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Tuesday, June 30

Heavy rain causes more evacuations on East Coast

Up to 80 people are being evacuated from their homes from north of Tolaga Bay, as river levels on the East Coast continue to rise. The Hikuwai River is heading towards 12 metres, and will overflow the bank at 13 metres. Gisborne Civil Defence spokeswoman Sheridan Gundry says several dozen people have left their homes in Te Karaka, but most of the 500 residents will stay behind. She says Waipaua River is rising and could cut off access roads into the township.
Copyright 2002 - 2009, TelstraClear Ltd



Opposition accuses Niue premier of causing rift with New Zealand

An opposition MP in Niue, Terry Coe, is accusing Niue’s Finance Minister of causing a rift with New Zealand officials over much needed financial support. In last week’s budget speech, the Finance Minister, Premier Toke Talagi, strongly criticised New Zealand’s support for the island. Mr Talagi said New Zealand has failed Niue completely in its push to develop its tourism and agriculture sectors due to the bureaucratic process of accessing funds, that include two million New Zealand dollars for tourism. But Mr Coe says the Premier is being difficult because he wants to determine himself how the money should be spent. Terry Coe says the relationship between the two governments is now at a low.
News Content © Radio New Zealand International



Kiwis donate $3 million to bushfire appeal

By MICHAEL FOX - Stuff.co.nz
New Zealanders gave over $3 million to the Victoria Bushfire Appeal Fund following the devastating fires earlier this year. Dubbed Australia's worst disaster in over 100 years, wildfires raged across in February claiming nearly 200 lives and leaving thousands homeless. New Zealand Red Cross national fundraising manager Clare Cain said the response from New Zealand was incredible. "These generous donations are already making a real difference to those affected by the bushfires as they continue the long journey of rebuilding their homes and their communities," she said. Ms Cain said 100 percent of all donations to New Zealand Red Cross for the victims of the bushfires had been transferred to the Victorian Bushfire Appeal Fund with no deductions taken for administration costs - a total of $3.3 million dollars.



Legal steps to be taken against squatters in building

An Australian businessman who has bought a Kaikohe building is taking legal steps to remove squatters claiming Maori sovereignty. Glenn Hannah says he bought the large store in a mortgagee sale, knowing it was occupied by a group calling itself the Tai Tokerau embassy. He says the squatters include the widow of the former owner of the property. Mr Hannah says he's tried to reason with them, but they won't let him into the building to start renovations. He says he has applied to the court for an order that will allow police to evict the squatters.
Copyright © 2009 Radio New Zealand



200 job cuts confirmed at Ministry of Social Development

The Ministry of Social Development has confirmed that it is cutting about 200 jobs. Chief executive Peter Hughes says the job cuts mainly affect personnel working in management and administration roles. They include the axing of 80 positions at Child Youth & Family. He says the cuts are needed to make the ministry run more effectively as its services are being placed under increasing pressure as a result of the recession. Mr Hughes says the cuts will allow the ministry to recruit more people into front line rolls. The ministry has almost 10,000 employees.
Copyright © 2009 Radio New Zealand



Electric cars to be exempt charges

NewstalkZB
Parliament is about to take the first step on making electric cars exempt from road user charges. MPs will tonight debate proposed amendments to the Road User Charges Act. Currently electric cars are treated the same as diesel vehicles when it comes to imposition of road user fees. The law change would mean owners of the vehicles would get a four year exemption from the charges. The Government says the aim is to encourage more use of electric vehicles - the move would save owners around $430 a year.



New tissue bank could help Maori patients

A new tissue bank at Middlemore Hospital is being set up to help design cancer treatments which could specifically help Maori patients. Clinical director Samar Issa told Waatea News that samples from consenting patients at Auckland hospitals will begin to be stored next year, as part of a project to help determine genetic abnormalities that cause cancer. She says the research could help answer the many unanswered questions around the prevalence of certain types of cancers in Maori.
Copyright © 2009 Radio New Zealand



Monday, June 29

Rain warnings in place for Nth Island's east coast

The north and east of the North Island is expected to get drenched in the next 24 hours by a storm which caused slips, flooding and lightning across the North Island overnight. The Met Service predicted heavy rain in the Coromandel Peninsula, Western Bay of Plenty, Gisborne and parts of Hawke's Bay through until tomorrow. Rainfall of up to 120mm is expected due to a deep low moving eastwards, Met Service spokesman Bob McDavitt said.
NZPA



Ministers' spouses told stay at home or pay for travel - Key

Ministers have been told that they cannot take their spouses on trips overseas unless they pay for it, Prime Minister John Key said today. Mr Key has to sign off ministerial travel and he expected the trips to follow guidelines and had asked for some restraint. "This year I made it clear to ministers that I did not expect them to take their spouses and to the best of my knowledge they haven't. "There might have been one or two odd exceptions to Australia, but in every other instance I have told them if they want to take their partner they can do that, but they can pay for it." Mr Key said he had paid for his family to accompany him to China recently.
NZPA



Thirteen reject chance to become 'Sir' or 'Dame'

Only 13 of the 85 people eligible to become a knight or dame under the return of titular honours have declined. Prime Minister John Key said the names of the 72 who have said they would take the title would be forwarded to Buckingham Palace on Wednesday, "then they're approved and we'll have a final list". Tomorrow was the last day for people to indicate whether they wanted to take up a titular honour and the names of the new knights and dames would be released on August 1. The titles were dropped in 2000 by the previous Labour government, which instead instituted titles of Principal and Distinguished Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit.
NZPA



Air NZ may take Qantas to court

Air New Zealand is considering legal action against Qantas over the costs it shouldered when the Australian airline's engineers went on wildcat strikes. The 10-week-long standoff last year created a backlog of work and Air New Zealand had to send some of its own engineers to Australia to work on its aircraft because of the dispute. Air New Zealand spokesman Mark Street says the airline is considering its options in regards to recovering the costs - and legal action is one of those.
Copyright 2002 - 2009, TelstraClear Ltd



NZ round-the-world sailor to join anti-whaling protest

New Zealand sailor Pete Bethune will join an anti-whaling protest group from Australia which plans to disrupt a Japanese whaling expedition in the Southern Ocean. Japan asked Australia at a recent meeting of the International Whaling Commission in Spain to prevent the protesters aboard the Sea Shepherd from leaving port. However, Mr Bethune says he plans to join the group with his speed boat Earthrace. "The more we can disrupt them, hopefully the more expensive it become so for them to get down there and the fewer whales they start to take," he told Nine to Noon Pete Bethune broke a round-the-world speed record last year in Earthrace which is powered by renewable fuel.
Copyright © 2009 Radio New Zealand



Doctors not obliged to give insurers full patient history

Doctors have no obligation to release a patient's full medical history to insurance companies, the Privacy Commissioner has ruled. The New Zealand Medical Association asked for the commissioner's view as general practitioners were concerned about insurers' requests for full patient history notes. Commissioner Marie Shroff has ruled that doctors only have to hand over information directly relevant to the insurance decision. "Medical practitioners should expect that the first request from an insurer will be of a more limited nature, such as questions about specific conditions," the association's GP chairman, Mark Peterson. Patients also have the right to view their medical notes before deciding to authorise their disclosure.
NZPA



NZ posts biggest trade surplus since 1993

New Zealand's trade surpus in May, of $858 million, was the largest since 1993, as exports slumped. The figure, released on Monday, represents the fourth consecutive trade surplus since February. The result reflected large falls in the numbers of imported cars, petroleum and petroleum products. This led to a 21.7% fall in total imports during May compared to the same month a year previously. Exports rose 5.8% compared to a year ago mainly due to higher exports of dairy products, logs and wood products.
Copyright © 2009 Radio New Zealand



Wild weather hits yacht race

By MICHAEL FIELD - Stuff.co.nz
One of New Zealand's premier blue water yacht races – the Auckland to Noumea – was in disarray this morning after severe weather damaged boats and scattered the fleet. With storm warnings out, the 13-boat fleet left Auckland on Saturday in deep fog. However this morning it appears all but two of the yachts had pulled out of the race, with some sheltering around the top of the North Island. The Auckland yacht Bullrush retired early this morning after losing its rig during the night off the top of New Zealand. Its crew are reported to be fine and the yacht is motoring back to Auckland. The race is run by Auckland’s Royal Akarana Yacht Club.
with PIP COLE, The Bay Chronicle



Fight looms over primary school national standards

Primary schools appear to be heading for a showdown with the Government over the introduction of national standards. Principals are threatening to withhold student results from the Ministry of Education unless they get solid assurances that the information won't be made public. From next year, the progress of primary school children in maths, reading and writing will be measured against Government-set standards. For months, principals and teachers have insisted that the results must stay in a school's own community. Principals Federation president Ernie Buutveld says if there are no safeguards in place, schools may refuse to send the information to a central database where it could be used to rank schools.
Copyright © 2009 Radio New Zealand



Spectacular storm

NewstalkZB
Wild weather has provided a spectacular lightning show over parts of Northland and Auckland. There were more than a thousand strikes last night. The weather has also brought heavy rain, resulting in flooding and tricky conditions on many roads. Heavy rain and gales are forecast for parts of the North Island for the rest of the day.



NZ Post recycle old gear

A New Zealand Post scheme to recycle its old office equipment has proven so successful it is being offered to other businesses. Postal services chief executive Peter Fenton said the organisation was finding new uses for equipment that would otherwise be sent to the (rubbish) tip. It had sold equipment online and supplied a number of small businesses. Staff came up with the idea.
Copyright 2009, APN Holdings NZ Limited



Court system changes will be safe, says minister

Justice Minister Simon Power says there are safety mechanisms in place to ensure major changes to the court system that came into effect on Monday do not lead to miscarriages of justice. The series of laws are one of the biggest revamps of the New Zealand justice system in its history, and include allowing juries to reach majority verdicts rather than requiring a unanimous decision. One of the most contentious changes, whichaims to take pre-trial hearings from courtrooms to court offices, has attracted criticism. In most cases, instead of evidence being examined in court to decide whether a case will go to trial, it will be handed in written form to court staff, who will make the decision.
Copyright © 2009 Radio New Zealand



Sunday, June 28

Christchurch Iranians protest election crackdown

About 60 people have gathered in Cathedral Square in Christchurch to remember those who died in the post-election violence in Iran. At least 17 people have been killed in the protests and street demonstrations following the disputed election that saw Mahmoud Ahmadinejad re-elected more than two weeks ago. Members of Christchurch's Iranian community on Sunday evening lit candles and held placards protesting the killing, in front of an impromptu shrine bearing pictures of the victims. Shabnam Dastgheib says the vigil is to remember the lives lost, and also the hundreds of people who have been detained for protesting.
Copyright © 2009 Radio New Zealand



France to return Maori heads to NZ

France is set to approve a bill that will return more than a dozen mummified Maori heads to New Zealand. The bill is due to get the go-ahead from French senators despite reservations within the government, a source inside the UMP ruling party of French President Nicolas Sarkozy said. France's culture ministry blocked the return of a Maori chief's head from a museum in Rouen to New Zealand's national Te Papa museum in 2008, saying the move could mean that France would have to return mummies to Egypt. The culture ministry has said, however, that it favours the current proposal. Museums in Australia, Europe and the United States have already returned hundreds of the heads for burial according to Maori tradition in recent years.



Nearly 200 asylum seekers intercepted by Australian navy

A boat carrying 194 asylum seekers has been intercepted by the Australian navy. The boat, which was heading towards Australia, was first detected by a surveillance aircraft on Friday and intercepted near Ashmore Island early on Sunday morning. It's understood there are no children on board and the vast majority of passengers are adult men. They are being taken to Christmas Island for medical and security checks. Customs officials in Australia are yet to say where the asylum seekers are from.
Copyright © 2009 Radio New Zealand



Scott Dixon wins 19th career IndyCar race

New Zealand's Indy Car driver Scott Dixon has won his third race of the season, taking out the Indy Challenge in Richmond Virginia. The defending champion's win is his 19th IndyCar Series career win, matching the all-time record for the series that was formed in 1996. Dixon held off teammate Dario Franchitti for the final 20 laps, but Franchitti's second place still keeps him two points ahead of Dixon in the overall championship race. The 18-race season reaches its midpoint next week in New York.
Copyright © 2009 Radio New Zealand



Slow uptake of cervical cancer vaccine

Inaccurate claims are behind the slow uptake of the cervical cancer vaccine Gardasil, according to Auckland University's Immunisation Advisory Centre. Ministry of Health figures show 26% of girls aged 12 to 16 years and 35% of those aged 17 to 18 have begun the course of three injections. Immunisation Advisory Centre director Dr Nikki Turner says inaccurate claims about side effects and inadequate testing have scared people. Ms Turner says people have also been slow to get the vaccine because cervical cancer is a less immediate threat than illnesses such as meningitis. Last year, the previous Labour-led Government committed $177 million to vaccinate 300,000 girls over five years.
Copyright © 2009 Radio New Zealand



Smacking referendum waste of tax dollars - survey

A survey indicates most New Zealanders do not support the spending of millions of dollars on a referendum on smacking. The Research New Zealand poll found 77% of those surveyed were against using taxpayers money for the referendum, 18% felt it was good use of tax funds, and the remaining 5% were unsure. The referendum to be held in August, at a cost of $8.9 million asks "Should a smack as part of good parental correction be a criminal offence in New Zealand?" More men support the referendum than women.
Copyright © 2009 Radio New Zealand



Kiwi woman to carry mother's baby

A New Zealand woman will carry and give birth to her own sibling, after being given approval to act as a surrogate for her mother. It was believed to be the first approval by the Ethics Committee for Assisted Reproductive Technology (Ecart) of an application from a daughter to carry her mother's child, although there had been approvals for women to carry their own grandchild, The Sunday Star Times reported today. The surrogate was one of four siblings and had two children of her own. Fertility New Zealand chief executive Michelle Collyer praised the woman's decision to be a surrogate for her mother, calling her an "admirable daughter".
NZPA



Australasian market closer

New Zealand and Australia are one step closer to a single economic market: the two countries have signed a new double tax agreement, which will replace the existing 1995 contract. It was signed on behalf of New Zealand by Trade Minister Tim Groser at a ceremony in Paris. Revenue Minister Peter Dunne says the deal will step up progress towards the goal of a trans-Tasman business environment. He says changes in the agreement will help reduce compliance costs and improve cooperation between the tax authorities of the two countries.
Copyright 2002 - 2009, TelstraClear Ltd



Nightmare cruise: 'Pure good fortune' no one killed

Passengers and crew could have been killed on a cruise ship rocked by a severe storm north of New Zealand last winter, an official report says. The Pacific Sun rolled up to 31 degrees, injuring 77 of the more than 2000 people on board the P&O cruise ship bound for Auckland on July 30. The injuries ranged from cuts and bruises to broken bones, while one passenger had part of a finger amputated. The report, by British maritime officials, obtained by The Herald on Sunday but not yet shown to passengers, concluded it was "pure good fortune" that no one was more seriously injured or even killed by unsecured equipment and furnishings.
NZPA



Rugby-All Blacks' win fails to impress coach

All Blacks coach Graham Henry says his team has plenty of work to do before the Tri-Nations, following an unconvincing 27-6 defeat of Italy in Christchurch on Saturday night. Joe Rococoko scored his first test try in almost two years, while Isaac Ross and George Whitelock scored the first tries of their test career for the home side, ensuring victory for New Zealand at AMI Stadium. Flyhalf Luke McAlister added three conversions and two penalties. The win is New Zealand's lowest score against Italy, and a far cry from the last time the two sides faced off last year, when the All Blacks ran in 11 tries. The All Blacks' next match is against Australia in the opening match of the Tri-Nations series on 18 July in Auckland. Coach Graham Henry said the Italians defended well, but he is very disappointed with the way his team played. They will have to improve before they play Australia, he says.
Copyright © 2009 Radio New Zealand



Saturday, June 27

Tax agreement with Australia signed

New Zealand and Australia have agreed to reciprocal tax agreement which could be in place by the end of this year. The double tax agreement, which was signed off on Saturday will replace the existing tax agreement signed off in 1995. The Government says the new agreement will reduce barriers to trade and accelarate progress to a single economic market. It says the new agreement resolves pension transferrence issues and allows a lower Witholding Tax rate on Trans-Tasman payments.
Copyright © 2009 Radio New Zealand



Swarm of earthquakes in central North Island

Seven earthquakes shook central North Island over a nine-hour period on Saturday. The quakes began at 1.01am, with a tremor measuring 4.3 on the Richter scale, 10 kilometres north-west of Turangi, at a depth of three kilometres. Six further quakes shook the same location, the last at 10.54am, according to GNS Science. All were at a depth of five kilometres or less.
Copyright © 2009 Radio New Zealand



South Africa wants whistleblower back

By Martin Johnston
South Africa law enforcers are considering pursuing a whistleblowing nurse who moved to New Zealand after allegedly leaking explosive medical details about a Government minister. The nurse does not want to go, and an opposition party, the Democratic Alliance, has called the case "politically motivated persecution". Now working in New Zealand, the nurse is accused of stealing the medical records of Ms Manto Tshabalala-Msimang, who, when Minister of Health in 2007, received a liver transplant. A South African police spokeswoman, Senior Superintendent Tumi Golding, said a decision had not yet been made on extradition. The leaked records are reported to show that Ms Tshabalala-Msimang drank alcohol during a hospital stay in 2005 and that her transplant was related to alcohol abuse. The official explanation was that she had liver damage from auto-immune hepatitis. The Sunday Times reported in 2007 that medical staff were sworn to secrecy over Ms Tshabalala-Msimang's condition. Others in her condition would have been denied the operation and died.



Humble work vans stolen for Middle East

By Jared Savage
Police say they have broken an international car-theft ring that shipped the parts of hundreds of stolen Toyota vans from Auckland to the Middle East. The humble Toyota Hiace - more workhorse than thoroughbred - looks an unlikely target for car thieves. But the van has been the most stolen model in Japan for the past two years because the parts are valued for their durability in the desert sands of countries such as Pakistan and Afghanistan. Police saw a similar pattern emerge in Auckland over the past 18 months and launched Operation Beryl in April. More than 550 Toyota vans were stolen in that time, but only 18 per cent were recovered. The normal recovery rate is 70 per cent.



NZ fans rush to buy Jackson albums

By Vaimoana Tapaleao and Edward Gay
Music stores around the country were swamped yesterday by fans buying Michael Jackson albums and videos after his sudden death. Cameron Brewer, head of the Newmarket Business Association, said music retailers were urgently requesting more stock. "Music retailers told me that people were literally grabbing what they could. It seems that Thriller and his Greatest Hits went out the door first, followed by literally anything with Michael Jackson's name on it," Mr Brewer said. At lunch time in Auckland City, office workers and university students of all ages queued outside the Real Groovy store on Queen St. One man bought $550 worth of Michael Jackson music in vinyl.



Westpac makes another multi-million dollar blunder

Westpac, which last month mistakenly transferred $10 million into the account of a Rotorua businessman who is still on the run, has made another similar big-figure error. Hamilton computer firm Elite Business Systems was temporarily flush with more than $4 million in additional funds this week. The company received a Westpac fax telling them $4.3 million had been transferred into its account on behalf of a client paying a bill. Administration manager Graeme Richer couldn't believe his eyes because the sum owed was just $43,000. "We were hopeful, almost had our tickets booked to fly out to Hong Kong," he told The Waikato Times. Last month, Rotorua couple Leo Gao and Kara Hurring skipped the country for Hong Kong after Westpac mistakenly put $10 million into Mr Gao's account. Police are seeking the help of Chinese authorities to find the pair.
NZPA



Friday, June 26

Sunfish a rare sight

By VANESSA PHILLIPS - The Nelson Mail
Tourists being guided along Farewell Spit were mesmerised by more than just the area's natural beauty yesterday. A large sunfish, about 2 metres long, and 2m wide from fintip to fintip, was spotted as Farewell Spit Eco Tours driver John Stevens was heading towards the spit with a busload of tourists. The dead sunfish was on the intertidal plain of the spit, about one kilometre on the Collingwood side of Puponga township. Farewell Spit Eco Tours owner Paddy Gillooly said the sunfish fascinated the tourists.



Christchurch discouraging smoking in parks

NewstalkZB
A tough anti-smoking stance from the Christchurch City Council. It has adopted a new city wide smokefree policy discouraging smoking in parks, public spaces and council-run public events. Council strategy and planning programme manager Alan Bywater says it will not be illegal to smoke in parks, but it will be frowned upon. He says there is a major shift in culture that needs to take place first. Mr Bywater says the council is also trying to protect future generations by hiding smoking from children in the parks.



Rain and humid weather on the way

NewstalkZB
Heavy rain is expected for much of the North Island and with it there will be warmer temperatures. The MetService forecasts torrential rain spreading this afternoon. Weather Watch Centre head weather analyst Philip Duncan says Northland to Bay of Plenty will experience heavy downpours over the weekend. He says overnight lows will be warm, sitting around the 13 degree mark due to the sub-tropical front. Philip Duncan says there will be high humidity and surface flooding for some areas.



Fonterra ranked world's largest milk processor

The Fonterra dairy co-operative has been ranked the world's biggest milk processor in an international survey. Research company International Farm Comparison Network ranked 600 milk processors in more than 70 countries. It placed Fonterra's annual volume of milk processed ahead of other competitors, such as Dairy Farmers of America and Nestle. Fonterra's 10,500 New Zealand farmer-shareholders supply 80% of the company's milk which is processed into more than two million tonnes of export products a year.
Copyright © 2009 Radio New Zealand



Sign language tuition funding secure - minister

Tertiary Education Minister Anne Tolley is insisting that sign language classes for adults will continue to be funded. In the Budget in May, the Government cut funding for adult education courses run by a variety of educators by $54 million. However Anne Tolley says funding will continue because sign language fits within the Government's adult community education criteria.
Copyright © 2009 Radio New Zealand



Public to have say on direction of defence forces

The public is being given a chance to have its say on the country's defence forces. Defence Minister Wayne Mapp and Associate Defence Minister Heather Roy launched a public consultation document at Te Papa (National Museum) in Wellington on Friday afternoon. Ms Roy says consultation is an important part of the review which will determine the direction of the defence force in coming decades. Among the issues the review will consider is the role the defence force will play in providing security to the South Pacific region. Submissions close at the end of August.
Copyright © 2009 Radio New Zealand



NZ scientists crack puzzle of pigeons

By Isaac Davison
A pigeon's ability to find its way home from distant and unfamiliar locations, even after it has been drugged, has been explained for the first time by two New Zealand scientists. Researchers found that homing pigeons returned home by a sort of ingrained GPS system, responding to markers on the Earth's magnetic field. Scientists have shown that pigeons are sensitive to the magnetic field, but until now none have determined exactly how the birds use the field to work out their position. Professor Walker, of the university's Maori Centre of Research Excellence, said researchers had often been puzzled by pigeons taking an indirect line home. The birds later established a course towards home and updated these courses en route. He said their work found that pigeons could chart their course home from the outset by responding to local variations, or ripples, in the surface of the area's magnetic field. Even pigeons taken under anaesthesia to distant locations showed themselves adept at finding a way home.



Nobel laureates to join peace march

By Simon Collins
Up to 200 world leaders and Nobel Peace Prize laureates will make a pilgrimage in September to peace monuments around Auckland which many Aucklanders have never heard of. The group will also visit the Chatham Islands and then gather in Wellington for the start of a World Peace March that will travel to 90 countries, ending three months later at the foot of the Andes mountains in South America. The organisers, Madrid-based World Without Wars, chose New Zealand as the starting point because of the country's nuclear-free policy and its position just west of the International Dateline, making it "the first country to see the dawn".



Thursday, June 25

McDonald's scheme to train young unemployed

A government scheme to be launched in coming months will see McDonald's restaurants train unemployed young people. Social Developement Minister Paula Bennett says the progarmme includes up to 12 weeks of pre-employment training, followed by up to a year of mentoring on the job. The scheme will take youths referred by Work and Income and has been set up by the Government, McDonald's and the Hospitality Standards Institute. Ms Bennett rejects criticism that the scheme would fail to upskill people, saying the restaurant has a training programme and is regarded as a good employer. Selected restaurants throughout New Zealand will take part in the scheme by September.
Copyright © 2009 Radio New Zealand



Weather will not dampen Mardi Gras

NewstalkZB
More than 5000 people are expected to officially welcome the 2009 ski season at this year's Mount Ruapehu Mardi Gras in Ohakune on Saturday. Now in its 15th year, Mardi Gras has become a highlight on the Ruapehu district calendar, with more and more people turning up every year dressed in weird and wonderful costumes. Event coordinator David Williams says Mardi Gras was born following the 1995 Mount Ruapehu eruption, and is now an iconic event in the district. He doubts a wet weekend weather forecast will dampen the spirits of festival goers. "There's no such thing as bad weather, just inappropriate clothing." Mr Williams says it is a great opportunity for people to dress-up.



No amnesty for illegal overstayers

The Government is ruling out any chance of running an amnesty for illegal overstayers. Such a move was tried in 2000 and it will not be repeated. Immigration Minister Jonathan Coleman says a year after the last amnesty there were even more overstayers in the country than there were before the amnesty was called. He says amnesties do not work and the Government does not want to send the message they are a pathway to staying in the country.
Copyright 2002 - 2009, TelstraClear Ltd



Late winter and spring tipped to be colder than usual

Climatologist Jim Salinger is warning late winter and spring are likely to be colder than usual. He says there have been rapid changes in ocean and atmospheric conditions in the Pacific, and it is extremely likely El Nino conditions will prevail in the second half of the year. Dr Salinger says this will bring cold, southwesterly winds to much of New Zealand and conditions will be very dry along the east coast of both islands, from Northland to Canterbury. He says it will be much wetter than usual in the far south.
Copyright © 2009 Radio New Zealand



French Navy sailing in

NewstalkZB
The French Navy is coming. A patrol boat normally based in Noumea is due to arrive in Auckland next Thursday morning for a four day visit. The public will be allowed onboard on the Friday and Saturday. The vessel, La Glorieuse, is visiting as part of the French Navy's routine patrols of the exclusive economic zones of New Caledonia and Wallis and Futuna. It is on the lookout for unauthorised fishing boats, pollution and smugglers.



Korean War marked in Wellington

NewstalkZB
War veterans will gather at the National War Memorial in Wellington today to mark the 59th anniversary of the start of the Korean war. When war broke out in Korea in June 1950, New Zealand was one of the first of 16 nations to respond to the United Nations call for combat assistance. This morning's ceremony, which starts at 11am, will remember the 33 New Zealanders who lost their lives in the attempted takeover of South Korea by the north, and the further 12 men who died before our troops were withdrawn in 1957. In all, around six thousand army and navy personnel served under UN command.



Shops caught selling alcohol to minor

NewstalkZB
Two Wellington grocery stores have been caught selling alcohol to a 16-year-old. The volunteer was sent by police to 12 stores to test whether or not they were prepared to sell alcohol to minors during a sting operation a week ago. Sergeant Jason Thurston says the volunteer could not produce ID so no transaction should have taken place. He says the two businesses will appear before the Liquor Licensing Authority and one staff member will also appear in the Wellington District Court charged with supplying alcohol to a minor.



Increase in organ donations

NewstalkZB
Organ donations are expected to hit a 16-year high this year. The medical sector has had long running problems securing enough donors for transplant surgery. Organ Donation New Zealand has told Parliament's Health Select Committee there have already been 25 organ donations from deceased people this year. That compares to the 30 recorded for all of last year. Predictions are there could be as many as 50 donors this year - the most in the past 16 years.



Wednesday, June 24

West Coast man loses feet, hand in Arctic whiteout

A West Coast man who survived being stranded in an Arctic whiteout has had to have both feet amputated in an American hospital. Joseph Gibbons, 39, also known as Jake Speed, from Karamea, initially lost about three quarters of each foot and his right hand to frostbite. His feet had now been amputated, friend John Fiebig said. Mr Gibbons and his friend Daniel Vos, 46, also from Karamea, were caught in a storm on April 15 while working near Summit Camp, the highest point of Greenland's icecap. Mr Vos had a night in the open, then joined the search for Mr Gibbons, who spent three nights and three days without survival gear in a snow hole as the temperature plummeted to minus 40degC.
NZPA



Boy missing for 68 years declared dead

The younger sister of a Wellington boy who disappeared without a trace 68 years ago is relieved a "very, very tragic" family story has come to an end. Nine-year-old Ronald "Ronnie" Alfred Oldham was last seen playing alone at the Miramar Wharf in Wellington on the evening of February 17, 1941. Police believed Ronnie fell from the wharf, hit his head and drowned, but his body was never found. This week, Ronnie was officially declared dead by Wellington Coroner Garry Evans. Ronnie's sister Maureen Boyd said the decision had given her family much needed closure. "I feel he has come up with the right decision, we can now move on," she said. Mrs Boyd first appealed to the Coroner's Court in 1985 but the inquiry was never completed.
NZPA



Pre-school health check programme seen as appalling

District health boards have been told they will have to repay money allocated for a nationwide pre-school health check programme, unless they improve the way it is run. Only 11% of the children eligible for the programme have received check-ups. Health Minister Tony Ryall has labelled the scheme "shambolic." The B4 school check programme, which was rolled out last year, aims to identify any health, behavioural or developmental concerns which could impact on children's performance at school. However Mr Ryall says the boards' performance in delivering the $9 million scheme has been appalling. In Canterbury, one of the worst perfoming regions, only 5% of eligible children were checked by May this year. Mr Ryall has written to the boards saying he expects them to return the unspent money.
Copyright © 2009 Radio New Zealand



Hundreds gather to watch orca dine in Auckland

About 200 onlookers have gathered on Auckland's Tamaki Drive to watch a pod of orca hunting close to the shore. Five or six killer whales have been chasing stingrays within five to ten metres of the shore - moving from Okahu Bay, past Kohimarama and towards St Heliers. Onlookers have been watching what appear to be two adult and three or four juvenile orca throwing stingrays into the air and eating them.
New Zealand orcas are the only known orca group that eat stingrays as a staple food, often hunting them into shallow water and sometimes beaching themselves. Orcas also eat other foods including fish, squid, dolphins, sharks and seals.
NZHERALD STAFF



China gets a craving for NZ kiwifruit

By KRIS HALL - BusinessDay
Demand in China for New Zealand kiwifruit is growing so rapidly that national marketer Zespri expects exports to the People's Republic to treble within 10 years. China now accounts for 6 per cent of all Zespri kiwifruit sales and, with demand growing and trade tariffs falling, that figure is tipped to rise to 20 per cent within the next decade. "Volumes have been increasing at 200 per cent over the past five years and that growth will treble over the next 10 years," director of corporate and grower services Carol Ward said. "China has the potential to become our second or third biggest market, that's for sure." Japan is the biggest buyer of New Zealand kiwifruit with a 16 per cent share, or 16 million trays, of fruit in 2008-09. Spain runs a close second with 13 per cent, or 13.6 million trays.



Double anniversary for Maui gas field

The Maui gas field has celebrated a double birthday. The field was discovered off the coast of Taranaki 40 years ago and has been in production for 30 years. Shell chairman Rob Jager says the gas field has transformed New Zealand's economy. It was large even by world standards when discovered. The field is now nearing depeletion, but Mr Jager says research is underway on whether its life expectancy of another five to 10 years can be extended.
Copyright © 2009 Radio New Zealand



State house tenants to be allowed buy houses

The Government is to allow state house tenants to buy their houses. It is promising new state houses will be built to replace those being sold, keeping the number at the current level of nearly 70-thousand state homes. Housing Minister Phil Heatley told Nine to Noon the policy will benefit both tenants and those waiting for a house. He said the sales will fund a programme to build new houses for people on waiting lists.
Copyright © 2009 Radio New Zealand



Tuesday, June 23

Recession predicted to last well into 2010

There are predictions the recession will last until well into 2010. New Zealand Prime Minister John Key says he believes the end of the global credit crisis is in sight, though the international community has yet to recover economically. However, Mr Key believes the domestic economy is in better shape than Reserve Bank is forecasting. Gross Domestic Product figures for the March quarter are due to be issued on Friday. Mr Key says the central bank's forecast was minus 1% for the first quarter but believes the GDP statistics will be more positive.
Copyright © 2009 Radio New Zealand



Rugby-Seven changes to All Blacks for Italy test

A whiff of rotation with seven changes to the All Blacks starting fifteen for the rugby test against Italy in Christchurch on Saturday.
The full team is, in the forwards: Crockett, Keven Mealamu, John Afoa, Williams, Brad Thorn, Jerome Kaino, Tanerau Latimer and Kieran Read. In the backs: Leonard, McAlister, Joe Rokocoko, Ma'a Nonu, Toeava, Masaga and Mils Muliaina. The reserves bench is Aled de Malmanche, Tony Woodcock, Franks, Isaac Ross, George Whitelock, Piri Weepu and Cory Jane.
© 2009 NZCity, NewsTalkZB



Mallard tossed out of the House

Labour MP Trevor Mallard has been tossed out of Parliament's debating chamber again. Lockwood Smith has only ejected people twice in his time in the speakers chair - both times it has been Trevor Mallard. Today's incident came during questions over the Richard Worth affair, when the Prime Minister took exception to Mr Mallard's interjections. After a heated exchange with the Speaker, during which Mr Mallard accused him of making the worst decision he had ever made, the Labour MP was ejected for challenging the Speaker's ruling. Dr Smith told Parliament Mr Mallard needs to act with more decorum.
Copyright 2002 - 2009, TelstraClear Ltd



Spanish royalty to be welcomed in Wellington

The King and Queen of Spain will be officially welcomed at two ceremonies in Wellington this morning. King Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofia will attend a wreath laying ceremony at the National War Memorial and Tomb of the Unknown Warrior just after 9.30am. The ceremony will be attended by the Chief of the Defence Force Lieutenant General Jerry Mateparae and Arts Culture and Heritage Minister Chris Finlayson. The royal couple will then move on to a state welcome at Parliament where they will be greeted by a Royal Guard of Honour. The King and Queen of Spain last visited New Zealand 21 years ago.
Copyright 2002 - 2009, TelstraClear Ltd



Students deliver message to Iran

Protesters rallying outside the Iranian embassy in Wellington clutched a photo of a young girl being hailed as a martyr after she was shot by police in Tehran. Footage of the girl dubbed Neda meaning `voice' in Farsi bleeding to death on a road has been posted on YouTube and broadcast globally. It is believed she was watching Saturday's protests with her father when she was shot in the chest. Now her photo is being used on posters of protest. Yesterday, about two dozen Wellington secondary pupils braved cold and wet conditions outside the Roseneath embassy to protest against the spiralling post-election violence and harsh clampdown on media freedom in Iran.
NZPA



Lawyers apply for new certificates

The majority of Fiji's lawyers have applied for certificates to practise under a new set of rules decreed by the government. The certificates are issued through the interim government's Chief Registrar, a responsibility transferred from the Law Society. The deadline for lodging their applications was last week. Fiji Law Society president Dorsami Naidu, says the majority had no choice but to apply for the new certificates. He thinks about 50 certificates have been issued but over 200 more are yet to be approved.
Copyright © 2009 Radio New Zealand



Recognition urged for Matariki by Mayor

Waitakere Mayor Bob Harvey is calling for Matariki, the Maori new year, which begins this week to be recognised as a public holiday. Mr Harvey told Waatea News it's been growing in our identity and our culture for years. He will ask the council's Te Taumata Runanga on Wednesday night to urge the Government to make Matariki a stand-alone public holiday. Matariki is the Maori name for the group of stars also known as Pleiades or The Seven Sisters. In late May, they dip below the horizon and their re-appearance a few weeks later signifies the end of the harvest season. The first new moon to follow brings the new year. Matariki begins on Wednesday morning, the first day of the new moon following the rise of Pleiades.
Copyright © 2009 Radio New Zealand



Hundreds of Pacific island children not at school

A select committee investigating New Zealand's relationship with Pacific Island countries has been told hundreds of Pacific children don't go to school because their parents are overstayers. Ben Taufua from the Pacific Island School Trustees Association, told the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee in Manukau City on Monday night that granting overstayers amnesty might help. He said the committee must deal with immigration issues affecting people from countries such as Samoa and Tonga because their children are suffering. Makelita Kolo, from the Tongan community, said the children rarely get health care and never use their own name when they see a doctor.
Copyright © 2009 Radio New Zealand



Monday, June 22

PNG hopeful new scheme for technical training in Australia will start next year

Papua New Guinea’s government says it hopes to start sending students to Australia for technical training by the middle of next year. The governments of both countries agreed on the training scheme at the Australia/PNG ministerial forum earlier this month in Brisbane. PNG’s National Planning and District Development Minister says several new vocational colleges are to be built in PNG and the Port Moresby facility upgraded. But Paul Tiensten says a shortage of skilled tradespeople is creating a serious problem for the country and sending students to Australia is an urgent short term measure.
© Radio New Zealand International.



Latest poll shows support for National continuing

A string of negative stories has not dented the National Party's popularity according to the latest poll. The Roy Morgan poll had National unchanged on 52 per cent support despite a bleak budget in May, the Richard Worth affair and a disastrous by-election in Mt Albert. The poll taken between June 1 and June 14 had Labour support up two points to 33 per cent, the Greens down one to 7.5 per cent, ACT on 2.5 per cent (up 0.5), the Maori Party on 2.5 per cent (down 0.5). United Future and the Progressive Party were unchanged on 0.5 per cent support.
NZPA



Auckland pop could double by 2031

Auckland's population may double to two million by 2031. The prediction comes in a report on population trends in the Auckland region prepared by Statistics New Zealand. And with New Zealand's aging population, the number of Aucklanders over the age of 65 is predicted to increase by 146 percent to 300,000. Statistics New Zealand says Auckland's population is becoming increasingly mobile, with overseas migrants coming in and the number of people leaving for other parts of the country also rising.
Copyright 2002 - 2009, TelstraClear Ltd



Visitors from Australia top million mark

The number of visitors arriving from Australia in the past year has exceeded a million for the first time. Statistics New Zealand, in releasing international travel and migration figures for the 12 months to May, says 1.02 visitor arrivals from Australia represent an increase of 35,500 arrivals, or 4%, on the previous 12 months. That is double the figure of 10 years ago.
Copyright © 2009 Radio New Zealand



Preschools face loss of top teachers

By Jacqueline Smith
Early childhood centres will have to sack some of their most experienced teachers next year because they have not completed a specialised course. The teachers do not have a diploma or a bachelor of teaching degree in early childhood education. The qualification move come as the Ministry of Education estimates centres will be short of between 1500 and 2600 teachers next year. Early Childhood Council chief executive Sarah Farquhar said the ministry's stifling qualification requirements were exacerbating the chronic teacher shortage. The Government has indicated it may rethink the requirements because of the looming shortage.



New luxury golf course in Northland

Resource consent has been given for a new luxury golf course in the Far North. Lion Rock Golf Course will be situated near the renowned Kauri Cliffs course, on the Purerua Peninsula in the northern Bay of Islands. It will include a luxury lodge and residential accommodation. Northland's Carrington golf course on the Karikari Peninsula is also world-renowned.
Copyright 2002 - 2009, TelstraClear Ltd



Scott Dixon fifth in Iowa

New Zealand's Indycar champion Scott Dixon has slipped to third after finishing fifth in the Iowa Corn Indy 250. Dixon started from third on the grid but his chances of winning went when his car clipped Helio Castroneves' early in the race .Dario Franchitti won from the Australian Ryan Briscoe, who now leads by three points. Franchitti is second, 15 points clear of his team-mate Dixon with Castroneves fourth.
Copyright © 2009 Radio New Zealand



Kiwis moving closer to cashless society

Cash is no longer king in New Zealand, according to the Retirement Commission's report. The report found electronic funds transfer (Eftpos) had displaced cash as the most common method used to pay for things such as groceries, power bills and mortgage. The number using Eftpos in the latest survey (83 per cent) is the same as in 2005, but the number using cash dropped from 84 per cent to 77 per cent. There have also been declines in all other methods of payment except internet banking, where users have increased from 34 per cent of adults in 2005 to 47 per cent.
Copyright 2009, APN Holdings NZ Limited



New base for Wellington ambulance

Wellington Free Ambulance is building a new $3 million station on the grounds of Wellington Hospital. The decision has been made to move the current Newtown station, as it is no longer suitable for use. The new site will allow them to respond to emergencies faster and more efficiently.
Copyright 2002 - 2009, TelstraClear Ltd



Kiwi still held in Chinese jail

By KAY BLUNDELL - The Dominion Post
A Kiwi remains in a Chinese jail nearly seven months after being detained by officials. Raumati businessman Danny Cancian was in China on business in December when he is believed to have been detained by Chinese officials after a violent incident. The Foreign Affairs Ministry said Mr Cancian's family had requested that no details about the case be made public. It refused to say what charges Mr Cancian, aged in his forties, was facing but confirmed he was still behind bars in China. "Our consular role is to ensure anyone arrested and detained in prison has access to legal representation. We monitor their health and welfare and check they are not discriminated against," a spokeswoman said. Mr Cancian is one of two directors of ShowerBuddy, a product he created in 2003 to help disabled people get into the shower. It is sold in Canada and the United States, and is made in China.



Research finds blackcurrants helps exercise recovery

A preliminary study by the Plant and Food Research Institute suggests that natural chemicals found in blackcurrants may help people to recover from exercise and sports. The research, using an extract derived from New Zealand-grown blackcurrants, showed the potential to minimise muscle damage. Karl Crawford, the institute's food innovations business manager, says that when the extract is taken before and after exercise it appears to reduce inflammation slightly and to boost a person's immune system. The findings back up the positive links between blackcurrants and exercise identified in Japanese research.
Copyright © 2009 Radio New Zealand



Dollar may hit 70 US cents - analyst

The New Zealand dollar could soon reach 70 US cents, a currency analyst is warning. In what would be bad news for exporters, Derek Rankin of Rankin Treasury says the dollar will inevitably appreciate as the United states dollar continues to weaken against other currencies. Mr Rankin says exporters using US dollars will suffer, but manufacturers exporting to Australia are benefiting from a falling New Zealand dollar against its Australian counterpart.
Copyright © 2009 Radio New Zealand



Ice warning for South Island motorists

South Island motorists are being urged to take extreme care on Monday morning because of severe ice. Police say roading contractors in Nelson and Blenheim are reporting the worst ice on roads they have seen in 20 years. Several vehicles have already slid off the road, and police say motorists should drive to the conditions.
Copyright © 2009 Radio New Zealand



Sunday, June 21

New Zealand wins rugby's Junior World Cup

New Zealand has won rugby's Junior World Cup, scoring seven tries to three to beat England 44-28 in Tokyo. It is the second year in a row that New Zealand has won the world under-20 title.
Copyright © 2009 Radio New Zealand



Top 48Hours competition film named

NZPA/Wayne Drought
Dunedin's Line Men has beaten more than 600 other teams to win the annual 48Hours film competition with their film, Charlotte. Made over one weekend out of one of 12 possible genres, the Line Men team was allocated "The M Night Shyamalan Big Twist Movie" genre, named after a director whose films feature big plot surprises. Director Peter Jackson chose the wildcard finalists with the help of Hobbit movie producer Guillermo Del Toro.



Whooping cough alert for parents

By Anna Leask
Health authoritie are facing a whooping cough outbreak, after a surge in the number of diagnosed cases. In Auckland, 92 people have been diagnosed with the disease already this year compared to 57 for the whole of 2008. Waikato has seen 57 cases, compared with 85 last year, and Canterbury has had 145 cases, after just 15 for the first half of 2008. Waikato District Health Board medical officer of health Dr Anita Bell said the increase in her region was a concern, particularly because whooping cough, often known as the 100-day cough, could be fatal for babies. Auckland Regional Public Health Service clinical director Dr Julia Peters said it was crucial for parents to ensure their babies had all their whooping cough immunisations on time.



NZ rugby competition structure revamped

The New Zealand Rugby Union has unveiled its new structure for domestic provincial rugby. It will reduce the current 14 teams playing for the Air New Zealand Cup to a 10-team Premier Division. Below that will be a Division One competition, and beneath that a continuation of the Heartland Championship, which operates now. The changes will be in place by 2011, the union says, subject to development of a Division One competition which is "meaningful, sustainable and attractive".
Copyright © 2009 Radio New Zealand



Saturday, June 20

Rugby-All Blacks beat France

New Zealand has beaten France 14-10 in Wellington to narrowly avoid being beaten in a home rugby test series for the first time in 15 years. In a match played in steady and often driving rain, the All Blacks led 8-0 at halftime and held on to win the second test on Saturday. France was attempting to become only the sixth visiting team to win a test series in New Zealand after taking last week's first test.
New Zealand 14 Ma'a Nonu try; Stephen Donald (2), Luke McAlister goals
France 10 Cedric Heymans try; Julien Dupuy, Dimitri Yachvili goals
NZ HERALD STAFF, AP



Rugby fans advised to wrap up warmly

Rugby fans heading the All Blacks test against France in Wellington on Saturday are being told to expect bitterly cold temperatures and showers during the match. MetService weather forecaster Ian Miller says the temperature will be about eight degrees Celsius, but strong southerlies will make it feel colder. He says there could also be some showers during the game, and people should dress prepared for wintry conditions. The All Blacks lost to France 27-22 in Dunedin last weekend, and need to avoid a second successive defeat to keep their number one position in the world rankings.
Copyright © 2009 Radio New Zealand



Ski season starting

The recession has done little to detract snow enthusiasts from enjoying their winter. It is hoped the weather will clear enough for Turoa's upper mountain slopes to officially open later today. Ruapehu Alpine Lifts marketing manager Mike Smith says there is a good line of cars heading up the mountain this morning. That is no surprise to operators considering a record number of season passes have been sold: 24,500 have gone out the door - up from 18,000 last year. Mr Smith says that is an awesome result, especially given the economy at the moment. He says Whakapapa is on track to open next Saturday.
Copyright 2002 - 2009, TelstraClear Ltd



Dame Kiri to be inducted into Hollywood hall of fame

NZPA/Ross Setford
New Zealand opera singer Dame Kiri Te Kanawa and "popera" vocalist Josh Groban, who has appeared in Chess concerts on both sides of the Atlantic, will be inducted into the Hollywood Bowl hall of fame tomorrow (NZ time). Composer-conductor John Williams and country-music guru Garth Brooks are the hosts for the concert, the Ventura County Star reported.



Rudd rejects claims his office lobbied for friend

Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has launched an investigation into accusations that his office lobbied for Government funds on behalf of a friend, but has denied any wrongdoing. Mr Rudd on Friday rejected claims raised in a Senate inquiry that his office had lobbied on behalf of Ipswich car dealer John Grant, who was seeking assistance under the $A2 billion OzCar vehicle financing scheme. Opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull had demanded Mr Rudd explain his links to Mr Grant or resign. Despite assurances his government had done nothing wrong, Mr Rudd has asked the Commonwealth auditor-general to investigate the matter by the end of July.
Copyright © 2009 Radio New Zealand



National remains above 50% support - poll

A Roy Morgan opinion poll shows support for the National Party remaining above 50%. The poll has National unchanged since May on 52% support, Labour up two points to 33%, and the Greens down one point to 7.5%. Support for the Maori Party is down half a point at 2.5%, level with ACT, which had risen half a point.
Copyright © 2009 Radio New Zealand



Overstayers continue to by fake visas

NZPA/Ross Setford
Hundreds of overstayers, most of them Samoan, are continuing to pay $500 for bogus residence visas despite the scam being uncovered. It is being run by Gerard Otimi, a Maori who tells them the visas make them adopted members of his hapu with the right to live in New Zealand. Mr Otimi has acknowledged his visas have no standing with immigration authorities, but he was reported today to still be doing a roaring trade in Auckland. TV One news showed a hall packed with people who had come to collect their passports, stamped with the visas, and a certificate confirming their "adoption". Government ministers have described the scam as "disgusting" and "deplorable" and urged victims to go to the police.



NZers shortlisted for A$1m sculpture competition

NZPA/Wayne Drought
Palmerston North artists, Fran and Paul Dibble, and architect John Hardwick-Smith have been shortlisted for an international sculpture competition offering A$1 million (NZ$1.26 million) for an art work to transform Forrest Place in Perth's city centre. The same team was behind the New Zealand Memorial in London's Hyde Park Corner, described by one British critic as "bristling" and "unlovely". The memorial was recognised in the New Zealand Institute of Architects 2009 Architecture Awards. West Australia Culture and the Arts Minister John Day said the five teams would be invited to develop their concept designs which would be publicly displayed before the final winner was chosen later this year.



Pacific people's views sought on sustainable economies

Pacific people living in New Zealand are being encouraged to tell Parliament how the country can help to develop sustainable economies in the Pacific. Parliament's foreign affairs & trade select committee is holding meetings in Auckland and Christchurch next week and asking for submissions on the issue. Committee chair National MP John Hayes says it wants to hear the views of Pacific people here on what economic development and aid initiatives there should be for Pacific Island Forum countries.
Copyright © 2009 Radio New Zealand



Friday, June 19

People warned of hoax hospice calls

NZPA/Wayne Drought
An Auckland hospice today warned the public about hoax calls asking for donations on its behalf. West Auckland Hospice said it wasn't its practice to phone people to seek cash donations. The issue came to light this week when a woman made such a call to a local businessman, who became suspicious. Chief executive Barbara Williams said the hospice wanted to assure its genuine supporters that its staff was not involved.



Pharmac to fully fund heart condition treatments

NZPA / Wayne Drought
Three treatments for a potentially fatal heart condition are to be fully funded by Pharmac from next month. The condition, pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) , affects the heart and lungs, often causing severe shortness of breath. In some cases, the condition can be treated with medicines , but for more severe cases doctors have to apply to the Pharmac-managed Exceptional Circumstances scheme. The three treatments are sildenafil, bosentan and iloprost and would become fully funded from July 1.



NZ, Australia 'pressuring China' over Fiji aid - Bainimarama

The leader of Fiji's military-led government, Commodore Frank Bainimarama, claims that New Zealand and Australia have asked China to reconsider its aid and funding support for Fiji. The website Fiji Village reports Mr Bainimarama as saying he's aware of a number of approaches made by New Zealand and Australia over the past few months to ensure that the Fiji economy is crippled. Fiji Village reports the Australian parliamentary secretary for Pacific Islands affairs, Duncan Kerr, as saying China has been approached by Australia; but he denies saying that Chinese aid to Fiji is hindering sanctions imposed by Canberra and Wellington.
Copyright © 2009 Radio New Zealand



Greens urge police to stop rollout of tasers

The Green Party is calling for New Zealand's rollout of police tasers to be suspended after the death of a man in Queensland who was tasered 28 times. The Queensland police have ordered a review of the use of the gun. Green MP Keith Locke says the New Zealand police should also suspend their rollout of the weapon and also ensure that the ones already in use are not fired more than once at a person. Civil liberties groups in Australia are demanding a thorough investigation of the Queensland tasering. Antonio Galeano, 39, collapsed and died after being tasered 28 times during an attempted arrest at his home in Brandon last Friday.
Copyright © 2009 Radio New Zealand



Farmers thrilled at Doha progress

Federated Farmers is hailing the latest development in the Doha trade talks as the end of the false dawns. Diplomats from 153 countries negotiating a global free trade pact have agreed to try to settle their differences over food exports. Federated Farmers say negotiators have been "almost there" for seven and a half years. It says now it looks like they are almost there. President Don Nicolson says there will be a massive gain for New Zealand. "There's about half a trillion dollars of export subsidies and protectionism in the agriculture sector so if we can free that up, so that lifts the barriers to free trade, then obviously New Zealand as a big trading nation is going to be well placed."
Copyright 2002 - 2009, TelstraClear Ltd



Specialists focus on rheumatic fever

Specialists from all around the world are gathering in Auckland today with the aim of wiping rheumatic fever from New Zealand's health landscape. The heart-damaging illness is almost unheard of in developed countries - apart from New Zealand and Australia. The disease kills 150 people each year in New Zealand. Auckland University population health Professor Dianna Lennon says it is a preventable disease if the preceding strep throat is treated. "Therefore, one should be erring on the side of treatment, even over treatment of strep throat." She says in New Zealand, rheumatic fever affects mostly poor Maori and Pacific Island children.
Copyright 2002 - 2009, TelstraClear Ltd



Fast-track plan for foreign teachers

By JOHN HARTEVELT - The Press
Foreign teachers could be fast-tracked into classrooms through a six-week training course as the early-childhood sector battles staff shortages. A teachers' union has criticised the "hothouse" courses as being far too short, but a sector leader said it could solve staffing problems "overnight". The Ministry of Education has forecast a worst-case shortage of 2600 teachers in the early-childhood sector next year. The best-case scenario is a shortfall of 1500 teachers. Ministry group manager Karl Le Quesne said last night work was under way on a policy to put foreign-trained teachers on a six-week course to learn the national curriculum, called Te Whariki.



Rural bonding scheme hits mark with doctors, nurses

The Government has expanded its voluntary scheme for health workers prepared to work in rural areas and other hard-to-staff locations, because it's been so popular. Launched in February to overcome chronic staffing shortages, the scheme offers write-offs of student loans or cash payments for graduate doctors, nurses or midwives. Health Minister Tony Ryall says about 350 applicants were expected but the response has been more than double that. All 893 applicants will be accepted and there will be a second intake of the scheme next year.
Copyright © 2009 Radio New Zealand



Thursday, June 18

Alzheimer's sufferer writes important work

NZPA / David Rowland
A Wairarapa author has been able to write a historically important book about the role of women in New Zealand print media despite being diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. Janet McCallum wrote until she "forgot how to turn the computer on," her daughter Anna Livesey told NZPA. The recently released book, Women and their Words, looks at women pioneers in the print media from the 1860s until the 1940s. It is the first book that has covered the whole group of women during that period, whether they were writing, editing or owning newspapers, Victoria University historian Dr Charlotte Macdonald said. The 61-year-old author was diagnosed with Alzheimer's 11 years ago.



Rowing team expects to reach Mauritius on July 8

NZPA / David Rowland
Four New Zealand rookie rowers, into their seventh week of a long and painful crossing of the Indian Ocean, expect to reach Mauritius in about three weeks. The quartet is attempting to become the world's first four-man crew to complete the crossing . They set off from Geraldton in Western Australia on April 19 for Mauritius, competing against 11 other teams from around the world. Five teams have already dropped out. The quartet is attempting to follow in the footsteps of Rob Hamill, Phil Stubbs, Kevin Biggar and Jamie Fitzgerald and set another ocean rowing world record for New Zealand. In 1997, Hamill and the late Stubbs completed the trans-Atlantic rowing race from Tenerife to Barbados in 41 days, two hours.



Details of home insulation package announced

All the major banks have agreed to participate in a home insulation programme which starts next month, Prime Minister John Key said today. The Government announced in May's budget $323 million over four years to retrofit 180,000 homes with insulation and clean-heating devices. The scheme provides government grants of up to $1300 towards a third of the cost of insulation and a $500 grant for clean heaters. Loans would be available for the remaining cost. "All main trading banks have agreed to join the Government's insulation and heating scheme, and all have agreed to waive their fees for top-up loans homeowners get as part of insulation retrofits," Mr Key said, launching the scheme in Christchurch today.
NZPA



More rail services as demand surges in Auckland

Auckland is to get more rail services in response to what is being described as a phenomenal growth in the number of people traveling on trains. Auckland Regional Transport Authority's latest figures show a big surge over the past few years, and an extra 1 million journeys taken between May 2008 and April 2009. Chief executive Fergus Gammie says a new timetable and more services are being introduced - including more peak and late-night services on the southern and eastern lines.
Copyright © 2009 Radio New Zealand



Thousands turn up expecting NZ residency for $500

The police are investigating an apparent immigration scam after thousands of people turned up at an Auckland marae on Wednesday night believing they could get a visa or permanent-residency stamp on their passport for $500. The group running the gathering at Manurewa Marae calls itself Hapu Tina Rangatiratanga Atawhai Whangai and claimed to be representing the Maori Party, but the party says that's not true. Mangere Labour MP Su'a William Sio says the group claims to have the authority to issue visas and permanent residency. The people at the meeting were mainly Pacific Islanders.
Copyright © 2009 Radio New Zealand



Peter Jackson chosen to head review of Film Commission

Film director Peter Jackson has been appointed to lead a review of the New Zealand Film Commission. It's an organisation he has been highly critical of in the past. The Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage, Christopher Finlayson, says the film industry has changed dramatically since the commission was set up more than 30 years ago. He says he has no expectations of what the review might recommend. The announcement fulfils a National Party election promise.
Copyright © 2009 Radio New Zealand



Parliament to consider screening for prostate cancer

Parliament is to consider a nationwide scheme of early detection and treatment for prostate cancer. The Health Select Committee has agreed to undertake the inquiry. Every year in New Zealand, 2000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer and about 600 die from it. Select committee chairperson Paul Hutchison says it is too early to say whether it will recommend a national screening programme.
Copyright © 2009 Radio New Zealand



Wednesday, June 17

British in NZ are "happiest expats"

Britons are being told New Zealand is "paradise" for migrants because it is hotter and cheaper than their homeland and has no traffic jams. Workers who travelled the 18,500km to New Zealand were said to be Britain's "happiest expats", the Daily Mail newspaper reported today. Britons living in New Zealand rated the country highly in all areas. Of all the expatriates surveyed, 86 percent believed their lives were better than before they emigrated and 92 percent said they were happier. In the quality of life index, New Zealand came ahead of Canada, which topped the poll last year. They were followed by Australia, France, the United Arab Emirates, Portugal, Spain, South Africa, the US and China. Despite their wealth, Singapore and Hong Kong came last.
NZPA



Children's sports website to be canned

Sport and Recreation New Zealand says a website aimed at getting children into sport will be canned. The interactive Mission On site was launched in 2007 to encourage healthy eating and physical activity. The budget for the website in the 2008-09 year was nearly $1.5 million. The National Party criticised the site while in opposition, saying it made no sense to have children sitting at a computer when they could be playing sport. Sport and Recreation New Zealand officials appeared before a parliamentary select committee on Wednesday and told MPs the website is being shut down. Minister for Sport Murray McCully says the money will be redirected and further details about that programme will be announced in coming weeks.
Copyright © 2009 Radio New Zealand



Electric cars exempt from road user charges

Electric cars will be exempt from road user charges for four years, the Government said today as it moved to encourage people to use them. Transport Minister Steven Joyce said light electric vehicles - those weighing up to 3.5 tonnes - were currently classed as diesel vehicles for the purpose of road user charges which meant they paid 3.6 cents to 4c per kilometre. "The Government sees private vehicles continuing to be the most significant mode of transportation for most New Zealanders," Mr Joyce said. "Therefore it is important that we encourage the use of alternative fuel technologies in order to help meet our environmental obligations over time."
NZPA



NZ using less power

Electricity use is falling according to newly released figures and the Government's blaming it on the recession. Minister of Energy Gerry Brownlee is citing energy data which shows total electricity generation was down five percent for the March quarter compared with the same time last year. He says it is the lowest figure for five years and reflects the economic downturn dampening power use. Mr Brownlee says on the positive side renewable power generation is up making 73 percent of electricity production - the highest level seen in a March quarter since 2005.
Copyright 2002 - 2009, TelstraClear Ltd



Former NZ cellist to marry Julian Lloyd Webber

NZPA/Ross Setford
Noted cellist Julian Lloyd Webber is to marry the former first cello of the Auckland Chamber Orchestra, Jiaxin Cheng, 34. It will be the fourth marriage for Lloyd Webber, 58, and the ceremony will be at St Luke's Church in Chelsea, London, the Telegraph newspaper reported. "We met a few years ago when we were performing in New Zealand," Lloyd Webber said. "We came around to the idea of marriage after seeing more of each other in London. In April last year, she performed with both Julian Lloyd Webber and his older brother Andrew, billionaire composer Baron Lloyd Webber, who will be best man at the July 4 wedding.
NZPA



Polytechs confident in new era

By PAUL EASTON - The Dominion Post
Polytechs are undaunted by a warning from Finance Minister Bill English to shape up financially or fail. Mr English fired some warning shots at the Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics (ITP) conference in Wellington last week. In a frank speech he said the days of "pots of money" from Wellington were over. "We are past the time when the Government can offer continous support to reinforce failure." Well-run institutions would succeed, while badly run ones could sink, Mr English said. "When you guys run out of money the invoice ends up on my desk. So don't run out of money, because I am not going to give you any.



Gingko herb tested as biocontrol agent

Researchers at the University of Waikato are testing the effectiveness of using a spray made from the herb gingko as a biocontrol agent. Gingko biloba is one of the oldest trees on earth and its longevity can be partly attributed to naturally-occurring toxic compounds it produces. Research by biochemical engineering student Richard Gubb has successfully demonstrated that snails were repelled from eating lettuce leaves coated with a gingko extract.
Copyright © 2009 Radio New Zealand



Briton to head Hawke's Bay health board

Hawke's Bay District Health Board has a new chief executive. Kevin Snee, head of the National Health Service in the county of Devon, in England, will take up the position in October. Board commissioner Sir John Anderson says Dr Snee will bring a broad background in health management to the job. Former chief executive Chris Clarke resigned in February, less than a fortnight before a reconstituted board was due to have its first meeting. In November, Health Minister Tony Ryall agreed to reinstate the elected members of the board who had been sacked in February 2008 by his predecessor.
Copyright © 2009 Radio New Zealand



Female agri-workers linked to high leukaemia rate

A Massey University study shows women agricultural workers are more at risk of developing leukaemia than all other occupation groups, while those working as market gardeners have an even higher risk. The study, conducted by the university's Centre for Public Health Research, involved interviewing more than 200 cancer patients between the ages of 25 and 75, as well as nearly 500 people selected from the general population. It found the risk of leukaemia among market gardeners and nursery growers was four or five times greater than the general public, while crop and vegetable growers also had a higher risk of getting the disease. Lead researcher Dave McLean says the elevated risks among those groups can probably be attributed to the sorts of agrichemicals they use and which groups of workers have exposure to what.
Copyright © 2009 Radio New Zealand



Local Iranians protest at election 'coup'

By Isaac Davison
Anger over Iran's election result reached the streets of Auckland yesterday as supporters of defeated presidential candidate Mir-Hossein Mousavi protested on Queen St. More than 150 members of the city's Iranian community unfurled an Iranian flag and mimicked placards seen in Tehran such as "Where is my vote?". "It feels like a coup" said Iranian immigrant Jafar Davari. "The media and polls told us Mousavi would get maybe 60 per cent of the vote. To not even get 50, well, it looks like fraud."



Pitcairn Islands to undergo changes

Britain is overhauling the way in which its only remaining Pacific territory, Pitcairn Island, is governed. The move is intended to make the island more democratic, and bring it in line with European standards of governance and human rights, a spokesman for the island's Wellington-based governor has told the ABC. The spokesman -- Chris Harrington -- said the governor, Britain's High Commissioner to New Zealand, George Fergusson, had made it clear the changes are not a new constitution. "But there are significant changes and they are important changes to the rules for the Pitcairn Islanders," he said. Pitcairn is about halfway between New Zealand and Peru, and with just 55 inhabitants is the world's smallest territory.
AP



Tuesday, June 16

Rugby-Four changes to All Blacks starting line up

There are four changes to All Blacks starting line up for the second test against France in Wellington on Saturday, in the wake of the first test loss in Dunedin.
The full team is:
Tony Woodcock, Keven Mealamu, Neemia Tialata, Brad Thorn, Isaac Ross, Jerome Kaino, Tanerau Latimer, Kieran Read, Jimmy Cowan, Stephen Donald, Josevata Rokocoko, Ma'a Nonu, Conrad Smith, Cory Jane, Mils Muliaina.
Reserves: Aled de Malmanche, John Afoa, Bryn Evans, George Whitelock, Piri Weepu, Luke McAlister, Isaia Toeava.
Copyright © 2009 Radio New Zealand



Fatherhood forum gets $15k funding boost

A training and support group for new fathers has been given a $15,000 hand-out from charity fund-raiser Sovereign Sunshine. The Dads4Dads programme, offered by Plunket and online fatherhood forum DIYfather.com, taught fathers how to raise their babies. The free programme discussed fatherhood issues in a male-only, non-judgemental zone, the DIYfather site said. The Dads4Dads course would be offered throughout New Zealand, with the next course in Counties Manukau on Thursday June 18, Plunket's clinical advisor Erin Beatson said. Sovereign Sunshine collected money for a number of registered charities through its website. Site users then voted to decide which organisation was the most worthy.
NZPA



More funding for some cancer drug from July

District Health Boards (DHBs) will spend $12 million over five years to widen access to some cancer treatments, Government drug buying agency Pharmac announced today. From July 1, rituximab would be funded for patients with indolent, low-grade, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, Pharmac medical director Peter Moodie said. The drug is already available at DHBs for other forms of lymphoma. About 200 more patients per year would now receive funded treatment, Dr Moodie said. The move was significant for lymphoma treatment and would extend the life-expectancy of many patients, he said.
NZPA



Early childhood could be 1000 teachers short

The early childhood sector could be more than 1000 teachers short next year but the move towards a fully qualified workforce should not be watered down, the educators' union says. All early childhood centres must currently have 50 per cent of their teachers fully qualified to remain licensed, rising to a fully qualified workforce by 2012. The number of qualified teachers and those in training had grown significantly, but projections for next year showed the industry could be more than 1000 teachers short, an early childhood teacher supply summit in Auckland was told yesterday. Demand for early childhood education has risen dramatically in recent years and is set to increase with the current baby boom.
NZPA



Hawke's Bay area gets tick from London wine tasters

A wine-producing area just outside Hastings in Hawke's Bay has its sights set on the lucrative Asian and United States wine markets. The 800-hectare block of land known as the Gimblett Gravels has attracted international acclaim this year, following a successful blind tasting of its wines in London. Many wine afficionados now rate the reds coming out of the area alongside the best from Bordeaux in France.
Copyright © 2009 Radio New Zealand



Coro's 45th NZ anniversary

It was this day 45 years ago that one of the most famous streets in the world hit New Zealand screens. Coronation Street began filming in Britain in 1960, but it was not until four years later that it graced television sets here. The show has remained a favourite ever since and stalwart fans will remember characters like Ena Sharples, Elsie Tanner and Annie Walker who starred in the show from its conception for more than 20 years. The only original character to remain is Ken Barlow who entered the street as a young radical, reflecting the youth of 1960s Britain, and remaining the constant link throughout the entire series.
Copyright 2002 - 2009, TelstraClear Ltd



Dunedin schools closed as snow blankets south

All schools in Dunedin have been closed and public transport stopped due to heavy snow on Tuesday morning. Police warned roads in the city are treacherous and people should avoid non-essential travel. Many vehicles have gone off the road. Dunedin City Council spokesperson Rodney Bryant says all schools in the city are closed as the hilltop suburbs become difficult to travel to and from. Meanwhile, heavy snow has closed parts of State Highway 1 in the lower North Island. State Highway 1 is closed north of Dunedin to Waitati and between Milton and Balclutha. State Highway 93 is closed between Mataura and Clinton in Southland.
Copyright © 2009 Radio New Zealand



Another bumper vintage for wine industry

It has been another big growing year for the wine industry in New Zealand. The grape harvest for 2009 is 285,000 tonnes, on par with last year's record vintage. Though the volume is the same as in 2008, the total area used by the wine industry for growing grapes rose by 2000 hectares to 31,000 hectares. The wine industry is welcoming projections that exports of its product will top $1 billion annually for the first time this year.
Copyright © 2009 Radio New Zealand



Monday, June 15

Young designers' images chosen for Xmas stamps

The designs of three New Zealand children will be among those to grace New Zealand Post's Christmas stamps. Judges chose the three winners - Apurv Bakshi, seven, from Christchurch, Dannielle Aldworth, 10, from Auckland, and Felix Wang, 11, also from Auckland - from more than 14,200 entries. Their designs would feature on the 50c, $2 and $2.50 stamps, beside three other traditional designs.
NZPA



Lets call it "I'm having an anxiety attack" flu....give the pigs a break !

There will be no more 'swine flu' news posted here. Anxiety driven health issues are not helped by constant exposure in the news media. Genuine health stories will of course continue to be posted.



Spanish king, queen to visit NZ

The king and queen of Spain are to visit New Zealand next week. King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia will visit from 20 June to 24 June, accompanied by a high-level delegation. The king and queen will visit Auckland and Wellington over three days, and officially open the Spanish embassy in Wellington on 23 June.
Copyright © 2009 Radio New Zealand



Govt not canning fruit in schools but pruning costs

By MAGGIE TAIT
The Government will continue to fund fruit in schools but will prune back administration costs, Health Minister Tony Ryall says. Green Party health spokeswoman Sue Kedgley today said the programme, which provides fruit for about 100,000 children in 500 low-decile schools, had funding until the end of the year but its future was under review and looked set to be cut. The programme was initiated after the 2002 Child Nutrition Survey showed that only two out of five children get the recommended amount of fruit a day. Mr Ryall said the Government was committed to continuing to fund the programme, but wanted administration costs – about half the annual $12 million bill – significantly reduced.
NZPA



Wine testing in regions approved

Wine producers are to get a greater choice in getting their export product tested. Up until now, wineries wanting to have their vintages analysed have had to send samples to Auckland for the work to be done. Food Safety Minister Kate Wilkinson says that is about to change following lobbying from the industry and MPs, and testing will now be allowed to be done in regional laboratories. She says it makes sense for wine to be tested at appropriate facilities rather than forcing wineries to send everything to Auckland.
Copyright 2002 - 2009, TelstraClear Ltd



New test can tell where eggs come from

A researcher has developed a technique to identify the difference between eggs from caged hens and those from free-range and organically raised hens. It is believed to be the first time that eggs from different farming systems have been distinguished by using isotope analysis. While it is not something the supermarket shopper could use every day, it has potential within the egg industry to avoid mis-labelling. Karyne Rogers, of Geological and Nuclear Science's National Isotope Centre in Lower Hutt, compared different brands of off-the-shelf eggs from cage, barn, free range and organic farming regimes. Using isotope analysis, she found almost all the eggs could be differentiated by relating the carbon and nitrogen found in the egg to the hen's diet.
NZPA



British cook causes stir with call to use NZ lamb

NZPA/Ross Setford
Cooking doyenne Delia Smith -- a champion of British food and British cooking for more than 40 years -- is under fire for telling fans to use New Zealand lamb. The celebrity cook, 67, has been urging British housewives and chefs on her official website to "Make it New Zealand lamb every time". The advice has angered her fans, as well as struggling farmers, who are begging consumers to ignore it and buy domestically reared lamb, the Daily Mail newspaper reported. "Lately Delia Smith's loyalties seem to have become a little scrambled," it said. The row blew up as Miss Smith was awarded a CBE in Britain's Queen's Birthday Honours list for teaching Britons how to cook and for services to the nation's food industry.



Te Papa museum calls for Matariki photos

Te Papa museum in Wellington is calling on people to take photos of their Matariki , or Maori New Year, celebrations. The images would be part of an online collection, Te Papa exhibition manager Adan (correct) Tijerina said. Maori New Year begins when the first moon appears after the star cluster, Matariki, is seen in early June. Te Papa is holding an 18-day Matariki Festival from June 25. Mr Tijerina said as part of the museum's celebrations, it was asking people to take photos of how they lived, worked, or played during Matariki. "Anybody can participate and it's a great way to share your experience of Matariki with the rest of the nation." In July, a panel of selectors would choose 48 of the most compelling images to be displayed on a massive screen outside Te Papa , Mr Tijerina said. Images must be submitted by June 28.
They can be viewed at www.ourspace.tepapa.com.
NZPA



MS breakthrough by Trans-Tasman researchers

NZPA
Trans-Tasman researchers have made a breakthrough on the locations of genes which appear to be linked to susceptibility to an insidious auto-immune disease, multiple sclerosis (MS). Their discovery of the gene locations will help to unravel the causes of MS and other auto-immune diseases, according to findings published today in the Nature Genetics scientific journal. "For decades the cause of MS has remained a mystery," said Professor Trevor Kilpatrick, Melbourne University's director for neurosciences.



Hollywood Bowl Hall of Fame to induct Dame Kiri

NZPA
NZ's Dame Kiri Te Kanawa will sing at the Hollywood Bowl's season-opening gala on Friday -- the performance serving as her induction into the Los Angeles amphitheatre's Hall of Fame. She joins other famous inductees including Liza Minnelli, BB King, Placido Domingo and Frank Sinatra. Dame Kiri told the Los Angeles Times she looked forward to singing at the Bowl and didn't feel receiving lifetime achievement awards, meant her career was over.



Immigration service a 'shambles'

A minder for the Department of Labour's chief executive is necessary to sort out the "shambles and mess" at the immigration service, Prime Minister John Key says. An Auditor-General's report released this month said the service, part of the Department of Labour, was focused on processing as many visas as possible without worrying about quality. "This meant that staff who were under pressure to meet quantity targets had incentives to approve visas and permits, rather than decline them," the report said. The report found problems were worse in the Pacific Division than elsewhere in the service. A person would be appointed to "ride shot-gun" and help change the immigration service, Mr Key said. He was confident Immigration Minister Jonathan Coleman could "sort it".
NZPA



KiwiRail offers free, cheap fares after complaints

Complaints about cold and miserable trains have prompted KiwiRail to offer some Wellington commuters free and discounted fares. The Rail and Maritime Transport Union says there is a lot of anger at the number of Wellington electric commuter trains with defective motors and no heating. A KiwiRail spokesperson Kevin Ramshaw says it is working on rectifying the situation, and in response has offered some free and discounted fares. Mr Ramshaw says the discount is a small token to apologise for the conditions. About 35,000 passenger trips are made on Wellington's commuter rail service each day.
Copyright © 2009 Radio New Zealand



Parents more empowered over teacher complaints

A legal information line for parents has received 30 calls in the past year about teacher misconduct or incompetence. The service, sponsored by Wellington Law Centre, says parents are much more likely than in the past to speak out when they have a complaint about their children's schooling. The supervising lawyer of the legal information line, Felicity McNeill, says of the up to 600 calls it receives each year, almost a third concerned student suspensions. Ms McNeill says parents also complain about teachers' behaviour or the way they teach.
Copyright © 2009 Radio New Zealand



Sunday, June 14

Cold snap advances

The mild weather most parts of New Zealand have been experiencing over the past few days is coming to an end. MetService is predicting a cold snap will hit the southern South Island tonight and move to the North over the next few days. Severe weather forecaster Eric Brenstrum says it is likely to bring snow close to sea level. He says there might be enough to justify a warning in Southland and Fiordland, but by Tuesday it could be affecting places like the Desert Road in the central North Island. Mr Brenstrum says the southern part of the South Island will be the area worst affected.
Copyright 2002 - 2009, TelstraClear Ltd



Talks on how to find enough early childhood teachers

The challenge of finding enough qualified early childhood teachers will be discussed at a meeting in south Auckland tomorrow. NZEI national secretary Paul Goulter said there had been unprecedented demand for early childhood education due to the introduction of the 20 hours free policy and greater public awareness of the importance of early childhood education. "The current baby boom will also push larger numbers of children into early childhood services over the next few years," he said. "Those factors, combined with the move towards a fully qualified early childhood teaching workforce, means there are not enough qualified teachers to keep up with demand." Currently all centres must have 50 percent of their teachers fully qualified and registered but that target is to increase in 2010 and again in 2012, placing pressure on teacher supply.
NZPA



Children's advocate urges to vote yes at referendum

New Zealanders should vote yes in an upcoming referendum to keep current anti-smacking legislation as it stands, Maori children's advocate Dr Hone Kaa says. A postal referendum, which will ask the question -- "Should a smack as part of good parental correction be a criminal offence in New Zealand?", will take place between July 31 and August 21. Dr Kaa, chair of Te Kahui Mana Ririki, urged people to vote yes and support maintaining the current law to protect children from violence in the home.
Copyright 2002 - 2009, TelstraClear Ltd



More and more Hawke's Bay students giving up smoking

The latest Health Ministry survey on teenagers' smoking shows a significant drop in Hawke's Bay in the past five years. Just over 50% of the Hawke's Bay students aged 14 and 15 who took part in the survey stated that they had never smoked. In 2004, the figure was 39%. There's also been a significant fall in the number of Bay students who smoke regularly - down to 15% from 22% five years ago.
Copyright © 2009 Radio New Zealand



NZ Tamil community seeks cricket boycott

The Tamil community in New Zealand is urging the Black Caps cricket team to boycott their tour of Sri Lanka. Members say the team must take a moral stance against the plight of an estimated 300,000 people displaced as a result of civil war there. The United Nations has recently backed calls for an investigation into allegations of human rights abuses at Tamil refugee camps. A spokesperson for the Tamil Youth Organisation Dhaya Haran says a cricket boycott would send a clear message to the Sri Lankan government. He says he has written to members of parliament and the Black Caps suggesting the boycott.
Copyright © 2009 Radio New Zealand



Rugby-French beat All Blacks 27-22

A strong French team has defeated a largely inexperienced All Blacks side 27-22 at Carisbrook in Dunedin. France dominated for most of the game in the two nations' first encounter since France knocked New Zealand out of the 2007 Rugby World Cup. France's fourth victory in 21 Tests against the All Blacks on New Zealand soil was based on an outstanding defensive effort, scoring three tries to two. France led 17-11 at halftime.
Copyright © 2009 Radio New Zealand



Saturday, June 13

Labour's Shearer takes Mt Albert seat in a canter

Labour's David Shearer has easily won the Mt Albert seat with an election-night majority of 9187. With all the votes counted by 8.30 on Saturday night Mr Shearer had 12,613 - 60% of the vote - compared to 3426 for National's Melissa Lee and 2418 for Green candidate Russel Norman. Act's John Boscawen came fourth with 943. The seat was left vacant by the resignation of former Prime Minister Helen Clark, who retained it at the last general election with a majority of 10,351.
Copyright © 2009 Radio New Zealand


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