Southland, and Otago, and to near sea level in Canterbury and Kaikoura, and with a few heavy falls possible "Tuesday's southerly will be unusually cold. Farmers should shelter any vulnerable stock, and motorists should keep up to date with latest weather and road conditions."
Copyright 2002 - 2008. TelstraClear Ltd

Rugby-All Blacks captain on the bench with ankle injury

All Blacks captain Ritchie McCaw will be out of international rugby for at least six weeks, due to a serious ankle injury. Team doctor Deb Robinson says an MRI scan on Sunday showed McCaw has a ligament tear high in his ankle from Saturday's Test match against England in Christchurch. The All Blacks won 44-12. She says the injury is serious and will require McCaw to stay off his foot for some time. That means he is likely to miss the entire Tri Nations series which begins in two weeks, when New Zealand plays South Africa in Wellington.
Copyright © 2008 Radio New Zealand

Fertility clinic opens in Auckland

New research which could give greater chances for infertile couples has been announced at the launch of a new clinic in Auckland. Reproductive biologist Lord Robert Winston, who has presented many television programmes on the subject of fertility and children, was at the Fertility Associates opening on Sunday. He says advances brought about by research at Auckland University's Liggins Institute, which the clinic is helping to fund, could bring about cheaper reproductive medicine and more success in choosing successful embryos. Lord Winston says the research, looking at how early influences on the embryo affect the health of a person later in life, would make New Zealand a world leader in the field.
Copyright © 2008 Radio New Zealand

Increased protection for casual workers

The government has announced plans to beef up Employment Relations Act protection for temporary and casual staff. It is also planning a campaign to make sure those workers are aware of their rights. Council of Trade Unions spokeswoman Helen Kelly says the insecurity of such employment makes it difficult for those workers to assert their rights. She says many workers who are classified as casuals are expected to turn up on a regular basis, and are really no different from permanent workers. Ms Kelly says there is an army of casual employees, often low-paid workers, many of whom are insecure about their terms of employment, hours of work, and entitlements.
Copyright 2002 - 2008. TelstraClear Ltd

Drought could irreversibly damage Australia's food bowl

By Kathy Marks
Australia's two mighty rivers, the Murray and the Darling, irrigate the nation's food bowl, an area the size of France and Germany combined. But the river system's ecology could be irreversibly damaged before the end of the year because of prolonged drought, a report has cautioned. The report, by an expert scientific panel, said that the Murray's southern reaches were almost "beyond recovery", with wetlands dried up, vegetation lost and some native fish species wiped out. The two rivers irrigate the Murray-Darling Basin in south-east Australia, which produces 41 per cent of the country's agricultural output. Rice, corn, grapes and dairy products worth US$21bn ($37.5bn) are exported from the region annually to Asia and the Middle East. But Australia's worst drought for a century has brought flows of water into the Murray and Darling to an all-time low.
INDEPENDENT

Tiger's Kiwi caddie cashes in

By KRISTIAN SOUTH - Sunday News
Tiger Woods' Kiwi super caddy Steve Williams' earnings are well above par. With golf maestro Tiger Woods surpassing $US100 million in on-course winnings after putting for gold at the US Open last week, Williams is understood to also be laughing all the way to the bank, having earned more than $16 million during his lucrative partnership with the golfer. With nine years beside the world's greatest golfer, Williams is understood to have earned about $3m in wages and $13m in bonuses. Now based in Oregon, US, Williams is well known for using his fortune for charity through the Steve Williams Foundation, headed by his wife Kirsty. The foundation formed in 2001 was set up to aid the development of New Zealand's young golf players. Last year, Williams also donated $1m to the child cancer unit at Auckland's Starship children's hospital.

Parents blamed for alcohol habits

Parents are being warned they are to blame for their children's alcohol habits. Drink-Wise Australia, the Aussie version of our watchdog ALAC, says studies show the way parents drink is a good indicator of their children's alcohol intake. Chairman Trish Worth says research shows parents have a lot more influence on their children's behaviour than they realise. Trish Worth says the truth is young people take more notice of their parents, than of celebrities or sports stars. She says the longer a young person goes without drinking alcohol, the less likely they are to have a drinking problem later in life.
Copyright 2002 - 2008. TelstraClear Ltd

NZ - Australia apple dispute moves onwards at WTO

The New Zealand Government has now lodged its submission to the World Trade Organisation against a ban by Australia on imports of New Zealand apples. The ban was imposed in 1921. Australia now has four weeks to respond to the New Zealand submission. The dispute is to be heard by a specialist panel at the WTO. Australia says fire blight and two other apple pests, European Canker and the apple leafcurling midge, could devastate its crop if New Zealand apples are allowed into the country.
Copyright © 2008 Radio New Zealand

Migrant numbers up

Migrants from China, India and Fiji lifted figures for net migration to New Zealand in the month of May to their highest level in 17 months. Statistics New Zealand says there was a seasonally adjusted gain of just over 1000 migrants in May - almost twice that of April and the highest number since December 2006. There was a net gain of 4931 For the year to the end of May - up slightly on the year to April, but less than half that of a year earlier. Over the year, about 31,000 New Zealanders migrated to Australia - the highest level in seven years.
Copyright © 2008 Radio New Zealand

Rugby-All Blacks defeat England- have major injury worries

There are major injury concerns for the All Blacks after a 44-12 second test crushing of England. Captain Richie McCaw and Ali Williams left the field in the first half with ankle injuries. X-rays have revealed neither has suffered a break. Stand-in skipper Rodney So'oialo says his side did well to maintain momentum, considering who they lost. The All Blacks scored five tries to England's two. Dan Carter scored 22 points. Debutant Richard Kahui scored along with Sione Lauaki, Ma'a Nonu, Jimmy Cowan and Carter. Danny Care and Tom Varndell scored for England. Coach Graham Henry says while they are scoring tries from the set piece, they have got a lot to work on defensively and at the breakdown. The All Blacks have a week off before the first Tri-Nations match against South Africa in Wellington.

First of six cold fronts hits the country

The country is set to be assaulted by six cold fronts over the next few days, bringing rain to the north and snow to the south. Radio Network head weather analyst Philip Duncan said the first front was crossing today, with wet weather for northern parts of the North Island. MetService said there would be brief heavy rainfalls and thunderstorms for Northland and the Coromandel Peninsula. It issued a heavy rain warning for Bay of Plenty, Mt Taranaki and the Nelson area and said the rain would be followed by squally showers and thunderstorms over northern and central New Zealand. Philip Duncan said another front would hit the South Island tomorrow, with the possibility of snow in Southland, Otago and Canterbury. Mr Duncan said it was too early to predict snow in Christchurch, but he was confident the Port Hills would get a light dusting.
NEWSTALK ZB with NZHERALD STAFF

Demand for urgent house sales creates niche market

By GREG NINNESS - Sunday Star Times
Real Estate company Bayleys is zeroing in on the mortgagee sale market with a new website specialising in distress sales. Bayleys managing director Mike Bayley said the site, www.bayleysmortgagee.co.nz, was attracting a growing number of listings, reflecting tougher economic times throughout the country. Last week it featured 26 properties across the country, ranging from Auckland CBD apartments to commercial and industrial properties and development land. The website also has a beginner's guide to mortgagee sales for less experienced buyers and highlights some important differences to normal willing buyer/willing seller sales.

Cricket-Black Caps stun England

A lethal bowling spell from Tim Southee led New Zealand to a breakthrough 23-run victory over England in the third one-day cricket international in Bristol today. With the tourists defending a total of 182, Southee took four for 38 to scythe through England's middle order at Bristol's packed County Ground and help level the series 1-1 with two matches remaining. New Zealand dismissed England for 160 off 46.2 overs to earn their first win in seven matches against England on the current tour.
with NZPA

Cost of living increases in Cook Islands

The Cook Islands is preparing for a big increase in the cost of living as rising fuel prices boost the cost of imports for the island's 14-thousand people. Ulamila Wragg reports that from the 21st of next month the cost of electricity will rise by 48 percent. Chief executive of the local power authority Apii Timoti says that world wide increases in the price of crude oil leave them no choice but to push up their prices as well. From this weekend fuel prices at the pumps here will also jump by at least 26 percent - customers will be paying far more than their counterparts in New Zealand and Australia. And from the end of this month a major shipping company, Reef Shipping, which sails monthly from New Zealand, is increasing its rates by 12 -point-nine percent.

National holds poll lead

National continues to hold a wide lead over Labour in the latest opinion poll. The Fairfax AC Neilsen poll published on Saturday shows National with 54% support, down 2% on a month ago. Labour is on 30%, up 1%. The Greens are on 7%, New Zealand First on 3%, and the Maori Party on 2%. All other parties polled 1% or less. The poll questioned 1100 people over seven days up to last Tuesday and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3%.
Copyright © 2008 Radio New Zealand

Company mourns loss

King Salmon is mourning the loss of two much-loved and professional colleagues who died in yesterday's fatal boat collision in the Marlborough Sounds. Six people were on board a runabout which smashed into the stern of a former navy patrol boat in Waikawa Bay. Two survivors are in Wellington Hospital with serious injuries and a third is stable and improving at Wairau Hospital. King Salmon boss Paul Steere says staff are struggling to come to terms with the loss. He says the company's thoughts are with the men's families. The 11 metre boat owned by New Zealand King Salmon hit the anchored craft at around 50 kilometres an hour.
Copyright 2002 - 2008. TelstraClear Ltd

Struck-off UK lawyer run to ground

A disgraced lawyer who fled Britain, leaving 14 clients with $500,000 of legal bills, is living in Blenheim. Jane Loveday was struck off and barred from practising law after she botched a class action case involving sex allegations against a gynaecologist who mutilated dozens of women. The women she represented have each been left with $40,000 legal bills, despite being told they wouldn't. When called before the Law Society of England and Wales to face allegations about her handling of the case, Ms Loveday did not front, claiming she was sick. The Dominion Post can reveal she was already in New Zealand and had been here for months running her Blenheim shop, Castaways.
Source:Dominion Post

More oil in Tui fields than previously thought

A review of the Tui oilfield has found increased reserves of an extra 3 million barrels, taking potential production to just over 50 million barrels. The explorer New Zealand Oil & Gas owns part of the fields, and will reap an additional $70m from the increased reserves. Chief executive David Salisbury says the operator is planning several exploration wells near the Tui oilfields in early 2010. The Tui operator forecasts the oilfield will produce 9 million barrels in this financial year. New Zealand Oil & Gas's share of that will be just over one million barrels, an increase of 370,000 barrels.
Copyright © 2008 Radio New Zealand

NZ wine wins trophy in London

A Central Otago red - Wild Earth Pinot Noir 2006 - has won the International Wine Challenge's top trophy for that variety at what's described as the world's biggest blind tasting competition in London. A panel of judges tasted more than 9000 wines from 40 countries. The New Zealand Winegrowers organisation says the win by the Bannockburn vineyard sends a strong signal to the international market that despite its comparative youth, New Zealand is producing some very special wines. Chief executive, Philip Gregan experimentation is one of the reasons behind a growing record of international success.
Copyright © 2008 Radio New Zealand

Intrepid Kiwis take cold dip in Antarctica

It is a challenge to make anyone shudder, but intrepid Kiwis in Antarctica took the coldest midwinter dip this week. The annual midwinter plunge at Scott Base involved a breathtaking plunge into water that was minus 1.88deg. Water at the base does not freeze at below 0deg because of its high salt level. Each diver wore a safety harness.
Source:The Press

Peters' Pacific comments ruffle a few feathers

Foreign Minister Winston Peters has ruffled the feathers of Pacific leaders, after comparing Pacific Island men to parading peacocks. When asked about the under-representation of female parliamentarians in the Pacific, Mr Peters told a select committee that it is a great worry - because women in these cultures do all the work. He also said Pacific men spend most of their time parading around like peacocks doing no work when it matters. Mr Peters told the select committee: "If you want commitment and drive and ambition to work in a greater collegial or community sense, then you must place your faith in the women of this part of the world far more than the men who, present company excepted, spend most of their time parading around the maraes as peacocks and do no work when it matters." His comments have caused offence to Pacific Island leaders.
© 2008 Radio New Zealand

Royal presence for the rugby

The end of her sporting dreams brought Zara Phillips, the Queen's granddaughter, to Christchurch yesterday to support her English rugby-playing boyfriend, Mike Tindall. Phillips, 27, the daughter of Princess Anne and Mark Phillips, had to withdraw from the British Olympic eventing team last week after her horse, Toytown, was injured. Tindall will play at centre for England against the All Blacks at AMI Stadium tomorrow night. Phillips lunched with friends at a restaurant on the Oxford Terrace Strip yesterday. "I have been here a couple of times before. It's no big deal," she said. "Obviously I'm here to watch the rugby.
Source:The Press

Majority verdicts get the all-clear

By TRACY WATKINS - The Dominion Post
A centuries-old tradition has been swept away by Parliament's near-universal support for majority jury verdicts. Four years after legislation proposing the measure was introduced, Parliament voted by 108 votes to 11 yesterday to drop the requirement for unanimous jury verdicts and allow cases to be decided by an 11-to-1 majority. It also removed the "double jeopardy" impediment to trying someone for the same crime twice, agreeing there were exceptional circumstances when it should be allowed. Those circumstances include a "tainted acquittal" due to perjury, bribery or fabricated evidence. Someone could also be tried a second time if new and compelling evidence came to light. In other sweeping changes, long and complex cases - or cases in which jurors might be intimidated, such as gang trials - can be tried by a judge alone, and penalties for evading jury service will increase.

Cigarettes on display influences kids - study

NZPA/Tim Hales
Displaying tobacco in wall units at convenience stores and other retail outlets has an unhealthy influence on children and people trying to quit smoking, according to research released today. Lead researcher Dr George Thomson, of Otago University , said tobacco companies paid retailers to keep the wall displays up because they worked. "In essence, they normalise smoking." Professor Janet Hoek and Dr Heather Gifford, two of the study co-researchers, said interviews with former smokers and lapsed quitters showed that tobacco displays tempted people struggling to give up the habit. The Government is currently analysing submissions on proposals to further restrict or ban tobacco displays in retail settings.

Maori Performing Arts

Three Manawatu/Horowhenua high schools have won the National Secondary School Maori Performing Arts competition. Te Piringa which represents Freyberg High, Palmerston North Boys' and Palmerston North Girls', has taken the top honour. 36 groups representing all regions in the country competed over three days in Wellington this week. The next competition will be held in Rotorua in 2010.
Copyright 2002 - 2008. TelstraClear Ltd

Goodbye Nandor the Green

There is less than a week left in parliament for Green MP Nandor Tanczos. He is set to give his valedictory speech to Parliament next Thursday as he steps down as an MP making way for his Co-Leader, Russel Norman on the first of July. Mr Tanczos' departure comes after nine years as an MP. He entered parliament at the 1999 election.
Copyright 2002 - 2008. TelstraClear Ltd

Peters defends new embassy

Foreign Minister Winston Peters is defending a budget boost and major expansion plans within his ministry. National MP's have quizzed Mr Peters about the five year, $620 million plan, which includes a new embassy being opened in Sweden. Mr Peters says setting up a mission in Stockholm will carry the same cost as New Zealand's presence in Niue. He says it seems to him to be a smart investment with a huge payback. He says Scandinavian populations are similar to New Zealand's and they have strong economies so there are potentially enormous opportunities.
Copyright 2002 - 2008. TelstraClear Ltd

Cold blast about to strike

A bitterly cold blast is expected to sweep through the country and a dusting of snow may reach as far north as the Coromandel Ranges. TRN's Weather Watch Centre is expecting a big southern storm to hit the country during the weekend and last through until the middle of next week. Head weather analyst Phillip Duncan says snow is forecast for Invercargill, Dunedin, Queenstown, Cromwell and Timaru. Light snow could fall on the high peaks of the Kaimai and possibly the Coromandel Ranges on Wednesday. Heavy rain is likely to fall in the South Island on Sunday and should help to boost hydro lake levels
Copyright 2002 - 2008. TelstraClear Ltd

Hip hop down under

Hip hop heavyweight Timbaland will perform his first live show in New Zealand next month. He will play Auckland's Vector Arena on July 18 as part of the worldwide tour for his latest offering, Shock Value. The album has gone double platinum in New Zealand. The producer and rapper has worked with some of the biggest names in pop, including Justin Timberlake, Kanye West and Madonna. He will be supported by Keri Hilson and Flo Rida.
Copyright 2002 - 2008. TelstraClear Ltd

It's lonely in paradise say NZ's refugees

By Lincoln Tan
Family is the best form of support refugees and migrants can have to help them adjust to life in a new land, research has found, and refugees here say "life would be perfect" if their extended families could come live with them. The study Crossing Cultures: the experiences of refugee and migrant families in New Zealand, to be released in August by Victoria University of Wellington's Centre for Applied Cross-cultural Research, found the family unit to be "a fundamental component of the adjustment process". One of the researchers, Jaimee Stuart, said: "Our data suggest that families coming to New Zealand usually possess a supportive and grounding foundation of their home culture's beliefs, values and language ... and policy should be structured to retain this foundation while supporting acquisition of necessary New Zealand cultural beliefs, behaviours, language and practices."

By 2026, almost 800,000 Kiwis will have Asian link

By REBECCA TODD - The Press
Nearly 800,000 New Zealanders will identify with an Asian ethnic group by 2026, a new report says. The Asia and Canterbury report was launched at an Asia Aware Principals forum in Christchurch yesterday. More than 50 Christchurch principals and teachers attended the forum to discuss what Christchurch's changing population mix will mean for schools and how they can incorporate Asian culture into their teaching. Asia New Zealand Foundation chief executive Philip Burdon said the increasing global influence of Asia made it important for young New Zealanders to grow up with a better understanding and appreciation of the region.

Niue parliament elects Toke Talagi as new PM

Niue has a new administration led by Toke Talagi after a vote this morning by the country’s MPs. Mr Talagi had a clear victory of 14 votes to five beating the incumbent premier Young Vivian. Mr Vivian has been in power for the past two terms. Mr Talagi, who is a former finance minister, is expected to announce his three-member Cabinet next week. Former MP Hima Douglas says the vote was a clear call for change but Mr Talagi has some difficult economic decisions ahead of him.
© RNZI 2008

Phar Lap died from arsenic poisoning, tests show

Science has confirmed what folklore had believed for decades - the legendary racehorse Phar Lap was killed by arsenic poisoning. The New Zealand-bred racehorse died in mysterious circumstances in California in 1932, after dominating Australian tracks. While conspiracy theories flourished following Big Red's death, including suggestions gangsters had killed him off, poisoning had always been suspected. Forensic results released at Melbourne Museum on Thursday showed Phar Lap had ingested a large dose of arsenic in the last 30 to 40 hours of his life. Phar Lap won 37 of his 51 starts, including 14 wins in a row and the 1930 Melbourne Cup. He went to the United States in 1932, accompanied by Woodcock, his strapper and stand-in trainer. The New Zealand-bred gelding won his first race on US soil but died at the Menlo Park race track in California on April 5, 1932.
Copyright © 2008 Radio New Zealand

US to help NZ sell mothballed combat planes

The United States has offered to assist New Zealand to sell its mothballed combat planes, according to Defence Minister Phil Goff. Mr Goff was updating Parliament's foreign affairs, defence and trade select committee on Thursday on the progress of the sale of the Skyhawk and Aermacchi. The Government has two separate bids for about $150 million, but the deal is awaiting clearance from the US administration. Mr Goff says he discussed the issue with the American Deputy Secretary of Defence, Gordon England, on a visit to Washington last week.
Copyright © 2008 Radio New Zealand

Central Otago pinot wins major award

A New Zealand pinot noir has won top prize for its variety at the International Wine Challenge in London. Wild Earth Wines from Central Otago took the trophy in what was just the vineyard's third vintage. The challenge is the world's largest wine competition, with nearly 10,000 wines competing.
Copyright 2002 - 2008. TelstraClear Ltd

Males in Islands "useless"

The Foreign Minister is sending a blunt message to Pacific Island democracies about the low numbers of women in elected office. The issue has come up during a select committee hearing this morning. Winston Peters says the paradox in the Pacific is that women do all the work and carry the agony and angst of family and their communities and their lack of representation in politics is a great worry. He says he does not want to lecture or preach to Pacific Governments, but he does want to ask them a basic question "Why are all these useless males running the show."
Copyright 2002 - 2008. TelstraClear Ltd

Only NZ concert for Andrea Bocelli

Tickets go on sale today for world-renowned tenor Andrea Bocelli's only New Zealand concert. He will be accompanied on August 20 at Auckland's Vector Arena by the Czech National Symphony Orchestra and conductor Marcello Rota. Bocelli is hailed as one of the world's most gifted vocalist. He has recently played to a capacity audience at New York's Madison Square Gardens. This will be Bocelli's first visit to New Zealand and tickets are expected to be snapped up quickly.
Copyright 2002 - 2008. TelstraClear Ltd

NZ 'has most prison volunteers in the world'

New Zealand has more prison volunteers per inmate than any other country in the world, a Christian volunteer group says. Prison Fellowship national director Kim Workman said the number of volunteers had doubled in the past five or six years. "There are currently over 3000 volunteers and around 7500 prisoners - that equates to 40 per cent of the total prisoner population." Mr Workman said Canada was second at 28 per cent while Australia and other OECD countries were "lagging well behind". The large number of volunteers reflected the Department of Corrections growing commitment to volunteers, he said. Mr Workman said 85 per cent of volunteers came from churches.
Source:NZPA

Activist deported to NZ from Israel

Harmeet Sooden, the Auckland university student held captive for four months in Iraq, has been accused of being a threat to the security of Israel and forcibly deported, a website dedicated to Palestinian resistance claims. Mr Sooden, 33, made headlines around the world after being held for 118 days in captivity in Iraq, where he was working with Christian Peacemaker Teams, before being freed on March 23, 2006. Mr Sooden, Briton Norman Kember and Canadian James Loney, were freed by British troops in Baghdad. Another member of the group, American Tom Fox, was shot dead two weeks before the others were freed. Today, his deportation from Israel was reported on the website of the International Solidarity Movement (ISM). Mr Sooden was deported with security officers aboard the plane, and will arrive in New Zealand at 2.15 tomorrow afternoon.
Source:NZPA

Humpbacks arrive in droves

Dee Wilson - Marlborough
More humpback whales have been spotted on their migrational journey through Cook Strait in two days than in two weeks this time last year. Former whalers, who began their annual whale-spotting exercise from high up on East Head at the entrance to Tory Channel at the weekend, said they hadn't seen anything like this since whaling ceased. "They were performing big tail slaps, rolling around on the water. They are the best two days since the whale-spotting project started," said Joe Heberley of Okukari Bay in Tory Channel. Weather conditions at the weekend suited the whale spotters, and seemingly the humpbacks. DOC conservancy marine specialist Nadine Bott said 21 whales were seen, which was more than during two weeks this time last year .

$240,000 for Maori ministry gatherings

By NATHAN BEAUMONT - The Dominion Post
The Government's pledge to stamp out extravagant spending in the public sector is under the spotlight again after Te Puni Kokiri spent more than $240,000 on staff conferences in less than a year - including $110,000 in one month. The ministry has defended the spending, which includes about $83,000 on travel, $56,000 on catering and $39,000 on accommodation between July and April, saying it was good value for money. The biggest extravagance was $72,000 - about $546 a person - for 132 staff to attend a three-day conference at the New Zealand International Campus at Trentham in July. During the same month about $38,000 - about $812 a person - was spent on another conference for 46 staff at a resort in Methven.

Chch may refund $80k parking fines

By REBECCA TODD - The Press
The Christchurch City Council may refund up to $80,000 worth of traffic and parking tickets issued to nearly 2000 people since 2005. At today's council meeting, chief executive Tony Marryatt will recommend the council repay motorists who had received illegal fines since February 2005. The tickets were for a variety of offences where there were no signs to let people know they were acting illegally. Government regulations, which came into force in February 2005, said that where a council was imposing parking, standing or stopping regulations, it must have signs to let people know.

American Samoa rice importer going for potatoes instead as rice price soars

A company in American Samoa says it won’t import any more rice until it becomes cheaper. American Samoa is experiencing a rice shortage and the governor has established a panel to investigate the cause for it. The company, Tautuamo, usually imports its rice from Australia but treasurer, Francine Monotaga, says it’s too expensive to import at present. “Because of the high price of rice, we’re not ordering any more rice. We will probably wait, see if the market will improve in a few months time and if the price goes down, hopefully. But the last order we checked, the price has doubled, 200 percent.” Francine Monotaga says it has one container of rice left and it’s now ordering other staples, such as potatoes, instead to make up for the loss in rice product.
© RNZI 2008

NZ provides three million US dollars of aid to Vanuatu

New Zealand is providing three million US dollars of aid to help Vanuatu ensure all children receive quality basic education. The New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters says many children in Vanuatu are missing out on education altogether while literacy and numeracy levels there compare poorly with other Pacific countries. He says a good basic education offers many benefits, making people more employable, and thereby improving the living standards of individuals, families and communities.
© RNZI 2008

Oh! it is three tiger cubs!

Not two - but three Sumatran tiger cubs have been born at Auckland Zoo. The Zoo's big cat keepers are celebrating for the third time after discovering proud mother Molek has given birth to triplets. They have been keeping their distance since the birth last Thursday, not wanting to disturb Molek. Yesterday they discovered what they thought was one cub was actually two. Then, this afternoon, they saw a very relaxed Molek lying back with one cub suckling and two others cuddled into her coat. Keeper, Sandra Rice, says all three cubs appear healthy and they are absolutely ecstatic as there are fewer than 400 Sumatran tigers in the wild and just 160 in zoos.
Copyright 2002 - 2008. TelstraClear Ltd

Police investigate Cook Islands proclamation

Police in the Cook Islands are investigating a proclamation that hereditary chiefs have dissolved the government. Last week, members of the house of Ariki claimed they were dissolving the Queen's representative, the Government, and assuming leadership and ownership of the country. Deputy prime minister Sir Terepai Maoate said in a statement to Parliament that the group was misguided and wrong and urged its members to attend a meeting to be given guidance on the laws of governance. Police Comissioner Pat Tasker says an investigation has begun.
© 2008 Radio New Zealand

No NZ track and field athletes at Olympic opening

New Zealand track and field athletes will not attend the opening ceremony of the 2008 Olympic Games in China. Athletics New Zealand has confirmed the eight member squad and a number of officials will stay in a transition camp in Hong Kong. Athletics Australia has ordered its entire team to stay away from Beijing for as long as possible because of concerns about air quality. Athletics NZ high performance director Kevin Ankrom, says staying in an Olympic village is very confined and like being in a jail.
Copyright © 2008 Radio New Zealand

Ministry confident of coping with extra jobless

The Ministry of Social Development is confident it can cope with a predicted rise in unemployment despite the loss of 450 case managers. The Reserve Bank is tipping unemployment will rise to 6% by 2011. Ministry chief executive Peter Hughes told Parliament's social services committee on Wednesday that if the economy grew at 1% a year, which was in line with forecasts, there would not be a huge jump in jobless figures. Opposition MPs questioned the reduction in case managers when there had simultaneously been a 30% increase in staff dealing with policy matters and an increase in communications staff, from 54 to 61.
Copyright © 2008 Radio New Zealand

Pre-European skull found

A pre-European skull has been found at Opononi in Northland. A woman made the discovery when she noticed two dogs playing with a strange-looking ball on the side of the road. Police say when she drove past the same spot a few hours later she saw the object lying in the grass and realised it was a skull. A pathologist has confirmed the skull is very old and definitely pre-European. The area it was located in has a significant history of conflicts and land wars from the 1800s.
Copyright 2002 - 2008. TelstraClear Ltd

New oil drill site

Exploratory drilling has started for oil and gas offshore from the Taranaki Basin, six kilometres away from the Kupe field. The new location is called Momoho 1. Kupe project director Peter Ashford says since the Kupe project was approved two years ago, the company has been looking for other exploration opportunities close by.
Copyright 2002 - 2008. TelstraClear Ltd

Greens angry over imported labour

The Greens are urging the Government to step in and prevent migrant workers being brought into the country by two seafood companies just weeks after more than 300 Sealord workers were laid off. Greens' industrial relations spokeswoman Sue Bradford says it is unthinkable that Talleys and Aotearoa Seafood want to import a hundred workers from Asia and South America when other workers in the same industry have lost their jobs in the area.
Copyright 2002 - 2008. TelstraClear Ltd

Whammo for illegal parking

A disability action group is commending the Ministry of Transport for increasing fines for those who park in disabled spaces. Offenders will now be slapped with a 150 dollar fine, up from 40 dollars. CCS Disability Action spokesman Peter Wilson says the increase will free up disabled car park spaces for those who really need it. He says research by CCS Disability Action found that 50 percent of disabled spaces are used illegally. Mr Wilson is urging the public to show more consideration.
Copyright 2002 - 2008. TelstraClear Ltd

Superbug hits Dunedin

A Dunedin Hospital ward has been closed to new admissions because of an outbreak of a super bug. Two patients and three staff members from Ward 8B have tested positive for MRSA. One patient has been transferred into an isolation ward, and the other has left the hospital. Staff who tested positive have been stood down from clinical duties until the hospital has been given the all clear. More than 150 patients and staff associated with the affected ward have been tested.
Copyright 2002 - 2008. TelstraClear Ltd

Govt considers compulsory third party insurance

The Government is seeking views on whether third party vehicle insurance should be compulsory. Transport Safety Minister Harry Duynhoven, a long-time advocate of the idea, today released a discussion paper on the issue which also looks at whether regulation of the insurance industry was needed. The process aims to see if there is public support for a compulsory third party scheme. "About a quarter of vehicles in New Zealand are not insured. The insurance industry estimates the cost of uninsured motorists is between $53 million and $85 million each year," Mr Duynhoven said. "At present, those who have vehicle insurance are paying for the costs of all motorists through their insurance premiums."
Source:NZPA

King's College headmaster to cross ditch

The headmaster of Auckland's King's College has been appointed to lead one of Australia's most prestigious private schools. Roy Kelley will take up the reins at Melbourne Grammar School from the beginning of term two next year. The Anglican school, which has 1800 pupils, is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year. The school a co-educational primary, a boys-only intermediate and boys-only secondary schools. Mr Kelley, who has been headmaster at the 950-pupil King's College since 2003, will take charge of all three Melbourne schools.
Source:Dominion Post

NZ schoolgirls favour McCain's looks

NZPA/Ross Brown
Snap judgments of New Zealand high school girls helped researchers at the University of Pennsylvania to predict that John McCain would be the Republican nominee for the US presidency later this year. McCain earlier this year came from nowhere to defeat once favoured Republicans Rudy Giuliani and Fred Thompson, but Dr Kesten Green, an expert in the forecasting of decisions, said it was no surprise to a team of researchers based at Pennsylvania's Wharton Business School. "They predicted this outcome in August 2007 by relying on the snap judgments of New Zealand schoolgirls," he said today. From May through mid-August 2007 the researchers obtained ratings of facial competence of 24 potential contenders for the major party nominations for president in 2008. They deliberately asked people with little knowledge of the candidates: university students in Australia and New Zealand and high school girls in New Zealand.

Two tiger cubs at Auckland Zoo

Auckland Zoo is celebrating the birth of not one, but two critically endangered Sumatran tiger cubs. Since last Thursday, keepers have been hearing the squeaking of what they thought was one cub from the den of mum Molek. But today they discovered Molek was actually caring for two babies. It has taken 10 years of planning and preparation to bring Molek and dad Oz together and get them to breed.
Copyright 2002 - 2008. TelstraClear Ltd

Todd selected for Olympics for sixth time

Equestrian double gold medallist Mark Todd has been selected in the New Zealand Olympic team for a record sixth time. The New Zealand Olympic Committee says Todd and fellow rider Andrew Nicholson will set a new New Zealand record when they compete at the Beijing Olympics. Previously both men shared the record of competing at five Olympics with canoeist Ian Fergusson. Todd was a gold medallist in Los Angeles in 1984 and Seoul in 1988.
Copyright © 2008 Radio New Zealand

Rugby-Two All Blacks to make debut against England

Two All Blacks are set to make their debut against England in Christchurch at the weekend. Winger Rudi Wulf and centre Richard Kahui have been named in the lineup. Wulf replaces Anthony Tuitavake, and Kahui replaces Conrad Smith. Coach Graham Henry says it is a difficult decision to replace players who performed well in the win over England in Auckland on Saturday, but the changes are an investment as the tri-nations series that begins next month.
Copyright © 2008 Radio New Zealand

High petrol prices bite volunteer services

Rising fuel prices are having a widespread impact on volunteer services. Wellington's Meals on Wheels says volunteer drivers are finding they can no longer afford to help because of the cost of petrol. Coordinator Bruce Matson says finding drivers has never been a big problem in the past but the organisation is now having to cope with a shortage of drivers, which is resulting in some meals arriving late.
Copyright 2002 - 2008. TelstraClear Ltd

Fewer horticulture jobs predicted

Expect more food imports, fewer jobs in horticulture, and more expensive food. Horticulture New Zealand says that is the likely result of the government's decision to push ahead with climate change legislation. Chief Executive Peter Silcock says we already have skyrocketing fuel and energy costs, and growers cannot cut back further in those areas. He says when new energy taxes are introduced from 2010, things such as heating greenhouses, cool storage, freezing and dehydrating vegetables and transporting them to markets will all be hit hard. Peter Silcock says we risk growers heading off shore and relocating in developing countries, where labour and compliance costs will be lower.
Copyright 2002 - 2008. TelstraClear Ltd

Sightings of southern right whales sought by DoC

The Department of Conservation is asking for any sightings of southern right whales to be reported to it, as part of an effort to track their migration pattern. So far during this migration season, there have been sightings of the whales off the Otago coast and from a tourist vessel in Dusky Sound. DoC marine mammal coordinator Steve Smith says there are about a 1000 southern right whales and new sightings are vital to the agency's research. He says sightings will help document movements by the whales, which are known to be from the New Zealand sub-antarctic region.
Copyright © 2008 Radio New Zealand

A thousand apartments part of Orakei plan

A property developer has revealed its plans for a complex in an Auckland suburb which it hopes will become one of the city's most desirable residential addresses. The Auckland City Council is working with Redwood Group, to form a master plan for the previously inaccessible piece of waterfront on Orakei Basin. Proposals for the site include open public spaces, integrated transport options, restaurants and pedestrian precincts. Also on the drawing board are two 13 storey apartment blocks on the headland. Redwood Group wants to build 1,000 apartments, 10,000 square metres of commercial space and a similar amount of space given to boutique shops, restaurants and cafes.
Copyright 2002 - 2008. TelstraClear Ltd

Cellphone quitters

Cellphone users who want to stop smoking can register with the Quit Group to receive free help on their phone. People can register for 26 weeks of state-financed help on the website www.txt2quit.org.nz or by calling the Quitline on 0800 778 778. If participants "crave" a smoke or have a "slip-up" or "relapse", they can text these words to the automated support programme and will receive specific messages for coping with those problems.
©2008, APN Holdings NZ Limited

Firms look for staff overseas

By HELEN MURDOCH - The Press
Just as 300 Nelson seafood processors are to be laid off, two upper South Island seafood companies have applied to import 100 migrant workers. The companies say the applications were made in a tight labour market before Sealord last week confirmed the layoffs from its mussel factory. However, a union leader said migrant workers were being used to "fill the gaps" in workforces, leading to wage stagnation. Motueka-based Talleys Fisheries has lodged an application with the New Zealand Immigration Service to employ 70 migrant workers from Asia or South America in its seafood and vegetable processing plants, and more as fishing crew.

Lights out for old bulbs

The traditional style light bulb is on its way out with a strategy announced today to make energy efficient lighting cheaper and more accessible. From late next year, the old incandescent bulbs will be phased out as part of an Efficient Lighting Strategy, developed in partnership with the lighting industry, the Energy Efficiency and Conversation Authority, and the Electricity Commission. Some energy efficient bulbs will be subsidised. "The traditional light bulb is very old technology - and very inefficient. Only five percent of the energy it uses generates light – the rest is wasted as heat," Energy minister David Parker said.
Stuff.co.nz

Nelson schoolgirl sails Cook Strait in dinghy

NZPA/Wayne Drought
A 14-year-old Nelson schoolgirl has sailed the Cook Strait in a 2.3m dinghy -- the smallest craft to make the crossing. Phillippa Wood from Waimea College took five and a half hours to do the journey on Sunday morning. The crossing was "quite hard towards the end", she told the Nelson Mail. There was not much wind but plenty of waves. "I was a bit seasick so that was a bit interesting," added Phillippa whose dream is to skipper an all-women America's Cup yacht.

Officials say Niue using donor funds to prop up Government finances

Its been revealed in a financial report to the Niue Government that donor funds have been used to provide much need cash flow for the island’s recurrent budget. Treasury officials have traced almost 650,000 US dollars and have prevented further use of donor funds by setting up separate bank accounts. The incorrect use of donor funds means that many special projects have not been completed.
© RNZI 2008